China urges Japan to stop challenging int'l bottom line with its nuclear ambitions Xinhua) 09:12, December 20, 2025 BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- China urges Japan to stop testing the bottom line of international justice with its nuclear ambitions, said a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Friday. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks when asked to comment on a report about a senior Japanese official saying that Japan should have nuclear weapons. "China is closely following the report. If that's true, it will be a serious issue that exposes the dangerous attempts by some in Japan to breach international law and possess nuclear weapons," he said. Guo said that China and the rest of the international community must stay on high alert and express grave concern. He further noted that for some time, China has been witnessing erroneous remarks and moves from the Japanese side on military and security issues, who revamped security and defense policies, removed the ban on exercising the right to collective self-defense, and attempted to once again acquire nuclear weapons from allies through strengthening cooperation on "extended deterrence," seeking "nuclear sharing," revising the three non-nuclear principles and other means. The recent noises from the Japanese side about nuclear weapons reflect the growing ambition of right-wing conservative forces in Japan to revive militarism, break free from the international order, and accelerate the country's "remilitarization," Guo told a regular press briefing. He pointed out that trying to picture itself as the advocate of a world free of nuclear weapons, Japan has claimed in its own narrative to be the "victim" of nuclear weapons in WWII. However, in fact, the Japanese side has never completely reflected on the wars of aggression it has waged, and has become the source of instability that challenges the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and undermines the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, Guo added. "The international community must be clear-eyed about Japan's hypocritical stance on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament," Guo said. He went on to say that recently, political parties, political figures and civil groups and agencies in Japan have called for the country's commitment to the three non-nuclear principles, in order to prevent the tragedy of war from repeating itself. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Guo noted. He urged the Japanese side to deeply reflect on its historical crimes, abide by international law and Japan's Constitution, stop finding excuses to expand military buildup, and stop testing the bottom line and red line of international justice on the issue of owning nuclear weapons. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Kou Jie) Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 News / National by Stephen Jakes HARARE The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have released images of a large consignment of drugs intercepted in Harare, reportedly smuggled by a truck owned by Chita One Investments. In a post on X, the police said they are intensifying efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse.The ZRP releases images of exhibits recovered when a haulage truck owned by Chita One Investments was intercepted along HarareBeitbridge Road with 221 kg of dagga (14 bales), 1,550 x 100ml bottles of Broncleer cough syrup, 810 x 100ml bottles of Astra Pain cough syrup and 960 x 100ml bottles of Benylin, the police posted. #No to drug peddling and illicit substances, the post added.The images show the seized dagga bales and boxes of cough syrups displayed in front of the intercepted truck, underscoring the scale of the operation. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code News / National by Stephen Jakes HARARE - Awardwinning investigative journalist Hopewell Chin'ono has slammed Senate President Mabel Chinomona for interfering in ZiFM Stereo's programming, following backlash over the station's inclusion of former CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere in a "Person of the Year" poll."You, @Cde_MMChinomona, are an ultimate embarrassment to Zimbabwe, including ZANU PF," Chin'ono posted on X.He criticised Chinomona for focusing on a radio poll while the country faces severe challenges."How can the President of the Senate of an entire country involve herself in a radio station's fun poll about Person of the Year while more than 2,500 women are dying during childbirth, the biggest hospital has only one maternity theatre, the whole country has no single working radiotherapy cancer treatment machine, unemployment stands at over 90 percent, citizens receive only two to four hours of electricity per day, and the country is facing an open succession war," he said.Chin'ono accused Chinomona of embarrassing both the country and President Emmerson Mnangagwa by publicly attacking a youthoriented radio station."This is political and media illiteracy of the highest order. ZiFM is a youth radio station. Its audience is largely young and unemployed people. It is therefore natural that its listeners would relate to and support Fadzayi Mahere, a young lawyer they see as speaking to their lived realities and struggles," he said."Have some shame, Madam, and focus on statecraft, not radio polls. For the President of a country's Senate to threaten a radio presenter with persecution over a lighthearted poll is a new low for Zimbabwe."He added: "You have sunk from the gutter into the sewer. You are internationalising your lack of common sense and embarrassing yourself on a global stage."Chin'ono concluded by quoting Mahere: "Zimbabwe needs new and mature leaders, not skunks like you, ma'am."Chinomona had earlier posted on X accusing ZiFM presenter Misred of being a sellout."She is an embarrassment to the democratic space in Zimbabwe. Misred must resign from ZiFM Stereo, or risk facing the full wrath of the law," Chinomona wrote."Youths from all corners of Zimbabwe are already signing petitions calling for ZiFM to sack this sellout." 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. Pensions are the main source of income for older people in Europe. About two thirds of their income in the EU comes from public transfers, mainly state pensions and benefits. Despite this, people over 65 receive only about 86% of the average income of the overall population across 28 European countries. According to the OECD, the ratio drops to below 70% in the Baltic states, and even falls under 80% in major economies such as Belgium, Denmark, and Switzerland. To drill down further into these comparisons, it's useful to look at the average gross annual old-age pension in the EU. As of 2023, which is the most recent data available in late 2025, this total comes to 17,321 in the EU, equal to 1,443 gross per month, according to Eurostat. Among 34 countries across Europe, the average annual pensions range from 3,377 in Turkey to 38,031 in Iceland. Among EU members, figures range from 4,479 in Bulgaria to 34,413 in Luxembourg. At the bottom of the ranking, the average pension is also below 8,000 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovakia, Romania, Lithuania, Hungary, and Latvia. These figures show how dramatically pensions vary, with the highest amount more than ten times the lowest in Europe. Some EU countries are simply poorer than others and require families to subsidise the pension income of elderly relatives and help out. Noel Whiteside, visiting professor at the University of Oxford, told Euronews Business. The EUs four largest economies sit just above the EU average. Italy has the highest pension level among them, while Spain, France, and, Germany follow. Pensions are also higher than the EU average in all five Nordic countries. Retirement systems differ across Europe It is difficult to compare because of the different pension systems, Philippe Seidel Leroy, policy manager at AGE Platform Europe, told Euronews Business. Using Germany, Spain, France and Belgium as examples, he noted that these countries have large pay-as-you-go pensions, paid by the state, and much smaller occupational schemes that cover only certain sectors or employers. Their pension spending will be high per capita, because the highest share of income of pensioners comes from these statutory schemes, he added. Related David Sinclair, chief executive of International Longevity Centre UK, emphasised that each nations pension architecture is a significant driver of variation. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Once again, people are shaking their heads in disbelief over something Donald Trump said. This time, it's due to his recent comments on Venezuela. DOUG MILLS / POOL/AFP via Getty Images In case you missed it, he posted a rant on Truth Social on Tuesday, writing about the "Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us"... ...as well as the "BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela." Related: JD Vance Made A Really Gross Joke Involving His Own Penis, And Usha Vance's Face Has Me On The Floor Trump didn't explain what he meant by stolen oil, but according to ABC News, "under [Venezuelan President Nicolas] Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan government expropriated assets from some American oil companies after the country nationalized oil fields in 2007." So, possibly this? And now, this interview clip is going viral: The oil thats in their country??? https://t.co/cvfMQCAzuu Weighn (@iAmMrCarson) December 17, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News Nation / Via Twitter: @iAmMrCarson While discussing Venezuela, Trump said, "You remember, they took all of our energy rights. They took all of our oil from not that long ago. And we want it back." Related: This Video Of Vice President Vance During A Fox News Interview Has People...Noticing Some Things About His Face "But they took it. They illegally took it," he concluded. Obviously, folks had a lot to say about this: One person wrote, "Venezuela being in charge of its own oil wealth is considered a form of theft by the US ruling class." Related: People Can't Stop Laughing At These Federal Agents Trying To Catch A Cyclist After He Yelled "F*ck Trump" "i know when he shake his head it sound like a tambourine," another said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No, Venezuela has not stolen oil from the United States. Shit for brains here is referring to Venezuelas 2007 nationalization of US company stakes which involved compensation disputes, but not literal theft of US oil." "2024: Warr is bad 2025: Warr is good." "Another Republican war thats really all about oil, deja vu." Related: This Trump Supporter Posted A Viral Rant About Their Rising Insurance Bill, And It Completely Backfired "How....does one take oil away from the United States? With big straws?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And finally, "It's staggeringly easy to say somebody took something from you if you think that everything is yours." What do you think about Trump's claim that Venezuela "stole" oil from the US? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Want to know if Trump's economy is actually doing as well as he promised? Subscribe to the Economy Hate Watch newsletter and never miss our monthly update. BuzzFeed Also in In the News: This Senator Just Shared A Hilarious Plan For Trump's Ballroom After He Leaves Office Also in In the News: Donald Trump Hated His Time Magazine Cover... But He'll Probably Hate These 16 Photos Wayyyyyyyyyyyy More Also in In the News: Mike Pence Revealed Dick Cheney's Reaction To January 6, And It Says A Lot Read it on BuzzFeed.com Contracts Contracts For Dec. 19, 2025 DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY TriWest Healthcare Alliance, Phoenix, Arizona, was awarded $6,812,165,714 to exercise Option Period Two under contract HT940223C0002 (inclusive of adjustments to estimated health care costs, as a result of change orders accomplished during the implementation phase of contract performance; adjustments to managed care support services costs due to the protest delay contract shift; and the economic price adjustment for Option Period Two) for health care and administrative support services in support of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) TRICARE program in the West Region. The contractor will assist DHA in operating an integrated health care delivery system combining the resources of the contractor and the military's direct medical care system to provide health, medical, and administrative support services to eligible members of the uniformed services, retirees, and their eligible family members. The West Region includes the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The cost-plus-award-fee, firm-fixed-price, and fixed-price type contract was awarded Dec. 22, 2022, with a 12-month base period (transition-in) and eight one-year option periods, plus a transition-out period. The option year period of performance is Jan. 1, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2026. The place of performance is Phoenix, Arizona. DHA's Managed Care Contracting Division, Aurora, Colorado, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Dec. 11, 2025) Agile Decision Sciences LLC, Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $13,271,550 firm-fixed-price option under a previously awarded contract, HT001124C0007. This modification exercises an option to continue administrative, analytical, and consulting services to support, analyze, and investigate issues related to military public health, force health protection, and health service support during deployments, extended training missions, and operational testing. Services include management, planning and execution support; studies, analytical, and evaluation support; administrative support; document and records management; business process reengineering; logistical support; budget planning and management; knowledge management; and business office support. Supported organizations include the Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Health Readiness Policy and Oversight, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs, the Director, Defense Health Agency, the Chief of Staff, and other subordinate program directorates. The award obligates fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance appropriations for services from Dec. 7, 2025, through Dec. 6, 2026. The total value of the contract, including unexercised options, is $73,187,618. The principal place of performance is Falls Church, Virginia. The Defense Health Agency, Professional Services Contracting Division, Falls Church, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Dec. 5, 2025) NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $3,626,277,130 modification (P00028) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive-fee, and firm-fixed-price contract (N0001924C0039). This modification exercises an option to provide continued logistics support to include ground maintenance activities, action request solution, depot activities, automatic logistics information system operations and maintenance, reliability and maintainability, supply chain management, pilot training, maintainer training, and training system sustainment in support of delivered F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Air Systems for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers, and non-Department of Defense (DOD) program partners. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (57%); Orlando, Florida (26%); Greenville, South Carolina, (11%); Marietta, Georgia, (4%); and Palmdale, California (2%), and is expected to be completed in December 2026. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance (Air Force) funds in the amount of $431,519,065; fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance (Marine Corp) funds in the amount of $151,959,389; fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $81,091,289; FMS customer funds in the amount of $214,744,353; and non-DOD program participant funds in the amount of $339,002,123, will be obligated at time of award, $664,569,743 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract being modified was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc., Monroeville, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $927,583,430 modification to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00024-24-C-2114) for naval nuclear propulsion components. Work will be performed in Monroeville, Pennsylvania (63%); and Schenectady, New York (37%), and is expected to be completed by September 2035. Fiscal 2026 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $927,583,430 were obligated at time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(1) (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements). Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Dec. 18, 2025) AGILE JV LLC,* Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $445,321,398 cost reimbursable, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide logistics and engineering support to fleet support teams (FST) at the three main depots that fall under Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers (FRC). FSTs are highly focused and provide specialized engineering, logistics and technical support services for multiple type/model/series aircraft, maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO), MRO engineering, MRO logistics and MRO production services, in support of naval aircraft for new weapon systems, system modifications, Foreign Military Sales customers, and support systems to include related equipment, to perform full-spectrum aircraft maintenance operations. Work will be performed in Commander, FRC East, Cherry Point, North Carolina (48%); FRC Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida (46%); and FRC Southwest, San Diego, California (6%), and is expected to be completed in January 2031. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured as a small business set aside and one offer was received. Commander, FRC, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N6852026D0001). Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $63,397,404 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-22-C-5405) to exercise options for design-agent engineering and technical services, technical data package maintenance, travel, and incidental material in support of the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System, SeaRAM, and the Land-based Phalanx Weapon System. This contract combines purchases for the Navy (85%); and the government of Japan (15%), under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (47%); Yuma, Arizona (12%); At Sea / Shipboard (7%); El Segundo, California (5%); China Lake, California (5%); Louisville, Kentucky (3%); Forest, Mississippi (1%); Dallas, Texas (1%); Picatinny, New Jersey (1%); and various other locations each less than 1% (18%). Work is expected to be completed by January 2027. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,954,000 (51%); fiscal 2025 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $852,200 (22%); FMS (Japan) funds in the amount of $600,000 (15%); fiscal 2025 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $379,000 (10%); fiscal 2026 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $16,000 (1%); and fiscal 2026 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $15,000 (1%), will be obligated at time of award, and funds in the amount of $15,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Gentex Corp., Simpson, Pennsylvania, is awarded $22,595,321 firm-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide the Next-Generation Fixed Wing Helmet (NGFWH) system. The NGFWH system is intended to streamline and modernize fixed-wing helmet capabilities by reducing, and eventually replacing, the legacy HGU-55/P and HGU-68/P helmets. Additionally, the NGFWH system will serve as a platform for future upgrades, ensuring adaptability to evolving mission needs. Work will be performed in Carbondale, Pennsylvania (73%); Manchester, New Hampshire (21%); and Rancho Cucamonga California (6%), and is expected to be complete by December 2030. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as orders are issued. This contract was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0042126D0002). Amentum Services Inc., Chantilly, Virginia, is awarded a $26,063,040 modification to a previously awarded contract (N62742-25-C-3570) for support services to Department of War components. This award brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $232,681,970. Work will be performed at various locations within the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC), Pacific area of operations, including Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Oceania, and is expected to be completed by December 2026. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,100,000 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. NAVFAC Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a $22,152,837 firm-fixed-price modification (P00002) to a previously issued order (N0001925F0280) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001921G0006). This modification is for the production and delivery of 30 Distributed Targeting Processor-Networked (DTP-N) B Kits; as well as provides associated cybersecurity, travel, and obsolescence for the DTP-N program in support of F-18 service life modifications for the Navy. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Florida (60%) and St. Louis, Missouri (40%) and is expected to be completed in March 2027. Fiscal 2026 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $22,152,837 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This order was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Mission Systems Sector, Linthicum Heights, Maryland, is awarded a $14,486,001 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-20-C-5519) for provisioned item spares and engineering change kits in support of the production of Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program Block Three subsystems. Work will be performed in Chelmsford, Massachusetts (60%); Hudson, New Hampshire (24%): and Woburn, Massachusetts (16%), and is expected to be completed by December 2029. Fiscal 2026 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,200,000 (70%); and fiscal 2024 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,286,001 (30%), will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Huntington Ingalls Inc. Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, Virginia, is awarded an $11,048,000 cost reimbursable modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-15-C-2114) to exercise an option for Pier Three North facility upgrades for Nimitz-class aircraft carrier defueling and inactivation and to support Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by September 2027. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,048,000 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE U.S. Aviation Academy, Denton, Texas, was awarded a $835,580,012 indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity for initial pilot training (IPT). This contract provides for foundational aviation training for U.S. government and international military student candidates in support of Air Education and Training Command requirements. The IPT program delivers standardized, performance-based pilot training designed to develop foundational flying skills necessary for follow-on advanced training pipelines. Training is conducted using contractor-provided aircraft, simulators, curriculum, and instructional services in accordance with the performance work statement. Work will be performed at multiple locations to include Denton, Texas; San Marcos, Texas; and Peachtree, Georgia, and is expected to be completed by December 18, 2035. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and eight offers were received. Fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance appropriations for funds in the amount of $399,010 are being obligated at the time of award. The 338th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron is the contracting activity (FA3002-26-D-0002). The Boeing Co., Long Beach, California, was awarded a $266,616,652 cost-plus fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract. The contract provides for the design, manufacture, integration, qualification, and certification of the C-17A flight deck replacement modification. This includes the material, kit installation labor, non-recurring engineering design, manufacturing, system integration test and evaluation, product support, data, and interim contractor support. Work will be performed in Long Beach, California; Warner Robins, Georgia; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Fort Walton Beach, Florida; San Antinio, Texas; and Mesa, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2031. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2026-2033 research development technology and engineering funds in the amount of $9,082,800 are being obligated at the time of award. Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA852626CB001). Amentum Technology Inc., Tullahoma, Tennessee, has been awarded a $99,000,000 ceiling, requirements type, firm-fixed-price contract for a new facility exhaust system. This contract provides for design, procurement, and installation of a new facility exhaust system for Arnold Engineering Development Complex. Work will be performed at Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee, and is expected to be completed by December 2030. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition, and one offer was received. Fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,914,222 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Test Center, Arnold AFB, Tennessee, is the contracting activity (FA9101-26-D-B001). Radiance Technologies, Huntsville, Alabama, (FA239126DB001, FA239126FB001); Stellar Science, Albuquerque, New Mexico, (FA239126DB003, FA239126FB002); and Infinity Labs LLC, Beavercreek, Ohio (FA239126DB004, FA239126FB003), were awarded a shared cost-plus fixed-fee ceiling $85,000,000 contract for the Advanced Framework For Simulation, Integration, And Modeling (AFSIM) for the Greater Enterprise. This contract provides for maturing and scaling AFSIM as an enterprise capability while fostering a vibrant community of users, developers, and maintainers contributing to its evolution. Work will be performed at Huntsville, Alabama; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Beavercreek, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 19, 2030. These contracts were competitive acquisitions, and four offers were received. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $987,421 are being obligated at time of award. Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Linthicum Heights, Maryland, has been awarded a $41,565,771 modification (P00149) to a previously awarded contract (FA8615-17-C-6047) for continued Active Electronically Scanned Array radar development. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $1,786,287,085 from $1,744,721,314. Work will be performed in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, and is expected to be completed June 03, 2028. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $6,006,517; and fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,002,165, for a total of $7,008,682, are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. FCN Inc., Rockville, Maryland, was awarded a $25,675,000, fixed-fee contract for the Elastic Program Enterprise License Agreement License Bundle. This contract provides for the Elastic License Bundle, which includes unlimited Enterprise resource unit software licenses, consulting services, professional annual training subscriptions, monthly training courses, and warranty coverage in support of the Cyberspace Vulnerability Assessment and Hunter and Air Force Cyber Defense weapon systems. Work will be performed at Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; Chapman Annex, San Antonio, Texas; Scott AFB, Illinois; and Hurlburt Field, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 18, 2026. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and four offers were received. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $25,675,000 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, JBSA-Lackland, Texas is the contracting activity. (NNG15SC71B, FA830726FB013) Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Indiana, has been awarded a $21,402,223 firm-fixed-price contract action modification (P00017) to a previously awarded contract (FA8107-21-D-0001) for the B-52 engine. This contract modification is for additional production engine transfer bracket kits. The location of performance is Indianapolis, Indiana, and work is expected to be completed by Sep 23, 2038. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity. ARMY Raytheon Co., El Segundo, California, was awarded a $512,217,829 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract for engineering, production, and sustainment services to develop, acquire, field, and provide life-cycle support for Synthetic Aperture Radar/Moving Target Indicator Radar. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2036. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, is the contracting activity (W56KGY-26-D-0003). Technica LLC, Charleston, South Carolina, was awarded a $30,661,614 modification (P00153) to contract W52P1J-20-F-0184 for logistics support services. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $61,323,229. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 3, 2027. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Illinois, is the contracting activity. General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded an $11,146,013 modification (P00122) to contract W56HZV-22-C-0012 to exercise option hours for Abrams system technical support. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 27, 2027. Fiscal 2023 research, development, test, and evaluation, Army funds in the amount of $35,305; fiscal 2024 and 2025 procurement of weapons and tracked combat vehicles, Army funds in the amount of $10,606,494; and fiscal 2026 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $504,214 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been awarded an estimated $264,867,008 modification to award a hybrid firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order (SPRTA1-26-F-0020) against a five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (SPRTA1-19-D-0001) for B-2 rudders. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 3204 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.301-1. This is a five-year eleven-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Utah and California, with an estimated delivery completion date of Nov. 16, 2032. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2026 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Weapons Support, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, California, Maryland, has been awarded a maximum $262,069,451 fixed-price-incentive, performance-based contract for V-22 Phase II consumable market basket items. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 3204 (a)(1), as stated in the Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a five-year base contract with one five-year option period. The ordering period end date is Nov. 30, 2030. Using military services are Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2026 through 2031 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Weapons Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPRPA1-26-D-0002). MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Aerojet Rocketdyne, Coleman Aerospace Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc., Orlando, Florida, is being awarded a $10,333,902 modification (P00258) to exercise an option to a previously awarded contract (HQ1047-14-C-0001) to increase calendar year 2026 program management office support. The value of this contract is increased from $1,279,737,274 to $1,290,071,176. Under this modification, the contractor will provide calendar year 2026 program management office support as set forth in the performance work statement. The work will be performed in Orlando, and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The performance period is from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2026. Fiscal 2026-2027 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $2,311,000 are being obligated on this award. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4365523/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Memorandum on the acquisition of submarines signed Poland - Ministry of National Defence 17.12.2025 This is not merely a purchase of submarines. We have also just discussed the exchange of technological thought, the transfer of technology and equipment. This is not just a change in the face of the Navy. This is building new security architecture on the Baltic Sea - said the deputy prime minister Kosiniak-Kamysz after signing the agreement of cooperation regarding the acquisition of submarines for Poland. On 17 December 2025, the deputy prime minister - minister of national defence Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and the minister of defence of Sweden Pal Jonson have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Warsaw, outlining the main goals of the strategic partnership rooted in the submarines acquisition programme. The MoU is also a guideline for both governments, giving a path for the acquisition of submarines in the ORKA programme. The Swedish government, aided by the Polish defence industry, plans industrial investments in Poland and in Polish shipyards, but also browsing and using Polish equipment solutions for the Swedish Armed Forces. This is a great honour. It is a matter of great importance, including for me personally - to be able to be the signatory of this agreement in the name of Poland. - Said the Polish minister of national defence after the signing. The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the ministers of defence of Poland and Sweden, outlines the main goals of the strategic partnership rooted in the submarines acquisition programme. It is also a confirmation of the relations between these countries, developed over the years - the Carl Gustaf M4 recoilless rifles (grenade launchers), early warning aircraft Saab-340 AEW and the electronic intelligence ships DELFIN are all examples of this. I am very happy that today - after the decision of the Council of Ministers from the end of November, after more than a dozen days of intense talks between the government of the Republic of Poland and the Kingdom of Sweden - we are signing an agreement regarding acquiring the capabilities to operate underwater. - Said the deputy prime minister The Memorandum specifies, among other matters, the number of submarines and dates of delivery, as well as the framework of a future contract. According to the Memorandum, the purchase will be rooted in a comprehensive acquisition of armaments dedicated for the A26 submarines as well as logistical solutions. Thanks to the MoU, the Polish defence industry will gain, as a result of the transfer of technologies, the capabilities to maintain, repair and service the submarines and their dedicated armaments in their entire life cycle, and the Swedish side pledges to include Polish defence companies in the process of manufacturing armaments for the Swedish Armed Forces, allowing for the increase of their attractiveness and competitiveness. This entails ia. the use of Polish-produced parts and components in Swedish defence platforms. The decision of a chosen partner country for the ORKA programme was announced on 26 November this year. The country of first choice was announced to be Sweden, with its offer of three A26 submarines, with the declared delivery date of the first submarine by 2030, and a gap-filler of the A17 submarine. The training will begin in 2026, and the transfer of the gap-filler will be conducted in 2027. *** The Council of Ministers acknowledged the report on the progress of acquiring submarines in the ORKA programme on 17 September 2025, which resulted in the signing of the minister of national defence, on 30 September 2025, Directive No. 26 on the creation of a Task Group (TG) for recommendations regarding the acquisition of modern submarines in the ORKA programme. The TG has created an Informational Questionnaire (IQ) containing detailed enquiries within ten key criteria, including transfer of technology, creating capabilities within the Polish defence industry, offering Polish products to Swedish industry and military. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz and NATO leader Mark Rutte visit soldiers of the NATO Forward Land Forces Poland - Ministry of National Defence 18.12.2025 An incredible meeting with the Secretary General of NATO. Mark Rutte is in Poland once again. He has visited us many times as the prime minister of the Netherlands. And for over a year, he has been in his new, great role. We are grateful for all the support. We are thankful for the Eastern Sentry and Baltic Sentry operations - strengthening the security of the eastern flank. Protecting the airspace over Poland and other countries of the eastern flank, as well as enhancing the security of the Baltic - said the Deputy Prime Minister W. Kosiniak-Kamysz in Bemowo Piskie. The Deputy Prime Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has met with the Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte at the Land Forces Field Training Centre (LFFTC) in Bemowo Piskie on 18 December. The visit was also an opportunity to meet the soldiers serving at the LFFTC as part of the NATO Forward Land Forces. - Today we are visiting soldiers, the NATO Forward Land Forces. After the decision made in 2016 at the NATO Summit in Warsaw, the Alliance has deployed its forward forces in Poland and at the eastern flank. Bemowo Piskie is one of those places where a battlegroup of the forward forces operates. I would like to note that this is where the American, British, Romanian, Croatian and Polish soldiers exercise, train and integrate their capabilities. Five countries, five nations, five different kinds of Armed Forces united within a single alliance, the largest defensive alliance that is the North Atlantic Treaty. Of course, we have been discussing the support for and situation in Ukraine, peace talks, the development and location of troops, and acquiring capabilities. I have informed the Secretary General of the latest contracts, choosing Swedish submarines for the Polish Navy, increasing our capabilities in fighting drones and in anti-drone systems, and of the new systems which we will be offering to our allies. Infrastructural development is an important topic to us, not only in the military dimension, but in the dual use capacity. Railways, roads, as well as pipelines, which should be expanded into eastern Germany, Poland and the Baltic states as soon as possible - said the Deputy Prime Minister during the meeting with soldiers. For a number of years, Poland has been a host of the NATO Forward Land Forces (earlier called the eFP - enhanced Forward Presence). Allied troops are stationed in eastern Poland, near Orzysz. The American contingent is 800 troops strong. They are the core of the forces, aided by soldiers from Great Britain, Romania and Croatia. They cooperate each day with the 15th Gizycko Mechanized Brigade, and their activities are coordinated by the Multinational Corps Northeast in Elblag. The Corps act to coordinate training and increase the regional situational awareness. NATO Forward Land Forces are an element of the common approach of allied countries to deterrence and defence in eastern Europe, in the context of security for the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance. - Today we meet as the NATO family, a family of allies, a family of militaries and soldiers, who stand shoulder to shoulder, ready to fulfil our obligations. I confirm once more every obligation of Poland stemming from the North Atlantic Treaty, Poland will fulfil its obligations and expects solidarity as well. Because here the word "solidarity" is an extraordinary, bidirectional one. - noted the Minister of National Defence during the event. - We are here to thank the soldiers that are part of the NATO Land Forces. The soldiers who will spend Christmas away from their families. They stand guard, giving all of us security and strengthening our deterrence and defence posture on the eastern flank of NATO. Foreign Land Forces here in Bemowo Piskie, are just one of the examples of how allies serve together for our shared security. It is also an example of the many ways Poland supports our shared deterrence and defence. On land, on the sea and in the air. Poland's military strength continues to grow. (...) Poland also sends basic support to Ukraine, which is important not only when we push for peace, but also in the future. Ukraine's security is our security. (...). To sum up, NATO remains united and ready to deter aggression and defend our freedom and security. Dear Wadysaw, I heartily thank you for your unwavering support - said the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in turn During the visit in Bemowo Piskie, the Deputy Prime Minister and NATO Secretary General have held bilateral talks, joined by the commanders' briefing, and took part in the Christmas meeting with Polish and allied soldiers - serving in the NATO Forward Land Forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Slovakia's new standard issue combat uniform and small arms Ministry of Defence of The Slovak Republic 18.12.2025 More comfort, better protection, and well-thought-out details and design that keep up with the requirements of today's service to the country. The MOD has introduced the new Slovak Armed Forces Personal Clothing System - Combat Uniform (PCS-CU), also known as M25 Combat Uniform, which will take the soldier's combat clothing to the next level - worthy of the 21st century - as a symbol of professionalism, courage and readiness to defend the country. The Ministry of Defence also officially presented the Grand Power (GP) M4M1 assault rifle as the next standard issue weapon and other small arms and support weapons for military personnel. With all the components sourced from the SVK Defence Supply Chain (DSC) companies, both the combat uniform and the weapons are to come in several variants. They were presented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Robert Kalinak and Chief of Defence General Daniel Zmeko at a joint press conference at the MOD in Bratislava on Friday 9 December 2025. Speaking at the press conference, Defence Minister Robert Kalinak underscored that all soldiers will receive the combat uniforms as early as next year. The MOD has purchased the military fabrics for them abroad and is now ordering tailoring services in Slovakia. One variant of the uniform will be flame-resistant. In addition, the soldier's personal equipment will be upgraded with a new body armour system, helmet, and night vision device. Brand new weapons are to be issued to military personnel as the MOD is in the process of procuring new Grand Power (GP) assault rifles, sniper rifles, sub-machine guns, and pistols. These will be fielded to the Forces in stages, with first delivery planned for 2026 and the last one for 2028. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lethal Kinetic Strikes, Dec. 18, 2025 Press Release | Dec. 18, 2025 On Dec. 18, at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of five male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions - three in the first vessel and two in the second vessel. No U.S. military forces were harmed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Call with Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson December 18, 2025 The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott: Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow. The Secretary underscored the United States' concern regarding the continued violence along the Cambodian border and emphasized the immediate need to reduce tensions. Secretary Rubio urged Foreign Minister Sihasak to take concrete actions to de-escalate the situation and for Thailand to return to implementing the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council Told Political Upheaval, Violent Extremism Continue to Challenge West Africa, Sahel Region Meetings Coverage Security Council 10073rd Meeting (PM) SC/16257 18 December 2025 Recent political upheavals in Benin and Guinea-Bissau expose ongoing vulnerability in a region already plagued by violent extremism, a senior United Nations official warned the Security Council today, as she urged increased collaboration with and between regional organizations to address these challenges. Highlighting key developments that "illustrate both the region's fragility and its resilience" was Barrie Freeman, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel. On 7 December, Benin's national security forces, with support from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and partners, thwarted an attempted coup d'etat by military officers citing grievances over deteriorating security, management of the Armed Forces and restrictions on political activity. On 26 November, in Guinea-Bissau, the military took control of the country, disrupting presidential election results. "Since then, arrests, divisive rhetoric and online hate speech are a growing cause of concern," she stated. Meanwhile, in Cote d'Ivoire, she pointed to concerns raised over the exclusion of major opposition figures from the October presidential elections. In response, the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) worked with ECOWAS and the African Union to deliver unified messages encouraging dialogue and the conduct of peaceful elections. "Experience across the region shows that governance reforms perceived as exclusionary erode legitimacy and fuel popular discontent," she observed. In that context, she cited a 14 December ECOWAS summit during which leaders both agreed on a short, inclusive transition in Guinea-Bissau and warned that targeted sanctions would apply to any actor obstructing this process. Turning to security, she underscored that the Sahel "remains the global epicentre of violent extremism". In Mali, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin is disrupting trade corridors, cutting off Bamako's supply of fuel and other essential goods. The humanitarian consequences remain dire, with more than 3,300 refugees fleeing clashes between the group and the Malian Armed Forces to seek refuge in Mauritania, where reception capacity is severely strained. Meanwhile, in the Lake Chad Basin, Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have intensified their attacks, while the Lakurawa group in north-western Nigeria further tests the Nigerian Armed Forces' capacity to secure the territory. With the link between terrorism and organized crime accelerating, she cited emerging new initiatives to address shared threats. Angola, Chair of the African Union, has urged the region to pursue constructive engagement, while ECOWAS leaders have visited members of the Alliance of Sahel States Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger and convened consultations. While the "rapprochement between Sahelian and ECOWAS States remains fragile", she urged the Council to consider predictable financing for the Sahel as "persistent poverty, high debt burdens and joblessness expose structural economic weaknesses that must be addressed". Speakers Urge Regional Coordination to Address Security, Humanitarian Crises As the floor opened for debate,Sierra Leone's delegate also speaking for Algeria, Guyana and Somalia echoed the Deputy Special Representative's concerns that the region remains fragile and requires concerted attention. Urging "zero tolerance for unconstitutional changes of Government", he welcomed the ECOWAS condemnation of the crisis in Guinea-Bissau. Further, he called for the immediate and unconditional release of arbitrarily detained officials, while commending swift intervention by ECOWAS and Nigeria following the attempted coup d'etat in Benin. And as terrorist groups intensify attacks, he stressed that there is "no alternative to broad and effective regional coordination". Spotlighting the "dire" humanitarian crisis accompanying these security challenges, Slovenia's delegate Council President for December spoke in his national capacity to lament the "stark" numbers in play. These include over 1 million people affected by floods, more than 5 million displaced by conflict and tens of millions facing food insecurity. While communities continue to adapt and endure, he stressed: "This cannot last. It should not last. Resilience alone is not enough." Similarly, the representative of the United Kingdomvoiced concern over a figure namely, that an estimated 12.1 million people will require urgent assistance in 2026. She therefore condemned access challenges and bureaucratic impediments undermining the timely and efficient delivery of life-saving assistance. Returning to the terrorist threat, the United States'delegate noted with particular concern the situation in Mali and the tragic and unacceptable violence in Nigeria perpetrated by militias and groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province. Calling the mass abduction of students and teachers in Nigeria "nothing short of barbaric", he stressed: "We cannot and will not stand by while such atrocities occur." The United States, therefore, will take "decisive action under a new policy" to restrict visas for individuals involved in serious violations of religious freedom, he said. For their part, he urged Sahel States and their coastal neighbours to set aside their differences and pursue a coordinated counterterrorism response. Other speakers also pointed to the imperative to confront terrorism in the region, with the representative of the Republic of Korea underlining the need to address political fragility and weakened regional cooperation ahead of upcoming elections. Pakistan's delegate cited his country's "historic and deep-rooted" partnership with the continent. Pakistan's peacekeepers have served with distinction across Africa, and the country stands ready to share its counter-terrorism experience, he added. The representative of the Russian Federation, meanwhile, called on the international community to support the efforts of the Alliance of Sahel States, which "embodies the just aspiration of the Sahel peoples" and is "at the forefront of the fight against the terrorist threat in the region". She warned that sanctions, pressure and the exclusion of countries from regional structures "inevitably leads only to the aggravation of the political situation and suffering of the civilians". Adding that "examples of that abound", she said that "attempts by foreign Powers to interfere in affairs of the region are counterproductive". Meanwhile, France's delegate noted that the phrase "African solutions to African problems" "does not mean that this Council is indifferent to Africa". Highlighting the organ's efforts to help regional organizations support regional States, he condemned any attempt to seize power by force and welcomed the mediation efforts of ECOWAS in Guinea-Bissau as well as its decisive intervention in Benin to ensure respect for constitutional order. Other delegates emphasized that inclusive, democratic governance is fundamental to peace, justice and sustainable development, with Denmark's delegate stating: "We cannot risk the collapse of governance institutions." Other speakers also found hope in regional collaboration, with the representative of Greece a "leading maritime nation" expressing support for enhanced cooperation to strengthen coastal security capacities. The region stands at a defining moment in the 50-year history of ECOWAS, and quoting a sentiment expressed by the bloc's leaders during its summit earlier in December she underscored: "Unity is not optional; it is a survival imperative." In that context, China's delegate noted that many regional countries are entering election years. Stating that the smooth advancement of major political agendas would help maintain domestic unity and stability, he urged the countries concerned to build consensus through peaceful and inclusive dialogue, which will enhance stability for the electoral process. For his part, Panama's representative commended regional efforts to promote youth participation, which is crucial to prevent marginalization and subsequent recruitment by armed and extremist groups. While observing that "people are recruited when there is the promise of a more dignified life", he stressed that such a promise is "simply a pipe dream". He stressed: "This is happening because they are not living in secure, safe conditions." Cote d'Ivoire Calls for Collective Action to Address Insecurity, Benin Says Peace Preserved through Law For his part,the representative of Cote d'Ivoire urged that the fight against terrorism "cannot rest solely on the most exposed States". Nevertheless, he said that his country held smooth presidential elections that testify to the "maturity and vitality" of its institutions, civic engagement of the population and responsibility of all stakeholders. He expressed concern, however, over the ongoing deterioration of regional security and called for collective action based on information sharing, capacity pooling and increased support for regional initiatives particularly those of ECOWAS and the African Union. Benin's delegate, detailing his country's response to the attempted coup d'etat on 7 December, said: "No exceptional measures were taken, no state of emergency was declared, no public freedom was suspended." This restraint, he added, "was no coincidence" as Benin is committed to the rule of law. And placing the incident in a regional context of persistent institutional fragility, he said that the UN remains the central multilateral framework for "documenting facts, exercising collective vigilance and preventing any escalation". Adding that his country responded to this "ordeal" through the law, he underscored: "And it is through our faithfulness to the law more than through force that nations sustainably preserve peace." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Army Launches Leasing Initiative to Advance Critical Mineral Processing and Enhance Installation Readiness By US Army Public Affairs December 19, 2025 WASHINGTON, D.C. 19 December 2025 -- The Department of the Army is repurposing underutilized land on its installations to strengthen national security and enhance the quality of life for Soldiers, Civilians, and Families. Many Army installations have parcels of land that are underutilized. The Army can lease this land to qualified organizations for productive development, creating benefit that can be reinvested into Army priorities, including infrastructure and services that benefit Soldiers, Civilians, and Families. This approach ensures the Army maximizes the value of its real property while supporting both local communities and broader national priorities. Today we announced the release of a Request for Information (RFI) seeking competitive proposals to lease underutilized, non-excess Army land for the development of critical mineral processing facilities. This initiative leverages the Army's Enhanced Use Leasing (EUL) authorities to transform underutilized real property into assets that advance both national defense priorities and Army priorities. The EUL program enables the Army to lease underutilized land for long-term development, ensuring no less than fair market value consideration while driving economic investment and installation resilience. "Enhanced use leasing allows us to pursue innovative partnerships that directly benefit the Army, including our Soldiers, Civilians, and Families," said Jordan Gillis, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment. "This effort aligns with Army modernization priorities while creating lasting value for the surrounding communities. The critical mineral processing facility leasing opportunities have the potential to: Generate revenue that the Army can reinvest into priority missions, including infrastructure improvements to enhance Soldier and Family quality of life. Create local economic opportunities, including potential job growth in the surrounding communities. Strengthen the nation's organic industrial base through increased domestic capacity for critical mineral processing, supporting national security and supply chain resilience. "The Army is committed to driving the nation forward on critical mineral and supply chains. Partnering with industry, we look to leverage Army's capabilities and authorities to expedite a reshoring of critical mineral mining and processing.," said Dr. Jeff Waksman, Principal Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment. By leasing underutilized land, the Army ensures that installations remain engines of economic growth while advancing mission-critical capabilities. Consideration obtained through EULs will be reinvested to enhance installation services, facilities, and overall readiness. Interested entities are invited to review the full Request for Information (RFI) and submit responses as outlined in the provided instructions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SAFE: member states endorse agreement on the participation of Canada European Council / Council of the European Union Council of the EU Press release 19 December 2025 15:28 Member states' representatives endorsed today the bilateral agreement with Canada under the 'Security action for Europe' (SAFE) regulation. Canada will be the first non-European country to participate inthe SAFE instrument, the 150 billion defence instrument that supports those EU member states that wish to invest in defence industrial production through common procurement,focusing on priority capabilities. This reflects the shared ambition of the EU and Canada to deepen their security and defence ties and to further strengthen joint defence cooperation, as set out in the Security and Defence Partnership signed at the Canada-EU Summit on 23 June 2025. Details of the agreement Under the SAFE instrument, procurement contracts will have to ensure that the cost of the components originating outside the EU, EEA-EFTA states and Ukraine is not higher than 35 % of the estimated cost of the components of the end-product. The agreement with Canada opens these eligibility conditions to allow for a greater participation of Canadian legal entities. The agreement foresees that such participation is subject to the payment by Canada of a financial contribution. Next steps The Council will be invited to authorise the formal signature of the agreement after legal scrubbing. Following the signature, the European Parliament will be requested to give its consent. Once the European Parliament has given its consent, the Council will be able to formally approve the agreement. Background In its conclusions of 6 March 2025, the European Council stressed that Europe must become more sovereign, and more responsible for its own defence and better equipped to act and deal autonomously to cope with immediate and future challenges and threats. At that European Council, all member states committed to strengthening their overall defence readiness, reducing strategic dependencies, while addressing critical capability gaps and strengthening the EDTIB accordingly so that the EU is in a position to better supply equipment in the quantities and at the accelerated pace needed. SAFE is the first pillar of the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 presented by the European Commission. The other pillars are: boosting national defence funding by activating the Stability and Growth Pact's national escape clause; making EU instruments such as the cohesion funds more flexible to allow greater defence investment; complementing public funding with contributions from the European Investment Bank; and mobilising private capital. SAFE is also an important instrument to support Ukraine's closer integration with the European defence industrial base, accelerating capability development, and enhancing Europe's collective defence readiness in response to shared security threats. 19 participating countries submitted their National Defence Investment Plans under SAFE before the 30 November 2025 deadline. These plans are currently under review by the Commission. The SAFE Regulation provides that the Union may conclude bilateral or multilateral agreements inter alia with third countries with which the Union has entered into a Security and Defence Partnership, in order to open the Regulation's eligibility conditions to these countries. The EU and Canada signed a Security and Defence Partnership on the occasion of the 23 June 2025 EU-Canada summit. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by President von der Leyen at the European Council press conference of December 2025 European Commission Statement Dec 19, 2025 Brussels Good evening. We all share one clear goal. A just and lasting peace for Ukraine. So we gathered with a clear objective: To address Ukraine's pressing financing needs for the next two years. And I am very pleased to say: we made it. We have secured an agreement to deliver on the financing needs for Ukraine for the next two years. As you know the Commission had proposed two solutions. Both legally sound. Both technically feasible. On the one hand, we proposed EU borrowing on the market. And on the other hand, we have developed the Reparations Loan. Last week already, we sent a clear and strong political message by immobilising Russian assets in the EU over the long term. And building on that, we agreed to find a solution for the financing of Ukraine for the next two years. Member States have agreed to finance Ukraine through EU borrowing on the capital markets. For an amount of EUR 90 billion for the next two years. We will do this by way of enhanced cooperation that is backed by the EU budget headroom. And based on a unanimous agreement to amend the MFF. Similarly to the Reparations Loan, very important, Ukraine would only need to pay back the loan once it receives reparations. Until then, the assets will remain immobilised. And the Union reserves its right to make use of the cash balances to finance the loan. This is the solution we found together. And as discussed in the last weeks, financing Ukraine beyond 2027 will be part of the next MFF discussion. The EU's next budget was also on the agenda. The Danish Presidency has done a remarkable work. Today, it was mostly about architecture and calendar. We need a budget that is faster, simpler and more flexible. A budget that will ensure Europe's capacity to meet the demands of a world of crises as demonstrated again today for the financing of Ukraine. Finally, we agreed on the sense of urgency, and the intense work ahead with the Cypriot Presidency. We then moved on to the discussion on geoeconomics, including on the Mercosur agreement. This evening, we have achieved a breakthrough to pave the way for a successful completion of the agreement in January. We need a few extra weeks to address some issues with Member States. We have reached out to our Mercosur partners and agreed to postpone slightly the signature. This deal is of crucial importance for Europe - economically, diplomatically and geopolitically. It opens new trade and economic opportunities for all our Member States. With additional checks and safeguards, we have built in all necessary protections for our farmers and our consumers. In a year dominated by news of rising tariffs and new trade restrictions, the positive impact of this pact matters - not just for our two regions, but for the global economy. Finally, Mette, I want to praise the Danish Presidency. In just six months, you delivered impressive results. 41 files were concluded and negotiating mandates secured on 17 more. You ensured the EU's unwavering support for Ukraine, with the adoption of the 18th and 19th sanctions packages. As well as the swift agreement on the immobilisation of the Russian assets last week. Together we made history with the agreement on REPowerEU - our roadmap to full energy independence from Russia. And with the 2040 Climate target. Thanks to your work on migration, we were able to effectively kick-start the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. Notably with the progress on the Return and Safe countries of origin legislation - just agreed. You also strengthened Europe's defence by securing a much awaited agreement on the European Defence Industry Programme, EDIP, and the Defence Omnibus. And you made significant progress on simplification, with agreement on several omnibuses, making life easier for companies across Europe. Last but not least, you successfully steered the initial work on the next EU budget. So you laid a very solid foundation for the presidencies to come. These achievements speak volumes about your leadership and commitment to the European project. Many thanks for that. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chairman Mast Introduces AI OVERWATCH Act to Secure America's Technological Dominance U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs December 19, 2025 Press Release Washington D.C. -- Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast introduced the AI OVERWATCH Act. This bill ensures congressional oversight keeps pace with advancing technology, blocks adversary militaries from accessing weapon-enabling AI, and accelerates American AI exports to allies and partners around the world. "As chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I've seen firsthand how adversaries exploit our technology to enhance their military capabilities. The AI OVERWATCH Act ensures Congress has oversight over the sale of advanced AI chips to adversary nations, just as it does with arms sales. It also supercharges exports of American AI to allies and partners," said Chairman Mast. "America must win the AI arms race." This bill applies long-standing congressional oversight to exports of America's sensitive, military-enhancing AI chips. Since 1976, Congress has reviewed foreign arms sales that threaten U.S. national security. The principle is clear: technologies that shift military power require congressional oversight. Cosponsors include House China Select Committee Chairman John Moolenaar, House Foreign Affairs South and Central Asia Subcommittee Chairman Bill Huizenga, House Foreign Affairs Europe Subcommittee Chairman Keith Self, House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee Chairwoman Young Kim, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence National Security Agency and Cyber Subcommittee Chairman Darin LaHood. Industry Groups supporting the legislation include FDD Action, American Compass, and Americans for Responsible Innovation. Key provisions include: Congressional Review: Requires notification to Congress before the administration approves exports of advanced AI chips to China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and the Maduro regime of Venezuela. Congress has 30 days to review and may block the export through a joint resolution of disapproval. Requires notification to Congress before the administration approves exports of advanced AI chips to China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and the Maduro regime of Venezuela. Congress has 30 days to review and may block the export through a joint resolution of disapproval. No Chips for Adversary Militaries: Mandates verifiable safeguards to ensure AI chip exports to countries of concern will not enhance the military, intelligence, surveillance, or cyber capabilities of our adversaries. Mandates verifiable safeguards to ensure AI chip exports to countries of concern will not enhance the military, intelligence, surveillance, or cyber capabilities of our adversaries. America First AI: Ensures that AI chip exports to foreign adversaries do not limit U.S. availability of advanced chips. Protects American global AI model and cloud leadership. Ensures that AI chip exports to foreign adversaries do not limit U.S. availability of advanced chips. Protects American global AI model and cloud leadership. National Security Strategy Requirement: Requires a strategy on providing adversaries access to advanced AI chips, including assessments of adversary capabilities and China's indigenous chip production, prior to any exports to countries of concern. Requires a strategy on providing adversaries access to advanced AI chips, including assessments of adversary capabilities and China's indigenous chip production, prior to any exports to countries of concern. Accelerating Exports to Allies: Fast-tracks AI exports to allies and partners for trusted U.S. companies meeting strong security and ownership standards. House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar: "Our nation has a strong technological advantage over China in AI chips," said Chairman Moolenaar. "Whichever country controls these chips will control the future of national and economic security. The American people want American AI to boost economic growth at home, and around the world for our allies, friends, and partners, but they do not want American AI to contribute to China's relentless military expansion and economic aggression. This legislation takes decisive action to strike that balance and safeguard American AI dominance into the future," said Select Committee on China Chairman Moolenaar. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford: "AI is changing the way the U.S. and countries across the globe, including our adversaries, look at their national defense strategies," said Chairman Crawford. "We must be taking all necessary steps to protect U.S. technology leadership in microelectronics and artificial intelligence and ensure our technology cannot be used against us. We must starve China of the compute they need to compete, and we certainly should not be voluntarily solving their shortfalls by selling them our compute. I am proud to join my colleague Chairman Mast in introducing this legislation vital to the future stability and security of not just the United States but the globe." House Foreign Affairs South and Central Asia Subcommittee Chairman Bill Huizenga: "As chairman of the subcommittee overseeing export controls, I've seen firsthand how important it is that America wins the defining technologies of the 21st century. AI OVERWATCH ensures Americanot Chinawins the race for AI dominance," said Chairman Huizenga. House Foreign Affairs Europe Subcommittee Chairman Keith Self: "The AI race is not a sci-fi story anymore. The chips that train frontier models can just as easily power military targeting, mass surveillance, and cyber operations," said Chairman Keith Self. "If you are an enemy of the United States, you should not have access to the best technology in the world. These chips should and will stay in the United States." House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee Chairwoman Young Kim: "The transfer of America's most advanced technologies to adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party requires the highest level of scrutiny, including strong congressional review," said Chairwoman Kim. "The AI OVERWATCH Act adds an essential layer of congressional oversight of powerful dual-use chips to ensure we do not unintentionally fuel the Chinese Communist Party's military ambitions and surveillance technologies. I am committed to preventing Beijing from exploiting American innovation against us and will keep fighting to secure U.S. leadership in AI." House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence National Security Agency and Cyber Subcommittee Chairman Darin LaHood: "Maintaining American global leadership in advanced technology is essential to safeguarding our national security," said Chairman LaHood. "High-capacity chips are an incredibly valuable asset and play a pivotal role in modern biodefense, intelligence, and weapon systems. We must take every necessary precaution to ensure these chips do not fall into the hands of those who seek to use AI to undermine the United States and gain unbridled influence over the global economy." FDD Action: "America's cutting-edge chips and advanced technology must never be used to power the AI systems that support China's military and intelligence apparatusesespecially at the expense of American innovators," said FDD Action Senior Director of Government Relations Connor Pfeiffer. "FDD Action endorses this legislation because it gives Congress the ability to review proposed licenses to ensure chip sales protect US national security while promoting innovation here at home." American Compass: "The United States has an enormous lead in advanced AI processing, which offers a critical advantage in our economic and security competition with China." said American Compass Chief Economist Oren Cass. "Unless, that is, corporations and policymakers repeat the past generation's mistakes and sell off the advantage for short-term profit. Chairmen Mast, Moolenaar, Crawford, and their colleagues deserve enormous credit for rejecting that failed path, and introducing legislation that protects the national interest by strengthening export controls on such a vital technology. This is how America First policy looks." Americans for Responsible Innovation: "The AI OVERWATCH Act recognizes a simple reality: AI chips are strategic technologies with national security implications, not ordinary exports," said ARI President Brad Carson. "In the AI era, advanced chips are the foundation on which advanced militaries are going to be built. By pairing congressional oversight with faster exports to trusted allies, this bill protects U.S. national security while reinforcing American leadership in AI." Read the full bill text here: ai-overwatch.pdf (75.4 KB) pdiv> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry spox: US sanctions on ICC enable war criminals to act with impunity IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 19, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has stressed that US imposition of sanctions on the judges of International Criminal Court is a blatant and brutal act of impunity for war criminals. "While genocidal war criminals remain at large and continue to commit egregious atrocities and crimes against humanity, the US State Department intensifies pressure and imposes sanctions on those seeking to hold these wanted criminals accountable," Baqaei wrote on his X account on Friday. "This represents impunity in its most blatant and brutal forma profound moral aberration," he added. On Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Gocha Lordkipanidze of Georgia and Erdenebalsuren Damdin of Mongolia "have directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute Israeli nationals, without Israel's consent, including voting with the majority in favor of the ICC's ruling against Israel's appeal on December 15." The ICC in The Hague had issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of the Israeli regime, and Yoav Gallant, the regime's former Defense Minister, on November 21, 2024, on charges of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and using starvation (deliberately starving the people of Gaza) as a weapon. On Monday, the ICC rejected Israel's request to halt investigations into the Gaza war. 9376**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New purchase of antitank mines and FPV drone warheads to take place to further strengthen Lithuania's defensive capabilities Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence 2025-12-19 Acquisitions and infrastructure development Lithuania's defensive capabilities are further strengthened with a signature of EUR 22.8 million contract on acquisition of antitank mines between the Defence Materiel Agency under the Ministry of National Defence and Eksplosita UAB. Also, a EUR 9 million contract with Lithuania's LTMilTech UAB on acquisition of FPV drone warheads, namely, fragment, lens and cumulative. All the acquired equipment will be produced in Lithuania. "This decision is a significant step towards a stronger national defence industry. Development of local manufacturing capabilities is a proof of Lithuania's defence sector is mature and able to contribute in ensuring Lithuania's national security. It is also consistent with our aims to develop strategic sectors of ammunition and explosives production," says Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas. Antitank mines are one of the most effective ways to prevent movement of hostile armored vehicles and maintain area control. It is effective enough to slow down or fully stop assault or armored mounted force and is a cost-effective option in defence against a larger force. In expert view, mines are a budget-friendly tool that requires relatively small investment and can harm expensive enemy force significantly. One mine can disrupt a tank worth of millions of euros. Acquisition of FPV drone warheads is also a vital cost-effective solution because such guided munitions can have a similar combat effect as guided missiles or manned aircraft. This type of equipment also significantly reduces the risk to personnel offering precision target neutralization but taking the operators out of direct danger. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SNMG2 begins new chapter as Italy concludes six month command of Mediterranean maritime operations NATO Allied Maritime Command Dec 19 2025 Taranto, Italy -- The Italian Navy marked the completion of its sixth consecutive month commanding Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) with an official handover ceremony aboard the frigate ITS Carlo Bergamini at the Taranto Naval Base. During the event, Rear Admiral Francesco Iavazzo formally transferred command to Rear Admiral Cristian Nardone in the presence of Rear Admiral Luca Pasquale Esposito, Chief of Staff at NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM). The ceremony underscored Italy's sustained leadership and enduring commitment to the operational readiness and continuity of SNMG2. The ceremony marked the end of a 172-day mission defined by a high operational tempo, close multinational cooperation, and a sustained presence in the Mediterranean - an area of vital strategic importance to NATO Allies. Over the course of the rotation, the naval task group spent 124 days at sea and 48 in port, covering more than 20,000 nautical miles and logging roughly 3,000 operational hours with the Italian flagship. Under Rear Admiral Iavazzo's command, SNMG2 carried out a wide range of operations aimed at reinforcing NATO's deterrence and defence posture along the Alliance's southern flank. The Task Group conducted persistent patrols in sensitive maritime areas and supported Enhanced Vigilance activities, including multiple rotations of Neptune Strike 25. The group also participated in major NATO exercises such as Dynamic Guard 25, as well as several Passing Exercises (PASSEX) with Partner nations, including Egypt. These activities are essential for developing interoperability and operational readiness both within Allied forces and with Partner countries. Over the last six months, SNMG2 was powered by several ships from six different countries (including Italy) such as Canada, Greece, Spain, and Turkiye. HMCS St John's, HS Limnos, ESPS Cantabria, TCG Gelibolu, TCG Barbaros, and TCG Heybeliada were all deployed far away from their home-bases enabling the naval group to successfully complete its operational activities. "Thanks to the commitment of our SNMG2 international staff, the professionalism of our crews, and the contribution of all the units that took part in the task group, we demonstrated the Alliance's cohesion and readiness," said Rear Admiral Iavazzo in his address. "SNMG2 has been, and remains, one of NATO's pillars at sea, particularly in the Mediterranean, which requires constant attention and immediate response capabilities." During the Italian-led deployment, SNMG2 also strengthened relationships with Mediterranean Dialogue partners, including Egypt, thanks to a significant port visit in Alexandria and two exercises conducted with the Egyptian Navy's Frigate Al-Qahhar. In his inaugural address, Rear Admiral Cristian Nardone reiterated the crucial role played by the Allied naval presence in the security of the Mediterranean region. "It is a great honour for me to assume command of SNMG2," he said. "Our mission is clear: to guarantee freedom of navigation and ensure and strengthen collective defence. Together with our Allied and Partner navies, we will continue to operate with professionalism, vigilance, and determination. The security of these waters is inextricably linked to the security of all Allied nations." As SNMG2 enters a new operational phase, the group will continue to maintain a high state of readiness in line with Allied Reaction Force requirements, ensuring a sustained presence that demonstrates operational capability, credibility, and deterrence. The task group remains prepared to respond to emerging crises, enhance maritime security, and support international stability throughout the Mediterranean region. SNMG2 is one of four standing NATO maritime groups providing continuous maritime presence and readiness in peacetime, crisis and conflict. Deployments like this contribute to Allied assurance measures, enhance interoperability and demonstrate NATO's ability to operate across the entire North Atlantic, in the Baltic sea and the Arctic approaches. Story by Public Affairs Office at MARCOM NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Deputy Secretary General hails growing partnership with Armenia NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 19 December 2025 On 18 December 2025, NATO's Deputy Secretary General, Radmila Shekerinska, visited Armenia, where she met Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Defence Minister Suren Papikyan, and Speaker of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan. The Deputy Secretary General shared her views on topics such as NATO-Armenia relations, the normalisation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and NATO's role supporting stability across the Black Sea region. Ms. Shekerinska hailed the long-standing partnership between NATO and Armenia. She underscored the well-established political dialogue and practical cooperation, including on the modernisation of Armenia's armed forces, the consolidation of good governance within the defence and security structures, and defence education. The Deputy Secretary General underlined that NATO's partnership with Armenia is mutually beneficial and mutually agreed, and that Allies stand ready to further our political dialogue and cooperation with Armenia. She highlighted NATO-Armenia scientific cooperation and praised the professionalism of Armenian personnel serving in the NATO-led KFOR mission, in Kosovo, under a UN mandate. The Deputy Secretary General reiterated that NATO welcomed the signature of the Joint Declaration in Washington D.C. in August, as well as the initialling of the Peace Treaty by the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan. She underlined the importance of implementing the peace agenda without delay, as a vital element for lasting peace in the region, which directly contributes to wider Euro-Atlantic security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NZ, Japan sign defence and security agreements Beehive.govt.nz - The official website of the New Zealand Government 19 December 2025 Hon Judith Collins KC Rt Hon Winston Peters Defence Foreign Affairs New Zealand and Japan have agreed two important defence and security arrangements, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. "The defence Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement sets out how logistical support, including the provision of supplies and services, will be managed when the New Zealand Defence Force and the Self-Defence Forces of Japan operate together," says Ms Collins, who signed the agreements in Tokyo. "This could include refuelling activities at sea using HMNZS Aotearoa, or the reciprocal provision of food or medical supplies during joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities. "Our forces already work well together, and this agreement will create the conditions for even more seamless cooperation. "New Zealand is stepping up on the world stage, and this agreement will ultimately strengthen our interoperability and ability to work closely with our partners." The Information Security Agreement provides a legal framework and procedures for handling each other's classified information. "This agreement will make it easier to share a wider range of information securely with Japan," Mr Peters says. "The signing of these two agreements with Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi is an important step in strengthening security cooperation between New Zealand and Japan. "Japan is a crucial partner for New Zealand. In these times of increasing international tension, strengthening interoperability with our partners is vital as we work to uphold the international rules-based order and maintain regional security and prosperity." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bangladesh: Turk urges calm after killing of 2024 protest leader Press releases Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 19 December 2025 GENEVA -- UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said today he was deeply troubled by the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, a prominent leader of last year's protests in Bangladesh, who died of his injuries after being shot last week. Turk called for calm and for everyone to refrain from violence. "Retaliation and revenge will only deepen divisions and undermine the rights of all," he said. "I urge the authorities to conduct a prompt, impartial, thorough and transparent investigation into the attack that led to Hadi's death, and to ensure due process and accountability for those responsible." Several protests erupted at various locations around the country after Hadi's death was announced on Thursday, six days after he was shot. Some buildings were torched and vandalised, and a number of journalists have reportedly been assaulted. With the parliamentary elections scheduled for February, Turk said it was vital to ensure an environment in which all individuals can participate safely and peacefully in public life, and freely express different views. "I urge the authorities to uphold the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and security of journalists at this critical time, and prevent further escalation of unrest," Turk said. The High Commissioner said his Office stands ready to work with the authorities and all stakeholders to support efforts that uphold human rights and prevent further violence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Demarche to the Afghan Taliban regime on terrorist attacks against Pakistan, perpetrated from Afghan soil Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan condemns, in the strongest possible terms, today's terrorist attack carried out by Khwarij belonging to Kharji Gul Bahadur Group on a Pakistan Military camp in North Waziristan District, which resulted in the martyrdom of four Pakistani soldiers. To convey our strong demarche, the Afghan Deputy Head of Mission was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry conveyed Pakistan's grave concern over the continued support and facilitation provided by the Afghan Taliban regime to the FAK/TTP, enabling them to carry out terrorist attacks against Pakistan Military and civilian population along the Pak-Afghan border and in adjoining areas. It was emphasized that the permissive environment enjoyed by the FAK/TTP in Afghanistan belies Afghanistan's international commitments as well as to Pakistan, that it would not allow its soil to be used against any other country, including Pakistan. Pakistan has demanded a full investigation and decisive action against the perpetrators and facilitators of the terrorist attacks launched against Pakistan from Afghan soil. The Afghan Taliban regime has been urged to take immediate, concrete and verifiable measures against all terror groups operating from its territory, including their leadership, and deny the continued use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban regime has also been categorically informed that Pakistan reserves the right to defend its sovereignty and protect its citizens, and will take all necessary measures to respond to terrorism originating from Afghan soil. Islamabad December 19, 2025 380/2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan's Resolution on the Universal Realisation of the Right of Peoples to Self-Determination adopted by consensus at the United Nations General Assembly Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs The United Nations General Assembly has adopted, by consensus, the Pakistan-sponsored resolution entitled "Universal Realization of the Right of Peoples to Self-Determination" during its 80th session in New York. As in the past, the resolution once again enjoyed broad international support, with co-sponsorship from Member States representing all geographical regions. The resolution, adopted yesterday, reaffirms the inalienable right of peoples subjected to colonialism, foreign occupation and alien domination to freely determine their political status and pursue their economic, social, and cultural development. It underscores the continued relevance of this fundamental principle of international law in contemporary situations of occupation, including the plight of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Palestine. By reaffirming the universal and enduring nature of the right to self-determination, the General Assembly has once again emphasized its applicability in situations where peoples remain deprived of this right. The adoption of the resolution by consensus reflects the shared commitment of the international community to uphold the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, relevant UN resolutions, and established norms of international law, including the two Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This annual resolution serves as an important expression of international solidarity with peoples striving to exercise their legitimate right to self-determination. For the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, it reinforces international attention to their just cause and their legitimate aspirations for dignity and freedom, in fulfilment of the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council. December 19, 2025 Islamabad 378/2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Strengthening of Polish-Portuguese cooperation Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland 19.12.2025 Security in Europe, transatlantic relations, and economic cooperation were the main topics of Poland's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosaw Sikorski's meeting with Portugal's Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel in Warsaw. The two chief diplomats attended the signing ceremony of a memorandum of cooperation between Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego and Banco Portugues de Fomento. They discussed security, especially in the context of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and stressed that it is necessary to strengthen not only bilateral relations and relations at the EU level, but also within NATO. During the talks, Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski noted the importance of Portugal's support for the combatant Ukraine including humanitarian aid, military support for Ukraine's government and army, as well as providing shelter to Ukrainian war refugees in Portugal. The head of the Polish diplomacy said that Portugal's prime minister's first visit to Kyiv will be a major sign of support for Ukraine. The two ministers emphasised that transatlantic ties and a united NATO are beneficial for all partners, both European and North American. They also discussed relations with Latin America, a region which is very important for the European Union due to its economic and demographic potential. Foreign ministers of Poland and Portugal highlighted that the two countries pursue intensive economic cooperation. The previous year was a record one in terms of turnover, which topped EUR 3.1 billion. Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski recalled that Poland is currently among the top ten largest suppliers of goods to Portugal. "We perceive Portugal as a stable trade partner and see the potential for the further growth of our collaboration. (...) Polish IT and renewable energy sources companies, as well as those operating in the medical, chemical, cosmetic, logistic, and even yacht-building sectors, are increasingly active in the Portuguese market" - Poland's foreign minister said to the media after meeting his Portuguese counterpart. The memorandum signed today by representatives of Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego and its Portuguese counterpart, Banco Portugues de Fomento, is expected to stimulate the deepening of economic cooperation. The foreign ministers of Poland and Portugal attended its signing ceremony. The document includes both banks' declarations of interest in cooperation and joint funding of investments in infrastructure, climate protection, and innovations. The memorandum also provides for exchange of expertise, market analyses, and investment strategies. This will benefit Polish entrepreneurs, who will gain easier access to the Portuguese market. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address AFP chief: Filipino soldiers committed to defending PH Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno December 19, 2025, 6:25 pm MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has assured the public of the Filipino soldiers' commitment to defend the country as its modernization pushes through. "Every new capability, every system acquired, every skill learned serves a single purpose: to ensure that the Filipino soldier is prepared to defend the nation today and tomorrow. This responsibility is not only shared by those in uniform, but by every Filipino," AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said during the military's 90th anniversary celebration Friday. Brawner said this is important as the AFP now operates in a security environment that is more complex, more demanding, and more interconnected than ever before. "Our march forward, our march toward progress was further advanced by the AFP modernization program. Together with the activation of specialized commands and strengthening of intelligence, cyber, sustainment, and joint capabilities, we are building a more agile, integrated, and multi-domain ready AFP," he added. The AFP chief is also pleased to note that through its intensified internal security operations, it has sustained pressure in dismantling threat groups, supporting peace efforts, and safeguarding communities. This is aside from the AFP's focus on external defense which is highlighted by Campaign Plan "Tatag Kapuluan" which aims to protect Philippine sovereignty and national interests. "Amidst rapid digital innovation, we are challenged to fight for the truth on the front lines against unseen adversaries that seek to divide our people. Thus, we launched the AFP Communication Plan 'Mulat' to awaken maritime domain awareness, strengthen national consciousness, and empower every Filipino to protect our seas, our rights, our future," Brawner said. And in every maritime patrol, joint exercise, and international engagement, Brawner said the AFP follows a rules-based international order with like-minded nations. He added this highlights a widening circle of partners and allies united in protecting peace and regional stability. Brawner also lauded the AFP's reservists component for their role in defending the nation. "As force multipliers, our reservists stand ready, bringing expertise, experience, and commitment that prove national defense is truly a whole-of-nation approach. By strengthening our reserve force, we edify the entire armed forces, and by building a strong AFP, we secure a strong Philippines," he added. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Senate passes bill allocating $2.5-B security aid for PH Philippine News Agency By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora December 19, 2025, 5:05 pm Updated on December 19, 2025, 5:12 pm MANILA -- The United States Senate has approved a bill authorizing the allocation of USD2.5 billion in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grant assistance to the Philippines for 2026 to 2030. Under the proposed Philippines Enhanced Resilience Act (PERA), which is now up for President Donald Trump's signature, the US will earmark up to USD500 million, annually to help develop the country's capabilities for a span of five fiscal years. The bill was passed by the US Senate on Dec. 17 as part of fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and is seen to deepen US-Philippines defense cooperation while strengthen interoperability "to meet growing threats in the Indo-Pacific." "As the United States and the Philippines face growing challenges to security and prosperity in the West Philippines Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific, it's critical for our two nations to deepen cooperation and raise our decades-long Alliance to even greater heights," said US Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN). "This bipartisan bill will significantly increase US security assistance to the Philippines and profoundly strengthen and modernize the defense and deterrence capabilities of our Alliance. I'm pleased to see the Senate pass this bipartisan legislation, and I look forward to President Trump signing this bill into law," he added. US Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), for his part, said he looks forward to a significant boost in the Philippine-US security partnership once the measure is enacted into law. "The Philippines is a key ally of the United States, and we must strengthen cooperation with our partners across the region to counter China's aggression and help ensure freedom, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," he said. Under PERA, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and other appropriate department/agency heads, will submit an annual report to the US Congress on steps taken to enhance the United States-Philippines defense relationship. This includes a report on capabilities needed to modernize Philippine defense capabilities, including with respect to coastal defense, long-range fires, integrated air defenses, maritime security, manned and unmanned aerial systems, mechanized ground mobility vehicles, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, defensive cybersecurity, and any other defense capabilities that the Secretary of State determines. Strong military ties Meanwhile, Philippine Army (PA) chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete and the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) commander Gen. Ronald Clark reaffirmed the strong Army-to-Army relationship and interoperability during a bilateral meeting at the Sanban-cho Conference Hall, Chiyoda City, Tokyo, Japan on Thursday. A statement from the PA on Friday said the two ranking officials discussed various topics related to the armies' bilateral activities, including territorial defense training, humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) efforts. It can be recalled that the PA and USARPAC recently concluded the 14th Steering Committee Meeting (SCM), which is a planning activity in preparation for the Executive Steering Group (ESG) Meeting at PA headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City last November. The PA is committed to strengthening its ties with the US Army and maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific Region alongside other like-minded nations. (with reports from Priam F. Nepomuceno/PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH Army sees more HADR cooperation with Japan Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno December 19, 2025, 10:57 am MANILA -- The Philippine Army (PA) and its counterpart, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) is looking to have more cooperation in the field of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). The PA said its chief, Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete met with JGSDF chief-of-staff Gen. Arai Masayoshi on Dec. 16 at the Ground Staff Office in Ichigaya, Tokyo. "The two leaders had a fruitful exchange of views regarding peace and stability between the two nations, and sought cooperation on (HADR," an Army news release said Friday. The meeting marks the second time the two military officials met since the Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference in September. "The PA values strong relationships with international stakeholders, with the intention of maintaining peace within the Indo-Pacific Region. Bilateral meetings with other key figures ensure the organization's potential growth through training and subject matter expert exchanges," it added. Nafarrete is expected to attend the Land Forces Summit and Landpower Forum in Japan scheduled this week. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH, Japan reaffirm robust defense ties in high-level meet Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno December 19, 2025, 9:48 am MANILA -- The growing security ties between the Philippines and Japan were highlighted in a high-level virtual meeting between ranking military leaders of the two nations last Dec. 17. In a statement Thursday night, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) chief of staff, joint staff, Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura, reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defense cooperation during their dialogue. "During the discussion, both military leaders exchanged views on regional security developments and explored opportunities to further enhance cooperation between the AFP and JSDF," it added. In the same meeting, Brawner expressed the AFP's appreciation for Japan's continued support and underscored the importance of sustained engagement with like-minded partners in promoting regional peace and stability. "The virtual meeting underscored the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan, reflecting a shared commitment to maintaining regional stability and advancing defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region founded on mutual respect, shared values, and adherence to international law," the AFP said. The Philippines and Japan's Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) entered into force on Sept. 11, 2025 and allows greater military cooperation between the two nations. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US 'lethal' strikes target two vessels as Trump reiterates possibility of war with Venezuela Iran Press TV Friday, 19 December 2025 7:16 PM The US military has targeted two more vessels with "lethal" strikes as President Donald Trump reiterates the possibility of war with Venezuela. In an NBC interview published on Friday, Trump left the possibility of war with Venezuela on the table. "I don't rule it out, no," Trump said. He also declined to say whether he wants "regime change" in Venezuela. Trump dramatically built up the US military presence in the Caribbean and Pacific in recent months, claiming he wanted to stop the drug-trafficking into the United States. At the same time, American forces have carried out numerous strikes on alleged drug boats since September, killing scores of smugglers. Last week, however, the US forces took control of an oil tanker leaving the South American nation and Trump said there would be further seizures of oil tankers that were exporting oil from the Latin American country with the world's largest proven oil reserves. Trump said Venezuela is "taking" US oil, apparently referring to the nationalization of the country's oil industry decades ago. "They took all of our energy rights, they took all of our oil, from not that long ago, and we want it back," Trump said on Wednesday. The US president has also been saying for weeks that he will "soon" start land attacks against targets in Venezuela. In the meantime, the US military said it killed five alleged drug traffickers aboard two vessels in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday. The US military's Southern Command claimed on X that the latest attacks hit two allegedly "narco-trafficking" boats in international waters. Three people were killed in the first vessel and two in the second vessel, it said, raising the death toll from US strikes to 104 people, according to an AFP tally based on official data, since the start of the campaign in September. The Trump administration has provided no evidence that the almost 30 targeted boats since September in the Pacific and Caribbean and the victims on them were involved in drug trafficking. Law experts have questioned the legality of the US strikes, prompting accusations of a possible war crime. Also, Democratic lawmakers have maintained that the Trump administration needs congressional authorization to use the military for the purported anti-drug campaign. The House of Representatives rejected two Democratic resolutions on Wednesday aimed at halting the strikes and "hostilities in or against Venezuela" without its authorization. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At least 7 Palestinians killed after Israeli shelling hits Gaza school Iran Press TV Friday, 19 December 2025 6:10 PM Israeli shelling struck a school in Gaza City on Friday, killing at least seven Palestinians as the occupation regime continues to violate a fragile ceasefire. The strike hit a school near Mohammad al-Durra Hospital, east of the al-Tuffah neighborhood, according to medical sources and eyewitnesses. The facility was sheltering displaced families. According to Quds News Network, at least seven people were killed and several others wounded, including children. Some bodies were recovered in pieces, eyewitnesses said. Local sources reported that the attack later expanded to a training building belonging to the Directorate of Education, located opposite al-Durra Hospital. Israeli artillery continued to shell areas around al-Durra Hospital and al-Shuhada School, witnesses said. Smoke shells and heavy machine gun fire were also reported. Several Palestinians were injured as the shelling targeted eastern parts of al-Tuffah. Medical staff at al-Ahli Baptist Hospital said they received multiple casualties from Israeli shelling that struck a building housing displaced families in the same area. Despite the ceasefire, Palestinian health authorities say Israeli attacks have continued across the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Health Ministry said earlier on Friday that 395 Palestinians have been killed and 1,088 injured since the ceasefire began on October 10. It added that 634 bodies were recovered during the same period. The ministry said the overall death toll in Gaza since October 2023 has risen to 70,669, with at least 171,165 people injured. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Navy test launches replication of Iranian drone Shahed-136 Iran Press TV Friday, 19 December 2025 5:32 PM The US Navy has carried out a test launch of a replica of Iran's Shahed-136 loitering munition, a move widely seen as a tacit recognition of Tehran's lead in the design and deployment of attack drones. The Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS-32), currently operating in the Persian Gulf, launched the replica of Shahed-136, a small piston-engined one-way attack drone, from its helicopter deck on Tuesday. The American drone, known as a Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS), was developed by the US firm SpektreWorks. The reverse-engineered and scaled-down copy of the high-volume Iranian original was prepared and dispatched by a specialized drone squadron, "Task Force Scorpion Strike," which is assigned to introduce new unmanned systems to Central Command. "This first successful launch of LUCAS from a naval vessel marks a significant milestone in rapidly delivering affordable and effective unmanned capabilities to the warfighter," Vice Adm. Curt Renshaw, commander of the Navy's West Asia-focused Fifth Fleet, said in a statement. Like the original Shahed, LUCAS has a long operational range and can be launched in multiple ways from multiple platforms, including ships, vehicles, and mobile ground stations The Pentagon finds the Shahed, which has rocket-assisted takeoff capabilities, appealing primarily due to its simplicity and manufacturability. Known as a loitering munition, the drone can remain airborne over a target for a period before striking and detonating. The spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces has said the replication of Shahed-136 drone by the United States validates the growing global recognition of the Islamic Republic's superiority in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles. Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi stated earlier this month that the decision by countries that portray themselves as frontrunners in military technology, particularly the United States, to reverse-engineer the Iranian kamikaze drone reflects the scale of the country's technological advances. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bangladesh deploys security forces as protests grow over killing of student leader Iran Press TV Friday, 19 December 2025 3:59 PM Dhaka and other major cities as protests intensified following the murder of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure in last year's uprising. Demonstrations continued on Friday, for a second consecutive day, after news emerged that Hadi, 32, died in a hospital in Singapore on Thursday. He had been shot by masked gunmen in Dhaka last week and was flown abroad for treatment before succumbing to his injuries. Thousands of protesters gathered in the capital and in cities including Gazipur, Sylhet and Chattogram, demanding the arrest of those responsible for the killing. Some demonstrators carried national flags and placards, while others blocked highways, including a major road in Gazipur, north of Dhaka. Hadi was a spokesperson for the student group Inqilab Mancha, also known as the Platform for Revolution, and was preparing to contest a parliamentary seat in elections scheduled for February 2026. He was known for his outspoken criticism of India. Protests turned violent late Thursday, with several buildings vandalised or set on fire. Targets included the offices of leading newspapers Prothom Alo and the Daily Star, which critics have accused of favouring India, where former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has taken refuge since being ousted during the 2024 uprising. Staff members at the Daily Star were temporarily trapped as smoke filled the building before firefighters brought the blaze under control. Sajjad Sharif, executive editor of Prothom Alo, described the incident as "an attack on freedom of the press, expression, dissent and diversity of opinion." Police and paramilitary forces increased patrols overnight in Dhaka and other cities amid fears of further unrest. Footage aired on local television showed protesters also attacking the residence of a former minister and blocking traffic in parts of the capital. The interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, condemned the vandalism and urged restraint. In a statement, it said: "This is a critical moment in our nation's history when we are making a historic democratic transition," adding that the process must not be derailed by violence. In a televised address following Hadi's death, Yunus said, "His passing represents an irreplaceable loss to the nation's political and democratic sphere." He called for calm, promised a transparent investigation and warned that continued unrest could undermine the credibility of the upcoming vote. Bangladeshi police said a manhunt was underway, with photographs of two key suspects released and a reward offered for information leading to their arrest. Hadi's body was repatriated to Bangladesh on Friday. Inqilab Mancha said in a social media post that the vehicle carrying his remains was heading to Shahbag in central Dhaka. At the family's request, the group said the body would be taken to Dhaka University Central Mosque on Saturday rather than immediately. The interim government declared Saturday a day of state mourning, ordering flags to be flown at half-staff and special prayers to be held nationwide. The Committee to Protect Journalists also called on authorities to ensure the safety of media outlets and journalists and to hold those responsible for the attacks accountable. The unrest comes as the interim administration faces pressure over delayed reforms and as Hasina's Awami League remains barred from participating in the February 12 election. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 1,000 patients have died awaiting evacuation from Gaza since July 2024: WHO Iran Press TV Friday, 19 December 2025 2:56 PM The World Health Organization says more than 1,000 patients have died while waiting for urgent medical evacuation from war-ravaged Gaza in the last year and a half. Citing numbers from the Gaza health ministry, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a post on X said on Friday said that 1,092 patients were known to have died while awaiting medical evacuation just between July 2024 and November 28, 2025. He noted that over 10,600 patients with severe health conditions have been medically evacuated from Gaza since October 2023, but thousands more remain trapped without access to life-saving care. The WHO chief noted that evacuations carried out by the WHO and its partners included more than 5,600 children, all requiring critical and advanced medical treatment unavailable in Gaza. But Tedros warned that "many more patients remain in Gaza awaiting evacuation to receive appropriate healthcare". "This figure is likely underreported," he warned. The WHO chief on Friday called on "more countries to open doors to patients from Gaza, and for medical evacuation to the occupied West Bank, including East al-Quds, to be restored". The health system in Gaza has been devastated by Israeli genocidal aggression, severe shortages of medicines and fuel, and damage to hospitals and medical infrastructure, leaving many patients unable to access specialized care such as cancer treatment, dialysis, or complex surgery. WHO has repeatedly warned that delays and restrictions on medical evacuations are costing lives, particularly among children and patients with chronic or life-threatening conditions. Also on Friday, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic also told reporters in the Swiss city of Geneva that some 18,500 patients were still in need of treatment outside Gaza, including more than 4,000 children. A Doctors Without Borders official earlier this month said that the WHO figures refer only to registered patients, and that the actual number of people in need of urgent evacuation was several times higher. Meanwhile, UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires told reporters that a third child has died from hypothermia in Gaza due to "horrendous weather and cold." "We have seen reports that in December, up to now, three children have died of hypothermia, including yesterday, a 29-month-old baby who couldn't endure the disease, the cold temperatures, the lack of medical infrastructure, medicines, and support to help her survive, so the baby died of hypothermia," he said. Gaza's government media office has repeatedly accused Israel of failing to meet its obligations under the Oct. 10 ceasefire and its humanitarian protocol, including the entry of shelter materials and the delivery of 300,000 tents and mobile homes for displaced families. Separately, Gaza Health Ministry in a statement declared that the besieged region's hospitals received one martyr and 13 injured over the last 24-hour period, due to the ongoing Israeli aggression. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces have continued to carry out deadly attacks across blockaded Strip, killing 395 Palestinians and injuring 1,088, others, in addition to the recovery of 634 bodies, according to the ministry statement. The statement further said that the overall Gaza death toll since October 2023 has mounted to 70,669, with 171,165 others injured. "Many victims remain trapped under rubble of the destroyed buildings or on roads, as ambulance and civil defense teams are still unable to reach them," it added. Approximately 250,000 families are living in displacement camps, many in fragile tents susceptible to flooding and freezing conditions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A container vessel at Tan Vu Port in the northern city of Hai Phong, July 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Singapore reached S$36 billion (US$27.8 billion) in the first 11 months of this year, up 25.7% from a year ago to a new peak. The figure is 13.56% higher than the total S$31.67 billion for the whole of 2024. Vietnam remained Singapores 10th largest trading partner during the period. Citing data from Singapores Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore reported that in November alone, bilateral trade totaled S$2.9 billion, an increase of 15.8% compared to the same month last year. Singapores exports to Vietnam, meanwhile, amounted to S$1.8 billion, edging up 0.1% from a year ago, while its imports from Vietnam surged 55.2% to S$1.1 billion. Of these, domestically manufactured goods were valued at S$450.3 million, down 13.4%, while re-exports amounted to S$1.4 billion, up 5.6%. For the whole 11 months, the city-state's exports to Vietnam reached S$24.5 billion, up 17.7% year-on-year, while its imports from Vietnam climbed sharply to S$11.5 billion, an increase of 47.2%. Domestically produced exports accounted for S$6.6 billion, rising 4.8%, while re-exports surged 23.3% to S$17.9 billion. In purely trade accounting terms, Singapore posted a trade surplus of about S$13 billion with Vietnam during the period, similar to the level seen a year earlier. However, as re-exports made up more than 73% of Singapores exports to Vietnam, Vietnam posted a trade surplus of S$4.88 billion when considering only goods of Singaporean and Vietnamese origin. Machinery and electrical equipment and parts, along with mineral fuels, oils and related products, remained Singapores two largest export groups to Vietnam, with a combined value of S$16.5 billion, or 67.5% of total exports. Meanwhile, machinery and electrical equipment was also Singapores top category of imports from Vietnam, more than doubling year-on-year to nearly S$5.9 billion. Cao Xuan Thang, Vietnams Trade Counselor in Singapore, said while the city-state's economic growth in 2026 may slow compared to 2025, maintaining product quality, upgrading design and packaging, applying technology to enhance efficiency, and safeguarding brand reputation will be key for Vietnamese businesses to sustain export growth in this important trans-shipment market. ICC: US sanctions 'flagrant attack' on global justice Iran Press TV Friday, 19 December 2025 3:07 AM The International Criminal Court (ICC) has condemned the United States' recent sanctions on two of its judges. On Thursday, the ICC described Washington's actions against Judge Gocha Lordkipanidze of Georgia and Judge Erdenebalsuren Damdin of Mongolia as a "flagrant attack" on the independence of an impartial judicial institution. "These sanctions are a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution which operates pursuant to the mandate conferred by its States Parties from across regions," the ICC said in a statement. In its statement, the ICC warned that threatening judges for upholding the law jeopardizes the entire international legal framework. It emphasized that such measures undermine the rule of law and reaffirmed its support for its personnel and the victims of atrocities. The sanctions were announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who accused the judges of being "directly engaged" in what he termed the "illegitimate targeting of Israel." He claimed they participated in efforts to investigate Israeli nationals without Israel's consent. "These individuals have directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute Israeli nationals, without Israel's consent, including voting with the majority in favour of the ICC's ruling against Israel's appeal on December 15," Rubio said in the statement. The Netherlands, host of the ICC, also condemned the sanctions, asserting that international courts must operate free from interference. The ICC, which has 125 member states, faced restrictions in February, with the White House citing the need to respond to "illegitimate actions" targeting the US and Israel. These sanctions, enacted through an executive order by Trump, restrict access to essential services and bar entry into the US. They were prompted by the ICC's issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war minister Yoav Gallant, for "crimes against humanity and war crimes" committed during the genocidal war on Gaza. Reports suggest these sanctions are part of broader efforts to pressure the court regarding the arrest warrants. Notably, ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has faced threats regarding the consequences of issuing such warrants, including warnings from officials connected to Israeli leadership. Since October 2023, the Israeli military has reportedly killed approximately 70,667 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, and injured 171,000 others during the ongoing war in Gaza. Experts assert that the Israeli regime, with the support of the US and Western nations, has committed acts of genocide against Palestinians in the besieged territory. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Golob: The leaders are determined to find a way, and I am confident that we will succeed Republic of Slovenia - Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia 19. 12. 2025 Prime Minister Robert Golob is attending the December meeting of the European Council in Brussels. The summit will focus on the discussion regarding financial support for Ukraine for 2026 and 2027 in the context of intensive diplomatic efforts for a lasting and just peace in Ukraine, which has been the subject of intense debate at the highest levels in recent weeks. In his statement to the media upon arrival at the meeting, Prime Minister Golob summarised yesterday's EU-Western Balkans summit and expressed his satisfaction, noting that talks with the EU candidate countries showed significantly more optimism than two years ago: "The European Commission's plan for development and cooperation with the Western Balkan candidate countries has yielded concrete results," the Prime Minister said. He added that a gradual approach, dialogue, and implementation of the plan are giving cause for optimism not only in the EU but also in the countries that are reaping tangible benefits from it. The Prime Minister went on to highlight financial assistance to Ukraine as the central theme of this summit, emphasising that Slovenia is committed to achieving lasting peace in Ukraine and that all efforts must be made to bring Russia to the negotiating table. According to the Prime Minister, frozen Russian assets are the EU's most powerful instrument for achieving this goal. He added that Slovenia is in favour of finding solutions, but will not go against Belgium's reservations. Belgium is discussing possible solutions with a smaller group of countries, with which Slovenia is also coordinating. "The decision will be made on the basis of the relevant explanations we receive today from all these countries," said the Prime Minister, adding that other options should also be explored, but a solution within the European budget would be less complicated for all countries. "I believe that the leaders are determined to find a way, and I am confident that we will succeed," concluded the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Golob also took questions from the press. He commented on the EU-Mercosur agreement negotiations and emphasised that while it is in Europe's interest to open up new markets, it is equally important to ensure that these markets operate under the same conditions, so that our food producers and industry are on an equal footing. He also pointed out that the agreement already includes a number of safeguards to protect the agricultural sector. Slovenia advocates an ambitious scope for the future multiannual financial framework, which will enable adequate funding for both key traditional EU policies - such as cohesion and the common agricultural policy, which are extremely important for Slovenia - and new priority challenges, with a focus on strengthening competitiveness. "Slovenia has been highly successful in making use of so-called centralised programmes, a fact that is often overlooked. The new financial framework provides for their strengthening and Slovenia will have significantly more funds available in this area. This makes it all the more important to determine the rules according to which companies, individuals, and institutions can access these central funds. The main battle for Slovenia's interests will be over the rules. Success will depend on ensuring that the rules applied, for example, in the Horizon Europe programme are also applied in the central funds," said Prime Minister Golob regarding the European Commission's proposal, which foresees significantly more funding over the next seven-year period for so-called centralised programmes aimed at strengthening competitiveness. At this summit, leaders are expected to discuss further EU enlargement, the EU's geo-economic situation and the competitiveness of the European economy. These are strategic issues that are closely linked to the future functioning of the European Union. The summit agenda also includes discussions on the situation in the Middle East, strengthening European security and defence, and migration. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to the Press US Department of State Remarks to the Press Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Press Briefing Room Washington, D.C. December 19, 2025 SECRETARY RUBIO: Are you guys okay if we start early? QUESTION: Sure. QUESTION: Yeah. SECRETARY RUBIO: Nah, let's just wait five minutes. (Laughter.) All right. Well, thank you, guys, for coming today to cover us and to do this event. I wanted to start - I'm going to be very brief because I just want to get to as many questions as I can. I can do English. I'll answer Spanish if you ask Spanish, and then I'll answer it in - I'll answer it in English after I answer it in Spanish. So any other languages I won't be able to do it, but those two. And then - so look, when I took over as Secretary of State - I'll refer you back to the hearings we had in the Senate in January about the role I hoped to play. And I believe very strongly this president was elected - one of the reasons why he was elected, very specific things, but one of the reasons why President Trump was elected is sort of an understanding among the American people that our foreign policy was in need of a complete recalibration. A recalibration because the world has dramatically changed. Many of the institutions, policies, assumptions that our foreign policy was operating under were built upon a world that no longer existed, and it required us to re-examine that. One of the assumptions that I think we had lost during this period of time - and I don't mean to make this an academic lecture, but I wanted to give you some insight into the broader thinking - as I highlighted at that hearing less than a year - almost a year ago now, is one of the assumptions was the loss of the notion of the national interest in our foreign policy. At the core, foreign policy needs to be the national interest of the United States. Now, that doesn't mean that there aren't issues and things we care about in the world, but at its core, the core principle of the national interest, the core principle behind our foreign policy needs to be our national interest. So you have to first of all define what is the national interest, and then you have to apply it. We defined it as we are in favor of foreign policies that make America safer or stronger or more prosperous - hopefully all three, but at least one of those three. And then it requires you to prioritize. Even the richest, most powerful, and influential country on Earth has limited resources, has limited time, and it has to be able to dedicate those resources and time through a process of prioritization. That includes geographic prioritization, it also includes issue prioritization, and that's what we intend to do here. Then you have to have the mechanisms of foreign policy to deliver on it. In essence, you have to have a Department of State and a National Security Council and all the elements of U.S. foreign policy influence and power to deliver, to identify and then deliver on those priorities. And that's what we've attempted to do here, and I think we're well on our way to doing it. There's more work to be done. There's things we will improve upon. But generally speaking, it was the genesis behind the reorganization of the department, oftentimes applying reforms that secretaries of states of both parties, appointed by presidents of both parties, have long sought to do. And we're very proud of that going into effect and continuing to work forward. I think we generally avoided massive disruptions to our operation, although any transition involves some disruption. But we're very happy with the way we empowered our regional bureaus, meaning our embassies and the folks at the desks here behind the regions have become more empowered and having influence over every element of our foreign policy, particularly how it's applied tactically. At the same time, one of the things we looked at is foreign aid. Foreign aid is not a separate activity of the United States Government. It is an element and a tool of our foreign policy, and it should be used for the purpose of furthering the national interest. That doesn't mean we don't care about human rights. That doesn't mean we don't care about starvation. That doesn't mean we don't care about hunger. That doesn't mean we don't care about humanitarian need. What it does mean, however, is that even foreign aid - which is not charity; it is an act of the U.S. taxpayer. American charities are free to give their money to whoever they want as long as it's not a sanctioned entity. But the United States and the taxpayer money should be spent in furtherance of our foreign policy, should be spent in places and on things that further our foreign policy, and even that is not unlimited. We have a limited amount of money that we can dedicate to foreign aid and humanitarian assistance, and that has to be applied in a way that furthers our national interest, and that's what we have sought to do as well. And in that endeavor as well we have empowered the regional bureaus and our embassies to play a dramatic role. In fact, they are not just the implementers of this; they in many cases are the ones that are suggesting and are leading the response. And so bringing the tools of foreign aid underneath the umbrella of our broader foreign policy has been an important and dramatic reform. Even in the midst of all that, we remain engaged around the world, including in conflicts that perhaps are not central to everyday life in America. But the President has made it a priority to be a peacemaker, and so you've seen us engaged whether it's Russia-Ukraine, or India and Pakistan, or Thailand and Cambodia, which is an ongoing challenge, or the tragedy we see now in Sudan, or the potential for further strife in South Sudan and that falling apart - I mean, or Armenia and Azerbaijan. We are always looking for opportunities, if possible, to play the role of a mediator that brings about the avoidance of war or the ending of conflicts. And obviously, in many of these cases you can get people to the table and agree, and then there's the implementation process. And so we've made progress on many of these, particularly in getting them to agree to certain conditions. Obviously it's ongoing work to make sure that those are implemented and applied. And some of these conflicts have deep roots that go back many, many years. But we are prepared to be engaged and helpful in ways that perhaps other nations can't. We've been viewed as indispensable in that regard, and it's a role the President takes great pride in, in the promotion of peace around the world, and something he deserves a lot of credit for. He is personally engaged in all of this. Obviously the big one was the situation with Gaza which, again, is ongoing. There is now a ceasefire. There is not - war is no longer going on at the scale and scope and all the other things that were going on before. But obviously, there's more work to remain. We are still through the process of trying to implement phase one and lead to phase two and phase three. That is a long-term project, some of which will extend beyond the four years of this administration. But I thought it was a very important achievement as well. So we have a lot to be proud about. I know you probably have some specific questions, and we can get to those, but I wanted to let that - lay that out as the preface and predicate for everything we're going to do today. So I'm going to start - how do I start? I'm going to start from the back row forward, and then I'll just juggle in between. I'll be here pretty long, so we'll get to everybody. Don't get desperate, don't get wild. (Laughter.) All right, I'll start with this gentleman with the white hair in the back. Yes, sir. QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. I want to ask you about Gaza. U.S. wants Pakistan troops to be in Gaza. Has - has U.S. got the consent from Pakistan that they will be sending their troops in Gaza for peacebuilding and peacemaking there? SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. Well, look, in fairness to all the countries we've talked to about being and having a presence on the ground, I think they want to know specifically what the mandate, what the specific mandate and what the funding mechanism looks like. So we're very grateful to Pakistan for their offer to be a part of it, or at least their offer to consider being a part of it. I think we owe them a few more answers before we can ask anybody to firmly commit. But I feel very confident that we have a number of nation-states acceptable to all sides in this who are willing to step forward and be a part of that stabilization force, and certainly Pakistan is key if they agree to do so. But I think we owe them a few more answers before we get there. We're trying to make a lot of progress here with the - I think the next step here is announcing the Board of Peace, announcing the Palestinian technocratic group that will help provide daily governance. And then once that's in place, I think that will allow us to firm up the stabilization force, including how it's going to be paid for, what the rules of engagement are, what their role will be in demilitarization and so forth. QUESTION: Thank you. SECRETARY RUBIO: Next to you, in the back. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thank you so much for doing this. I want to start with Russia-Ukraine. You mentioned that SECRETARY RUBIO: Easy stuff, yeah. QUESTION: You mentioned your efforts. There are talks going on right now, starting today and this weekend in Miami. What are your expectations on those talks? And the President yesterday made it clear he expects Ukraine to basically step up before Russia walks away. If you wake up in Odessa, if you're Ukrainian, this morning we're seeing Russians are bombing your city. Or if you turn on the TV and listen to Putin, what he says, why would Ukrainians ignore what the Russians are saying publicly and believing in what they are hearing from media? SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. Look, there's a reason why this war hasn't ended, and that is because there's complex factors at play. I know that sounds like a throwaway line, but it's true. What we have tried to do in this entire process - and let's be clear about this. I mean, the United States is engaged in this. The President said this - and I'll translate what I think he's trying to say to you in all of this, and I think he's been pretty clear about - is it's not our war. It's a war in another continent. We have equities, we have engagement in this war, but it's not our war per se. But we have been told by everybody - I think everybody would agree - that there's only one nation on Earth, there's only one entity on Earth, that can actually talk to both sides and figure out whether there's a way to end this war peacefully, and that's the United States. And we've invested a lot of time, a lot of energy at the highest levels of our government. I believe President Trump has had more meetings with foreign leaders and others on the war in Ukraine than on any other subject, including trade. He's invested a lot of time. Steve and Jared have invested time. I have invested time. The Vice President, the Secretary of War, others, the Secretary of Treasury, and more have invested a tremendous amount of time and energy in this. And what we're trying to figure out here is: What can Ukraine live with and what can Russia live with? Sort of identify what both sides' positions are and see if we can sort of drive them towards each other to some agreement. Wars end generally in one of two ways: surrender by one side for another, or a negotiated settlement. We don't see surrender anytime in the near future by either side, and so only a negotiated settlement gives us the opportunity to end this war. A negotiated settlement requires two things: both sides to get something out of it, and both sides to give something. And we're trying to figure out what can Russia give, and what do they expect to get; what can Ukraine give and what can Ukraine expect to get. In the end, the decision will be up to Ukraine and up to Russia. It will not be up to the United States. So that's the role we are trying to play in this, and that's why you see so many meetings going on. This is not about imposing a deal on anybody. It is about determining what both sides expect and need to have, and what both sides are prepared to give in return for it, and figuring out whether we can have those two overlap. And of course, that takes a lot of time and a lot of hard work. It can't generally be done in the media or in press conferences. I think we've made progress, but we have a ways to go, and obviously the hardest issues are always the last issues. Yes. All right, I'm going to go to the next row. That gentleman right there with the glasses. QUESTION: Me? SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, right behind you, because you're not the next row. That's the next row right there. (Laughter.) Yes. QUESTION: Thank you. I'd like to ask how you view SECRETARY RUBIO: Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't - okay, well, go ahead. You can start. I hadn't seen you. I'd seen him. But you can go because you're first on that row so QUESTION: Okay. Great. Thank you so much. SECRETARY RUBIO: As a well-oiled machine, ladies and gentlemen. So - go ahead. I'm sorry, ma'am. QUESTION: (Laughter.) Thanks. I'd like to ask how you view recent escalation of tensions between Japan and China. You've been known for your tough rhetoric towards China over the years. Do you condemn - excuse me - China's recent provocative actions against Japan? SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, no, I think I've been nice to China - (laughter) - in terms of the work we have to do with them and - I mean, I had another job. My job now is to - I represent the President of the United States and the United States in foreign diplomacy, and I think we've made good progress with the Chinese. The Japanese are a very close ally of the United States. I think these tensions are pre-existing. We understand that's one of the dynamics that has to be balanced in that region. And I believe that we feel very strongly that we can continue with our strong, firm partnership and alliance with Japan and do so in a way that continues to allow us to find productive ways to work together with Chinese - the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese Government. Look, there'll be tensions. There's no doubt about it. I mean, at the end of the day, China is going to be - is and it will continue to be a rich and powerful country and a factor in geopolitics. We have to have relations with them. We have to deal with them. We have to find the things we are able to work together on. And I think both sides are mature enough to recognize that there will be points of tension now and for the foreseeable future. Our job as we're part - as part of responsible statecraft is to find opportunities to work together. Because I think if there's a global challenge that China and the U.S. can work together on, I mean, it's - I think we can solve it. And there'll be points of tension. We all recognize that. And our job is to balance these two things. I think both sides understand that. But in the - and I think we can do that without imperiling or in any way undermining our very firm commitment to our partners in the Indo-Pacific that includes not just Japan but South Korea. And obviously if you extend further out - I don't want to leave anybody out - but India and Australia and New Zealand and all the other countries. And we also have growing and burgeoning relationships with countries like Vietnam and even Cambodia that we really haven't had very close contacts with historically. But we've talked to them a lot lately, obviously, through the context of the conflict going on with Thailand, but also to figure opportunities to work together strategically. And I say Thailand - of course, we've had a very long and strong strategic alliance with them for many years. All right. Now, your - yes, sir. QUESTION: Thank you. (Via Translation.) Two specific issues in Spanish. Based on this hemispheric logic, have you considered extending pressure beyond Venezuela or Colombia to regimes like Nicaragua or Cuba? And second, this week the Congress denounced that Mexico is sending dozens of oil tankers to Cuba, and the accompanying concern that this helps finance the dictatorship. Should Mexico reconsider this assistance policy to the Cuban regime? SECRETARY RUBIO: I'm going to answer in Spanish if that's okay guys, and then I'll do it in English as well. And does somebody do closed captioning on this? (Laughter.) Can they do it? Can they - it doesn't matter, because I'm going to say the same thing in English. (Via Translation.) Look. The most significant threat in the region are these criminal terrorist groups. This is the threat faced by Colombia, the threat facing the entire hemisphere. It is the root cause of violence in Ecuador, in Mexico, in all of Central America, in all of these countries. It is the region's most paramount threat. So we have governments cooperating with our efforts to counter that. Panama, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador. I do not want to leave anyone out, but there are many parties that cooperate. We have and continue to have very good relationships with Colombia's security teams. I understand that the President, the President of Colombia, is an unusual person, but irrespective of that we have at the institutional level... we have very good relationships, and with Mexico... the government of Mexico is doing more at this moment on the issue of security than ever in its history. Much remains to be done, but we are cooperating. On the issue of Venezuela, we do not have that. This is an illegitimate regime that not only does not cooperate with the United States, but that also openly cooperates with criminal elements. For example, the ELN and the FARC operate openly from the Venezuelan territory, drug trafficking entities operate openly and with the cooperation of the Maduro regime to send drugs such as cocaine to the United States through the Caribbean. This creates a very serious security situation in many countries, including Trinidad, the Dominican Republic, etc. So, the United States is simply promoting security in the hemisphere, which includes, for example, Haiti as well, and we have been focused on that. Obviously, efforts against drug traffickers' boats leaving Venezuela have received a lot of attention. What is underreported is what we are doing also in the Pacific, where there are ongoing efforts as well. The difference is that here we have the cooperation of friendly governments. What is not being talked about is what we are doing together with the Mexicans; what is not being talked about is what we are doing to create an anti-gang stability force inside Haiti. What is not being talked about is all the cooperation that exists with all of these governments to wage this war against these criminal terrorist elements that operate openly within our region and that threaten the States of this region. The good news is that this new year will bring us more governments in the hemisphere that are willing to cooperate, in countries like Bolivia, in Chile. We already have very strong friendships in places like Paraguay and Argentina, and also the re-election of the Ecuadoran president, and the cooperation that exists in many countries, and we aim to expand those relationships with other countries as well. So the effort is about that, and that is what we are focused on, and obviously, we have to identify what the sources of insecurity are in the region. And that source is the reason why Venezuela has received so much attention. It is because Venezuela is a country that is not just an illegitimate regime that does not cooperate with us but also a regime that openly cooperates with criminal and terrorist elements, including Hezbollah, Iran and others. And clearly these narco groups cooperate openly from there. (In English) The question that I - and it's a question many of you might have as well - is when it comes to the Western Hemisphere, the single most serious threat to the United States from the Western Hemisphere is from transnational terrorist criminal groups, primarily focused on narcotrafficking, but they're in all side businesses as well. So, the good news is we have a lot of countries in the region that openly cooperate and work with us to confront these challenges. Mexico - their level of cooperation with us is the highest it's ever been in their history. Throughout Central America, for the most part, except for maybe Nicaragua and to some extent Honduras, we've had great cooperation from Ecuador, from El Salvador, from - well, Ecuador being in South America, but across the Pacific coast, where we're also undertaking efforts. Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama - these are all nations that cooperate with us openly in search of stability in the region. You move to the Caribbean Basin in Trinidad, in Guyana, in Jamaica, in the Dominican Republic, countries that openly cooperate with us - even Colombia, despite its unusual president, has institutions in that country that work very closely with us, and those ties remain unimpeded and unaffected. So, all of this is very positive. There's one place that doesn't cooperate, and it's the illegitimate regime in Venezuela. Not only do they not cooperate with us, they openly cooperate with terrorist and criminal elements. For example, they invite Hizballah and Iran to operate from their territory. But they also allow the ELN and the FARC dissidents not just to operate from inside of Venezuelan territory, to control Venezuelan territory unencumbered, unimpeded. On top of that, we know that they are in cahoots with drug trafficking organizations. It's not that they don't - it's not just that they don't work with us against these organizations, okay? It's that they openly cooperate with these guys and allow them to operate. So, these guys are marching in and out, doing whatever they want from Venezuelan territory, and it's a challenge. And so that's why that's received so much attention. But I would urge you to not just focus on that but also focus on all the other things we're doing in the region, including, for example, standing up this gang suppression force in Haiti, which we - we were looking for 5,500 forces. We already have pledges of up to 7,500 forces from a variety of countries. We've seen donors step up to fund that effort. That's a very important effort. It all ties together cohesively. But the goal here is to bring security and stability to the hemisphere, to the region, the region we live in, okay, which has not received enough attention. To bring the elements of American power to achieve that, to do it in partnership with as many countries as are willing to work with us in that regard - that's the goal here, and it's comprehensive and involves more than just one place. What makes Venezuela stand out is that the regime there actually cooperates with the terrorists. Yes, sir. In that row right there, yeah, right there in QUESTION: On the hemisphere, you recently - the White House recently put out the National Security Strategy, essentially reorienting towards the Western Hemisphere. SECRETARY RUBIO: It was good, right? I wrote that myself. QUESTION: How is the strategy - yeah - (laughter) SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I was involved in writing it. Yeah, yeah. QUESTION: So, you can answer from both hats, I guess. SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, exactly. QUESTION: But how is that strategy going to dictate your relationship with other hemispheric powers like Canada and Mexico? SECRETARY RUBIO: No, I mean, we want to partner with as many people - I mean, they face the same threats that we do. I mean, it's Mexican mayors that are being assassinated in public squares. It's Mexican journalists that are being assassinated. It's parts of Mexico and institutions in Mexico that in some cases are compromised, usually through threat by these elements. They recognize it, which is why they're partnering with us. Of course, we want to work with other governments in the region to confront this challenge, and in most cases, we have cooperative places. Now, we don't have that from Nicaragua or Cuba, but - obviously didn't have it historically from Bolivia. We hope and expect that that will change. And we certainly don't have that from the regime in Venezuela, who actually don't just not cooperate with us, they openly cooperate with narcotrafficking elements that use Venezuela as a transshipment point. Yes, ma'am. QUESTION: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Today you had the second round of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel. Do you foresee a potential deal between these two countries without another round of war? And the second question, if I may, on Sudan. We know, Mr. Secretary, it's a civil war, but also there's a regional factor here. Where the U.S. SECRETARY RUBIO: A regional what, I'm sorry? QUESTION: Factor in this war. SECRETARY RUBIO: Okay, yeah. QUESTION: Where the U.S. stands here, and what's a red line for you? Is a divided Sudan is a red line for the U.S.? SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, let's separate the two, because they're both easy questions, right? So, the first one is we're hopeful. Look, at the end of the day, the goal everybody shares is a strong Lebanese Government that controls the country and Hizballah is disarmed. They're no longer an armed element that can threaten Israel's security - that's the goal here. And we have tried, in a cooperative way, to do everything we can to empower the Lebanese Government to have the ability to do that. And so, I hope that's what these talks are aimed towards, and we'll be supportive in every way we can to achieve that outcome. What I think is abundantly clear to everybody is no one is in favor of a Hizballah that can once again threaten the region, act as a direct Iranian proxy. And obviously if they threaten Israel, we're not going to have peace. So, we are hopeful that the talks between Lebanese authorities and the Israelis will create outlines and a way forward that prevents further conflict. I think - I don't speak for the Israeli Government. I can only tell you and echo what they've said publicly, and that is that if they feel threatened by Hizballah, they will take actions in their defense against them. So, we all would hope that we could avoid that, right? We would all hope - in order to have peace, you have to avoid that. And the best way to avoid it is to have a strong Lebanese Government that can actually control the country and that Hizballah is no longer an armed threat to Israel or to the Lebanese state. And that's what we're committed to hoping to achieve and we hope - I can't speculate on what the talks will lead to, but we'll do we can to make them productive. On Sudan, you've rightfully outlined, I mean, there are regional elements to this. I mean, there are - clearly both sides, the SAF and the RSF, have supporters from outside of Sudan's borders that are involved, and we've been engaging with those countries. There - it's not just countries that are providing them weaponry and equipment; it's also countries that are providing transshipment, particularly to the RSF, to receive weapons - in some cases advanced weaponry. Our goal right now in the short term - what we've emphasized to everybody, including in my calls with leaders in the UAE, leaders in Saudi Arabia; we're very engaged on that. Our special envoy, Massad Boulos, just returned from the region, meeting with the Egyptians, with the Saudis, with the UAE, and others. We've also been in collaboration with the UK on some of this. Our goal, the immediate goal we have, is a cessation of hostilities, okay, a humanitarian truce going into the new year that allows humanitarian organizations to be able to deliver aid to the people in great distress. Right now, that's not possible. We are hearing - continue to see reports of humanitarian convoys actually being struck on their way in, and so you can just imagine - what's amazing to us is these convoys are struck and the rest of the convoy continues. That's how committed these groups are. But what we said to everybody on it is that what's happening there is horrifying, it's atrocious; that one day the story of what's actually happened there is going to be known and everyone involved is going to look bad. And we have played - the role we have played is a convening role in bringing the parties to the table. So, I think we will know more very soon about whether this is possible. One of the challenges and frustrations in Sudan has been that one side or the other will commit to certain things, and then they won't live up to those commitments. They'll agree to anything and implement nothing; and oftentimes what happens is when one side feels like they're making advances in the battlefield, they don't necessarily see the need to concede at that point because they believe they're on the verge of achieving some success on the ground, and a truce would set them back. But what we've emphasized is none of these groups can operate without the support they're receiving externally, so we have been engaging with the countries involved from the outside to ensure that they are at the table and that they are pushing for the same outcome that we want, which is, phase one, a humanitarian truce that at a minimum allows us to deal with the humanitarian calamity that occurs there. And obviously, we hope that while that truce is ongoing, we can focus on the other elements that led to this conflict and help to resolve some of those. But our number one priority we're focused on, 99 percent of our focus, is this humanitarian truce and achieving that as soon as possible, and we think that the new year and the upcoming holidays are a great opportunity for both sides to agree to that. And we're really pushing very hard on that regard. Yes, sir. Right there, because I missed you. QUESTION: (Via translation) Mr. Rubio, in Spanish, if I may. President Trump has called President Gustavo Petro a drug leader and has used, terms... SECRETARY RUBIO: (Via translation) He has also said things about us. QUESTION: (Via translation) Sure, totally. Of course. Okay, Secretary Rubio, is there any proof or why does this Administration call Gustavo Petro a drug trafficking leader? And finally Secretary, I would like to as, given the invitation that Gustavo Petro has made now to President Trump, if you are considering going to Colombia and talking with Gustavo Petro. Thank you. SECRETARY RUBIO: (Via translation) We talk to everyone. Unfortunately, this is a person who is not very consistent in his statements, but we will not allow the actions of a President whose term will end soon to damage the relationship that exists between the United States and Colombia. This is a very close relationship. A relationship that has been built over the past 50 years. An important commercial, diplomatic, military and security relationship. It's one of the greatest partners and allies we have in the region and what we want... We are not going to allow any kind of problem that exists with a specific individual to hurt this very important relationship. Hopefully in future there will be the opportunity to enhance cooperation at the highest levels of the Colombian government, but we will not harm or do not want to harm all the relationships that we have and the ties we have, including people in the legislative body and also elected officials locally and many different mayors and different places within Colombia, who also have very good relationship with the United States, and the extensive and close relationship that exists between our peoples as well. (In English) The question is, again, about Colombia. I said, look, we're not going to let sort of the pronouncements of an unstable individual over there to impact - we don't want to let it impact our broader relationship with Colombia. It's an important relationship, an important alliance. It extends through commercial, people to people, cultural, obviously security and stability - all of these things - and our job is to try to, to the extent possible, maintain those strong ties between Colombia and the United States and not allow them to be imperiled by the pronouncements of one person. We would hope to see a day soon in which we have better relations with the leader of that country. But we're not going to let the fact that that doesn't exist now - we're going to do everything possible to not let that impact the relationships we have with the people of Colombia, with the nation, with their economy, with their security forces, which are very important. This is a very important alliance, a very important strategic partnership which we've built up through a lot of hard work over decades, and we're not going to let that fall apart because of one person. If that changes and he changes, that would be great, and obviously in May there'll be a new president there and be elections, and we'll work, hopefully, more cooperatively with whoever replaces the current president. But that's up to the people of Colombia. Did I not get your question? Go ahead. QUESTION: Thank you. Returning to Gaza, what is the U.S. understanding of what Hamas is willing to concede on disarmament? Reports suggest that Hamas might hand over its heavy weapons but retain its smaller arms. Is the U.S. prepared to accept partial disarmament as sufficient in phase two? SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, I'm not going to get into the details of those types of negotiations. Let me just couch it to you this way: Everyone wants peace. No one wants a return to a war. If Hamas is every in a position in the future that they can threaten or attack Israel, you're not going to have peace, okay? You're not going to convince anyone to invest money in Gaza if they believe another war is going to happen in two to three years. So, I would just ask everyone to focus on what are the kind of weaponries and capabilities that Hamas would need in order to threaten or attack Israel as a baseline for what disarmament needs to look like. Because you're not going to have peace. If two years from now Hamas is launching rockets or killing Israelis or carrying out, God forbid, another 7th of October type terrorist attack and so forth, you're not going to have peace. So, who is going to invest in a peace, who is going to invest in rebuilding a place, that's going to get destroyed again in a future war? So that's why disarmament is so critical. Now, what that entails, we're going to leave that to the technical teams to work on. It would have to be something obviously that they're willing to agree to that our partners can push them and pressure them to agree to. It also has to be something that Israel agrees to. In order for that to work, both sides have to agree on it, and we need the space to do it. But that's the way to think about it, okay? You cannot have a Hamas that can threaten Israel in the future. If they can, you won't have peace. So that's the goal. All right. Who's left in that row? Right there with the mustache, or the QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Does the U.S. have the goal of removing Maduro from power? Do you expect any regime change this 2026? I would appreciate if you could answer both in English and in Spanish. SECRETARY RUBIO: In Spanish? It sounds so much better in Spanish when I answer that question. QUESTION: Yeah. No, but for my SECRETARY RUBIO: So, I'll start in English. Look, our goal is regional stability and security in the national interest of the United States. The national interest of the United States specifically when it comes to Venezuela is as follows. We have a regime that's illegitimate; that cooperates with Iran, that cooperates with Hizballah; that cooperates with narcotrafficking and narcoterrorist organizations, inclusive not just protecting their shipments and allowing them to operate with impunity, but also allows some of them to control territory, the Se and the FARC-D. Okay? The ELN and the FARC dissidents operate openly. They have like open camps that they control territory inside of Venezuela. That is our - that is our national interest and that is what this is focused on, and that is what the President's been focused on, and that's what we're conducting. And that's what we have been focused on the entire time because that is the threat to the national interest of the United States. Now, do we consider Maduro legitimate? No. And by the way guys, when I say these things about Maduro and his role in narcotrafficking, it's not - I hear your reports, Marco Rubio says it. I don't - it's not me. A grand jury in New York, in the Southern District of New York - okay, a grand jury in the Southern District of New York was presented evidence and came back with an indictment - not just against Maduro, by the way, but against a bunch of people in his government - for narcotrafficking. A bunch. He had his nephews or the nephews of the - of his wife indicted, convicted in the United States for narcotrafficking. Like this was - until President Trump started doing something about these narcotrafficking links, nobody disputed that Maduro and his regime was in cahoots with narcotraffickers, not to mention the fact that they unleashed Tren de Aragua gangs on the United States. They've unleashed a mass migration event - perhaps the largest in history. Eight million people have left Venezuela since 2014, so also destabilizing all the countries in the region who had to assume people that are fleeing this illegitimate regime. So - but nobody disputed the drug links. So, our - that's what the President has been focused on and that's the problem. And that's the problem in Venezuela. (Via translation) In the case of Venezuela, it is very simple. It is an illegitimate regime that openly cooperates with Iran, with Hezbollah, and with drug trafficking groups. Even the ELN and the FARC operate openly within Venezuelan territory (Inaudible.). Therefore, the threat facing the United States is this: we have an illegitimate regime that openly cooperates with terrorist elements, and that is why we consider the Maduro regime a terrorist regime. It openly cooperates with regimes and terrorist organizations that threaten the security of the United States. That is our interest, and that is what we are focused on. (In English) Okay, next row right there. You. Yeah. QUESTION: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. With all due respect for my colleagues, I'm going to ask this one in Spanish. SECRETARY RUBIO: Okay. QUESTION: (Via translation) Mr. Secretary, you just said that you do not expect or that it is not the intention of the United States that the differences with President Gustavo Petro affect the relationship with Colombia, but the truth is that they have had implications. Colombia was de-certified. President Donald Trump ordered the suspension of cooperation resources for our country and the security consequences of this are already being seen in Colombia. As recently as last night, six Colombian soldiers were killed by the ELN during a terrorist attack, and the key question in Colombia today is what will happen next year if Colombia elects a left-wing president. If the relationships of the United States, the good relationships with Colombia and the support of the United States will depend on the Colombian people choosing a president that is seen favorably by this Administration. SECRETARY RUBIO: (Via translation) This is not about left or right, this is about a person who simply does not cooperate with us on these efforts. That is what it is all about. At the end of the day, the Colombian people will choose their next president. It is a democracy, they hold elections. Hopefully all requirements will be met. They have a long history of meeting democratic requirements. We are not saying that Petro has not been democratically elected, nobody here says that. But basically, this is not about the left or right, it is about having in power a president who cooperates with us. Surely the stance he takes against the United States has affected our relationship. There is no doubt about that. None. We are trying to limit that as much as possible, but we also have interests that we have to protect and we cannot pretend otherwise when a president is telling security elements not to cooperate with the United States. We can't ignore that. But on the other hand, we understand that we have within the Colombian system, even at the legislative level, in Congress, in the Senate, also mayors and other political leaders of that country who are indeed interested in good relationships with the United States, and even leaders who are not right-wing, who are leftist leaders, but who understand the importance of that relationship. But this is neither about left nor right. It is about whether or not there will be cooperation with the United States. We have a long history of cooperating with Colombia, which was an example and a model for the region, and what we have now is not as good, and that is unfortunate. Hopefully that changes. (In English) The question was about the - whether the U.S. relations to Colombia is dependent on whether they elect a leader that's center-right or center-left. It has nothing to do with left or right. It has to do very simply with whether or not we have a leader there that we can work with. The U.S.-Colombian relationship - especially our security relationship, but also our economic one with a free trade agreement, is a model. It was a model for the region. We tried to replicate that. Everybody would use Plan Colombia as an example of what you need to do in these other places, and we want to continue that. Now, no doubt when you have the president of a country saying some of the things and ordering some of the things that he's ordered, it's going to have an impact on some of that relationship. Our job is to try to preserve and protect as much of that relationship as possible, but it will be impacted. But it doesn't matter whether the next president is center-right or center-left. That's not the issue. The issue is whether the next president is someone who is going to once again cooperate with the United States and restart these relations. That's what we seek. And if President Petro changes in his stance, perhaps that could change as well. But if he doesn't, obviously it'll be up to the people of Colombia to elect their next president. Yes, ma'am. Right there in the middle. QUESTION: Secretary Rubio SECRETARY RUBIO: I don't want you guys to think I'm only picking the Spanish ones, okay? (Laughter.) I actually don't know who any - well, there's a list here, but I can't even read it without these glasses. All right, go ahead. I'm sorry. Perdoneme. QUESTION: (Via translation) Secretary Rubio, you have been denouncing the regime of Nicolas Maduro for years and recently you were involved in a telephone conversation between President Trump and Nicolas Maduro. I would like to ask what your impression of Nicolas Maduro was during that conversation, considering that you have known him for years. Based on his behavior, if he feels besieged, as reported by the media. If he is open to going to another country in exchange for a pardon. If you are considering meeting with him. How did that conversation go? What can you tell us about the impact it is having on the press? SECRETARY RUBIO: (Via translation) I am not going to comment on any conversation between President Trump and any other person in the world, and whether or not it took place. I am not going to get into that. I will repeat what I have already said. This is something very simple, and it is about the national interests of the United States. There is a regional threat, and in the case of Venezuela we have no cooperation. To begin with, it is an illegitimate regime. Second, it is a regime that does not cooperate, it is anti-American in all its statements and actions. And third, it is a regime that not only does not cooperate with us, but also openly cooperates with dangerous, terrorist and criminal elements. Even they themselves are. So it is hard to reach a deal with terrorists who are openly cooperating with these dangerous elements that threaten America's security. Other than that, I will not speculate. QUESTION: (Via translation) But will there be war, Mr. Secretary? Because right now in Colombia... Every day people in Venezuela believe there is an actual possibility of a war between the United States and Colombia. SECRETARY RUBIO: (Via translation) We are protecting the national interest of the United States. I think that is our right. And I will also tell you that in Colombia there must be a lot of concern that there has been an attack the day before yesterday or yesterday by the ELN or the FARC, I think it was the ELN. And they operate openly from Venezuelan territory, as if they were a sovereign country operating openly within Venezuelan territory. (In English) It's the same question, guys, and that is the bottom line is very simple. Our interest in Venezuela and in the region is the national interest of the United States, and in Venezuela we have an illegitimate regime that not only does not cooperate with the United States but ultimately cooperates with narcoterrorists and others who threaten the national security of our country. The gentleman in the middle. I'm going to try to get to everybody, I promise. But you guys, by then your questions will be more specific. QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. You said a few moments ago that everyone wants peace for Gaza, and yet by any metric the Israelis are flouting the ceasefire that President Trump negotiated by killing an average of two children a day, not allowing the agreed-upon humanitarian aid into Gaza. How long can this continue? How long can the Israelis be allowed to show such disrespect to President Trump? SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, look, that's your characterization of it about the term "disrespect." What I would say is this. This - we - this was - first of all, it was a miracle that it happened in the first place. We all understand how difficult it was for that to come to the conclusion that it did, where the actual - the bombing and everything else, the scale and scope of what we saw ended, all the hostages were released, and we have relative peace right now for the most part, despite the things you're pointing to. That was very difficult. But this is not easy. Peace is a verb. It's not - it's an action. It's not a sentiment. Every single day will bring challenges. Every single day. We also have had instances, for example, over the last couple weeks where Hamas elements emerged from a tunnel, attached an explosive device to the side of a vehicle, and injured and almost killed Israeli soldiers. We still have this threat. We still have and see every single day Hamas openly taking steps to strengthen themselves with - inside of those places in Gaza that they still control. We saw early on the atrocities they were committing in the streets against people as they were trying to show people how strong they were. So, I don't think I'm standing here to tell you this is going to be easy. This is an hour-by-hour, day-by-day challenge. It's one of the reasons why we have stood up this center there in - operating in Israel in partnership as well with another cell that exists in a regional country. It's why every single day there are leading - there are meetings among both intelligence, diplomatic, and military officials of multiple countries that helped bring about this deal to manage this. And that's why it is so critical, it is so critical and so key, that we move to complete this first phase, that we move to put in place the Board of Peace, get everybody to agree to be a part of it, move to put in place this Palestinian technocratic organization so that they can begin to provide some governance structure, and move to put in place the stabilization force. That's the goal here. But it's not going to be easy. Every day will bring new challenges to that, and we recognize those challenges are coming from all sides. QUESTION: Very quick follow-up. Who's going to be - want to be a part of a stabilization force if Israel is effectively using Gaza as a free fire zone? SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, these are the things we - that's - these are the things that we're working through right now. Again, that's why it didn't happen yesterday. That's why we didn't - I don't mean yesterday literally. That means why we're not there yet. This is the hard work of diplomacy and peacemaking. Peacemaking isn't just signing a piece of paper. It's actually complying with it. And compliance oftentimes requires - in many cases, in most cases requires - daily, constant follow-up and nurturing. So that is why we are in such a hurry - and I say as a priority - to get to this point where we have the stabilization force in place overseen by the Board of Peace and ultimately a Palestinian technocratic entity that can increase in its capability to provide governance. The stronger they are, the weaker Hamas will be in terms of threatening Israel, and I think the more security Israel should feel and less need for some of these things to happen. But no one is claiming this is going to be easy. We have to work on this every single day. We have people in this building and deployed abroad - this is all they do 24 hours a day, day after day, elements of the State Department, the Department of War, and all other agencies, and including Jared and Steve and even myself who talk or do something about - there isn't a day in the last since we - this was signed two months ago - that haven't had to do something with regards to making progress on the phases of the ceasefire. Yes, ma'am. Right next. QUESTION: Thank you. QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. SECRETARY RUBIO: I'm sorry. I'm going to get to you. I'm calling - see, I'm going down the rows like this. QUESTION: Thank you. SECRETARY RUBIO: So right behind you, because I'm still in that row. QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary, and thank you for having the briefing. SECRETARY RUBIO: Has anyone ever done this, where they go like all the rows? QUESTION: No. (Laughter.) SECRETARY RUBIO: You're going to look so good to your editors. (Laughter.) All right, go ahead. QUESTION: Caroline Lumetta with World News Group. Several faith-based organizations have been calling on the administration to reopen the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, particularly for religious minorities facing persecution. That includes Afghanistan, Syria, Iran. Is it going to be a goal in 2026 to expand that program again beyond South Afrikaners? SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, so here's the problem, okay? In the last four years, we had a flood of people enter this country through a variety of means. So that's what we confronted. We have to stop that. And we did; we've been successful. You see the border's secure, the number of illegal entries has completely collapsed, and now we're facing a second challenges, and that is we've admitted a lot of people into the United States. And perhaps the overwhelming majority of them are not bad people and so forth, this is all true, but there are people - we know, okay, for a fact, there are people in this country who got in through some form of vetting that was wholly insufficient. And we've seen tragic evidence of that very recently, including people that we claim to have vetted. So - because - why does that happen? Because there are some places where you can't vet people. You can only vet people on the basis of information you have about them. But that information is oftentimes dependent on whether there's some local authority that actually has any information about them. Okay, so that is the challenge we're facing, which is why the President sort of put a stop to all of these things until these systems for admitting people into our country can be improved. But I think everyone would understand that after a flood of 15 to 20 million people into our country, almost unrestrained in some extent, over the last four years before taking over in January of this year, there's a desire in our country to put a stop to that until we can fix these processes to ensure that not only do we know who's in the country now, but in the future, we're not going to face some of these challenges that we faced in the past. So look, the United States remains the most generous country in the world when it comes to legal immigration. This year alone, close to a million people will enter this country legally and have their green card and go to work. But we do have a right, like every sovereign country does, to know who you are, why you're coming, what you've done in the past, and what we think you might or might not do in the future. We have a right. We have a right to make sure that you're not going to come to this country and pose a burden on our social safety network. All of these things are rights of sovereign countries. A bunch of sovereign countries in the world do it. Most of the countries in the world have far more restrictive immigration policies than the United States has ever had, but we are in a special period right now. This is not like business as usual. This is - right now, we are less than a year removed from the most reckless migratory incompetence in American history, where a flood of people in mass migration events entered the United States, and I - they can claim all they want that they vetted people. This is just not true. Some of them were cursory vetting, and in some cases you couldn't vet them because the countries or places they came from had no documents upon which they could be vetted on. So that's a - we're - that program will be studied, and it will not be restarted at the scale and scope it was until we are comfortable that it is one that we are not - we know everyone who's coming in and who they are and whether they meet the criteria for admission to the United States. Yes, ma'am. QUESTION: But do you have any sort of timeline for that? QUESTION: Thank you so much, Mr. Secretary. A follow-up on the conversation between President Trump and Maduro, because the day after the conversation, the President said he was going to be meeting that gentleman very soon. Is this still being considered? Is the President still considering that? Is it still a chance for diplomacy on Venezuela? And also, any role that you see Brazil could play? Because just a few weeks ago, President Lula spoke with President Trump and Nicolas Maduro, and he offered to help to mediate. SECRETARY RUBIO: So, you want what - what comes next in that regard? I don't - I have no reason to express skepticism or optimism about it. I'm just not going to comment on what the President has available to him as options, across the range of options that include diplomatic options. QUESTION: And how about the conversation with Lula? (Inaudible.) SECRETARY RUBIO: I mean, I think he said to us what he has said publicly, in that he has - willing to play a positive role in that regard. The President's had two phone conversations and one meeting with President Lula. I think we've made progress on some things, including on trade. We have more work to be done. The two presidents got along. We felt that was important in terms of those conversations. I've talked to Mauro, their - Vieira, their foreign minister, including this earlier this week. And we have a lot of issues in common with Brazil that we'd like to work together on and strong links. Being from Florida, as an example, I know how important Brazil has been to us as a partner. We've had some disagreements on a couple things over the years as well. But I feel like that relationship is on a positive trajectory, but as far as its role in Venezuela, I don't have anything to provide you on that today of any specificity. Yes, sir. QUESTION: Just a quick SECRETARY RUBIO: Yes, sir. QUESTION: Thank you. QUESTION: A quick follow-up on the tariffs, political tariffs, on Bolivia. SECRETARY RUBIO: No, no, no, I've got to get to him, okay? QUESTION: Okay. QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary, and thank you very much for doing this. On phase two in Gaza, when is the soonest that we could see that being implemented? And then separately, you said at the top that you want the U.S. to play the role of mediator that brings about the avoidance of war and ending conflicts. How do you square that position with a possible military intervention in Venezuela? Thank you. SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, first of all, a couple things. Wanting to pursue peace and secure peace does not necessarily come at the expense of your national interest. We reserve the right and retain the option of defending our national interest. Now, in the case - again, we want to talk about Venezuela, let's be clear: Maduro has made multiple deals with elements around the world, including with the Biden administration, okay? Maduro made a deal with the Biden administration, and here's the deal he made. And I only say this to you not because we want to get back to that deal, but just as an example of why the guy cannot be trusted to keep deals. It's a problem. Okay. Somebody breaks deals multiple times, you have a right to be skeptical they're ever going to keep the deal. He made a deal. And as part of that deal, they lifted sanctions, they released his two nephews from federal custody after their conviction. They sent back his bag man, Alex Saab, and all these sorts of things. He released political prisoners, and he promised to have free and fair elections. He didn't have free and fair elections. He re-arrested or exiled most of those political prisoners. So, he pocketed all the benefits and lived to none of those commitments. So, look, it's hard to have and do a deal with someone who never keeps a deal. Now, on the broader perspective of what you're asking about, let's be mature here. Yes, there are issues where we want to pursue peace if that is possible, but we also have our national interest. If our national - we're not going to reach a peace deal with narcotrafficking bands. We're not. We - there - we can't reach a peace deal with MS13, we can't reach a peace deal with Tren de Aragua, we can't reach a peace deal with ELN or the FARC that are still pumping drugs into the United States, or any of the cartels in Mexico. You can't do a peace deal with these people any more than you could do a peace deal with the mafia. So, I think it's important to understand that's different between warring factions and nation-states around the world where we feel like maybe we could act as a bridge to bringing about the differences. But when you're talking about things that directly implicate the national interest of the United States - and no one can argue that transnational criminality and terrorism in our hemisphere is not a threat to the national interest of the United States - we have to use - we reserve the right and have the right to utilize every element of national power to defend the national interests of the United States, and no one can dispute that. And every country in the world reserves the same option. We just - simply have more power than some of them do. QUESTION: And phase two Gaza? SECRETARY RUBIO: Oh, phase two Gaza. Yeah, I mean, we'd like - we've got to complete phase one to get to phase two. That's why we're working every day to get there. Look, guys, if this stuff was easy, it would've been done already a long time ago. This is a complex situation. No one would dispute it. But it's important. We - what we achieved already, what the President achieved ending that war already was something no one thought was possible. Everyone thought that the last episode was going to be an Israeli incursion into Gaza City that would lead to massive loss of life and the hostages would never be reunited with their families. And today, as we speak, all the hostages that were living are back. All but I believe one of the bodies has been returned. No one would've believed that six months ago. So that in and of itself - but we're not - that is not the end of the story. We want to continue on this. But what we're talking about is dealing with something that no one has been able to solve in 30 or 40 years, no one, and it's going to take some time. But I feel generally optimistic that we have the right people at the table with the right motivations to make it happen, but no one is claiming to you that this is going to be just a straight-up trajectory. It's going to have its ups and downs. It's going to have its good days and bad days. The important point is that the momentum and the trajectory on it is a positive trajectory, and we're investing high levels of our government every day in trying to make that happen. But we can't do it alone. We have all these other partners that we have to include, so I would focus you on let's get the border piece in place and announced, let's get the technocratic Palestinian group in place, and then let's get this stabilization force in place, and then we can move on to the other elements, the phase two and phase three of the plan, that hopefully will be what will be enduring. And the work of putting phase two and phase three in place is going to extend far beyond the next three years. I mean, this is a generational commitment. But we want to leave those pieces in place for the next administration to continue to build upon even as we achieve phase one and parts of phase two during this administration. Yes, ma'am. QUESTION: Yeah, Mr. Secretary, some of your former - Democratic former Senate colleagues who considered you one of their most trusted bipartisan partners have, since you joined the Trump Administration, accused you of abandoning some of your former principles and positions, and three or four have said they regret voting for you. What's SECRETARY RUBIO: I had 99 votes. I could have spared four. QUESTION: (Laughter.) What's your - what's your response to that, and more importantly, how do you think about building and maintaining bipartisan consensus and cooperation on foreign policy at this moment, especially because that will be necessary to sustain President Trump's legacy after he leaves office? SECRETARY RUBIO: I mean, we live in a very different time, unfortunately. I engage with senators, for example, from both parties. We saw a bunch of them the other day all the time, and obviously - but politics today is very different than it was 10 or 20 years ago. It just is. I'm not in that anymore. I'm no longer in a political office, but I know political offices. I served 14 years in the Senate, and politics is real, right? I mean, there's also not a lot of benefit to a Democratic senator saying what a great guy Marco Rubio is in this current political environment, or anyone in the Trump Administration, for that matter. So all I will tell you is I get up every day, we go to work, we get work done, we do cooperate and work with - they don't always agree with everything we're doing, but I have a lot of people in the Senate, particularly chairmen of key committees, that we interact with. There's things people can say and do in the public that because of politics - in private that they can't say or do in public. But I don't know what else to comment on that other than one more point, and that is - and I think this is important - I think people have lost sort of their mindset here a little bit, okay? The foreign policy - the State Department is not its own government, okay? The Secretary of State is not its own government. I am appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and then - or nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and then appointed by the President. But at the end of the day, the person the people of the United States elected to be President of the United States and the commander in chief is Donald J. Trump. That's who they elected. And my job and the job of the people in our administration is to implement the President's foreign policy. We provide advice, we provide counsel, we - but ultimately our job is to take what the President wants to do, take his vision, and implement it, come up with options for implementing the President's vision. That's my job today. When I was a senator, I represented the state of Florida. Today I am the Secretary of State for Donald J. Trump, the President of the United States, and my job is to implement the President's foreign policy, provide advice, provide counsel, provide ideas, provide for opportunities and ways in which his foreign policy can be implemented. But in the end, our job is to implement that, and why people think that somehow foreign policy could be divorced from our republic - that's not the way our Constitution works. The Constitution did not - does not say you elect the President of the United States and then you put in place a State Department to undermine the President if the person who's the Secretary of State doesn't agree with him. That's ridiculous. That's stupid, really. And I don't know why anybody would think that. So that's the job I have and that's the job I'm proud to do. I think we've made a lot of progress. We have a lot more work to do. All right, on a row right there. From Italy, right? I know you from QUESTION: Yeah. Yes. SECRETARY RUBIO: Do you cover us now or are you on Capitol Hill still? QUESTION: No, everything. SECRETARY RUBIO: Both. QUESTION: Capitol Hill as well as here. (Laughter.) SECRETARY RUBIO: So you're like a one-man bureau for the whole thing. All right. You're like me. You have two jobs. Good. QUESTION: Secretary - yeah. (Laughter.) All right. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. So the United States on one hand are mediating with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, but on the other hand, the Russian foreign minister yesterday or the day before said it would be a fatal mistake from the U.S. to block the oil tanks from Venezuela and trying to overthrow the Maduro regime. So what kind of a - what's this - what's the assess you're doing, and are there any safeguard in place to avoid escalation with Russia? And then I have another question about the Hizballah, sir. SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, we're not concerned about an escalation with Russia with regards to Venezuela. I mean, I - we've always expected them to provide rhetorical support for the Maduro regime. I think they have their hands full in Ukraine. And if he's watching, Sergey, merry Christmas. And - but at the end of the day, I expected them to say what they were going to say. The rhetorical support - we understand what that - it's not a factor in how we consider this whole thing. QUESTION: And then if I may about the Hizballah, I know you already answered, but I wanted to ask you if the U.S. administration is considering a broader military support involving also potential Arab partners not only in providing weapons but also going to the field to disarm the Hizballah if the diplomatic talks will fail? SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I don't - I have not heard anyone sort of suggest that at the level of detail that you've talked about. I think regionally - for example, if you talk to the Syrian authorities - they're very concerned about Hizballah. I think most of the countries in the Gulf region view Hizballah as an agent of Iranian influence and Iranian action. But as far as what you're discussing, which is sort of a coalition of armed units going into Lebanon to disarm Hizballah, I've not heard that proposed by anybody. Perhaps you have, but I haven't, and that's not certainly something we've been QUESTION: Senator Graham SECRETARY RUBIO: Oh, okay. Well, Lindsey QUESTION: was talking about this at the Congress. Yeah. SECRETARY RUBIO: he's one of my former colleagues. Yeah. Well, you should ask Lindsey about how he's going to put that together, because - but we just haven't heard it. I'm not - I don't - I'm not saying you may not hear that one day in the future. But I think what is clear and I think may - perhaps what Lindsey is speaking to is that it is clear that if you talk to leaders in the region in all these countries, they all have the same goal, perhaps not - which is to ensure that Hizballah can no longer play the role that they've played in the past, not just threatening Israel but being an agent - an open agent, really a proxy - of Iranian influence in the region. QUESTION: Thank you. SECRETARY RUBIO: All right, next. I didn't get to you. Oh, I'm in a new row. Okay, go ahead. QUESTION: Okay. Thank you so much, sir. You have previously said in the past that you and the administration are committed to fixing the backlog of visas for foreign-born priests and other religious workers, whether that be through the workforce religious act or - excuse me, Religious Workforce Act or through maybe a standalone process. Is there any update you can give on the status of that and what's being done to hopefully fix this issue? SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, I think we'll have more to announce on that early next month. Yeah, early next month. QUESTION: Okay. SECRETARY RUBIO: We've worked closely with a lot of the religious authorities to do that, obviously depending on the denomination. We're not discriminating in favor of one versus another. Some denominations are more professionalized in terms of what they're able to provide us with and sort of information versus others. Some of it depends the country they're coming from, because we have to be careful not to be waiving - we have country-specific requirements depending on the country they're coming from. But I think we have a good plan in place to put that into effect, and I know we've worked with a number of denominations in that process. Obviously one of the big users of that system is the Catholic Church in the U.S., and so we've worked with the Conference of Bishops, and I think we're going to get to a good place. We don't have it ready yet. All this takes time to put together, but we're moving quickly and I think we'll have something positive about that at some point next month, hopefully in the early part of next month. QUESTION: Thank you so much. SECRETARY RUBIO: Yes, sir. QUESTION: Thanks, Mr. Secretary. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said that the U.S. would need congressional approval to conduct ground strikes in Venezuela. Do you share that view? And your response today on regime change - Wiles already acknowledged that the point of the boat strikes was to pressure Maduro, i.e. have him leave. Why not just acknowledge that this is a regime change SECRETARY RUBIO: Do you have the quote she said? QUESTION: That this is SECRETARY RUBIO: No, no, but do you have the quote? QUESTION: To "cry uncle" was the quote. SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, so - okay, so "cry uncle." All right. I guess in Spanish you would have to say tio. But - (laughter) - I think - I don't know how that - I mean, you can interpret it any way you want, but at the end of the day, it is clear that the current status quo with the Venezuelan regime is intolerable for the United States. The status quo that they operate and cooperate with terrorist organizations against the national interest of the United States - not just cooperate but partner with and participate in activities that threaten the national interest of the United States. So yes, our goal is to change that dynamic, and that's why the President is doing what he's doing - change that dynamic by ensuring that no one wants to get on drug boats anymore. People were just going out there openly without any fear of the reaper, and now I think people understand, like, it's not a good idea. You - by the way, we haven't had a strike in the Caribbean Basin in almost five weeks. Do you know why? It's not because we stopped looking. It's because no one wants to get on a boat anymore and do that. So it's been effective at cutting that down. Now, there's been strikes in the Pacific. So the bottom line is that, sure, our goal is to - I mean, what's the point of doing something unless - but the change - people want to focus on regime this and this and that. The goal here is very simple: the national interest of the United States. The President of the United States was elected to protect the American people, to protect America. That's what he was elected to do. It's one of his fundamental promises that Donald J. Trump made when he was elected President of the United States, is "I am going to protect this country." Protect us from what? From the threat of terrorism, from threats to our economy, and from threats these drug organizations and these terrorist organizations pose against the United States. And if you are an ally, a friend, a partner, or cooperate or participate in activities that threaten the United States, you're going to have a problem with President Trump. I think the only shocking thing here is that a lot of people say that. People run all the time for office: "I'm going to take on the cartels, I'm going to do this." He's actually doing it. He is not doing anything he didn't say he was not going to do during his campaign. He said he was going to go after the cartels, and now he's going after the cartels and everybody's shocked. Everybody's - don't be shocked. This is a man who was elected President because he says and then he does. He doesn't just say and then forget about it. QUESTION: And congressional approval on land strikes - do you think that the United States does need to go to Congress in order to conduct land strikes in Venezuela? SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, look, I'm not going to speculate about things that haven't happened and may never happen. I'm not going to speculate on that. All I'm going to tell you is that - two things. And I remind Congress all the time - by the way, I was very consistent on this position because it was my position when I was in the Senate. Number one, no administration, Republican or Democrat, has ever accepted the War Powers Act as being constitutional. That said, multiple administrations, including this one, have sought congressional approval and/or certainly congressional notification of actions taken. Why? Because American action is always strongest when it has the buy-in and the participation of a broad set of actors. Now, given our current political climate, that's not always easy because we do have people today in politics that are against everything that President Trump is for. It doesn't matter what it is. It doesn't matter if they themselves had the same position. If it's President Trump's idea, they're against it reflexively, okay? That's the nature of the current climate in our politics. But I can tell you that to this point, nothing has happened that requires us to notify Congress or get congressional approval or cross the threshold into war. We have very strong legal opinions. We have now briefed Capitol Hill 23 times. Twenty-tree briefings, bipartisan briefings, on Capitol Hill. I have personally participated in six of those 23 at the highest levels of the committee, but then the full House and then the full Senate, which, by the way, are always interesting. Okay, I get it. I've been there before, okay? So I was part of this thing in the past as well. But you do this briefing, you answer all their questions, and then they go out and tell people: we heard nothing, we saw nothing that we were pleased with. They already had their answer before they went in, but we do them anyways. And we continue to do them - not to mention the individual calls I've had with leaders in Congress, and I'm not going to disclose what those are. So everybody over there knows what we're doing, they know why we're doing it, and we've kept Congress fully apprised, and we'll continue to do so. Yes. QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. The settlers' violence is rampant in the West Bank. SECRETARY RUBIO: The what is, I'm sorry? QUESTION: The settlers, the Israeli settlers' SECRETARY RUBIO: Yes, okay. Yeah. QUESTION: violence in the West Bank is being escalating, is increasing. Also, Israel is building more - 20 - around 20 settlements unit. Doesn't this undermine your own effort in the peace process? And also, if I may, on Gaza, the humanitarian situation is dire. The - babies have been frozen to death because of the weather. Tents have been flooded. Is this anything the United States can do to alleviate the suffering of the civilians in Gaza? SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. In the case of the West Bank, we have - and you've seen our embassy, even, has put out statements and comments about specific incidents there that we're concerned about, that we do think create a point of strong friction in the broader effort. And our own embassy - and Ambassador Huckabee has spoken to this, as recently as a weeks ago, very firmly, I believe. And so we'll continue to communicate that, as we have, and make our opinion known in regards to its impact on the broader challenges. In the case of humanitarian, absolutely. I mean, this is the reason why that group is set up there every single day. We've been successful at opening new corridors. We want to continue to see that increase. We want to continue to see the flow of aid increase into those parts of Gaza that are still under Hamas control. But it also goes back, not to sound like a broken record, to why it is so critical to have the Board of Peace put in place and the Palestinian technocratic group put in place. Because that allows us now - when you have this technocratic Palestinian group in place and a stabilization force to provide security, it now allows us to have someone we can work with to turn over the humanitarian aid to and have them be the ones that help distribute it along with these international partners. That's the point we're trying to get to, that we can get to a point where that is - and part of the thing with humanitarian aid is also security. Someone has to provide security for these convoys as they go in because oftentimes they have been attacked, they've been looted, they've been so forth. We don't have a force that can do that right now unless the Israelis are going to go in, and that would violate the ceasefire. But if we have a stabilization force on the ground, they could provide security. And then the technical side of it, the logistical side of it, along with the international partners, is what the Palestinian technocratic organization can do. That is why we are in such a hurry - in such a hurry - to finalize that phase of this deal so that the aid can flow. And not just aid; then we can move from aid to reconstruction, which is the goal everybody has. You want to reach a point at which you're not providing aid because Gaza has an economy, and it's not an economy controlled by Hamas. But we can't get to that stage until we can secure the place. And that's why we're in such a hurry to finalize that phase of the deal. Yes, sir. QUESTION: Vladimir Putin today SECRETARY RUBIO: Oh, I thought you were introducing yourself - (laughter) QUESTION: No - (laughter) SECRETARY RUBIO: "Hey, I'm Vladimir Putin." QUESTION: Definitely not. Definitely not. Vladimir Putin SECRETARY RUBIO: What are you doing here? (Laughter.) Go ahead, I'm sorry. QUESTION: Nick Schifrin, PBS NewsHour. Vladimir Putin had his own end-of-the-year press conference today. SECRETARY RUBIO: Today? QUESTION: Today. SECRETARY RUBIO: Wow, he's trying to step on my message. (Laughter.) QUESTION: His went, I think, four hours, so we've got - we've got at least three hours. SECRETARY RUBIO: Oh, well, don't worry about that. (Laughter.) QUESTION: And he said he was willing to end the war in Ukraine SECRETARY RUBIO: I bet you he didn't do it in Spanish. QUESTION: He did not. (Laughter.) SECRETARY RUBIO: All right. Go ahead, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. QUESTION: No, no, it's all right. He said he was willing to end the war in Ukraine based on principles he had outlined last summer, and that included a complete Ukrainian withdrawal from four regions, most of which was not - are not occupied by Russia, recognition of occupied Russian territory in Ukraine, and the complete lifting of sanctions. That goes beyond some of the recent conversations you've been having. So do you think Putin is serious about peace, and is the U.S. willing to recognize occupied Russian territory in Ukraine? SECRETARY RUBIO: Look, I think ultimately there is what people say - and I'm not claiming that that's not his position; I'm just saying there's what people say and then what people do. In the end, we're not going to base our approach to providing - to finding peace here on the basis simply of what people are saying. We're going to base it on what people are willing to agree to, what countries are willing to agree to. Our role is very simple. We try to understand what the Russian position - how much can they give and what do they have to have. We understand the Ukrainian position. And we try to find whether those two things can overlap. Maybe that happens this week. Maybe that happens next month. Maybe that's not ready for a few months. That's not up to us, that's up to the two sides. In the end, it's up to them to make a deal. We can't force Ukraine to make a deal, and we can't force Russia to make a deal. They have to want to make a deal. The role we are trying to play is a role of figuring out whether there's any overlap here that they can agree to. And that's what we've invested a lot of time and energy, and continue to do so. That may not be possible. I hope it is. I hope it can get done this month before the end of the year. I want it to end as soon as possible. I know the President is deeply committed to helping it end. I know this, though: We're the only ones that can do it. If we were not involved, no one would be talking to both sides. The UN can't do it. Who else is going to do it? Nobody in Europe can do it. So I think to those - I think the one thing people should have is an expression of gratitude that President Trump is willing to continue to engage in this despite the fact that we haven't yet gotten the outcome that he hopes to have because no one else can do it. And so that's what we're trying to do here. So this whole narrative that we're trying to force something on Ukraine is silly. We can't - there's no peace deal that Ukraine - there is no peace deal unless Ukraine agrees to it. But there's also no peace deal unless Russia agrees to it. We are just trying to find whether there's common ground that we can make happen. And maybe that's not possible. Maybe it is. Maybe that's not possible right now. But we don't think - our work could potentially serve as a baseline for that in the future. Maybe it is possible now. We're going to continue to test it and see where we can get to. QUESTION: Is the U.S. willing to recognize occupied territory SECRETARY RUBIO: I'm not going to speak on any specifics of any deal because we're not going to be able to negotiate a peace deal, especially one like this, in the media. Suffice it to say - let me just put it to you this way - there can't be a peace deal unless Ukraine agrees to it. And there can't be a peace deal, of course, unless Russia agrees to it. But remember that. Any peace deal is one that Ukraine has to agree to because they're a combatant. If Ukraine says, "We don't agree to it," there won't be peace. So our job is not to force anything on anyone. It is to try to figure out if we can nudge both sides to a common place. And guys, in a conflict like this, in a war like this, that's not easy. It takes a lot of time. We're going to have to have some patience with it, unfortunately. It's already gone longer - but understand why the President cares about this, okay? Because let's be honest here. And I'm not trying to diminish this, okay, because let's be - it's an interesting position to be in. The United States only provides - we don't provide weapons to Russia; we only provide weapons to Ukraine. The United States doesn't sanction Ukraine; it's only sanctioned Russia. And yet we are still the only country in the world that can talk to both sides. So let's be clear about the role we've played in this so far. I mean, we're the only ones that can. But - so I don't mean to be dismissive of why this matters or it's important because this is going on in another continent. We've got issues in our own hemisphere we need to be dealing with that from a - if you were to ask prioritization, I would argue that something in our hemisphere, from our national interest, is more important than something in another continent. But it doesn't make Ukraine and Russia unimportant. We care about it. That's why we're involved in it. But by the same token, why does the President care? I'll tell you why. This week 8-9,000 people will die, including like 5- or 6,000 weekly Russian casualties, okay, in a war. This is a bloody, nasty conflict. In the same time, the entire electric grid, the entire infrastructure of Ukraine, is being destroyed almost as fast as it's being rebuilt. Every week that goes by, the cost of rebuilding that country gets exponentially higher. It is now becoming generational reconstruction. This is a very damaging war that's going to have incredible implications. There are now hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, probably maybe in millions, who have not lived in Ukraine in years. They've been displaced to other countries. The implications of this long term for Ukraine are dramatic - and for Russia, too, but for Ukraine, and we're focused on them. This is why the President wants to ends it. He thinks it's a bloody, nasty, just horrifying war, and he doesn't like wars. He really doesn't like wars. He thinks they're a waste of money, time, and talent. And he wants this one to end, and we're doing everything we can to end it. And it may or may not be possible, but we're certainly going to keep trying. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, I wanted to ask about visas. QUESTION: Thank you. SECRETARY RUBIO: I'm going to get - I promise you we're going to go through here. Do you have a deadline or something? QUESTION: I have a visa question. I SECRETARY RUBIO: I know, but let met through the rows. Because if not, if I break up the row thing, you're going to screw up the whole plan I have for today. (Laughter.) Go ahead. QUESTION: Thanks, Mr. Secretary. If I can turn internally for a moment, a recent survey by the American Foreign Service Association found strikingly low morale among career diplomats in the U.S., some of whom reported that they feel like they can't freely express their opinions, that their candid input is not welcome, and many of them are saying that they're actually thinking about career changes. I know you talked at the top about how change can be disruptive, but I wonder: How much does this concern you? Do you possibly see this as a feature and not a bug? Or would you be happy to see people leave so that you can bring in a new crop of people? And then just briefly on your own role, you have two jobs right now. Your travel schedule seems a bit lighter than your recent predecessors. You didn't attend the last NATO foreign ministers gathering and had your deputy go. Are you fully performing the job of secretary of state? Are you more of a national security advisor than a secretary of state? Can you talk about that? Thank you. SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. Well, first of all, on the travel schedule, we have - a lot of leaders keep coming here, too. So you talk about NATO. Great example on NATO. I already went to a NATO meeting this year of all the foreign ministers. Then I went to the leaders meeting, which not all the foreign ministers were at. And then on top of that, that week is the week we had Rwanda and the DRC coming to the United States on a deal that I was working in. So as far as the travel schedule is concerned, we have a lot of leaders constantly coming here. We have leader meetings every single - every single week, for the most part, up until last week. So there's a lot of work to be done. On the Foreign Service, we have very talented people here. I'm not going to - I saw that report somewhere. That's from the union. That's from a union survey. All I can tell you is that today, Foreign Service officers are more empowered at the regional bureau than they have ever been. I get dissent cables. I get cables every day from all over the world that provide the baseline for a lot of the ideas that we pursue. There isn't a week that goes by that I don't send back two or three cables with notes about let's turn this into a policy proposal. We are changing this place so that it is our missions in the field that are not just driving directives from the top down but also ideas from the bottom up. And I'm very proud of that, and I think that's going to lead and pay huge dividends for future secretaries of State long after I'm gone. So yes, sir. QUESTION: Thank you, Secretary. Human rights organizations report that 2025 has seen the highest number of execution in the Islamic Republic of Iran in over two decades. What specific new measures is the State Department taking to ensure that human rights abuses, specifically this surge of state-sanctioned execution, do not become a secondary priority in your dealings with Tehran? SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, ultimately, look, our - we have very deep and systemic disagreements with the regime in Iran, and it's part of the - one of, if not the most, sanctioned country in the world - one of the most sanctioned countries in the world. There isn't a week that goes by - at least two, three times a month, I'm authorizing some new sanction on some new entity related to Iran. I don't think anyone could argue that this administration has been friendly towards them. So we continue to feature these things because it tells us about who they are. In the case of some of these executions that you're talking about, some of them by the way were in the aftermath of the war with Israel, where they went through and have jailed people and accused people of being informants and spies and things of that nature. But we're under no illusion. And every year, we put out a report that outlines this, and we've been pretty consistent in our messaging. Our problem with the Iranian regime isn't simply - I mean, obviously, it's predominantly their desire to acquire nuclear weapons, their sponsorship of terrorism, but it's ultimately the treatment of their own people. I mean, there - I have said - I said it in my hearing a year ago in the Senate and I say it now: I know of no nation on Earth where there is such a difference between a regime that governs the country and the people who live there every single day. That regime is not reflective of the people who live in Iran, who are the inheritors of a proud and long cultural legacy and a proud, proud history. And then you've got a clerical, radical regime that has driven it and taken the wealth of that country and used it not to enrich their - secure their people and their future, not to make sure they have enough water and electricity. They've used their money to sponsor terrorist organizations all over the world. That's what they've used their money for. So we're going to continue to consistently point that out. Yes, sir. QUESTION: Secretary, second question. Sorry. SECRETARY RUBIO: I'm sorry. I've got to go because I'm getting everybody today. QUESTION: It's all right. Yeah. Regarding Europe, you said that Europe was not going to be able to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. There's been some disengagement. There's some push within the European Union to either not comply with the increase in defense spending that the United States has been promoting or also some European countries like Spain promoting closer ties to China or going to China or inviting more investment from China or even Chinese technology in critical infrastructure. Are you concerned at all about this path, and SECRETARY RUBIO: No, I mean, the countries made a commitment in NATO at a meeting I was at where they made the 5 percent pledge, which is a dramatic and historic pledge, with the exception of Spain, of course, who didn't make that pledge. And we've had no indication from any other countries that agreed to that that they're not going to do it, because it's in their own interest. I mean, it's in their own interest. The bottom line is increasing their defense capacity is in their interest because it's their defense. As far as, like, opening up to China, look, the - one of the biggest problems Europe faces is they're being flooded with cheap Chinese goods, including Chinese cars. They're being flooded. Their own industrial base is under attack by unfair Chinese practices economically. So I don't know about the rhetoric you're pointing to or the examples, but I mean that's a threat that Europe faces, and they need a rebalancing as well. They're also, like we are, experiencing disruptions to supply chains and things of the economic realm that are very problematic and dangerous for national security. So we would expect them to act with their national interest both continentally and individually as their own countries. All right, we've got to speed it up. Yes, ma'am. QUESTION: Thank you. Hi, Annelise Nielsen from Sky News Australia. In your National Security Strategy, you've warned Europe about civilizational erasure. When you've been watching what's been happening in Australia with the rise of antisemitism and our government's response to the Bondi massacre, our prime minister has dodged direct questions on Islamic extremism but then prompted a vote right-wing extremism as a threat. Do you have any message to Australia about civilizational erasure, and why is America watching this closely? SECRETARY RUBIO: Look, I just think it's very simple, and that is that any - mass migration is highly disruptive to any country. It's - we talked about it here in the United States. When you experience mass migration - I'm not talking about immigration. I'm talking about mass migration. Okay, mass migration is a negative thing. It's not positive. And it's very difficult for any society to absorb and assume hundreds of thousands if not millions of people over a short period of time, especially if they come from halfway around the world. There are cultural and assimilations issues related to that, et cetera. And so these are concerns that I don't - it's concerns I have about our own country. Primarily, it's been a priority of this administration to address this. But I think it's a growing concern in Europe. I mean, there are other voices in Europe and obviously in Australia as well that have expressed concern about this. These are facts. This doesn't make you anti-anybody. What it makes is you do have as a sovereign country the right to control how many people you absorb and how many people you allow in and who those people are. This is a very basic sovereign right. Okay. It doesn't mean you don't allow any people in. There are people coming into this country every day to visit, to work, to live permanently, but you have to know who they are and you have to have some limits and controls over what those numbers are. And obviously because of some of the things we've seen - mass migration over the last decade has been highly disruptive, not just to the United States but also to continental Europe and in some cases in the Indo-Pacific as well. So I just think this is a real challenge that multiple Western advanced, industrialized countries are facing, and I think it's pronounced in parts of Europe as well and obviously - at least on the basis of your question - appear to be a challenge as well in Australia. All right, to the next row. Yes, ma'am. You're not - hold on, Andrea. Right behind you. I'm going to get to everybody. Go - yeah. QUESTION: Oh, I just wanted to ask about SECRETARY RUBIO: You don't have a question? Okay. No, I'm kidding. (Laughter.) Go ahead. QUESTION: On Ukraine, this weekend, the meetings with the Ukrainian delegation and the U.S. delegation, are you planning to participate in the meetings? SECRETARY RUBIO: It's in Miami. They're starting today and tomorrow. I may be there tomorrow for a portion of it. There's another one happening today, but that one is with the Turks and the Qataris and the UAE on the Gaza plan. So if I'm not there because I have things we have to do here today like talk to you guys, I think tomorrow it's in Miami as well. So yeah, go ahead. Yes, sir. QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Timothy Nerozzi with the Washington Examiner. Going back to the previous question about Europe, and I believe the Sky News reporter referenced civilizational erasure, which is a term that has been used by both the White House and the State Department. Both the White House and the State Department have made kind of recurring overtures to Europe as a civilization that is in some sort of danger and that should join with the United States as a sort of Western civilizational bloc, and it seems to be a recurring priority. However, with the release of the National Security Strategy, many European leaders, the leader of Germany, members of the EU - of the European Parliament, have found it totally unacceptable or offensive, or question the allyship of the United States with the rhetoric that was used. So I just wonder: if the United States is correct in that these policies like mass migration will lead to civilizational erasure, is it possible to save European civilization if the governments simply don't want to be saved? SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, listen. How has this alliance long been described? As the Western alliance, right? What is it that - and it's not just me saying. You go to these NATO meetings and you meet with people, what they will tell you our shared history, our shared legacy, our shared values, our shared priorities. That's what they talk about as the reason for this alliance. Well, if you erase your shared history, your shared culture, your shared ideology, your shared priorities, your shared principles, then what - then you just have a straight-up defense agreement. That's all you have. So what I'm trying to point to and what we've tried to point to is very simple; that is, at the bedrock and at the cornerstone of our relationship, for example, with Europe is the fact that we do have a shared culture, a shared civilization, a shared experience, and shared values and principles on things like human rights, on freedom, on liberty, on democracy, on all sorts of - on the rights of the individual, on all these sorts of things that we in this nation are the inheritors of in many cases, because many of these ideas that led to the founding of our country found their genesis in some of these places in the Western alliance. If you take that away, if that's wiped out because for whatever reason it's no longer a part, I do think it puts a strain and threatens the alliance in the long term and in the big picture. Now, whatever internal politics causes people to dispute this, I'm not going to comment on other than to tell you that I do think - I do think - that at the core of these special relationships we have is the fact that we have shared history, shared values, shared civilizational principles that we should be unapologetic about. This is a nation that was founded on Western principles, founded on Western principles like liberty, the value and the right of the individual, the right of self-governance. These are all Western values. Now, others may have adopted in diffe Visa Restrictions on Honduran Government Officials Interfering with the 2025 Election Vote Count US Department of State Press Statement Marco Rubio, Secretary of State December 19, 2025 The Department of State has revoked the visas of Mario Morazan, pursuant to Section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), for undermining democracy in Honduras by impeding the vote count. The Department has refused the visa application of Marlon Ochoa and taken steps to impose visa restrictions on another individual for undermining democracy in Honduras. These actions are taken under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the INA, which generally bars entry to those whose entry or proposed activities have potentially serious adverse U.S. foreign policy consequences. The United States will not tolerate actions that undermine our national security and our region's stability. We will consider all appropriate measures to deter those impeding the vote count in Honduras. These actions are being taken pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) and Section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Targets Family Members and Associates of Maduro Regime U.S. Department of the Treasury December 19, 2025 WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned several family members and associates of the Maduro-Flores family. This action further targets the narco-corruption structure that sustains Nicolas Maduro's illegitimate regime, namely the familial networks of Carlos Erik Malpica Flores (Malpica Flores) and Ramon Carretero Napolitano (Ramon Carretero). "Today, Treasury sanctioned individuals who are propping up Nicolas Maduro's rogue narco-state. We will not allow Venezuela to continue flooding our nation with deadly drugs," said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "Maduro and his criminal accomplices threaten our hemisphere's peace and stability. The Trump Administration will continue targeting the networks that prop up his illegitimate dictatorship." SANCTIONING MADURO ASSOCIATES AND THEIR FAMILIES On December 11, 2025, OFAC sanctioned Malpica Flores, a nephew of Maduro's wife Cilia Flores, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13692 for being a current or former official of the Government of Venezuela. Malpica Flores, who has been repeatedly linked to corruption at Venezuela's state-run oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), has leveraged his family connections for his transnational financial operations. Today, OFAC is designating the following individuals pursuant to E.O. 13850 for being immediate adult family members of Malpica Flores, a person determined to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have directly or indirectly engaged in, any transaction or series of transactions involving deceptive practices or corruption and the Government of Venezuela or projects or programs administered by the Government of Venezuela: Eloisa Flores de Malpica, Malpica Flores's mother and the sister of Cilia Flores; Carlos Evelio Malpica Torrealba, his father; Iriamni Malpica Flores, his sister; Damaris del Carmen Hurtado Perez, his wife; and Erica Patricia Malpica Hurtado, his adult daughter. In addition, today's action builds on OFAC's December 11, 2025 designation of Panamanian businessman Ramon Carretero by designating the following individuals pursuant to E.O. 13850 for being immediate family members of Ramon Carretero, a person determined to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have directly or indirectly engaged in, any transaction or series of transactions involving deceptive practices or corruption and the Government of Venezuela or projects or programs administered by the Government of Venezuela: Roberto Carretero Napolitano and Vicente Luis Carretero Napolitano. Ramon Carretero has transacted extensively with the Maduro regime, including the family of Malpica Flores. SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons. Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC's Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC's enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities involving designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, or to submit a request, please refer to OFAC's guidance on Filing a Petition for Removal from an OFAC List. Click here for more information on the persons designated today. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The UK strongly condemns the recent coup in Guinea-Bissau and the attempted coup in Benin: UK statement at the UN Security Council Speech Statement by Jennifer MacNaughtan, UK Minister Counsellor, at the Security Council meeting on West Africa and the Sahel. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Jennifer MacNaughtan, UK Minister Counsellor Published 19 December 2025 Location: United Nations, New York Delivered on: 18 December 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) I will make three points: First, we strongly condemn the recent coup in Guinea-Bissau and the attempted coup in Benin. These actions undermine democratic governance across the region. We urge a swift return to constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau, the publication of official election results, and the immediate release of political prisoners. We commend the mediation efforts of ECOWAS and the African Union, as well as their leadership. Second, we underscore the importance of regional cooperation to tackle the transnational security challenges in the region. Terrorist attacks, organised crime, and climate change continue to destabilise communities and weaken national governance. Regional coordination is critical, and we welcome the work towards a regional standby force and efforts to build on the ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Strategy. We commend too the increased engagement between ECOWAS and the AES. We welcome the progress made by Cameroon and Nigeria in implementing the ICJ judgement on their land and maritime boundaries. This is a good example of regional cooperation improving security. Third, we remain deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation in the central Sahel, where an estimated 12.1 million people will require urgent assistance in 2026. As reflected in the Secretary-General's report, access challenges and bureaucratic impediments continue to undermine the timely and efficient delivery of life-saving assistance. We urge all efforts to ensure rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to those in need. To conclude, the United Kingdom will continue to support the important work of UNOWAS and regional organisations to help build peace and security in West Africa and the Sahel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council renews DR Congo peacekeeping mission amid renewed M23 offensives in the east By Vibhu Mishra 19 December 2025 - The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for another year, as fighting in the country's east intensified amid renewed offensives by the M23 rebel group. Resolution 2808 (2025) extends the mandate of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) until 20 December 2026, maintaining an authorized troop ceiling of 11,500 military personnel, 600 military observers and staff officers, 443 police personnel and 1,270 formed police unit personnel. Under the resolution, MONUSCO's core area of operations remains North Kivu and Ituri, with any deployment linked to ceasefire monitoring in South Kivu subject to security conditions and prior notification to the Council. The mission's Force Intervention Brigade was also renewed on an "exceptional basis," with the Council underlining that precedent was created. The specialized force was created in 2013 and tasked disrupting and disarming armed groups. The resolution also highlights what it calls a "rapidly deteriorating security and humanitarian crisis" in eastern DRC due to the armed group M23 (Mouvement du 23 Mars) offensive in North Kivu and South Kivu "with the direct support and participation of the Rwanda Defence Forces." It further condemns the group's seizure of Uvira, a strategic city in South Kivu on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, warning it risks destabilizing the wider region. National perspectives France, the penholder on the file, said the Council negotiated the draft under "unusual circumstances" as the M23 continued its offensive in South Kivu. "In light of the gravity and the urgent nature of the situation, and following this resolution, France calls upon all parties to honor their commitments for the achievement of a lasting peace in the east of the DRC and in the Great Lakes region," Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont said, introducing the text. The United States said negotiations were "yet again disrupted" by M23 advances "supported by the Rwanda Defence Forces," and urged the group to comply with its commitments under the Doha framework. "M23 must immediately withdraw at least 75km from Uvira and return to compliance with all of its obligations undertaken in the Framework Agreement," said Jennifer Locetta, Ambassador and Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs. China and Russia, while backing the renewal, emphasized that the mandate was the product of difficult compromises and cautioned against politicizing the mission. Sun Lei, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of China, said the Council should uphold the "independence, neutrality and authority" of the operation. He stressed that China "firmly supports" the DRC's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, adding that "all countries from outside the region should stay truly committed to peace in eastern DRC, and stop taking advantage of the situation and seeking economic resources and other selfish interests." Speaking for Russia, Anna Evstigneeva, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative said her country expected detailed proposals on modalities for MONUSCO's role in ceasefire monitoring by 1 March 2026, while also calling on all parties to comply with their obligations under Council resolutions. "We call upon the parties to cease fire, to honor their obligations to implement Security Council resolution 2773, which spells out the key solutions for resolving this conflict for the benefit of the millions of residents of the DRC and of other countries in the region," she said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sudan war: Kordofan's El-Obeid 'one or two steps' away from being attacked By Daniel Johnson in Geneva 19 December 2025 - As fighting escalates in Sudan, "people are scared, people are fleeing their homes", the UN migration agency, IOM, said on Friday, noting that more than 50,000 people have been uprooted since late October in the Kordofans region alone. "People in Sudan are not moving by choice, they are running just to find safety," said Mohamed Refaat, IOM Chief of Mission in Sudan. Speaking from Port Sudan to journalists in Geneva, he urged all Member States and "everyone who can provide support" for Sudan's people, to ensure their protection. Heavy shelling alert Latest reports from the wartorn country indicate that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) along with allies in the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) shelled residential buildings in Dilling, South Kordofan in the last 48 hours. The RSF have been at war with the Sudanese army since April 2023 following a breakdown in transition to civilian rule. On 26 October, the paramilitary force overran El Fasher - the regional capital of North Darfur - after a 500-day siege, prompting further mass displacement. Deep concerns persist for those believed to still be trapped inside the city who had to eat peanut shells and animal feed to survive the ordeal. 'People are scared' "Those displacements from Kordofan are not happening sporadically, they are happening because people are scared," IOM's Mr. Refaat said. He noted that people were now fleeing from Babanusa, Kadugli and El-Obeid. Highlighting deep concerns for vulnerable individuals on the move, the veteran humanitarian official noted that "only women and children" are arriving in White Nile and Gedaref to the east. Deep insecurity and violence persist across Sudan, increasing protection risks for civilians and hampering safe humanitarian access. There are growing concerns over the rapidly deteriorating situation in Kadugli, the capital city of South Kordofan state where six peacekeepers from Bangladesh were killed in drone attacks last Saturday. The UN blue helmets were at a logistics base in the city, deployed with the UN force in Abyei, the disputed region on the border with South Sudan. Hundreds of thousands at risk "In the town of Kadugli, we estimate that there are around 90,000 to 100,000 people in this area who will be displaced if something happened if the fighting continued, if they get access to leaving the city," Mr. Refaat said. He added that El-Obeid - the capital of North Kordofan - appeared to be just "one or two steps from being the next city under attack...we estimate more than half a million are already going to be impacted." Returning to the crisis in El Fasher, the IOM official noted that the UN agency's displacement tracking matrix had recorded more than 109,000 people who had managed to flee the city and its surrounding villages since it fell in late October to the RSF. "Many of them are still stuck in the neighbouring villages not able to move further because of logistics [and] security issues" he said, fuelling concerns for those trying to survive when the essentials for survival have been "completely obliterated", UN aid teams warned one week ago. Asked about the impact of severe funding cuts for aid work in the UN and beyond, the IOM chief of mission explained that the agency had lost $83 million worth of resources this year alone. This has forced aid teams to reduce its footprint "massively", Mr. Refaat explained. "Because of those cuts, we have to choose which lives we can save and which support we have to stop. So, we would go crossing places where we know that people are absolutely in dire need, but we will leave them and not be able to help them because we have to prioritize those who are absolutely dying." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Sudan: UN condemns killing of staff member in Wau, calls for swift investigation 19 December 2025 - The United Nations on Friday condemned the killing of a civilian staff member serving with its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), calling on the authorities to swiftly bring those responsible to justice. In a statement by his spokesperson, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned "in the strongest terms" the killing of Mr. Bol Rhoch Mayol Kuot, a South Sudanese national employed as a Language Assistant with UNMISS. Mr. Guterres extended his deepest condolences to the staff member's family and loved ones and reaffirmed the United Nations' commitment to providing all possible support during this profoundly difficult time. According to the statement, Mr. Kuot was forcibly detained on 15 December by security actors near Wau town in Western Bahr el Ghazal state and was subsequently killed by his captors. UNMISS received confirmation of his death earlier this week. "We are devastated by the loss of our colleague," Anita Kiki Gbeho, Officer-in-Charge of UNMISS, said in a separate statement, describing Mr. Kuot as a dedicated member of the UN team committed to serving the people of South Sudan. "Such killing of United Nations personnel is unacceptable. We call for an immediate and thorough investigation to determine the circumstances of his detention and death and to ensure justice for him and his family. The safety and security of UN staff must always be respected." Serving peace amid complex challenges UNMISS was established in 2011, following South Sudan's independence, with a mandate to protect civilians, monitor human rights, and support peacebuilding and reconciliation, working closely with communities, government institutions and civil society. With more than 17,000 civilians, police and military personnel deployed across the country, UNMISS operates in some of the most challenging environments, where insecurity and intercommunal violence continue to threaten lives and livelihoods. Despite these risks, the Mission remains steadfast in its commitment to peace, protection and accountability. UNMISS has urged national and local authorities to conduct a prompt, transparent investigation and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international and national laws. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address World News in Brief: More UN staff detentions in Yemen, peacekeepers killed in Sudan sent home, attacks in Ukraine 19 December 2025 - The UN Secretary-General on Friday condemned the arbitrary detention of 10 more UN personnel by Houthi de facto authorities in Yemen, warning that the growing crackdown is crippling humanitarian operations and putting millions of lives at risk. This latest incident, which occurred on Thursday, brings the total number of UN staff currently being held by the Houthis to 69. These detentions have rendered the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Houthi-controlled areas untenable, directly affecting millions of people in need and limiting their access to life-saving assistance, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. "The Secretary-General calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all arbitrarily detained personnel from the United Nations, but also from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), from civil society and from diplomatic missions," he said. "Mr. Guterres calls on the Houthis to rescind the referral of UN personnel for prosecution," he added, further calling for the respect of international law, including the privileges and immunities of the UN and its personnel, "which are essential to enabling humanitarian action in a secure and principled environment." The Secretary-General and the UN will continue our sustained efforts with Member States and with the Security Council, as well as through direct engagement with the Houthis, to secure the release of all detained UN colleagues. Bodies of Bangladeshi peacekeepers killed in Sudan attack repatriated The bodies of six UN peacekeepers killed in a drone attack on their camp in Kadugli, South Kordofan, Sudan, last weekend were transported on Friday to their home country, Bangladesh. The peacekeepers, serving with the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), included Corporal Muhammed Masud Rana (37), Private Muhammed Sabuj Mia (29), Private Muhammed Jahangir Alam (29), Private Santo Mondol (26), Private Shamin Reza (28), and Private Muhammed Mominul Islam (35). "We once again send our deepest condolences to their families, to their colleagues, to the Government and people of Bangladesh," UN Spokesperson Dujarric told reporters in New York. He reiterated that attacks against UN peacekeepers "are not only unacceptable, but they may constitute a war crime," stressing that accountability in this case and all other cases must prevail. Mr. Dujarric further noted that eight of the nine injured peacekeepers are receiving medical treatment in Nairobi, Kenya, and one has been discharged after receiving care at the Mission's medical facility in Abyei. Attacks disrupt critical services in Ukraine A new wave of Russian attacks severely disrupted critical services in Ukraine, aggravating humanitarian needs amid harsh winter conditions, the UN aid coordination office (OCHA) has reported. Between Thursday and early Friday morning, several fatalities and more than 30 people were injured, according to Ukrainian authorities. A bridge and a railway station were struck in Odesa, where one woman was reportedly killed, while her three children and several other civilians were injured. In the same region, attacks on energy infrastructure have left some 270,000 customers without water, approximately 85,000 without heating and 75,000 without electricity. As of October, humanitarian organizations, including the UN, reached 4.4 million people with assistance, according to OCHA. Humanitarians also deployed emergency teams to provide first aid to those affected by the recent attacks. On Friday, a humanitarian convoy delivered seven metric tonnes of medicines, hygiene supplies and other essentials to a front-line community in Kherson. So far this year, OCHA and partners have dispatched 29 humanitarian convoys to the region, reaching more than 30,000 residents. Burundi sees worsening conditions amid refugee influx More than 84,000 people have crossed into Burundi from South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since earlier this month, increasing the total number of Congolese refugees and asylum-seekers in the country to more than 200,000. Citing reports from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Mr. Dujarric said that transit centres and informal sites hosting new arrivals have surpassed capacity - in some cases by more than 200 per cent. "Local resources, as you can imagine, have been overwhelmed," he added. Across the border, violence in South Kivu has forced more than 500,000 Congolese from their homes. Where access permits, the UN refugee agency and their partners continue to conduct protection monitoring and provide assistance. UNHCR is seeking $47 million over the next four months to assist 500,000 internally displaced people in the DRC and up to 166,000 refugees in Burundi, Rwanda and other neighbouring countries to which Congolese men, women and children have sought refuge. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Singapore to punish scammers with up to 24 strokes of the cane from Dec 30 Passers-by hold their mobile phones as people take a selfie photo using a smartphone, with Singapore's central business district skyline, in Singapore, May 10, 2019. Photo by Reuters Singapore's government said Friday that scammers will face mandatory caning of up to 24 strokes from Dec. 30, under changes to criminal law to deter surging fraud cases. The changes, passed by Parliament last month, strengthen penalties that already include imprisonment and fines. The Home Affairs Ministry said the enhanced punishment "ensure that our criminal laws remain effective, fair, and responsive to emerging challenges." Under the changes, scammers, including recruiters and members of scam syndicates, face six to 24 strokes of the cane. Those who knowingly provide their bank account or other personal details to be used to commit or facilitate the laundering of scam proceeds could also face discretionary caning of up to 12 strokes, authorities said. The new laws also allow for discretionary caning for other forms of fraud. "Fighting scams is a top national priority. The number of scam cases and scam losses remain concerning," it said. Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Sim Ann has told parliament that scams made up 60% of all reported crime in Singapore between 2020 and the first half of 2025. About 190,000 scam cases caused losses of nearly S$3.7 billion (US$2.8 billion) during that period, she said. According to the Singapore Government Technology Agencys website, the top five scams in the city-state involve phishing, fraudulent jobs, e-commerce and online shopping, as well as get-rich investment scams and impersonations. Judicial caning, a form of corporal punishment involving a rattan cane on bare buttocks, is already applied in the city-state for male offenders under 50 for serious crimes like robbery and sexual offenses, alongside prison time. Caning was introduced during British colonial times and is also used in neighboring Malaysia and Brunei. UN urges calm in Bangladesh after killing of protest leader sparks unrest By Vibhu Mishra 19 December 2025 - The United Nations has urged calm in Bangladesh after the killing of a prominent youth protest leader sparked fresh unrest, raising concerns about political violence and the safety of civic space as the country prepares for elections early next year. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, a leading figure in last year's protests, and called on the authorities to ensure accountability. He urged the authorities to conduct "a prompt, an impartial, a thorough and transparent investigation, in line with international human rights standards," and called for restraint as Bangladesh heads toward parliamentary elections scheduled for February 2026, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a regular press briefing in New York. Mr. Guterres also appealed for calm, urging all sides to "refrain from violence, reduce tensions and exercise maximum restraint in order to preserve a peaceful electoral environment." The killing also drew similar concern from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, who said he was "deeply troubled" by Mr. Hadi's death after being shot last week. "Retaliation and revenge will only deepen divisions and undermine the rights of all," Mr. Turk said in a statement issued in Geneva, echoing calls for accountability for those responsible. Renewed unrest Youth leader Hadi, 32, was shot by masked assailants on 12 December as he was leaving a mosque in Dhaka, according to media reports. He was airlifted to a hospital in Singapore for treatment, where he later died of his injuries. Following the announcement of his death on Thursday, protests erupted in several parts of Bangladesh. Media reports further stated that thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of the capital, with some buildings torched or vandalized. Authorities said that several properties, including buildings housing major newspapers, were set on fire, and journalists were reportedly assaulted during the unrest. A fragile political moment The unrest comes against the backdrop of a dramatic political shift last year. In July 2024, student-led protests initially demanding reforms to civil service job quotas were met with a violent crackdown by security forces and pro-government groups. Although the quota system was later withdrawn, demonstrations widened into a nationwide movement calling for then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down and for accountability for the violent suppression of protests. By early August, the situation had escalated sharply. Sheikh Hasina, who had ruled Bangladesh since 2009 following an earlier term from 1996 to 2001, fled the country on 5 August amid mounting pressure. A UN-led investigation later found that up to 1,400 people - including many children - may have been killed during the unrest in July and August, with thousands more injured. Protect fundamental freedoms Mr. Hadi emerged as one of the most prominent youth leaders of the movement and, according to media reports, had planned to run for parliament in the February 2026 elections. With campaigning set to begin soon, the UN rights chief stressed it was vital to ensure an environment in which all individuals can participate safely and peacefully in public life, and freely express different views. "I urge the authorities to uphold the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and security of journalists at this critical time, and prevent further escalation of unrest," Mr. Turk said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2808 (2025), Security Council Renews Mandate of UN Organization Stabilization Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo Meetings Coverage Security Council 10075th Meeting (PM) SC/16260 19 December 2025 The Security Council today extended for one year the mandate of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and tasked the Mission to support the implementation of the country's permanent ceasefire with Rwanda. The renewal comes amid ongoing tensions in the country's eastern provinces, where the 23 March Movement (M23) armed group, with reported support from Rwandan forces, has continued its offensive. Unanimously adopting resolution 2808 (2025) (to be issued as document S/RES/2808(2025)), the Council acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations decided that the new mandate extends until 20 December 2026. By its terms, the Council maintained the same staffing levels as in the previous mandate, authorizing MONUSCO to comprise 11,500 military personnel, 600 military observers and staff officers, 443 police personnel and 1,270 personnel in formed police units. The Council strongly condemned M23's ongoing offensive in South Kivu, with the support of Rwanda Defence Forces, including the seizure of Uvira "which risks destabilizing the whole region, gravely endangers civilian populations and imperils ongoing peace efforts". It urged the M23 to immediately halt and reverse its offensive and Rwanda to withdraw its defence forces from the neighbouring country's eastern provinces. It further demanded that all parties materialize without delay their previous commitments to establish a permanent, effective and verifiable ceasefire. The Council authorized MONUSCO to support the implementation of a permanent ceasefire in line with Council resolution 2773 (2025), including by participating in the Ceasefire Oversight and Verification Mechanism agreed by the parties in Doha on 14 October. Today's mandate renewal also comes as the United Nations, together with the Congolese Government, pursues a phased departure of MONUSCO, with any further steps depending on security conditions on the ground, the ability of national authorities to protect civilians, and continued support from UN entities and partners after the Mission leaves. By its terms, the Council took note of a pause in MONUSCO's disengagement in the eastern provinces amid the evolving security situation, strongly encouraging the authorities to take concrete action to ensure the protection of civilians, including women and children. It expressed its readiness to consider and determine further steps towards a gradual, responsible and sustainable withdrawal from North Kivu and Ituri when conditions permit, considering joint planning by the Government and the United Nations. In light of false and falsified information campaigns aimed at undermining its credibility and hindering the implementation of its mandate, the Council requested MONUSCO to strengthen its communication efforts to support mandate implementation, protection of civilians, and public awareness, and strongly encouraged joint communications between MONUSCO and the Government on evolving approaches and timelines for the Mission's withdrawal. Text Places MONUSCO on Front Line of Supporting Peace Efforts The representative of France, which led the drafting of the text, said that the Council negotiated the draft resolution "under unusual circumstances", citing M23's continued offensive in South Kivu. The text, he said, seeks to place MONUSCO on the front line of supporting peace efforts those of the African Union, Togo, subregional organizations, United States and Qatar. "Today's vote represents an important milestone for MONUSCO," he said, calling on all parties to honour their commitments in pursuit of lasting peace in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The representative of the United States said that her delegation is "pleased" to have this peacekeeping operation strategically placed to assist in her President's "ongoing efforts to chart a path for peace in the region". She added that her country remains committed to the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and supports the Doha process. "If M23 and Rwanda choose to abide by their obligations, MONUSCO is able through this mandate to support the implementation of both processes," she said. "No country should, out of selfish interests, customize MONUSCO according to its own political agenda," warned China's representative. All countries from outside the region should stay "truly committed to peace" in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, he added, urging them to "stop taking advantage of the situation and seeking economic resources and other selfish interests". Members Call for Clear MONUSCO Guidance, Firm Action against M23 His counterpart from the Russian Federation said that Moscow expects the UN Secretariat to provide detailed guidance on the concrete modalities for MONUSCO's participation in the Doha monitoring and verification mechanism by 1 March 2026. "In accordance with the resolution adopted today, any Security Council decision to deploy peacekeepers to South Kivu for these purposes will only be possible after written notification from the Mission's leadership confirming that the situation in that province allows for such deployment," she said. Pakistan's delegate demanded that any further restrictions on MONUSCO, which impede the Mission's ability to carry out its mandate, prompt strict measures by the Council against M23 and its supporters. He noted that today's text represents "a continuation of resolution 2773 (2025), whose full implementation remains indispensable for peace in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo". The representative of Sierra Leone, also speaking for Algeria, Guyana and Somalia, urged the Council to "confront a sobering reality". Namely, that these efforts have yet to translate to peace on the ground and end a conflict that has devastated Congolese communities for more than 30 years. "The persistence of this war behoves us to consider the factors that continue to enable it and should force us to take more decisive actions to address those within the Council's remit," he emphasized. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council Press Statement on Drone Attacks on UNISFA Peacekeepers Press Release Security Council SC/16259 19 December 2025 The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Samuel Zbogar (Slovenia): The members of the Security Council unequivocally condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and deliberate 13 December drone attacks against the United Nations logistics base in Kadugli, South Kordofan, Sudan, which killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and injured nine others. The members of the Security Council expressed deep condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and to the Government and people of Bangladesh and wished a swift and full recovery to those injured. The members of the Security Council expressed grave concern that this deliberate attack on a UN logistics base and UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) peacekeepers represents an egregious disregard for international law, and it poses serious threats to international peace and security. The members of the Security Council denounced in the strongest terms the targeting of United Nations peacekeepers and all attacks and provocations against UNISFA and called for those responsible for such attacks to be held accountable without delay. The members of the Security Council reiterated that attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law and reminded all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law. They called on the UN to swiftly investigate these attacks with the support of UNISFA and keep the relevant troop-contributing country informed of the progress consistent with Security Council resolutions 2518 (2020) and 2589 (2021). The members of the Security Council called on host authorities to take all appropriate steps to support the safety and security of all UN premises, personnel, and peacekeepers, and urged Sudan and South Sudan to provide full support to UNISFA and its operations. They underscored the need for further cooperation between Sudan and South Sudan, which is critical for the peace, security and stability in Abyei. The members of the Security Council noted the prompt activation of UNISFA's crisis management procedures and welcomed the assistance provided by Sudanese Armed Forces for the medical treatment of the wounded, as well as efforts to evacuate the injured and repatriate the deceased peacekeepers. The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their full confidence in the courage and professionalism demonstrated by UNISFA's peacekeepers, and their unwavering support to UNISFA and the troop-contributing countries whose peacekeepers risk their lives to provide peace and security in Abyei. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General - on the killing of a staff member in South Sudan United Nations Secretary-General 9 December 2025 New York, UN Statements | Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Delivered by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms the killing of a civilian staff member serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). On 15 December, Mr. Bol Rhoch Mayol Kuot, a South Sudanese national employed as a Language Assistant with UNMISS, was forcibly detained by security actors near Wau town in Western Bahr el Ghazal state and subsequently killed by his captors. The Secretary-General calls upon the Government of South Sudan to spare no effort in ensuring that those responsible for this heinous crime are swiftly brought to justice. He extends his deepest condolences to the staff member's family and loved ones and reaffirms the United Nations' commitment to providing all possible support during this profoundly difficult time. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council renews mandate of UN peacekeeping mission in DRC Global Times By Xinhua Published: Dec 20, 2025 08:42 AM The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for one year, until Dec. 20, 2026. Resolution 2808 retains the authorized troop ceiling of 11,500 military personnel, 600 military observers and staff officers, 443 police personnel, and 1,270 personnel of formed police units for the UN peacekeeping mission, known by its French acronym as MONUSCO. It also retains the mission's three key priorities: protection of civilians; support for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; and assistance with security sector reform. The resolution strongly condemns the ongoing offensive of the March 23 Movement (M23) in South Kivu province and urges M23 to immediately halt and reverse its offensive operations, and urges Rwanda to withdraw its forces from eastern DRC. It strongly condemns all armed groups operating in the DRC, and their violations of international humanitarian law as well as other applicable international law, and abuses of human rights. The resolution demands that all armed groups and their support networks cease immediately all forms of violence and other destabilizing activities. It also demands that all members of armed groups immediately and permanently disband, lay down their arms, reject violence, end and prevent violations and abuses perpetrated against children and release children from their ranks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US launches 'retaliatory strikes on Daesh targets' in Syria amid renewed controversy over intervention Iran Press TV Saturday, 20 December 2025 3:39 AM The United States has carried out a large wave of, what it has called, "retaliatory air and ground strikes against dozens of Daesh targets" in Syria, a move that has revived longstanding controversy over US-led military involvement in the Arab country and neighboring Iraq. According to statements by US officials, the US military on Friday struck "more than 70 Daesh" targets across central Syria, using around 100 munitions fired from warplanes, attack helicopters, and rocket artillery. The strikes, codenamed "Operation Hawkeye Strike," was confirmed by War Secretary Pete Hegseth and US Central Command (CENTCOM). Hegseth said the strikes were launched "to eliminate ISIS (Daesh) fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites" in, what he called, direct response to the killing of three Americans in Palmyra, Syria, on December 13. The CENTCOM said the fatalities, two Iowa National Guardsmen and a US civilian interpreter, had been caused in an ambush by a "lone gunman" reportedly belonging to the Takfiri terrorist group, who was later killed. Scrambling to deflect suspicion as to Washington's likely intentions to take Syria under a wholesale offensive, Hegseth said, "This is not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance." He added that Washington would not hesitate to "defend" its personnel. President Donald Trump described the operation as "very serious retaliation" against what he called "murderous terrorists," saying the strikes had targeted Daesh strongholds and claiming Syria's new regime supported the action. The CENTCOM said Jordanian warplanes had also participated in the strikes. Explosions were reported in several parts of Syria, according to local sources and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based so-called monitor. US officials said the strikes involved F-15 and A-10 warplanes, Apache attack helicopters, and HIMARS rocket artillery, targeting what they described as Daesh weapons areas and infrastructure. A US official said the operation was intended to deliver a "significant blow" to the group's remnants. Syria defeated Daesh in 2017 under the country's former democratically-elected government of President Bashar al-Assad amid indispensable counterterrorism contribution steered by General Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). The United States, however, assassinated General Soleimani, who used to be revered as the West Asia region's most effective anti-terror commander, during a drone strike against Baghdad in January 2020. Today, Washington says between 1,500 and 3,000 Daesh terrorists are still active in Syria and Iraq, citing intelligence assessments. The US currently maintains around 1,000 troops in Syria, primarily in the east, as part of what it describes as a mission to prevent a Daesh resurgence. The latest strikes, meanwhile, came against the backdrop of years of controversy surrounding US-led military operations in Syria and Iraq. Washington has conducted repeated air campaigns, special forces raids, and joint operations since 2014, actions that have drawn criticism over their legality, civilian impact, and long-term effectiveness. Previous US interventions against Daesh in both the countries have faced scrutiny from regional governments and international observers, particularly over their scope, indiscriminate nature, failure to ensure Damascus' consent, and continued presence of foreign troops on the Syrian soil. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Operation Hawkeye Strike On 19 December 2025, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) launched Operation Hawkeye Strike against ISIS in Syria. CENTCOM forces struck more than 70 targets at multiple locations across central Syria using a mix of A-10 attack jets, F-15 and F-16 fighter aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters. Rocket artillery fired by U.S. forces deployed to the region was also used. The Jordanian Armed Forces also supported the operation with fighter aircraft. The operation employed more than 100 precision munitions targeting known ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites. The operation followed a 13 December 2025 attack on U.S. and Syrian forces at a military base in the city of Palmyra, which resulted in the deaths of two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter. Following that attack, U.S. and partner forces conducted 10 operations in Syria and Iraq resulting in the deaths or detention of 23 ISIS operatives. The fallen soldiers honored in the lead-up to the operation were respected members of their units. Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, were remembered by Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa as heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. The return of their remains to the United States was marked by a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, which was attended by the President and senior military leaders. The death of the civilian interpreter, Ayad Mansoor Sakat of Macomb, Michigan, also drew widespread tributes, highlighting the critical role that specialized civilian personnel play in modern military operations. The administration emphasized that Operation Hawkeye Strike was a direct fulfillment of the promise made to the families of these three individuals. The operational name "Hawkeye Strike" was chosen to reflect the involvement of the Iowa-based units and the hawk-eyed precision required to identify targets in the vast Syrian landscape. The use of advanced thermal and infrared sensors on drones allowed for the detection of heat signatures from hidden generators and vehicle engines within the desert caves. This technological advantage proved decisive in uncovering facilities that had previously gone undetected. The persistence of the aerial surveillance meant that even as the strikes were occurring, new data was being used to refine subsequent attack runs. This dynamic targeting capability was a hallmark of the operationis success. The Hawkeye State is a popular nickname for the State of Iowa, and those who believe themselves to be true Iowans, will gladly identify themselves as Hawkeyes. The story of how Iowans took on the nickname Hawkeye varies slightly. Two Iowa promoters from Burlington are believed to have popularized the name. James G. Edwards, a Burlington Iowa newspaper editor, began the process of establishing a solid nickname by first changing the name of his newspaper, The Iowa Patriot, to The Burlington Hawk-Eye, in tribute to two of his good friends, Chief Black Hawk, and Stephen Sumner Phelps, a fur-trader from Illinois whose Meskwaki-given nickname was Hawkeye. "If a division of the territory is effected, we propose that the Iowans take the cognomen of Hawk-eyes. Our etymology can then be more definitely traced than can that of the Wolverines, Suckers, Gophers, etc., and we shall rescue from oblivion a memento, at least, of the name of the old chief." i Judge David Rorer, who loved literature, first borrowed the name Hawkeye from James Fenimore Cooperis popular novel, The Last of the Mohicans (1826) and began associating the nickname with fellow Iowans. This offe ed the good folks of Iowa an easy sell thanks to the great popularity of The Last of the Mohicans. The nickname was given approval by iterritorial officialsi in 1838, eight years before Iowa became a state. The initiation of Operation Hawkeye Strike on December 19, 2025, marked a significant escalation in the regional counter-terrorism efforts conducted by the United States and its partners in the Middle East. This military campaign was executed as a direct response to a lethal ambush that occurred on December 13, 2025, near the historic city of Palmyra, Syria. During that incident, a lone gunman associated with the Islamic State targeted a convoy carrying American personnel and Syrian security forces. The attack resulted in the deaths of Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard, both of whom served with the Iowa National Guardis 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment. Additionally, an American civilian interpreter, Ayad Mansoor Sakat, was killed in the line of duty. Three other soldiers sustained injuries during the engagement before the assailant was neutralized by returning fire. In the immediate aftermath of the Palmyra attack, the administration in Washington vowed that a decisive and overwhelming response would follow. President Donald Trump described the event as a vicious killing of patriots and promised that the perpetrators would face serious retaliation. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth characterized the forthcoming military action not as the start of a traditional war, but as a declaration of vengeance intended to hunt down and eliminate those responsible. The planning for the retaliatory strikes was conducted with a focus on precision and maximum impact against the infrastructure and personnel of the Islamic State. The objective was to dismantle the groupis command and control capabilities while sending a clear deterrent message to any actors seeking to target American personnel abroad. Operation Hawkeye Strike officially commenced at approximately 4:00 PM Eastern Time on Friday, December 19. The operation involved a multi-domain assault featuring air assets, ground-based rocket artillery, and coordinated support from regional allies. Over 70 specific targets were identified across central and eastern Syria, primarily located within the vast expanse of the Syrian Badia desert. These targets included weapons storage facilities, fortified command bunkers, training camps, and logistical hubs. The deployment of force was characterized by its speed and the concentration of high-end military technology. Military officials noted that the operation aimed to degrade the ability of the Islamic State to inspire or execute further terrorist plots against the United States or its regional partners. The air component of the operation was spearheaded by F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets and A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft. These platforms were supported by AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, which provided close-in fire support for specific high-value target extractions and engagements. More than 100 precision-guided munitions, including GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions, were utilized during the initial waves of the strike. These munitions were selected for their ability to penetrate reinforced structures and minimize collateral damage in complex environments. Imagery provided by the Department of War showed ground crews at regional bases loading these heavy munitions onto aircraft in the hours leading up to the missionis commencement. Strategic assessments released by U.S. Central Command indicated that the operation was preceded by ten smaller-scale raids and strikes in both Syria and Iraq. These preliminary actions resulted in the detention or death of over 20 terrorist operatives who were suspected of providing support for the Palmyra ambush. The broader context of Operation Hawkeye Strike was described as a continuation of a sustained counter-terrorism pressure campaign that had seen over 80 operations conducted in the region over the preceding six months. Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of CENTCOM, stated that the relentlessness of the pursuit would not waver so long as threats to the United States remained active. The political implications of the operation were discussed extensively in the national media. President Trump addressed the success of the strikes during a public event in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, on Friday evening. He asserted that every identified site was hit flawlessly and that the United States was restoring peace through strength. This rhetoric reflected a broader foreign policy doctrine focused on immediate and overwhelming responses to hostile actions. The White House deputy press secretary, Anna Kelly, reiterated that the strikes were a clear delivery on the Presidentis promises. Critics and analysts noted that the speed of the retaliation was intended to demonstrate that the U.S. military maintained a high state of readiness despite recent shifts in global priorities. ii A notable aspect of the operation was the involvement of the Jordanian Armed Forces, which provided fighter aircraft to support the American-led coalition. This cooperation underscored the shared security interests between the United States and the Hashemite Kingdom in maintaining stability within the Levant. Additionally, the Syrian government, which had undergone a significant transition following the fall of the previous regime in late 2024, expressed full support for the operation. The new leadership in Damascus, headed by President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, facilitated the strikes by providing intelligence and ensuring that the strikes did not interfere with the activities of the Syrian security forces. This alignment represented a shift in regional dynamics, as the new Syrian administration sought to prove its commitment to a post-ISIS future. The geographic scope of the strikes covered several provinces in Syria, including Homs, Deir Az Zor, and Raqqa. In Deir Az Zor, reports indicated that at least five members of the Islamic State were killed, including a high-ranking cell leader responsible for coordinating drone-based attacks. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored the strikes and confirmed that multiple underground facilities were collapsed by the heavy bombardment. The use of HIMARS rocket systems from ground positions added a layer of persistent fire support that complemented the aerial campaign. These systems allowed for rapid adjustments to the targeting list as intelligence continued to flow from surveillance drones loitering over the impact zones. Assets - Air Force ii The technical execution of Operation Hawkeye Strike on December 19, 2025, relied upon a sophisticated array of multi-role fighter aircraft, dedicated ground-attack platforms, and long-range precision artillery. This operation was characterized by the utilization of the most advanced avionics suites currently available to the United States Air Force, specifically tailored for the complex electronic environment of the Syrian theater. The primary strike packages were composed of F-15E Strike Eagles and A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, each configured to maximize lethality against fortified Islamic State infrastructure while maintaining a high degree of situational awareness during night-time maneuvers over the Syrian Badia desert. The F-15E Strike Eagles deployed during the operation were equipped with the APG-82(V)1 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar system. This radar provided the aircrews with the ability to detect, identify, and track multiple ground and air targets simultaneously at significantly greater ranges than previous mechanical systems. The AESA radar was critical for operating in a region where electronic interference and non-state actor drone activity remained constant threats. Furthermore, the aircraft utilized the Eagle Passive/Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS), an integrated digital electronic warfare suite that allowed for the autonomous detection and jamming of adversary radar and communication signals. This high level of electronic protection ensured that the Strike Eagles could operate with near-total impunity while conducting deep-penetration strikes against hardened command centers. The munitions loadout for the F-15E platforms was dominated by the GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), a 2,000-pound class weapon that utilized Global Positioning System (GPS) and Inertial Navigation System (INS) guidance. These heavy munitions were specifically selected to neutralize reinforced concrete bunkers and underground storage facilities that the Islamic State had constructed within the mountain ranges of central Syria. In addition to the GBU-31s, the aircraft carried GBU-38 500-pound JDAMs for targets requiring a lower thermal and blast footprint, such as mobile communication relays and light vehicle convoys. The precision of these weapons allowed for the destruction of primary targets while ensuring that nearby historical sites in the Palmyra region remained untouched by the kinetic effects of the bombardment. The A-10 Thunderbolt II, frequently referred to as the Warthog, provided the specialized ground-attack capability necessary for the neutralization of dispersed militant groups and surface-level fortifications. The configuration for these aircraft included the GAU-8/A Avenger 30mm hydraulically driven seven-barrel Gatling-type cannon, which was utilized against light armor and reinforced machine gun nests. During the operation, the A-10s were equipped with the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) and the Litening pod, providing high-resolution forward-looking infrared (FLIR) imagery to the pilots. These sensors were essential for identifying heat signatures from camouflaged positions in the desert floor, where traditional visual reconnaissance was often hindered by dust and the low-light conditions of the late afternoon strikes. The A-10s also carried a mix of AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles and 2.75-inch Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guided rockets. The APKWS rockets provided a highly cost-effective and precise method for engaging individual targets of opportunity identified during the reconnaissance phase. The ability of the A-10 to loiter over the battlefield for extended periods allowed for a persistent presence that deterred Islamic State fighters from attempting to regroup or flee the impact zones. The structural durability of the A-10, including its titanium armor bathtub protecting the cockpit, offered an additional layer of security against localized small-arms fire and portable air-defense systems that remained a risk in the Deir Az Zor and Homs governorates. Assets - Army ii ii Ground-based fire support for Operation Hawkeye Strike was provided by the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which launched Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) munitions from secured positions within northeastern Syria. The HIMARS units provided a rapid-response capability that complemented the aerial bombardment, allowing for the engagement of time-sensitive targets that emerged as intelligence feeds were updated in real-time. Each GMLRS rocket utilized GPS-aided guidance to strike within meters of its intended coordinates, ensuring that the logistical hubs of the Islamic State were systematically dismantled. The integration of long-range artillery with the air campaign created a multi-layered assault that overwhelmed the adversary's localized defenses within the first hour of the operation. The AH-64 Apache attack helicopters played a critical role in the close-in engagement phase, particularly in the vicinity of the Jabal al-Amour mountain range. These helicopters were configured with the Longbow fire control radar, which allowed for the detection of up to 128 targets simultaneously. The Apaches utilized the AGM-114 Hellfire missile system to strike high-value targets with surgical precision. The 30mm M230 chain gun on the Apache provided suppressed fire during the insertion and extraction of specialized ground teams that were tasked with conducting sensitive site exploitation following the initial air strikes. The agility of the Apache made it the ideal platform for navigating the rugged terrain of the Syrian desert, where high-speed jets were less effective at tracking moving personnel in deep wadis. The ground-based component of Operation Hawkeye Strike, executed on December 19, 2025, utilized a combination of long-range precision rocket artillery and highly mobile cavalry units to dismantle Islamic State infrastructure in central Syria. The operational framework focused on the deployment of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) from established coalition bases in the Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces. These assets provided the kinetic depth required to strike targets in the Syrian Badia desert that were beyond the immediate reach of localized ground forces. The coordination of these ground assets was managed through a joint command structure that integrated real-time intelligence from the Iowa National Guardis 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, which had been operating in the region since May 2025. The M142 HIMARS functioned as the primary long-range strike platform for ground forces during the operation. This system, mounted on a five-ton Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) chassis, allowed for rapid displacement after firing to avoid potential counter-battery fire, although the adversaryis lack of sophisticated radar meant the risk was minimal. Each HIMARS unit utilized Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) munitions, specifically the M31 Unitary variant. These rockets carried a 200-pound class high-explosive warhead equipped with GPS-aided inertial navigation. The M31 was selected for its ability to collapse fortified cave entrances and destroy reinforced logistics structures with a circular error probable of less than five meters. The utilization of GMLRS allowed the command to strike dozens of pre-planned targets in the Jabal al-Amour region with near-simultaneous impact timings, overwhelming localized ISIS command nodes. Logistical and security support for the artillery batteries was provided by the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division. This Iowa-based unit, which suffered the loss of two soldiers in the December 13 Palmyra attack, served as the primary reconnaissance and security force for the coalitionis ground footprint. The cavalry squads operated M1200 Armored Knight vehicles and M1151 Enhanced Armament Carriers to secure the perimeters of the HIMARS firing points and the logistical lines of communication. These vehicles were equipped with advanced optics and laser designators that facilitated the hand-off of targeting data to both the ground-based artillery and the overhead AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. The presence of the 1-113th Cavalry ensured that the high-value HIMARS assets remained protected from insurgent hit-and-run attacks during the intensive firing windows. The AH-64 Apache attack helicopters were integrated into the ground-based inventory as a mobile fire-support platform. These helicopters operated from forward arming and refueling points (FARPs) established near the Deir ez-Zor countryside. The Apaches utilized the AGM-114R Hellfire II missile, which featured a multi-purpose warhead capable of engaging both armored vehicles and personnel in reinforced buildings. During the desert phase of the operation, the Apaches were tasked with hunting mobile ISIS cells that attempted to flee the initial bombardment. The helicopters' 30mm M230 chain guns were employed to neutralize light utility vehicles and motorcycle-borne militants identified by surveillance drones. The integration of the Apaches with the HIMARS strikes provided a persistent "look-down, shoot-down" capability that prevented the enemy from exploiting the vast terrain of the Badia desert for concealment. Munitions management for the HIMARS was handled by specialized ordnance teams that ensured a constant flow of rocket pods to the firing lines. Each pod contained six GMLRS rockets, and the high sortie rate of the operation necessitated multiple reload cycles within a single six-hour window. The munitions were transported via M1084 FMTV resupply vehicles equipped with integrated cranes for rapid pod replacement. The technical precision of the reload process allowed the batteries to maintain a high volume of fire throughout the evening of December 19. By the conclusion of the operation, over 100 precision-guided munitions had been expended between the ground-based rockets and the aerial strikes, resulting in the confirmed destruction of approximately 70 Islamic State targets including weapons caches, training sites, and clandestine headquarters. The strategic deployment of these ground assets was described by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth as a fulfillment of a "declaration of vengeance." The use of heavy artillery from ground positions underscored the permanence of the coalitionis presence and its ability to respond to hostile acts with overwhelming lethality. The operation demonstrated the maturity of the GMLRS as a tool for counter-insurgency, where the ability to strike specific rooms or bunkers without the need for large-scale ground maneuvers minimized risks to coalition personnel. The technical data gathered from the HIMARSi fire-control computers provided a comprehensive record of the operationis efficiency, confirming that every mission was executed according to the high-tempo requirements of the commandis retaliatory doctrine. The environmental conditions of the Syrian desert required specialized maintenance for all ground equipment. Sand and dust filtration systems on the FMTV chassis and the Apache engines were checked hourly by maintenance crews to prevent mechanical failure during the high-stress operation. The durability of the HIMARS in this environment allowed it to maintain operational readiness despite the arid conditions and the physical strain of rapid movement between firing positions. The success of the ground-based inventory during Operation Hawkeye Strike served as a validation of the current U.S. military posture in Syria, which emphasized a limited but highly lethal footprint capable of projecting power at a momentis notice to protect American interests and honor the sacrifice of its fallen service members. Assets - Navy ii The strategic orchestration of Operation Hawkeye Strike, which commenced on December 19, 2025, featured a critical though specialized contribution from the United States Navy. While the primary kinetic effects on the ground in central and eastern Syria were delivered by Air Force fixed-wing aircraft and Army artillery, the overall command and control of the mission were centered within the naval leadership of U.S. Central Command. Admiral Brad Cooper, a career Navy officer and the commander of CENTCOM, directed the retaliatory campaign from the regional headquarters, ensuring that the multi-domain assault was synchronized across the various branches and international partners. The leadership provided by the Navy at the highest levels of the theater command ensured that the operation remained focused on the strategic objective of neutralizing Islamic State infrastructure in response to the lethal ambush in Palmyra on December 13. The presence of the U.S. 5th Fleet in the North Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman served as the maritime foundation for the broader regional security posture throughout the duration of the operation. As of mid-December 2025, the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and Carrier Strike Group 3 were positioned in the North Arabian Sea to provide a robust deterrent against any external actors attempting to capitalize on the regional instability. The carrier strike group included a full complement of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, such as the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121) and the USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112). These vessels maintained a high state of readiness, providing a protective envelope for logistical lanes and offering potential search-and-rescue capabilities for the aircraft operating over Syria. The maritime presence ensured that the airspace and sea lanes remained secure while the concentrated strikes took place in the Syrian interior. Electronic warfare support was a significant, albeit less publicized, aspect of the naval involvement in the mission. Navy EA-18G Growler aircraft, which are typically assigned to carrier air wings or land-based expeditionary squadrons, were tasked with providing electronic suppression of any remaining Syrian air defense radars or extremist signal interference. These specialized platforms utilized the ALQ-99 tactical jamming system to ensure that the F-15E Strike Eagles and A-10 Thunderbolt IIs could ingress and egress from the target zones without being tracked by hostile electronic sensors. The Growlers' ability to disrupt the command-and-control frequencies of the Islamic State was essential for isolating the targeted cells and preventing them from coordinating a defense or alerting neighboring units to the incoming strikes. This naval contribution to the air campaign was a prerequisite for the high success rate of the precision-guided munitions used during the operation. Although the EA-18G Growlers departed from the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln, their mission was intrinsically linked to the electronic data provided by the destroyers. The DDGs utilized their AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar arrays to feed targeting coordinates to the Growlers' ALQ-99 tactical jamming pods. This hardware synergy resulted in the total suppression of extremist communication frequencies. The jamming hardware worked by emitting high-power signals that effectively blinded the Islamic Stateis ability to coordinate between mountain outposts, essentially "softening" the targets before the arrival of the Army's HIMARS rockets. Innovation within the Navy played a role in the broader strategic context surrounding Operation Hawkeye Strike. Just days prior to the primary assault, on December 16, 2025, the Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS-32) conducted a high-profile test of the Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) in the Arabian Gulf. This operation, managed by Task Force 59 as part of "Task Force Scorpion Strike," demonstrated the Navy's evolving capability to utilize one-way attack drones from maritime platforms. While the LUCAS drones were not used in the Dec 19 strikes in Syria, their deployment signified the Navy's commitment to new forms of distributed lethality and autonomous warfare in the Middle East. The success of the Scorpion Strike mission served as a parallel deterrent, warning regional adversaries that the United States possessed a variety of ways to project power from both land and sea. The maritime security environment in the Red Sea remained a constant priority for the Navy during the lead-up to Hawkeye Strike. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS McFaul (DDG-74) was stationed in the Red Sea to protect merchant shipping and coalition logistical vessels from potential threats. This presence was vital for ensuring that the supply chains feeding the land-based Air Force and Army units remained uninterrupted. The ability to move munitions, fuel, and personnel into the theater relied on the security of the maritime chokepoints, a mission that the Navy conducted with continuous patrols and integrated sensor networks. The protection of these lines of communication was the silent enabler that allowed the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment and the various air squadrons to maintain the high operational tempo required for the Dec 19 strikes. The Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) on the USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) was utilized to maintain a high-readiness posture for the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM). While the A-10s and F-15Es delivered the bulk of the 100 precision munitions, the VLS canisters were primed to provide immediate follow-on strikes against hardened command bunkers if the initial air packages were diverted. The hardware departing the VLS during the preparatory phase included RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missiles (ESSM) and SM-6 interceptors, which established a "no-fly" bubble around the carrier strike group, ensuring that no regional actors could interfere with the aerial corridors used by the strike aircraft. The logistical support provided by the Military Sealift Command was another critical, if indirect, form of Navy involvement. The transport of heavy equipment and sustainment materials required for the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team's operations was facilitated by naval transport vessels. These ships ensured that the Iowa National Guard and the supporting Army units had the necessary armor, fuel, and medical supplies to sustain their presence in the Palmyra region following the December 13 attack. The Navy's ability to provide heavy-lift logistics at a global scale was the backbone upon which the entire U.S. presence in Syria was built. Without this maritime logistics bridge, the land-based forces would have been unable to sustain the high state of readiness that enabled the rapid execution of Operation Hawkeye Strike. The legacy of the Navy's involvement in Operation Hawkeye Strike was summarized in the after-action reviews as a success in multi-domain integration. The operation demonstrated that even in a conflict centered on desert terrain, the Navy's contributions in command, electronic warfare, maritime security, and logistics remained indispensable. The synchronization of Task Force 59is drone innovations with the traditional strike packages of the Air Force and the artillery of the Army represented the future of integrated warfare. The Navy's role ensured that Operation Hawkeye Strike was not just a series of isolated airstrikes, but a cohesive and legally authorized military response that utilized every available tool to protect American interests and honor the sacrifice of those killed in the Palmyra ambush. Assets - Space The technical success of Operation Hawkeye Strike on December 19, 2025, was fundamentally enabled by the integration of United States Space Command assets into the multi-domain operational framework. While the kinetic delivery of munitions was executed by Air Force and Army platforms, the precision and coordination of the mission relied upon the orbital architecture maintained by the U.S. Space Force. Space-based capabilities provided the essential infrastructure for position, navigation, and timing, as well as the secure communication links necessary for real-time command and control over the Syrian theater. This integration allowed for the simultaneous engagement of more than 70 targets across the sprawling Badia desert with a level of accuracy that minimized the risk of collateral damage near culturally significant sites such as Palmyra. The Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation served as the primary enabler for the 100-plus precision munitions employed during the strikes. Each GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition released by F-15E Strike Eagles and every Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System projectile fired by HIMARS batteries utilized high-fidelity signals provided by the GPS satellites. Space Command ensured the integrity of these signals in a contested electronic environment, preventing interference from localized jamming efforts attempted by paramilitary cells. The ability of the munitions to strike within meters of their intended coordinates was a direct result of the constellation's performance, ensuring that the infrastructure of the Islamic State was neutralized with surgical precision. Satellite Communications (SATCOM) provided the resilient backbone for the exchange of data between the Combined Air Operations Center and the tactical units in the field. Encrypted satellite links facilitated the transmission of high-resolution targeting packets and real-time intelligence feeds from unmanned aerial vehicles to the decision-makers at CENTCOM. These links also supported the data exchange required for the Coordination of the Jordanian Armed Forces, allowing for a synchronized coalition response. The utilize of advanced MILSTAR and Wideband Global SATCOM satellites ensured that even in remote desert areas lacking traditional ground-based infrastructure, the Hawkeye Strike forces maintained constant and secure connectivity. Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) from orbital platforms played a decisive role in the identification and validation of the 70 targets. Space-based imagery and signals intelligence allowed planners to map the movement of Islamic State operatives and identify clandestine weapons caches hidden within the rugged terrain. This overhead perspective was critical for verifying that the targets were distinct from civilian infrastructure and for monitoring the sites in the days leading up to the December 19 mission. The persistence of these space assets allowed for a comprehensive understanding of the adversary's logistical hubs, which had been rebuilt following previous regional transitions. Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) sensors managed by Space Command provided immediate battle damage assessment following the initial waves of the bombardment. These sensors detected the thermal signatures of secondary explosions as Islamic State weapons storage sites were neutralized, providing command with rapid confirmation of target destruction. The OPIR data was fused with drone-based visual feeds to build a complete picture of the operational results within minutes of the munitions' impact. This rapid feedback loop allowed for the efficient allocation of assets, ensuring that follow-up strikes were only conducted where necessary and that the objectives of the "declaration of vengeance" were fully met. The coordination between Space Command and Central Command during Operation Hawkeye Strike was a demonstration of the "peace through strength" doctrine in the 2025 security environment. By leveraging the superior vantage point and technical capabilities of the space domain, the United States was able to execute a massive retaliatory strike with extreme precision and minimal risk to its own personnel. The mission highlighted the evolution of space as a critical combat-support domain, ensuring that the legacy of the fallen service members from the Iowa National Guard was honored through a flawlessly executed military operation. The orbital support provided the necessary "Hawkeye" perspective that gave the mission its name and ensured its tactical and strategic success. Assets - C4ISR Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets were foundational to the success of the mission, with MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles providing continuous overhead coverage. These drones were equipped with the Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS), which included a combination of infrared, daylight TV, and image-intensified TV cameras. The Reapers provided the "Hawkeye" perspective from which the operation took its name, transmitting high-definition video feeds directly to the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC). This real-time data allowed commanders to verify that the targets were clear of non-combatants before authorizing the release of munitions. The Reapers also carried a limited payload of Hellfire missiles, allowing them to engage targets of opportunity immediately upon detection. Field intelligence gathered by the Iowa National Guard units played a decisive role in identifying the specific locations for the HIMARS strikes. Following the Palmyra ambush, electronic warfare assets intercepted localized communications that led to the discovery of a network of desert outposts used as launching points for ISIS operations. These coordinates were verified by MQ-9 Reaper drones before being transmitted to the HIMARS fire-direction centers. The collaboration between the cavalry scouts on the ground and the artillery batteries miles away represented a seamless application of joint-force operations. This synergy allowed for the successful neutralization of the radicalized elements within the regional security framework who had facilitated the December 13 attack, ensuring that the retaliation reached the specific perpetrators and their support networks. The coordination of these various assets was managed by the 505th Command and Control Wing, which ensured that the airspace over central Syria was deconflicted and that the strike packages remained synchronized. The use of Link 16 tactical data links allowed all participating aircraft and ground units to share a common operational picture, reducing the risk of friendly fire and increasing the speed of the decision-making cycle. This network-centric warfare approach was essential for integrating the Jordanian Armed Forces' fighter aircraft into the coalition strike package. The Jordanian F-16s provided additional air superiority and ground-attack capacity, demonstrating the high level of interoperability achieved between the United States and its regional partners. Logistical preparations for the operation involved the movement of thousands of tons of fuel and munitions to forward locations in the weeks following the December 13 ambush. The 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment of the Iowa National Guard provided the security framework for these logistical lines, ensuring that the necessary materials reached their destination despite the persistent threat of militant activity. The maintenance crews at regional airbases worked under high-tempo conditions to ensure that the mission-capable rates of the F-15E and A-10 fleets remained at peak levels. Every aspect of the preparation was conducted with the understanding that the response to the deaths of the American personnel would be massive and uncompromising. Naval intelligence assets were integrated into the multi-source data stream that informed the targeting process for Operation Hawkeye Strike. Surveillance ships and maritime patrol aircraft, such as the P-8A Poseidon, monitored signal traffic and movement patterns along the coastal regions and the eastern Mediterranean. This data was fused with information from ground scouts and drones to build a comprehensive picture of the Islamic Stateis logistical network. The Navyis contribution to the intelligence picture helped to identify the clandestine routes used by the paramilitary groups to move materials from the coast into the interior of the country. This inter-service cooperation ensured that the targeting list for Hawkeye Strike was as accurate as possible, minimizing the risk to non-combatants and maximizing the impact on the terrorist organization. The command structure of the operation reflected the Navyis historical role in joint warfare. Admiral Brad Cooperis leadership emphasized the importance of maritime domain awareness as a component of continental security. By maintaining a clear view of the movements in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf, the Navy ensured that no third-party actors could interfere with the mission in Syria. The coordination between the 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and the various land-based task forces was seamless, representing years of refinement in the joint-force doctrine. The Navy's role in the operation was a testament to the versatility of its assets, which transitioned from traditional maritime security to providing the command, electronic support, and deterrence necessary for a successful land-based retaliatory strike. Strategic communication during the operation was also guided by naval leadership. Admiral Cooperis public statements following the strikes underscored the resolve of the U.S. forces and the significance of the operation in preventing future terrorist plots against the American homeland. This messaging was coordinated with the Department of War and the White House to ensure a unified voice of deterrence. The professional image of the Navy, as represented by its senior officers and its massive carrier presence, reinforced the gravity of the "declaration of vengeance" issued by the administration. The perception of overwhelming naval power offshore added weight to the precision strikes occurring onshore, creating a comprehensive display of American military capability. The specific tactical goal of neutralizing over 70 targets in a single afternoon required a high degree of precision in the planning of the sortie rates. Each aircraft was assigned specific target sets based on its strengths, with the F-15Es handling the most heavily defended and hardened structures, while the A-10s and Apaches focused on the dispersed mobile assets and light fortifications. The timing of the strikes was choreographed to ensure that the destruction of communication towers coincided with the arrival of the heavy bombers over the command centers. This synchronization ensured that the Islamic State leadership was unable to issue orders or coordinate a defense once the first munitions impacted their positions. The historical significance of the Palmyra region added a layer of complexity to the asset selection. Pilots were briefed extensively on the locations of ancient ruins and cultural heritage sites to ensure that no kinetic effects would cause damage to these irreplaceable structures. The use of laser-guided munitions and high-resolution sensors allowed the aircrews to target specific rooms within buildings or individual vehicles without endangering the surrounding architecture. This commitment to cultural preservation was a key component of the rules of engagement, distinguishing the coalition's actions from the indiscriminate violence characterized by the Islamic State. The electronic warfare environment was monitored by specialized EA-18G Growler aircraft, which provided stand-off jamming support. These platforms ensured that any remaining Syrian air defense radars or extremist signal interference was effectively neutralized. The Growlers utilized the ALQ-99 tactical jamming system to disrupt the adversary's ability to communicate between different cells, further isolating the targets. This electronic dominance was a prerequisite for the safe operation of the A-10s and Apaches, which typically operated at lower altitudes and slower speeds than the Strike Eagles. Post-strike analysis was conducted using a combination of satellite imagery and drone reconnaissance. High-resolution photos confirmed the total destruction of several weapons manufacturing facilities and the collapse of numerous tunnel networks used by the Islamic State for the transit of fighters. The effectiveness of the GBU-31 JDAMs against deep-buried targets was particularly noted in the reports from the Homs governorate. The data collected during the after-action review provided valuable insights into the current state of the Islamic Stateis infrastructure, which had been rebuilt following the fall of the previous regime. Operational Assessment - Targeting The scale of Operation Hawkeye Strike in the context of previous United States kinetic actions within the Syrian theater highlighted the evolution from singular, standoff cruise missile attacks to the high-tempo, multi-domain offensive observed on 19 December 2025. Previous major engagements, such as the 2017 Shayrat missile strike and the 2018 coordinated strikes on chemical weapons facilities, served as benchmarks for assessing the intensity and geographic distribution of the Hawkeye Strike mission. The primary distinction of the December 2025 operation resided in its target density. While the 2018 strikes utilized a similar number of total munitions, those assets were concentrated on three major facilities associated with the previous regime's chemical program. In contrast, Operation Hawkeye Strike distributed a comparable volume of fire across more than 70 localized infrastructure points. This reflected a shift from strategic infrastructure destruction to a systematic "clearance" of dispersed insurgent cells throughout the Syrian Badia. The expenditure of roughly 1.4 munitions per target indicated a high degree of confidence in the intelligence gathered by the 1-113th Cavalry and the MQ-9 Reaper feeds. The integration of ground-based HIMARS artillery was another factor that separated this mission from earlier standoff actions. In previous years, retaliatory strikes were largely the province of naval destroyers or long-range bombers. The December 2025 engagement utilized forward-deployed Army assets to achieve near-simultaneous impact timings across multiple provinces. This multi-layered approach forced the Islamic State into a defensive posture that was impossible to maintain, as the coordination of electronic warfare and orbital reconnaissance effectively removed the traditional advantages of desert concealment. The tactical success of the mission validated the current doctrine of utilizing limited but highly lethal footprints to maintain regional stability. The involvement of regional partners, specifically the Jordanian Armed Forces, further contrasted with the unilateral or small-coalition nature of earlier strikes. The synchronization of JAF F-16s within the U.S.-led strike packages demonstrated a level of interoperability that was significantly more advanced than the coordination levels seen during the initial anti-ISIS campaigns of 2014-2019. This coalition maturity ensured that the diplomatic and military response was viewed as a unified regional effort rather than an isolated American action. Operational Assessment - BDA As the sun rose over the Syrian desert on December 20, the scale of the destruction became clearer. Satellite imagery showed smoking ruins where ISIS logistics hubs had stood only hours prior. The groupis ability to move fighters and weapons through the central corridor of the country was severely hampered. The psychological impact on the remaining militant cells was described by intelligence analysts as profound, as the speed and ferocity of the American response had exceeded their expectations. The message conveyed by the administration was that there would be no safe haven for those who targeted the American flag. The casualty and damage assessment reports following Operation Hawkeye Strike indicated a significant degradation of Islamic State operational capacity in central and eastern Syria. Initial findings released by United States Central Command on December 20, 2025, confirmed that more than 70 distinct targets were successfully neutralized during the coordinated air and ground offensive. The strikes utilized over 100 precision-guided munitions to dismantle a network of infrastructure that had been used to facilitate insurgent activities in the Syrian Badia desert. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated that the mission resulted in the deaths of a large number of enemy combatants, characterizing the outcome as a decisive strike against those responsible for the deaths of American personnel earlier in the month. Intelligence gathered in the 24 hours following the operation suggested that the death toll among Islamic State operatives was substantial. Reports from various military sources indicated that approximately 23 terrorist operatives were killed or detained through a series of ten preliminary and primary operations leading up to and during the Hawkeye Strike window. These individuals were identified as members of the cells responsible for logistical planning and tactical execution of attacks in the Palmyra region. The concentration of strikes on training camps and assembly areas in the Homs and Deir ez-Zor governorates likely resulted in further unconfirmed casualties as structural collapses and secondary explosions were observed throughout the night. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights provided independent verification of the damage, reporting the destruction of several key Islamic State positions near the cities of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor. According to the monitor, at least one prominent leader within the militant organization was killed during a precision strike on a fortified command bunker. The loss of high-ranking leadership was expected to cause immediate disruption to the groupis internal command and control hierarchy. The Observatory also noted that the strikes targeted clandestine fuel depots and weapons manufacturing workshops, many of which were located in remote desert caves to avoid detection. The intensity of the bombardment was described as the most significant in the region since the transition of the Syrian government in late 2024. Damage assessments focused on the technical and logistical hubs that supported the Islamic State's guerrilla-style operations. Post-strike imagery confirmed the total destruction of multiple weapons storage facilities that housed rocket-propelled grenades, improvised explosive devices, and small arms. Tunnel systems used for the concealed movement of fighters across provincial borders were rendered unusable due to the application of heavy earth-penetrating munitions. The loss of these assets was predicted to severely limit the group's ability to launch sustained offensives against Syrian and coalition forces in the coming months. The precision of the targeting ensured that the primary infrastructure of nearby civilian centers remained functional, avoiding the disruption of essential services for the local population. The Syrian government, through the Interior Ministry, acknowledged the effectiveness of the strikes in eliminating radicalized elements that had infiltrated localized security forces. National security officials in Damascus reported that several individuals suspected of aiding the Palmyra attacker were among those neutralized or captured. This internal cleanup, conducted in parallel with the American-led operation, was seen as a critical step in stabilizing the central corridor of the country. The cooperation between the Syrian military and the international coalition was highlighted as a key factor in the high accuracy of the damage reports, as ground teams were able to conduct battle damage assessments in areas previously deemed too dangerous for entry. Military analysts concluded that the psychological impact on the remaining Islamic State cadres was as significant as the physical destruction. The speed of the retaliation -- occurring less than a week after the deaths of Sergeant William Howard, Sergeant Edgar Torres-Tovar, and Ayad Mansoor Sakat -- sent a clear message regarding the cost of targeting coalition personnel. The thoroughness of the damage assessment reports served to validate the "peace through strength" doctrine emphasized by the current administration. As of the morning of December 20, 2025, surveillance drones continued to monitor the impact sites for signs of enemy regrouping, but initial data suggested that the targeted cells had been effectively dismantled. The operation was classified as a total tactical success, achieving all primary objectives with no reported coalition casualties during the strike phase. Diplomatic Assessment The diplomatic reactions to Operation Hawkeye Strike on December 19, 2025, reflected a significant shift in regional alignments following the transition of the Syrian government earlier in the year. The primary diplomatic support for the operation originated from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which participated directly by providing fighter aircraft to the coalition strike package. The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized the mission as a necessary component of regional security, emphasizing the need to eliminate Islamic State remnants that posed a threat to the stability of the shared border. This level of public military cooperation underscored the deepening security partnership between Washington and Amman under the current U.S. administration. The Syrian government in Damascus, led by Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, issued a formal statement affirming its cooperation with the United States and the international coalition. This represented a historic departure from the previous regimeis posture, with the new Syrian leadership actively supporting the strikes as part of its own commitment to ensuring that the country remained free of terrorist safe havens. President al-Sharaa noted that the operation coincided with a new phase of Syrian recovery and the cessation of international sanctions, describing the strikes as a joint effort to finalize the defeat of extremist elements. The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates called on other coalition members to increase their support for the new administrationis counter-terrorism initiatives. In Syria, the interior ministry identified the attacker in the Palmyra incident as a former member of the security forces who had been radicalized. This revelation prompted the new Syrian government to announce a comprehensive review of its personnel to prevent further infiltration by extremist sympathizers. The cooperation between Washington and the Al-Sharaa government during Operation Hawkeye Strike was seen as a test of this new relationship. The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited continued support from the international coalition, suggesting that further joint efforts would be necessary to ensure that the Islamic State did not re-establish a territorial foothold in the central desert regions. Other regional stakeholders expressed varied degrees of concern regarding the intensity of the "declaration of vengeance" articulated by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. While Israel was reportedly updated ahead of the strikes and maintained a supportive stance, other nations in the region called for a focus on de-escalation to prevent a wider conflict. Some regional actors expressed apprehension that the high-tempo retaliatory strikes could provoke asymmetric responses from militant affiliates across the Middle East. Despite these concerns, the consensus among traditional U.S. allies remained focused on the legitimacy of the operation as a response to the December 13 Palmyra attack. The absence of significant condemnation from major Arab capitals suggested a tacit acceptance of the missionis objectives within the context of the broader fight against global terrorism. International monitors and diplomatic analysts observed that Operation Hawkeye Strike served as a pivotal test for the "peace through strength" doctrine in a post-civil war Syria. The ability of the U.S. to coordinate with a new Syrian government while integrating regional air forces was cited as a major diplomatic achievement. The operation signaled to other regional powers that the United States intended to maintain a decisive role in Middle Eastern security affairs, utilizing a model of high-intensity precision strikes rather than large-scale troop deployments. The successful execution of the mission was framed by the administration as a restoration of deterrence, with diplomatic efforts in the following days focused on solidifying the new security architecture within the Levant. Strategic Assessment The involvement of the Iowa National Guard's 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment remained the emotional and strategic heart of the operation. The mission was viewed as a direct tribute to Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard, whose sacrifice during the December 13 engagement was the catalyst for the entire campaign. The 1,800 soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, continued their mission in the region with a renewed sense of purpose, knowing that the full weight of the U.S. military had been brought to bear in response to the attack on their comrades. The political rhetoric surrounding the operation emphasized the technological and kinetic superiority of the U.S. forces. Secretary of War Pete Hegsethis description of the mission as a "declaration of vengeance" reflected the intensity of the strikes and the lack of hesitation in the use of heavy munitions. The administrationis focus on "hunting and killing" the enemy was supported by the precise nature of the military assets deployed. The operation served as a demonstration of the current U.S. foreign policy doctrine, which prioritized rapid, decisive, and overwhelming retaliation for any attacks on American personnel. The Syrian government's support for the operation, led by President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, provided a new level of legitimacy to the strikes. The coordination between Damascus and Washington, facilitated by the transition to the new Syrian administration, allowed for the use of Syrian airspace without the diplomatic friction that had characterized previous years. The Syrian security forces provided localized intelligence that helped to refine the targeting list, ensuring that the strikes hit the actual members of the Islamic State who had been radicalized within the local security apparatus. This cooperation was a critical development in the broader regional effort to ensure the permanent defeat of extremist groups. Economic and logistical hubs of the Islamic State were the primary focus of the mid-wave strikes. By targeting the financial networks and fuel supplies of the group, Operation Hawkeye Strike aimed to achieve a long-term degradation of their operational capacity. The destruction of hidden refineries and cash storage sites in the Deir Az Zor desert was expected to hinder the group's ability to recruit new fighters or purchase equipment on the black market. The use of A-10s to strafe fuel convoys ensured that the mobility of the remaining militant cells was severely restricted in the days following the main assault. The technical success of Operation Hawkeye Strike was a testament to the continued relevance of platforms like the A-10 and the F-15E in modern conflict. Despite the emergence of fifth-generation stealth fighters, the high payload capacity and specialized sensors of these older platforms proved indispensable for a high-intensity retaliatory mission in a permissive but complex airspace. The ability to load over 100 precision munitions and deliver them with near-zero error was a clear indicator of the proficiency of the aircrews and ground support personnel involved in the mission. As the operation concluded, the focus shifted toward the long-term stabilization of the regions affected by the strikes. The precision of the assets ensured that the infrastructure required for civilian recovery remained intact, allowing the Syrian government to move in and re-establish control. The legacy of Operation Hawkeye Strike was defined by its technical excellence, strategic clarity, and the successful integration of regional allies into a complex military campaign. The mission provided a somber but necessary resolution to the events of mid-December 2025, reinforcing the commitment of the United States to protect its personnel and partners through the application of overwhelming force. The technical performance of the aircraft and munitions used during the mission was a subject of focus for military observers. The A-10 Thunderbolts, often referred to as Warthogs, were praised for their durability and the psychological impact of their presence in the skies over Syria. The F-15E Strike Eagles demonstrated their versatility by carrying out both deep-strike missions and providing overhead cover for Jordanian assets. The integration of HIMARS into the strike package provided a long-range capability that could be utilized without the risks associated with manned aircraft over contested airspace. The use of more than 100 precision munitions signaled that the intent was not just to disturb the enemy but to permanently destroy high-value assets. ii ii Following the conclusion of the primary strike phase, military units involved in the mission were recognized for their precision and professionalism. The Iowa National Guard, in particular, received significant attention for its continued role in Operation Inherent Resolve. The deployment of around 1,800 Iowa soldiers to the Middle East since May 2025 was cited as a major contribution to the national defense. The loss of Sergeant Torres-Tovar and Sergeant Howard was a somber reminder of the risks associated with these missions, and their names were added to the memorials dedicated to those who served in the fight against global terrorism. International reactions to Operation Hawkeye Strike were varied. While allies such as Jordan and the United Kingdom expressed support for the right of the United States to defend its personnel, other actors in the region called for restraint to prevent a wider escalation. The United Nations was briefed on the operation, with the U.S. mission emphasizing that the strikes were conducted in accordance with international law regarding self-defense and the elimination of designated terrorist groups. The focus on ISIS targets helped to maintain a level of international consensus, as the group remained a universally recognized threat to global security. Human rights organizations and regional monitors noted that the strikes appeared to be heavily targeted toward rural and desert areas, away from major population centers. This was consistent with the Pentagonis stated goal of minimizing civilian casualties. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that while the damage to ISIS infrastructure was extensive, there were no immediate reports of significant civilian collateral damage. This was attributed to the high quality of the intelligence gathered in the days between the December 13 attack and the December 19 retaliation. The surveillance window allowed for a clear mapping of the movements of militant cells within the Badia desert. The long-term impact of Operation Hawkeye Strike on the stability of the region remained a point of debate among geopolitical experts. While the immediate threat to U.S. personnel in central Syria was mitigated by the destruction of the local ISIS network, the persistent nature of the insurgency in the desert suggested that ongoing monitoring would be required. The success of the operation served to bolster the credibility of the new Syrian administrationis claim that it could partner effectively with Western powers. However, it also highlighted the fragility of the security situation in areas where the central governmentis control remained contested. The commitment of approximately 1,000 U.S. troops in the country was expected to remain a central feature of the counter-ISIS strategy for the foreseeable future. The legacy of Operation Hawkeye Strike was solidified as a template for future retaliatory actions in low-footprint conflict zones. The reliance on high-tech standoff weapons, combined with strong regional partnerships and precise intelligence, allowed for a massive impact without the need for a major ground invasion. The operation demonstrated that the United States remained capable of projecting power into difficult environments to protect its interests. The memory of the fallen soldiers and the interpreter served as the driving force behind the missionis execution, ensuring that their sacrifice resulted in a meaningful degradation of the enemyis capabilities. Final assessments from the Department of War indicated that the goals of the operation were fully achieved. The infrastructure of the Islamic State in central Syria suffered a blow from which it was expected to take months, if not years, to recover. The coordination between the various branches of the military and the international partners was praised as a model of joint operations. While the threat of terrorism remained a constant concern, Operation Hawkeye Strike provided a moment of significant clarity in the ongoing struggle for regional stability. The commitment to "peace through strength" was once again demonstrated on the global stage, marking a pivotal moment in the late 2025 security landscape. Order of Battle Vessel Name Classification Primary Role in Operation USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) Nimitz-class Aircraft Carrier Flagship of Carrier Strike Group 3; Launch platform for EA-18G Growlers. USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121) Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer Launch platform for LUCAS drones; Integrated air defense (Aegis). USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer Strike readiness (VLS/Tomahawk); Maritime security. USS McFaul (DDG-74) Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer Red Sea security and logistical line protection. USS Santa Barbara (LCS-32) Independence-class LCS Deterrence via Task Force Scorpion Strike/Task Force 59. Military Sealift Command Vessels Transport / Logistics Heavy-lift transport for 2nd IBCT armor and fuel. Army Unit Designation Parent Command Functional Contribution 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment 2nd IBCT, 34th Infantry Division Reconnaissance, perimeter security for HIMARS, and intelligence gathering. 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team 34th Infantry Division ("Red Bulls") Primary ground component providing personnel and security framework. HIMARS Artillery Batteries U.S. Army Central Kinetic delivery of M31 GMLRS rockets against desert targets. AH-64 Apache Detachments Army Aviation Close-in engagement and pursuit of mobile insurgent cells. Air Force Unit or Platform Group Command / Affiliation Mission Profile 505th Command and Control Wing U.S. Air Force Airspace deconfliction and synchronization of strike packages. Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) CENTCOM Central coordination of multi-domain and international assets. MQ-9 Reaper Squadrons Air Combat Command Persistent ISR, target validation, and Hellfire engagements. F-15E / A-10 Strike Packages U.S. Air Force Deep-strike bombardment and close-air support (CAS). Jordanian Fighter Detachments Jordanian Armed Forces Coalition support with F-16 fighter aircraft. EA-18G Growler Squadrons U.S. Navy (Carrier Air Wing) - likely participation Stand-off jamming and electronic suppression of adversary signals (participation plausible but not officially confirmed). Supporting Entity Key Operational Contributions United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) Managed orbital architecture for GPS guidance and Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) sensors. United States Space Force (USSF) Provided secure wideband satellite communications (SATCOM) for real-time data exchange. Task Force 59 Task Force 59 had been testing LUCAS unmanned combat attack systems from USS Santa Barbara (LCS-32). However, there is no confirmed evidence that LUCAS platforms were employed during Operation Hawkeye Strike. The warhead that will eventually be integrated into LUCAS isnt constructed yet, but it will also be low-cost and mass produced by multiple manufacturers. Evaluators are currently testing LUCAS with inert payloads. Syrian Interior Ministry Facilitated intelligence sharing and localized security vetting during the transition period. Operation Hawkeye Strike - Timeline (Estimated) Note: Timeline timestamps are estimated based on operational reporting and standard military planning cycles. The operation officially commenced at 1600 ET (4:00 PM Eastern Time) on December 19, 2025, as confirmed by CENTCOM. Estimated Timestamp Unit / Asset Involved Operational Movement or Action 17 December 2025, 1600 (estimated) CENTCOM / 505th Command and Control Wing Formal coordination was finalized with the Syrian Interior Ministry and the Al-Sharaa government regarding unrestricted airspace access for coalition assets. 17 December 2025, 2100 (estimated) 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment Cavalry squads secured the logistical lines of communication and established perimeters for forward arming points in the Deir ez-Zor province. 18 December 2025, 0400 (estimated) U.S. Space Command Orbital sensors were re-tasked to provide high-fidelity position and timing data for GPS-guided precision munitions. 18 December 2025, 0900 (estimated) U.S. Army Central HIMARS Batteries M142 launch platforms were moved from established regional bases to pre-surveyed firing positions within the Syrian Badia desert. 18 December 2025, 1500 (estimated) Air Force Maintenance and Ordnance Teams The loading of 100-plus precision munitions, including GBU-31 and GBU-38 JDAMs, was completed across the F-15E and A-10 air fleets. 18 December 2025, 2300 (estimated) Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) F-16 fighter detachments were dispatched to regional coalition hubs to undergo final mission briefings and integration checks. 19 December 2025, 0500 (estimated) MQ-9 Reaper Squadrons Persistent surveillance orbits were initiated over the 70 identified target sites to provide real-time validation and collateral damage risk assessments. 19 December 2025, 1100 (estimated) AH-64 Apache Detachments Attack helicopters were positioned at forward arming and refueling points near the Jabal al-Amour range to support close-in engagements. 19 December 2025, 1400 (estimated) USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) - Likely EA-18G Growler aircraft were likely launched to establish electronic suppression zones and neutralize localized extremist signal interference (participation plausible but not officially confirmed). 19 December 2025, 1600 (confirmed) All Participating Strike Units Operation Hawkeye Strike was officially commenced with synchronized air, ground, and sea-based kinetic assaults across central Syria. Expenditure Summary: Precision-Guided Munitions (Estimated) Note: Munition quantities are estimates based on available reporting. CENTCOM confirmed more than 100 precision munitions were expended across 70+ targets. Ordnance Type Primary Launch Platform Estimated Quantity Expended Operational Objective GBU-31 JDAM (2,000 lb) F-15E Strike Eagle ~45 Units (estimated) Neutralization of reinforced concrete bunkers and hardened command centers. GBU-38 JDAM (500 lb) F-15E / A-10 Thunderbolt II ~30 Units (estimated) Destruction of logistics hubs and mobile communication relays with limited collateral risk. M31 GMLRS (Unitary) M142 HIMARS (Army) ~60 Rockets (estimated) Precision strikes against desert outposts and weapons caches via ground-based artillery. AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles AH-64 Apache / MQ-9 Reaper ~25 Units (estimated) Surgical strikes against high-value targets and fleeing mobile insurgent cells. 2.75-inch APKWS Rockets A-10 Thunderbolt II / AH-64 Apache ~80 Units (estimated) Engagement of light armor and dispersed technical vehicles in the Syrian Badia. Correction: Some early reports erroneously suggested that LUCAS unmanned systems were launched from USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121). This is inaccurate. USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. returned to Pearl Harbor on December 12, 2024, and was not in theater during Operation Hawkeye Strike. While Task Force 59 has been testing LUCAS systems from USS Santa Barbara (LCS-32), there is no confirmed evidence that LUCAS platforms were employed during Operation Hawkeye Strike. The warhead that will eventually be integrated into LUCAS isnt constructed yet, but it will also be low-cost and mass produced by multiple manufacturers. Evaluators are currently testing LUCAS with inert payloads. Comparisons Operation / Incident Date Munition Count Target Count Primary Attack Vectors Shayrat Strike April 2017 59 Tomahawks 1 Airbase Sea-based Standoff (DDGs) Chemical Weapons Strike April 2018 105 Munitions 3 Sites Joint Air/Sea Standoff Operation Hawkeye Strike December 2025 100+ Munitions 70+ Targets Multi-Domain (Air, Land, Sea, Space) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 19 December 2025 - Day 1395 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that un total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 148 combat clashes. Ukrainian defenders are decisively intercepting the attempts of the Russian enemy to advance deep into Ukrainian territory, giving him a fiery impression. Today Russian troops made 26 aviation strikes, dropping 66 controlled air bombs. In addition, 3472 kamikaze drones were involved in strikes and carried out 3237 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. In the North Slobozhansky and Kursky directions, Ukrainian soldiers repelled six assault actions of the Russian occupiers since the beginning of the day, one confrontation is ongoing. In addition, the enemy carried out 80 shells to the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, one of which was from the jet system of amphibious fire. In the South Slobozhansky direction, the Russian enemy eight times attacked the positions of Ukrainian units near Vovchansk, Prylipki and in the direction of Izbitsky. In the Kupyansky direction, the Russian aggressor carried out offensive actions four times towards the settlement of Pietchno and towards Petropavlivka, Kupyanskaya. In the Lyman direction Russian zagarbniki eight times attacked the positions of Defense Forces towards drobisevogo, ponds, new peace, druzelubivka, lyman and in the area of the settlement of shandrigolove. Six enemy assaults were repelled by Ukrainian defenders in the Slavic direction - the Russian occupiers tried to advance in the areas of Serebryanka, Dronivka and towards Platonivka. One battle is going on. In the kramators komu direction at the moment boezitknen is not recorded. In the Konstantinivsky direction, 19 times Russians went into offensive on the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of settlements of Kleban-Bik, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Yablunivka, Rusin Yar and towards Pleschievka, Novopavlivka, Ivanopilla, Sofiyivka. One fight is still going on. In the Pokrovsky direction since the beginning of the day, the Russian occupiers tried 38 times to advance on the position of Ukrainian units. The enemy attacked in the areas of settlements Rodins ke, Zvirove, Kotline, Udacne, Mirnograd, Molodec ke, Dachne, Filia and towards Novopidgorodnogo, Novo Shahovogo, Svetlogo, Grishinogo, Novopavlivka. In three locations, the fights have not subsided yet. Today, according to preliminary data, 106 Russian occupants have been defecated in this direction, 66 of which are irrevocable. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed six units of automobile equipment, two motorcycles, 26 unmanned aircraft, nine units of special equipment, one personnel shelter and three warehouses of enemy ammunition. Six units of automotive equipment and eleven Russian coverings were damaged. In the Oleksandrivsky direction, Russian forces tried ten times to break through the defense of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of the settlements Privilne, Zlagoda and towards the settlements of Ribne, Oleksandrograd, New Zaporizhia . Air strikes controlled by air bombs were suffered by pidgavrilivka. In the direction of Gulyajpil s komu, the Russian enemy 11 times attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the area of Gulyajpol and in the direction of Dobropilla. The Russian enemy's aviation struck Gulyaipol and Vozdvizhivka. In the orihivs komu and pridniprovskomu direction at the moment, no fighting has been recorded. In the rest of the directions, there were no special changes. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in response to terrorist attacks launched by Ukraine against civilian facilities in Russia, from 13 to 19 December, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered one massive and six group strikes by precision weaponry, including Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched ballistic missiles, as a result of which losses were inflicted on Ukrainian defence industry enterprises, power facilities, ensuring their operation, transport and port infrastructure, used by the AFU, an assembly and testing centre of uncrewed surface vehicles of the Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence, long-range unmanned aerial vehicle assembly workshops and storages, POL and ammunition depots, temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries. Over the past week, units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one jaeger brigade, one assault regiment of the AFU, two territorial defence brigades, two national guard regiments, and one border security detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in Sumy region. In Kharkov direction, losses were inflicted on formations of two heavy mechanised brigades, four mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one assault regiment of the AFU, one territorial defence brigade, and two national guard brigades. In total, in the Sever Group of Forces' area of responsibility, the AFU losses amounted to more than 1,425 troops, six armoured fighting vehicles, 74 motor vehicles, five field artillery guns, one Grad MLRS launcher, seven electronic warfare stations, 11 ammunition and materiel depots. As a result of resolute actions, units of the Zapad Group of Forces liberated Novoplatonovka (Kharkov region). Losses were inflicted on formations of six mechanised brigades, two assault brigades of the AFU, one territorial defence brigade, and one national guard brigade. In this direction, the AFU losses amounted to more than 1,515 troops, two tanks, 21 armoured fighting vehicles, including nine Western-made armoured fighting vehicles, 106 motor vehicles, one Croatian-made Heron MLRS launcher, and 10 field artillery guns. Six electronic warfare stations and 29 ammunition depots were destroyed. The Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one airmobile brigade, two mountain assault brigades of the AFU, one marine brigade, one territorial defence brigade, and two national guard brigades. In total, in the Yug Group of Forces' area of responsibility, the AFU losses amounted to more than 1,310 troops, one tank, 16 armoured fighting vehicles, including five NATO-made armoured fighting vehicles, 91 motor vehicles, and 17 field artillery guns. Four electronic warfare stations and 26 ammunition and materiel depots were destroyed. Over the past week, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and continued to eliminate the encircled group of the AFU troops in Dimitrov (Donetsk People's Republic), as well as mop up separate enemy formations near Rodinskoye, Svetloye, and Grishino (Donetsk People's Republic). Losses were inflicted on formations of three mechanised brigades, two infantry brigades, two jaeger brigades, one airmobile brigade, two air assault brigades, two assault regiments of the AFU, two marine brigades, one territorial defence brigade, four national guard brigades, and the Azov Special Operations Brigade. In this direction, the AFU losses amounted to more than 3,505 troops, three tanks, 25 armoured fighting vehicles, 39 motor vehicles, one Grad MLRS launcher, and 20 field artillery guns. Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of the enemy's defences and, as a result of resolute actions, liberated Peschanoye, Gerasimovka (Dnepropetrovsk region), and Varvarovka (Zaporozhye region). Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, two assault brigades, three assault regiments of the AFU, one marine brigade, and one territorial defence brigade. Over the week, in the Vostok Group of Forces' area of responsibility, the AFU losses amounted to more 1,795 troops, four tanks, 20 armoured fighting vehicles, 64 motor vehicles, seven field artillery guns, three electronic warfare stations, nine ammunition and materiel depots. Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of two mechanised brigades, one mountain assault brigade, one coastal defence brigade of the AFU, one territorial defence brigade, and one national guard brigade. The AFU losses amounted to up to 370 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 93 motor vehicles, 19 field artillery guns, including two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, seven electronic warfare stations, 18 ammunition and materiel depots. Air defence units shot down nine guided aerial bombs, one Grom-2 operational-tactical missile, 20 U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, two Neptune long-range guided missiles, and 1,689 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost: 669 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 103,867 unmanned aerial vehicles, 640 anti-aircraft missile systems, 26,606 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,633 MLRS combat vehicles, 32,021 field artillery guns and mortars, 49,447 support military vehicles. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press conference - Canberra Transcript Friday 19 December 2025 Parliament House, Canberra Prime Minister Anthony Albanese The Hon Anthony Albanese MP Prime Minister of Australia The Hon Tony Burke MP Minister for Home Affairs Krissy Barrett APM Australian Federal Police Commissioner ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thanks for joining us. And I'm joined by AFP Commissioner, Krissy Barrett, and Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke. Today I confirm that the Federal and New South Wales Governments have declared Sunday 21st of December, a Day of Reflection to honour the victims of the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi Beach and to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community. Further, my government and the New South Wales Government and other Premiers as well will work closely with the Jewish community on arrangements for a National Day of Mourning to be held in the new year. This will allow families the time and space to lay their loved ones to rest, and to support those still recovering. On Sunday, flags on all New South Wales and Australian Government buildings will be flown at half-mast. As a mark of respect for the lives lost and the grief shared across our nation, we invite people across Australia to light a candle at 6:47pm, exactly one week since the attack unfolded, as a quiet act of remembrance with family, friends or loved ones. We're asking all Australians to observe a minute of silence and talking with media organisations about that as well. This day is about standing with the Jewish community, wrapping our arms around them and all Australians sharing their grief. It is a moment to pause, reflect and affirm that hatred and violence will never define who we are as Australians. The terrorist atrocity committed against Australia's Jewish community last weekend was motivated by the evil of antisemitism. And yesterday, I stood in this courtyard and announced further measures to eradicate antisemitism from our society. In responding to the mass murder that we witnessed on Sunday, we must consider both motivation and method. The National Security Committee has met now six times since Sunday evening. We continue to receive advice on intelligence issues around that important body. And today we've been informed that by the Office of National Intelligence has identified a regular online video feed from ISIS that reinforces that this was an ISIS inspired attack. Further work has been done by the security agencies around motivation, and we'll continue to meet and provide them with whatever support they need at this difficult time. Today, I'm also announcing that the government will establish a National Gun Buyback scheme to purchase surplus, newly banned and illegal firearms. The largest buyback since the Howard Government initiated one in 1996. Australia's gun laws were last substantially reformed in the wake of the Port Arthur tragedy. The terrible events at Bondi show we need to get more guns off our streets. We know that one of these terrorists held a firearm licence and had six guns in spite of living in the middle of Sydney's suburbs there at Bonnyrigg. There's no reason why someone in that situation needed that many guns. There are now more than four million firearms in Australia. More than at the time of the Port Arthur massacre nearly 30 years ago. The government will introduce legislation to support the funding of this buyback scheme and meet the costs on a 50/50 basis with states and territories. We expect hundreds of thousands of firearms will be collected and destroyed through this scheme. Consistent with the approach that was taken in 1996, the government is proposing that states and territories will be responsible for the collection, processing and payment to individuals for surrendered firearms. The Australian Federal Police will then be responsible for the destruction of these firearms. The National Gun Buyback scheme is on top of the work that was agreed by National Cabinet on Monday - limiting the number of firearms to be held by any one individual, limiting open ended firearms licensing and the types of guns that are legal, making Australian citizenship a condition of holding a firearm licence, accelerating work on standing up the National Firearms Register, and allowing the additional use of criminal intelligence to underpin firearms licensing. Australians are rightly proud of our gun laws. And until five years ago, Australians were rightly proud that there had not been a repeat Port Arthur. They were rightly proud we're not home to the constant carnage we see in some countries, but there have been of course incidents in both Queensland and Victoria that have seen so called sovereign citizens murder police officers. We will introduce this National Buyback Scheme to get guns off our streets and to help to assist to make all Australians safe. In addition to this, we will also boost the AFP and the work they're doing through Operation Avalite. This is the operation that was established of course, to deal with antisemitism. We will provide extra funds to provide the National Security Investigation teams. Those teams disrupt high harm, high impact, politically motivated violence, communal violence and hate crimes. And Commissioner Barrett will speak to more of that detail now. Thank you. KRISSY BARRETT, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE COMMISSIONER: Thank you. Good morning. Hate speech and the weaponisation of words can have serious national security consequences. History has taught us, and recent events have reinforced, that hatred creates a permissive environment that can lead to violent extremism and terrorism. There are groups and individuals across Australia who are eroding the country's social fabric by advocating hatred, fear and humiliation. I'm not going to mince my words - too much of this is directed at the Jewish community. A year ago, the AFP set up Operation Avalite to investigate antisemitism. Because of rising concerns and threats, The AFP has 161 current Avalite investigations and ten individuals have already been charged. Now, this is just unbelievable. As a country we should really reflect on those statistics. When I became Commissioner in October, I was so concerned about Australia's degrading security environment that I announced the formation of the new National Security Investigations teams to target groups and individuals causing high harm to our social cohesion. Essentially, the National Security Investigations teams are a flying squad of hate disruptors who focus on high harm, high impact, politically motivated violence, communal violence and hate crimes that don't meet the threshold for terrorism investigations, but that we know drive fear and division. This is all about stopping hate and division earlier and well before it leads to violence. So, far this crack squad has charged 14 individuals across 13 investigations. And of those, four individuals across four operations were charged for offences relating to antisemitism. The teams were responsible for a recent weeklong national blitz on the distribution and display of prohibited symbols, and for charging a passenger who only this week allegedly threatened violence toward a member of the Jewish community on a flight from Bali to Sydney. The announcement today to boost the numbers of our hate disruptors as well as planned changes to lower the threshold for hate speech will make it easier for the AFP to take action quicker. It could be the difference between us just knocking on a door to warn an individual, to an individual being placed in handcuffs. And finally, if I could make these observations as funerals for the Bondi Beach victims continue, I offer my sincere condolences on behalf of the AFP. Thank you. TONY BURKE, MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS: Thanks, Prime Minister. Yesterday we spoke about the motivation and today we talk about the method that was used in the horrific, disgusting antisemitic attacks of Sunday. The announcements today with the buyback scheme make possible what the National Cabinet decision referred to. If you're going to reduce the number of guns, then a buyback scheme has to be a piece of that puzzle. The reduction happens in a number of ways: in the limiting of number of firearms held by any one individual, in limiting open ended licensing, in making citizenship a condition of a firearm licence, in accelerating the work on the National Firearms Register and improving the intelligence sharing decisions that underpin firearms licensing. As well as that, with the announcements that were made yesterday, it is important to note the National Security Investment teams mean that anyone who wants to engage in hate crimes, hate speech, or use of hate symbols needs to know that even though we are lowering the threshold, criminal offences are already there. The extra arrests are happening because of the National Security Investigation teams, and the resources are being provided today for what is a - was originally a measure established by Commissioner Barrett and something that she's been very passionate about, which has helped boost the work of Operation Avalite, that the expansion of those teams now happens. For those who want to engage in hate speech, hate crimes or use of hate symbols, they need to know the thresholds are being lowered and the resources for the Australian Federal Police are already there and are being expanded now. JOURNALIST: The buyback is going to cause a lot of friction, I imagine, not just with some elements of the Opposition like the Nationals, but also with gun owners, even some of your own MPs, Dan Repacholi this morning said that while he supports strong gun laws, he doesn't support measures that are blunt, symbolic, or designed to appease public anger. What is your message to people who may have to give up their weapons because of the actions of terrorist? PRIME MINISTER: My message is that in 1996, the then Howard government did the right thing, intervened to have a scheme which Australians have been rightly proud of. We need to go further. My message is that the issue of someone involved as a sporting shooter, like Dan Repacholi is quite rightly proud of his representation of Australia, and he is a great local member, but he has a proud record going back. But if a bloke in Bonnyrigg needs six high powered rifles and is able to get them under the existing licensing scheme, then there's something wrong. I think Australians can see that. JOURNALIST: Thanks, PM. We've had Royal Commissions in recent years into Robodebt, bushfires, veteran suicide, and so on. Do you believe a Royal Commission now is inevitable now into this issue? And will you expose your government to a full examination of its response to antisemitism? PRIME MINISTER: We are acting and we've continued to act over a period of time. One of the things that I spoke about before was about motivation. We know that in this ISIS, regular video that they put out, they are claiming that it was ISIS inspired, and we know there's evidence there that that's the case. This has been around for a long period of time. What my Government has focused on is any further measures that we need to do. We have continued to act. Everything from setting up Operation Avalite, the work that was done as well in finding out the connection between the IRGC and the attacks on the Adass synagogue in Melbourne, the Georgina Street Newtown synagogue, and of course, the caravan incident in North West Sydney. The agencies did substantial work to identify that. We then acted by being the first government since the Second World War to expel an ambassador from Australia, with the Iranian ambassador. What I'm focused on is continuing to work. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, are you surprised at the lack of bipartisan support for gun reform at a federal level? PRIME MINISTER: What I'm focused on is Australia's national interest. I'm focused on unity. People have decisions to make. This is not a time, in my view, for political differentiation, this is a time to bring the country together. I think overwhelmingly that's what the country wants to see. JOURNALIST: Have you been communicating with the Opposition leader about how best to approach this in a bipartisan way? And has she offered you the Coalition's support in any of the measures that you've announced yesterday or today? PRIME MINISTER: The Coalition put out a very, I think, positive statement on Sunday night, offering support for the Australian Government and the New South Wales government for any action that should be taken. I spoke with her personally. I spoke with her again on Monday morning. We offered briefings. She received those full briefings. People can make their own assessments about what has happened since, but I've made it very clear publicly that I want to see bipartisanship on this issue. But that's not something that I can impose. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you said yesterday that you took responsibility as Prime Minister for the fact that more could have been done to tackle antisemitism. Why wasn't things like vilification, stronger hate speech laws considered or worked on in even the last 12 months when that initial amendment was put forward? It was decided it would be too complicated to do it off the floor at the time. Do you accept that it was a mistake to have not been working on strengthening those laws before the announcement yesterday? PRIME MINISTER: We introduced the first hate speech laws. We introduced the first hate speech laws that have been introduced in Australia. We're the first government to outlaw Nazi symbols. We inherited a situation where -- I've been in this building a long time. For a lot of the time, I've been defending the existing anti-discrimination laws, which the Coalition for a long period of time said was an attack on freedom of speech and tried to remove them. We have undertaken those laws. If you look at what we have done consistently as well, it hasn't been set and forget. Can governments do better? Yes, they always can. Yes, they always can, as I said yesterday. But we have been meeting regularly not just on the political level, but with all of the agencies. We've provided every level of support. I've engaged with state and territory governments as well on a full range of measures. And we've worked really closely as well since we received the report of the Special Envoy in rolling out the measures that were called for there, whether it be the National Student Ombudsman, whether it be the increase in security as well. I was meeting, before Sunday, I was speaking with Jewish community leaders about an increase, an extension of the security measures, for example, that we included in the lead up to my MYEFO. Which of course was announced on Wednesday, but we included that work and discussions were taking place beforehand. JOURNALIST: Sussan Ley says, "Let's get to work on what you've announced yesterday." Will you be recalling parliament before Christmas? PRIME MINISTER: No, it's not practical, and I suspect that the Opposition leader knows that that's not the case. We want to make sure that we get the laws right. I take it to some of the previous comments which have been here as well, have gone to why didn't we do more? We want to make sure that the laws are got right and we want to make sure as well that there is broad support for it across the board. We will engage constructively. We will provide when draughts are able to be achieved for what is complex laws -- because there are constitutional issues, there are issues of free speech involved in this as well -- we want to make sure that these laws don't get passed and then get knocked over. We have seen in High Court decisions in areas relating to migration and other issues related to that national space, we've seen courts make decisions. We don't want that to occur. We want to make sure that they are very tight. JOURNALIST: Did information from ASIO help lead to those arrests at Liverpool? COMMISSIONER BARRETT: So, what I would say about that, it is an ongoing and active matter. New South Wales police have still got a number of people in custody and I know that they did put a media statement out and that Deputy Commissioner Hudson has done some media interviews this morning. So, I won't go into further detail other than to confirm that there was information that was passed to New South Wales police from partner agencies. JOURNALIST: Including ASIO? COMMISSIONER BARRETT: I won't confirm that. This is a New South Wales Police matter. And as I said, it's ongoing and active. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, was critical information that could have prevented this deadly terror attack in Bondi in the wrong hands and could it have been prevented with greater information sharing? PRIME MINISTER: Well, that is not -- the information up to this point does not suggest that that's the case. The information, as the agencies have said, indicates that these two individuals were involved in considerable planning of this terrorist act last Sunday. There is not an indication of others' involvement, but that continues to be an ongoing series of investigations. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, just to confirm the information that was available -- PRIME MINISTER: What information are you talking about, with respect? JOURNALIST: That would have led police to make arrests prior to the deadly terror attack? PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'm not sure what it is that you're implying. I'm making it clear that none of the agencies are saying that they had information that was not passed on to anybody, if that is what is being suggested. JOURNALIST: Two questions off the back of Sunday's attack and yesterday's police arrests. How many suspected Islamic extremists are on ASIO's watch list? And considering these events, is radical Islam an enemy from within Australia? Are there too many people here who don't share Australia's values and culture? PRIME MINISTER: Well, when it comes to figures and ASIO's work, I will leave those comments to the Director General and as to whether they wish to make those matters public. I can say this, that one proponent of support for ISIS, motivated by a perversion of Islam that leads to extremism, is one too many. Is one too many. JOURNALIST: So, how many guns should people be allowed to have? For example, if someone is living in suburban Sydney, how many -- will you consider putting a cap on the number of guns they're allowed to have? PRIME MINISTER: That is the subject of work. Because these are state laws, I mean, one of the things that happened, to be clear about the guns issue, is that New South Wales said on Monday morning they were going to act on guns. One of the reasons why there should be national leadership and a National Cabinet process was brought in, because these laws are largely done by states and territories, the laws are only as strong as the weakest laws in any state. So, Western Australia, for example, has, in the wake of a recent incident, undertaken a strengthening of their laws, something that I suspect you're conscious of, given your recent media background. That's why we have tasked Premier Minns together with Premier Cook to oversee that process. They will undertake through state and territory governments, then come back to National Cabinet with the details there. I want laws to be as strong as possible, whilst of course providing for legitimate use of guns as well. JOURNALIST: Are you expecting push back from Premier Crisafulli? PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's a matter for the Premier, but I would hope that all premiers and chief ministers engage in the spirit in which this is intended, which is about keeping Australians safe. JOURNALIST: One of the killers being able to purchase identical shotguns within months of each other, should that be a red flag? And as for authorities patrolling and protecting Jewish events, should they be in possession of high-powered shotguns? PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'll leave operational matters, with respect, it's important that they be left to the police, whether it be state jurisdictions or the Australian Federal Police. I think that politicians doing that -- what I would say as the Prime Minister is any requests from agencies, I would be supportive of. And yes, I am surprised that that is the case. There's something wrong with the licensing laws when this guy can have six high-powered rifles, which is why the Government's acting. JOURNALIST: Maybe for Mr Burke, but it's on the guns. Just on the details of the buyback. I'm just casting my mind back to Port Arthur. A couple of things. Will it involve an amnesty as well, as we had 30 years ago, for illegal weapons, including those that have been banned for 30 years? To sort of try to hoover those up. And I remember back then, legitimate sporting shooters who might have a number of firearms for different disciplines at their sporting club, if I remember correctly, there were carveouts or exceptions made or an attempt to accommodate that. Will that be the case this time when you're talking about a limit on guns or can you see a way for that? MINISTER BURKE: These effective details are now going to meetings of officials. So, I met with the other police ministers earlier this week. We had the Police Ministers' Council and at that, we set up a senior officials group. That senior officials group meets for the first time on Monday to be able to start to work through all the detail. The decision today from the Federal Government in making the decision with respect to buyback makes everything else possible in terms of what then gets resolved. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, just to follow on Reuben's question, is radical Islam in your view the greatest domestic security threat Australia faces? PRIME MINISTER: Well, the assessments are that, that is one of the issues that we're dealing with. But I want to deal with all of the threats, whether it be extremist perversions of Islam leading to support for the ideology promoted by ISIS, whether it be also concerned about the issue of sovereign citizens killing police in Victoria and Queensland. I'm concerned about neo-Nazis thinking it's okay to march down our streets dressed in black, not worrying about their faces being covered, explicitly promoting that as well. Some of these things are not new. James Saleam, National Action person, tried to kill Eddie Funde from the African National Congress. When I was a student, I was a candidate against that reprehensible fascist at Sydney University in 1983. This has been around a long period of time. Issues have escalated and we need to take action against all of them. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, I note your earlier comments about information sharing not being identified as an issue. What early consideration has been -- PRIME MINISTER: Well, I didn't say that. What I said was -- JOURNALIST: -- in response, okay. But on that point, what early consideration has been given to the current structures of our law enforcement and intelligence community? Was it a mistake to, after disbanding the Home Affairs model that was inherited, to then go back to it, now that that department is responsible for not only internal security and immigration, but social cohesion? PRIME MINISTER: Well, we have continued to engage across government. But one of the five points that the National Cabinet agreed on was allowing additional use of criminal intelligence to underpin firearms licensing, for example. So, that instead of just looking at, does Andrew Greene have a record, that there be an analysis from intelligence agencies as well. That's a practical step going forward. JOURNALIST: Commissioner Barrett, in terms of the operation in South West Sydney yesterday, do you believe that that potentially prevented another terrorist attack? And just in relation to the gun buyback, Prime Minister, will that be mandatory or voluntary? COMMISSIONER BARRETT: As I said, it's an active and ongoing matter and there are people still in custody, so I won't speak specifically to that. What I will say though is it is an example of the high threat environment that we're operating in, and it's an example that the members of the public can be confident that police will take swift and decisive action. Yesterday afternoon was a clear example of that. MINISTER BURKE: You have a legal change about access to weapons, then if people have more weapons than they are now legally able to have, then it is mandatory to hand them in. JOURNALIST: If it is set at five in a particular state and someone has seven, they would have to forfeit two of those? MINISTER BURKE: Yes. And so, that's what's now being negotiated with the states in terms of what those numbers should be on that principle. But effectively, if it becomes illegal to be holding the number of firearms that you hold, then at that point you have to dispose of it and the buyback scheme is the way that that would happen. JOURNALIST: If someone had under the limit, but just wanted to take part in the buyback to sacrifice their guns, would that be a possibility? MINISTER BURKE: These are issues that'll be worked through with states. JOURNALIST: Minister Burke, you mentioned today that you're going to push hate speech laws to the absolute constitutional limit. Are you able to just elaborate on what that means and whether that could cover potential political parties like White Australia that are seeking to register, that the AEC doesn't have any control over? And Mr Albanese, I just want to ask, sorry, on a separate matter, do you have any more information about an Australian killed in Ukraine, fighting on the frontlines in Eastern Ukraine? MINISTER BURKE: I'll start with my comments this morning that what I'm making clear is a determination from the Government, but I also said in that same interview that my first meeting with my officials, starting to work through the legal instructions on that, was yesterday. There'll be a lot more work being done on that. PRIME MINISTER: I've been in the National Security Committee meeting this morning. If we have any further information, my office will update you. Thank you very much, everyone. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Member of Anti-Capitalist and Anti-Government Group Arrested and Charged with Threatening ICE Officers Friday, December 19, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs On Dec. 13, Micah James Legnon, 28, of New Iberia, Louisiana, was arrested on a criminal complaint filed in the Western District of Louisiana charging him with threatening Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. According to court documents, Legnon also known as Dark Witch and Kateri the Witch, is associated with the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF), a far-left, pro-Palestine, anti-government, and anti-capitalist group. Legnon's association with TILF included participating in a chat called "Order of the Black Lotus," in which Legnon discussed teaching other TILF members urban warfare while writing threatening messages about ICE officers there and on social media. "This arrest reflects the Justice Department's priority of disrupting and dismantling terrorist networks across the Nation," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "We will continue to aggressively target violent extremist groups like the Turtle Island Liberation Front, hold their proxies accountable, and ensure the American peopleand the officers who protect themcan live without fear. Thank you to the US Attorney, Zachary Keller, in the Western District of Louisiana for his incredible work." "The FBI will not tolerate anyone who threatens law enforcement officers and will work with our partners to bring them to justice," said FBI Director Kash Patel. "This defendant allegedly threatened ICE officers and had an assault rifle, body armor, and other items in his vehicle when he was arrested by local law enforcement. He is associated with the Turtle Island Liberation Front which espouses anti-government views. The FBI is steadfast in our commitment to protect the American people and those who wear the badge to protect our communities." "Groups like TILF are a menace to society and a threat to the values that make America the greatest nation on Earth," said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana. "As we approach the one-year anniversary of the New Orleans New Year's Day terror attack, the Louisiana U.S. Attorney's Offices stand vigilant alongside the FBI and our other federal, state, and local partners to uncover and stop potential terrorist plots dead in their tracks. The swift and decisive action taken by the FBI's California and Louisiana components and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office here exemplifies that commitment we all have to keeping Louisiana and our country safe." Legnon, who has a military background, was under surveillance by the FBI on Dec. 12, due to his affiliation with TILF members plotting to bomb Los Angeles who were arrested that day. On Dec. 12, FBI saw Legnon leaving his New Iberia residence with what appeared to be an assault rifle and body armor in his vehicle in an apparent effort to execute an attack. Legnon was stopped and arrested by the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office, and one assault rifle, one pistol, one gas canister, and body armor were recovered from his vehicle. A federal search warrant executed on Legnon's residence revealed sniper training manuals, SWAT training manuals, assault rifles, and multiple rounds of ammunition. This investigation is ongoing. The FBI is investigating the case with valuable assistance from the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Nickel for the Western District of Louisiana is prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance provided by the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Components: Office of the Attorney General Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Security Division (NSD) USAO - Louisiana, Western Press Release Number: 25-1221 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tourists carry their surfboard as they walk along Kuta beach near Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo by AFP Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, has identified 15 nations as priority markets in its tourism strategy for the 20252026 period, aiming to boost international arrivals, increase visitor spending, and extend average length of stay. The 15 countries are Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, the U.K., Germany, France, Russia, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the U.S. These are the 15 markets that contribute most to foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia, said Firnandi Gufron, Assistant Deputy for Tourism Marketing Strategy and Communication, the Antara news agency reported. He gave an example that the Malaysian market, which contributes high tourist arrivals to Indonesia, is easier to develop because strategies can leverage geographical proximity and focus on quality enhancement. Tourists from Malaysia are fond of art, culinary delights, city life, cultural and religious heritage, and rural areas. Similarly, Singapore also contributes high numbers of arrivals but with a short length of stay. Targeting tourists from Singapore can open opportunities for wellness tourism and luxury retreats. As for markets like India and Russia, he noted that the numbers of tourists from those countries are experiencing good growth, which must be leveraged maximally. According to data compiled by the Ministry of Tourism, the number of tourists from Malaysia reached 2.18 million in the January-October 2025 period, showing a growth of 15.91% compared to last year. Meanwhile, the number of visitors from Singapore totaled 1.19 million this year, growing by 7.66% from 2024. During the same period, the number of tourists from India reached over 603,600, an increase of 3.25% from 2024. Furthermore, the number of tourists from Russia exceeded 178,400, marking a significant growth of 29.94% from last year. The strategy is expected to increase the spending of foreign tourists and extend their length of stay in Indonesia. As for domestic tourists, the ministry will follow the trends of people's interests, such as culinary delights, shopping experiences, cities and rural areas, marine tourism, and adventure tourism. Ukrainian National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Use Nefilim Ransomware to Attack Companies in the United States and Other Countries Friday, December 19, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs A Ukrainian national pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud for his role in a series of international ransomware attacks. According to court documents, Artem Aleksandrovych Stryzhak, 35, of Barcelona, Spain, conspired with others to deploy the Nefilim ransomware against victim computer networks in the United States and other countries, causing significant damage to victim computer systems. As part of the scheme, the conspirators generated a unique ransomware executable file for each victim, along with a corresponding decryption key and customized ransom note. If a victim paid the ransom demand, the perpetrators provided the decryption key, enabling the victim to decrypt files locked by the ransomware. In June 2021, Nefilim administrators gave Stryzhak access to the Nefilim ransomware code in exchange for 20 percent of his ransom proceeds. Stryzhak operated the ransomware through his account on the online Nefilim platform, known as the "panel." Shortly after gaining access, Stryzhak asked a coconspirator whether he should choose a different username than one he used in other criminal activity, in case the panel "gets hacked into by the feds." Nefilim administrators preferred to target companies located in the United States, Canada, or Australia with annual revenues exceeding $100 million. Stryzhak and others researched potential victims after gaining unauthorized access to their networks, including by using online databases to obtain information about the companies' net worth, size, and contact information. In or about July 2021, a Nefilim administrator encouraged Stryzhak to target companies in those countries with more than $200 million dollars in annual revenue. As part of the extortion scheme, the conspirators threatened that unless victims agreed to pay the ransom, the stolen data would be published on publicly accessible "Corporate Leaks" websites maintained by Nefilim administrators. Stryzhak was arrested in Spain in June 2024 and extradited to the United States on April 30. Stryzhak pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud related to computers in connection with his Nefilim ransomware activities. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 6, 2026. The defendant faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S. Department of State's Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Rewards Program has offered a reward of up to $11 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction or location of Stryzhak's charged co-conspirator, Volodymyr Tymoshchuk. Anyone with information about Tymoshchuk should contact the FBI via phone at +1-917-242-1407, by email at TymoTips@fbi.gov, by contacting your local field office, if in the United States, or by contacting the nearest U.S. Embassy, if located overseas. More information about the TOC reward offer is located on the State Department website. The FBI Springfield Field Office in Illinois is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Brian Z. Mund of the Criminal Division's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander F. Mindlin and Ellen H. Sise for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Rebecca Roth of the Eastern District of New York. The Criminal Division's Office of International Affairs, the FBI's New York Field Office, and Spanish law enforcement authorities provided substantial assistance in this case. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds. Topic: Cybercrime Components: Criminal Division Criminal - Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section Criminal - Office of International Affairs USAO - New York, Eastern Press Release Number: 25-1224 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MS-13 Members Sentenced For Racketeering and Murder for Killing and Stabbing Five Victims, Including a 16-Year Old Girl Friday, December 19, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Wilson Arturo Constanza-Galdomez, also known as Humilde, also known as Marco Saravia, 26, of El Salvador, Edis Omar Valenzuela-Rodriguez, also known as Little Felon, 24, of Honduras, and Jonathan Pesquera-Puerto, also known as Truney, 24, of Honduras were each sentenced today to life in prison for their convictions at trial of Racketeering (RICO) Conspiracy involving murder and Racketeering Murder, all related to their association with La Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. "These defendants committed brutal violence including murdering and stabbing young women and girls to fuel their respective climbs up the MS-13 organization," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "These acts, often carried out with machetes, spread fear and terror throughout the community. As today's life sentences reflect, the Criminal Division will be relentless in its pursuit of MS-13 leaders, members and associates, to restore a sense of safety and security to neighborhoods throughout the United States." "These ruthless individuals displayed a total lack of humanity and regard for life, including murdering a 16-year-old girl, all to advance their standing within a transnational criminal organization," said U.S. Attorney Kelly O Hayes for the District of Maryland. "Now they'll spend the rest of their lives behind bars where they belong. We, along with our law-enforcement partners, are committed to dismantling the MS-13 gang, and other lawless organizations, and holding criminals accountable who thrive on committing murders and terrorizing our communities." "The horrific acts of violence carried out by these MS-13 members are indefensible and demonstrates a complete disregard for human life," said Acting Assistant Director Rebecca Day of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division. "The FBI remains steadfast in our commitment to relentlessly pursue members and associates of MS-13 and obtain justice for the victims of their crimes." This case targeted the violent activities of MS-13, a transnational criminal organization that operates throughout Central America and the United States. MS-13 members are organized into "cliques," smaller groups that operate in a specific city or region, including Maryland. The defendants, all MS-13 members and associates, were required to commit acts of violence to increase their status and rank within the gang. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, known as "chavalas," whenever possible. In Baltimore City and Baltimore County, MS-13 maintained a rivalry with the 18th Street Gang, among others. The investigation led to the conviction of six MS-13 members, including the three trial defendants. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on April 25, 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other members and associates of MS-13 assaulted a man whom they suspected of being a rival gang member by repeatedly striking him with machetes, resulting in significant injuries to the victim's face and arm. Afterward, those involved reported the incident to MS-13 leadership in El Salvador to gain credit and increase their status. On May 29, 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, Pesquera-Puerto, and other members and associates of MS-13 lured a 16-year-old girl, whom they suspected of associating with rival gang members, to an area near Loch Raven Reservoir in Cockeysville, Maryland. There, they struck her with a machete and stabbed her multiple times, murdering her. They then reported it to MS-13 leadership. On June 5, 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez and other MS-13 members and associates lured another female, whom they suspected was a rival gang member that cooperated with law enforcement, to an area near the CSX Bayview Train Yard in Baltimore, Maryland. There, the gang stabbed her 143 times, killing her and leaving her body near the train tracks. They again reported the murder to MS-13 leadership. On June 6, 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Pesquera-Puerto, and other MS-13 members and associates confronted a man, who had had prior disputes with the gang, and his girlfriend, who was the sister of one of the prior murder victims. Constanza-Galdomez and other members and associates ordered younger MS-13 members to bring the female victim to the same train tracks where her sister had been murdered. There, the younger members stabbed her over 70 times. All three defendants stabbed the male victim multiple times. Both victims survived the attacks. The FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Baltimore County Police Department, the Baltimore City Police Department, and the U.S. Marshal's Service investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Grace Bowen and Christopher Taylor of the Justice Department's Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Wallner for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to provide their tips to law enforcement. The FBI and HSI both have nationwide tiplines that you can call to report what you know. You can reach the FBI at 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or call HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE. Topic: Violent Crime Components: Criminal Division Criminal - Violent Crime and Racketeering Section Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) USAO - Maryland Press Release Number: 25-1226 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HMCS Max Bernays returns home after historic deployment National Defence News release December 19, 2025 - Ottawa - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Today, His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Max Bernays returned to its home port of Esquimalt, British Columbia, following a four-month deployment to the Arctic and Indo-Pacific regions under OperationsLATITUDE, HORIZON, and NEON. The ship began its deployment with Operation LATITUDE, navigating the Northern Pacific region and Bering and Chukchi seas. HMCS Max Bernays' participation in the operation increased the Canadian Armed Forces' (CAF) domain awareness in the Western Arctic and enhanced interoperability with the United States military in the context of continental defence. On August 29, 2025, HMCS Max Bernays reached a latitude of 81 North, the farthest north a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) vessel has ever travelled. This historic milestone underscores both the capability of the Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPV) and the CAF's capacity to operate confidently in Canada's North. After supporting Operation LATITUDE, HMCS Max Bernays transited into the North Pacific, where it participated in Operation NEON, reinforcing Canada's longstanding commitment to maritime security and regional stability. Operation NEON isCanada's contribution to a coordinated multinational effort to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed on North Korea. As part of this Operation, Canada works alongside allies and partners including the Republic of Korea, Japan, the United States, France, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Through its contributions to Operation NEON, HMCS Max Bernays helped deter sanctions evasion and illustrated Canada's commitment to upholding international law. During the deployment, the ship also participated in multinational engagements, including Exercise SAMA SAMA25 and ANNUALEX25, enhancing the CAF's interoperability and strengthening Canada's partnerships. This was accomplished as part of Operation HORIZON, Canada's comprehensive military approach to promote peace and stability in support of an international system based on the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific region. From the Canadian Arctic to the Indo-Pacific region, HMCS Max Bernays demonstrated its ability to operate effectively in diverse waters, highlighting that the AOPV is a modern, adaptable, and globally deployable ship able to operate wherever Canadian interests and partnerships exist. Quotes "From achieving a historic milestone in the Arctic to contributing to security and stability across the Indo-Pacific, His Majesty's Canadian Ship Max Bernays has shown exceptional versatility and professionalism. Through their support to Operation NEON and participation in Operation HORIZON, they strengthened Canada's partnerships and reinforced our commitment to the Indo-Pacific Strategy. We proudly welcome the ship's company home to Esquimalt." Rear-Admiral David Patchell, Commander, Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific "Reaching the highest latitude ever attained by a Royal Canadian Navy ship during Operation LATITUDE, making meaningful contributions to Operation NEON, as well as engagements throughout the Indo-Pacific while supporting Operation HORIZON, demonstrated the capability, adaptability, and dedication of our sailors. None of this would have been possible without the steadfast support of our families and friends back home." Commander Nadia Shields, Commanding Officer, HMCS Max Bernays Quick facts On August 29, 2025, HMCS Max Bernays reached 8112.044' N, 15538.512' W, the farthest north any RCN ship has sailed. Operation HORIZON implements the defence elements of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, increasing the CAF's forward-deployed presence, deepening cooperation with regional partners and expanding participation in multinational exercises. Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy outlines a whole-of-government approach to supporting a stable, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. The Harry DeWolf-class AOPVs enhance the RCN's capacity to operate in domestic and international waters, including the High Arctic. HMCS Max Bernays is the third Harry DeWolf-class AOPV, and typically sails with a ship's company of approximately 75-85 RCN personnel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Carney speaks with President of France Emmanuel Macron Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney December 19, 2025 Ottawa, Ontario Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, spoke with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. President Macron congratulated Prime Minister Carney on Canada's successful Presidency of the G7 in 2025. The leaders discussed key accomplishments achieved by the G7 under Canada's leadership, including joint efforts to fortify our collective security, strengthen global energy security, accelerate the digital transition, and build a more resilient global economy. The leaders discussed future opportunities and challenges ahead of France's G7 Presidency in 2026 and reaffirmed the forum's importance in a more uncertain and divided world. They committed to working pragmatically with international partners to safeguard macroeconomic stability and advance cooperation on critical minerals, artificial intelligence, and energy. Prime Minister Carney and President Macron agreed to remain in close contact. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese FM firmly opposes US FY2026 defense act's negative China provisions, urges Washington to not implement them Global Times By Global Times Published: Dec 19, 2025 04:08 PM The US National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 exaggerates the so-called "China threat," interferes in China's internal affairs, and undermines China's sovereignty, security, and development interests, and China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to this, and has lodged solemn representations with the US side on multiple occasions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday, when asked to comment the US' enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, which contains negative provisions related to China. Guo said that China urges the US to view China's development and China-US relations objectively and rationally, work with China toward the same direction, and jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state at their meeting in Busan, South Korea. The US must not implement the China-related negative provisions in the act and should eliminate their adverse impact. If the US insists on going its own way, China will take resolute and forceful measures to firmly safeguard its sovereignty, security, and development interests, said Guo. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia urges IAEA chief to adopt an impartial stance towards Iran IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 19, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has urged Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi to adopt a professional and impartial stance regarding Iran's nuclear program. According to Russian media TASS, Lavrov called on Grossi to adhere to the principles of the IAEA's secretariat, including impartiality, unbiased assessments, and the broader activities of the body. Tehran has restricted cooperation with the IAEA following the illegal attacks by the United States and the Israeli regime on Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities, as well as the law passed by the Iranian Parliament to suspend cooperation if the other parties' commitments are not met. Subsequently, negotiations were held between Iran and the IAEA regarding the continuation of interactions within the existing legal framework, which led to a technical understanding on September 9, 2025. However, the actions taken by the European Troika - namely, France, Germany, and Britain - and the United States against Iran's peaceful nuclear program, including the adoption of a new anti-Iran resolution in the IAEA Board of Governors, led to the suspension of the implementation of this understanding. Earlier in a joint press conference with Lavrov in Moscow, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said that Iran would not waive its legal rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), including the peaceful use of nuclear energy and enrichment, adding that Iran's inalienable right remains intact despite the US and Israeli attacks. He further noted that the attacks on nuclear facilities of Iran, a country adhering to its commitments under the NPT, have changed the realities on the ground and that the IAEA lacks the necessary protocols to inspect the attacked sites. Araghchi also emphasized that the attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities did not destroy the indigenous technology or weaken the will of the Islamic Republic of Iran, even though they inflicted some damage to the sites. 9376**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moscow calls on IAEA chief to adhere to neutrality, objectivity towards Iran Iran Press TV Friday, 19 December 2025 6:46 PM Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi to maintain impartial and professional assessments of Iran's nuclear program. "We urge Director General Grossi, who has been advocating the resumption of contacts with Tehran, to strictly adhere to the principles guiding the IAEA Secretariat including neutrality, objectivity, and professionalism in both its assessments and overall activities," Tass news agency quoted Lavrov as saying on Friday. Speaking after meeting with his Egyptian counterpart in Cairo, the top Russian diplomat reminded that Iran's nuclear facilities which had been under IAEA monitoring had come under attack. Lavrov was referring to the June strikes carried out by the US and Israel against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities, which were under the UN supervision. These acts of aggression also targeted Iranian nuclear scientists. Yet the IAEA, whose director general, Grossi, chose not to condemn the attacks. Senior Iranian officials have warned that the IAEA chief should avoid expressing baseless opinions about Iran's nuclear program. Grossi has come under fire for paving the way for the US and the Israeli regime's unprovoked and unjust aggression against the Islamic Republic. Days before the aggression was launched, the IAEA released a politically-motivated report accusing Iran of "non-compliance," which was followed by a resolution against the country at the IAEA board of governors meeting in Vienna, pushed by the European troika. Grossi's biased stance has led the US, Israel's key backer, to exercise intense pressure on the global stage towards painting Iran's nuclear work in a bad light. A number of diplomats also slammed Grossi's "irresponsible and fallacious IAEA report, which they said caused "irreparable damage to the agency." According to documents recently acquired by Iranian intelligence agencies, Grossi has had secret contacts with Israeli regime officials despite the regime not being a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The Russian foreign minister in Friday's remarks added that the current pause in Iran's relations with the IAEA was "not caused by the authorities in Tehran." Before the unprovoked war, Iran had warned the IAEA about any politically-motivated move against the country, saying it could derail Tehran's cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. Elsewhere in his remarks, Lavrov also drew attention to Egypt's mediating efforts to help restore dialogue between Iran and the agency. Last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Iran now considers the Cairo understanding, reached in September with the IAEA, terminated, following the passage of an anti-Iran resolution at the agency's Board of Governors. The Board narrowly approved the resolution drafted by the European Troika - France, Germany and the UK - and the United States - that urges Tehran to "without delay" report on its enriched uranium stockpile and facilities damaged in the June aggression by Israel and the US, while omitting any mention of Iran's longstanding cooperation with the agency. Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) had earlier warned that Tehran would suspend its cooperation with the IAEA after the United Nations Security Council voted not to permanently lift sanctions on Tehran. Araghchi, during a recent visit to Moscow, reiterated Iran's commitment to defending its legal nuclear rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), saying Tehran's nuclear policies have remained within the international legal framework. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran slams Canada's sanctions as 'baseless' and 'meddlesome' Iran Press TV Friday, 19 December 2025 4:51 PM An Iranian Foreign Ministry official has sharply condemned Canada's latest sanctions on Iranian officials, calling the move "baseless," "meddlesome," and devoid of legal or moral legitimacy. In a statement on Friday, Forouzandeh Vadiati, Director General of Human Rights at Iran's Foreign Ministry, said the sanctions reflect the "arrogant mindset" of Canadian decision-makers. She said Ottawa's action was taken "under the pretext of unfounded claims" and described it as a clear case of interference in Iran's internal affairs. Ottawa has "no legal or moral basis" to raise human rights accusations against Iran, she said, adding that Canada is a country with a record of "systematic suppression of the human rights of indigenous peoples." She added that Canada also has a "long history of complicity with the genocidal Israeli regime in the massacre of the Palestinian people and aggression against other countries in the region." "Such a government has no legitimacy to make deceitful human rights claims against the Islamic Republic of Iran," she said. Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand announced on Monday that Ottawa had imposed sanctions on four senior Iranian officials, accusing them of involvement in "gross and systematic human rights violations." The sanctioned individuals were named as Mohsen Karimi, Ahmad Kadem Seyedoshohada, Mustafa Mohebbi, and Hassan Akharian. Vadiati also criticized Canada's broader policies toward Iran, including the unilateral severance of diplomatic relations and the denial of consular services to Iranian nationals living in Canada. She described these measures as "a blatant violation of human rights." "Canada's unilateral sanctions against Iran target the economic, social, and cultural rights of the Iranian people," Vadiati said. She added that the Canadian government "must be held accountable for the negative consequences of its actions, which in some cases amount to crimes against humanity." The Iranian diplomat urged Canadian authorities to abandon politicization and evasion, and instead focus on addressing human rights abuses inside their country, including the "torture and mass killings of indigenous children," and to halt actions that violate the rights of other nations. Canada broke off diplomatic ties with Iran and closed its Tehran embassy in a surprise move in 2012, citing Tehran's nuclear file, Iran's support for former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's government, and alleged threats to the Israeli regime. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Egypt's gas deal funnels $35bn to Israeli coffers Iran Press TV Friday, 19 December 2025 12:37 PM Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved a $34.7-billion natural gas deal with Egypt, claiming that the export agreement meets Israel's "vital" needs. In a video statement on Thursday, Netanyahu and Israeli energy minister Eli Cohen said $18 billion from the $34.7 billion deal will go into Israel's "public coffers". Under the deal, $155 million will go to the regime yearly in the first four years. This was expected to rise to $1.9 billion by 2033. "The agreement is with the American company Chevron, with Israeli partners who will supply gas to Egypt. This money will strengthen education, health, infrastructure, security, the future of the coming generations," Netanyahu claimed, adding that he only greenlit the deal, signed in August, after ensuring it met Israel's "vital" needs. "The deal greatly strengthens Israel's position as a regional energy superpower, and contributes to regional stability." He added that companies would be required to sell gas to Israeli settlers "at a good price." For his part, Cohen described it as a "historic moment for Israel" and the largest export deal "in Israel's history." Washington reportedly pressured Israel, which initially rejected the agreement, into the deal to push closer ties between Cairo and Tel Aviv. Israeli energy firm NewMed Energy had announced earlier this year the signing of the $35-billion agreement to provide Egypt with gas. However, the regime's energy ministry initially rejected it, over what it said a lack of assurances that the Israeli market would receive good prices. "Israel had delayed the official approval of the deal for months, ultimately folding under pressure from the [US President Donald] Trump administration," sources told CNN. Prior to the deal, Israel's finance ministry warned the regime could face an energy shortage in the next 25 years. Axios reported this month that Trump was hoping to arrange a meeting between Netanyahu and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, as they last met in 2018. 'Purely commercial' Egypt insisted that the deal is "purely commercial" and has no bearing on its support for Palestinian rights. "The deal is a purely commercial transaction concluded exclusively on the basis of economic and investment considerations, and does not involve any political dimensions or understandings whatsoever," said Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt's State Information Service, a government media office. "The agreement serves a clear strategic interest for Egypt by strengthening its position as the sole regional hub for gas trading in the Eastern Mediterranean." Rashwan noted that what transpired was a "commercial contract subject to market rules and international investment mechanisms, far from any political interpretation". He also said that the "parties to the agreement are well-known international commercial companies that have been operating in the energy sector for years." The announcement came as Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet senior officials from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey in Miami on Friday as efforts continue to advance the next phase of the plan aimed at halting Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, even as Tel Aviv repeatedly violates the truce on the ground. Rashwan said "Egypt's position on the Palestinian cause is firm and unwavering." "It is based on supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, rejecting forced displacement, and adhering to the two-state solution," he added. Egypt signed the so-called "peace treaty" with Israel in 1979, becoming the first Arab state to normalize ties with Tel Aviv. However, normalizing relations with the occupying regime lacks popular support in Egypt. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address If information is true, it's quite serious: Chinese FM on senior Japanese official's claim that 'Japan should possess nuclear weapons' Global Times By Global Times Published: Dec 19, 2025 04:59 PM China is paying close attention to the relevant media reports, and if the information is true, the situation would be quite serious, exposing the dangerous plot of some people in Japan to violate international law and acquire nuclear weapons, and China and the international community must be highly vigilant and deeply concerned, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday, in response to reported claim of a senior Japanese official that "Japan should possess nuclear weapons." According to multiple Japanese media outlets including Kyodo News and Asahi Shimbun on December 18, a senior official within Japan's Prime Minister's Office claimed to reporters that, in light of the increasingly severe security environment surrounding Japan, he believes that "Japan should possess nuclear weapons." Reports claimed that the official is responsible for providing security policy advice to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Guo further noted that Japan has repeatedly made erroneous statements and moves on military and security issues for some time, substantially adjusted its security policy, loosened restrictions on the exercise of the right of collective self-defense, and attempted to use various means, such as "strengthening extended deterrence cooperation" to seek nuclear sharing and revising the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, to push for the return of allied nuclear weapons to Japan. The recent signals from some Japanese forces about possessing nuclear weapons reflect the expanding ambitions of right-wing conservative forces in Japan to revive militarism, break free from the constraints of the international order, and accelerate remilitarization. Guo said that Japan has tried to portray itself as a flagbearer of building a nuclear weapon free world and to shape a narrative of being a nuclear victim of WWII. In reality, however, Japan has failed to thoroughly reflect on the wars of aggression it launched, and has become a source of instability that challenges the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and undermines the international nuclear nonproliferation system. The international community must remain clear eyed and recognize Japan's hypocritical stance on nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear disarmament. Recently, multiple Japanese political parties, politicians, and many civic groups and organizations have called for adherence to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles and for preventing the tragedy of war from repeating itself. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Japan must deeply reflect on its historical crimes, abide by international law and its own constitution, stop seeking excuses for military expansion, and stop testing the bottom line of international justice on the issue of nuclear weapons, Guo said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address On December 19, the State Budget of Ukraine received over $125.2 million in concessional financing under the World Bank projects "Lifting Education Access and Resilience in Times of Need" (LEARN) and "Transforming Healthcare through Reform and Investments in Efficiency" (THRIVE). "The Government of Ukraine received $105.7 million under the LEARN project and $19.5 million under the THRIVE project. The funds were credited to the general fund of the state budget," the Finance Ministry said on its website. It is noted that receiving funding under the LEARN project was made possible due to the fact that almost 8,500 students and teachers gained access to shelters; over 105,000 teachers were trained in accordance with the standards of the New Ukrainian School (NUS) for grade eight and 381,500 eighth-grade students received new textbooks developed in accordance with the NUS for free. In addition, the educational subvention distribution formula for 2026 was updated to increase the minimum required number of students per school by at least 30% compared to 2025. The key goal of the LEARN project, which has been implemented since 2024, is to improve the educational process under martial law by creating safe and comfortable conditions for students and teachers. Within its framework, the World Bank has concluded agreements with Ukraine for about $420 million, of which more than $305 million has already been transferred to the state budget. As for the THRIVE project, which involves strengthening the Program of Medical Guarantees and institutional capacity of the National Health Service of Ukraine in order to improve patients access to quality medical care and reduce the financial burden on citizens, it has also been implemented in Ukraine since 2024, the Finance Ministry said. Within its framework, the World Bank has already provided Ukraine with about $320 million out of the $454 million envisaged in the agreements, according to the release. It emphasizes that both projects are implemented using the Program-for-Results (PforR) financial instrument a financing program tied to the achievement of specific results, which involves providing funds only after the fulfillment of established performance indicators. "The World Banks support is critical for Ukraines education and healthcare reforms in the context of war. Since the launch of the projects in 2024, the Bank has already provided $625 million, which allows improving the quality of services and strengthening the resilience of these key sectors," Finance Minister Marchenko said. Courtesy Call on Minister of Defense Koizumi by Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Ministry of Defense of Japan (Press Release: Provisional Translation) December 19, 2025 Ministry of Defense Japan On December 19, commencing at 11:00 for approximately 30 minutes, Minister of Defense Koizumi received a courtesy call from Thai Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow in Tokyo. The summary is as follows: At the outset, Minister Koizumi expressed his heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives due to the heavy rains and floods that occurred in Thailand in November, and extended his sympathies to the bereaved families and those affected by the disaster. He also welcomed the recent increase in defense exchanges between the two countries, including the acceptance of Thai students at the National Defense Academy, under the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" to which it was elevated in 2022. The two Ministers also exchanged views on regional security issues. Defense Minister Koizumi briefed the radar incident on December 6 in which a Chinese military aircraft illuminated a Japan Self-Defense Force aircraft with radar and the Chinese-Russian bombers' joint flight from the East China Sea to the Pacific that occurred on December 9 and conveyed his grave concerns over these incidents. Minister Sihasak stated that as the security environment is increasingly severe, realizing a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific is a shared interest for both Japan and Thailand. Building on the above, the two Ministers affirmed their commitment to further strengthen defense cooperation and exchanges between the two countries, including highlevel dialogues and defense equipment and technology cooperation, for the peace, stability, and prosperity of the entire region, including Japan and Thailand. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan-New Zealand Defense Minister Meeting (Breakfast Meeting) Ministry of Defense of Japan (Press release) December 19, 2025 Ministry of Defense On December 19, 2025, commencing at 08:30 (Japan time) for approximately 50 minutes, Defense Minister KOIZUMI Shinjiro and New Zealand Defense Minister the Hon Judith Collins KC held a Japan-New Zealand Defense Ministerial Meeting (Breakfast Meeting). At the outset, Minister Koizumi briefed the radar incidents of Chinese military aircraft illuminating radar onto JSDF fighters on December 6 and the Chinese-Russian bombers'joint flight on 9th December. Minister Koizumi shared grave concerns over this incident with Minister Collins and the Ministers concurred to closely communicate with each other. In addition, Minister Koizumi emphasized to respond to such acts conducted by China in a calm and yet resolute manner. The Ministers confirmed their intention to continue to cooperate with each other in strengthening cooperation with the Pacific Island countries. The Ministers also welcomed that the Information Security Agreement and the ACSA will be signed. The Ministers concurred in closely working together to further deepen bilateral defense cooperation towards the realization of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Libya's political deadlock continues to deny its people the democratic choice, economic opportunity, and security they deserve: UK statement at the UN Security Council Speech Statement by Jennifer MacNaughtan, UK Minister Counsellor, at the Security Council meeting on Libya. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Jennifer MacNaughtan, UK Minister Counsellor Published 19 December 2025 Location: United Nations, New York Delivered on: 19 December 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) First, the United Kingdom reiterates its full support for UNSMIL's efforts to advance the political process. We welcome the launch of the Structured Dialogue on 14 December, which brought together individuals from across Libya for an inclusive discussion about the country's future. This dialogue can make an important contribution to policy and legislative recommendations towards advancing the political process. It is essential that diverse Libyan voices, including women and youth, have the opportunity to share their vision for their country and I underline the SRSG comments in this regard. Second, we call on the Libyan political institutions, who are mandated to prepare a pathway to elections, to make urgent progress. We welcomed the roadmap presented by the SRSG in August. But it is deeply concerning that, four months on, the initial milestones remain unmet. We urge all stakeholders to accelerate discussions between the House of Representatives and the High Council of State to demonstrate concrete progress. Third, we welcome the recent agreement on the Unified Development Programme, signed by representatives of the High State Council and House of Representatives, as a positive step towards protecting Libya's economic future. It is essential that this mechanism operates transparently and equitably, ensuring resources benefit all Libyans and are not diverted for narrow interests. To conclude, President, the status quo is unsustainable. Every month without progress deepens instability, fuels corruption, and erodes public trust. Libya's prolonged political deadlock continues to deny its people the democratic choice, economic opportunity, and security they deserve. We call on Libyan actors to act with urgency and in good faith to deliver a sustainable political settlement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address With Libya's Elections Hanging in Balance, Security Council Speakers Demand Progress on Political Road Map, End to Foreign Interference Meetings Coverage Security Council 10074th Meeting (AM) SC/16258 19 December 2025 Libya's path to elections remains fraught with complications that are challenging but can be overcome, the Chief of the UN Mission in that country said, while its delegate lamented that his country has turned into a battlefield for settling international scores. Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), noted that the implementation of the political road map, which she presented to the Council on 21 August, has been "quite challenging". While the two committees on sovereign positions of the House of Representatives and the High Council of State had agreed to reconstitute the High National Election Commission, this did not happen despite multiple engagements. The other unaccomplished task is the amendment of the constitutional and legal framework for elections. She noted multiple calls for the holding of presidential elections and demonstrations in five cities demanding this. The political process should not be held hostage by the inaction of key political stakeholders, she said, adding: "If the two institutions fail to have agreed on the first two milestones of the political road map, I would be prepared to seek an alternative mechanism and seek the support of this Council". UNSMIL launched a "structured dialogue" earlier in December in Tripoli, she said, adding that the intention is to facilitate meetings across the country. Libyan women comprised 35 per cent of the participants, and young people and persons with disabilities are also represented. Municipal council elections were successfully held in 16 municipalities on 18 October, with a voter turnout of 68 per cent "these elections are a welcome step in restoring the legitimacy of local governance". Libya's persistent financial fragmentation, she said, continues to undermine its dinar. Welcoming the 18 November agreement on a common framework for development spending, between delegates from the the House of Representatives and the High Council of State, she said that "if implemented with transparency", it could help address core economic challenges. The security environment in Tripoli has stabilized to a certain extent, however the situation remains fragile with sporadic outbreaks of armed clashes in southern Tripoli and elsewhere. Sanctions Committee Reports on Arms Embargo, Frozen Assets, Travel Ban The representative of Somalia, Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya, detailed its work from 22 August to 19 December 2025. With respect to the arms embargo, he said that the Committee received two reports on vessel inspections, one conducted by the European Union's Operation IRINI and one by Spain. On travel-ban measures, he said the Committee approved a humanitarian exemption for one individual in response to a request submitted by Libya. A delisting request from Libya for one individual was not approved. "I will now turn to assets-freeze matters," he continued, reporting that "no negative decision was taken" by the Committee regarding 14 notifications, submitted by Bahrain that concerned the Libyan Investment Authority. Several additional requests from other States remain under consideration, and the Committee has updated Libya on the status of various assets-freeze requests and will provide guidance to Member States concerning the reinvestment of frozen cash reserves. Libyans 'Paying Price' for Global Power Divides, Delegate Says, as Others Call for Withdrawal of Foreign Forces, Reinvestment of Frozen Cash Reserves Libya's delegate, who spoke at the end of the meeting, requested Council members "to work more seriously when it comes to delisting Libyan citizens from sanctions lists". This dossier must not be politicized and there is no reason for them to be on those lists for more than 15 or 16 years, he said. On 24 December, his country will celebrate its Independence Day "this date was supposed to be a celebration of the general elections that were supposed to be held in 2021", he said. The crisis is not due to a lack of proposals or initiatives. Warning against the accumulation of one road map after another as well as piecemeal solutions, he said: "Libyans today are paying the price for the differences among the Powers in the world." The country should be able to decide its own fate with "no custodianship, guardianship or intervention". While the relevant entities must work towards reconstituting the High National Elections Commission's Board, he said it is also necessary to consider an alternative solution to hold elections if their delay prolongs the crisis. The successful municipal elections show that that "we can and we are ready to hold similar elections", he said. His Government has launched a security campaign to neutralize illegal groups, he said, also noting the agreement concerning the unified development programme. The international community must support this. The stability of Libya is not just a Libyan issue, he warned it is a pillar for the stability of the entire region, from the Mediterranean to the Sahara. The representative of Algeria, also speaking for Guyana, Sierra Leone and Somalia, also spotlighted the uncertain stability situation in Libya amid external interference, which is exacerbated by the continued flow of arms into the country. That illicit trafficking not only sustains the activities of local armed groups but also fuels the machinery of war in Sudan and the Sahel "often with the active support of the same external actors", he said. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces, foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya. He was among several speakers who expressed concern "once again" over the ongoing erosion of Libya's frozen assets due to mismanagement by certain financial institutions. "We demand full accountability and reparation in this regard," he said. He also urged the immediate issuance of an implementation assistance notice in the context of resolution 2769 (2025) to finally enable the Libyan Investment Authority to reinvest its frozen cash reserves. Pointing out that no such notice has been issued despite almost a year passing since the resolution was adopted, he asked: "Who is responsible for this delay?" The Russian Federation's delegate said the problem of Libya's "frozen" assets is not diminishing but growing more acute. When the Security Council decided to block these assets, the declared intention was to preserve them for future generations of Libyans, but "Libyan assets have become vulnerable to the predatory appetites of unscrupulous financial actors in Western countries", he said. China's delegate also stressed that the overseas assets of Libya are the commonwealth of its people and must not be abused. The Council must enable Libya to reinvest the frozen cash reserves and provide implementation assistance. Greece's representative said that her country, as vice-chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2769 (2015) on Libya, is responding to that country's legitimate request for an implementation assistance notice, aimed at facilitating the resolution's provision of the reinvestment of the Libyan Investment Authority's frozen assets. "We continue to view sanctions as an important policy tool," she added, voicing grave concern that illicit fuel exports continue to result in the direct transfer of wealth outside of Libya depriving the country's people of resources and exacerbating regional instability. On sanctions, the representative of Panama said that "experience has shown that such regimes face structural challenges" and urged both improved verification mechanisms and greater transparency in the registration and operation of vessels "in order to make monitoring more effective". Several Council members called on Libyan political actors to engage constructively with the road map put forward by UNSMIL, while consolidating security gains. The representative of Slovenia, Council President for December, spoke in her national capacity and expressed regret that agreement has yet to be reached on laying the foundation for national elections. She underscored: "Any attempts to stall or spoil this process whether internal or external would be unacceptable." "Pakistan's principled position remains anchored in a core conviction a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process is the only viable pathway towards sustainable peace and stability," said that country's delegate. He praised the Special Representative's political road map while noting a gap "between intent and implementation". Women's Voices Must Be Heard "It is deeply concerning that, four months [since the road map], the initial milestones remain unmet," the representative of the United Kingdom said. She welcomed the recent launch of the structured dialogue, adding: "It is essential that diverse Libyan voices, including women and youth, have the opportunity to share their vision for their country." Denmark's delegate sounded alarm over the continued silencing of women through intimidation and smear campaigns. "Ensuring a safe civic and online space for women is vital," she stressed. France's delegate highlighted the smooth conduct of the latest round of municipal elections, adding: "The desire of the Libyan people to decide their own future is clear." The country's reunification is critical to bring an end to its cycles of violence, he added. Calling for the withdrawal of foreign forces, mercenaries and foreign fighters, he noted that the European Union's Operation IRINI remains the only mission tasked with enforcing the Libyan arms embargo off that country's coast. Emphasizing that the risk of renewed confrontation remains high following recent clashes in Tripoli, the representative of the Republic of Korea said: "The gains achieved so far require careful stewardship." Last month, the United States, its representative said, issued a joint statement with nine other countries expressing support for increased economic and military integration to complement Libya's political process. Welcoming the recent agreement on a unified development budget, she stressed: "This meaningful step towards economic cooperation will hopefully benefit Libyans from all regions." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Passing Out Parade of Trainees Entries No 2306, 2406 and 2412 was held today at PAF Airmen Academy, Korangi. Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan Rawalpindi - December 19, 2025 No PR-417/2025-ISPR Passing Out Parade of Trainees Entries No 2306, 2406 and 2412 was held today at PAF Airmen Academy, Korangi. President NASTP Advisory Board was the Chief Guest and was received by Air Officer Commanding, PAF Airmen Academy. A total of 1155 trainees from Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy and allied countries successfully completed their training. Addressing the parade, the Chief Guest highlighted PAF's professionalism, combat readiness and international recognition. He emphasized that the Academy is imparting modern, future-oriented training in line with the vision of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, NI (M), HJ, Chief of Air Staff, to meet emerging warfare challenges. He underscored PAF's operational success and preparedness, including the effective conduct of multi-domain operations. Trophies were awarded to outstanding performers. Aircraftman Sergeant Ahmed Hussain Arif won the Chief of Air Staff Trophy for Overall Best Performance, Aircraftman Hamza Ali secured the Asghar Khan Trophy, Aircraftman Ahmed Hussain Arif received the Nur Khan Trophy, Academy Sergeant Aircraftman Shafaat Noor clinched the Air Officer Commanding Trophy, while LAC THGND Herath of Sri Lanka was awarded Best Foreign Trainee Trophy. The Chief Guest congratulated the graduating airmen and their parents and commended the Academy's staff for their dedication and professionalism. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address On 19 December 2025, in a heinous and cowardly terrorist act, Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij attacked security forces camp, in general area Boya, North Waziristan District. Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan Rawalpindi - December 19, 2025 No PR-418/2025-ISPR On 19 December 2025, in a heinous and cowardly terrorist act, Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij attacked security forces camp, in general area Boya, North Waziristan District. Khwarij attempted to breach the perimeter security, however, their nefarious designs were swiftly foiled by the vigilant and resolute response by own troops. In their desperation, the attackers rammed an explosive laden vehicle on outer perimeter wall, resulting in its collapse and considerable damage to adjacent civilian infrastructure including a mosque. Besides damaging their homes this blatant act of barbarism by khwarij inflicted severe injuries to fifteen local civilians including innocent children and women. Displaying unwavering courage and professional excellence, own troops engaged the intruders with precision, resultantly all four khwarij belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al Khwarij were sent to hell. However, during the intense fire exchanges, four brave sons of soil Havildar Muhammad Waqas (age: 42 years, resident of District Kotli), Naik Khanwaiz (age: 38 years, resident of District Mansehra), Sepoy Sufyan Haider (age: 25 years, resident of District Vehari) and Sepoy Riffat (age: 32 years, resident of District Leyyah) having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat. This hideous act of terrorism, planned and orchestrated by Afghanistan based Khwarij is in contrast to assertions made by Afghan Taliban Regime, claiming non presence of these terrorist groups operating from their soil. Pakistan expects from Afghan Taliban Regime to fulfil its obligations and deny use of its soil by Khwarij against Pakistan as the safety and security of people of Pakistan comes first and foremost. Pak reserves the right to hunt these khwarij down and eliminate their facilitators and affiliates to ensure safety of own people. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan Launches Fourth Hangor Submarine In China By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal December 19, 2025 Pakistan's navy on December 17 launched its fourth Hangor-class submarine, the PNS Ghazi, at the Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group's Shuangliu Base in Wuhan, marking the completion of construction for all four China-built boats in a landmark eight-submarine program. Under a 2015 defense contract valued at roughly $5 billion with China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Company, Pakistan is acquiring eight advanced Hangor-class diesel-electric attack submarines to modernize its undersea warfare capabilities and replace its aging Agosta 90B fleet. The Hangor program represents one of the largest and most sophisticated foreign military procurements in Pakistan's history, reflecting deepening China-Pakistan defense cooperation that spans fighter jets, missile systems, and nuclear energy projects. Four vessels, including the PNS Ghazi, were constructed at Wuchang; the remaining four are being built domestically at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works under a comprehensive technology transfer arrangement, with deliveries planned through 2028 despite earlier delays related to foreign engine supply issues. The 2,800-ton submarines -- export derivatives of China's Type 039A (Yuan) class -- are equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems that enable prolonged submerged operations, six 533 mm torpedo tubes for heavyweight torpedoes and missiles, and compatibility with Pakistan's nuclear-capable Babur-3 submarine-launched cruise missile. Pakistan's military has hailed the program as a major boost to its undersea deterrent, enhancing operational flexibility and its ability to maintain a credible presence in the Arabian Sea and wider Indian Ocean region. Analysts say these submarines are intended to strengthen Pakistan's anti-access/area-denial posture by complicating adversary surface operations and undersea tracking in contested waters, particularly as India expands its own submarine and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Media from rival India frame the Hangor deployment as part of an intensifying regional naval competition, with Islamabad's acquisitions viewed in the context of broader Indo-Pacific security dynamics and the US-led Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) involving Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. Islamabad-based political economist Shakil Ahmad Ramay told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal that QUAD's evolving role has "impacted the balance of power" in the regional, accelerating Chinese-Pakistani naval ties like the Ghazi rollout. He emphasized mutual security pacts: China supports Pakistan against territorial threats, while Pakistan backs Beijing's One-China policy, with Chinese built reactors now generating around 4,500 megawatts of electricity in Pakistan. Beyond strategic signaling, the technology transfer to Islamabad is seen as a potential catalyst for Pakistan's domestic shipbuilding capacity, providing technical expertise, workforce development, and future sustainment capabilities. With the launch of Ghazi, all four China-built submarines are now undergoing rigorous sea trials, and are expected to begin entering service as early as 2026, according to Pakistani and Chinese defense officials. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-china- hangor-submarine-launch/33627916.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military's 2026 plan features 3-axis system, 500K war drones KOREA.net Dec 19, 2025 By Jeon Misun The country's military innovation is focused on the advancement of the three-axis defense system and development of 500,000 war drones, two measures expected to greatly raise the armed forces' independent deterrence and future warfare capabilities. The Ministry of National Defense on Dec. 18 announced this under a plan to foster a "cutting-edge and strong: military in a livestreamed presentation of its 2026 business plan chaired by President Lee Jae Myung at ministry headquarters in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District. The three-axis system, the military's core strategy, consists of the "kill chain" (preemptive attack) strategy, Korea Air and Missile Defense, and Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The 2026 ministry budget for streamlining the system reached KRW 8.8 trillion, up 21.3% from this year. Thus the deployment of reconnaissance satellites, Aegis destroyers and high-powered missiles into service will be expedited. The plan is to reinforce power by securing additional key assets including KF-21 fighter jets, Cheongung-II missiles and C-130H military transport aircraft. The expansion of unmanned forces to prepare for future battlefields also drew attention. The ministry seeks to develop 500,000 military drones using artificial intelligence and advanced science and technology, along with the manned-unmanned teaming system. This will form an education and training environment where all service members can get drone flight skills and related qualifications. Civilian technology verification and combat simulation will receive a boost from the tentatively named Korea Drone Combat Competition. Through these efforts, unmanned forces for high-risk missions will be expanded such as attack drones and medium loitering munitions (suicide drones). In addition, the event focused on reform of the military system, better service conditions, restructuring of intelligence agencies and domestic construction of nuclear-powered submarines. Other topics included the transfer of wartime operational control from the U.S. to Korea, restoration of the September 19 Comprehensive Military Agreement with North Korea and creation of conditions for inter-Korean dialogue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Defence Ministry holds a briefing for military attaches of foreign states 18 December 2025 09:47 hief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation First Deputy Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Valery Gerasimov held a briefing for military attaches of foreign states. Good afternoon, distinguished ladies and gentlemen! In my address, I will focus on the situation in a number of regions of the world and the main tasks of the Armed Forces. At the moment, the military and political situation is marked by increased global competition and further escalation of international tensions. The main source of the rise of military threats to the security of the Russian Federation is the collective West, which does not abandon the assigned target to inflict a strategic defeat to Russia during the special military operation through comprehensive support of Ukraine's military capabilities. Political statements by a number of European leaders reveal the idea of prolonging hostilities that, in their opinion, will deplete our country and enable NATO to rebuild a 'war machine' for imminent direct confrontation with Russia. The objectives of this information campaign are to increase military expenditure and actively militarise public order in Europe. The growth of NATO's military capabilities and activity along the Russian borders presents a long-term challenge to our country's interests in the Western strategic direction. NATO's intention to the militarisation of Europe was established during the summit in June of this year in The Hague. The decisive pursuit by our nation of its national interests, including during the special military operation, has led to serious geopolitical changes. At the moment, the authority of international organisations has grown significantly. Their main task is to promote equitable economic development as the foundation of a new system of global security. First of all, the authority of BRICS, SCO, and CSTO is increasing. This fact consolidates multipolarity in the modern world. Our country's strategic partners - China and India - play a significant role in the international arena. The role of the countries of the Global South and ASEAN in world affairs has grown. Today, multipolarism has become an objective reality. The complete collapse of the arms control system has an impact on global security. At present, the START Treaty, which ends on 5 February next year, is nominally in force. After that date, there will be no restrictions in this sphere. Russia's initiative to stick to the restrictions provided for in the treaty for another year, subject to similar actions by Washington, remains unanswered. We take into account the U.S. position on the likely resumption of nuclear tests. We are committed to our obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. However, in the event that the American side resumes these tests, adequate retaliatory measures will follow. The situation with the deployment of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles in the world is clearly illustrated by the lack of restrictions in the field of offensive weapons. After the U.S. withdrawal from the MLRS Treaty, the possibility of deploying mobile missile systems with a range of more than 1,000 km in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region is being actively explored. This creates a new level of instability, triggers a local arms race. As a response in August of this year, Russia ended its unilateral moratorium on the deployment of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles. Under the pretext of the so-called 'Russian military threat,' the alliance significantly increased its military presence close to our borders. The scale and intensity of operational and combat training continue. Measures are being taken to increase the efficiency of the deployment of reinforcement troops. This year, a large-scale exercise called 'The Protector of Europe' was held in which not only the countries of NATO were involved but also off-block states - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, and Kosovo's security forces. In the course of this mission, significant troops were deployed to the Russian borders, working on various options for the use of ground formations. A Baltic Guard mission has been deployed in the Baltic Sea zone, which is aimed at impeding the movement of Russian vessels in violation of international maritime law. All these factors do not contribute to increased safety on the European continent, which has become the scene of the West's confrontation with our country. The situation in the Middle East remains likely to escalate further. The main factor that determines the stability of the region remains the resolution of the conflict over the Gaza Strip. We hope that the efforts made by the United States and its partners will help reduce the terrorist threat and military confrontation between Israel and Palestinian organisations. The situation on the African continent remains difficult. Internal armed conflicts are continuing and crisis phenomena are intensifying in almost all regions of Africa. The main reason for the worsening situation is the irresponsible actions of the collective West, which still considers the region exclusively as a source of strategic raw materials, and the aspirations of local governments for independent policies as a threat to their interests. The situation in Latin America is developing against the backdrop of the attempt by the United States to achieve unconditional dominance in the region. The most disturbing situation has arisen around Venezuela, where Washington has set itself the goal of removing the country's legitimately elected president from power. In addition, actions to block maritime traffic and aviation flights in the region are carried out in contravention of international law. The situation in the Asia-Pacific region is on a steady rising tensions trend. It is also critically influenced by the activities of the West, which are based on the strengthening of the military presence, and the development of a network of American-centric alliances (QUAD, AUKUS, JAPHUS, Triple Alliance). Washington does not abandon its intentions to deploy medium-range missile weapons in the region, as well as to develop a missile defense system. A key factor in forming the military and political situation is the crisis in Ukraine, which is taking place in the form of Western proxy war against the Russian Federation. This war is being waged by the hands of the Ukrainian people. Ordinary Ukrainians are becoming increasingly disillusioned with the actions of the authorities due to the situation at the front, the increase in the number of irretrievable losses, the degradation of the economy, the increase in tariffs for housing and communal services, and increasing corruption in government. As a result, about nine million people have left the country since the beginning of servicemen. Since the beginning of the year, the number of mobilised monthly has fallen from 28,000 to 14,000 people in November, which is shaping a steady downward trend in the number of Ukrainian troops. The desertion takes on a mass character. According to official data merely up to 30,000 people voluntarily leave their place of service every month. At present, more than 160,000 criminal cases have been opened against this category of military personnel of the AFU. The European patrons of Kiev remain committed to escalating the conflict. At the same time, their involvement in the confrontation with Russia in the Ukrainian direction creates risks of a global nature. West countries provide Ukraine with unprecedented support to Ukraine. For example, foreign funding alone has exceeded 550 billion dollars over the past four years, of which more than 220 billion is for military needs. The military products are most actively provided to Kiev by 20 countries. Since February 2022, the AFU have received more than 1,000 tanks, more than 6,500 armored combat vehicles, 2,000 field artillery guns, more than 200 aircraft and helicopters, about 100,000 UAVs, as well as a significant number of missiles and ammunition. Western curators pay particular attention to the training of Ukrainian servicemen. In total, over 224,000 people have been trained at European training servicemen. In fact, in Ukraine, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are facing the economic and military power of the collective West. Despite large-scale military, technical and financial assistance to Ukraine from Western countries, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have seized and firmly hold the strategic initiative. The Joint Group of Forces is successfully advancing in all directions, concentrating its efforts on establishing full control over Donbass, liberation of Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, as well as on the creation of a security band in the border areas of Ukraine. In total, in 2025 the Russian Armed Forces liberated more than 300 settlements, and more than 6,300 square kilometres have come under our control. And since the beginning of the special military operation has been liberated the territory with a total area of about 94,000 square kilometres. The Ukrainian Armed Forces losses amounted to about 6,500 tanks and armoured fighting vehicles, and about 11,800 guns and mortars, and about 500,000 servicemen. On April 26, the liberation of the Kursk region from the AFU was completed. The adventurous plan of the Kiev leadership in this direction has failed, including their expectation that we will be forced to stop our offensive on Donbass and transfer part of the combat units to Kursk. That didn't happen. Isolation of the contact area, combined with rapid counter-offensive actions of Airborne Troops and Marines units, as well as the enemy's unexpected manoeuvre to the rear of the AFU groups along the gas pipeline, ensured the collapse of the enemy's defence. The losses of formations and military units of the Kiev regime in the Kursk direction amounted to more than 76,000 people, the most trained ones, motivated military personnel of Ukraine and foreign mercenaries. More than 7,700 units of military hardware were destroyed. I will note separately the participation of servicemen of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in this operation. Soldiers and officers of the Korean People's Army, carrying out combat missions shoulder to shoulder with Russian servicemen, during the repelling of the Ukrainian invasion, they showed high professionalism, resilience, courage, and heroism. They also took part in demining of the territory of Kursk region. After destroying the enemy formations wedged into the Kursk region and squeezing their remnants into the territory of Ukraine, the North group of forces creates a security zone in the border areas of Sumy and Kharkov region. Russian troops have taken control in Sumy region 18 settlements, previously used by AFU formations to prepare attacks on border areas of Kursk region. The liberation of Volchansk and nine other settlements in Kharkov region has been completed. Assault detachments of the Sever Group of Forces continue to expand the security band. Simultaneously with the operation to defeat and destroy the enemy in the Kursk border region, the liberation of new Russian regions continued. The situation in Donbass is most critical for the AFU. The Tsentr Group of Forces, overcoming the enemy's persistent resistance, liberated 81 settlements this year, including the major cities of Dzerzhinsk and Krasnoarmeysk. An operation was carried out to encircle the AFU Group of Forces near Krasnoarmeysk-Dimitrovsk agglomeration. During the liberation of Krasnoarmeysk, assault groups entered residential areas deep into the enemy's defences, dispersing and blocking the enemy's formations in strongholds. At the final stage of the liberation of the city, more than 900 buildings were taken under control simultaneously in several districts per day. The destruction of the enemy units, which were blocked in Dimitrov, continues, and about half of the city has been brought under our control. The Ukrainian command, trying to stabilise the situation and stop our offensive on Donbass, was forced to promptly transfer additional units from both the strategic reserve and other areas to the area. A total of 112 battalions have been redeployed since May of this year. However, these measures did not help the enemy, and the offensive of the Russian troops on Donbass continues. At the same time, the AFU formations suffer significant losses. Since the beginning of this year, the AFU Donetsk Group of Forces, which operates in Krasnoarmeysk and October directions, has lost more than 225,000 troops, 242 tanks, over 2,200 armoured fighting vehicles, 46 MLRS vehicles and about 3,600 guns and mortars. This represents almost half of all AFU losses during this period in the special military operation zone. The Yug Group of Forces liberated 48 settlements on Donbass territory, including Chasov Yar and Seversk. The liberation of Konstantinovka continues, more than 50% of the city's territory is controlled by Russian troops. Zapad Group of Forces conducted a successful operation to force the Oskol River and liberate the city of Kupyansk. Thanks to deep coverage along the western bank of the Oskol River, 19 AFU battalions were blocked in the city and on the eastern bank. Subsequently, the assault units, acting from several directions, defeated the Ukrainian group surrounded in the city in a short time and mopped up Kupyansk. At present, the destruction of enemy formations blocked on the left bank of the Oskol River, east, and southeast of Kupyansk, is continuing. The offensive is developing in Krasny Liman direction. Russian assault detachments carry out street fighting directly in the city of Krasny Liman. The Vostok Group of Forces in Zaporozhye direction, starting with the liberation of Ugledar in October (3 October) last year, conducts offensive actions practically without pause and maintains a high rate of offensive. During the year, about 2,000 square kilometers of territory and 89 settlements were taken under control in this area. The Vostok Group of Forces has fully liberated Donetsk People's Republic in its area of responsibility, has successfully developed offensive in Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk regions. At present, battles are underway for the capture of a large settlement in the Zaporozhye region - the city of Gulyaypole. The Dnepr Group of Forces, overcoming the enemy's tactical defence zone, has consistently liberated seven settlements and moved to the city of Orekhov. The offensive continues with a general direction to Zaporozhye. In the Dnepr River delta, it expands control over the island area. In addition, the safety of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant is fully ensured. Along with the carrying out of the special military operation, during this year, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation performed tasks to increase combat potential, improve training of personnel, methods of command and control of troops and weapons, and equip troops with modern weapons and military hardware. The basis of the country's security is the 'nuclear triad'. The modern weapons coming into the army have improved reliability, range and accuracy characteristics, as well as increased capabilities to overcome existing and prospective enemy missile defense systems. At the moment, the planned re-equipment of the stationary grouping to the Yars strategic missile system continues. This year, a new Knyaz Pozharsky Borei-A-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine was commissioned into the service of the Navy. The modernised Tu-160m strategic missile carriers continued to supply aviation troops to the Russian Airborne Troops. The modernisation of the Tu-160 and Tu-95MS aircraft in service continues by equipping them with more powerful engines and new onboard equipment, as well as expanding the range of weapons used. Today, the share of modern weapons in the strategic nuclear forces accounts for 92%. Taking into account the experience of conducting a special military operation, the necessary measures were taken to increase the capabilities of general-purpose forces. First of all, close attention is paid to the development of the new type of troops that was created this year - Unmanned Systems Forces - they have become an integral part of modern warfare. The troops are equipped with unmanned aerial vehicles of various types. Unmanned aerial vehicles, primarily FPV drones, are among FPV drones, the most actively used. Their tactical and technical characteristics are being improved. To date, an advantage has been achieved over the enemy in the number of drones deployed more than twice. Thanks to this, the highest ranking has been achieved in the 'small skies' along the entire line of the front line. In the Ground Forces, the combat personnel were increased by the formation of two combined arms divisions, one artillery brigade, and two anti-aircraft missile brigades. To enhance the capabilities of the aerospace defence system, an air defence and missile defence unit equipped with the S-500 anti-aircraft missile system has been formed. The Navy has a command of the Marines and two divisions of the Marines. The Navy has received 20 ships, combat boats, and support vessels, including two large Yakutsk and Velikiye Luki submarines, two Viktor Veliky patrol boats, and one ice class Ivan Papanin, two small Stavropol and Tayfun missile ships, carriers of long-range high-precision weapons, as well as Afanasy Ivannikov minesweeper. In addition, this year a brigade equipped with a new Oreshnik medium-range missile system has been formed. One of the priorities of the Armed Forces is operational and combat training. The main training event this year was the Zapad 2025 joint strategic exercise between the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation. It was purely defensive and aimed at training troops to conduct military operations in modern conditions. Many of you attended it. In addition to Russian and Belarusian servicemen, the troops of Bangladesh, India, and Iran, as well as the operational groups of the Armed Forces of Burkina Faso, Congo, and Mali took part in the exercise.Moreover, foreign defence agencies were represented at the exercise as observers. Next year, the Tsentr 2026 strategic command post exercise will be held. Within the framework of military and military-technical cooperation, interaction with foreign military agencies continued to increase. Special attention was paid to strengthening reliable and mutually beneficial bilateral relations within the framework of the Union State, the CSTO, the CIS, as well as with friendly states of the Asia-Pacific region, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. The West's attempts to isolate our country have failed once again. A growing number of states share the Russian view of developing a multipolar architecture of international relations, as well as understanding the true causes and purposes of the special military operation. Positive dynamics of the transfer of bilateral forms of interaction with friendly states to a long-term and sustainable basis is noted. Visits and business visits to their ports by ships of the Russian Navy are important for the development of cooperation with the armies of friendly states. More than 80 such events have been held this year. They have reached most of the world's regions - Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Central Asian regions, the Middle East and Latin America. The Armed Forces also ensured high intensity of operational and combat training with foreign partners. Twenty-threeinternational exercises were organised and participated in. The most significant events in which our contingents took part were the Maritime Interaction exercise with the Chinese Armed Forces, the Interaction 2025 operational and strategic exercise with CSTO operational response forces, as well as CSTO-format exercises in Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are open and ready to continue to cooperate with all interested friendly states and interstate associations. The outgoing 2025 is an anniversary year for us. On 9 May, we celebrated 80 years of victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War. The scale and significance of this event cannot be overstated. Today's global instability is largely due to the fact that some states are not sufficiently taking into account the lessons of the past. They are trying to rewrite history and downplay the role of the Soviet Union in defeating the German-fascist troops. Preserving the historical memory of the events of those years is one of the most important tasks in the name of stability and peace on Earth and an opportunity to pay tribute to the feat of all those who defended peace, including at the cost of their lives. This is also the anniversary year at the end of the Second World War and the year of the defeat of Japanese militarism in the Far East, where the Chinese people showed great courage and heroism in resistance to the Japanese aggression. Next year, the Ministry of Defence will continue to work to create conditions for the stabilisation of the situation at the global and regional levels, as well as balanced development of the Army and the Navy. Military cooperation with the armies of foreign countries remains one of the priorities. Joint operational and combat training events are planned with the defence departments of friendly countries. We look forward to the active participation of the military attaches in maintaining a constructive dialogue and interaction. In conclusion, I would like to congratulate you on the upcoming holidays of Christmas and the New Year 2026. I wish you and your relatives health, peace and well-being. Department of Information and Media Affairs of Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address On the Russian-Vietnamese consultations on arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation 19 December 2025 20:46 2153-19-12-2025 PRESS RELEASE The consultations on arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation were held on December 18-19 in Hanoi at the level of the Heads of the relevant MFA Departments of Russia and Vietnam. A separate meeting was organized with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Social Republic of Vietnam Le Anh Tuan. The two Sides exchanged views on the overall situation in the area of international security and strategic stability, as well as compared national positions on various aspects regarding the functioning of international organizations and multilateral fora related to arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. A range of topical issues was discussed in a focused manner concerning implementation of the relevant treaties and conventions, first and foremost in light of the Vietnam's Presidency at the upcoming 2026 Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Mutual determination was expressed to maintain dialogue and further strengthen the coordination of national policies in this sphere in line with the provisions of the Joint Statement on Further Deepening of Comprehensive Partnership in the Context of the 30-th Anniversary of the Implementation of the Treaty on the Basic Principles of Friendly Relations between the Russian Federation and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, dated on June 20, 2024. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address OpenBSD stories The scariest boot loader code In 1999, a company I had been working for in the past decommissioned some hardware, including an HP 9000/720 workstation, a somewhat early PA-RISC model. In this company, we were using IBM (RS/6000), Silicon Graphics (Indigo2, Octane) and (mainly) Sun SPARC (20) and UltraSPARC (2, 30) workstations; that particular system had been bought to use a specific piece of software I don't remember the details of, which was only available under HP-UX, HP's own flavour of Unix. After the person for which the software - and thus the machine - had been bought left the company, the machine was left in a corner in the printers room, acting as a boot server for the various X terminals in use at the company. The HP machine used to have two 425MB SCSI internal disk drives, but one of the disks was dying, and the system would not come up multiuser without some manual interaction to bypass the failing filesystem check and let the system run in a somewhat degraded mode. But there was no intent to buy a replacement disk, and as long as the X terminals could still boot, we would happily forget about this machine until the next power outage, a rare event which would suddenly remind every X terminal user and every system administrator that this machine existed. Don't get me wrong - this company had top notch system administrators (except for me, the junior) - but there were always more important work to do than work on this machine's replacement. Then the company killed two birds with one stone by deciding to get rid of all its X terminals. I had remained in good terms with enough key people there, that they told me I could drop by to say hello and get that machine if I was interested in it. Needless to say, of course I was! (and a big "thank you" to Francis C. and Jean-Marie J.) But I was not interested in running HP-UX on it. I wanted to run OpenBSD, and after I got that machine, I started following the OpenBSD porting effort closely. This porting effort was mostly the work of one man, the late Michael Shalayeff, who had been working on-and-off on it since 1998, slowly making progress despite the lack of documentation and only the PA-RISC port of MkLinux (a niche software project at the end of the 1990s: a cross between the Mach microkernel and the Linux operating system, which never got popular and died into oblivion after a few years) as source code inspiration. I was supposed to help him, but the memory management bugs he was fighting at that time were way above my current skills at the time, and I couldn't really work on device drivers until the kernel was stable enough to let userland have its chance of using some processor time and exercize the drivers. The best I could do at this point was moral support, as well as testing his work. Early 2002, while the OpenBSD code was still not stable, MIT student Matt Fredette used it as a basis of a NetBSD port: Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2002 11:53:40 -0500 (EST) From: Matt Fredette To: port-hp700@netbsd.org Subject: sneak preview: hp700 Hi! At the end of September I got an HP 9000/715, and I grabbed all of the OpenBSD/hppa code and started working on it. Michael Shalayeff, the OpenBSD/hppa port maintainer, has a very good foundation of code, which has saved me months of time. Now, after a lot of coding myself I'm into single-user mode. This is really just a sneak preview - this entire effort is still in its earliest stages. The system is not stable. Many questions that you may have, I may not be able to answer (I'm no expert on the architecture - but I am learning more every day.) I don't have anything that can be downloaded and generally used yet, on the 715 or any other machine. But things are looking up... Matt After spotting and fixing the few remaining bugs which had prevented OpenBSD to run so far, his system eventually reached multiuser. Fredette went to become a meteoritic NetBSD developer, creating two new ports (NetBSD/hp700 to the PA-RISC architecture, which became NetBSD/hppa a few years later, and NetBSD/sun2 to the Sun-2 family of Sun workstations sporting a 68010 processor and Sun's custom MMU, while the existing NetBSD ports for Motorola 68000 family processors until then were limited to 68020 and later processors; some limitations of the 68010 required enough changes and redesign for this to be a significant effort endeavour)... and disappearing from sight shortly after graduating. He also wrote TME, ``The Machine Emulator'', an emulator for various Sun systems (Sun-2, Sun-3 and some SPARC) on which you can run the original SunOS as well as NetBSD. Shalayeff and Fredette did not ignore each other, and this NetBSD work caused a healthy regain of activity on the OpenBSD side. Which meant more kernels to test, preferrably on as many different systems as possible. Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2002 13:07:39 -0500 (EST) From: Matt Fredette To: Michael Shalayeff Subject: Re: sneak preview: hp700 > re > care to share the changes back ? > cu Definitely. If you want, I can give you a .tar of my sys/arch/hp700 right now, or soon I hope to start committing into the NetBSD CVS. Matt Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2002 11:09:01 -0500 (EST) From: Matt Fredette To: Michael Shalayeff Subject: Re: sneak preview: hp700 [...] > just in case the idea of sharing the changes sounded > strange, let me put my point why i think it's a good thing. > mainly because that way we both advance faster and get > more work done by not stepping on each others toes. > what do you think? I'm a big believer in sharing, absolutely. Within the next week I hope to start committing to NetBSD's CVS. [...] At that time, the most commonly encountered systems on the used workstations market were models 712 and 715, as well as less common models 720 (such as mine), 730 and 750, and their slightly less old counterparts 725, 735 and 755. But 712 and 715 were significantly more popular. So while my 9000/720, which sported the so-called PCXS processor, wouldn't be able to run OpenBSD until 2009, when I eventually completed the necessary software support bits for that particular processor flavour, I had already gathered at that time several 9000/712 and 9000/715 systems, including a somewhat rare 9000/715/XC (100MHz processor, with 1MB L2 cache!) which used to be in use at Rolls-Royce offices in the United Kingdom, running CAD software. The 9000/715 workstations were HP's basic workstations. Unlike the older 9000/705 and 9000/710 they were replacing, they had a larger chassis (desktop system form-factor rather than pizzabox form-factor), which allowed room for two disks and a 5"1/4 tape or CD-ROM drive, as well as an expansion slot (either proprietary SGC, for frame buffers or fancy - FDDI and ATM - network, or industry-standard EISA), while models 705 and 710 did not have any expansion capabilities and could only accomodate one disk drive and a 5"1/4 bay. So it should not be a surprise that these models were quite popular in the middle of the 1990s. Yet the price tag of these workstations could still be a problem for smaller businesses. This led HP to start working on a stripped-down 715, which would be closer to the form factor of the 705 and 710, retaining some expansion capabilities with specific boards in a special form factor (which would be, to SGC boards, what Mini-PCI were to be to PCI, years later). Compared to the 715, the 712 only have one internal 3"1/2 disk drive, one optional floppy disk drive, and two mini expansion slots. They were also limited in memory, with only four SIMM sockets, allowing for up to 128MB; the later "high-end" 712/100 model, with a faster processor, had six sockets, allowing for up to 192MB. (I own such a maxed out 712/100 system, courtesy of Mark Zyngier of Linux fame, and it's a really nice critter) Of course, if you are marketing a cheaper-but-covers-99%-of-your-customers-needs workstation (the 712), chances are your customers will buy it instead of the more versatile but more expensive workstation (the 715). So HP needed a way to make the 715 more appealing than the 712 to a large enough part of the workstation market. Now, a key feature of Unix workstations is that, if there is no keyboard plugged in on powerup, they recognize this and switch to serial console. This feature is quite helpful and allows a workstation to be turned into a cheap server by simply unplugging the keyboard (and powering the monitor down). All workstations of the 1990s behave this way, except for two shameful exceptions: the NeXT workstations (for which you need to plug a resistor in the keyboard port for them to be able to power up in the absence of a keyboard), and the Digital DECstation 5000/100 series (for no good reason, and I am tempted to believe it's actually a firmware bug, since e.g. the 5000/200 series show the expected behaviour when no keyboard is connected). Thus some HP manager thought it was a good idea, in order to make customers prefer the 715 to the 712, to not let the 712 work without a keyboard plugged in. While you could run a 715 headless with a serial console, if you were to dare powering up a 712 without the keyboard plugged in, its firmware would complain that the keyboard is missing and freeze, refusing to boot the operating system; one had to power down, plug a keyboard, and power the machine back up for it to boot. Except that, the 712 motherboard being roughly a stripped-down 715, there was nothing preventing it to work headless. The requirement to have a keyboard connected was built into the firmware, not in the hardware or the HP-UX operating system. And (some) HP engineers working on 712 support preferred to run their prototypes headless, in order to save desk space. It shouldn't be surprising that the HP-UX FAQ eventually grew an entry for "how can I make a 712 run headless". It was possible, and to do it you had to change the firmware "console" path. The 712 firmware would not allow you to do this, to keep you locked to a keyboard and frame buffer console, but some of the HP-UX standalone tools could be used to change this without the firmware getting in the way, so the FAQ recipe was roughly "abort the boot sequence, at the BOOT_ADMIN> prompt, do not start the HP-UX kernel but some diagnostic tool, and then at the tools prompt, type a magic sequence without any mistake or you'll be very, very, very sorry". There was no exaggeration in these words: the magic sequence is conspath 2/0/4.0x283 , which is everything but intuitive and easy to remember. Interestingly, while working on this story in 2025, I could not find mention of the 712 serial console in the currently available HP-UX FAQs anymore. I can only guess interest for this faded as soon as faster, PCI-capable PA-RISC systems (B-class and C-class) became easily available and affordable on the second hand market and 712 serial console no longer was a frequently asked question. You can still find this procedure explained by HP engineer Matt Taggart: Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 12:31:55 -0700 From: Matt Taggart To: Matthew Wilcox Cc: Bill Katz, parisc-linux@thepuffingroup.com Subject: Re: [parisc-linux] How to set serial console on 712 (fwd) [...] The above statement about serial console not being "supported" on 712 is correct. That doesn't mean you can't do it. Here are the instructions, ------------- CONFIGURING A RS-232 CONSOLE on a 712 An RS-232 console is not a supported feature in the 712 products. For this reason users cannot select the RS-232 port as a console from the BOOT_ADMIN prompt. These instructions will configure an RS-232 console with 9600 Baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, and no parity. HOW-TO INSTRUCTIONS NOTE: If the following instructions are not entered correctly, your system may be left in an un-usable state. Contact support to "dagger" your system in this case. Power up the 712 system. Press (ESCAPE) during boot to abort auto booting the system. At the BOOT_ADMIN> prompt, use the boot command and the isl keyword. This will stop the boot sequence at ISL instead of booting to the OS. For example: 'boot scsi.6 isl' At the ISL> prompt, type 'conspath 2/0/4.0x283' At the ISL> prompt, type 'disp' and verify console path is: (hex) 2/0/4.283.0.0.0.0.0 If necessary re-type the conspath command above. Connect an RS-232 terminal to the system. Power cycle the system to bring it up on an RS-232 console. ------------- As it indicates above, *BE VERY CAREFUL* or you can hose your system. If you do, I have one of the "dagger" cards that can be loaned out to fix it. And nowadays, of course, this procedure is still documented for NetBSD. Now, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, hobbyists buying 712 (when not getting them for free) did not care about HP choices, but wouldn't mind being able to run their systems headless. Yet they might not have an HP-UX install available, to follow the FAQ instruction and issue the arcane sequence of instructions allowing the 712 to run with a serial console. And anyway, we OpenBSD people definitely wanted to be able to use our 712 that way, without any outside help. We knew better. We knew we could do better. But, somehow, I hadn't realized this, yet: Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2002 22:33:19 +0000 From: Miod Vallat To: Michael Shalayeff Subject: Re: console boot does not work well for me [...] I will have trouble switching the 712 to serial since doing so requires a disk and the ability to "boot scsi.# isl" to enter the magic commands. From: Michael Shalayeff To: Miod Vallat Subject: Re: console boot does not work well for me yes, it needs hpux's isl you can hack ours to do so ? (; Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2002 22:43:29 +0000 From: Miod Vallat To: Michael Shalayeff Subject: Re: console boot does not work well for me > yes, it needs hpux's isl > you can hack ours to do so ? (; Why not? I'll have to check where you pick console settings to know if it is safe to store values from the booter... To which he simply replied:here, meaning the boot blocks). And then it dawned on me.we could do this! So here I was, "challenge accepted": allow the OpenBSD boot blocks (which were extendable with machine-specific commands) to display and modify the firmware's "console path". The HP-UX FAQ would warn that, if you were to make a mistake when setting the console path from the HP-UX diagnostic tools, you would need an HP field engineer to service your machine with a special "dagger" board, which would whack/reset/whatever the firmware settings and revert the machine to glass console, from which you could try your (un)luck a second time. I had never seen such devices, I didn't even know if they were real or yet another Knecht Ruprecht device intended to scare users in buying 715 systems and leaving their 712 alone. (I suppose they were only created after some people at HP mistyped their commands and bricked their systems and the hardware guys got tired of having to exchange their systems or replace their eeprom chips and wanted a faster way to solve the problem) Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2002 23:08:40 +0000 From: Miod Vallat To: Michael Shalayeff Subject: Re: console boot does not work well for me > perhaps 712 would not be a good test case though (; That's what the other machines are for, eh! > although there are those "dagger" boards to fix 'em. Frankly, I'd rather never have to see one of these torture devices. So it was decided. I would work on the machine-specific command to setup the console path, test it thoroughly on 715, when recovery was possible, and only after, try in on 712. The first part of changing things being knowing what you are working on, my first step was to collect and display the console path. Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2002 02:18:31 +0000 From: Miod Vallat To: Michael Shalayeff Subject: first step at the console stuff Well, I am going to bed. I have a boot loader that will let you play with the console settings, but will not save them in any way (yet). Attached are: - a patch to sys/arch/hppa/stand/boot/Makefile. - sys/arch/hppa/stand/boot/machine.c Quick dox: display console with "machine console" change console with "machine console port.speed.bits.parity" where: port = rs232 or rs232_2 speed = 110, 150, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 7200 or 9600 (default 9600) bits = 5, 6, 7 or 8 (default 8) parity = even, none or odd (default 8) You can omit the latest fields if they are the default values: machine console rs232_2.1200 is equivalent to machine console rs232_2.1200.8.none The next day, I managed to switch my 712 to the canonical 9600 8N1 serial settings. Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2002 21:17:11 +0000 From: Miod Vallat To: Michael Shalayeff Subject: 712 runs serial! Well, I got the 712 to talk to me over serial port. Same problem once kernel is booted. I have to go for the week-end, will come back on sunday evening. In the meantime, attached are: - remaining diffs (I need strcmp in stand.h, btw) - latest cmd_hppa.c which will update stable storage and change settings. Three days later, OpenBSD/hppa was booting single-user for the first time on the 715/100/XC, which was a good milestone. After spending a few weeks on the other platforms supported by OpenBSD, I resumed working on OpenBSD/hppa and reached a good state early march: Date: Fri, 1 Mar 2002 02:10:37 +0000 From: Miod Vallat To: Michael Shalayeff Subject: cmd_hppa.c, updated Ok, here is the current status. The detection and assignment of keyboard and serial paths works well here, on the following machines: - 720 (2 serial ports on the same bus, hil, asp) - 712/60 (1 serial port, ps2, lasi) - 715/33 (2 serial ports on the same bus, hil, asp) - 715/100/XC (2 serial ports on two different bus, hil, ps2, lasi) I am not very satisfied with the graphics path code. It happens to work for me, but it's too much a wild guess - except to switch to the default (first card) graphics path. Comments, ideas, improvements? The day after, I ended up being satisfied with my work. Date: Fri, 1 Mar 2002 23:04:52 +0000 From: Miod Vallat To: Michael Shalayeff Subject: hppa console stuff, revisited Well, I think this version is safe and reliable enough to go into the tree, and there is its man page as well. It will let you switch back and forth between various graphics and serial consoles without disturbing the PDC settings, while the previous version did not. It will also correctly identify GIO-attached devices as the main devices (the previous version did not order the framebuffers of my 715/100XC correctly). The only problem left is still the graphics console resolution. The code will read it correctly in the console path, will write valid values back in it, but that's not enough, and the resolution will reset to the default one (i.e. graphics_#.1). I suppose this information is also stored elsewhere, and the other area where it is stored has higher priority in the PDC code. I plan to investigate this problem soon, but in the meantime this is not a too big problem, since you can set the console path from the pdc itself. That's switching from and to serial console mode which matters, in the 712 point of view at least. The manual page could be a bit more verbose, but I think it's a decent start. Heavily inspired from the i386 version. I choose to left the "set tty" information commented out, since I doubt it would work in hppa land currently. Comments? Rants? Clear to commit? This work eventually got commited on march 2nd, with further improvements on march 7th. Of course, I had to eventually document this in the boot loader as well as the machine-specific boot process details manual pages once the first working OpenBSD/hppa release was getting ready. Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 21:49:58 +0000 From: Miod Vallat To: Michael Shalayeff, Todd Fries Subject: boot_hppa(8) There are lots of repeated texts, but I think this will be useful enough. This definitely does not pretend to document all PDC usage, but should be enough for people to be able to boot the way they want. Note that I don't plan to commit this until I am done with the others boot_foo.8 cleaning, unless mickey pressures me. Comments? Now, you might remember the special command from the FAQ using 0x283 . This number is an encoding of the speed, number of data bits, number of stop bits, and parity. Contrary to what I wrote in the first email on february 8th, there are more speeds than 110 to 9600. The HP workstation firmware supports all these speeds: 50, 75, 110, 150, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 7200, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 115200 and 230400 bits per second. Before I were to release my code to the general public, I needed to test all these speeds. This is where the horror story starts. The machine I was testing against (i.e. the other side of the serial link) was a Sun SPARCstation 20, which serial ports can't go faster than 38400 bits per second. Because of this, I did not test the three fastest speeds (I would have been able to test 57600 on a PC, but nothing faster). Shame on me. But I tested all the other speeds, from 38400 down to 50. So every test went this way: power cycle the machine to make the firmware use the newly configured settings. wait about 10 seconds for it to perform its self test (including the memory check) and start using the serial console. wait for the boot messages to appear: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- BootRom Version 1.1 Memory Size: 128 MB ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Copyright 1990-1994, Hewlett-Packard Company. All rights reserved Press to stop boot sequence. Starting Auto boot Loading Initial Program Loader IPL successfully loaded Booting >> OpenBSD/hppa BOOT 0.7 booting dk0a:/bsd too many times, realize I did not pay attention to abort the boot process, and reboot once OpenBSD has completed booting. on the next boot, press escape like mad to abort the boot process in time and get the boot administration menu: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Command Description ------- ----------- Auto [boot|search] [on|off] Set/show auto mode Boot [pri|alt [isl]] Boot from primary or alternate path Boot [scsi|eisa.[.]] [isl] Boot from SCSI or EISA Boot lan[.] [install] [isl] Boot from LAN Chassis [on|off] Set/show chassis codes display mode DefaultSS Reboot and set EEPROM to default values Diagnostic [on|off] Set/show diagnostic boot mode Fastboot [on|off] Set/show fast boot mode Help Show this command menu Information Show system information LanAddress Show LAN station addresses Monitor [[.]] Set/show graphics monitor type (=graphics|graphics_<1|2>) Path [pri|alt [[.]]] Set/show boot source path (=lan|scsi|eisa.) Path [console [[.]]] Set/show boot console path (=| =rs232|rs232_2 =.. =graphics|graphics_<1|2> =) Path [keyboard [hil|ps2]] Set/show boot keyboard path Pim [hpmc|toc|lpmc] Show PIM info Search [ipl] [scsi|eisa] Show potential boot devices Search [ipl] [lan [install]] Show potential boot LAN devices Secure [on|off] Set/show security mode ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOOT_ADMIN> ask for an interactive boot... BOOT_ADMIN> boot pri isl Attempting to boot. Loading Initial Program Loader IPL successfully loaded Booting >> OpenBSD/hppa BOOT 0.7 boot> ...at which point I could check the current setting, and switch to the next (slower) speed in the list: boot> machine console Console path: rs232.9600.8.none boot> machine console rs232.4800 you will need to power-cycle your machine for the changes to take effect. Console path: rs232.4800.8.none boot> At first glance, there is nothing odd with this. It's only a tedious process which will need to be repeated 13 times, from 38400 bps to 50. But the help text before the BOOT_ADMIN> prompt alone is 1967 bytes long. On a canonical 9600 8N1 setup (9600 bps, 8 data bits, 1 stop bits, no parity), each visible byte needs to transmit 9 bits (due to the stop bit), so 1967 bytes account for 17703 bits, which, at 9600 bps, take 1.844 second to display. That doesn't feel slow. But as soon as you start hitting the low speeds, that wall of text takes more and more time to appear. At 1200 bps, it now takes 8 times longer, 14,75 seconds to display. And after 1200 bps, there are still 6 slower speeds to try: 600, 300, 150, 115, 75 and 50 bps. It would be cliche to tell you that you have enough time to see your life flashing before your eyes while waiting for this display to complete, yet at the slowest possible speed of 50bps, it takes a bit short of 6 minutes for it to appear in its entirety. And that's only one step of the process... So what seemed to be a simple "ok, let's try all the available speeds" turned out to last two good hours, and I really was relieved once completed and all tested speeds had worked. But hey! That's the only way to really trust that code. (I had also tested the various number of data and stop bits, as well as the parity settings, at 9600 bps) Canadian and British philanthropists with contributions of $7 million will become the first investors in Gen.Hope the Center of Excellence on childrens and adolescents mental health in wartime, which plans to begin operations on the territory of the future Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) campus in Obolon in early 2027. "The initial $7 million will be invested in the project, which combines the creation of the center, program activities and the development of international expertise in the field of childrens mental health," the KSE Foundation charity said on its website. According to it, the project is being implemented by Gen.Ukrainian with the institutional support of Kyiv School of Economics. It is noted that the investment of Canadian and British philanthropists allows to scale the Gen.Hope initiative, which plans to provide support to up to 25,000 children annually. According to founder and head of Gen.Ukrainian Oksana Lebedieva, Gen.Hope combines psychological assistance, research on childhood in war, scientific partnerships, training of specialists, advocacy for childrens rights, human rights protection and memorialization of childhood experiences. The center has an international expert and scientific council, and its programs are based on evidence-based trauma-focused approaches. It is noted that the project is an independent institutional initiative that complements state efforts, but does not replace them, forming a long-term infrastructure to support the military and post-war generation. On its basis, it is planned to develop innovative approaches to restoring the mental health of children and adolescents, as well as recommendations for the development of policies and practices in Ukraine and the international context. "KSE will provide scientific and educational support. Joint research will form the evidence base for the centers programs, and KSE psychology students will continue to work with children within the framework of these programs," KSE President Tymofiy Mylovanov commented the project. Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Gambia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad Sering Modou Njie 19 December 2025 13:49 2136-19-12-2025 On December 19, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with the Republic of the Gambia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad Sering Modou Njie, in Cairo. Sering Modou Njie is heading a Gambian delegation at the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum. During their conversation, the officials reaffirmed the commitment of Moscow and Banjul to continue steadily developing traditionally friendly Russian-Gambian relations, including more profound political dialogue, as well as expanded trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation. Both ministers noted with satisfaction that the Embassy of the Russian Federation, due to open in Banjul soon, should help accomplish these objectives more effectively. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks during his talks with Sering Modou Njie, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, on the sidelines of the second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, Cairo, December 19, 2025 19 December 2025 13:19 2135-19-12-2025 Mr Minister, I am pleased to meet you. You have recently assumed the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs, and as I understand, you also briefly served as Minister of Defence. It is important for individuals with military experience to contribute to diplomacy, especially in today's international environment. We are satisfied with the positive spirit of our relations and the ongoing contacts between our political leaders, including at the highest level. Today, on the sidelines of the Forum, we have an excellent opportunity to discuss ways to further strengthen our bilateral cooperation in areas such as the economy, trade, investment, and humanitarian affairs, as well as our interaction within international organisations, including the United Nations, and with the African continent as a whole. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, Francophonie and Congolese Abroad of the Republic of the Congo, Jean-Claude Gakosso 19 December 2025 12:55 2133-19-12-2025 On December 19, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, Francophonie and Congolese Abroad of the Republic of the Congo, Jean-Claude Gakosso, in Cairo on the sidelines of the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum. During their conversation, the ministers had a substantive discussion of issues of further expanding diverse Russian-Congolese partnership. The ministers coordinated their positions on the practical implementation of agreements, reached during talks between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso in Moscow (May 2025) and Beijing (September 2025). The ministers reaffirmed their mutual interest in deepening political contacts on key issues of the regional and international agenda at the UN and other international platforms. The officials reviewed key aspects of the sustained development of trade and economic cooperation and focused on the joint implementation of long-term promising projects in the sphere of energy, infrastructure, healthcare and personnel training programmes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophone Affairs of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea Simeon Oyono Esono Angue 19 December 2025 12:53 2132-19-12-2025 On December 19, on the sidelines of the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophone Affairs of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea Simeon Oyono Esono Angue. During their conversation the ministers discussed current issues of the Russian-Equatorial Guinean partnership, including the measures taken in the context of speediest practical implementation of the agreements reached at the talks between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in Moscow (November 2023, September 2024). They reaffirmed the mutual intention to deepen trust-based political dialogue and enhance coordination on the topical problems on the regional and international agendas at the United Nations and other multilateral organisations. The ministers considered the key aspects of the progressive development of bilateral cooperation in trade, the economy and the humanitarian area with an emphasis on carrying out promising joint projects in hydrocarbons production and processing, power generation, healthcare and training national personnel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation of the Republic of Burundi Edouard Bizimana 19 December 2025 12:48 2131-19-12-2025 On December 19, on the sidelines of the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation of the Republic of Burundi Edouard Bizimana. During the conversation, which proceeded in a warm and trusting atmosphere, the parties discussed in detail topical issues related to further strengthening the traditionally friendly relations between Russia and Burundi. They reaffirmed their mutual commitment to the steady development of bilateral cooperation with an emphasis on expanding mutually beneficial trade, economic, and humanitarian ties, including cooperation in healthcare, education, and personnel training. The parties expressed their mutual readiness to go on deepening their interaction in international affairs, including at the UN and other multilateral platforms in resolving global and regional issues. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Minister of International Relations and Trade of Namibia Selma Ashipala-Musavyi 19 December 2025 12:23 2129-19-12-2025 On December 19, on the sidelines of the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with Namibia's Minister of International Relations and Trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi. During the meeting, the officials discussed issues related to further strengthening the traditionally friendly relations between Russia and Namibia. They reaffirmed the commitment of Moscow and Windhoek to the steady expansion of bilateral cooperation, including enhanced political and diplomatic dialogue, as well as the development of mutually beneficial ties in trade, economic and investment sectors, cultural and humanitarian cooperation, and other areas. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Mahmoud Thabit Kombo 19 December 2025 12:21 2128-19-12-2025 On December 19, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Tanzania's Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Mahmoud Thabit Kombo on the sidelines of the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo. During the meeting, the ministers discussed a number of key issues on the bilateral agenda and emphasised the importance of stepping up efforts in trade and the economy, building on the decisions and agreements reached at the second meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Russia-Tanzania Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in St Petersburg on May 12-13, 2025. The parties reaffirmed their readiness to further promote constructive cooperation and coordinate their actions at the UN and other international platforms. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks during talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francophonie, and Congolese Abroad of the Republic of the Congo Jean-Claude Gakosso on the sidelines of the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, Cairo, December 19, 2025 19 December 2025 12:11 2126-19-12-2025 Mr Gakosso, It is a pleasure to see you. Allow me to offer my congratulations on the recent conferral of the honorary title of Ambassador of Russian Education and Science, which was bestowed in October this year. This follows your earlier award with the Alexander Pushkin Medal. We highly value your personal contribution to the advancement of our relations, extending beyond education and science to include the sphere of foreign policy coordination. This coordination has been meticulously established between our nations, a result of the regular dialogue between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou-Nguesso. We particularly appreciate President Sassou-Nguesso's participation in the events marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in May this year. Their discussion was most productive. More recently, on September 3, in Beijing, during the celebrations commemorating the Victory over Japan, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou-Nguesso again held a productive meeting. We have a number of tasks, as agreed by our leaders. Today presents a welcome opportunity to explore what additional steps we might take to further strengthen our friendly relations and partnerships. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian envoy: Israel's actions are deliberate strategy to occupy, disintegrate Syria IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Dec 19, 2025 New York, IRNA -- Iranian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani has condemned the Israeli illegal aggression against the town of Beit Jan in Syria, and said that the Israeli actions are part of a deliberate strategy to consolidate the occupation, divide Syria, and weaken its national cohesion by exploiting ethnic and sectarian differences and promoting separatist agendas. Iravani made the remarks in a statement before the UN Security Council during a session to discuss the situation in Syria. The full text of Iravani's statement at the UNSC session is as follows: In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful Thank you, Mr. President. We thank Under Secretary General, Ms. Di Carlo, and Assistant Secretary General. Ms. Msuya, for their informative briefings. We listened to the views shared by Ms. Mariyam Jalabi. Mr. President, We note the recent visiting mission of the Security Council to Syria and Lebanon, initiated by Algeria, Denmark, and Slovenia, as well as the report presented today. We hope this visit will lead to concrete and effective outcomes by the Council, especially to compel the Israeli regime to end its occupation and cease its unlawful actions immediately. Regarding the situation in Syria, I wish to make the following points: First, one year has passed since the establishment of the Syrian Interim Government. Over the past year, important transitional steps have been undertaken by Damascus. At the same time, the Syrian people continue to face acute social, humanitarian, economic, and security hardships. The continued operation of armed groups outside the control of the Syrian authoritiesmarked by arbitrary violence against civilians and violations of minority rightsremains deeply alarming and poses a serious threat to peace, stability, and national cohesion. The tragic incidents witnessed over the past year in the coastal regions and in Suwayda underscore the urgent need to restore full State authority, uphold the rule of law, and prevent the exploitation of sectarian and communal divisions for violent ends. In this regard, we note the decision by the interim Syrian Government to establish national mechanisms to investigate the incidents in coastal areas and the crimes committed in Suwayda and to hold perpetrators accountable. Second, the resurgence of terrorism remains a grave and immediate threat to Syria and the wider region. The re-emergence and growing operational capacity of ISIS/Daesh, including recent terrorist attacks, serve as a stark reminder of the persistent nature of this threat. Iran unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reiterates that counter-terrorism efforts must be comprehensive, non-selective, and fully consistent with international law, respect for the sovereignty and territory of the Syrian Arab Republic. Third, we take note of additional developments on the ground, including the return of more than one million refugees and nearly two million internally displaced persons to their homes, as well as the easing of certain sanctions and improved humanitarian access. While these developments are encouraging, the situation remains fragile. Over the past year, the Israeli regime has intensified its unlawful use of force, expanded its military footprint, and pursued policies aimed at consolidating and normalizing its occupation of Syrian land. We strongly condemn Israel's unlawful incursion into the town of Bayt Jinn on 28 November 2025, during which Israeli terrorist forces killed 13 civilians, including women and children, injured dozens, and forcibly displaced residents through deliberate and indiscriminate shelling of civilian homes. As mentioned in the letter dated 28 November 2025 from the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council (A/80/551-S/2025/778), this criminal assault constitutes a grave war crime under international law. The assaultand the resistance of local residents to Israeli aggression with the support of the Syrian interim Governmentunderscores the inevitable and destabilizing consequences of prolonged occupation and repeated acts of aggression. Israel's actions are neither defensive nor incidental; they are part of a deliberate strategy to entrench occupation, fragment Syria, and weaken its national cohesion by exploiting ethnic and sectarian differences and promoting separatist agendas. Such conduct constitutes a direct threat to regional peace and security. The Security Council cannot remain passive in the face of these violations. Reaffirmations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria is legally hollow and empty words if not accompanied by concrete measures to compel compliance by the Israeli occupying regime. Continued inaction, selective silence, or the political shielding of Israel by a permanent member of this Council serves only to normalize and legitimize its occupation and acts of aggression and renders the Council's resolutions ineffective and unenforceable. Fourth, from the outset of Syria's political transition, the Islamic Republic of Iran has acted responsibly and consistently supported Syria's sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and the freely expressed will of its people. As a contiguous neighbor, Iran considers Syria's stability and territorial integrity essential to regional peace and security. We firmly believe that addressing Syria's challenges requires, first and foremost, an immediate end to Israel's aggressions and occupation; effective and principled counter-terrorism efforts; and continued efforts by the Syrian authorities to protect minority rights and advance a genuinely inclusive political process enabling the meaningful participation of all components of Syrian society. The Islamic Republic of Iran will continue to support a sovereign, stable, and secure Syria and its reintegration into the international community. Thank you. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli violations against Syria pose 'direct threat' to regional security: Iran Iran Press TV Friday, 19 December 2025 7:37 AM The Iranian ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations has warned that Israel's occupation of Syrian territory and acts of aggression against the Arab country endanger peace and security in West Asia. Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Syria on Thursday, Amir Saeid Iravani said the Israeli regime has, over the past year, intensified its unlawful use of force, expanded its military footprint, and sought to consolidate its occupation of Syrian land. "Israel's actions are neither defensive nor incidental; they are part of a deliberate strategy to entrench occupation, fragment Syria, and weaken its national cohesion by exploiting ethnic and sectarian differences and promoting separatist agendas," he added. "Such conduct constitutes a direct threat to regional peace and security." Iravani also condemned last month's Israeli attack on the town of Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside, which killed 13 people and injured 25 others, as a grave war crime under international law. The criminal assault and the local resistance to Israeli attacks, he said, underscore the "destabilizing consequences of prolonged occupation and repeated acts of aggression." The Iranian envoy further called on the Security Council to take concrete measures to compel the occupying regime to respect Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "Continued inaction, selective silence, or the political shielding of Israel by a permanent member of this Council serves only to normalize and legitimize its (Israeli) occupation and acts of aggression and renders the Council's resolutions ineffective and unenforceable," he said, referring to the US support for Israeli occupation and violations of international law. After the collapse of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024, Israel has launched frequent aerial assaults across Syria and ground incursions in the southern part of the country. Israel has also set up numerous checkpoints in Syria and abducted its citizens. The usurping regime has further expanded control over the occupied Golan Heights, taking over a demilitarized buffer zone in violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. Additionally, in his remarks, the Iranian diplomat raised alarm at the actions of armed groups as well as arbitrary violence against civilians and violations of minority rights. He also underlined the urgent need for restoring full state authority and upholding the rule of law in Syria amid sectarian violence in coastal regions and Suweida Province. "The continued operation of armed groups outside the control of the Syrian authoritiesmarked by arbitrary violence against civilians and violations of minority rightsremains deeply alarming and poses a serious threat to peace, stability, and national cohesion," he said. Meanwhile, he warned that the resurgence of terrorism remains a grave and immediate threat to Syria and beyond. Iran, he emphasized, welcomes the return of more than one million Syrian refugees and nearly two million internally displaced persons to their homes, along with the easing of certain sanctions against the country. Moreover, Iravani said Tehran considers Syria's stability and territorial integrity essential to regional peace. Iran believes that "addressing Syria's challenges requires, first and foremost, an immediate end to Israel's aggression and occupation; effective and principled counter-terrorism efforts; and continued efforts by the Syrian authorities to protect minority rights and advance a genuinely inclusive political process," he noted. The Islamic Republic supports a sovereign, stable, and secure Syria and the country's reintegration into the international community, said the ambassador. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Photo: Interfax-Ukraine / Oleksandr Zubko Switzerland may send its military personnel for a peacekeeping operation in Ukraine if there is a mandate from the UN Security Council or OSCE, Ambassador of Switzerland to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova Felix Baumann has said. "In practice, this would mean that both Ukraine and Russia would have to accept such an operation. However, Switzerland cannot participate in any peace-enforcement mechanism that does not have a mandate of the United Nations Security Council or the OSCE. In any case, it would ultimately be the Swiss government and parliament who would decide on sending a military contingent for a peacekeeping mission," Baumann told Interfax-Ukraine. Speaking about security guarantees for Ukraine, he referred to the Ukrainian authorities, who have repeatedly stated that this is actually a rather broad concept, which also includes support for reconstruction and recovery. "And I think that with Switzerlands Ukraine Country Programme, we are actually supporting Ukraines recovery and reconstruction, as well as its economic resilience," the ambassador said. Saudi Arabia Welcomes US Decision to Lift Sanctions on Syria, Congratulates Damascus Saudi Press Agency Friday 28/06/1447 Riyadh, December 19, 2025, SPA -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomed the decision of the United States of America to lift the sanctions imposed on the Syrian Arab Republic pursuant to the Caesar Act, affirming that this step will contribute to supporting stability, prosperity, and development in Syria, in a manner that fulfills the aspirations of the Syrian people. In a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement issued today, the Kingdom commended the significant and positive role played by US President Donald Trump in this regard, beginning with his announcement to lift all sanctions imposed on Syria during his historic visit to Riyadh in May 2025, and culminating in his signing of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, which included the repeal of the Caesar Act. The Kingdom also extended its sincere congratulations to the Syrian leadership, government, and people on the lifting of all sanctions imposed on Syria. It expressed its appreciation for the steps taken by the Syrian government to restore stability across all Syrian territories, create conducive conditions for rebuilding the Syrian state and economy, and facilitate the return of Syrian refugees and displaced persons to their areas of origin. -- SPA 13:29 Local Time 10:29 GMT 0011 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK sanctions perpetrators of violence against civilians across Syria Press release Individuals and organisations linked to violence against civilians throughout Syria are today sanctioned by the UK as it continues to pursue those responsible for violence against the Syrian people. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP Published 19 December 2025 Foreign Secretary announces sanctions against organisations and individuals involved in violence against civilians. UK Government targets individuals involved in the coastal violence earlier this year and Assad-era atrocities, to hold to account perpetrators of human rights abuses. The UK reaffirms commitment to working with the Syrian Government to support the country's economic recovery and transition to a more stable, free and prosperous future. Individuals and organisations linked to violence against civilians throughout Syria are today sanctioned by the UK as it continues to pursue those responsible for violence against the Syrian people. The Foreign Secretary has announced measures against individuals involved in the coastal violence in March, as well as historic violence committed during the Syrian Civil War. Today's announcement exposes the role that four individuals and three organisations have played in suspected atrocities committed throughout the height of the Syrian Civil War, and in violence across coastal regions of Syria in Latakia and Tartous Governorates earlier this year. Additionally, two individuals who financially supported the Assad regime are also being sanctioned. The new package of measures forms part of the UK government's ongoing commitment to seek accountability for abuses against the Syrian people, both by the former Assad regime and other actors. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: Over a year since the liberation from the brutal Assad regime, the UK continues to stand with the Syrian people and support the Syrian Government in delivering an inclusive political transition. Accountability and justice for all Syrians is vital to ensure a successful and sustainable political settlement in Syria. That's why I am today announcing sanctions against several individuals and organisations for their involvement in horrific violence against the civilian population in Syria. These designations send a clear message to those who seek to undermine the peaceful and prosperous future of all Syrians. The UK remains committed to working with the Syrian Government to support the country's economic recovery and deliver for a Syria that recognises the voices and needs of all citizens. One year on since Syria was liberated from the Assad regime, which committed awful atrocities against the Syrian people, these sanctions form part of the UK Government's support to the people of Syria, and our commitment to pursue accountability for all actors committing human rights abuses in Syria, including those affiliated with the former Assad regime. The following individuals are today subject to an asset freeze, travel ban and director disqualification: Ghaith Dalla - A former senior regime military commander, leader of a pro-regime militia group. Miqdad Fatiha - A former regime military commander, leader of a pro-regime militia group. Mohammad al-Jasim - Commander of Sultan Suleiman Shah militia group. Sayf Boulad - Commander of Hamza Division militia group Mudallal Khoury - a Syrian/Russian businessman who helped finance the activities of the Assad regime Imad Khoury -a Syrian/Russian businessman who helped finance the activities of the Assad regime The following organisations are today subject to an asset freeze: Sultan Murad Division - A militia group Sultan Suleiman Shah Division - A militia group commanded by Mohammed al-Jasim Hamzat Division - A militia group commanded by Sayf Boulad The UK remains committed to supporting the Syrian people to rebuild their country and economy towards a more stable, free and prosperous future. On 24 April, the UK amended its sanctions regulations on Syria, and removed UK restrictions on some sectors including finance, trade and energy production, helping to facilitate essential investment into Syria. The UK remains committed to supporting Syria's transition to a more stable and prosperous country, bolstering regional and UK security. Background: A full list of today's sanctions designations and further information can be found here: The UK Sanctions List - GOV.UK Today's designations were made under the Syria Sanctions (EU Exit) 2019 Regulations: The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Definitions: Asset freeze: an asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any business in the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned, held or controlled by the designated person. It also prevents funds or economic resources being provided to or for the benefit of the designated person. UK financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they are in the world. Director disqualification: Where director disqualification sanctions apply, it is an offence for a person designated for the purpose of those sanctions to act as a director of a UK company, or a foreign company that is sufficiently connected to the UK, or to take part in the management, formation or promotion of a company. Travel ban: a travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, as the individual is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address KMT, TPP vow to impeach President Lai ROC Central News Agency 12/19/2025 03:22 PM Taipei, Dec. 19 (CNA) Taiwan's opposition parties on Friday said they will try to impeach President Lai Ching-te () over what they described as his recent "undemocratic" practices, despite practical obstacles that would preclude the scenario. The move came after Lai failed on Monday to promulgate a recent legal amendment that would have allowed local governments to receive a larger share of government revenues, arguing that the legislation would hurt Taiwan's fiscal sustainability. Premier Cho Jung-tai () had declined to countersign the legislation earlier that day, which Lai cited as the pretext for not publicly announcing the law, normally considered to be routine. "Lai Ching-te has made himself emperor. He has shown that he has no regard for public opinion," Fu Kun-chi (), convener of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) caucus, told a news conference at the Legislature. Huang Kuo-chang (), convener of the opposition Taiwan People's Party (TPP) caucus, said that according to the Constitution, Lai should have promulgated the bill within 10 days after the Legislature voted down on Dec. 5 the Cabinet's motion to reconsider the revision. "Never has there been a president who has gone so far as to refuse to promulgate a law passed by the Legislature," Huang said. He said the opposition caucuses will tender a motion to impeach Lai for review at a plenary session, but he did not specify when. According to the Additional Articles of the Constitution, a motion to impeach the president or the vice president is initiated after gaining the backing of half of the total number of lawmakers. It then must gain the approval of two-thirds of the total number of lawmakers before being forwarded to the grand justices who sit on Taiwan's Constitutional Court to be adjudicated. However, the court, which normally has 15 justices but currently only has eight, is below the legal threshold for adjudication, and the government's attempts to fill the vacancies have failed. That means the proposed impeachment could not be put into effect even if it managed to clear the legislative floor, which is a near impossibility in itself. The KMT and TPP together control 60 of the 113 seats in the Legislature. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party has 51 seats, with the remaining two held by KMT-leaning independent lawmakers, making a two-thirds majority in any vote highly unlikely. Asked to comment on the opposition parties' proposed impeachment drive, Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo () said her office respected any move as long as it is within constitutional limits. Separately on Thursday, DPP lawmaker Wu Szu-yao () said that with the Constitutional Court paralyzed and the opposition parties' having an overly optimistic view of their sway in the legislature, the plan to impeach the president was likely just a show. (By Sean Lin, Chang Chien-chung and Wang Yang-yu) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan opposition lawmakers announce plan to impeach Lai Ching-te amid seething public resentment Global Times Move serves as a strong deterrent against rampant behavior of DPP: expert By Wang Qi Published: Dec 19, 2025 03:13 PM Taiwan opposition lawmakers from the Chinese Kuomintang party (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) announced a plan to impeach the region's leader Lai Ching-te at a press conference held in Taipei on Friday, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Meanwhile, an online petition to impeach Lai has gathered more than 5 million signatures in less than 24 hours after release. Speaking outside the building of the legislative body on the island, KMT's legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi sharply condemned Lai, declaring that he must step down and that the legislature is no longer able to oversee this "monster," Taiwan-based China Times reported. The initiative, which also targets Cho Jung-tai, head of the island's executive body, came amid the standoff sparked by the refusal of the executive body to amendments to a revenue allocation law, passed by the legislature earlier, according to Taiwan-based media. On Thursday, opposition lawmakers Huang Kuochang (TPP), Lo Chihchiang (KMT) and Wang Hungwei (KMT) tabled two censure motions and called on the legislative body to begin impeachment proceedings against Cho. Later on the day, Huang, also the head of TPP, said they would officially announce a plan to impeach Lai as well. In a statement released by TPP on its website, the opposition party said Cho, emboldened by Lai, has flagrantly refused to countersign or implement the "fiscal revenue and expenditure act" passed by the island's legislative body, and this open defiance sets a grave and dangerous precedent in "constitutional history." Zheng Jian, a professor at the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Friday that the impeachment initiative stems from Lai Ching-te's arbitrary and dictatorial practices - a factor that has rendered impeachment a means to break the current political deadlock. Furthermore, he noted, the move is driven by widespread public dissatisfaction in Taiwan with the Lai authorities' persistent secessionist provocations and belligerent acts, which have severely undermined cross-Straits exchanges. Lai's low approval ratings have given the opposition parties the confidence to launch the impeachment effort, Zheng said, noting that the impeachment itself is also likely to further amplify the public's accumulated grievances. Seething public resentment According to Taiwan media reports, under the relevant regulations in the Taiwan region, for the legislative body to propose an impeachment case against the regional leader or deputy leader of the Taiwan authorities, it requires a proposal by one-half of the lawmakers, a resolution by more than two-thirds lawmakers, followed by review by the "grand justices" of the judicial body. The impeachment is established only after obtaining agreement from more than two-thirds of the "grand justices," with the number of agreeing justices being no less than 9, upon which the impeached person is removed from office. Taiwan-based media analyses note that, given these high thresholds and the current seat distribution in the legislative body, where the opposition holds a slim majority but falls short of the required two-thirds, an impeachment against Cho has a realistic chance of advancing, while one against Lai is almost certain to fail. The Taiwan-based China Times News pointed out that the opposition's primary goal is to pressure Lai into appearing before the legislative body to provide explanations and face direct questioning. Should he refuse again, analysts say, he risks being branded as showing "contempt for public opinion." "The most important aspect of impeaching Lai is not the outcome, but the process itself," Chiu Yi, a scholar and political commentator in Taiwan, told the Global Times on Friday. He added that launching impeachment would profoundly influence the political atmosphere on the island. He added that proposing the impeachment at the legislative body requires only the support of half the lawmakers, making it a highly probable event. The case will also enable the public to gain a clearer view of the malpractices within the DPP authorities and act as a strong deterrent against the rampant behavior of the Lai's authorities. In addition to the impeachment plan in the legislative body, the public-initiated impeachment petition in Taiwan has also rapidly gained momentum. Under the lead of Chiu and former DPP's lawmaker Kuo Cheng-liang, people in Taiwan on Thursday launched an online petition to "impeach Lai Ching-te," aiming to collect 5,586,019 signatures, exactly the number of votes Lai received in the 2024 regional leader election, in order to formally submit an impeachment request to the relevant authorities, according to a report from udn.com. The number of signatures had already exceeded 5 million in less than 24 hours, according to media reports. As of press time on Friday, the number of signatures had far exceeded the target number, reaching 5.36 million. Chiu has also been closely monitoring the rapid growth of the petition signatures. He stated that the pace of the signatures has exceeded his expectations. "We initially believed that a considerable portion of Taiwan's people would enthusiastically join us, which is why we set the target at 5.58 million. But we didn't anticipate it would catch on with such fervor," said Chiu. "This reflects the extreme public resentment toward Lai on the island right now, and it's spiraling upward." He added that under the dictatorial practices of the DPP, no one is willing to "throw the first stone" at Lai in public. But once others see that there are people willing to do so, more and more will come forward to express their dissatisfaction with Lai. "The fire has been lit," said Chiu, "Now it remains to be seen whether it will spread into wildfires across the island, turning calls to oust Lai and oppose Lai into the mainstream public opinion." He predicted that Lai will grow ever more distant from the people of Taiwan, plunging deeper into political isolation. Intensifying infighting Political infighting on the Taiwan island has intensified this year. Analysts believe that since taking office, the Lai authorities have persecuted dissenting voices through judicial and other means, while stirring up tensions across the Taiwan Straits. The impeachment plan came about 5 months after DPP's recall campaign against 24 KMT lawmakers, which ended with the KMT's overwhelming victory with none of the proposals receiving more votes in favor of the recall than against it, Xinhua reported. The impeachment initiative has also been timed to coincide with 2026, when campaigns for local elections in Taiwan's cities and counties will intensify. Currently, the KMT holds a substantial lead in local leadership, with 15 incumbents from the blue camp compared to just 5 from the DPP. And the stalled revenuesharing bill which triggered the impeachment campaign is regarded as a prelude of the infighting in 2026. On Monday, Lai said the bill would hurt DPP authorities' finances as local cities would receive more public funds, Taiwan-based media reported. The impeachment against Lai by the blue (KMT) and white (TPP) camps demonstrates close cooperation among opposition parties. Although the chances of a successful impeachment remain extremely slim, the blue and white camps have, through this initiative, galvanized and mobilized their supporters, setting the stage for efforts to unseat the DPP in the 2026 and even in 2028 regional elections, Zheng Jian said. "At its core, this is a calculated strategy in ongoing political warfare." The expert pointed out that under the Lai authorities, public opinion in Taiwan region is deeply polarized, with sharp societal divisions and entrenched confrontations. "Virtually no room exists for cooperation, negotiation, or compromise between the DPP and the opposition parties," said Zheng, "As elections draw nearer, political strife is poised to intensify even further." Li Weilin contributed to the stroy NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China firmly opposes to US' inserting erroneous Taiwan-related content in its defense bill: spokesperson Global Times By Global Times Published: Dec 19, 2025 08:23 PM The US has inserted erroneous Taiwan-related content into its National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, attempting to further "arm Taiwan," interfere in China's internal affairs, and send a grave wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a statement on Friday. The remarks were made in response to a request for comment after the US on Thursday signed into law the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026," which includes Taiwan-related provisions such as allocating $1 billion for the so-called "Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative." China urges the US to abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques, refrain from implementing the Taiwan-related provisions of the act and eliminate their negative impact, and handle the Taiwan question with the utmost prudence, Chen said. Chen also sternly warned the DPP authorities that no matter how they seek "independence" by relying on the US, they cannot change the fact that Taiwan is part of China, cannot alter the inevitable failure of "Taiwan independence," and cannot stop the historical trend toward China's inevitable reunification. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US' repeatedly breaking promises, condoning and supporting 'Taiwan independence' will inevitably backfire on itself: Chinese MoD Global Times By Global Times Published: Dec 19, 2025 05:08 PM The US government's announcement of a large-scale arms sales plan to China's Taiwan region seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, gravely undermines China's sovereignty and security interests, severely damages China-US strategic mutual trust, and sends an extremely wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said on Friday, in response to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency's announcement that the US government had approved arms sales to Taiwan totaling more than $11.1 billion and some commentators say this is the largest US arms sales plan to Taiwan to date. China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to this and has lodged solemn representations with the US side, Jiang said. Jiang stressed that China's complete reunification is an irreversible historical trend that no force can stop. The "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, at the cost of the safety and well-being of Taiwan compatriots, squander the hard-earned money of ordinary residents to enrich US arms dealers, attempting to "seek independence through force." Such actions are doomed to fail and will only lead to self-destruction. The US has repeatedly broken its promises and betrayed its commitments, condoning and supporting "Taiwan independence," which will inevitably backfire on itself, the spokesperson said. "We urge the US to earnestly honor its commitment not to support 'Taiwan independence' and to immediately stop arms sales to Taiwan. The Chinese People's Liberation Army will continue to strengthen training and combat readiness and take resolute measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and firmly thwart 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities and external interference," Jiang said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China lodges stern protest immediately: Chinese FM responds to US arms sales to Taiwan Global Times By Global Times Published: Dec 19, 2025 04:27 PM "We already clarified China's solemn position on this issue yesterday," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday, in response to some media reports claiming that the US approval of large-scale arms sales to Taiwan was aimed at "helping Taiwan maintain sufficient defensive capabilities." Guo added that the large-scale arms sales by the US to Taiwan constitute a gross interference in China's internal affairs, seriously undermining China's sovereignty and security interests as well as its territorial integrity, gravely jeopardizing peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, and sending a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces of "Taiwan independence" and external forces. Guo said China expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition, and has lodged a stern protest with the US side at the earliest opportunity. Guo said "We must emphasize that China's core interests admit of no damage, the Taiwan question brooks no interference, and China's bottom line shall not be crossed." "Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, and any act of arming Taiwan will face severe consequences, he added. The real threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits lies in the "Taiwan independence" separatist activities of the Lai Ching-te authorities and interference by external forces, according to Guo. The spokesperson said that the so-called claim of "helping Taiwan address threats" will only embolden "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, place the Taiwan residents on a powder keg, push the Taiwan Straits into a dangerous situation, and will inevitably raise the risk of China-US conflict and confrontation. No one and no force should underestimate the firm resolve and strong capability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Guo said, adding that no matter how many advanced weapons are sold to Taiwan, they cannot halt the historical trend that China will surely and inevitably be reunified. China will take all necessary measures to uphold its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Guo added. China urges the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, fulfill the solemn commitments made by the US leader, cease its dangerous act of arming Taiwan, stop undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, and refrain from sending erroneous signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2025.12.19 Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date 6 a.m. Dec. 18 (Thu.) to 6 a.m. Dec. 19 (Fri.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities 7 sorties of PLA aircraft and 11 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 1141219_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1141219_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address German quality to strengthen the Bohdana: key facts about the Zetros chassis for 200 units of Bohdana self-propelled artillery systems to be delivered to Ukraine by Germany Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 18 December, 2025, 7:11 PM EET In 2026, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are set to receive 200 units of Bohdana self-propelled artillery systems mounted on the new Zetros chassis. Of Germany's total 1.2 billion assistance package, 750 million will be allocated to this largest artillery project. The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine highlights the key features of the Zetros chassis. Mercedes-Benz Zetros is a versatile chassis designed by the German manufacturer for operation in harsh conditions, including off-road environments. The chassis supports a wide range of military applications, including cargo trucks, transporters, fuel tankers, tractor units, and platforms for specialized equipment or armaments. The Zetros chassis is distinguished by its high maintainability. Available axle configurations include 42, 44, 64, 66, and the new 88 configuration. The transmission is either a 16-speed manual or an Allison automatic gearbox. German-supplied Mercedes-Benz Zetros trucks are already in active service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Notably, the Bohdana is Ukraine's first 155 mm NATO-standard self-propelled artillery system. By the end of 2025, it had become one of the most numerous artillery systems in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At different stages, the Bohdana self-propelled artillery system has been mounted on KrAZ, MAZ, and Tatra chassis. It is also produced under the 'Danish model', which provides for foreign funding of Ukraine's defence industry capacities. The Bohdana has demonstrated high reliability, accuracy, and adaptability, and is the most maintainable artillery system currently in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Its track record includes the successful execution of operational taskssuch as the destruction of ammunition depots and command posts at ranges of up to 40 kmas well as participation in historically significant operations, including the liberation of Zmiinyi Island (Snake Island). To recap, on 17 December, Ukraine's Minister of Defence, Denys Shmyhal, reported on the signing of several new key agreements with German partners totalling over 1.2 billion. Of particular significance are the agreements reached between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Friedrich Merz, under which Germany committed to allocating 11.5 billion in support for Ukraine in the coming year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Australia completes delivery of tanks to Ukraine By Lieutenant Commander John A Thompson 19 December 2025 The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has completed its landmark commitment to provide Ukraine with 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks, reinforcing the long-standing support for Ukraine as it continues to resist Russia's illegal and immoral invasion. Valued at approximately $245 million, the donation of vehicles meets a direct request from Kyiv, and forms part of more than $1.7 billion in total Australian assistance delivered since the conflict began, of which more than $1.5 billion is military aid. The majority of the tanks arrived in Ukraine in July with many already having been deployed to the frontline. The final tranche was handed over just days ago, primed and ready for battle. Commander of Operation Kudu - Europe, Colonel James Smith, said the operation to bring the tanks from Australia to Europe had been a major logistical exercise. "It is a huge undertaking to bring a 60-tonne tank half way across the world and make sure that when we give it to our Ukrainian friends, it is ready to use," Colonel Smith said. Lance Corporal Jordan Upton escorted the M1A1s from Geelong, where they were loaded onto a cargo ship for the 55-day sea journey to Europe. "I was a bit overwhelmed at the idea of being at sea for such a long time," Lance Corporal Upton said. "It was kind of scary. I'd never experienced a trip like that, especially on a cargo vessel. Now, being here, I'm proud that we were able to achieve it." A contingent of ADF tank specialists, logisticians, mechanics and support staff was waiting for the arrival of the tanks, including Lieutenant Mitchell 'Tex' Walker, for whom this operation had personal meaning. "I'm so proud of my team and the work they are doing to get the tanks ready for battle - it's an honour to be able to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine in their fight against Russia," Lieutenant Walker said. "In fact, tank number 51 - one of the Abrams we will be giving to the AFU in the next few days - is the one I finished my Tank Officers Course on last year. I know this tank is going to do its job well." The final fit-out and readiness activities took about a week to make sure the tanks were fully prepared before their handover. "These tanks are a highly capable and proven platform," Colonel Smith said. "Their delivery will strengthen Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russian aggression." Security and intelligence considerations were integrated into every aspect of planning, to avoid jeopardising the successful delivery of the heavy armoured vehicles. For Corporal Emma Barwick, 22, this was the first time she had been overseas and she felt privileged to be part of the operation. "The war has been going on for years - people have lost their lives and lost their homes," Corporal Barwick said. "It means a lot to think that I can play even a small role in helping them." The delivery of the final M1A1 Abrams comes after the Australian Government announced a new $95 million package of military assistance for Ukraine including: $43 million of ADF materiel and equipment, including tactical air defence radars, munitions and combat engineering equipment. An additional $2 million contribution to the Drone Capability Coalition, focused on providing Ukraine with advanced drone technologies. "War is always devastating," Colonel Smith said. "But it has been inspirational to see Ukraine defend itself and we look forward to opportunities, like this, where we can make a meaningful contribution to defend what's right." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Photo: https://t.me/dsns_telegram Already eight victims of enemy attack in Odesa and 27 injured, the State Emergency Service has said. "Eight lives were cut short by the enemy attack on Odesa region, another 27 people were injured," the service said in the Telegram channel. The service said that during the Russian missile strike on the port infrastructure facility in Odesa region, some of the injured were in a bus that was in the epicenter. Trucks caught fire in the parking lot, and cars were also damaged. All fires were quickly extinguished. As reported, Russia struck the port infrastructure of Odesa region on Friday evening, seven people were killed and 15 injured. Head of the regional military administration Oleh Kiper has said: "This evening, the enemy again massively attacked the port infrastructure facility in Odesa region with ballistic missiles. As a result of the strike, trucks in the parking lot caught fire." Deputy Prime Minister for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba responded to this hostile attack, calling on the world to respond accordingly and increase sanctions pressure on Russia. European Council, 18 December 2025, Ukraine European Council / Council of the European Union European Council Press release 19 December 2025 04:10 I. UKRAINE 1. The European Council held an exchange of views with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. 2. The European Council discussed the latest developments as regards Ukraine. It took stock of ongoing work to address Ukraine's pressing financial needs for 2026-2027, in the light of the options presented by the Commission. 3. The European Council agrees to provide a loan to Ukraine of EUR 90 billion for the years 2026-2027 based on EU borrowing on the capital markets backed by the EU budget headroom. By means of enhanced cooperation (Article 20 TEU) in respect of the instrument based on Article 212 TFEU, any mobilisation of resources of the Union's budget as a guarantee for this loan will not have an impact on the financial obligations of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. 4. The above is without prejudice to the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States, and takes into account the security and defence interests of all Member States, in accordance with the Treaties. 5. The text set out in document EUCO 26/25 was firmly supported by 25 Heads of State or Government. 6. The European Council will revert to this issue at its next meeting. EUCO 26/25 - extract 1. The European Council held an exchange of views with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. 2. The European Council reaffirms its continued and unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The European Union will continue to provide, in coordination with like-minded partners and allies, comprehensive political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people. The European Council commends the determination and resilience of the Ukrainian people and its leadership in resisting Russian aggression, which have prevented Russia from achieving its military objectives. 3. The European Council reaffirms the EU's steadfast support for Ukraine's path towards EU membership, and welcomes the significant progress Ukraine has achieved so far under the most challenging circumstances. The European Union will continue to work closely with Ukraine and support it in its efforts to fully meet all conditions, in line with the merit-based approach. The European Union will continue to support Ukraine in building a peaceful and prosperous future within the European Union. 4. The European Union supports a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law. Recalling the principles it set out on 6 March 2025, the European Council welcomes the ongoing diplomatic efforts to put an end to the war and urges Russia to agree to a full, unconditional and immediate ceasefire, to which Ukraine continues to be committed, and to engage in meaningful negotiations towards a just and lasting peace. For peace to be just and lasting, borders must not be changed by force and any future agreement must respect Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and guarantee Ukraine's long-term security and ability to defend itself. 5. The European Union and its Member States will continue to actively participate in peace efforts, in accordance with the European Union's aim to promote peace, as enshrined in the Treaties. The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. The European Union will decide on matters of its competence or affecting its security. 6. The European Union and Member States are ready to contribute to robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine, notably through the Coalition of the Willing and in cooperation with the United States. This will include supporting Ukraine's ability to deter aggression and defend itself effectively. The contribution of the European Union and Member States will be based on their respective competences and capabilities and in line with international law. 7. The European Council underlines the critical need to ensure that Ukraine remains resilient and has the budgetary and military means to continue to exercise its inherent right of self-defence and counter and deter Russia's aggression, also over the long term. 8. Recalling the commitment of October 2025 to address Ukraine's pressing financial needs for 2026-2027, including for its military and defence efforts, the European Council took stock of ongoing work to deliver on that commitment. In line with the European Council's previous conclusions which underline that, subject to EU law, Russia's assets should remain immobilised until Russia ceases its war of aggression against Ukraine and compensates it for the damage caused by its war, the European Union, given the unprecedented situation, adopted on the basis of Article 122 TFEU exceptional, temporary and duly justified emergency measures immobilising such assets on a more sustained basis. The European Council takes note of the statement of the Commission made at the time of adoption of that act. Following the Commission and the High Representative's recent proposals, the European Council calls on the Council and the European Parliament to continue working on the technical and legal aspects of the instruments establishing a Reparations Loan based on the cash balances associated with Russia's immobilised assets. In the meantime, with a view to ensuring the necessary financial support for Ukraine as from the second quarter of 2026, including its military needs, the European Council agrees to provide a loan to Ukraine of EUR 90 billion for the years 2026-2027 based on EU borrowing on the capital markets backed by the EU budget headroom. By means of enhanced cooperation (Article 20 TEU) in respect of the instrument based on Article 212 TFEU, any mobilisation of resources of the Union's budget as a guarantee for this loan will not have an impact on the financial obligations of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. This loan would be repaid by Ukraine only once reparations are received. Until then, these assets will remain immobilised and the Union reserves its right to make use of them to repay the loan, in full accordance with EU and international law. The European Council underlines the importance of the following elements in relation to the loan to be provided to Ukraine: a) strengthening of the European and Ukrainian defence industries; b) Ukraine continuing to uphold the rule of law, including the fight against corruption; c) the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States and the security and defence interests of all Member States. 9. The European Council underlines the importance of Member States stepping up efforts to address Ukraine's pressing military and defence needs, in particular air defence and anti-drone systems and large-calibre ammunition. In this context, further support for, development of and investment in Ukraine's defence industry remains crucial, including through the establishment of Ukrainian defence production in Member States. It is also important to further strengthen cooperation and integration between Ukraine's defence industry and the European defence industry, drawing on Ukraine's unique experience and know-how. In this context, the European Council welcomes the inclusion of cooperation with Ukraine in the defence industry investment plans of Member States in the framework of the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument. 10. All military support as well as security guarantees for Ukraine will be provided in full respect of the security and defence policy of certain Member States and taking into account the security and defence interests of all Member States. 11. The European Union remains determined to maintain and increase pressure on Russia to stop its brutal war of aggression and engage in meaningful negotiations towards peace. In this context, the European Council calls on the Council to continue working on a new sanctions package, with the aim of adopting it as soon as possible after its presentation in early 2026. It also stresses the importance of further coordination with G7 and other like-minded partners on sanctions, and of further reinforcing the anti-circumvention measures. 12. The European Council took stock of efforts to curb Russia's shadow fleet operations, which have effectively decreased Russian energy revenues, and welcomes the recent adoption of new sanctions to this end. It calls for further coordinated action by Member States and cooperation with G7 partners, also in relation to port and coastal states and vis-a-vis third-country flag states and all actors involved in the shadow fleet ecosystem, to further decrease Russian energy revenues and to continue to address the significant risks the shadow fleet poses. 13. The European Council strongly condemns support by third countries, and actors and entities therein, which enable Russia to sustain its war of aggression against Ukraine. In particular, it condemns the continued military support provided by Iran, Belarus and the DPRK, among others. The European Council urges all countries to immediately cease any assistance to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine, whether direct or indirect, notably through the provision of dual-use goods or components. 14. The European Council strongly condemns Russia's continued large-scale attacks on civilians and on civilian targets in Ukraine, including on infrastructure, hospitals, medical facilities and the energy system. It calls for the immediate cessation of all military activities near Ukraine's nuclear facilities, which pose a serious threat to their safety and security. The European Council also calls for the mobilisation of all efforts to help support Ukraine in repairing, rebuilding and strengthening the resilience of its energy system. The European Union and its Member States, in cooperation with partners, will intensify the provision of humanitarian and civil protection assistance, as well as of energy and relevant equipment, to Ukraine. 15. The European Council reiterates its urgent call on Russia and Belarus to immediately ensure the safe and unconditional return to Ukraine of all unlawfully deported and transferred Ukrainian children and other civilians. Other humanitarian relief efforts and confidence-building measures, notably the exchange of prisoners of war, must be part of the pathway to peace. 16. The European Union remains strongly committed to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in connection with Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. In this context, the European Council calls for sustained efforts towards the operationalisation of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, within the framework of the Council of Europe. It also welcomes the signing of the Council of Europe Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine and calls for work to continue. 17. The European Council will revert to this issue at its next meeting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tsahkna: EU loan will help cover Ukraine's emergency needs and strengthen its position Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 19.12.2025 | 10:12 The European Council decided early this morning to take a 90 billion loan to cover Ukraine's critical and emergency needs, ensuring Ukraine has clear funding for 2026-2027 and strengthening its position. "The Council's decision will ensure Ukraine has clear funding for 2026 and 2027, covering its emergency needs and strengthening its position both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table," Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said. According to the agreement, a 90 billion loan will be provided to Ukraine for 2026 and 2027 and it will be based on EU borrowing on capital markets. The loan is guaranteed by the EU budget. Ukraine would repay the loan only after Russia compensates Ukraine for the damage caused by its war of aggression. "It is important that until then, Russia's assets remain frozen and the EU reserves the right to use them to repay the loan," Tsahkna said, expressing regret that the Council failed to reach an agreement on allocating funds to Ukraine as a reparation loan. However, discussions on this are ongoing. "I expect the EU to continue working on the technical and legal details of creating a reparation loan based on Russia's frozen assets in order to reach an agreement." Tsahkna stressed that Europe's most powerful lever to support Ukraine remains Russia's frozen assets, and that their use is financially sound and politically and morally correct. "Russia has consciously chosen a war of conquest and destruction, and Russia, not the European taxpayer, must bear the consequences," Tsahkna said, adding that Estonia has consistently advocated for the use of Russia's frozen assets to assist Ukraine since March 2022. The Council also decided to extend the extensive economic sanctions imposed against Russia until 31 July 2026. The aim of the sanctions is to limit Russia's ability to finance the war against Ukraine and to increase pressure to make Russia comply with international law. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Update 333 - IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine International Atomic Energy Agency 19 December 2025 Vienna, Austria 129/2025 Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) temporarily lost all off-site power for the 12th time since the start of the military conflict, following widespread military activity that disrupted the country's electrical grid on 13 December. This incident once again underscores the continued fragility of nuclear safety conditions amid the conflict, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today. In the early hours of 13 December, both the 750 kV Dniprovska main power line and the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 backup power line were disconnected, resulting in a complete loss of off-site power for more than two hours. All available emergency diesel generators automatically started, ensuring continued cooling and other essential safety functions. Both external power lines supplying the plant - Europe's largest Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) - have since been reconnected and the diesel generators were returned to standby mode. On 15 December, despite the ZNPP maintaining access to its two remaining external power lines, another incident highlighted the plant's fragile nuclear safety situation. Power transmission between the ZNPP switchyard and the Zaporizhzhya Thermal Power Plant (ZTPP) switchyard through the autotransformer became unavailable, significantly reducing flexibility and resilience of the site's electrical configuration. Following an investigation conducted by the ZNPP, damage to the transmission line was detected between the autotransformer and the ZTPP switchyard, reportedly due to military activity. The ZNPP reported to the IAEA team at the plant that access to the affected area cannot be granted for security reasons. As of today, the ZNPP is still investigating ways to repair the line. Separately, nuclear safety at Ukraine's three operating NPPs remains under pressure due to ongoing military activity and related damage to transmission infrastructure. Over the weekend, grid disruptions caused fluctuating power outputs and temporary disconnections of power lines at the Khmelnitsky, Rivne, and South Ukraine NPPs. In several instances, units operated at reduced capacity to maintain grid stability and prevent equipment damage. IAEA teams on site continue to monitor conditions closely and maintain regular communication with plant operators. "Persistent instability in Ukraine's electrical grid continues to undermine nuclear safety," Director General Grossi said. "Although backup systems have worked as designed, repeated losses of off-site power and limited redundancy increase risk and reinforce the need for reliable external power." Over the past two weeks, an IAEA team assessing the status of electrical substations critical for nuclear safety and security in Ukraine confirmed that the grid situation is now in its worst condition since the Agency began monitoring substations in September 2024. The latest mission, conducted from 1 to 12 December 2025, involved visits to more than ten substations - critical for ensuring nuclear safety and security by providing the electricity all NPPs need for reactor cooling and other safety systems. The objective of the mission was to assess damage, review repair efforts, and identify practical steps to strengthen the resilience of off-site power supplies to the country's NPPs. Assessing conditions against the Seven Indispensable Pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict, the team confirmed that continued and deliberate attacks on critical grid infrastructure have caused cumulative impacts on NPP operations and staff conditions. Power cuts are affecting cities where plant personnel live, undermining living conditions and directly impacting staff through disruptions to electricity, heating, and water supply. "The strikes on Ukraine's electrical grid appear coordinated to maximize disruption, and their frequency and scope underscore that the overall stability of the grid is deteriorating rather than improving," said Director General Grossi. "I repeat my call for maximum military restraint. No one wants, or benefits from, a nuclear accident" Director General Grossi added. The IAEA has continued to deliver on its comprehensive programme of assistance to help Ukraine maintain nuclear safety and security. Five new deliveries have been made, bringing the total to 194 since the start of the conflict. Under the medical assistance programme, the medical unit at Khmelnitsky NPP received essential medications, while the Kherson Regional Infectious Diseases Hospital was provided with a digital colour Doppler ultrasound system within the framework of the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to the Kherson Oblast (ISAMKO). Additionally, equipment and spare parts intended to support the safe operation of the South Ukraine NPP by maintaining a reliable power supply were delivered to the Joint Stock Company "Mykolaivoblenergo." The Chornobyl NPP also received equipment to enhance its physical protection measures at the site. The deliveries were supported with funding from Austria, the European Union, France, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President: The European Council agreed on financing for Ukraine President of the Republic of Lithuania December 19, 2025 On Thursday, President Gitanas Nauseda took part in the European Council meeting in Brussels, which discussed the latest situation in Ukraine, European Union support for this country, further sanctions against Russia, and Ukraine's prospects for European integration. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also participated in the meeting. The discussions focused on potential solutions for financing Ukraine. The Head of State emphasized that a decision to provide financing to Ukraine is crucial to strengthening Ukraine's negotiating position in peace talks and reinforcing the European Union's strategic credibility. The President noted that Russia continues to escalate its aggression against Ukraine by carrying out missile attacks, and emphasized that the European Union must take immediate strategic decisions. According to the Head of State, it is important for the European Council to adopt a decision that would ensure uninterrupted funding for Ukraine for at least the next two years. "Russia continues to speak the language of military missiles, so the European Union must take real and urgent decisions. It is important that a decision has been reached to provide financial support to Ukraine for 2026-2027, ensuring the sustainability of financing for the country," the President said. The Lithuanian leader also underscored the need to increase pressure on Russia by adopting a new, twentieth package of sanctions, strengthen measures against Russia's shadow fleet, prevent the circumvention of sanctions, and expand sectoral restrictive measures. The President also emphasized the need to sanction Russian oil, gas, and nuclear energy companies by cutting off opportunities for new contracts and investments. The meeting also addressed Russia's accountability for international crimes. The President recalled that Lithuania was the first country to join the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and stressed that justice and accountability cannot be disregarded in any peace plans. Considerable attention was devoted to the prospect of Ukraine's membership in the European Union. The President emphasized that Ukraine's accession to the EU is a strategic investment in the long-term security of Europe and therefore called for the immediate opening of all negotiation chapters with Ukraine and Moldova, as well as the setting of a target date for Ukraine's membership no later than 2030. The discussions also highlighted the need for coordinated support for Ukraine's energy sector, as Russia continues attacks on critical infrastructure. The President noted that liquefied gas arriving via the Klaipeda LNG terminal is already reaching Ukrainian consumers in response to increased energy demand during the winter period. In addition, the continuity of military support to Ukraine was emphasized. Lithuania's military support to Ukraine has already reached 1 billion, including a commitment to allocate at least 0.25 percent of its gross domestic product. The President's Communication Group NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Why EU wavers on using frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:14, December 19, 2025 "Using frozen Russian assets is legally complex and politically sensitive," commented Fabian Zuleeg, chief economist at the European Policy Center. BRUSSELS, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- EU leaders are meeting in Brussels from Thursday to Friday for a European Council summit, sparking once again heated debate among member states. One of the most closely watched items is whether the bloc can move beyond tapping interest from frozen Russian assets and start leveraging the principal to support Ukraine. The debate has run for years, but why does the EU still hesitate at this moment? HOW MUCH HAS BEEN FROZEN After the Ukraine crisis escalated in February 2022, Western countries moved to freeze roughly 300 billion U.S. dollars in overseas assets belonging to Russia's central bank, with most of that amount located in Europe. European Commission data put the total frozen inside the EU at about 210 billion euros (about 246 billion U.S. dollars). Around 90 percent of the frozen assets in the EU are held via Euroclear, the Brussels-based international central securities depository. The pool generates about 3 billion euros in interest per year. In May 2024, the Council of the EU adopted a package enabling the net proceeds generated by immobilized Russian assets to be used to further support Ukraine, including support for Ukraine's defense industry and reconstruction. In June 2024, G7 leaders agreed to provide Ukraine with a 50-billion-U.S.-dollar loan backed by the proceeds generated by frozen Russian assets. Since then, the EU's internal debate over how to use the assets, and how far it can go beyond, has continued to intensify. WHAT IS EU WORRIED ABOUT Analysts say the bloc's reluctance to take what some describe as a more "radical" step reflects two core concerns: crossing legal red lines and risking financial instability. First comes the legal issue. Directly confiscating the principal would be difficult to justify under established legal practice and could set a precedent that policymakers fear may be hard to contain. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has repeatedly urged the EU to respect international law and warned that the euro's global standing could be damaged. Second is the fear of knock-on effects in markets. Analysts note that the move could trigger broader doubts about Europe as a safe jurisdiction for reserves and cross-border holdings. That, they warn, could prompt a large-scale capital exodus and ultimately undermine the euro's role as a reserve currency. A further complication is retaliation risk. Russia's central bank filed a lawsuit against Euroclear this week, sharpening concerns that Russia could seek to seize or immobilize remaining Western-linked assets in Russia as compensation. Such tit-for-tat dynamics could leave European companies and financial institutions facing a higher risk of stranded assets. "Using frozen Russian assets is legally complex and politically sensitive," commented Fabian Zuleeg, chief economist at the European Policy Center. He added that with Ukraine's needs growing, budgets constrained, and public support unable to be stretched indefinitely, the issue is becoming increasingly difficult for Europe to avoid. WHO SUPPORTS IT, WHO OPPOSES IT With many EU member states reluctant to rely on national budgets to sustain support for Ukraine, the argument over whether to use frozen Russian assets has grown intense both inside the EU and across the Atlantic. U.S. outlet Politico has reported that the U.S. government opposes the plan to fund Ukraine by using frozen Russian assets and has urged Italy, Bulgaria, Malta, and the Czech Republic to join that stance. Within the EU, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said the bloc must do everything possible to avoid using Russian assets, while Slovakia has taken a similar position. Belgium, where Euroclear is headquartered, has been another key opponent, citing concerns about retaliation and the prospect that it could end up carrying disproportionate legal and financial exposure. Supporters of the plan, including European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have sought to align member states ahead of the summit in hopes of achieving a breakthrough. Ahead of the meeting, the EU decided to keep Russia's assets in the EU frozen, linking the duration to the end of the conflict and compensation for damage. Previously, the EU's asset-freeze measures were renewed every six months, requiring unanimous approval by all 27 member states each time. (1 euro = 1.17 U.S. dollars) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address On Poland-Ukraine relations in Warsaw Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland 19.12.2025 Security cooperation between Warsaw and Kyiv and Ukraine's path to EU membership topped the agenda of today's Warsaw meeting of Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosaw Sikorski with Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha. Minister Sybiha accompanied Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his official visit to Poland. The two foreign ministers highlighted the strategic significance of Poland-Ukraine partnership. They noted Poland's substantial contribution to helping Ukraine in its pursuit of stability amid the harsh reality of the war. Also, the top diplomats discussed progress in peace negotiations and Poland's role in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. "We are united in fighting for a safe future" - Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski said after the meeting. The two heads of diplomacy spoke about Ukraine's European integration. Warsaw has been supporting Kyiv in its implementation of the reforms required from Ukraine prior to its full membership of the European Union. During its Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2025, Poland was actively working towards stepping up the pace of Ukraine's accession talks. In early December, Poland announced its joining of Ukraine2EU, the EU's integration support programme. It will provide advisory support to Ukrainian public administration institutions in their efforts to conduct EU-related reforms and align legislation with EU law. Radosaw Sikorski and Andrii Sybiha also talked about deepening Poland-Ukraine security cooperation. Poland and Ukraine will be exchanging experience and coordinating further measures in that regard so as to effectively enhance Ukraine's resilience and regional security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin: Ukraine ceasefire hinges on West, Kiev Iran Press TV Friday, 19 December 2025 3:04 PM Russia's President Vladimir Putin has stressed that the success of talks aimed to end the war in Ukraine hinges on the West and Kiev. During his annual end-of-year press conference on Friday, Putin said that Russia "did not start this war" and is not "responsible for the loss of life". He went on to say that the conflict in Ukraine began with a coup in Kiev in 2014. "I will remind everyone how it all began. It began with the coup in Ukraine in 2014 and with the deception regarding the possibility of resolving all issues peacefully through the Minsk agreements." The Russian leader stated that his country is ready to negotiate and to end the conflict in Ukraine by peaceful means, emphasizing that Kiev and its Western supporters are responsible for achieving progress in the settlement talks. "The ball is now fully and completely on the side of our Western opponents... first of all the head of the Kiev regime and their European sponsors," Putin said, noting that Moscow had agreed to "some compromises". While he stated that Russia is aware that Ukraine is ready for some kind of dialogue, Putin noted that Moscow does not see Kiev's readiness to discuss the territorial issue yet. Elsewhere in his remarks, Putin noted that the West is fighting Russia "through the hands of Ukrainian nationalists," stressing that cooperation will benefit both Russia and the West. "If we joined forces with European countries, Russia and Europe, our combined GDP at purchasing power parity would surpass that of the United States. By combining and complementing our capabilities, we would thrive, not fight with each other," he said. He warned that Europe will gradually disappear if it does not cooperate with Moscow. Reiterating that Russia would like "to live in peace and without any military conflicts" in 2026, Putin stressed that Moscow must eliminate the root causes of the conflict in Ukraine so that nothing like this happens again. He slammed the West's calls for the preparation for war with Russia as nonsense, adding that Western countries are trying to cover up their internal mistakes by hiding behind Russia. In a message to the West, Putin stressed that Russia would not attack other countries, as long as it was treated "with respect". Meanwhile, he warned the European Union of "serious" consequences if EU powers seize Russia's assets, pledging to defend the nation's interests, primarily through legal channels. He said seizing these assets and using them as collateral for loans to Ukraine would undermine Europe's economic reputation and shatter global confidence in the eurozone. Numerous countries, he said, have already cast serious doubts about the safety of their assets in Europe. European Union leaders have struck a late-night deal to lend Ukraine 90bn ($105bn) over the next two years, after failing to approve a plan on using frozen Russian assets. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fearing risks in using Russian assets, EU agrees 90bn Ukraine war loan Iran Press TV Friday, 19 December 2025 7:05 AM EU leaders have agreed to provide Ukraine with a 90 billion ($98 billion) loan backed by the bloc's common budget, while shelving plans to use frozen Russian state assets amid legal and financial concerns and repeated warnings from Moscow. The agreement was reached early on Friday after overnight talks at a summit in Brussels, as the EU sought to secure funding to continue the war in Ukraine over the next two years. Under the deal, the EU will raise funds through loans guaranteed by its shared budget, abandoning proposals backed by some member states to leverage around 200 billion in Russian central bank assets frozen in the bloc. The plan failed to win consensus, largely due to objections from Belgium, where most of the assets are held. Belgian officials warned of legal risks and the potential for retaliatory measures that would disproportionately affect the country. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever welcomed the outcome, saying it avoided significant legal and financial exposure. "This was extremely risky and raised many unanswered questions," De Wever told reporters. "Rationality has prevailed." Russia has repeatedly warned the EU against using its frozen assets, calling any such move illegal. On Thursday, Russia's central bank said it would seek compensation through a Russian arbitration court over the freezing and potential use of its assets held in EU financial institutions, including claims for lost profits. "In connection with ongoing attempts by EU authorities to seize and illegally use the assets of the Bank of Russia, we declare that compensation will be sought," the central bank said in a statement, adding that damages of up to $230 billion would be claimed from Euroclear, where most of the assets are held. EU member states have agreed to maintain an indefinite freeze on Russian central bank assets imposed after the outbreak of the Ukraine war in 2022. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that any expropriation of Russian assets would not go unanswered. "All possible legal mechanisms will be used," he was quoted by state news agency Tass as saying. Separately, Russia warned against any deployment of European troops to Ukraine, saying such forces would be considered "legitimate targets." In a statement, Russia's foreign ministry accused the EU of planning to "occupy" Ukraine rather than seeking a settlement. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously said foreign troops sent to Ukraine would be treated as legitimate military targets. The developments come amid divisions within the EU over the war and its role in possible peace talks. French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe should engage directly with Moscow. "It is in our interest as Europeans and Ukrainians to re-engage discussions," Macron said, adding talks should begin "in the coming weeks." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian and US delegations were due to hold further talks in Washington on Friday and Saturday, while US President Donald Trump urged Kiev to move quickly towards a deal. The Kremlin said it was preparing contacts with Washington on a revised peace proposal. Earlier talks in Berlin involving US, Ukrainian and European officials ended without a breakthrough, with Russia opposing NATO membership for Ukraine and Kiev rejecting territorial concessions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU-Backed Loan To Ukraine Leaves Putin's Money Untouched And Puts Taxpayers On The Hook By Rikard Jozwiak December 19, 2025 In the early morning hours of December 19, the EU agreed to provide Ukraine with 90 billion euros ($105.4 billion) for 2026-2027, with the cash available as early as January next year. That avoids a financing shortfall, estimated at 70 billion euros, Kyiv would have found itself in as early as in April has been averted. But it was not supposed to happen in this way. Brussels wanted to leverage the nearly 200 billion euros worth of frozen Russian state assets in the EU for a reparations loan to Ukraine. Doomed Reparations Loan European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who had been the driver of the idea since early fall, told the European Parliament earlier in the week that this would be Europe's "independence moment" -- a time when the bloc took a crucial decision to shape the destiny of the continent regardless of what Russia, or anyone else for that matter, had in mind. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz backed her up, calling the reparations loan "the only option," a view the club's Nordic-Baltic countries and Poland shared as well. In truth, it was far from a done deal. Belgium, which hosts the financial markets company Euroclear in which most of the Russian assets sit, was never truly onboard. It called for "uncapped" -- in other words, unlimited financial burden-sharing among EU capitals -- a proposal that many balked at, particularly Paris and Rome. The longer the night went on, the clearer it became that Belgium was far from alone and alternatives needed to be sought. Burden On The Taxpayer The writing was on the wall when earlier in the summit France and Italy scored an important victory for their respective influential farming communities by postponing the signing of a trade deal, 25 years in the making, between the EU and Mercosur (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay). French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni were on a roll while Merz and Von der Leyen were retreating step by step. And when the EU leaders finally called it a day after 16 hours of summitry in Brussels, Putin's money remained untouched. Instead, the cash to Ukraine will come via EU countries banding together to raise the money on the financial markets backed by what is known as the EU budget "headroom," which is Brussels parlance for a financial buffer or the gap between the maximum resources the EU can collect for its long-term budget (which ends in 2027) and what it actually spends. Put simply, the EU went from using Russia's money to EU taxpayer cash. But not even all. The Czech Republic -- with its new-old prime minister, Andrej Babis, back in power -- Hungary, and Slovakia all secured carve-outs meaning that this is a deal of EU-24, not EU-27. In that sense it is even less impressive than when Brussels in early 2024 agreed to use a similar method of raising nearly 50 billion euros for Ukraine on the markets. Then everyone was onboard, even Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban who got assurances that Hungary's share wouldn't go to the Ukrainian military. Together with Belgium, the Visegrad trio were clear winners in Brussels. Orban had declared, prematurely but ultimately correctly, that the reparations loan was dead already before entering the summit. The fact that Budapest won't contribute to finance Ukraine will appease his voter base ahead of the April parliamentary elections -- and harness his self-styled image as a peace promoter. Now, everyone tried to put some nice spin on this at the end of the day. And there are some upshots. The loan to Ukraine is interest free and, similarly to the reparations loan proposal, Kyiv only has to pay back the money once Russia pays reparations. The Russian assets will remain frozen until then with the EU having changed the rules last week to allow them to remain immobilized as long as is needed with no roll-over via unanimity needed every six months any longer. The final text agreed by the leaders even states that it "reserves its right to make use of them to repay the loan." A sort of "reparations loan light," after all. There is also a mention, like a consolation to the Russia hawks in the room, that work on the reparations loan will continue even though one EU official admitted that this idea is "now on life support, at best." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/33627880.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Andrii Sybiha held a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Radosaw Sikorski Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 19 December 2025 16:06 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "While taking part in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's official visit to Poland, I had another insightful meeting with my colleague and friend Radosaw Sikorski, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. I underscored Poland's exceptional leadership role in strengthening Europe and rallying support for Ukraine. Thank you for standing with us as a true friend and ally. We discussed the European Council's decision on the financial support for Ukraine in 2026-2027. Such strong decisions keep Europe united and determined to bring back peace to the continent. I informed my Polish colleague about the recent peace talks with American partners. Ukraine relies on Poland's active role in peace efforts and security guarantees. Discussions on the future of European security architecture must involve Poland as its integral part. I also briefed Radosaw Sikorski about the battlefield situation, the daily mil-tech race and Ukraine's most urgent defense needs. Poland's military assistance to Ukraine remains crucial, and we highlighted the role of the Rzeszow-Jasionka logistics hub, as well as ongoing training and cooperation between Ukrainian and Polish forces. The development of joint defense projects under the SAFE program and broader Ukraine-Poland defense cooperation was also part of our discussion. I thanked for the Polish contribution to the PURL initiative and Radek's personal role in this regard. EU accession was another key topic: we noted Ukraine's progress and stressed the importance of Ukraine and Moldova moving forward together on this path. Finally, we covered the URC-2026, welcoming Poland's readiness to host the Conference next year in one of its beautiful cities. I am confident that the event will be a shared success. Thank you, Radek, for our meaningful conversation. Thank you, Warsaw, for the warm welcome. Thank you, Poland, for your unwavering support of a free and independent Ukraine. The Ukrainian-Polish good-neighbourly partnership is vital for European security and prosperity." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Defense Forces neutralized 31 out of 51 drones with which the Russian army attacked Ukraine on the night of Saturday, recorded hits of three Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 20 strike UAVs at 15 locations, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has said. "According to preliminary data, as of 09:00, air defenses shot down/suppressed 31 enemy Shahed, Gerbera UAVs and drones of other types in the north, south and east of the country. Hits of ballistic missiles and 20 strike UAVs were recorded at 15 locations," the Air Force said in Telegram channel. In total, on the night of December 20 (from 19:00 on December 19), the enemy attacked with three Iskander-M ballistic missiles from the temporary occupied territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, as well as 51 strike UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera type and drones of other types from the directions: Orel, Kursk, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Shatalove Russia, about 30 of them Shahed UAVs. The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. MFA organized a thematic event "Interfaith Dialogue: Cooperation in Countering Russian Narratives and Promoting the De-occupation of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine" Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 19 December 2025 13:31 On December 18, 2025 the Diplomatic Academy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine hosted a thematic event titled 'Interfaith Dialogue: Cooperation in Countering Russian Narratives and Promoting the De-occupation of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine,' organized by the MFA jointly with the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience. The event brought together Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Olha Kuryshko, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience Viktor Yelensky, members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, leaders of Ukrainian religious communities, as well as experts on religious freedom and de-occupation, including Metropolitan Yevstratiy of Bila Tserkva of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Klyment of Simferopol and Crimea of the OCU, Supreme Mufti of Crimea Ayder Rustemov, Mufti of the RAMU "Umma" Murat Suleymanov, President of the Congress of Muslims of Ukraine Seyran Aryfov, Senior Bishop of the Ukrainian Pentecostal Church Anatoliy Kozachok, Archpriest Oleksa Petriv, Head of the Department of External Relations of the UGCC in Ukraine, Vice President of the All-Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Christian Baptists Churches Ihor Bandura, Deputy Supreme Mufti (Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Ukraine) Rustam Gafuri and Director of the Department of Religious Freedom at Eurasia Mission, Presbyter of the Evangelical Christian Church 'Grace' Mykhailo Brytsyn. In her opening remarks, Deputy Minister Mariana Betsa noted that amid Russia's ongoing full-scale war, the aggressor country continues its attempts to instrumentalize religion for its criminal purposes. One of the MFA's key tasks on the international stage is to convey to the international community the truth about gross violations of freedom of religion or belief in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. "Ukrainian churches and religious organizations play a special role in countering Russian occupiers' attempts to destroy our religious diversity and Ukrainian spiritual tradition. Their motivation and energy in defending our state's interests on international platforms and informing the international community about the devastating consequences of Russian occupation for the rights of Ukrainian clergy and believers are an important component in restoring just and lasting peace," Mariana Betsa stated. Participants discussed issues related to international advocacy for the de-occupation and reintegration of temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, state-confessional partnership in protecting freedom of conscience during Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and cooperation between government authorities concerned and religious community leaders to neutralize manipulative Kremlin narratives about the state of freedom of religion in our country. An exchange of views took place on optimizing systematic advocacy and information-awareness efforts to enhance understanding among relevant human rights organizations, expert communities, and the broader international public concerning the actual state of religious freedom in Ukraine, including in territories temporarily occupied by Russian forces. Participants also discussed specific details related to advocacy for the protection and promotion of the freedom of religion in Ukraine within international organizations - the UN, CoE, OSCE, and the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (Article 18 Alliance). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Anna Gvozdiar: Cooperation with allies and localization of production are key to a strong Ukrainian defense industry Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 19 December, 2025, 12:51 PM EET During the full-scale war, Ukraine's defense industry has undergone a profound transformationfrom a state-centric model to a flexible ecosystem with hundreds of private companies, decentralized production, and direct feedback loops between the military and engineers. Combined with reforms and the alignment of standards with NATO, this has enabled Ukraine to expand its defense capabilities thirty-fivefoldfrom $1 billion in 2022 to $35 billion in 2025. This was stated by Anna Gvozdiar, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, at the 8th German-Ukrainian Business Forum 'Resilience in Action Partnership in Progress' in Berlin. In her address, she underscored that European and global security is grounded in strong cooperation among allies, noting that only coordinated, proactive, and swift decisions by defense industries can effectively counter russian aggression. According to Anna Gvozdiar, a key priority in Ukraine's cooperation with partners is advancing air and missile defense systems, especially scalable and affordable capabilities to counter russian drones. At the panel discussion 'Transforming the Defense Industry: From Wartime Requirements to Long-Term European Security,' the Deputy Minister of Defence highlighted the key results of Ukraine's defense industry development. She noted that the fastest growth was seen in the production of drones, robotic systems, electronic warfare (EW) assets, and software solutions, alongside artillery systems, armored vehicles, missiles, and ammunition. Anna Gvozdiar also highlighted the role of regulatory and procurement reforms, including opening the market to private companies, simplifying imports, introducing transparent electronic procurement, and launching a digital marketplace that enables military units to independently select and order the equipment they need. According to her, the next step should be further localization of production and the establishment of the Defence City special legal regime to support the development of the defense business in Ukraine. It was also underscored that exporting defense products is considered a means of leveraging surplus production capacity, subject to the full satisfaction of the Defence Forces of Ukraine's requirements. Ukrainian manufacturers are already in a position to offer European partners unmanned and automated systems, counter-drone and electronic warfare capabilities, and a wide array of dual-use products. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Denys Shmyhal holds talks on strengthening air defence with the UK Chief of the Defence Staff Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 19 December, 2025, 2:35 PM EET The Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, met in Kyiv with the Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton. First and foremost, the Minister expressed gratitude for the strong defence cooperation and long-term support provided under the One Hundred Year Partnership Agreement. He also thanked the United Kingdom for its efforts to convene Ramstein-format meetings. The Ukrainian side briefed the British delegation on the security situation, with a primary focus on Ukraine's needs to repel enemy air attacks. Denys Shmyhal underscored the significance of the joint project with the United Kingdom to manufacture the Ukrainian Octopus interceptor drone. The delegations discussed further steps to strengthen the protection of the Ukrainian people. They also outlined other areas of cooperation, including defence industry financing, artillery and long-range munitions, and remote mining capabilities. "In close coordination with the United Kingdom, we are developing a clear plan for security cooperation in 2026. I thank the United Kingdom for the meeting, the constructive dialogue, and its comprehensive support," said Denys Shmyhal, Minister of Defence of Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defense Support and Diplomatic Work: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Met with Donald Tusk President of Ukraine 19 December 2025 - 19:53 In Warsaw, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk. The Head of State expressed gratitude to Poland for its substantial support of Ukraine since the very beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. "We counted and continue to count on your support, and we are grateful for our unity," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized. The leaders highlighted the European Council's decision to provide Ukraine with financial support from the European Union totaling 90 billion for 2026-2027. "You have strengthened Ukraine, our soldiers, and civilians, by the way. And I think that Europe showed leadership, and this is a very important, tough, and strong position. Thank you for supporting us, I mean that Poland supported us, and we heard your voice and your messages without any kind of, you understand, balancing between right or not right decisions. So thank you so much," the President stated. Donald Tusk also stressed that Ukraine's fight for its independence is a shared struggle for all of Europe. "It is the aggressor who has to pay everything for all the damages and losses, and this is why we immobilize also, as you know, the Russian assets for good. And I am absolutely sure that now your position vis-a-vis Russia is much better," said the Polish Prime Minister. Volodymyr Zelenskyy briefed the Prime Minister on the battlefield situation. The discussion also focused on defense assistance to Ukraine, including strengthening Ukraine's combat aviation and defense projects under the SAFE instrument, including joint production of drones. The President and the Prime Minister also discussed diplomatic contacts with the U.S. side aimed at achieving a dignified peace and Europe's role in this process. Other topics included economic cooperation and joint infrastructure projects that could be implemented as part of Ukraine's recovery. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy Met with the Marshal of the Polish Senate in Warsaw President of Ukraine 19 December 2025 - 18:07 In Warsaw, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Marshal of the Polish Senate, Magorzata Kidawa-Bonska. The Head of State thanked her for Poland's principled stance on Ukraine's territorial integrity, effective cooperation with the Verkhovna Rada, and support for Ukrainian initiatives, including those related to the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about diplomatic efforts to achieve a dignified and lasting peace. The sides discussed cooperation with the U.S. Congress and the importance of transatlantic unity on sanctions and the recognition of Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. The meeting also addressed matters of historical memory. Both sides noted progress in this area and practical results achieved. On behalf of the Polish people, the Marshal of the Senate thanked the President of Ukraine for having the possibility to honor the memory of their ancestors, who were reburied following exhumations in Puzhnyky, Ternopil region. Additionally, Magorzata Kidawa-Bonska expressed gratitude to Ukraine for welcoming freed civilian citizens from Belarus. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defense Cooperation and Support for Ukrainians: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Met with the Marshal of the Sejm of Poland President of Ukraine 19 December 2025 - 17:20 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the Marshal of the Sejm of Poland, Wodzimierz Czarzasty. Key topics of discussion included strengthening defense cooperation and security for both countries, economic partnership, and the involvement of Polish companies in Ukraine's reconstruction. The leaders also discussed support for Ukrainians who have found temporary refuge in Poland. Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the adoption of the law extending the period of stay for Ukrainians. They further addressed the increase in sanctions pressure on Russia and joint efforts to return Ukrainian children who were abducted and illegally deported by the Russian Federation. In addition, the parties covered topics regarding the historical memory of Ukraine and Poland. The Head of State emphasized that historical issues should unite and strengthen nations, and that leaders should remind people that Ukraine and Poland share more joint victories than tragedies. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Wodzimierz Czarzasty also paid tribute to the Sejm deputies of the Second Polish Republic who perished during the Second World War, laying wreaths at the memorial plaque honoring 296 fallen Polish parliamentarians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy Held a Meeting with Karol Nawrocki in Warsaw President of Ukraine 19 December 2025 - 15:57 In Warsaw, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with President of Poland Karol Nawrocki. This was the first official visit by a foreign leader to the incumbent Polish President since his inauguration in August this year. "I sincerely hope that this visit opens a new, even more meaningful stage in our relations - relations between Ukraine and Poland, relations not merely between neighbors, but between two European elements without which there would be no freedom in our entire part of Europe. Because there would be no security," the Head of State said. Karol Nawrocki emphasized that the official visit of the President of Ukraine is proof that on issues of strategic cooperation and security, Poland, Ukraine, and all countries of the region, democratic states stand together. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Poland for its very tangible and strong support for Ukraine and Ukrainians from the very beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, as well as throughout the entire period since the restoration of Ukrainian statehood in 1991. The Presidents discussed all matters related to the war and diplomacy. The Head of the Ukrainian State underscored the importance of Poland's presence in all processes that shape Europe's future. Karol Nawrocki stressed that peace for Ukraine must be lasting and binding, not one that would allow Russia to regroup its forces. The leaders also focused on developing opportunities to strengthen joint defense. Ukraine is ready to share its experiences in advanced technologies and weapons production and to implement joint projects. Separate attention was given to the further development of bilateral cooperation, as well as to energy security and partnership in liquefied gas, including LNG supplies from the United States, which have significant implementation potential. In addition, Ukraine counts on the participation of Polish companies in reconstruction efforts. The Heads of State also discussed issues of historical memory. "Along our path, there have been both heroic and, unfortunately, tragic chapters. We respect the Polish perspective on the path of our nations; we honor your memory of what has happened, and we count on your respect for our Ukrainian memory. We are ready to work together so that the ties between Ukraine and Poland give strength and foster development for our nations," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized. According to the President of Ukraine, every victim deserves proper Christian commemoration, and every historical figure who contributes to unity and mutual understanding deserves due respect. Search and exhumation work is already underway, and this year has brought the first results. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also noted that representatives of the national memory institutes of both countries communicated today during the visit, and that the Presidents will support them in this track. The Head of State invited Karol Nawrocki to pay a visit to Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by the President of Ukraine During a Joint Press Conference with the President of Poland President of Ukraine 19 December 2025 - 15:38 Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. President! I thank our teams for organizing this visit. Dear attendees, ladies and gentlemen. Dear journalists. I am glad to be back in Poland on an official visit. I am grateful for our conversation, Mr. President, and I sincerely thank you for your frankness - this was our first such conversation. I view it positively and sincerely hope that this visit opens a new and even more meaningful chapter in our relations - relations between Ukraine and Poland; relations not merely between neighbors, but between two European elements without which there would simply be no freedom in our entire part of Europe. Because there would be no security. Ukrainian independence and Polish independence are the foundation that enables every nation in our part of Europe to live freely, as it should - without Moscow's rule. That is why it is important that we cooperate, that we support one another, and that we coordinate in the defense of Europe and in the defense of our nations. Because protecting people is our foremost objective. Today, President Nawrocki and I discussed the security situation above all - all matters related to the war and to diplomacy. I am grateful to Poland for its very tangible and very strong support for Ukraine and for Ukrainians since the beginning of the invasion. And in response to what Karol has just said, I would also like to express my gratitude and to recall President Duda, who supported us from the very start of the full-scale war. We are deeply grateful to him, and we thank you - the Polish people. And you know what is important: from the beginning of the invasion, and traditionally throughout all the years since the restoration of our independent statehood in 1991, Poland has always supported us; Poland has always stood with Ukraine. And we always strive to ensure that Poland is present in all processes that shape Europe's future. In particular, Ukraine always invites Poland to take part in meetings of the Coalition of the Willing - this is our global work with partners that will determine what will form the basis of security - security from Russia - in our region after this war. President Nawrocki has taken part in contacts with the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump. This summer, in August, it was important that Karol reminded President Trump of the anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw - we were having a conversation at that time. And that reference powerfully symbolized the significance of both Poland and Ukraine, and of our joint efforts to defend all of Europe. Ukraine today is not only receiving support from our friends and neighbors - it is also offering its experience of defense in this war. Today, Ukraine possesses some of the most advanced technologies for protecting human life, as well as some of the strongest weapons production capabilities. Weapons that are modern and effective. And I am offering Poland all of this experience - we discussed this with the President today and will continue these contacts - all this experience. We want to show solidarity in strengthening our states, our region, our Europe. Ukraine is offering Poland consultations on protection against drones. We know how to repel every type of drone that Russia has and that can be used against our neighbors, against Poland, against other nations. We are ready to continue a security dialogue with Poland, taking into account threats coming from the territory of Belarus. Ukraine can also offer cooperation on maritime security issues. This is important in light of Poland's positions in the Baltic Sea. I invite - and I raised this issue today - President Nawrocki to visit Ukraine. We are ready to demonstrate our industrial and security capabilities, which we possess and which can further strengthen our cooperation - as an expression of gratitude, above all gratitude, for Poland's assistance to Ukraine. Yesterday, the European Union adopted a historic decision for Ukraine regarding financial security guarantees. This decision gives Ukraine financial confidence for the coming years. Poland supported us - we are grateful for this. If Russia chooses to prolong this war - and this is exactly the kind of signals the entire world is hearing from Moscow, as they continue to threaten us - we will use these funds for defense. Precisely if they continue the war. If the world forces Russia into peace, we will use these funds exclusively for the reconstruction of our state. Russian assets remain frozen in Europe. It is important that the principle works: Russia must pay for this war that Russia itself started - and I ask Poland to continue supporting this - and Russia must not gain any benefit from this war. Otherwise, after attempts to divide Ukraine, there will be new attempts by Russia to divide other neighbors. Ukraine intends to continue moving along the path of defense and development together with Poland. There are now various programs in Europe, including the SAFE defense program. We are ready to work within this program to produce precisely the weapons that will be truly modern and truly effective in countering the existing threats facing all of us. Ukraine has this expertise. Much has been said about the need for production in Europe - and we must also speak about deterrence and defense capabilities, including air defense systems, in particular Patriots. All of this must begin as soon as possible. We can work on this together. We will also be glad to see Polish companies involved in the reconstruction of our state. We discussed this today with the President, and we had a long conversation. It is important that there are joint projects - they always bring us together. Two more special points. Ukraine and Poland have walked side by side for centuries, and along this path there have been both heroic and, unfortunately, tragic chapters. We respect the Polish perspective on the path of our nations; we honor your memory of what has happened, and we count on your respect for our Ukrainian memory. We are ready to work together so that the ties between Ukraine and Poland give strength and foster development for our nations. Every victim who, tragically, lost their life deserves proper Christian commemoration. Every historical figure who contributes to greater unity and mutual understanding deserves due respect. Ukraine sincerely hopes that this is exactly how it will be - and I am confident this is in the interest of all our people. We discussed this today with Karol, and it is important that search and exhumation works are already underway, with the first results achieved this year. Our institutes of national memory discussed this today in our presence, and we will continue to support them on this track. Poland took in many Ukrainians after the start of the invasion, and we are grateful for this. We remember how it was. There are sometimes difficult moments in our societies, but we - as presidents - must shape policies that keep us together. Without Ukraine's independence, without the independence of our state, Moscow would inevitably reach everywhere and move further into Europe. Without our independence, Moscow would inevitably come for Poland. That is why it is important that we stand firm. It is important that you stand firm. It is vitally important that Ukraine and Poland stand firm - and that we stand together. I would like to thank the President for this visit - for the first official visit by a foreign leader to Poland. I am grateful for this high level. And I, of course, invite the President to visit Ukraine. And I am confident that this is important for our societies. You raised this issue, Mr. President, in your remarks regarding public opinion. Ukraine is always grateful to Poland - and will always remain grateful, remembering all these days of Russia's disgraceful aggression against us. At the same time, Ukraine has always defended itself and, by doing so, has defended Europe as well. And we have paid the highest price - the lives of our people, our families, our children. I believe it is critically important that the alliance between our states be strong. And we must do everything to ensure it is stronger than ever - and that this alliance endures. It is important. There are risks, of course. There are external factors. But we, as leaders, must continue working to ensure that this strong alliance remains in place. This also depends on the rhetoric in both our countries. All of us must be attentive - more attentive - respectful of one another, and very cautious. Russia seeks discord; it wants to undermine such a strong alliance - the alliance of two nations, of many generations of Ukrainians and Poles. We will not let them do that. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address VANCOUVER, Dec. 19, 2025 - A.I.S. Resources Ltd. (TSXV: AIS, OTC- PINK: AISSF) ("AIS" or the "Company") announces that on September 29, 2025 the Company closed its non-brokered private placement of 2,700,000 shares ("Shares") at a price of $0.03 per share for gross proceeds of $81,000 (the "Private Placement"). The Company decided not to proceed with further tranches of the Private Placement. Proceeds of the private placement were used for audit fees and general office expenses. There are no proposed payments to non-arm's length parties of the Company, and to persons conducting Investor Relations activities. No finders fees are payable. Closing of the Private Placement is subject to final acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued in connection with the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date under applicable Canadian securities laws. The Company provides the following corporate update: Buda Juice On November 17, 2025, the Company completed the sale of 25% of its interest in Buda Juice LLC for USD $500,000. Application for TSXV Reinstatement to Trading Following the November 14, 2025 revocation of the Company's failure-to-file cease trade order by the BCSC the Company applied on November 19, 2025 for reinstatement to trading with the TSX Venture Exchange. (the "Exchange"). In connection with the application for reinstatement to trading the Company is undergoing an Exchange review. The Company acknowledges and appreciates the patience of its shareholders and stakeholders during this process. The Company is providing the following disclosures in connection with the Exchange's review process. Further to the Company's announcement on October 17, 2024 the Company has withdrawn the proposed private placement. On December 23, 2021, the Company issued a promissory note in the principal amount of $139,149 to Panopus Plc, a company controlled by Phillip Thomas former director and CEO of the Company. The note is unsecured, payable within five business days from demand, and bears interest at a rate of 10% per annum. Proceeds of the loan were used for the acquisition of the Bright property. During the year ended December 21, 2022, the Company repaid $50,000 of the principal balance of the loan. About A.I.S. Resources Limited A.I.S. Resources Limited is a publicly traded company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company focuses on natural resource opportunities, aiming to unlock value by acquiring early-stage projects and providing the necessary technical and financial support to develop them. AIS is guided by a seasoned team of engineers, geologists, and finance professionals with a proven track record of success in capital markets. On Behalf of A.I.S. Resources Limited Martyn Element Chairman Corporate Contact For further information, please contact: Martyn Element, Chairman of the Board T: +1-604-220-6266 E: [email protected] Website: www.aisresources.com ADVISORY: This press release contains forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by 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. Vancouver, December 19, 2025 - 37 Capital Inc. (CSE: JJJ) (the "Company" or "37 Capital") is pleased to announce the results of the Annual General Meeting of the Company's shareholders, which was held on Thursday, December 18, 2025, in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Company's shareholders received the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, together with the auditor's report thereon; fixed the number of directors for the ensuing year at four; re-elected Hagop Jack (Jake) Kalpakian, Gregory T. McFarlane, Neil Spellman and Mathieu McDonald as Directors of the Company; re-appointed the Company's auditor, Dale Matheson Carr-Hilton Labonte LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, for the ensuing year and authorized the directors to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditor; and re-approved the Company's Stock Option Plan. On Behalf of the Board 37 Capital Inc., "Jake H. Kalpakian" Jake H. Kalpakian President & CEO The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered speculative. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278759 Photo: https://www.iaea.org/ The situation in the power system is now at its worst since September 2024, when the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) began monitoring substations critical to nuclear safety and security in Ukraine, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has said in a statement on Saturday night following an assessment of the condition of these substations. "The strikes on Ukraines electrical grid appear coordinated to maximize disruption, and their frequency and scope underscore that the overall stability of the grid is deteriorating rather than improving," Grossi said. He again called for maximum military restraint. "No one wants, or benefits from, a nuclear accident," the IAEA Director General added. Grossi explained that the latest mission, conducted from December 1 to 12, 2025, included visits to more than ten substations critical to ensuring nuclear safety by providing the NPP with the electricity needed to cool the reactor and other safety systems. The missions objective was to assess the damage, review repair work and identify practical steps to strengthen the resilience of the countrys external power sources. The IAEA Director General said nuclear safety at the three operating nuclear power plants in Ukrainian-controlled territory remains under pressure due to ongoing military activity and related damage to the power transmission infrastructure. Over the past weekend, power outages caused power fluctuations and temporary outages of power lines at Khmelnytsky, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs, he noted. He said that in several instances, the units were operating at reduced capacity to maintain grid stability and prevent equipment damage. "Persistent instability in Ukraines electrical grid continues to undermine nuclear safety. Although backup systems have worked as designed, repeated losses of off-site power and limited redundancy increase risk and reinforce the need for reliable external power," Grossi said. The IAEA team also confirmed that the ongoing and deliberate attacks on critical network infrastructure have had a cumulative impact on the operation of the nuclear power plant and the working conditions of the personnel. The power outages affect the towns where the plants personnel live, worsening living conditions and directly affecting the personnel through disruptions to electricity, heating and water supplies. It also noted that Russian-occupied Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Ukraine temporarily lost external power supply for the 12th time since the start of the full-scale aggression early on the morning of December 13, as both the main 750 kV Dniprovska main power line and the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 backup power line were disconnected. All available emergency diesel generators automatically started up, providing continuous cooling and other important safety functions. Both external power lines feeding the plant the largest in Europe have since been reconnected, and the diesel generators have been returned to standby mode, the agency said. It also reported that on December 15, despite the fact that Zaporizhia NPP retained access to the two remaining external power lines, another incident highlighted the fragile situation with the plants nuclear safety. The transmission of electricity between Zaporizhia NPP distribution point and Zaporizhia Thermal Power Plant distribution point via an autotransformer became unavailable, significantly reducing the flexibility and robustness of the facilitys electrical configuration. Following an investigation by Zaporizhia NPP, damage to the power line between the autotransformer and Zaporizhia Thermal Power Plant distribution point was discovered, reportedly caused by military activity. Zaporizhia NPP informed the IAEA team at the plant that access to the affected area could not be provided for security reasons. As of today, Zaporizhia NPP is still studying ways to repair the line. Court dismisses pastors appeal against jail term Justice Agbenorsi Dec - 20 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read Ghanaian pastor has failed to set aside a two-year jail sentence against him in a case in which he has been accused of stealing. This is the second time Pastor Larry Odonkors appeal challenging his sentence has been dismissed, following his conviction in Madagascar in 2023. Pastor Odonkor, formerly of the Lighthouse Chapel-Madagascar, had earlier been sentenced after being found guilty of fraudulently stealing and selling a vehicle belonging to the church, embezzling and dissipating the proceeds. A warrant for his arrest has been issued and addressed to the two national heads of the countrys security agencies. He is to be arrested and jailed anytime he enters Madagascar, either by air or by land. Pastor Odonkor is one of six former pastors who dragged the church to court in Ghana in April 2021, accusing the church of illegality, unpaid SSNIT contributions, breach of contract, and maltreatment. However, a SSNIT report published by the Daily Graphic in August 2021 exonerated the church of the allegations. In a separate case currently before the courts in Ghana, the Attorney-General is challenging a Circuit Court decision that acquitted Pastor Odonkor of the charge of stealing monies entrusted to him by the church to pay SSNIT contributions and GRA taxes. The AG argues that the trial judge erred in holding that the pastor had indeed taken the monies but that the squandering of those monies was not dishonest. According to the Prosecutor, Pastor Odonkor, as the Head Pastor of the LCI-Madagascar, masterminded the fraudulent sale of the car in Madagascar and appropriated the entire proceeds to himself. Before leaving Madagascar for Accra, the prosecution said he instructed three people, including his assistants, to help him sell the car. Following his conviction, he filed an appeal through a lawyer. Appeal In 2023, he engaged a lawyer, Johary Stephen Rasendrarivo, who represented him and presented arguments on his behalf during the two appeals, supported by a series of documents, but he lost both appeals. Pastor Odonkor was notified by the Court of Appeal by DHL, and the first appeal was fixed for hearing on December 12, 2023, and then adjourned to January 30, 2024. On both occasions, his lawyer, Mr Rasendrarivo, was present, but Pastor Odonkor was not. The case was then adjourned to March 26, 2024, but both the pastor and his lawyer were absent. Notice was then served on them for the next date, and the court issued an ultimatum requiring their presence. Once again, both the lawyer and Pastor Odonkor were absent, despite being notified of the court dates. The first appeal was eventually dismissed on May 7, 2024. 2nd Appeal Pastor Odonkors lawyer immediately filed another appeal, and in August 2025, the lawyer served several documents on the prosecution to support the appeal. These documents included WhatsApp chats between Pastor Odonkor and an LCI Madagascar officer, in which the pastor denied selling the car. After hearing the appeal, the court, on November 28, 2025, dismissed it as being without any merit. Four arrested in police swoop on drug peddling and criminal hideouts in Paga Previous article: Four arrested in police swoop on drug peddling and criminal hideouts in Paga Featured Reparative justice, false narratives... Mahama calls for united African front Pacome Emmanuel Damalie Dec - 20 - 2025 , 12:54 4 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has called on Africans and members of the diaspora across the world to stand united in their pursuit for reparative justice and the elimination of false narratives about Africa. The President said it was about time Africans flipped the narratives and modus operandi of those who had distorted the African story to suit their interests and to divide Africans. Anything in this life, once stripped of its power, will no longer work. That is true of stories, especially ones that are complete fabrications. Let's take the narrative of those who oppressed us and work it. In fact, let's take their entire modus operandi and flip it and reverse it. I urge you, my brothers and sisters; let's be more intentional about our unity than they were about our division, he said. President Mahama was speaking at the Diaspora Summit at the Accra International Conference yesterday. It was on the theme: Resetting Ghana: The Diaspora as the 17th Region. The President affirmed that with a common purpose, Africans and members of the diaspora would achieve their goal, no matter how they must have been divided, adding that we've always tried to find our way back to one another. Africans in the diaspora whose forebears were enslaved have kept us in their rhythms. He eulogised Pan-Africanists such as Marcus Garvey and the First President of Ghana, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, for their efforts in rallying for unity between the members of the diaspora and those in Africa. President Mahama asserted that the Black Star, which featured prominently on Ghanas flag, had become a defining part of the countrys national identity due to Pan-African ideals, adding that it underscored the Pan-Africanist rallying cry for the unity of all African peoples. Notice to the UN, Reparation The President reaffirmed his commitment to move a motion next year at the United Nations (UN) for the recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as the greatest crime against humanity. He called on all Africans and those in the diaspora to support the motion to fight for reparations from those who benefitted from the injustices of the past. I know this motion will enjoy the utmost support from the entire African continent and the diaspora. Africa has suffered slavery, colonialism, genocide and apartheid. We demand acknowledgement of these crimes against humanity. We demand the establishment of legal, institutional and international mechanisms to advance reparative justice, he said. President Mahama also indicated that reparations must include tangible measures such as debt cancellation, monetary compensation, return of stolen artefacts, institutional reform and transformative economic redress in the global economic system. He added that the African and the diasporan were at a pivotal place in their journey where they must speak about the injustices of the past to counter those who desired for the continent to be set backward. They want us to develop some sort of amnesia about the blood that was spilled, the lives that were lost, and the years that were sacrificed in order to fight for our freedom. We are at a place in our journey where we do not have the luxury of forgetting, he said. The President argued that with global figures now using words like garbage and filth to describe Africans, there was no longer the luxury of forgetting or excusing the racist dog whistles or explaining the overtly discriminatory and divisive statements that were made daily to the hearing of Africans. This is precisely the time when we must advance and begin the process of reclamation. This is precisely the time when we must speak loudly and clearly, naming what it is we have lost, as well as what it is we hope to gain, he stated. Reparation For his part, the President of the Council of Ministers of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe, asserted the need for reparations for the transatlantic slave trade and colonisation, stating that it was essential for Africa's development and global stability. President Gnassingbe stressed that recognising the crimes of the past was not enough as concrete actions and institutions were needed to transform memory into law and faith into progress. He proposed measures such as debt cancellation, multilateral funds for education, innovation and new legal commitments to the United Nations. President Gnassingbe also underscored the importance of the African diaspora in achieving sovereignty, and urged collective governance and healing work to address the wounds of the past. He called for a re-founding of Africa's position in the world based on economic sovereignty, mobility of knowledge and investment in the youth and the diaspora. West Africas democracy and the failed coup detat in Benin John Osae-Kwapong Dec - 20 - 2025 , 09:57 4 minutes read On December 7, the world woke up to news of a military coup in Benin. Videos of soldiers announcing the takeover on state-owned media brought back memories of a sub-regions post-independence trajectory, which for a long time was bedevilled with military coups. Barely a month prior, the military successfully seized power in Guinea-Bissau as voters waited for the declaration of election results, which both the incumbent and main opposition candidate claimed victory. All this comes at a time when, within the last five years, there have been successful military takeovers in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Guinea. Signals For pro-democracy forces, especially in West Africa, this was another warning signal of the dangers to democratic governance in the region and the urgent need to turn the tide. Thankfully, within 24 hours, the Benin government announced that the coup had failed, with further reports of military support from Nigeria. While relieved that the attempted coup failed, it reminded me of the warning former President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, issued to his West-African colleagues in 2023 that democracy in West Africa is in danger. And the fact that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), following the attempted coup, announced the deployment of its standby force to protect Benin was the clearest signal that the regional bloc recognises the grave danger facing the sub-region. Vulnerable democracy? In examining data from the Afrobarometer survey of the 12 countries (Benin, Cabo Verde, Cote dIvoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone) in the region that participated in Round 10 (2024/2025), here are some of the points of vulnerability. The data is aggregated to show a regional picture, but keep in mind that there are variations across all the countries mentioned here. First, there is a wide gap between support for democracy and satisfaction with the way democracy is working. In a region where seven out of 10 citizens (70 per cent) say democracy is preferable to any other form of government, it is worrying to see that only 40 per cent say they are fairly satisfied/very satisfied with the way democracy is working. Second, citizens assessment of democracy is not encouraging, with 63 per cent describing democracy as having minor/major problems. Only 19 per cent describe their countries as a full democracy. This is surprising because citizens do believe they enjoy certain basic democratic freedoms. For example, 74 per cent say they are completely free to choose who to vote for without feeling pressure. I must note, though, that only 45 per cent say they are completely free to say what they think. Perhaps, citizens require a full democratic experience in addition to these basic freedoms . Elections Third, is the issue of election. When one thinks of how central electoral competition is to democracy, especially as the key tool for deciding how power is won or lost, then it is important that citizens have a high regard for the integrity of the electoral system. However, in this survey, only 40 per cent rated elections as completely free and fair. In addition, only 18 per cent express a lot of trust in election management bodies. Fourth, 56 per cent of citizens agree that it is legitimate for the armed forces to take control of government when elected leaders abuse power for their own ends. While it may never come to that, it remains very concerning that almost six out of ten citizens in the region are willing to grant conditional legitimacy to military intervention. Fifth, and this is from Afrobarometer Round 9 (2021/2023), the level of democratic optimism was not very reassuring because only 38 per cent answered somewhat/more democratic when asked, Do you think that in five years time, this country will be more democratic than it is now, less democratic or about the same? For context, and to explain why this is problematic, in the survey, 68 per cent described democracies in their countries as having problems. This demonstrates a lack of faith in potential democratic improvements at a time when citizens recognised that democracy faced issues. Food for Thought While some of the above-identified vulnerabilities are not justification for military interventions, they help expose fault lines in the current state of democracy in West Africa. In addition, they lend themselves to exploitation by those not committed to the democratic peace and stability of countries in the sub-region. I am encouraged by the actions of ECOWAS in response to what happened in Benin. Yes, each country has responsibility for safeguarding its own democracy, but the potential ripple effects of democracies falling apart in the region make it imperative to design a collective response. It is a trying time indeed, but the need for ECOWAS leadership has never been more critical since the transitions to democracy that swept across not only West Africa but also Sub-Saharan Africa in the 1990s. The writer is the Project Director, Democracy Project. WiLDAF engages GES directors on school-related gender-based violence Rebecca Quaicoe Duho Dec - 20 - 2025 , 09:57 5 minutes read Chool-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) is a pervasive issue affecting hundreds of children across the country. It encompasses physical, emotional, and sexual violence inflicted on pupils, students, teachers, and staff within educational settings. SRGBV can have long-lasting, devastating effects on individuals, including anxiety, depression, and decreased academic performance. At a meeting with Directors of Education organised by WiLDAF Ghana in collaboration with Oxfam in Ghana, to introduce a toolkit on SRGBV developed by WiLDAF, a Consultant, Prof. Simon-Peter Kafui Aheto, said Ghana, like many other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, faces challenges related to gender-based violence within its educational system. According to him, incidents of SRGBV have been reported across different levels of schooling, affecting both boys and girls, though girls were disproportionately impacted. What is SRGBV He explained SRGBV to refer to acts or threats of sexual, physical, or psychological violence occurring in and around schools due to gender norms and stereotypes, as well as unequal power dynamics. He gave the key contributory factors to SRGBV as cultural and social norms, where patriarchal attitudes, rigid gender roles, and the normalisation of violence contributed to the persistence of SRGBV. Also, he said there was a lack of awareness and reporting mechanisms where many victims are reluctant to report incidents due to fear of retaliation, stigma, or lack of support services. Also, he mentioned inadequate policies and enforcement, saying while policies against gender-based violence existed, their implementation remained inconsistent, with limited accountability for offenders. Another contributory factor, he said, was the limited teacher and administrative training where educators and school administrators often lacked the necessary training to identify, prevent or respond effectively to SRGBV incidents. He therefore said the development of the toolkit was apt as it would help address these challenges and serve as a practical guide for teachers, school administrators, policymakers, and other stakeholders to identify, prevent and respond to SRGBV effectively. The toolkit, he said, had the potential of helping in creating safe learning environments, raising awareness of gender-based violence and promoting gender equality in schools. Project According to the WiLDAF Programme Manager, Lois Aduamoah-Addo, the project was a WiLDAF Ghana and Oxfam in Ghana, four-year initiative under the DANIDA Strategic Partnership II Project. Funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the project, she said, is led by Oxfam Netherlands/Oxfam in Ghana and executed in partnership with several local organisations including IDEG, NORSAAC, Friends of the Nation (FoN), Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), FOSDA, Africa Education Watch, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), and YEFL Ghana. She said the overarching goal of the project was to promote a more equal, just, accountable, peaceful, and sustainable Ghana, where no one is left behind and advances gender equality, climate justice, and inclusive development. She added that the SRGBV remained a pervasive issue globally, and children, particularly girls, were exposed to various forms of violence in educational settings, including physical punishment, sexual coercion, psychological abuse, and peer-perpetrated bullying and discrimination. The Executive Director, WiLDAF Ghana, Melody Darkey, said the meeting was for specifically the Guidance and Counselling Directorate, the Girls Education Unit, School Health Education Programme (SHEP), and the Regional and District Education Directorates because your leadership is central to one shared priority: ensuring every learner in Ghana is safe, able to learn, and able to thrive. She said SRGBV continued to affect learners and the learning environment, and it was often under-reported as studies showed that among Ghanaian Senior High School students, 20 per cent reported being forced to have sex in their lifetime, and 40 per cent reported being physically attacked in the preceding year. Bullying, she said, remained common for both boys and girls and on the digital side, recent trends analysis indicates that WhatsApp and TikTok were dominant platforms among young people, and a significant proportion of youth navigate the Internet with limited monitoringconditions that increase exposure to cyber harms, particularly for girls under 16. Strong legal frameworks At the same time, our scoping work confirms that Ghana already has a strong legal and policy foundation for actionthrough the Constitution, the Education Act, the Childrens Act, the Criminal Offences Act, the Cybersecurity Act, the Electronic Transactions Act, and the GES Code of Professional Conduct, therefore, she said the gap was less about absence of rules, and more about consistent, practical implementation at school and district levelsespecially confidential reporting, survivor-centred case handling, and functional referral pathways. The Head, Guidance and Counselling Unit, GES, Gifty Sekyi-Bremansu, said the unit had developed key strategies which include the development of a national policy on safe school that outlines minimum standards for safeguarding in pre-tertiary schools, which she said was currently pending approval. Also, she said they have developed guidelines for addressing sexual harassment reporting and prevention as well as the training of officers, school-based counsellors, teachers, staff and students on safeguarding and child protection concerns among others. Featured Nigerian aircraft and crew detained by Burkina Faso released Jemima Okang Addae Dec - 20 - 2025 , 11:53 3 minutes read A Nigerian aircraft and its crew, who were detained by Burkinabe authorities over an allegation of violating Burkinabe airspace, have been released. They were received by President John Mahamas Special Envoy for the Sahel, Lt Col (Rtd.) Larry Gbevlo Lartey. The handover took place on Saturday, December 20, 2025. In a press statement, the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu said Lt. Col. (Rtd) Gbevlo Lartey welcomed the crew on behalf of President Mahama and commended the Nigerian and Burkinabe governments for resolving the matter amicably through diplomatic channels. He described the incident as a demonstration of fraternal relations within the West African subregion and an example of resolving differences in a neighbourly manner. The Nigerian crew will remain in Ghana to rest, conduct technical checks, and await clearance to continue their flight to Portugal, where the aircraft is scheduled for servicing. What happened The two flight crew members and nine passengers on the Nigerian Air Force flight were detained on Dec. 8, 2025, after their aircraft made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso, Nigeria's foreign minister said. Through sustained dialogue, we also resolved the matter concerning Nigerian Air Force pilots and crew, reaffirming the effectiveness of diplomacy in addressing sensitive issues, Foreign Affairs Minister for Nigeria, Yusuf Tuggar, said on Thursday. Burkina Fasos military regime, led by Ibrahim Traore, released the personnel after meetings with a Nigerian delegation. The Nigerian Air Force said last week that the aircraft was headed to Portugal for scheduled maintenance when it made the emergency landing in western Burkina Faso. The air force said the landing was done in accordance with international guidelines and standard safety procedures. The emergency landing prompted the Alliance of Sahel States to place its air and anti-air defenses on maximum alert with authorization to neutralize any aircraft that violates the confederations airspace, according to a statement by Gen. Assimi Goita, leader of Malis military junta. The alliance includes Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The crew will now fly the aircraft to Portugal for the scheduled maintenance, Nigerian foreign ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said on Thursday. The emergency landing occurred at a time of fractured relations between the Alliance of Sahel States and Nigeria, which was involved in intervention efforts that helped reverse a short-lived coup earlier this month in Benin, where the Nigerian Air Force conducted airstrikes targeting the coup plotters. Burkina Faso is on the northwest border of Benin and Nigeria is on Benins eastern border. Nigeria and Ghana are leaders in the 15-member West Africa regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formed the Sahel alliance after withdrawing from ECOWAS, which the alliance accuses of inhumane, coup-related sanctions and working against the interests of citizens in alliance countries. Meeting with US, European allies in USA completed, further steps agreed Umerov Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov has reported on the completion of the meeting with the U.S. and European partners in the United States. "We have completed the meeting in the United States with American and European partners," he said in Telegram. Umerov said he informed President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy about its results. "We have agreed with our American partners on further steps and continuation of joint work in the near future," he added. I never take anything for granted, says Bawumia as he engages delegates nationwide Previous article: I never take anything for granted, says Bawumia as he engages delegates nationwide State-religion relations in 2025 Prof. Jeffrey Haynes Politics Dec - 20 - 2025 , 09:57 4 minutes read The end of 2025 is a suitable occasion to look at key issues involving the state and religion in Ghana. Maintaining the countrys constitutionally secular identity while engaging with and benefiting from the strong influence of religious leaders and groups on public policy, electoral politics and social issues is a balancing act which both state and religious leaders need to work on to maintain harmony. This article briefly examines three key issues in the state-religion relationship: state-church relations, religious freedom and the jihadi threat. State-church relations Ghana is both a constitutionally secular state and a highly religious country. Religion has a significant place in public life, and state functions often include prayers from Christian, Muslim and traditional leaders. State-church relations are generally cooperative and peaceful, characterised by mutual respect and a constitutional guarantee of religious freedom. Potential issues of conflict include a proposed register of religious entities and whether church income should be taxed. Both the state and religious bodies recognise the need for mutual respect. The government involves religious leaders in critical bodies like the National Peace Council, especially during elections, to foster stability and peace. In addition, many religious institutions partner with the government in the provision of education, healthcare, and relief services. Christian leaders and the Chief Imam actively engage in public discourse, contributing to shaping political and economic processes. The Christian Council of Ghana and the Catholic Bishops Conference historically act as moral watchdogs of society, addressing human rights and social justice issues. The Chief Imam, a highly influential public figure who is the premier Muslim religious authority, is a national figurehead for peace and interfaith harmony. In 2025, there was simmering disagreement in state-church relations in relation to one issue: the push by powerful religious groups to encourage the passing of legislation that further criminalises LGBTQ+ persons. This issue highlights the influence of religious lobbyists on state policy and raises human rights concerns among critics who fear it undermines the rights of a minority group. Religious freedom Ghana has a high standard of religious freedom protected by the 1992 constitution. Religious leaders from Ghanas various faiths regularly engage in dialogue to promote tolerance and understanding. By and large, this works well and Ghanas overall record on religious freedom is good. Article 21 of the 1992 Constitution guarantees Ghanaians fundamental freedom to practice any religion or none, as well as freedom of assembly and expression. The 1992 constitution does not enshrine the concept of majoritarianism, that is, where a majority of the population is entitled to a certain degree of religious primacy. Instead, the 1992 Constitution prescribes a secular state, with religious pluralism and equal priority in Ghana for all religious beliefs. Asserting the existence of a secular state does not imply conflict between religion and the state. The government seeks to facilitate religious freedom and to prevent or curtail any religious conflicts. During 2025, there were no serious interreligious conflicts, and both government and religious leaders should take credit for this. In addition, Ghana is a signatory to an international agreement, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which provides further support and justification for religious freedom. Jihadi threat Ghana is taking proactive steps to confront the increasing jihadi threat stemming from instability in the Sahel region. The nations approach is multifaceted, combining robust security measures with social and interfaith initiatives, including between Christians and Muslims. With a longstanding tradition of religious harmony, the government is seeking to reinforce this foundation to combat vulnerabilities, including local conflicts that jihadi extremists seek to exploit. Interfaith cooperation is a foundational element of Ghanas national strategy to prevent and counter violent extremism and terrorism. Ghana has a strong history of religious harmony, which leaders leverage to build community resilience and deny extremist groups a foothold in society. The governments See Something, Say Something nationwide public awareness campaign encourages citizen vigilance and reporting of suspicious activities, a programme that relies heavily on collaboration with local, religious and community leaders to build trust and ensure community buy-in, especially in certain areas of the country with Muslim-majority populations. Conclusion As 2025 draws to a close, the state-religion relationship is generally good. It draws on years of extensive efforts from both parties to ensure that the country navigates successfully a potentially anomalous situation: how does a constitutional secular country deal with demands from Ghanas religious leaders? As we eagerly await the constitutional review committees report, we can only speculate at present whether there will be reforms. Thinking of 2026, some observers note a disturbing trend: sacralisation of politics, where some religious leaders court politicians for personal or institutional gain. Critics argue that this erodes the churchs moral credibility and historical role as the conscience of the nation. How this issue is resolved will be a key issue involving state and religion in the year ahead. The writer is Emeritus Professor of Politics, London Metropolitan University Guams public school system is at a breaking point, lawmakers and education officials warned Wednesday night, urging immediate reforms in governance, staffing, and funding to safeguard students and teachers. The forum, led by legislative Education Committee Chair Sen. Vince Borja, focused on teacher shortages, uncertified instructors, and the impending transfer of federal oversight to local authorities at the Guam Department of Education headquarters in Tiyan. The event drew educators, administrators, lawmakers, and union representatives from across the island. One of the major issues is 1,000 kids that dont have teachers, Guam Legal Services Corporation Disability Law Center Executive Director Daniel S. Somerfleck said. Are we damaging our own children by not providing them the quality that they should be receiving? And those of you that are educators out in the crowd, that would be the question I would ask of you. Somerfleck criticized the current school board structure and urged clearer roles. I think experience has shown us concerns about the department being under the authority of the government or the governor. I think experience has shown us that we need to give the board more direction, he said. I disagree with the thought process that we have boards at each school, and those boards then manage that school. To me, the too many cooks spoil the broth concept that we have had so many people putting their voice into what we should do. He outlined a vision in which superintendents guide schools while boards manage budgets. Somerfleck warned that if the U.S. Department of Education withdraws oversight, schools in the territory could become entirely site-based, raising serious concerns about how funds might be redirected without proper supervision. The issue of uncertified teachers was also raised as an urgent threat to student success. So lets just theorize for a second. We have 50 teachers that are teaching that arent certified, 50 classrooms of 20 kids in a classroom. Now if theyre middle school or high school, you could have even more kids that theyre influencing and theyre not certified, Somerfleck said. He also called for systemic improvements in teacher and para-educator training. If were not training enough teachers, then lets put money at UOG. And lets say this is an area where, if you need an occupation, well not only pay for your school, but well give you a stipend because we want you to succeed at this. If we need para-educators, then lets not just say here, lets make para-educators out of nothing. Lets have a class at GCC that provides training on working with people with disabilities, working with children with disabilities, working with autistic children with disabilities, working with developmentally disabled children with Downs or whatever disabling condition they have. Lets have a specialization of our para-educators. Former Sen. Sam Mabini, who is also a former director of the Guam Department of Labor, explained federal policy changes that could affect local operations. The way this new policy works is that the Department of Education will still hold the statutory responsibility, policy making, program developments, oversight responsibilities, she said. Now theyre going to ask the Department of Labor to pay attention to the day-to-day administration of some of these services, because they want to see the outcomes of all these agencies working together. Mabini called for stronger coordination among Guams education and workforce agencies. She said the Guam Department of Education, Department of Labor, Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Guam Community College, and the University of Guam all have roles under federal policies that require collaboration. However, these agencies often operate in silos, preventing concerns and issues from being addressed effectively. She proposed creating a state-level oversight body for Guam, modeled after similar bodies in other U.S. territories and states. Borja addressed fears of retaliation among staff. Theres a real concern about retaliation, and some people genuinely are afraid to speak up because it may put their jobs at risk, he said. You should not have to stand alone, and were here to stand with you and to make sure that your voice is heard and respected. Longtime educator Ron McNinch framed decades of governance struggles over Guams schools. Ever since Ive been here, been here 30 years, the governor and the Legislature have always been at war with education. I dont know why, he said. It doesnt matter whether its a Democrat or Republican Legislature or Democrat governor, Republican governor, the governors office and the Legislature have never gotten along on education, and its just unfortunate. McNinch proposed dividing responsibilities between the governor and the school board. He also proposed six-year staggered terms for elected board members and lowering the minimum candidacy age from 25 to 18. He argued that current election rules discourage potential candidates, citing his own experience running twice and having to submit extensive financial reports despite raising no campaign funds. Guam Federation of Teachers President Tim Fedenko warned that frequent leadership changes have destabilized the school system. He said the school boards structure excludes students, teachers, and local officials from key decisions. The system leaves him without a voice to effect change. Retired GDOE employee Doris Bukikosa explained retaliation fears. Im sorry, but maybe 75% of the people right here fear retaliation and its not from our management, its not from our principals, its from respective board members, she said. Theres a fear of principals to talk out, because tomorrow or Monday, theyre going to be moved to another school not to their choice. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero vetoed a bill that would allow an extension of public land leases up to 15 years for tenants with good standing while signing 11 other bills into law. Leon Guerrero vetoed Bill 176-38 which would allow a tenant who has a commercial lease of government property and has continuously occupied the property for at least five years and fully complied with all the lease terms and conditions to extend the lease at fair market value up to 15 years. The governor said the bill would allow companies or individuals to lease public lands for up to 30 years without legislative oversight. She said it directly contradicts statements by senators when they voted to override her veto of another land lease bill in the same session. Bill 119-38 would give legislators oversight and approval of new public land leases over 15 years. It was passed in October and vetoed by the governor, but senators in session this month voted to override it, and it is now public law. Once again, the majority of the Guam Legislature has demonstrated a lack of coherent policy regarding the leasing of public property, Leon Guerrero wrote in her veto message. She said the argument for overriding her veto was to prevent sweetheart deals and ensure the people of Guam receive the maximum benefits from the use of their land. The hypocrisy is astounding, the governor wrote. Guam law from 2013 to March of this year required senators to sign off on any government land lease longer than five years. Senators in March voted to bump the cap up to 15 years and let the governor approve any longer leases. But they reversed course by passing Bill 119-38 in October. Leon Guerrero vetoed it, accusing senators of creating an anti-business environment and being inconsistent on policy. In her veto message of Bill 176-38, the governor raised concerns the bill attempts to provide a sweetheart deal to a specific company or individual by allowing that entity to bypass paying the true value of the lease they seek to renew for up to 30 years, without competitive bidding or legislative review. Nothing presented during the hearings or debates justified offering existing lessees special deals while new businesses are effectively locked out of the competition, Leon Guerrero wrote. The governor said it is the third flip-flop the 38th Guam Legislature has made on the issue of legislative oversight of public land leases. Leon Guerrero said she vetoed Bill 119-38 because the indecision of the Legislature complicates the process for leasing public land, and businesses cannot operate effectively when they are unsure when the rules may change or when they may become political pawns. Under Bill 176-38, a lease for 15 years or less can avoid legislative scrutiny, enabling the lessee to extend their lease to 30 years without competition, the governor wrote. How long must the people of Guam wait for a consistent position on the leasing of public land? Will it be until the specific sweetheart lease that this bill was designed to enable has been entered? Only time will tell if the Thirty-Eighth Legislature will continue to contradict itself on this issue, the governor wrote. Bills signed into law The governor signed 11 bills into law, including giving more land to expand the Vicente A. Limtiaco Memorial Park, also known as Tiguac Cemetery, and overhauling the leadership of the Guam Office of Veteran Affairs. Bill 49-38, now Public Law 38-81, transfers 11 acres of land to Tiguac Cemetery for additional burial space. Sen. Sabrina Salas Matananes Bill 192-38, now Public Law 38-90, puts the existing Guam Veterans Commission in charge of the office and developing policies to deal with veterans issues. Local veterans organizations will be in charge of nominating committee members, who will be approved by the governor. It will also replace the administrator of the Veterans Affairs office with a Guam veterans officer, who will be unclassified and answer to the commission. Other bills signed into law: Japan has increased financial support for Ukraine for the next 2026 to almost $6 billion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. "I thank Japan and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for the decision to provide additional financial support to Ukraine next year. The total aid amounts tonearly $6 billion, which will strengthen our defense against Russian aggression," Zelenskyy said in X. "We greatly appreciate that Japan takes such a leadership position, not only in the Indo-Pacific region but globally. This is a significant contribution to our resilience, and through it, to the international rules-based order. The international order is essential to prevent Russias twisted war policy from continuing anywhere," the head of state said. To the people of Guam, As my time as superintendent of the Guam Department of Education comes to an end, I write with sincere gratitude for the people who bring life, heart, and purpose to our schools: the teachers, support staff, administrators, parents, and community partners who show up every day for Guams children. What I have witnessed here is extraordinary. Many members of our GDOE staff entered their positions with limited experience but stepped forward with courage, honesty, and an eagerness to learn. They stayed late, asked questions, embraced professional development, and worked tirelessly to ensure that students were supported and that systems moved forward. These men and women, not rumors, not politics, and not social media commentary, are the true face of GDOE. They deserve the islands respect and unwavering support. I have seen employees grow from tentative beginners into confident professionals. I have watched teams work across divisions to execute federal grants, strengthen data systems, and meet demanding compliance requirements. I have also watched custodial staff and maintenance crews pour heart and pride into preparing schools for accreditation. These accomplishments were not accidental. They were the result of dedication, collaboration, and integrity. Public schools are a promise and must be protected There is growing public conversation about converting Guams public schools into charter schools in hopes of gaining access to political favor or federal funding from the current administration. I want to be absolutely clear: public education is not a bargaining chip. Charter schools operate under different rules. They are not held to all the same legal obligations as public schools and they are not required to serve every student. Across the nation, charter systems have a documented history of excluding, or underserving, students with disabilities, English language learners, and others who require additional support. There is also no guarantee that once converted, Guams schools could ever be returned to public control. Funding should never be pursued at the expense of fairness or equity. Public schools belong to the people, all the people. They exist because every child, regardless of background, income, ability, or circumstance, deserves a seat in a classroom and an equal chance to learn. That principle is foundational to democracy and it must never be compromised. GDOE has the capability, the talent, and the heart to succeed with proper support. Converting to charter schools is not innovation. It is surrender. Guams children deserve a future built on hope, opportunity, and access, not on political expediency. Challenges ahead require unity, not division It is no secret that for many legislative cycles, GDOE has been underfunded. This is reflected in budget records, audit findings, and testimony spanning multiple administrations. Years of shortfalls accumulate into structural challenges that cannot be wished away. Without meaningful investment, the district will face decisions that no one wants to confront. These challenges require collaboration, not conflict. And here, the island must face a hard truth: leadership matters. Some members of the Guam Education Board have approached their roles from a place of suspicion, negativity, and a persistent gotcha mindset. They assume wrongdoing at every turn. When adults operate in that manner, it is often because they believe everyone else behaves the same way. This culture does not uplift schools. It does not strengthen governance. And it does not serve children. If the board were to adopt a mindset of partnership, trust, and positive leadership, GDOE could accelerate progress at a remarkable pace. We already have the people. We already have the will. What we need is alignment, not accusation. A hopeful goodbye Despite the challenges, I leave this position with optimism and deep appreciation. Guam is a place of extraordinary generosity and spirit. Your children are bright, curious, capable, and worthy of the very best that this community can offer. To the students of Guam: You are the future of this island. Never doubt your worth or your potential. To the parents and guardians: Your engagement matters. Please continue asking questions, advocating, and partnering with your schools. To the GDOE staff: Your work has been honorable. You showed up every day with heart and purpose. You made a difference and I am proud of you. To this beautiful island: Thank you for welcoming me back, for trusting me with your children, and for reminding me every day why public education is a calling and not just a career. The future of Guams schools is unwritten and full of possibility. With proper funding, collaborative leadership, and a firm commitment to public education, GDOE can become not only a compliant system, but an exemplary one. Not just functional, but excellent. My hope for Guam is simple. Protect your public schools. Fight for them. Strengthen them. They are the foundation of opportunity for every child and the cornerstone of the islands future. Para i futuro, para i famaguon, para i isla-ta. For the future, for the children, for our island. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code Haiti - FLASH : Countries pledge up to 7,500 troops to the GSF in Haiti On Friday, December 19, at a press conference in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, regarding the Gang Supression Force (GSGF) approved by the Security Council (Resolution 2793), which provides for a force of 5,500 troops ( https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45891-haiti-flash-the-security-council-has-voted-for-the-new-gang-repression-force.html ), stated : "[...] We already have pledges of up to 7,500 forces from a variety of countries. We've seen donors step up to fund that effort [...]" far exceeding the initial targets. It should be noted that the United States and Canada held a closed-door donor conference for the Gang Supression Force at the United Nations on December 9. They stated in a press release that 18 participants had pledged to provide personnel, resources, and technical support. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46411-haiti-flash-18-countries-ready-to-deploy-security-forces-to-haiti.html Should be noted that gangs, heavily equipped with smuggled weapons primarily from the United States, have seized control of more than 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and are expanding their territory into the provinces, in a conflict that has forced 1.4 million people to flee their homes and is fueling a severe humanitarian and food crisis. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46411-haiti-flash-18-countries-ready-to-deploy-security-forces-to-haiti.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46354-haiti-politic-marco-rubio-urges-nations-to-support-the-gsf.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45891-haiti-flash-the-security-council-has-voted-for-the-new-gang-repression-force.html S/ HaitiLibre Photo: source in GUR In Russias Volgograd region, the Central Asia-Center main gas pipeline failed, reportedly due to "soil subsidence," sources in the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine told Interfax-Ukraine. "According to the traditional version for Russia, the multi-kilometer Soviet pipe, which for years transported gas from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, could not withstand the force of gravity. Especially near the settlement of Romanovka in Olkhovsky district of Volgograd region Despite the insignificance of the incident, a few hours before the accident, emergency and special services vehicles were massively pulled to the scene. Probably to record another unique natural phenomenon: the soil, which for some reason selectively subsides under the strategic gas infrastructure," the source said. Currently, gas transportation along this route has been suspended for an indefinite period. However, it is noted that the real reason for the "sudden geological incident" can be seen in exclusive photos obtained by our special correspondents. According to information, the Central Asia-Center gas pipeline is a key element of the system through which Russia has imported up to 12 billion cubic meters of gas per year for years. After 2022, Moscow, despite loud statements about "energy independence," used this pipe in reverse schemes and even purchased gas from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to patch up local deficits. "The Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reports that geological processes on the territory of Russia have a tendency to further develop, especially near the facilities that finance the war against Ukraine. There will be fair retribution for every war crime against the Ukrainian people," according to the statement. The attack hit a school building in the Tuffah neighbourhood, east of Gaza City, which had been converted into a shelter for families displaced by earlier fighting. Witnesses said the strike occurred while civilians were gathered inside the building. Footage from the scene showed wounded civilians being carried away amid extensive damage to the structure. Israeli shelling struck a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza City on Friday, killing at least six people and injuring several others, according to Palestinian medical sources and local authorities. The Israeli military confirmed it carried out the strike, saying its forces fired at what it described as suspects during an operational activity. In a brief statement, the army said harm had been caused to uninvolved individuals and that the incident was under review. The strike took place amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza that has been in force since October. Palestinian officials and humanitarian organisations have accused Israel of repeated violations of the truce through air strikes and shelling across the enclave. The latest attack came as United Nations agencies warned that Gazas humanitarian situation remains severe, despite signs of limited improvement in food availability since the ceasefire began. According to a new assessment by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, no areas of Gaza are currently classified as being in famine. However, more than 100,000 people were still experiencing catastrophic levels of food insecurity last month, while around half a million remained in emergency conditions. The situation remains highly fragile, the IPC said, warning that renewed hostilities or restrictions on aid could push the entire Gaza Strip back towards famine by mid-2026. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, said 1.6 million people across Gaza continue to face acute food insecurity. Gaza remains trapped in a man-made hunger crisis, said Philippe Lazzarini, Unrwas commissioner-general, adding that recent gains could quickly be reversed without sustained humanitarian access. UN agencies including the FAO, WFP, WHO and UNICEF said restrictions on imports and access, combined with funding shortages, continue to undermine aid operations. They warned that children, pregnant women and displaced families remain at high risk of malnutrition as winter conditions worsen. Israel rejected the IPC findings, with its foreign ministry calling the report deliberately distorted. COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing aid entry, said food deliveries exceeded levels required by the UN and blamed distribution problems inside Gaza. Meanwhile, the United Nations condemned the United States for imposing sanctions on two judges from the International Criminal Court (ICC) who are involved in the investigation of alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza. The judges had recently rejected an Israeli attempt to block the probe, allowing it to move forward. The UN described the sanctions as an attack on the independence of the judiciary. The U.S. has already sanctioned nine ICC judges and prosecutors over their involvement in cases related to Israel. In Washington, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the implementation of later phases of the Gaza ceasefire could extend well beyond the current US administration. He reiterated that Hamas must no longer be capable of threatening Israel, framing that condition as central to any lasting settlement. Talks involving the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye continued over the future governance of Gaza and the next phase of the ceasefire. Hamas officials said any progress must include an end to Israeli ceasefire violations and a significant increase in humanitarian aid. The IPC warned that more than 730,000 people remain displaced across Gaza, with livelihoods destroyed and most agricultural land damaged or inaccessible. It said that without consistent humanitarian and commercial access, food insecurity would remain entrenched. Source: Al Jazeera, BBC HT Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that about GBP 15 billion of Russian assets were frozen in London, but the current British government did not use this resource to support Ukraine. "I am afraid Putin will be quietly pleased with the results of the European Council. He has effectively intimidated the EU and the UK into dropping an excellent plan to fund Ukraine. The reparations loan would have liberated huge sums from Putins frozen assets in a way that was morally and legally watertight. It would have given Ukrainians the ability to defend themselves for years to come," he said on the X social network. Johnson said Britain had about GBP 15 billion of Russian assets in London. "And yet [Prime Minister Keir] Starmer has said nothing. We could have led the campaign. We have sat on the sidelines. It is not too late for us to act," the British politician believes. According to him, at the moment the EU loan plan of EUR 90 billion is better than nothing, but still significantly inferior to it. "Chancellor Merz of Germany and Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission deserve congratulations for their leadership, and their willingness to stand up to Putin. It is a great shame that they were ultimately thwarted by other EU countries including, shamefully, some countries who were actually invaded by Russia in the last century," he said. Photo: President's Office / www.president.gov.ua Marshal of the Polish Sejm Wodzimierz Czarzasty, during a meeting on Friday with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in particular, offered the possibility of logistical and legal assistance from the Polish side in organizing the upcoming elections in Ukraine both presidential and parliamentary, the PAP agency said. "Im not talking about sending observers, but about legal assistance, logistical assistance. Remember that there are currently 2 million Ukrainians living in Poland, and in Europe, in particular, another 8 million, and this is a huge task," Czarzasty said at a briefing after the meeting. The marshal added that the proposal was "very warmly received" and a special working group will be created. He also said he had invited Zelenskyy to deliver a speech in the Sejm. He added that the invitation had been accepted and a date for the speech would be set. In turn, the President of Ukraine invited Czarzasty to visit Ukraine in February next year, on the anniversary of the start of Russias full-scale war against Ukraine. Turkiyes Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum met with Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijans Special Envoy on Climate Change and President of COP29. According to Azernews, the meeting held in Istanbul was attended by Mukhtar Babayev and his accompanying delegation. The discussion focused on combating climate change, international cooperation, and upcoming COP processes. Minister Murat Kurum shared on his social media account: We met in Istanbul with Mukhtar Babayev, President of COP29 and Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on climate issues, along with his accompanying delegation. We held consultations ahead of COP31, for which we will serve as chair and host. I thank the Azerbaijani delegation for their courteous visit and productive meeting. The meeting was of significant importance for further strengthening cooperation in the field of climate and received extensive coverage in the Turkish media. Photo: The Presidential Office of Ukraine / www.president.gov.ua President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the signing of an agreement with Portugal on partnership in the production of naval drones. "Today there is a very important joint statement by Ukraine and Portugal, we just signed it on establishing a partnership for the production of naval drones. This is one of the most promising areas in defense work now. It is important that there were results. In all parts of our Europe there must be enough strength to counteract any threats and modern drones are a real tool of protection," Zelenskyy said at a joint press conference with Portuguese Prime Minister Luiz Montenegro on Saturday in Kyiv. According to the head of the Ukrainian state, Russia is again trying to block the coastal regions. "We will counteract this and we will be grateful to all partners for their support, for their help in this too," he said. Zelenskyy also thanked Portugal for its contribution to the initiative for the purchase of U.S. weapons for Ukraine within Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL). Photo: President's Office / www.president.gov.ua The United States can ensure the security of elections in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "Security is something we have already talked about with our American partners, they have raised this issue. I think if they raise it, it means they know how to help us ensure safe elections this could, first of all, be a ceasefire, or an end to the war, or a ceasefire at least for the duration of the elections," Zelensky said at a joint press conference with Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro on Saturday in Kyiv. The president also stressed the importance of voting in the elections for servicemen who defend the state. In addition, he raised the issue of the possibility of voting for Ukrainians who are abroad: "those who are not in Ukraine can come, if it is safe, or abroad." "Of course, in todays situation, if or when we reach the elections, there will be a certain complication due to the number of Ukrainians abroad. But there are all the tasks for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for this. They have already started to deal with this, they have contacts with our partners abroad. To do this, we need to approach the issue of branching out possible infrastructure abroad so that it is comfortable for voting. And in any case, citizens of Ukraine, I believe that when there is a proper security situation, and elections can only be held when there is security for their holding, then I think, a large number of Ukrainians from abroad will come to Ukraine," Zelenskyy said. The president stated the impossibility of organizing elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, which are controlled by Russia, given the widespread practice in Russia itself of falsifying the results of the elections. "Elections cannot break out in the territories not controlled by Ukraine, temporarily occupied, because it is clear how they will be held. Russia it first talks about the result, even of its internal elections, and then they already count the votes," Zelenskyy said. Photo: @luismontenegro Facebook Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has said that Portugal will be able to participate in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, but only after the war ends and such a mandate is not yet foreseen. Montenegro said both the EU and Portugal shared the view that they did not wish to be present in Ukraine during the war, but that Portugal was part of the Coalition of the Willing and would continue to take part in peacekeeping operations. He noted that, within a peacekeeping framework and under security guarantees, NATO could deploy forces in Ukraine together with Portuguese troops and, for example, alongside Latvia and Lithuania to support peacekeeping efforts and provide security. He said Portugal would always be ready to support and join peacekeeping and security missions, even though such participation was not currently envisaged. Once the issue was formally considered, he said, Portugal would be able to take part. He added that Portugal was already contributing to the development of underwater drones and could, in the future, also participate in land operations aimed at strengthening Ukraines security, which he described as a national responsibility. Zelenskyy, in turn, expressed gratitude to the head of the Portuguese government for the decision to participate in the Coalition of the Willing. "But this will work only after the ceasefire comes, or when this war ends. So not now," he said. "And, of course, now I cannot share all the details of the Coalition of the Willing, but we know what we can count on. Under the leadership of Britain and France, in the Coalition of the Willing, we will have brigades, we will have countries that support security, at sea, some of them will be in the sky with planes, etc. But I think it is a little early to say that," Zelenskyy added. No peace deal at moment, it may not be; it is when it exists not only on paper, but when war stopped Zelenskyy Photo: President's Office / www.president.gov.ua An agreement to end the war is valid when it exists not only on paper, but is actually implemented, and currently there is no such agreement, there is a possibility that it will not be, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. "Peace is better than war, but not at any price, because we have already paid a high price. For us, a just, strong peace is important, so that it cannot be violated by another desire of Putin or another Putin. It is very important that there are strong security guarantees for this, to make it impossible even the thought and physical possibility of coming to us with aggression. This should not be just an agreement good, bad the question is for whom is it good, for whom is it bad? I do not want to characterize it. It may not be, it is not there today, there is no agreement today. It is there when it is not only on paper, written in letters, but the war is stopped," Zelenskyy said at a joint press conference with Portuguese Prime Minister Luiz Montenegro on Saturday in Kyiv. He also gave the example of the Budapest Memorandum. "This agreement did not protect us. So, I do not think that it is strong or effective. Therefore, for me, the agreement is not just a signing," the president said. "The agreement, by the way, has several agreements, several documents, security guarantees for the United States and Europeans, which must be voted on, supported in Congress. And we also need to know in detail what will happen if Moscow comes with aggression Americans, Europeans, how will I insure Ukrainians, how will partners insure them?... I believe that the agreement should be fair and effective for Ukraine," Zelenskyy said. SW China's ancient town revitalized through preservation Xinhua) 09:20, December 20, 2025 Tourists visit Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 12, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Photo by Wang Jun/Xinhua) Kids play in a family inn in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) Zhai Zhigang, a restaurant owner, serves the guests in his restaurant in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) An aerial drone photo shows a view of Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Tourists pose for photos in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Wu Di) A villager makes handicrafts with gourds in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua) Gou Huan, an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of traditional Chinese storytelling, performs in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) Yang Mo, a teahouse owner, works in a teahouse in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) Gou Huan, an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of traditional Chinese storytelling, performs in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) Yang Mo, a teahouse owner, prepares tea drink in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) Rao Bin, a collector of bricks of Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-220 A.D.), makes rubbings of a brick at his home in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) Kids play under ginkgo trees in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) This photo shows a night view in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 12, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Photo by Wang Jun/Xinhua) Gou Huan, an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of traditional Chinese storytelling, performs in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) This photo shows a view in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Kou Jie) Chinese scholarship awarded to Ethiopians to promote education, mutual understanding Xinhua) 09:34, December 20, 2025 Participants of the 2025 China-Ethiopia Friendship Award pose for a group photo in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, Dec. 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Fangqiang) ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 China-Ethiopia Friendship Award ceremony was held Friday in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, honoring more than 40 Ethiopian students and researchers dedicated to the study and promotion of Chinese language and China-Ethiopia friendship. Speaking at the event, Samuel Kifle, president of the Addis Ababa University (AAU), said the award is a testament to a continued commitment of the Chinese government to improving the quality of education in Ethiopia through enhancing the capacity and skills of local researchers and Chinese language learners. "With this support, we have had our students dispatched to China to study in various levels, and also our researchers get the necessary support to pursue their PhD as well as conduct their research. But above all, this support has helped Addis Ababa University strengthen its initial capacity to improve the quality of education in many aspects," Kifle said. Recalling that Ethiopia and China have witnessed growing political, diplomatic, cultural, trade, investment, and social collaborations, the president said strengthening friendship with China is not a "matter of choice but a wise decision." Noting that China and Ethiopia have already established all-weather strategic partnership, Sun Mingxi, charge d'affaires at the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, said the China-Ethiopia Friendship Award is meant to help Ethiopians gain a deeper understanding of China and study China-Ethiopia relations. "Learning Chinese, and studying China and China-Ethiopia relations help better understand China's distinctive major-country diplomacy and better promote our cooperation, in a bid to safeguard the common interests of the Global South," he said. Ekram Ahmed, one of the award recipients, said the scholarship provides him and his fellow students with an opportunity to delve deep into China, a country they had previously only known through television, movies and social media. "Now we have developed a deeper understanding of China's beautiful culture, advanced technology and impressive developmental achievements," said Ahmed, who is also a Chinese language student at the Confucius Institute of the AAU. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Kou Jie) Barcelona is hosting a retrospective dedicated to the American artist, who was a pioneer of street photography and color. She transformed the humblest settings into compositions that are full of meaning and visual poetry In the monograph titled Crosstown (2001), Francine Prose writes that looking at a photograph by Helen Levitt (1913-2009) is like taking off your sunglasses, or cleaning your spectacles, or just blinking. The images, indeed, seem to be captured in the blink of an eye; in an instant destined to disappear in a few seconds, making us aware of how quickly everything changes. Rarely simple and natural, they endure through their serene and unadorned honesty, poised between documentary and visual poetry. New York, circa 1938, by Helen Levitt. Film Documents LLC, courtesy of Zander Galerie, Cologne Helen Levitt New York (1976), by Helen Levitt. Film Documents LLC, courtesy of Zander Galerie, Cologne Helen Levitt New York, [113th Street] (circa 1938), de Helen Lewitt. Film Documents LLC, cortesia Zander Galerie, Cologne Helen Levitt New York, [113th Street], circa 1938, by Helen Levitt. Film Documents LLC, courtesy of Zander Galerie, Cologne Helen Levitt Mexico City (1941), by Helen Levitt. Film Documents LLC, courtesy of Zander Galerie, Cologne Helen Levitt New York (1939), by Helen Levitt. Film Documents LLC, courtesy of Zander Galerie, Cologne Helen Levitt New York (1939), by Helen Levitt. Film Documents LLC, courtesy of Zander Galerie, Cologne Helen Levitt New York (1940), by Helen Levitt. Film Documents LLC, courtesy of Zander Galerie, Cologne Helen Levitt New York (1942), by Helen Levitt. Film Documents LLC, courtesy of Zander Galerie, Cologne Helen Levitt New York (1940), by Helen Levitt. Film Documents LLC, courtesy of Zander Galerie, Cologne Helen Levitt It was between the late 1930s and early 1940s that the American photographer produced most of the images that made her famous. She focused her gaze on immigrant neighborhoods the most populated and also the poorest in the city where much of life unfolded outdoors: on doorsteps and sidewalks in Spanish Harlem, the Lower East Side, Hells Kitchen and the East Bronx, as well as in her own borough, Brooklyn. Her photographs depict the streets as a theater of the everyday. And yet, they capture urban life in its most invisible and elusive flow, freezing the gestures and movements of those who inhabit the city. Her images speak of the strength and dignity of humankind, of grace in the face of adversity, in a way that is both explicit and mysterious. They offer enigmas that impact the viewer, without the need for an explicit story. Such is the case with the photograph titled New York [113th Street], taken circa 1938: it features an urban Halloween scene in a gloomy, neglected courtyard, where a masked child climbs a tree trunk, while another leans on its pronounced curve. Rooted in realism, Levitt seems to consciously construct a fictional version of the world that she photographs, transforming everyday life into a composition laden with meaning. New York (1939), by Helen Levitt. Film Documents LLC, courtesy of Zander Galerie, Cologne Helen Levitt The Halloween image is prominently featured in the Barcelona retrospective that the Mapfre Foundation has dedicated to the American photographer. Curated by Joshua Chuang, it can be seen at the KBR Photography Center in Barcelona until February 1, 2026. The retrospective will later travel to Madrid. The exhibition spans seven decades of Levitts work: from her early images dedicated to the victims of the Great Depression, to shots that record the drawings and messages scribbled by children in chalk (Levitt paid attention to graffiti when no one else did). It also touches on photographs taken during her trip to Mexico the only time she left New York and culminates with her later work in color, which established her as a pioneer. The clandestine portraits that she took on the subway, along with her powerful audiovisual work, are also highlighted. Imbued with empathy and a subversive sense of humor, Levitts work reminds us that seeing is a creative act that involves both concealing and revealing. The real world possesses a magic comparable to that of any work of fiction, and the artists task is to find meaning in everyday life and make it visible to others. This was clear when she photographed a wall, where a doodle resembles a button. Next to the image, the text reads, button to a secret passage, a metaphor that inevitably alludes to the photographic medium. Always elusive, when asked what was happening in her images, the artist would usually reply: Only what you see. She allowed her work to speak for itself. It has been said that Levitt was the first American photographer to understand the essence of Henri Cartier-Bressons photography and put it into practice. He made me ambitious, the photographer acknowledged, when asked about the Frenchman. She befriended photojournalist Walker Evans, who involved her in some of his projects, while also introducing her to the writer James Agee and the painter and art historian Janice Loeb. Alongside Agree and Loeb, she made In the Street (1948), a silent film shot in Spanish Harlem with a portable 16mm camera. The photographer, who had apprenticed with Helen van Dongen on the editing of the documentary The Spanish Earth (1937), was in charge of editing the footage of the New York City-based short. Agee wrote the opening text: There, unaware and unnoticed, every human is a poet, a masker, a warrior, a dancer. This is the beginning, before the film gives way to a hypnotic and tender portrait of street life. The three artists would later work together on the documentary titled The Quiet One (1948), directed by Sidney Meyers and nominated for an Oscar. In this production, Levitt served as director of photography. New York (1976), by Helen Levitt. Film Documents LLC, courtesy of Zander Galerie, Cologne Helen Levitt Between 1948 and the late 1950s, the artist dedicated herself exclusively to film. And, when she returned to photography, it was as a pioneer of color. She once again roamed the streets to capture that intimate urban choreography, without intrusion. In 1970, a thief broke into her apartment and stole almost all of her color negatives and prints. However, despite this setback, she was able to renew her enthusiasm for her craft. She was so in tune with the streets, so elegant in her gestures, that she became invisible, instantly becoming part of the neighborhood, as if she had lived there all her life, writes the American artist Joel Sternfeld, in the catalog accompanying the exhibition. Her wardrobe chosen with simplicity as its guiding principle allowed her to fit into any [borough]. Her ability to blend into the street granted her the extra time she needed to compose her color shots, which is much more demanding than [photographing] in black-and-white. Levitts photographs continue to speak to us today with the same intensity. In a century marked by speed and visual overproduction, her body of work continues to challenge our way of seeing. It does this through its patient attention, its refusal to emphasize and its confidence that the essential unfolds right in front of us. Her photographs dont seek to explain or correct the world, but simply to observe it, with a mixture of curiosity, respect and wonder. Helen Levitt. KBR Photography Center, Mapfre Foundation, Barcelona. Until February 1, 2026. The remains of hundreds of soldiers have yet to be returned to the country, and many claim they have not received the compensation promised by Kyiv The last time Marta Sarmiento spoke to her husband was on a Friday. He had joined the Ukrainian army to fight in the war against Russia, drawn, like so many others, by the lucrative salaries. That day, Ricardo Velasquez told her he was going on a mission to the front lines. Worry immediately set in. I cried all weekend, went to Mass, and felt terrible, she says. Her feeling that something bad had happened was confirmed on Monday: he was dead. A Russian drone attacked him as he tried to escape. More than nine months have passed since then. Marta was able to confirm Ricardos death in March through the testimony of a comrade and a Russian Telegram channel that announces casualties on the opposing side. Despite this, he is officially listed as missing, yet she continues to receive his salary. To resolve her doubts, she traveled to Ukraine in June. She spent approximately $4,000 seeking answers, but returned with even more questions. Without a death certificate, we face many problems here in Colombia. The banks call us constantly, the authorities wont leave us alone. Even though we know hes dead, as far as the system is concerned, hes still alive, she says from Santa Marta, where she lives with her 12-year-old daughter. The human aspect is another agonizing one: Without a burial, the grieving process is much harder. Several commanders have told me its very likely Ill never recover his body. Red Cross officials told her something similar when she went to Ukraine; that it would be a process that would take years. Ricardo Velasquez, in Ukraine. CORTESIA Ricardo Velasquez and comrades. CORTESIA Message on a Russian Telegram channel announcing Ricardo's death. CORTESIA Martas situation is escalating as the months of a war that began in February 2022 drag on, a war with no end in sight. Between 2,000 and 3,000 Colombians have volunteered to fight in the Ukrainian army, according to various estimates. The Foreign Ministry acknowledges that at least 300 Colombians have died, but the number is much higher, according to their families, if those who are still missing are included, as their bodies have not been recovered in Russian-controlled territory. Marta now volunteers with an organization called The Voice of Those Who Are No Longer Here, which represents up to 250 families who, after confirming officially or unofficially the deaths of their loved ones, have begun demanding the repatriation of their bodies and the aid promised by the government led by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to foreign volunteers. In early December, several of them demonstrated in downtown Bogota to urge the Foreign Ministry to obtain answers from Kyiv. EL PAIS has spoken with seven families of Colombian fighters in the Ukrainian army who have died in recent months. The accounts from all the sources almost always women have several points in common: the recruits usually have military experience in Colombia and are lured by offers of high salaries from the Ukrainian authorities. They learn about the opportunity through social media, mainly TikTok, and soon go to war. Some are better prepared than others: some buy life insurance in case of death in the conflict and leave their assets in their partners names to avoid bureaucratic problems. Many of them are fathers. Jose Elkin Valdes fought for more than two years in Ukraine. He had been a soldier in the Colombian Special Forces and was retired when he decided to join the war. His family says he wasnt motivated by money, but by combat. Being a soldier was all he knew. He joined the army at 18. When he left, he was 41, explains his ex-wife, Yaderly Tique. They have a son, Alejandro, a law student. Jose Elkin Valdes in Ukraine. CORTESIA Jose Elkin Valdes' grave, in Kyiv. CORTESIA The soldier was in constant contact with them until mid-June when he stopped responding to messages. They learned, through a fellow soldier, that he had been shot in the head. [The Ukraine] war is a slaughterhouse for foreigners. In 10 years, no one will remember my father. Those who leave become a number in a statistic. Theyll be just another number on a commemorative plaque, not even a statue. And I ask myself: what for? So many homes are destroyed, and theres no end in sight, laments young Alejandro through tears. This familys case is unique. Jose Elkin married another woman before going to Ukraine, and she is the one who received the firsthand information. She was the only one who traveled to Ukraine for the burial, because the body was recovered. She video-called us when they opened the coffin, and I saw him directly, says Alejandro, who doesnt know when he will be able to visit his fathers grave, much less if he will ever be able to bring him back to Colombia. Despite being his son, he hasnt received a single peso in compensation for Jose Elkins death. Yaderly Tique and her son, Alejandro Valdes, in Bogota, on December 12. Mariano Vimos The Ukrainian embassy in Lima, which also serves Colombia, stated in a written response that in the event of death in combat, family members are entitled to a one-time financial compensation. The amount, established by law, is approximately $3,500 per month, paid in about 80 installments. The embassy acknowledges that there are reasons why the disbursement may be delayed or not processed. In the overwhelming majority of cases, it adds, this is due to a lack of documentation, although there are other exceptions. For example, a woman who lived in a common-law relationship with the deceased will not be compensated, because this type of relationship is not recognized in Ukraine. Furthermore, the diplomatic mission explains that the category of missing person prevails if the body has not been recovered and its identity verified with DNA, even if there are photos, videos, or testimonies of a death. Such bodies may be recovered later, when the front lines shift. The challenge is that no one in the world knows when recovery and identification might occur. Sometimes it takes days. Sometimes months. It can take several years. Even today, bodies from World War II are still being found in Europe. Angelica Moraless case is one of the few success stories, if receiving a brother in a coffin can be called that. The body of Fernando Morales, who died aged 30, arrived in Colombia last week. His funeral was held on December 14. Angelica says he went to Ukraine at the end of August and she didnt hear from him until October 30. As in many other cases, she confirmed, through the testimony of a comrade, that her brother had died after being attacked by a drone while in the trenches. Having died in territory controlled by Kyiv, it was easier to identify and repatriate the body. In a letter reviewed by this newspaper, the Colombian Consulate in Warsaw, Poland, confirms that Fernando died on November 9. The document requested authorization to hire a funeral home to transport the deceased and perform an autopsy. The family also had to specify whether they wanted to receive the body or the ashes. They now treasure a video showing the arrival of the coffin in Colombia, wrapped in black plastic. My other brother had to do the identification. Fernandos face wasnt the same anymore, so we confirmed it was him by his tattoos and a scar he had on his jaw. Edisson Fernando Morales, in Ukraine. CORTESIA Angelica says her family is fortunate amid so much tragedy. You see so many desperate families trying to bring their loved ones home, and many cant. Having the body and having it buried helps bring closure. Several Colombians who have survived the war confirm the veracity of the common elements in these accounts. One of them states that the Ukrainian army pays more to recruits who choose to go to the front lines, and that this is why so many foreigners have died. This situation has already put Colombia on alert. Congress approved a bill to prohibit mercenary activity because many travel as private contractors. President Gustavo Petro still needs to approve it for it to become law, but this legislation does not cover those who volunteer for the national army of another state, as is the case in most instances in Ukraine. On social media, primarily TikTok, videos are posted daily of Colombian fighters pleading with their government for rescue. These videos appear as the conflict drags on. Last Saturday, the Russian army announced it had eliminated a unit of Colombians in the border region of Kharkiv. Marta says her husband was aware of the risks involved in enlisting. He left me life insurance and his belongings in my name. But we know of many cases of farming or Indigenous families who werent aware of the risks and now have no way of even finding out that their sons have died, she points out. Although she understands that her grief will be long, she feels even more sorrow for her daughter: She doesnt talk about it, but her psychologist tells me that one day that pain will erupt. Its inevitable. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition About 4,000 years ago, an intense shower of these objects fell in the north of the country, turning it into a reserve of great astronomical and spiritual value for the Indigenous Moqoit people In a remote area of northern Argentina, between the provinces of Chaco and Santiago del Estero, the land is dotted with dozens of depressions. The cause is natural, but not exactly from planet Earth. The culprits are meteorites, or as the Indigenous Moqoit (Mocovi) people call them, gifts from the sky. The Piguem Nonaxa (Campo del Cielo, or Field of the Sky) Reserve is a provincial park in the town of Gancedo, Chaco. It is a protected area within a larger zone where, more than 4,000 years ago, a giant meteor, believed to have weighed about 800 tons roughly the weight of five blue whales fell. Upon entering the atmosphere, it broke apart, causing a meteor shower that dispersed over an area approximately 100 kilometers long and three kilometers wide (62 x 1.86 miles). Campo del Cielo is one of the largest known impact craters on Earth. It contains some of the worlds largest discovered fragments, such as Chaco, which weighs 37 tons, measures 2.20 meters at its tallest point, and is the second-largest meteorite on the planet. Also located there is Gancedo, the third-largest, weighing 28 tons, as recorded by scientists in 2016. However, the Moqoit people knew about these iron and nickel objects long before that. Caressing meteorites Gabino Mocovi walks slowly among the meteorites. Each time he passes near one, he caresses it with love and respect. They have a very important meaning, he says as he strolls on a mild October afternoon in the reserve. They are gifts from the sky of Lapilalaxachi, or the grandfather, a group of stars known in academic astronomy as the Pleiades. Through the meteorites, it connects with us as protection, he explains. Mocovi is 30 years old and a Nauecqataxanaq (young Moqoit guide) who, along with 10 other members of the community, welcomes tourists, students, and those curious about meteorites. We want to convey what Campo del Cielo is from our worldview. Not just from the scientific side, he says. For thousands of years, this was a place of pilgrimage and ritual for the Moqoit. Meteorites are part of their identity. They even used them to make tools, such as bolas, a traditional weapon for hunting. Many of the locations of these objects were kept secret for generations. The elders believed that meteorites were buried underground and would emerge to be found by the chosen one, Mocovi adds. In the 1960s, the American scientist William Cassidy led an expedition and found several meteorites weighing thousands of kilograms, such as the Chaco. This massive metal object and its crater are located within the reserve, meters from an interpretation center that houses at least 300 meteorites from the area. Gabino Mocovi poses with the meteorite 'Chaco.' AnaliaLlorente The expedition, and others that followed, brought explanations and new hypotheses about these objects and put Campo del Cielo on the world astronomical map. But, at the same time, the meteorites began to come under serious threat. Black market Examples of Campo del Cielo meteorite trafficking abound. On the black market, they fetch thousands of dollars, depending on size and weight. Last July, the U.S. television show Pawn Stars showed a man trying to sell a 20-kilogram meteorite from Campo del Cielo for $7,000. Meteorites are protected by provincial and national laws, but experts say these are insufficient. More enforcement is needed. Its a threat that goes beyond science. For the Moqoit, Campo del Cielo is an energetic space. The elders said that this sacred place has energies that can renew you spiritually. Thats what happens to me and all my companions, says Mocovi. As he gazes at the night sky, the guide points to a cluster of stars. There is Lapilalaxachi, the grandfather who protects the sky and the Earth. He sent the meteorites as protection. And the Moqoit people understand this powerful message. That is why we must care for and respect the meteorites. Astronomer and anthropologist Alejandro Lopez explains that the Moqoit people believe that the cosmos, somewhat like Star Trek, is full of human and non-human societies. The very structure of the universe is determined by the actions and interests of these societies. For almost 30 years, he has specialized in ethnoastronomy, primarily that of the Indigenous peoples of Chaco and the processes of change in the history of their astronomical practices. From the Moqoit point of view, when one relates to the cosmos, one does not only do so with the sky, but also with the forest, with the water... You are not simply interacting with objects, but rather you are essentially reading a map of intentions, he explains. Protection for the future The arrival of scientists at Campo del Cielo, the worldwide awareness of this place, and the smuggling of meteorites opened the door to new conversations among the Moqoit. It was decided that young people were the ones who had to divulge the culture and the secret of the meteorites they had protected for millennia. When the training process for the young guides was underway, it was very important to have the authorization and participation of elders from the communities, explains Lopez, who participated in the training. A large part of that work consisted of negotiating what things were reasonable to put into words in the context of tourism and visits. And it wasnt so common to decide that young people would be talking about this topic. Mocovi explains that the elders interpreted this as meaning there had to be a new way of caring for the meteorites. Something had to change. They had to find the courage to speak out and share their perspective. If they spoke, it could be a new way of caring for and protecting the meteorites. Furthermore, he concludes that in this way, from now on, the meteorites will be protected by both cultures. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Speaker of Azerbaijans Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova met with a delegation led by Montenegros Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimovi? on December 20, Azernews reports, citing the Milli Majlis Press and Public Relations Department. During the meeting, the current state and future prospects of the friendly and partnership-based relations between Azerbaijan and Montenegro were discussed. Speaker Gafarova emphasized that the visit is of great importance for further strengthening the sincere relations and active political dialogue established between the two countries. The sides underlined the important role of high-level and top-level mutual visits in developing interstate relations and noted their significance in reviewing the bilateral agenda. In this context, attention was drawn to President Ilham Aliyevs official visit to Montenegro in 2013, as well as Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovi?s visit to Azerbaijan in November 2024 within the framework of COP29 and his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, which made a significant contribution to the development of friendly relations between the two countries. The meeting also addressed various aspects of the bilateral agenda, including cooperation in the fields of economy, tourism, investment, and other areas. It was noted that an active and constructive political dialogue creates new opportunities for expanding cooperation in other sectors as well. The importance of humanitarian and cultural cooperation as key factors bringing the two peoples closer was also highlighted. Parliamentary cooperation was emphasized as an essential component of bilateral relations, with special attention paid to the role of parliamentary diplomacy. Speaker Gafarova recalled with satisfaction her official visit to Montenegro in April 2024 and the high-level meetings held there, as well as visits by Montenegrin parliamentary speakers to Azerbaijan at different times. She stressed the importance of contacts between legislative bodies, reciprocal visits, and the activities of parliamentary friendship groups, noting their significant role in enhancing inter-parliamentary dialogue. The need to strengthen the exchange of legislative experience between ??????? committees and mutual support within international parliamentary organizations was also underscored. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovi? stated that Montenegro attaches great importance to developing relations with Azerbaijan and highly values the close political dialogue between the two countries. He expressed gratitude for the Speakers visit to Montenegro last year, noting its contribution to the development of bilateral ties. Ibrahimovi? also noted that Azerbaijan was Montenegros largest investor in 2019 and emphasized the special role of tourism in strengthening interstate relations. He highlighted the broad potential for deepening cooperation in this area. This undated file photo shows baby care rooms separately for dads and moms at a shopping center in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua) SHENZHEN, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- In a gradual revolution of public parenting spaces, a new facility -- the "Father-and-Baby Room" is popping up in shopping malls across Chinese cities, signaling a shift toward a more equitable distribution of childcare responsibilities. At a shopping center in the south Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen, the "super daddy zone" is easily identifiable by a glowing blue bottle logo. Soundproof magnetic doors ensure privacy, while illustrated guides on the walls demonstrate how to prepare formula and hold an infant. Fathers are often spotted pushing strollers to take care of their babies in this space. Nearby, a "Men's Parenting Room" sits beside a "Women's Parenting Room" at another mall in Shenzhen, both equally equipped with diaper-changing stations, sinks with hot and cold water, and formula-preparing areas. "To meet customers' needs, we've set up such baby care rooms for both dads and moms on two different floors. It encourages fathers to be more involved in taking care of the baby," a mall staff member explained. The key difference from traditional mother-and-baby rooms is the omission of private breastfeeding cubicles, focusing just on care, feeding, and rest functions. A more inclusive and practical trend, however, is merging the two into gender-neutral "family nursing rooms." Some establishments have re-branded the previous "Mother-and-Baby Rooms" as simply "Nursing Rooms," with clear zoning to separate breastfeeding areas from open washing and changing spaces. This allows fathers to assist with childcare while respecting the privacy of nursing mothers. Liu Xiao, a father who just changed his one-year-old daughter's diaper in one such room, expressed his approval for this space. "These facilities are very user-friendly and convenient. They actually influence our choice of where to shop," he said. "I believe the traditional idea that 'men work outside, women manage the home' is fading. Fathers should join in parenting. My daughter is very attached to me, and I find it very rewarding." This evolution mirrors profound changes in Chinese families' parenting concepts, said Ming Liang, executive director of the Department of Urbanization of China Development Institute, adding that such changes have reshaped fathers' role in parenting and pushed society toward a more balanced model of shared parenting. Traditionally, public parenting facilities in China were almost exclusively "Mother-and-Baby Rooms," designed to protect the privacy of breastfeeding women, often accompanied by "No Men Allowed" signs. However, as societal norms shift and family structures evolve, fathers are taking a more active role in child-rearing, particularly among the "post-90s" and "post-95s" generations who are now the primary childbearing demographic. This growing desire for shared responsibility has clashed with the reality of available facilities, according to Ming. Experts believe that the emergence of father-and-baby rooms fills this gap. Building a fertility-friendly society requires multi-dimensional support policies to ease family burdens and promote shared parenting. The transition from "Mother-and-Baby" to "Father-and-Baby" or just "Nursing" rooms signifies more than a name change. It marks a profound step in social progress, said Ming. This undated file photo shows the logo of a baby care room for dads at a shopping center in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua) KIEV, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Representatives of Europe will take part in peace negotiations between Ukraine and the United States on Friday, Ukraine's top peace negotiator Rustem Umerov said. "Today in the United States, together with Lieutenant General Andrii Hnatov, we will begin another round of consultations with the American side. At the invitation of the U.S. side, European partners are also involved in this format," Umerov wrote on social media. He added that the Ukrainian delegation has already held preliminary consultations with European representatives and is preparing for further discussions with the U.S. side. Umerov emphasized that the Ukrainian team remains committed to a constructive process and will act in line with the priorities set by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, including the need for reliable long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, addresses a national meeting on cultivating talent in the cultural sector, in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- A national meeting on cultivating talent in the cultural sector was held in Beijing on Saturday. Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, addressed the meeting. Participants stressed the need to develop a large, well-structured contingent of high-performing, dedicated, and innovative personnel in the cultural sector, in line with an arrangement adopted by the Party leadership at a key meeting in October. Participants also called for stronger top-level planning and novel measures to nurture more leading figures, community-level professionals and young creators in the sector. They highlighted the importance of specialists in emerging fields, including innovative forms of public-oriented literature and art, as well as cultural technology. A ceremony was also held to honor the performance of outstanding units and individuals in the country's publicity system. The meeting was chaired by senior legislator Tie Ning, with award decisions announced by State Councilor Shen Yiqin. Officials from central departments, publicity and cultural institutions, and universities attended the event, along with award recipients. Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attends a national meeting on cultivating talent in the cultural sector, in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) Tambourine, the global leader in hotel marketing technology, today announced the successful launch of a new website for Ted Turner Reserves, a collection of eco-conscious luxury destinations spanning over one million acres of preserved wilderness across the American Southwest. The website represents a major step forward in the brands ongoing effort to share its conservation mission and inspire responsible travel through immersive digital storytelling. Ted Turner Reserves encompasses four extraordinary properties in New MexicoVermejo, Sierra Grande, Armendaris, and Laddereach blending sustainable hospitality with the visionary legacy of founder Ted Turner. The new website captures that spirit through rich visuals, intuitive navigation, and meaningful narratives that invite visitors to experience the land, wildlife, and conservation work firsthand. Working with Ted Turner Reserves has been an incredible opportunity to help communicate a story that transcends travel. This project allowed us to merge design, technology, and emotion to reflect a brand that not only offers exceptional stays but also serves a larger mission: to protect and restore the natural world. Ali Sheikh, Associate Creative Director The new Ted Turner Reserves website stands as a testament to the power of storytelling in advancing environmental stewardship, inviting travelers to discover the beauty of the American Southwest and participate in the preservation of its wild places for generations to come. Our goal was to create a digital home that honors Ted Turners lifelong commitment to conservation. Tambourine helped us translate our mission into a visual and emotional journeyone that encourages guests to connect more deeply with nature and understand the impact of their stay. Jade McBride, President of Ted Turner Reserves Visit tedturnerreserves.com to explore the new website. About Ted Turner Reserves Ted Turner Reserves is a hospitality brand that is grounded in conservation with a mission to connect people with nature. With 1.1 million acres across three properties in New Mexico, Ted Turner Reserves includes three reserves (Vermejo, Armendaris, and Ladder) and one retreat (Sierra Grande). These properties provide an unparalleled experience for guests to visit and experience luxurious hospitality, outdoor activities, and unfettered access to nature. Guests also will have the opportunity to learn about renowned businessman, philanthropist, and environmentalist Ted Turners efforts to restore and preserve these properties and their native species and ecosystems. About Tambourine Tambourine is the global leader in hotel marketing technology, delivering integrated solutions that drive direct revenue and solve the industrys toughest commercial challenges. With a product suite spanning sales, marketing, revenue, and now reservations, the company is known for pairing best-in-class service with a design-led approachsolving complex problems with elegant, high-performing solutions. Trusted by hotel brands in 47 countries, Tambourine continues to set the standard for innovation and results in hospitality. Visit tambourine.com for more information. Hannah Trefry Director of Corporate Marketing View source Superintendent Michael Henault presented the award to Haze Brown. Superintendent's Award Presented to Wahconah High Senior Brown's parents Dan and Heather Brown pointed to Haze's drive, resilience and willingness to learn. DALTON, Mass. Wahconah Regional High School senior Haze Brown was recognized for their academic achievements and for making the school and community a more inclusive and connected place. During last week's School Committee meeting, Brown was presented with the Superintendent's Award for being a "changemaker" and embodying the spirit of academic excellence. The Certificate of Academic Excellence from the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents was presented by Superintendent Michael Henault. Only one student from each high school receives the award each year. "They have been a pillar of our academic community but equally as important, have used their voice, compassion, and leadership to make Wahconah and our wider community a better place," Henault said. Brown hopes to one day work in a lab, feeding their strong interest in scientific research and making a positive difference in the world. "I want to make a difference in the world, and I want to do good things and discover things. I want to lead a very natural, curious life and never let go of that child-like wonder I have," they said. Brown has applied to a range of prestigious universities including Yale, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, John Hopkins, and the University of Chicago. They have been an influential leader across multiple school and community initiatives including serving on the Principal Search Committee, Climate and Culture Committee, student government, and Wahconah's chapter of No Place for Hate, now named Changemakers for Good. Brown is also a rhythm guitarist in Wahconah's rock band Blood Type Blue and participates in Girls State, where they learned the importance of civic action. Central Berkshire Regional School District has shaped them with the opportunities and friends they have made while attending the district, they said. "I'm very grateful, and it's definitely played a big role in my life," Brown said. "What drives me is change. I always strive to make the best of myself and make the best of my environment and helping others and doing good and feeling conident in myself and where I am." This work and advocacy extends beyond the school walls into the community, including volunteering for Hinsdale's First Congregational Church and participation in the All Berkshire Dance Team, and as a teacher to younger dancers at Terpsichore Dance Center Additionally, they have spoken at public events, including delivering an address at the 2025 Dalton Memorial Day Parade. Brown's parents, Heather and Dan Brown, highlighted their drive, resilience, and willingness to keep learning and solve problems. "It's to be a good neighbor. If you see someone struggling, it's easier to do nothing, but it feels better to help other people and to connect with that person," the senior said. iciHaiti - Humanitarian : The UN launches an USD $880 million response plan for Haiti (2026) On Thursday, December 18, 2025, Nicole Kouassi, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), officially launched the 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti. Violence perpetrated by armed groups has forced 1.4 million people (as of September 2025), representing 12% of the population, to flee their homes. 69% of the displacement recorded between January and September 2025 occurred in the provinces, particularly in the Centre and Artibonite regions, indicating a deterioration in security beyond the capital. 5.7 million people suffer from severe food insecurity daily, placing Haiti among the top six hunger hotspots in the world. Basic services, including health and education, are subject to regular attacks and continue to close. "I am deeply concerned by the relentless cycle of violence and the extreme brutality that Haitians continue to endure [...] Every day, 27 women and girls suffer gender-based violence, most often rape, including gang rape. Armed actors forcibly displace thousands of innocent civilians, if they do not kill them, and destroy homes and critical infrastructure. Armed groups also forcibly recruit children and young people, who now make up as much as half of their ranks. With a budget of US$880 million, the Plan seeks to assist 4.2 million people who rely on life-saving humanitarian assistance. The 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan prioritizes urgent, multi-sector interventions in the departments of Ouest, Centre, and Artibonite, where armed violence and migrant deportations drive severe humanitarian needs. The response aims to reduce immediate risks to affected populations, stabilize households most impacted by repeated shocks, and restore access to essential services. In more stable areas of the Grand Sud and the Grand Nord, which host large numbers of internally displaced people, humanitarian partners will support local integration, ease pressure on host communities, and prevent social tensions, working closely with development actors. "I call on all humanitarian and development partners, donors, and the Haitian authorities to support the 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan, said Nicole Kouassi. Together, we can protect lives, uphold dignity, and ensure that hope remains possible for future generations in Haiti," emphasized Nicole Kouassi. HL/ HaitiLibre UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy said Friday that the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), known as MONUSCO, must retain its independence. MONUSCO is led by the UN and implements the mandate of the Security Council, and China supports MONUSCO in playing its role in promoting the peace process in the eastern DRC, said Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN. No country should, out of selfish interests, "customize" MONUSCO according to its own political agenda, Sun added. "The Security Council must uphold the independence, neutrality, and authority of MONUSCO, and adhere to the basic principles governing peacekeeping operations. Only in this way will MONUSCO gain the trust and support of all (UN) member states," said Sun in an explanation after the council unanimously adopted Resolution 2808 renewing MONUSCO's mandate for one year. Recently, the situation in the eastern DRC has taken a sharp turn for the worse. The March 23 Movement (M23) attacked and occupied Uvira, which China finds seriously concerning, he said. "We urge the M23 to implement the requirements of Security Council Resolution 2808, immediately withdraw from Uvira and other cities, (and) stop all military operations and further expansion," he added. The mediators should effectively fulfill their duties by using their influence on the M23 and promoting a prompt ceasefire on the ground. The deployment of MONUSCO should be adjusted in a timely manner in light of the situation on the ground to prevent a spillover of the conflict and maintain peace and stability in the eastern DRC and the broader region, said Sun. China firmly supports the DRC's efforts to uphold the country's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and supports the DRC in restoring governance and authority in the eastern region of the country at an early date, Sun said. He noted that China stands ready to work with all parties to make greater contributions to peace and stability in the eastern DRC. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice At least three people were killed and 11 others injured after a man, wielding a knife and smoke bombs, went on an attacking spree in Taipei on Friday, police said. The suspect later fell to death from the sixth floor of a department store building during a police chase, according to Taiwans national news agency. Authorities said the suspect, identified as a 27-year-old man named Chang Wen, threw smoke granades near the underground exit of the Taipei main metro station and attacked people on the way to the next Zhongshan station in a deliberate act. open image in gallery Taiwan police cordoned off the scene after a knife attack ( AP ) Video footage aired on local Taiwanese news networks shows the suspect, wearing a gas mask and clad in black, dropping at least two smoke grenades at the Taipei Main metro station. He then went north to a popular shopping district, throwing smoke grenades and stabbing people on the first and fourth floors of a department store, according to local news reports. A 57-year-old man tried to stop the attacker at the metro stations exit but was fatally wounded, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an told local media. The wound was a penetrating injury about five centimetres in length caused by a sharp object that reached from the right lung to the left atrium, local media reported, citing the National Taiwan University Hospital. Another man attacked near the department store also reportedly died. open image in gallery This picture, taken and released by Taiwans Central News Agency (CNA) on 19 December 2025, shows a smoke grenade after it was thrown at Taipei Main Station ( CNA/AFP via Getty Images ) A survivor said she was hit by the suspect outside the department store. It did not feel like a slash it felt more like being hit. Then it really hurt, she said, adding that when she turned around, she saw people lying on the ground and needing first aid because they were bleeding. Police are investigating possible motives. The attacker reportedly had a prior criminal record and outstanding warrants. open image in gallery This picture, taken and released by Taiwans Central News Agency (CNA) on 19 December 2025 shows one of the entrances to Taipei Main Station being cordoned off ( Central News Agency (CNA)/AFP ) It appears he deliberately threw smoke bombs and wielded a long knife to carry out indiscriminate attacks on the public, Taiwans premier Cho Jung-tai said. Investigators recovered lethal weapons at the suspects rental home in Taipei and at the hotel room where he stayed for three nights near Zhongshan, the Associated Press reported. He was also wanted for violating the law on mandatory military service, according to local news reports. We will investigate his background and associated relationships to understand his motives and determine if there are other connected factors, the premier said. Of the 11 injured, six reportedly remain in hospitals, with two in intensive care. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Two Indian men who had travelled to Russia on student visas were killed after being forcibly recruited to fight in the Ukraine war, their families alleged. The bodies of Ajay Godara, 22, from Bikaner in Rajasthan state, and Rakesh Kumar Maurya, 30, from Uttarakhand, have since been returned and handed over to their relatives. They had gone to Russia separately on student visas but later claimed in videos sent to their families that they had been recruited into the military and deployed to the frontline in Ukraine. They alleged that they agreed to what they believed were non-combat civilian roles as cleaners and helpers, only to later discover they had been enlisted into the Russian military and deployed to the front lines in Ukraine. The two were likely looking for part-time jobs on their student visa. Their deaths have renewed concerns in India over the recruitment of its citizens into the Russian military. The Independent previously reported on the plight of some of the Indian recruits in the Russian military who faced life-threatening situations during frontline deployments in Ukraine. As many as 202 Indians have been recruited into the Russian armed forces since the Ukraine war began in early 2022, and 26 have been killed so far, the foreign ministry informed the parliament on Thursday. At least seven have been reported missing. The ministry added that it was working to get an early discharge of 50 Indian citizens currently serving in the Russian army. The ministry has provided assistance in the repatriation of the mortal remains of 10 deceased Indian nationals and local cremation of two deceased nationals, minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said. open image in gallery Six Indians who were fighting for the Russian army in the Ukraine war have been released and are set to return to India in September 2024 ( Supplied to The Independent ) She said DNA samples of the family members of 18 Indians reported dead or missing had been shared with Russian authorities in an effort to help establish their identities. India remains continuously engaged with the Russian side to ensure the safety, well-being, and early discharge of all Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces, she said. Godara had travelled to Russia in November 2024 to study a language course and was allegedly recruited after nearly 10 months. Godaras family had last heard from him on 22 September. He was the only son of Mahavir Prasad and Kalavati Godara, who had been pleading for help from local officials after learning about his recruitment. I sent him to study, why did you throw him into this war? Ajju is my only son. Bring him home at any cost, his mother told the Patrika newspaper after they received the news of his death. open image in gallery A Russian rocket launcher fires towards Ukrainian positions at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on 16 December ( Russian Defense Ministry Press Service ) In one of his videos, Godara appeared composed as he said he was part of a group of four soldiers fighting in a village in Selydove, a Ukrainian city in Donetsk region that was captured by Russia. Ive come into a network area after eight days. We were attacked with missiles and drones. One of the recruits died in front of me, the other two ran away and I became lost, Godara, wearing a military uniform, said. My team members have now found me. I dont know what is going to happen to me. Ive given my statement that I was forcibly recruited. In another video, he said he feared for his life. What he had been promised was entirely different, he said, adding the recording might be his last. On Thursday, his relatives, friends and neighbours performed his last rites and chanted long live Ajay. His uniform and a Russian flag were put on display alongside his coffin. The family of Maurya, who had enrolled in St Petersburg University on 8 August 2025, refused to speak to the media. A friend, Pankaj Kumar, told The Hindu newspaper that the family learned of his death five days ago. The family was told that he died in the Donbas area, Mr Kumar said. He last spoke to them on 30 August. Russias war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year, has seen thousands of foreigners, including those from Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China, and Cuba, recruited to fight on Moscows side. Many of them have claimed they were forced or duped into the fighting. Kyivs forces have captured some 200 foreigners from 37 countries fighting for Russia, according to the Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. The Independent has reached out to the Russian embassy in Delhi for a comment. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Hundreds of thousands of people attended the funeral on Saturday of a leading Bangladeshi activist who died of gunshot wounds sustained in an attack in Dhaka earlier this month, as political tensions gripped the country ahead of elections. Sharif Osman Hadi, who took part in last years political uprising that ended former prime minister Sheikh Hasinas 15-year rule, died in a hospital in Singapore on Thursday after being shot on 12 December in Dhaka. Police said they had identified suspects and that the shooter had most probably fled to India, where Hasina has been in exile. The development sparked a new diplomatic squabble with India and prompted New Delhi this week to summon Bangladeshs envoy. Bangladesh also summoned the Indian envoy to Dhaka. Security was tight in Dhaka on Saturday as the funeral prayers were held outside the nations parliament complex. Hadis body returned on Friday night, and Saturday was declared a national mourning day. Hadi was a spokesperson for the Inqilab Moncho culture group, which said he would be buried on the Dhaka University campus beside the countrys national poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam. Mourners carried Bangladesh flags and chanted slogans, such as We will be Hadi, we will be fighting decades after decades, and We will not let Hadis blood go in vain. The news of his death on Thursday evening triggered violence, with groups of protesters attacking and torching the offices of two leading national dailies. The countrys interim leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has urged the people to stay calm. Hadi was a fierce critic of both neighbouring India and Hasina, who has been in exile since 5 August 2024, when she fled Bangladesh. Hadi had planned to run as an independent candidate in a major constituency in Dhaka in the next national elections in February. Bangladesh has been going through a critical transition under Yunus in a bid to return to democracy through the upcoming elections. But the government has banned Hasinas Awami League party, which is one of two major political parties. Hasinas archrival, former prime minister Khaleda Zias Bangladesh Nationalist Party, is the other key party, which hopes to form the next government. The Jamaat-e-Islami party, the countrys largest Islamist party with a dark history involving the nations independence war in 1971, is leading an alliance to carve out a bigger political space in the absence of Hasinas party and its allies. Hasina has been sentenced to death on charges of crimes against humanity, but India has not responded to repeated requests by the Yunus-led government for her extradition. COLOMBO, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday approved an emergency financing of 206 million U.S. dollars for Sri Lanka, in a bid to help it address urgent needs following Cyclone Ditwah, according to a press release. The IMF said the disbursement is made under the Rapid Financing Instrument, and is equivalent to 26 percent of Sri Lanka's quota. It noted that the emergency support is intended to help preserve macroeconomic stability while the country responds to the immediate economic fallout from the disaster. IMF Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair Kenji Okamura said the cyclone has created urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs in Sri Lanka, generating significant fiscal pressures and balance-of-payments needs. The emergency financial support from the IMF is expected to address these pressures. Commending the Sri Lankan government for its swift response in the face of disaster, Okamura said that the IMF stands with the people of Sri Lanka during this difficult time and will continue to support Sri Lanka's recovery and reconstruction efforts. Sign up to our free Brexit newsletter for our analysis of the continuing impact of Brexit on the UK Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Nigel Farage is under pressure to sack the former Royal Navy rear admiral that Reform UK picked as its candidate for mayor of Hampshire after he doubled down on remarks about the loyalties of David Lammy and praised Enoch Powell. Mr Farage has stood by Chris Parry, 72, after he suggested that deputy prime minister Mr Lammy, who was born and brought up in London, should go home to the Caribbean where his loyalties lie. But despite being widely condemned, Mr Parry has now defended his original comment, posting on X (Twitter): Well, home is where the heart is. Thats the point. An additional tweet, Mr Parry also described the dead rightwing former Tory politician Enoch Powell as unfulfilled. open image in gallery Reform candidate Chris Parry ( Reform UK ) In 1968 Powell made the infamous Rivers of Blood speech about the impact of black migrants in the UK warning it would lead to violence on the streets and opposing anti-discrimination laws. The speech has for many gone down as a benchmark of racism in the UK although others claimed it was misinterpreted. Mr Farage has also praised Powell calling him a political hero. In a separate tweet Mr Parry also attacked Sir Lenny Henry in a similar way when the comedian and actor supported calls for the UK to pay 19 trillion in slavery reparations. Mr Parry posted: Where does his primary loyalty lie? Another tweet in March saw Mr Parry describe Birmingham as a failed colony. Commenting on Sir Keir Starmer ordering an emergency Cobra meeting to deal with the Birmingham bin strikes, he posted: Stupid and unnecessarily diluting importance of Cobra. Just take this failed colony into special measures. Mr Parry also described four female colleagues as harpies and suggested parliament would be filled with Muslim MPs by 2035. Labour chair Anna Turley told The Independent that Mr Farage now needs to ditch the candidate for the postponed Hampshire mayoral election in 2028. She said: How big does the mountain of racist and grossly offensive comments Chris Parry has made have to get before Nigel Farage throws him out of Reform? Its disgraceful. Farages refusal to take action against racism in his party shows what a dark place hes dragging politics to. He should finally drop Chris Parry as a candidate, kick him out of his party, and apologise for failing to take action sooner. open image in gallery Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been urged to acknowledge and apologise for allegations of racism during his school days ( PA Wire ) It comes as Mr Farage himself has faced accusations of racism when he was at school. Among the allegations were claims he said Hitler was right and mimicked gas chamber hissing noises. Mr Farage said that he had never been racist or antisemitic with malice and ended up having a rant at the BBC about 1970s comedian Bernard Manning at a press conference recently when asked about the allegations. In the past week, Ian Cooper, Reforms council leader in Staffordshire, stated in reference to Mr Lammy that no foreign national or first-generation migrant should be allowed to sit in parliament. While Mr Cooper has been thrown out of Reform, Mr Parry still remains the partys candidate in mayoral Hampshire. Another Reform councillor, Chris Large, has denied endorsing a comment describing Mr Lammy as just another greedy non-thoroughbred. Hitting out at the comments before, Mr Lammy issued a personal challenge to Mr Farage: I will never be cowed by racism. But I will call it what it is. Nigel Farage, you need to clean up your party and stamp out this 1950s-style hate. The Independent has approached Reform UK for comment. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The release of tens of thousands of files from probes into deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has confirmed that a former employee warned the FBI in 1996 that he was seeking out child pornography - a decade before the agency investigated the financier. Ive waited 30 years, Maria Farmer told The New York Times after the Justice Department released files Friday. Among the documents was Farmers report to the bureau, which is thought to be the first time someone reported Epstein to law enforcement. Farmer, who accused Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell of sexually assaulting her in a 2019 lawsuit, has said she faced threats and claims that she was inventing her story, for years. I cant believe it, Farmer added. They cant call me a liar anymore. The FBI has never publicly acknowledged the report. open image in gallery Newly released Epstein documents show how Maria Farmer, a former Epstein employee, tried to warn the FBI about the financier a decade before the agency began investigating him ( ABC News ) The FBI declined to comment. The document reveals that Farmer, an artist, warned in 1996 that Epstein stole photos she had taken of her 12- and 16-year-old sisters, and alleges he may have sold the pictures to buyers. Farmer told the Times the photos included nude images. The artist also claimed in the complaint that Epstein at one time requested she take photos of young girls at swimming pools, and later threatened to burn down Farmers house down if she told anyone about the photos. open image in gallery Farmer sued the FBI this year claiming they failed to pursue her complaint, alleging that the bureaus inaction paved the way for Epsteins abuses ( Department of Justice ) Farmer filed a lawsuit against the FBI in May in Washington, D.C., alleging it did absolutely nothing to stop Epstein until it was too late. The bureau didnt start investigating the financier until 2006. The FBI, in violation of its mandatory obligations under regulations and DOJ policies, chose to do absolutely nothing, the lawsuit states. Farmer has said she also tried to urge federal officials to investigate Epsteins ties to powerful people like former president Bill Clinton and President Donald Trump. While both are known to have socialized with Epstein - and were photographed with him - neither has been accused of wrongdoing. Farmer claims that she encountered Trump in 1995 in Epsteins Manhattan office, and that the real estate mogul stared at her bare legs. open image in gallery Fridays release of Epstein files contain scores of images of the late financier with high-profile people like Michael Jackson and Bill Clinton ( AP ) Epstein then said: No, no, shes not here for you, Farmer told The New York Times. The president was never in [Epsteins] office, White House communications director Steven Cheung said of the claim. The fact is that the president kicked him out of his club for being a creep. Farmers sister, Annie Farmer, alleges she was invited to the Epstein ranch in New Mexico when she was 16, where she said Epstein climbed into bed with her to cuddle and Maxwell gave her a massage where she rubbed her bare chest. Maxwell is serving 20 years in federal prison on sex trafficking charges for her role in the Epstein ring. open image in gallery Epstein survivors have pushed the government to release more files than the heavily redacted materials they have shared so far ( Heather Diehl/Getty Images ) Scores of Epstein survivors have pushed the government to release more documents, following Fridays heavily redacted tranche of materials. Officials will share more documents as part of the release in the coming weeks, according to the Justice Department. The Trump administration initially resisted calls to release the documents, though by November the president gave into political pressure and signed a bill authorizing the disclosures. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Department of Justice has published thousands of documents in another batch of files from investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, marking the largest release yet, with many references to President Donald Trump. Tuesdays newly released documents include hundreds of emails and other correspondence from law enforcement and prosecutors investigating Ghislaine Maxwell and Epstein in the wake of his death in prison in 2019, which was ruled a suicide. The files also reveal investigators identified potential co-conspirators whose names have not been publicly revealed, and the Justice Departments partial and heavily redacted release of materials has not yet advanced the publics understanding of the scope of Epstein's crimes and connections to an alleged sex trafficking ring accused of exploiting and abusing young girls. Trump, who had a yearslong relationship with Epstein until the early 2000s, is not accused of wrongdoing in connection with his crimes, and ones appearance within the files does not suggest otherwise. The Justice Department immediately leapt to his defense Tuesday, claiming the files contain untrue and sensationalist claims that they suggested were used to influence the 2020 presidential election. To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already, the statement said. Nevertheless, out of our commitment to the law and transparency, the DOJ is releasing these documents with the legally required protections for Epsteins victims. open image in gallery Newly released documents and images from investigations into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell include a prosecutors claim that Donald Trump may have flown on the sex offenders jet many more times than previously known. ( via REUTERS ) Trump appeared many more times on Epsteins flight logs In one message from January 2020, a federal prosecutor in Manhattan claimed that flight records showed Trump traveled on Epsteins private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware), including during the period where prosecutors were preparing to charge in the case against Maxwell. There were at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996 in which Trump was a passenger, according to the message. Maxwell was also present on at least four of those flights, according to an assistant U.S. attorney, whose name is redacted. open image in gallery An email from 2020 discussing Jeffrey Epstein's private jet flight records mentioned Donald Trump ( Department of Justice ) Weve just finished reviewing the full records (more than 100 pages of very small script) and didnt want any of this to be a surprise down the road, the prosecutor added. At various times, Trump traveled with Marla Maples, his daughter Tiffany, and his son Eric, according to the message. On one flight in 1993, Trump and Epstein are the only two listed passengers, and on another, the only three passengers are Epstein, Trump, and a 20-year-old passenger whose name is redacted. On two other flights, two passengers were women who would be possible witnesses in a Maxwell case, the prosecutor wrote. The messages did not include any details about the flights other than the passengers. Mar-a-Lago factors into evidence The documents include several tips collected by the FBI about Trumps involvement with Epstein and parties at their properties in the early 2000s. The messages do not state whether any follow-up investigations were pursued or if the allegations are corroborated. A message from an investigator in June 2021 reported an image with Trump with Maxwell that was discovered on Steve Bannons phone. Bannon, the far-right media personality and former Trump adviser, is seen in several undated photographs alongside Epstein in documents submitted by the Justice Department. open image in gallery Federal prosecutors subpoenaed Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in 2021 for employment records as they prosecuted Maxwell, documents show ( Department of Justice ) Federal prosecutors also subpoenaed Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort that year for employment records as they prosecuted Maxwell, documents show. A subpoena request from October 2021 seeks any and all employment records related to a person whose name has been redacted. Speaking from Mar-a-Lago in his first public remarks about the documents Monday night, the president said Epstein was all over Palm Beach and many people crossed paths with him. You probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago, Trump said. A lot of people are very angry that pictures are being released of other people that really had nothing to do with Epstein, but theyre in a picture with him because he was at a party, and you ruin the reputation of somebody. An unclassified document from the FBI in October 2020 also recounts allegations from a woman who attended a party in Palm Beach 20 years earlier. At the party, she was told that Trump had invited her and others to a party at Mar-a-Lago, but she was told it was for prostitutes. Investigators looked into 10 Epstein co-conspirators FBI Director Kash Patel testified to senators earlier this year there was no credible information that Epstein trafficked women and girls to anyone but himself, though members of Congress investigating Epstein identified at least 20 alleged co-conspirators whose names were provided by victims cooperating with law enforcement. Newly released documents in the Epstein files reveal that investigators identified at least 10 co-conspirators in Epsteins sex trafficking case in 2019, none of whom have been publicly revealed. Three of those alleged co-conspirators lived in Florida and were subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury. There were others in Boston, New York City and Connecticut, according to emails from July 2019. One is a wealthy business man in Ohio, according to one message. open image in gallery A photograph of Maxwell and Trump is included in a batch of files from the Justice Department published December 23 ( Department of Justice ) After Epsteins death in 2019, prosecutors produced several memos determining whether to charge alleged conspirators in his case, according to the documents. But the files released by the Justice Department only references the memos not the documents themselves. If made public, those memos could reveal the previously unreported decision-making among prosecutors that led to the sex trafficking cases against Epstein and Maxwell. So far, they are the only people to face criminal charges in connection with their abuse. Epsteins fake letter to Larry Nassar mentions Trump A letter from J. Epstein from Manhattan Correctional to Larry Nassar, the former women's gymnastics team doctor convicted of exploiting and sexually assaulting hundreds of young athletes, was among documents released by the Justice Department. The letter is postmarked August 13, 2019, three days after Epsteins death. It was marked return to sender and discovered in a mailroom more than a month later. open image in gallery Federal investigators were probing the authenticity of a letter from 'J Epstein' to 'Larry Nassar' while Epstein was incarcerated in 2019, according to documents from the Justice Department ( Department of Justice ) The existence of the letter was previously reported, and additional documents in the files showed investigators trying to authenticate it. It is unclear whether they reached a conclusion. Hours after publishing the document, the Justice Department determined the letter is fake. The writing does not appear to match Epsteins and was postmarked from Virginia, not New York, where Epstein was jailed, according to the Justice Department. This fake letter serves as a reminder that just because a document is released by the Department of Justice does not make the allegations or claims within the document factual, the statement said. As you know by now, I have taken the short route home. Good luck! the postcard reads. It continues: We shared one thing . . . our love [and] caring for young ladies at the hope they'd reach their full potential. Our president shares our love of young, nubile girls. When a young beauty walked by he loved to grab snatch, whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system. open image in gallery A composite of documents dated June 8, 2020, shows an email exchange between an unnamed lawyer from New York and former US attorney Geoff Berman, with regards to ongoing investigations related to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's association with Jeffrey Epstein ( Department of Justice ) Documents mention Royal Family In a series of emails from 2001, Maxwell writes to a person identified as A or The Invisible Man who appears to be connected to the British royal family. A wrote to Maxwell in August 2021, saying, I am up here at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family. Have you found me some new inappropriate friends? the email says. Maxwell responds: So sorry to dissappoint [sic] you, however the truth must be told. I have only been able to find appropriate friends. A responds: Distraught! open image in gallery An email between Ghislaine Maxwell and a person identified as The Invisible Man discusses the Royal Family ( Department of Justice ) The person in those messages has not been identified. But Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, was introduced to Epstein in 1999 by Maxwell and has previously been identified in photographs and other documents connected to the pair. He has not been charged with any crimes in connection with Epstein and has denied any wrongdoing. Another email exchange between an unnamed lawyer and former U.S Attorney Geoffrey Berman discusses ongoing investigations related to Mountbatten-Windsor's association with Epstein. open image in gallery And undated photograph shows Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell near Balmoral ( Department of Justice ) Victims and investigators describe abuse An undated statement from an alleged victim of Epstein and Maxwell include allegations that the financier and other men blindfolded and raped her in an underground room when she was 17 years old. Another victim described Maxwell as a psychopath in a December 2020 statement submitted before Maxwell was convicted of participating in a scheme to groom and abuse young women and girls. She has lived a life of privilege, abusing her position of power to live beyond the rules. Fleeing the country in order to escape once more would fit with her long history of anti-social behavior, the statement says. I believe that she is a psychopath She has demonstrated a complete failure to accept responsibility in any way for her actions and demonstrated a complete lack of remorse for her central role in procuring victims for Epstein. She was both charming and manipulative with me during the grooming process. open image in gallery Survivors have criticized the Trump administrations handling of the files, including extreme redactions and failing to redact some victims identities ( AFP/Getty ) An assistant U.S. attorney in Florida also wrote to investigators February 1, 2008, after interviewing three of the girls in connection with an initial investigation into Epstein. I wish you could have been there to see how much this has affected them, the prosecutor said. One girl broke down sobbing so that we had to stop the interview twice within a 20-minute span. She regained her composure enough to continue a short time, but she said that she was having nightmares about Epstein coming after her and she started to break down again, so we stopped the interview, the person added. More than a dozen abuse survivors have criticized the Trump administrations handling of the files, which were riddled with abnormal and extreme redactions with no explanation when they were first published last week, according to their statement. Many victim identities were unredacted, causing real and immediate harm, they wrote Monday. While clearer communication would not change the fact that a law was broken, its absence suggests an ongoing intent to keep survivors and the public in the dark as much as possible and as long as possible, they added. Prosecutors and investigators were growing frustrated A bulk of the files include correspondence between investigators or prosecutors related to Epsteins 2008 nonprosecution agreement, his 2019 prosecution and the 2020 case against Maxwell. But officials appeared routinely frustrated on how to move forward after Epsteins death in 2019. In an email thread from 2020, investigators with the U.S. Attorneys office complained about the FBIs handling of evidence. The names are redacted. They were left sifting through more than a million documents without much rhyme or reason, one person wrote. Notwithstanding their many promises to us about quick and effective processing of the 60+ devices they seized, the FBI is completely f******* us on this, another message reads. An official with the U.S. Attorneys office in Manhattan said they were not given guidance on how to proceed with the investigation. We still have not heard back from [REDACTED] or anyone one what we should be doing, if anything, to gather and review material from the abandoned federal case against Epstein in Florida, the unnamed person wrote in a 2020 email. On the list of things keeping me up at 3am, this is pretty consistently at or near the top, the person added. open image in gallery Justice Department officials have defended the partial and ongoing release of the Epstein files despite federal law requiring all documents to be published by December 19 ( Getty Images ) The Justice Department failed to release all of the files related to Epsteins cases in its possession despite federal law signed by Trump requiring the administration to publicly disclose everything it had by December 19. An initial round of long-awaited documents included heavy redactions, including dozens of pages of grand jury testimony and previously sealed court filings that were nearly entirely blacked out. The law requires the release of potentially thousands of documents that are typically shielded from public view, including grand jury testimony, settlements, investigative notes and internal records related to the Epstein and Maxwell cases. open image in gallery An email discussing a purported photo of Epstein and Trump on Steve Bannon's phone is shown in this image released by the Department of Justice ( Department of Justice ) After the initial release of documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act , the Justice Department removed more than 20 files including an image of a credenza inside Epsteins home, where a photograph of Trump with bikini-clad women was sitting in an open drawer. Those images were later restored, but the Justice Departments violation of the legal deadline and the apparent removal of images only fueled outrage and demand for the full release of the files. open image in gallery An image of a credenza inside Epsteins home, where a photograph of Trump was sitting in an open drawer, was removed from the Justice Departments database hours after an initial release. It was later restored ( AP ) Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trumps former criminal defense lawyer, said the Justice Department needed time to make necessary redactions to protect survivors. Youre talking about a million or so pages of documents virtually all of them contain victim information, he told NBCs Meet the Press Sunday. He said officials were not removing any mentions of Trump in the documents, more of which are expected to be rolled out over the coming weeks. Members of Congress have suggested Attorney General Pam Bondi could be held in contempt for failing to release documents on deadline. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Survivors of the late Jeffrey Epsteins alleged sexual abuse have expressed disappointment over a document dump that was heavily redacted and only partially released. The Justice Department released thousands of documents Friday related to the convicted sex offender, who died by suicide in his jail cell in 2019 as he stood accused of sexually abusing and sex trafficking underage girls. Despite Congress passing a bill, which President Donald Trump signed into law, compelling the government to release all of the documents by Friday, the Justice Department said it would take an additional couple of weeks to make everything public. Included in the trove of documents was a 100-page file that was completely blacked out. Representative Ro Khanna a California Democrat who, along with Republican congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, led the charge to release the Epstein files said the documents were excessively redacted. The most important documents are missing, theyve had excessive redactions, he told CNNs Kaitlan Collins, adding that the disgraced financiers 60-count indictment before he reached a plea deal on sex crimes in 2008 and an 82-page memo backing up the charges have yet to be made public. open image in gallery Survivors of the late Jeffrey Epsteins alleged sexual abuse have expressed disappointment over a document dump that was heavily redacted and only partially released ( Heather Diehl/Getty Images ) Epstein survivor Annie Farmer said, I don't feel tremendously confident that everything will come out. There's been a lot of effort, money & time put into redactions. Not to protect victims, but to protect people in power, she said in a statement shared by CBS News Scott MacFarlane. Haley Robson, another Epstein survivor who voted for Trump but has come to regret it, told The Independent, I knew going into this and just how Trump likes to play his little tactics. I knew with all the obstacles we've already rendered and the administration's flip flop, I already knew that we were not going to see the files as we should be getting them. Robson wants to file a lawsuit since she said the Trump administration and the Justice Department had not complied with the Epstein files bill. "I told my attorneys that there has to be consequences on every level. It can't just be consequences on the men who trafficked and abused us. It has to be consequences to the system, which the system is, what you're seeing now, and how they're basically pivoting and dragging their feet," Robson said. Epstein survivor Jess Michaels, told MS NOWs Nicolle Wallace, Even with an act of Congress we are seeing the exact same delays, negligence, corruption, incompetence that weve seen consistently and been advocating about. open image in gallery The Justice Department released thousands of documents Friday related to the convicted sex offender ( Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images ) Liz Stein, who has also accused Epstein of sexual abuse, told the network, I think that the best way that the American public can support us is by continuing to put the pressure on and demanding accountability from our government to release all of this information. White House Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement to The Independent, The Trump Administration is the most transparent in history. By releasing thousands of pages of documents, cooperating with the House Oversight Committees subpoena request, and President Trump recently calling for further investigations into Epsteins Democrat friends, the Trump Administration has done more for the victims than Democrats ever have. One document that did come to light was a 1996 FBI complaint made by Farmers sister, Maria Farmer, another Epstein survivor. The report claimed the disgraced financier stole pictures of her then-12-year-old and 16-year-old sisters and sold them to potential buyers. Farmers name was redacted and only describes her as a professional artist. It states she had taken pictures of her sisters for her personal art work. Farmer told The New York Times the photos included nude pictures. The case is classified as child pornography in the complaint. open image in gallery One document that did come to light was a 1996 FBI complaint made by Farmers sister, Maria Farmer, another Epstein survivor ( Department of Justice ) The complaint also states Epstein requested Farmer to take pictures of young girls at swimming pools and he threatened to burn her house down if she told anyone about the photos. In a statement aired on CNN, Maria said, Im crying for two reasons. I want everyone to know that I am shedding tears of joy for myself, but also tears of sorrow for all the other victims that the FBI failed. Annie confirmed that the 16-year-old mentioned in the report was her when speaking with CNNs Jake Tapper. She began to tear up as she said, Just to see it in writing and to know that they had this document this entire time, and how many people were harmed after that datehas been very emotional. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene a Georgia Republican who recently had a public falling out with Trump, in part due to her support of the releasing of the Epstein files wrote on X, the heavily redacted Epstein files being released and failure to release them all by todays lawful deadline are NOT MAGA. Why are the survivors fighting to have the release of all of the files? Gloria Allred, an attorney for Epstein survivors, asked in an interview with CNNs Kasie Hunt. The reason is because they want accountability. If there are rich, powerful, famous men who engaged in or assisted in or conspired to sex traffic underage girls, they want to know who those people are. There are some documents the Justice Department does not have to release, including anything that could reveal a victims identity, anything depicting the sexual abuse of children and anything that could jeopardize an active federal investigation. Eric Garcia contributed to this reporting. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Thousands of documents from investigations into Jeffrey Epstein have finally been released by President Donald Trumps administration after months of public pressure. While an initial round of long-awaited documents includes a vast library of salacious images and photographs of high-profile figures, it remains unclear whether they shed any new light on Epsteins crimes and alleged connections to a sex trafficking ring implicating prominent officials accused of exploiting and abusing young girls. Disclosures related to the Epstein Files Transparency Act include hundreds of undated photographs as well as heavily redacted images and case files, including 119 pages of grand jury testimony that have been totally blacked out. Photographs submitted by law enforcement investigating Epsteins properties include sex toys and costumes, images of women exposing themselves, folders full of photographs of nearly naked women, and nude paintings and sculptures of womens breasts. But Department of Justice officials acknowledged they are withholding documents and names of people inside them, and Fridays partial release is likely to continue fueling demands for the so-called Epstein files that the administration has fought for months to suppress. open image in gallery The Department of Justice released thousands of Epstein files featuring heavy redactions and images of the sex offender and Ghislaine Maxwell with celebrities and young women ( Department of Justice ) Epstein, a wealthy well-connected financier and convicted sex offender, is accused of trafficking women and girls as young as 14 years old. His death in jail awaiting trial on trafficking charges in 2019 was ruled a suicide. Last month, after growing demands for a full public accounting of Epsteins alleged abuse, the president reluctantly signed legislation compelling the Department of Justice, FBI and U.S. attorneys offices to publish everything in their possession by December 19. The Justice Department launched a public-facing website Friday afternoon. But officials acknowledged that not all of the materials required under law have been released, and government lawyers are scrambling to make redactions. More than 200 attorneys helped review the documents, deputy attorney general Todd Blanche wrote to members of Congress. More than 1,200 names were identified as either victims or their relatives, according to Blanche. Those names are being redacted. Protecting victims is of the highest priority for the Trump administration, he wrote. open image in gallery Epstein is pictured with Michael Jackson in an undated photograph ( Department of Justice ) open image in gallery Another undated image shows Michael Jackson with Diana Ross and former president Bill Clinton ( Department of Justice ) The final stages of review remain ongoing and will be completed within the next two weeks, he said. Democrats have threatened legal action to force the full and immediate release of the files, which have consumed Trumps second term thus far as he faces renewed scrutiny into his years-long relationship to the sex offender. Photos with celebrities and Bill Clinton The latest batch of documents includes intimate photographs of Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as photographs with the pair alongside Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson. Former President Bill Clinton is captured in dozens of images, including in an undated photograph showing him lounging in a hot tub alongside someone whose face has been redacted, images that the White House immediately pounced on. open image in gallery Several images in the first wave of documents show Clinton with Epstein, Maxwell and a woman whose face is redacted ( Department of Justice ) open image in gallery Clinton also is pictured in a hot tub with Maxwell and a woman whose face is redacted ( Department of Justice ) Clinton is also pictured on a private plane with a woman sitting on his lap. That womans face has also been redacted. A painted portrait of Clinton in a blue dress, lounging in an armchair, also was photographed hanging in Epsteins New York apartment. open image in gallery Another undated image shows Clinton with Mick Jagger and a woman whose face is redacted ( Department of Justice ) open image in gallery A satirical portrait of Clinton in a blue dress was hanging in Epsteins New York apartment, according to photos taken by law enforcement ( Department of Justice ) Clinton has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, and the mere inclusion of someones name or images in files does not imply otherwise. They can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn't about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be, Clintons deputy chief of staff Angel Urena said in a statement. There are two types of people here. The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light, he added. The second group continued relationships with him after. We're in the first. No amount of stalling by people in the second group will change that. Heavy redactions and failed search functions Under the recently passed transparency law, the Justice Department was required to publish the documents on a website and make them downloadable and searchable. But the search function did not turn up any results for Epstein, let along other prominent names that appeared throughout. The files also include investigative materials and grand jury documents from several cases against Epstein and Maxwell, including what appear to be interviews with victims, though a substantial portion of those documents are redacted. open image in gallery What appears to be a scrapbook-like card includes cut-up images of Epstein and a person whose face is redacted ( Department of Justice ) open image in gallery The card appears in a scrapbook discovered in 2019 at Epsteins home in Little St. James ( AP ) Those materials include what appear to be evidence folders featuring sex toys, pornography, underwear and rolls of film all collected as evidence by law enforcement in connection with criminal cases against Epstein. Photographs feature topless and nude women whose faces are blacked out, as well as school portraits. What appears to be a scrapbook-like anniversary card includes cut-up images of Epstein and a person whose face is redacted, with speech bubbles reading once upon a time... there was a clueless little girl. Trump makes an appearance Despite the administrations attempts to distance the president from Epstein, Trump appears in a handful of photographs that have already been made public, including images of the president with his wife Melania alongside Epstein and Maxwell. In one image, which was taken inside a desk drawer, Trump appeared to be pictured alongside a group of smiling women in a grainy photograph. The women's identities are not redacted. The White House has previously acknowledged that Trump appears in the documents, and his name appears dozens of times in emails released by members of Congress last month. The president has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epsteins cases, and Trump has repeatedly claimed he cut ties with Epstein before he was under federal investigation. open image in gallery Framed photographs of Donald Trump and Melania are included in files released by the Justice Department in connection with investigations into Jeffrey Epstein ( Department of Justice ) White House defends partial release as Democrats demand the truth Following the release of the documents, the White House claimed the Trump administration has done more for the victims than Democrats ever have. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the partial release, noting that the heavily redacted batch of documents reflects only a fraction of the whole body of evidence. Senate Democrats are working to assess the documents that have been released to determine what actions must be taken to hold the Trump administration accountable, he said in a statement. We will pursue every option to make sure the truth comes out. Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, among House Democrats who pushed for the release of the full files, suggested that he believes the administration is hiding things. They have not been transparent, and thats why thats peoples biggest concern on this, that theyre hiding things, he said. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, among a small group of House Republicans who pushed for the release, said the Justice Department has grossly failed to comply with both the spirit and letter of the law Trump signed last month. Khanna said House Democrats could hold impeachment hearings for Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy Todd Blanche if it comes to that. open image in gallery The files are heavily redacted, including more than 100 pages from a grand jury transcript that are completely blacked out ( REUTERS ) Maria Farmer, the first woman to file a criminal complaint against Epstein, said in a statement that she has waited three decades, over half my life, for this moment. When I was ignored and hung up on by the FBI in 1996, my world turned upside down and I felt frozen in time, she said. I faced death threats, ridicule and mockery by some of the most powerful people on earth. She said she is hopeful she can pick up where I left off at age 26. Farmers name is redacted, but a complaint from 1996 appears in the files released Friday, claiming that Epstein stole nude images of her and her sister, then ages 16 and 12. The report also claims Epstein had her take pictures of young girls at swimming pools and threatened to burn her house down if she told anyone. Farmer now hopes the release of the documents is an important step for many of the survivors and to hold the government accountable for their grotesque law enforcement failure, one of the largest in U.S. history. open image in gallery A complaint submitted to the FBI in 1996, a decade before Epstein faced federal charges, alleges he stole nude images of two young girls and threatened to burn their house down ( Department of Justice ) For more than a decade, Epstein and Maxwell worked together to recruit young girls and entice them to travel to Epsteins properties, according to federal prosecutors. During a monthlong trial in 2021, survivors testified in Manhattan federal court that Maxwell had groomed them, taken their passports, and sexually abused them. She is serving a 20-year prison sentence for crimes associated with Epsteins decades-long scheme. Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges of solicitation of prostitution and of solicitation of prostitution with a minor under the age of 18 as part of controversial agreement to avoid a federal case in 2008. He was released after serving less than 13 months in state prison. A decade later, in 2019, Epstein was found fead in his jail cell in Manhattan while awaiting trial on federal trafficking charges. He was 66 years old. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Work commenced on Friday to add Donald Trump's name to Washington's iconic Kennedy Center, a day after the institution's board voted for the change. Blue tarpaulins were swiftly erected to obscure the work, though a large letter 'D' was briefly seen on the exterior, alongside workers on scaffolding. Named for Democratic president John F. Kennedy, the center's board, chaired by Donald Trump, voted to rename it 'The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts'. Critics, including Democratic members of Congress and historians, argue only Congress can change the name. This follows the recent addition of Donald Trump's name to the U.S. Institute of Peace building. The Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the decision on Thursday on X, attributing the change to the "unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building. Not only from the standpoint of its reconstruction, but also financially, and its reputation." The president, who has previously jokingly referred to the venue as the Trump Kennedy Center, said he was surprised by the vote. Critics, including Democratic members of Congress and historians, argue only Congress can change the name ( Getty Images ) Under current law, there I think is very little question that the Kennedy Center board cannot rename the Opera House after Melania Trump or pretty much anybody else and would need Congresss permission for anything like that, David Super, a Georgetown law professor, told The Washington Post earlier this year, as Congress was mulling renaming the center for the president or the first lady. That statute is pretty unequivocal, and I cant really find any loopholes in it. Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex officio member of the centers board, said the name change vote was not on the agenda and that she was muted on the call where it was discussed and not allowed to voice her opposition. This was not consensus, she wrote on X. This is censorship. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump bragged about demanding a massive payout as a result of two complaints he brought against the Justice Department over the federal investigations into him. After Trump left office in 2021, the Justice Department launched a pair of probes that looked into his handling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump later filed two complaints one in 2023 and one in 2024 through an administrative claim process, which could lead to a lawsuit, demanding the Justice Department pay him $230 million in compensation the New York Times reported in October. In a wide-ranging speech in North Carolina on Friday, which was billed as remarks on the economy, the president digressed into his complaints, now inflating that potential sum to $1 billion. We have all the evidence, and we have to do something about it, Trump boomed as the crowd erupted in claps and cheers. I brought a lawsuit, and Im winning the lawsuit. Theres only one problem. Im the one who has to settle it. In other words, I am suing, and Im the one thats supposed to settle it. So, maybe I'll give myself $1 billion and give it all to charity, he then suggested before changing his mind. Actually, maybe I shouldn't give it to charity. Maybe I should keep the money. Speaking in North Carolina Friday, Trump boasted about his demands that his own DOJ give him a massive payout after the previous administration launched federal investigations into him ( Getty Images ) He then recounted the series of events as if he were reading aloud newspaper headlines: Donald Trump sues the United States of America. Donald Trump becomes president. And now Donald Trump has to settle the suit. The president then said: I hereby give myself $1 billion. Trump once again appeared to waver about what to do with the potential sum. Actually, maybe I shouldnt give it to charity. Maybe I should keep the money. No? A lot of people say: Do it. I dont wanna do it, he told the crowd. But whatever happens, its all going to good charities. Is that ok? All going to good charities. But isnt that a strange position to be in? Ive gotta make, Ive gotta make a deal. I negotiate with myself, the president concluded. Jack Smith, the DOJ special prosecutor charged with leading the federal probes, dropped the cases against the incoming president after Trump won the 2024 election. Smith told members of Congress this week that his investigative team had developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump had criminally conspired to overturn the 2020 election results and had collected powerful evidence that he had violated the law related to the handling of classified documents. Earlier in his speech Friday, Trump slammed the FBIs raid of Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 as part of the Justice Departments classified documents case. The president called the raid illegal and disgusting, alleging the raid extended to his wife Melania Trumps panties drawer. Its not immediately clear what Trump meant by having all the evidence. However, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley published emails this week between FBI and DOJ officials in the months leading up to the August 2022 raid, which suggested that the bureau didnt believe it had probable cause to execute the search warrant on Trumps property, while the Justice Department insisted it did. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump has again slammed Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, calling her highly neurotic and using his traitor nickname as she pushes the Justice Department to release all of its files on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Greene was a loyal ally to the president before her recent public rift over issues on affordability, foreign affairs and notably, the Epstein files. Greene was one of a few House Republicans to initially support a bill to force the government to release the files. After more House Republicans signaled theyd back the measure, Trump told his party to vote to release the files and he later signed the bill into law, despite insisting the Epstein saga was a hoax. During a speech at a rally in North Carolina Friday night, Trump, who was there to convince Americans that his economic agenda was working, went off on a rant about Greene. open image in gallery President Donald Trump has slammed Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, calling her highly neurotic ( Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images ) Marjorie Traitor Brown, I call her. Because green turns to brown under stress, Trump said. The president went on to say the pair had a falling out because he didnt return her phone calls, calling her highly neurotic. After Trump withdrew his endorsement of Greene in November, she said that she hasnt called him at all, but that she did send him text messages about the Epstein files. She later said at a press conference with survivors of Epsteins alleged sexual abuse, "I was called a traitor by a man that I fought for five, no, actually, six years for, and I gave him my loyalty for free. open image in gallery Greene was once a loyal ally to the president before her recent public rift over issues on affordability, foreign affairs and notably, the Epstein files ( Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images ) After the Justice Department released thousands but not all of the Epstein files Friday, Greene and other lawmakers, slammed the the Trump administration. The heavily redacted Epstein files being released and failure to release them all by todays lawful deadline are NOT MAGA,Greene wrote on X. In an earlier post, Greene said, Trump called me a traitor for refusing to take my name off a discharge petition which forced the House to vote on the release of the files. I couldnt be more proud I stayed on. Greene announced in November that she will resign from office next month, telling Americans, I refuse to be a battered wife hoping it all goes away and gets better. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump veered off topic during his Friday night speech on the economy to slam the 2022 FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago, which he said included agents raiding First Lady Melania Trumps panties drawer. As part of the governments investigation into Trumps handling of classified documents after he left the White House in 2021, the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 in search of sensitive records. Jack Smith, former special prosecutor charged with leading the Trump probe, told lawmakers this week in a closed-door interview that his team had gathered powerful evidence that the president had broken the law by holding onto the classified material. Trump also returned to the years-old raid Friday after making a stop in North Carolina for a rally-style speech, ostensibly about the economy, on his way to Mar-a-Lago for two weeks Christmas vacation. During his remarks, Trump blasted the raid as illegal and disgusting, alleging agents searched through his wifes panties drawer. I was the huntedI had these animals trying to attack me at Mar-a-Lago, the president said Friday. They went into my wifes closet and I'll say this, number one, it's very bad, but it sounds a little strange. They looked at her drawers. He added that the first lady is a very meticulous person. Everything is perfect. Her undergarmentssometimes referred to as panties, are folded, perfect. Theyre so perfect, I say: Thats beautiful. open image in gallery President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participate in the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the White House. In remarks in North Carolina Friday, Trump slammed the 2022 Mar-a-Lago raid, claiming agents even raided his wifes panties drawer ( Getty Images ) I think she steams them, he added, moving his hands as if he were steaming clothes, which prompted chuckles from the audience. We came home. I wasn't there when the raid took place, he said. She opened the drawers and it was not that way. They were a mess. It was all over the place. And she said, 'Oh, what happened? That's so terrible....They went into my young boy's room. These thugs are disgusting, and we cannot let them get away with this stuff. open image in gallery Trump made a stop Friday in North Carolina for a rally-style speech, ostensibly about the economy, on his way to Mar-a-Lago for two weeks Christmas vacation. During his remarks, Trump blasted a 2022 FBI raid on his Florida residence as illegal and disgusting ( AP ) We have all the evidence, and we have to do something about it, Trump concluded, his voice rising. The crowd clapped and cheered in response. The government, under former President Joe Biden, launched two federal probes into Trump: his handling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump has demanded the Justice Department pay him $230 million in compensation over the federal investigations after he left office. He submitted a complaint for each probe, one in 2023 and the other in 2024, through an administrative claim process, the New York Times reported in October. After Trump won the 2024 election, Smith dropped the cases against the incoming president. Smith told members of Congress this week that his investigative team had developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump had criminally conspired to overturn the 2020 election results and had collected powerful evidence that he had violated the law related to the handling of classified documents. open image in gallery Piles of documents found in Trumps Palm Beach estate during the 2022 raid. Jack Smith, former special prosecutor, told lawmakers this week that his team had found powerful evidence to suggest Trump broke the law by hoarding classified documents after he left office in 2021 ( US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE/AFP via ) Emails between FBI and DOJ officials in the months leading up to the August 2022 raid, made public this week by Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley, suggest that the bureau didnt believe it had probable cause to execute the search warrant on Trumps Palm Beach property, while the Justice Department insisted it did. Trump also spoke about his compensation claims during his Friday night economic speech, upped the amount from $230 million to $1 billion. He claimed he now has to settle the complaint himself because its his Justice Department: I brought a lawsuit and Im winning the lawsuit. There's only one problem: I'm the one that has to settle it. He then suggested: So, maybe I'll give myself $1 billion and give it all to charity. A minute later, the president appeared to change his mind. Actually, maybe I shouldn't give it to charity. Maybe I should keep the money, he said. Guests unveil the event "China Bookshelf" in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Dec. 19, 2025. China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) Tanzania branch on Friday donated 300 books to Tanzania's University of Dar es Salaam, cementing cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries.(Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman) DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) Tanzania branch on Friday donated 300 books to Tanzania's University of Dar es Salaam, cementing cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries. The books, covering core areas such as Chinese history, traditional culture, modern development, and technological achievements, were donated at an event jointly organized by the CCCC and the Confucius Institute at the University of Dar es Salaam. Collin Kimaryo, acting director of the university's Library Services, said the books, donated under the theme "A Bridge of Books: CCCC Writes a New Chapter with Tanzania," presented in Chinese and English, serve as bridges connecting cultures, narrowing knowledge gaps, and linking students and researchers to global scholarship. Kimaryo said the University of Dar es Salaam's library serves more than 20,000 students and hundreds of academic staff engaged in teaching, research, and consultancy. "Each book donated today will touch countless lives, inspiring a student's thesis, informing a researcher's groundbreaking study, or broadening a faculty member's pedagogical approach. The multiplier effect of this donation extends far beyond our campus, as the knowledge gained here radiates into Tanzania's development agenda and beyond," he said. Deng Honglong, deputy general manager of the CCCC Tanzania branch, said that under the "China Bookshelf" initiative, the company has donated Chinese- and English-language books to the university for three consecutive years. Deng said the books cover a wide range of fields, including medicine, literature, history, science, and technology. "Through books, we not only share knowledge but also build bridges of friendship between China and Tanzania, promoting deeper cultural and educational exchange," he said. A staff member from the donating organization shows a book to recipients in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Dec. 19, 2025. China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) Tanzania branch on Friday donated 300 books to Tanzania's University of Dar es Salaam, cementing cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries.(Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman) Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump once again boasted about having aced three cognitive tests in wide-ranging remarks. As concerns around the 79-year-old presidents health and mental fitness continue to mount particularly after his rambling speech earlier this week, apparently falling asleep at several events including a Cabinet meeting, and his controversial Truth Social post about late filmmaker Rob Reiner Trump reminded a North Carolina crowd on Friday that hes aced several cognitive exams and is in perfect health. I did something no other president's ever done. I took cognitive tests because I know that and by the way, not easy, Trump said in his Friday speech that was reportedly meant to focus on the economy. He then took the opportunity to opine about how his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, wouldve performed on the mental fitness test: You get to those last questions, those last 10, 15 questionsand I aced them. And no other president's taken a cog... Could you imagine sleepy Joe taking a cognitive test? The president then told the audience about the test, which apparently began with a question asking to identify animals. open image in gallery President Donald Trump bragged once again about having aced several cognitive tests during rambling rally-style remarks in North Carolina ( Getty Images ) The first question is like, What is this? And they show a lion, a giraffe, a fish, and a hippopotamus. And they say, Which is the giraffe? he recalled. I don't think Joe would have gotten the first question right, Trump said. He would say hippo. I want the hippo, the president continued, as his insults against his predecessor drew some laughs from the crowd. I've taken now three cognitive tests. I've aced every single one of them, Trump claimed, pausing as the crowd erupted in applause and cheers. During his first term in 2018, Trump earned a perfect score on his cognitive assessment, the White House physician said at the time; Trump later famously bragged about being able to recall five words: person, woman, man, camera, TV. In April, he took another mental fitness test, in which he said he got every answer right. During his physical exam in October, the president also took a cognitive test, which he ACED, he said in a Truth Social post this month. This is big stuff. This is at Walter Reed, I've got a whole team of doctors all over the place, he told the crowd Friday. Trump then recounted asking the doctors if he should take the mental fitness exam: What do you think? Should I do it? They said, Well here's the good news. The good news is that if you do well that's greatIf you do well they won't report it. If you do badly it's going to be the biggest story in history. After the October cognitive test, doctors found he was in perfect health, he told the North Carolina crowd. And the fake news interprets when the doctor says he's got perfect health, they go, What does he mean by perfect? He added: These people are sick. Trump then admitted that his mental fitness wont always be 100 percent. There will be a time when perhaps I won't be 100 percent, he conceded. When that time comes, I'll let you know about it. In fact, you probably will find out about it just by watching. But that time is not now because I feel the same that Ive felt for 50 years, I really do. open image in gallery At a Cabinet meeting earlier this month, President Donald Trump appeared to nod off, sparking concerns about his health ( Getty Images ) Despite Trumps defense of his cognitive ability, several prominent figures have questioned his mental fitness. Hes sundowning hard, California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsoms press office wrote in response to a clip of Trumps Friday speech. California Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu also wondered: Why do doctors keep giving Trump cognitive tests? Trump sparked similar concerns recently after he appeared to nod off during several daytime events, including a Cabinet meeting, made a baseless claim that Rob Reiner died due to his Trump Derangement Syndrome, and his recent rambling 18-minute address to the nation from the White House on Wednesday. Following Trumps Wednesday remarks, Dr. Jonathan Reiner, the cardiologist for the late Vice President Dick Cheney told CNN that the presidents manic cadence was very disturbing. The doctor added: We've never seen the president like that. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The United States has seized another oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. It comes just days after President Donald Trump announced a "blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. The operation marks the second time in recent weeks that the United States has seized a tanker near Venezuela. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the Coast Guard seized the tanker, which was last docked in Venezuela. "The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region," she said in a statement posted to social media. "We will find you, and we will stop you." open image in gallery A screen grab shows US forces seizing a crude oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on December 10 ( US Attorney General Pam Bondi ) The Coast Guard and Pentagon referred questions to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Venezuela's oil ministry and state oil company PDVSA did not immediately reply to requests for comment. British maritime risk management company Vanguard said the vessel was believed to be the Panama-flagged Centuries, which was intercepted east of Barbados in the Caribbean Sea. Jeremy Paner, a partner at Washington, D.C., law firm Hughes Hubbard and a former OFAC investigator, said the vessel has not been sanctioned by the U.S. "The seizure of a vessel that is not sanctioned by the U.S. marks a further increase in Trumps pressure on Venezuela," Paner said. "It also runs counter to Trumps statement that the U.S. would impose a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers." Trump on Tuesday said he was ordering "A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela." In the days since U.S. forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela last week, there has been an effective embargo in place, with loaded vessels carrying millions of barrels of oil staying in Venezuelan waters rather than risk seizure. Since the first seizure, Venezuelan crude exports have fallen sharply. open image in gallery Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro take part in a rally against US military activity in the Caribbean, at the San Jose community in the Petare neighborhood in Caracas on December 13, 2025 ( AFP via Getty Images ) While many vessels picking up oil in Venezuela are under sanctions, others transporting the country's oil and crude from Iran and Russia have not been sanctioned, and some companies, particularly the U.S.' Chevron, transport Venezuelan oil in their own authorized ships. China is the biggest buyer of Venezuelan crude, which accounts for roughly 4% of its imports, with shipments in December on track to average more than 600,000 barrels per day, analysts have said. For now, the oil market is well supplied and there are millions of barrels of oil on tankers off the coast of China waiting to offload. If the embargo stays in place for some time, then the loss of nearly a million barrels a day of crude supply is likely to push oil prices higher. Since the U.S. imposed energy sanctions on Venezuela in 2019, traders and refiners buying Venezuelan oil have resorted to a "shadow fleet" of tankers that disguise their location and to vessels sanctioned for transporting Iranian or Russian oil. The dark or shadow fleet is considered exposed to possible punitive measures from the U.S., shipping analysts have said. Centuries, which loaded in Venezuela under false name "Crag" and is part of the dark fleet, was carrying some 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan Merey crude oil bound for China, according to internal documents from state oil company PDVSA, the oil's seller. The vessel departed Venezuelan waters Wednesday after being briefly escorted by the Venezuelan navy, according to company sources and satellite images obtained by TankerTrackers.com. The crude was bought by Satau Tijana Oil Trading, one of many intermediaries involved in PDVSA's sales to Chinese independent refiners, the documents showed. As of this week, of more than 70 oil tankers in Venezuelan waters that are part of the shadow fleet, around 38 are under sanctions by the U.S. Treasury, according to data from TankerTrackers.com. Of those, at least 15 are loaded with crude and fuel, it added. Trump's pressure campaign on Maduro has included a ramped-up military presence in the region and more than two dozen military strikes on vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, which have killed at least 100 people. Trump has also said that U.S. land strikes on the South American country will soon start. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has alleged that the U.S. military build-up is aimed at overthrowing him and gaining control of the OPEC nation's oil resources, which are the world's largest crude reserves. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Under a new law, the U.S. government will pay nearly $450,000 in compensation to firefighters who develop cancer in the line of duty, along with covering the cost of college tuition for their families. The legislation, included in this years defense spending bill, was signed into law on Thursday by President Donald Trump. Senators Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, and Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, first introduced the measure, titled the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, earlier this year. Our first responders epitomize courage and selfless sacrifice, confronting both the immediate perils of their duty which are extreme and the lingering health risks associated with their service, Cramer said after the law was enacted. Their exposure to dangerous carcinogens happens on our behalf, he added. When these heroes make the ultimate sacrifice, their families should not have to bear these burdens alone. The new law requires that firefighters who die or become disabled due to approximately 20 smoke-related cancers are automatically deemed to have suffered line-of-duty deaths or injuries, according to The New York Times. They will be eligible for a tax-free, one-time payment of $448,575. And their children or spouses will be given financial support to attend college for four years. open image in gallery The U.S. government will pay $450,000 to wildfire crews who have developed cancer and their children will be eligible for college tuition payments. ( AFP via Getty Images ) Before the law was passed, firefighters were only eligible for relief for physical injuries suffered on duty or as a result of deaths from strokes, heart attacks, mental health conditions and illnesses related to 9/11. The law was inspired by the death of Michael Paidar, a Minnesota fire captain who passed away from leukemia in 2020, according to Klobuchar. During his 15-year career with the St. Paul Fire Department, Paidar responded to over 1,600 fires and remained in good health for most of that time. He died only months after being diagnosed with cancer. In a statement, his widow, Julie Paidar, said she was grateful for the passage of the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act. Every day, our nations first responders selflessly serve and protect their communities, she said. Unfortunately, through exposures on the job, many are also fighting occupational cancer. open image in gallery The measure, which was included in this years defense spending bill, was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Thursday. ( Getty Images ) Multiple studies have found that firefighters face an elevated risk of certain cancers due to occupational exposures. A 2023 meta analysis found that firefighters have higher rates of skin melanoma and prostate cancer compared to the general population. Research from the University of Cincinnati revealed that rates of testicular cancer among firefighters are 100 percent higher than the general population and that firefighters are 50 percent more likely to fall ill with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Despite the known risks, firefighters across the country have been barred from wearing protective masks while battling blazes, according to the Times. A bipartisan bill introduced in November aims to remedy this by requiring the Forest Service to mandate that firefighters wear masks. Other legislation has also been put forward aiming to compensate wildfire crews for the risks they take by bolstering public safety. The latest legislation comes as wildfires are growing more intense and harder to manage. Globally, wildfires are now burning more than two times as many trees as they did 20 years ago, according to the World Resources Institute, a non-profit based in Washington, D.C.. Rising temperatures are one of the main culprits. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Egypts President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Saturday reiterated calls for structural changes in the U.N Security Council to grant Africa a larger role in shaping global decisions. El-Sissi made the plea for a more pluralistic world order at a conference of the Russia-Africa partnership held in Cairo, which was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and ministers from more than 50 African countries along with representatives from several African and regional organizations. The voice of Africa should be present and influential in making global decisions given the continents human, economic, political and demographic weight, el-Sissi said in a statement read out by his foreign minister at the plenary session of the conference. He added that international financial institutions need to undergo similar reforms to ensure Africa an equitable representation. Since 2005, the African Union has been demanding that Africa be granted two permanent seats with veto powers in the Security Council, arguing that such reforms would contribute to achieving peace and stability on the continent, which has been struggling with wars for decades. The Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, has not changed from its 1945 configuration: 10 non-permanent members from all regions of the world elected for two-year terms without veto power, and five countries that were dominant powers at the end of World War II are permanent members with veto power: the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France. In his statement, el-Sissi said that the Russia-Africa ministerial conference will develop a plan to consolidate the partnership ahead of next years summit of heads of state. We remain a reliable partner for African states in strengthening their national sovereignty, both politically and in matters of security, as well as in other dimensions, Lavrov said at the the plenary session. Were committed to further unlocking the existing enormous potential of our practical cooperation. The forum has gained momentum after the 2023 summit in the Russian city of of St. Petersburg, where President Vladimir Putin sought support of African leaders and break the political and economic isolation imposed on Russia by Western countries following its invasion of Ukraine. Russia has also expanded its military footprint in Africa, delivering sophisticated weaponry to sub-Saharan conflict zones, where a Kremlin-controlled military unit that replaced the Wagner mercenaries has been active. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Captured and sentenced to death by Russia, tortured and a witness to war crimes, a young man from Nottingham spent months waiting for the executioner in a Russian prison, unable to cry. I so desperately wanted to, I was trying to force myself to let some emotion out, he recalls. But because I was too terrified in that place, I wasnt able to cry. In five-and-a-half months of captivity, I never cried once. There was moments where I wanted to, but I just physically couldnt. This is Aiden Aslin, a survivor of Russian war crimes himself, speaking to The Independents World of Trouble podcast. His extraordinary life has taken him from working as a carer in Newark, Notts, to fighting with Kurdish militia against militants from the so-called Islamic State in Syria, to vicious street fighting under air attack in Ukraines besieged Mariupol. Post captivity, he is now back in Zaporizhzhia in eastern Ukraine and back in the Ukrainian army, which he joined before Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Reflecting on his adopted countrys chances of triumphing in Vladimir Putins brutal war, which has ground on for nearly four years, he is optimistic. I think Russia can be beaten, he says quietly. I think we have got the means to exhaust their economy. Obviously, it is not an overnight thing. At some point, it is going to give. People in Russia are saying that you should end this... The grasp is weakening. There are a lot of things showing that Russia is becoming a lot more destabilised. open image in gallery Aiden Aslin in a courtroom cage in Donetsk, Ukraine, in June 2022 ( Supreme Court of Donetsk People's Republic ) Aslin is not alone in taking up in arms for a country not his own. Thousands of foreign volunteers joined Ukraines fight after the Kremlin ordered troops to topple the democratically elected government in Kyiv and try to return Ukraine to the status of a Russian colony. But few were part of Ukraines forces before Putins full-scale invasion. Aslin, now 31, was among those who had already answered a call that came from within to fight what they saw as injustice. He was first prompted to leave the UK to fight abroad when he saw on television the massacres of Yazidis by Isis extremists in Syria in 2014, who went on to attempt genocide against the community and enslave hundreds of women. I never had any interest in going to Syria. But this was a defining moment in my journey where I decided I could continue to stay at home or stand by my beliefs and morals and actually do something when other people wont. I felt there was a sense of injustice that the West wasnt doing enough to try and prevent the atrocities that were being committed. He joined the Kurdish Peshmerga; a ruthlessly efficient militia supported by the US, UK, France and others with special forces troops, and bombers, in the fight against Isis. After three years, Aslin, a combat veteran at the age of 23, returned to the UK but, by 2018, the sense of injustice that propelled him to Syria drove him to Kyiv, and a recruiting office where officers were bewildered by the arrival of a British volunteer. open image in gallery Aslin said the Ukrainians were bewildered when he turned up at the army recruitment office ( The Independent ) After passing training, he joined Ukraines marines and got his marine parachute wings. By February 2022, he was manning a frontline position with Russian forces outside the Ukrainian-held city of Mariupol on the Black Sea coast when word came that a full-scale invasion had started. It was, he says, a relief after the waiting. But the sheer scale of the Putin advance meant his unit was forced back into the Ilych steelworks, close to the famed Azovstal works where other Ukrainian units were making their last stand in the face of a Russian ground and air onslaught. You lived like mice, you stay underground as much as you can, he says. You try to avoid going above ground because of the aviation and artillery. But I remember in the first initial weeks of the encirclement we had a lot of artillery that we were shooting back at the Russians. Soon the Ukrainians and Aslins marine unit were surrounded. The territory was getting smaller; it got to the point where we didnt have anything to shoot back with. By the first week of April, one of the neighbouring units ended up surrendering, without telling us anything. And it just exposed our entire right flank. Surrender became inevitable, and when Aslin became a prisoner of war, he expected to be shot on the spot. There were times when that may have felt like a release from what was to follow: a British citizen accused by Russia of fighting as a mercenary. On his capture, he was beaten, and he knew worse would follow. open image in gallery Aiden Aslin served in the Ukrainian army before the full-scale invasion of February 2022 ( cossackgundi ) Taken to the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk, he was confronted by a Russian in a blue uniform. He said something to me in Russian, and he had the thickest accent and stank of alcohol, he recalls. Me being me, I politely asked him if he could repeat what he said because I didnt understand. As soon as I said that he beat me with a police baton. Initially I got hit across the forehead and then I fell to the floor, hit a few more times, and then I felt myself getting hit on my left shoulder. At the time I thought it hit me on my left shoulder, but it turned out it actually stabbed me. Weeks and then months of torture followed. At one point a Russian interrogator stopped his attacks and lit a cigarette. He asked me, do I know who he is? And I was like, no. And he says, Im your death. He asked do you want a beautiful death or do you want a quick death? And obviously I wanted a quick death. And he said, no, youre going to have a beautiful death. I was fully expecting to be murdered at that point. [But then] this Russian came in and said, stop, stop, youre going to kill him. I knew it must have been bad if his superior had to stop him. Accused of terrorism at a Russian court martial, Aslin faced a death penalty if convicted, alongside fellow British volunteer Shaun Pinner and Moroccan Saadoune Brahim. They were assigned a lawyer but knew they would not get anything close to a fair trial. And in the run-up to the case being heard, Aslin began to crack. open image in gallery Captive Aiden Aslin was shown on Russian state television in April 2022 ( Russian state TV ) Held in a pre-trial facility, beatings became routine. On one occasion, Russian officials put bags over the heads of the prisoners who they then forced to crawl, roll and slither along the corridors while they were thrashed. Starved and kept in overcrowded cells, Aslin was forced to learn the Russian national anthem and sing it every morning word perfect. When the guards shouted Putins name, they had to stand up in their cells and shout: President of the world! At one stage during his incarceration, Aslin heard a man in the next-door cell being dragged out, beaten and tortured. As his body weakened, the mans screams faded. And when he was dragged back into his cell, the whipping continued but the victim fell silent. Prisoners sharing the cell screamed for help and shouted that the man was not breathing. It took 10 minutes for a guard to look in before he then went away. Another 10 minutes went by, and no doctor or medic was summoned until it was too late. The prisoner was dead. After a three-day sham trial, Aslin was found guilty, and the death sentence was passed. Even then, depressed and bereft of hope, having been sent back to prison, he still could not summon the emotional power to cry. He was too afraid. Unknown to him, Russia had realised there was value in keeping this foreign prisoner alive. He was paraded for interviews with collaborators working for the Moscow media, including the British propagandist Graham Phillips, now being investigated by the Met Police over alleged war crimes. But this propaganda kept him partly protected. On film, Aslin could not appear too badly bruised. The months went by, and he had no idea that he would end up on a list for PoWs to exchange. He, and others, were swapped for Russian prisoners in a deal brokered by the intelligence services of both sides, and with the help of Saudi Arabia, he was flown to the kingdom in September 2022. open image in gallery Aslin returns to his home in Newark in September 2022 ( Tom Maddick/SWNS ) But it was not until he saw British officials and knew he was safe that he could finally shed a tear. I was able to cry, and there was no fear of being beaten, he says. It was such a relief, emotionally and physically, because its something I had been wanting to do for such a long time. Aslin returned to the UK, but his home and his heart remained in Ukraine. He travelled to eastern Ukraine in November 2023 and signed back up with the military in January 2024. He continues to serve in Ukraines armed forces, where he will stay until the war is over. Looking at history, he finds comfort for Ukraine in the examples of Afghanistan, the Soviet Union and even Napoleon: On previous occasions throughout history, the defender has, most of the time, ended up winning. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Pope Leo XIV has summoned the worlds cardinals to Rome for two days of meetings to help him govern the church, the Vatican said on Saturday. The consistory, as such gatherings are called, is the clearest sign yet that the new year will signal the unofficial start of his pontificate. The January consistory will be held January 7 to 8, immediately following the January 6 conclusion of the 2025 Holy Year, a once-every-quarter-century celebration of Christianity. Leos first few months as pope have been dominated by fulfilling the weekly Holy Year obligations of meeting with pilgrimage groups and celebrating special Jubilee audiences and Masses, while also wrapping up the outstanding matters of Pope Francis' pontificate. As a result, the January consistory in many ways will mark the first time that Leo can look ahead to his own agenda following his May 8 election as the first American pope. Vatican Pope ( AP ) Francis had largely eschewed the consistory tradition as a means of governance. He had instead relied on a small group of eight or nine hand-picked cardinal advisers to help him govern and make key decisions. The Vatican said on Saturday that Leos first consistory will be oriented toward fostering common discernment and offering support and advice to the Holy Father in the exercise of his high and grave responsibility in the government of the universal Church. Other types of consistories include the formal installation of new cardinals. But no new cardinals will be made at this meeting, which is purely consultative. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to brief Donald Trump on the possibility of fresh air strikes against Iran, according to a report. Israeli officials fear that Iran is already rebuilding the nuclear enrichment sites that the US bombed in June and are weighing options to attack it again, NBC News said, citing anonymous US officials briefed on the plans and one person with direct knowledge. The Israeli prime minister is set to meet Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida at the end of this month for talks on the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. During the summit, Netanyahu is expected to make the case that Irans ballistic missile programme warrants a swift response, the outlet reported. The United States could be invited to join in bilateral action against Iran, with Netanyahu poised to argue that Iranian militarisation represents a threat to American interests in the region, the sources said. open image in gallery Smoke billows over Tehran during the strikes in June ( via REUTERS ) The comments came just days after the head of the Mossad intelligence agency insisted that Israel has a responsibility to stop Iran from producing a nuclear bomb. David Barnea said on Tuesday: The idea of continuing to develop a nuclear bomb still beats in their hearts. We bear responsibility to ensure that the nuclear project, which has been gravely damaged, in close cooperation with the Americans, will never be activated. Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful. However, in the aftermath of the June strikes, Tehran barred the UNs atomic watchdog from its facilities. Trump asserted in an address to the nation on Wednesday that he had already destroyed the Iran nuclear threat and brought peace to the region for the first time in 3,000 years. open image in gallery Israels Iron Dome works to intercept incoming Iranian missiles ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) An early Pentagon assessment concluded that the strikes in June on the facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan had likely only set Irans nuclear programme back by a matter of months. Israel had led with unilateral strikes against Tehrans nuclear facilities, launch sites and top brass before the US vowed to sink entrenched nuclear sites with 30,000lb bunker-buster bombs. Israel had claimed its initial offensive was the culmination of years of research and planning by Israels military and Mossad. Netanyahu warned at the time that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time if not stopped, potentially within months. open image in gallery Images of the Fordow nuclear enrichment site before and after the June strikes by the US ( Maxar Technologies ) Fears of a wider regional war took shape as Irans Houthi allies joined in unprecedented retaliatory strikes against Israel. Depleted Iran proxy Hezbollah sat out of the conflict, keeping to a delicate ceasefire deal agreed in November. Israel is itself widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, though neither nation confirms or denies this. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The United States military has launched extensive airstrikes against Islamic State targets across central Syria, officials confirmed on Friday, in direct retaliation for a recent attack on American personnel. The strikes follow a pledge by President Donald Trump to respond forcefully after an incident last weekend, which saw a suspected Islamic State member target a U.S. convoy. An anonymous US official characterized the current military action as a large-scale response. That attack, which occurred on Saturday in the central Syrian town of Palmyra, resulted in the deaths of two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter. Trump vows to retaliate after ISIS gunman kills three Americans in Syria ( Getty Images ) Three additional U.S. soldiers sustained injuries before the assailant was shot dead, according to the US military. These latest actions are part of an ongoing campaign by a US-led coalition, which has been conducting both aerial and ground operations against suspected Islamic State militants in Syria, often in conjunction with local security forces. US president Donald Trump and nine major pharmaceutical companies announced deals on Friday that will slash the prices of their medicines for the government's Medicaid program and for cash payers, in his latest bid to align US costs with those in other wealthy nations. KABUL, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall have claimed at least four lives in Afghanistan's western Herat province, a provincial government spokesman said Friday night. Three Afghan nationals attempting to illegally cross into neighboring Iran died from exposure to snowfall and extreme cold in Kohsan district, according to Mohammad Yusuf Sayedi, spokesman for the provincial government. A shepherd also succumbed to the severe cold in the same district, the official added. Former landscaper faces extra 18 months in jail after laundering 127,000 John Carey is already serving time after he was arrested with 1.2m of cocaine at Dublin Port in 2022 John Carey is serving a seven-year jail term for drug importation Robin Schiller Sat 20 Dec 2025 at 06:30 A former Tipperary landscaper and convicted drug importer will serve an additional 18 months in prison for laundering over 127,000 through his bank account. Distress for families as many hospitals impose strict new rule on visiting patients over Christmas amid flu surge Rules bring back bad memories of winter waves during pandemic when people were unable to see their sick relatives Family members face not being able to see sick relatives in hospital over Christmas due to strict Covid -style 'one person' visiting rule to stem flu spread Eilish O'Regan Sat 20 Dec 2025 at 06:30 Family members face the distress of not being able to see sick relatives in hospital over Christmas, as many impose a strict one person only visiting rule to stem the spread of flu. An Irish grandmother who had been facing deportation from the US over bad cheques worth $80 written 10 years ago has been released from US custody. Donna Hughes-Brown, an Irish citizen and US green card holder, had been in ICE detention since July when she was arrested in Chicago having got off a plane from Ireland. LATEST | Nursing home worker who died after car plunged into flooded river was married father of two Man (60s) also dies after separate crash in Co WestmeathOne person hospitalised after two-car crash in Co Wicklow Ralph Riegel Sun 21 Dec 2025 at 11:45 A nursing home worker who died after his car left the road and went into a flooded river as he drove home from work to attend a Christmas event has been hailed as a devoted father and a loyal colleague. They wanted to go one way and I wanted to go another Ronan Collins to leave RTE next week after four decades on the airwaves The broadcaster has been worked for RTE for over 40 years Photo: Steve Humphreys Sarah O'Mahony Sat 20 Dec 2025 at 11:51 Ronan Collins, one of RTEs longest-serving staff members, says he couldnt come to an arrangement with the broadcaster and will leave next week. You cant go wrong with these easy-to-follow and cracking recipes for the big day "These are the recipes that bring comfort and tradition, and the ones that make Christmas Day feel like Christmas." Photo: Tony Gavin Its almost Christmas Day and the pace in every home begins to shift. Lists are being finalised, ingredients are being gathered, ovens are warming more often and the kitchen naturally becomes the heart of the house. This week, in the last of our Christmas series, we turn to the dishes at the core of the feast. These are the recipes that bring comfort and tradition, and the ones that make Christmas Day feel like Christmas. "These are the recipes that bring comfort and tradition, and the ones that make Christmas Day feel like Christmas." Photo: Tony Gavin If you havent decorated your Christmas cake yet, this weekend is the perfect time to do so. Give it one last feed of whiskey and have your marzipan, icing and decorations ready for the finishing touches. The first centrepiece is the traditional Christmas turkey. This recipe follows simple steps and the rhythm of Christmas Eve and Christmas morning preparation, from making the herb and breadcrumb stuffing to filling the neck cavity with sausage and smoked cheddar, to using lemon and confit garlic butter under the skin. Each step helps ensure the turkey stays moist and full of flavour as it roasts. This is the kind of turkey that fills the house with anticipation long before it is carved. Kevin Dundon's Christmas turkey. Photo: Tony Gavin Traditional Christmas turkey Serves 8 You will need: 5kg turkey 100g butter 1 bulb roasted garlic, cold Zest of 1 lemon 1 tbsp fresh thyme 1 tbsp fresh sage 2 large onions, roughly sliced 3 carrots, halved lengthways 1 head of garlic, halved Traditional stuffing: 150g butter 1 onion 450g fresh white breadcrumbs 2 tbsp thyme, chopped 2 tbsp parsley, chopped 2 tbsp sage, chopped Zest of 1 lemon Salt and pepper Cheddar sausage meat stuffing: 450g sausage meat 100g mashed potatoes 100g smoked cheddar cheese 1 onion, finely diced 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped 1 tbsp thyme, chopped 1 tbsp sage, chopped Salt and pepper On Christmas Eve: 1 Prepare the traditional stuffing. This will go in the main cavity. 2 Melt the butter in a saucepan with the onion over a medium heat for 2-4 minutes until the onion turns translucent. Remove from the heat. 3 In a bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, chopped herbs and lemon zest. Pour over the onion and butter mixture and stir well. Season the stuffing and allow to cool completely in the bowl overnight. 4 Prepare the sausage meat stuffing. This will go in the neck cavity. 5 In a large bowl mix together the sausage meat, mashed potato, cheese, onion, garlic, herbs and season well with salt and pepper. Keep aside and covered until needed. 6 For the turkey, remove the giblets from the main cavity if supplied. Keep aside for later use. 7 In a small bowl, beat the 100g of butter with the confit garlic, lemon zest, thyme and sage until the mixture is of a pliable texture. From the turkeys neck cavity (or wishbone cavity), use your finger to very gently loosen up the skin attached to the breast, being careful not to burst or slit the skin. Push in the lemon and herb butter. 8 Pack the sausage meat stuffing into the neck cavity to give a smooth shape. Roll any excess in baking parchment paper into a pudding shape, then wrap in tin foil to roast with the turkey the next morning. 9 Place the turkey and stuffing back into the fridge for the night. On Christmas morning: 1 Preheat the oven to 160C and remove the turkey from the refrigerator. 2 Line the main cavity with some baking parchment paper and loosely pack the breadcrumb stuffing into the bird. 3 If you can, tie the legs together with the pygostyle or popes nose to ensure even cooking. 4 Dont forget to weigh the turkey again with the stuffing enclosed, to assist with accurate calculations for the cooking times it should be 30 minutes per kg plus 40 minutes. For a 5kg turkey, it should take about three hours and 30 minutes. You can also set a digital probe by the leg of the turkey, which should read 70-72C. 5 Prepare the roasting tray. Put the giblets, onions, carrots and garlic at the bottom to create a raft for the turkey. 6 When ready, place the turkey in the oven and season with salt and pepper. 7 Roast according to the weight of the stuffed turkey. After the first two hours, loosely cover the turkey with tin foil to prevent excessive browning. 8 Remove the turkey from the oven, lift away from the roasting tray onto a carving board, and again cover with loose tin foil. Allow the meat to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before carving while making gravy using the roasting tray trimmings. 9 Carve and enjoy the turkey and the day! Kevin Dundon's Christmas ham. Photo: Tony Gavin Classic apple-glazed ham Alongside that is my classic apple-glazed Christmas ham. The glaze of crab apple jelly, apple syrup and mustard creates a glossy, caramelised finish once its been roasted. I like to serve it warm on Christmas Day, but it does work well cold with pickles and bread on St Stephens Day. You will need: 1 x 4kg Irish ham (we used Crowes farm) 1 onion studded with 3 cloves 1 carrot 1 bay leaf 1 tbsp mustard 200g crab apple jelly 100g muscovado sugar 50ml apple syrup 10g whole cloves 1 Place the ham in a large heavy based saucepan, add the studded onion, carrots and bay leaf. Add enough water to cover the ham completely. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and allow to simmer for approximately one hour (or 20-25 min / 500g depending on the size of your ham.) Remove from the heat and allow the ham to cool in the cooking liquor. 2 In a small bowl, combine the mustard, crab apple jelly, sugar and apple syrup, stirring until the mixture combines. 3 Preheat the oven to 160C. 4 Place the boiled ham on a roasting tray. Using a sharp knife, carefully remove the skin from the ham, then gently score the fat. Stud the ham with cloves. 5 Spread the glaze over the ham with a spoon. 6 Place into the oven for 20-35 minutes until golden brown, then remove from the oven. 7 Using a pastry brush, brush the ham with extra glaze or drizzle extra apple syrup and let it rest for 20 minutes. 8Carve the ham and enjoy warm. Turkey gravy Serves 8 You will need: Turkey giblets or chicken wings 2 carrots 1 onion Salt and pepper 750ml turkey/chicken stock 1-2 bay leaves 2 tbsp plain flour 150ml red wine 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. 2 Place the turkey giblets or chicken wings, carrots and onions on a tray. Season with salt and pepper. Cook in the oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour until they are fully cooked through. Remove any excess fat. 3 Pour the stock into a saucepan and add the bay leaves. Bring to the boil. 4 Remove the tray with the giblets from the oven and place on the hob. Sprinkle the flour onto the tray and brown on the hob. When the flour has browned, deglaze the pan with the red wine, then pass the gravy through a sieve into another saucepan. Bring to the boil, then slowly add the warmed turkey stock and reduce by half until the correct coating consistency is achieved. Keep aside until ready to serve. 5 Alternatively, set it to cool and transfer to the fridge in a container for 2-3 days and warm up when required. Kevin Dundon's Christmas dinner. Photo: Tony Gavin My roasties Serves 4-6 You will need: 700g floury potatoes, cut into large even-sized chunks (such as Rooster) 150g goose or duck fat Salt to season 1 Preheat the oven to 220C/425F/Gas 7. 2Place the potatoes in a pan of cold salted water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes until the outsides have just softened. Drain and return to the pan for a minute or two to dry out. 3 Meanwhile, preheat a roasting tin with 4-5 tbsps of duck or goose fat for a few minutes until just smoking. 4 Put the lid back on the potatoes and shake vigorously to break up and soften the edges or roughly prod the outside of the potatoes with a fork. Carefully tip them into the hot oil, basting the tops. 5 Place the roasting tin with the potatoes back in the oven and cook for 30-40 minutes, turning the potatoes over every 10-15 minutes. Season to taste with the salt and cook for a further 15-20 minutes until crispy around the edges and golden brown. 6 To serve, tip the roast potatoes into a warmed serving dish. No Christmas Day is complete without a well-balanced Irish cheese board. This is one of my favourite times of the day with a tasty glass of wine or port. I like to choose a mix of textures and flavours. Create a cheese board with a selection of six or so cheeses from which you will use over the next few days. Dont forget good quality local crackers and a good chutney to complete the board. With a little planning and good local produce, these dishes make the busiest meal of the year a tasty showcase of Irelands amazing producers. Enjoy the preparations, they are as much a part of Christmas as the day itself. Happy cooking! John Downing: Juan Carloss efforts to win back hearts fall flat with his tell-all book It might be a bestseller, but Spaniards arent buying ex-kings sob story Spain's former king, Juan Carlos. Photo: Reuters John Downing Sat 20 Dec 2025 at 06:30 Its surely no great surprise that a first-person memoir from a bonking, boozing and epically spendthrift former king should be a Christmas bestseller. But while the former Spanish monarch, Juan Carlos (87), is bagging curious readers aplenty, there is no sign of his book, Reconciliation, bringing him the redemption he so earnestly seeks in his declining years of enforced exile. Disclosure can be the difference between transparency and invisibility, and therefore is vital to the public interest. That is why the Governments push to conceal the home addresses of company directors from the public seems so disingenuous and contrary to building confidence and trust in business. The move is being led by the Department of Enterprise, which is intent on shielding the names from the media. Reporters have long relied on the use of the information taken from the companies register. It is critical for the media, as it enables it to take a look behind the curtain of corporate Ireland. If all this is not concerning enough, even more egregiously, the European Court of Justice is set to deny the public access to details of who owns companies, including those listed on stock markets. It has concluded that the need for shareholder privacy in public limited companies outweighs the requirement to ensure the information is public. It said this is necessary to prevent money laundering, financing of terrorism and the enforcement of sanctions. The ruling will have profound implications for stock market laws and rules across the EU. Any move that seals off scrutiny is likely to fuel cynicism about building high walls of secrecy around the wealthy. Access to accurate company details is essential to maintain the integrity and good standing of Irish business. The public has an absolute right to know where vested interests lie. Who owns what should not be clouded in gold-plated confidentiality. Such restrictions will make it difficult for the media to cross-check or verify stories. Big Tech has enough data on the most intimate details of our lives to make the Stasi blush Any censorship is inimical to a healthy democracy that values equality and candour. Such descents into deep financial furtiveness are deeply regrettable. Governments across the bloc live in fear of breaching GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) rules. The over-reach of this legislation is having a chilling effect. The rules are so wide-reaching and the penalties so high, with crippling fines, that the fear can be paralysing. Information always available to people will now be hidden. The dark irony is that GDPR has done so little to protect the private lives of real people. Big Tech has enough data on the most intimate details of our lives to make the Stasi blush. This EU finding is framing an even more rigid approach to privacy law. Yet it is failing to take on board the societal importance of identifying who owns public companies. We dont need names and addresses, perhaps, but we do need identities and interests. The grim paradox is that as ordinary individuals are kept in the dark, enormous corporations appear able to trade their information with each other, mining it for limitless profit. As Jonathan Swift once noted: Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through. Nowhere does this seem more apparent than in the draconian interpretation and application of such EU rules. At least 230 children will spend this Christmas in emergency accommodation in Cork and Kerry, while 109 families in the South West will spend Christmas without a home. The figures were revealed by Focus Ireland as the charity renewed its Christmas Appeal following publication of the most recent Department of Housing Homelessness Report. 712 adults are currently in emergency accommodation in Cork city and county, while a record number of 5,274 children will be homeless across Ireland this Christmas. The report also shows that 712 adults are currently living in emergency accommodation in Cork City and County, while 109 families across the South West Cork-Kerry region face Christmas without a home. Focus Ireland has helped 190 families out of homelessness so far this year Acclaimed Irish actor, writer and social justice advocate, Emmet Kirwan, who staged his sell-out play Accents in the Everyman in Cork earlier this year, said it is a collective failure of policy and the political system that thousands of children across Ireland will spend Christmas without a place to call home. No child should spend even one Christmas without a safe place to call home, let alone their second or third, said the actor. Child homelessness is entirely preventable. We saw numbers fall during the eviction ban, and then rise when it ended, proving that political choices make a real difference. It is shameful that successive governments have allowed this crisis to deepen. Mr Kirwan continued: Im proud to work with Focus Ireland because they not only support families facing homelessness, but they also prevent people from entering homelessness. They provide housing and fight for real solutions to end homelessness. Im asking people to support Focus Ireland by giving what they can this Christmas and to join me in signing the petition calling for government action to end child homelessness because every child deserves a place to call home, he added. Focus Ireland said it is totally unacceptable that 5,274 children are now homeless across Ireland, the highest number ever recorded. Shockingly, the number of children who are now homeless in Ireland has risen by 135% in the last four years. Founded 40 years ago this year by Sr Stanislaus Kennedy who passed away last month, Focus Ireland is urging the public to support its Christmas Appeal and to sign its petition calling on the government to act on its five-point plan to end child homelessness for good. Last year Focus Ireland supported 4,500 children in 2,053 families who were homeless or at risk of homelessness. So far this year, the charity has supported 49 families in Cork and helped 190 families with 419 children out of homelessness, in partnership with its supporters and the State. The charity saw an 18% increase in the number of children it supported last year compared with 2023. Focus Irelands No Child Without A Home campaign highlights the hidden impact and long-term harm of homelessness on children from lost education to emotional trauma and developmental impacts, while also lobbying the government and providing solutions to end homelessness. The charitys five point action plan asks the government to stop no fault evictions, stop families being evicted because of unaffordable rents, build enough of the right homes in the right places, prioritise long term homeless families for social housing and protect children by putting their needs and interests first. CEO of Focus Ireland, Pat Dennigan said: Homelessness is not inevitable. It is the result of policy choices and is entirely preventable. Thats why were asking the public to stand with us by donating to Focus Ireland, to help us deliver our services and by demanding change from the Government through our petition. With political will and public support, we can help families rebuild their lives and end homelessness for good. This Christmas, you can make a difference. Join us and help end child homelessness for good, he added. Last year Focus Ireland supported a total of more than 18,000 people across the country who were experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. The charity aims to raise vital funds for homelessness services through its Christmas appeal. Donations will go directly towards supporting families facing homelessness, providing emergency accommodation, housing advice, and long-term housing solutions. To donate or to find out more about Focus Irelands Christmas Appeal and No Child Without a Home campaign please visit www.focusireland.ie News House building in the Cork city area slowed by 67% in 2025 House building has slowed by 67% in the Cork city area, since the current coalition government took office, with the overall number of units commenced decreasing from 4,584 in 2024 to 1,501 in 2025. Zhou Pan, minister counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, speaks at the closing ceremony of the seventh Chinese Language Training Course for Nepalese Tourism Professionals in Kathmandu, Nepal, Dec. 19, 2025. A total of 47 Nepali tourism professionals received certificates at the conclusion of a Chinese language training session here on Friday. (Xinhua/Zhang Ping) KATHMANDU, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- A total of 47 Nepali tourism professionals received certificates at the conclusion of a Chinese language training session here on Friday. The training was conducted under a six-month program organized by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, in cooperation with the Nepal Tourism Board and the Nepal China Cultural and Educational Council. The seven training sessions held under the program have equipped nearly 300 Nepali tourism professionals with Chinese language skills. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal, coincides with the "2025 Nepal Tourism Year," and is a crucial year in Nepal's 10-year tourism plan (2023-2032), said Zhou Pan, minister counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal. "As a bridge for spreading civilization, exchanging culture and enhancing friendship, the tourism industry and its practitioners are 'natural diplomats,'" Zhou told attendees at the ceremony. Ram Krishna Lamichhane, director general of Nepal's Department of Tourism, said the program is crucial for Nepal as the country anticipates and welcomes an increasing number of Chinese tourists. Ram Krishna Lamichhane (1st L), director general of Nepal's Department of Tourism, speaks at the closing ceremony of the seventh Chinese Language Training Course for Nepalese Tourism Professionals in Kathmandu, Nepal, Dec. 19, 2025. A total of 47 Nepali tourism professionals received certificates at the conclusion of a Chinese language training session here on Friday. (Xinhua/Zhang Ping) Hundreds of social homes previously part of Public Private Partnership (PPP) Bundle 3 will now begin construction in late 2026, up to 18 months after their intended start date of mid 2025. Minister for Housing James Browne pulled the plug on the bundle of six housing schemes just before construction began in June of this year, citing value-for-money concerns. However, the eleventh-hour intervention stalled the projects, which would provide 486 homes in total, by well over a year, according to updated timelines provided by local authorities. Construction is now set to begin on the sites up to 18 months late, with all but one of the schemes now due to begin construction towards the end of 2026. A spokesperson for Dublin City Council (DCC), who are handling three schemes, said it is now moving to the contractor procurement stage for each, with works commencing in late 2026. These projects consist of 68 homes on the Ready Mix site on East Wall Road, 93 homes for elderly people on Shangan Road, and 83 homes on Collins Avenue. A spokesperson for Kildare County Council (KCC) said the 73-home scheme in Ardrew, also from PPP bundle 3, would be proceeding to construction at the same time as the schemes in Dublin. The three DCC sites and one KCC site, they said, would progress together under a single design and build project known as Project Barrow. Design and build contracts are a development method whereby one contractor is responsible for both the design and construction aspects of a project. The aim is to simplify development and quicken the pace of delivery. Sligo County Council (SCC) is also progressing their 63-home Rathellen scheme in Finisklin, which was in Bundle 3, via a design and build contract. SCC estimate that the scheme will complete in 2028, subject to a smooth procurement process and progress of works on site, a spokesperson said, adding that they hoped for the works contract to be awarded in quarter four of next year. In Wicklow, the council said they would now undertake the tendering and construction of their Blessington 106-home Burgage More scheme from Bundle 3 in house. Works will commence on site slightly earlier than the other projects, in the third quarter of next year, with a projected 18-month construction period. Sinn Fein spokesperson for housing, Eoin O Broin, said the delays were very long considering the sites all had been awarded planning permission. Id be really intrigued to find out why, because if you have planning permission, then the post-planning design work wouldnt take you that long, he said, suggesting that the building contractors may have lined up other work when news of the delay came. The Department of Housing said the decision not to proceed with PPP Bundle 3 was not taken lightly. It was driven by concerns over the overall cost of the project, which, upon review, was deemed to be too high to represent the most efficient use of public funds, a spokesperson said. Mr Browne said earlier this year that he could not disclose the cost of the abandoned original contract, but that he would not blindly sign off at any price for social homes. These homes were frankly at an astronomical price, he added. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme A former Meta kitchen porter has admitted assaulting a security worker after turning up at the tech giant's headquarters to confront a colleague over a fake dating profile, in what a judge described as a "very strange" case. Leonardo Fernandez (29), of Kilmore Avenue, Coolock, has pleaded guilty at Dun Laoghaire District Court to assaulting a security worker and to a public order offence on December 30, 2024 at Meta Ballsbridge premises in Dublin 4. Gardai said security staff at the building had become aware of Fernandez after spotting him lingering around the site and monitored him on CCTV for some time. The court heard Fernandez ran towards the building's pedestrian entrance off Merrion Road, where a member of the security team attempted to speak to him. Fernandez then began swinging his arms towards the security worker, who retreated, moved backwards and fell, hitting his head on the ground. The defendant was then restrained inside the main building by a number of security staff. Gardai said staff at the premises did not know Fernandez or why he was there, and had only observed him hanging around the site. Meta International HQ Campus in Ballsbridge. Photo: Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty. Today's News in 90 Seconds - Saturday, December 20. Judge Anne Watkin heard that on the day of the incident, Fernandez was no longer employed by the company and was not entitled to be on the premises. Defence solicitor, Patricia Camilon, said her client had ongoing issues with a former colleague at Meta and believed arrangements had been made to meet her on the day in question. She told the court that a photograph of Fernandez had been taken by the woman and allegedly used without his permission to create a false dating profile. Ms Camillon said the image had been used without her clients consent to create a false dating profile, which she claimed was intended to control him and tarnish his image. She said Fernandez had reported the matter to gardai but nothing came of it and submitted he had turned up at the premises as a last resort. The court heard Fernandez has no previous convictions. Judge Watkin described the situation as "very strange" and said the defendant's behaviour had resulted in someone being injured. The matter was adjourned for a probation report and a victim impact statement from the injured party to April 27 at Dun Laoghaire District Court for finalisation. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme. The Leisureland community centre in Salthill has been removed from Galway City Councils 2026 budget, raising questions about sinking funds and potential membership price hikes. As the city councils draft budget was presented ahead of its monthly meeting, councillors voiced major concerns over cuts affecting Leisureland and some climate action projects. The facility, which includes a community pool, play areas, offices, event space and other amenities, had relied on the 307,000 allocation that is now gone. This has prompted questions about whether a back-up fund exists should an emergency arise. During the December meeting, Cllr Clodagh Higgins asked the chief executive about the current amount in the sinking fund and whether Leisurelands board was included in the decision to remove the funding. She received no response to either query. You can dress it up all you want, but it's not prudent budgeting. It's a real failure of responsibility, she told the Irish Independent, adding that the chief executive gave no reassurances whatsoever that the facility will remain unaffected. Cllr Higgins believes the sinking fund is currently depleted, calling the move completely reckless if no plan is in place. She stressed that city council funding is vital for the centre, which serves 4,000 children weekly. Its my understanding that Leisureland did need a certain percentage of that budget and then the rest went into a sinking fund, she said. The cut is made when minimum wages are being increased, the pension auto-enrolment has been introduced, and then on top of it all, you have a pool that is an aging facility, Cllr Higgins added. Leisureland never needed this funding more than what they do need it in 2026. And my concern is that the Chief Executive didn't actually give any confidence in the sense that it wouldn't be impacted. The Irish Independent contacted Galway City Council, which manages Leisureland, for projections into 2026. Responses indicate the facility is operating with a 50,000 shortfall from 2025, which will divert funds intended for capital improvements. As a result, upgrades will be postponed, membership prices are likely to rise, and breaking even in 2026 appears unlikely. Concerns will be brought before the Corporate Policy Group in the New Year to examine the repercussions of the budget decisions, Cllr Higgins said, where further clarity on Leisurelands future is expected. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting scheme. Walking the GOAL Mile is a Christmas tradition for many families. The people of Kerry have been called upon to lace up for their local GOAL Mile this Christmas to raise funds for vulnerable communities around the world. Irish humanitarian aid charity GOAL is urging Kerry natives to participate in the GOAL Mile events taking place across the county this month and into the New Year. Killorglin GOAL Mile organiser Michael Mangan said it is special to hold the event each year. We get to see the amazing people of Kerry step up for the GOAL Mile and help GOAL raise vital funds to support the communities where they work, Michael said. We are asking for even more people to lace up their runners this year and come and join us at one of the Kerry GOAL Miles. Its a wonderful opportunity to come together with family, friends, and your community to enjoy some festive fresh air while helping to make a real difference for those who need it most! he added. Nafisa Brennan, senior fundraising manager at GOAL, said last years Miles raised 750,000 in support of life-saving humanitarian work across Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. This year, your involvement can help us make an even bigger impact. At GOAL, were calling on you to find your local GOAL Mile and join us for what is always such a fun and memorable event, Nasifa said. There will be eight GOAL Miles running in Kerry over the festive period. The Castlegregory GOAL Mile will take place at 10am on Sunday, December 21. The Kenmare GAA GOAL Mile will commence at 10am on Christmas Day. Killorglin GOAL Mile will begin at 10am on Christmas Day. Deenagh Lodge (Killarney) GOAL Mile will start at 10am on Christmas Day. Castleisland GOAL Mile will take place at 10.30am on Christmas Day, Listowel GOAL Mile will go ahead at 11am on Christmas Day. Dr Crokes GAA GOAL Mile will start at 10.15am on Sunday, December 28. Ballymac Community GOAL Mile will begin at 12 noon on New Years Day. For more information on where to find your local GOAL Mile contact 087-6015163 or visit: goalmile.org The GOAL Mile is sponsored by AIB. The GOAL Mile will be held in memory of the late Olympian Jerry Kiernan Residents of Listowel and further afield have been urged to participate in the GOAL Mile event on Christmas morning to raise funds to help the people of Gaza. The GOAL Mile, which will be held in memory of the late Listowel athlete Jerry Kiernan, will commence at 11am from Listowel Community Centre in the town park on Christmas Day. Jimmy Deenihan, who has organised the initiative for the last six years, told The Kerryman that the event is one of the bigger GOAL Mile events in the country each year. We get over 100 people participating usually. And it can be over that too, Jimmy said. Its always a very nice social event where people get to meet each other when they are home for Christmas. Families come as a unit and take part, he added. People can walk or run the mile, whatever they choose. Jimmy said proceeds will help to provide vital humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. Individual tickets for the event cost 14 each and family of four tickets are priced at 50. Those interested can pre-register for the event online at: www.goalmile.org. Justice should never be served up to someone as a privilege, justice is a right- former garda reflects on case which saw ex-husband get suspended jail term Cllr Arthur Gibbons has called for free hot lunches to be provided in all secondary schools as a matter of urgency A Sligo Councillor has called on Minister for Education, Hildegarde Naughton to provide Warm hot lunches in all secondary schools within the state as a matter of urgency. Cllr Arthur Gibbons motion before the December meeting of Sligo County Council called on the local authority to write to Minister Naughton with the motion being supported by his fellow councillors. Currently the School Meals Scheme funds schools to provide food to school children with all DEIS and non-DEIS primary schools deemed eligible for hot meals. Post-primary schools are not eligible to apply for hot meals, but they can get other food options under the scheme. Addressing the Council Chamber to speak on behalf of his motion, Cllr Gibbons said, It doesnt mean a child dont need a meal because it is not a designated school. It shouldnt have to be a teachers job to check if children have lunch. I really feel it should be rolled out across the board. Those sentiments were shared by Cllr Ann Higgins who said, We keep saying we are one of the richest countries in the world but there is a lot of hidden poverty. Cllr Higgins referred to the popularity of the breakfast club at the ATU when she said, In the ATU we introduced a free breakfast scheme. We thought we would get 50 students a day but there are 450 students a day availing of it. Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. In the past, Irish archaeologists had a problem with cats. However, the issue is now resolved thanks to the work of archaeologist Dr Marion Dowd of the Atlantic Technological University, the multi-campus university on Irelands western and north-western seaboard. Three species of wild cat occur in Europe: the European Wildcat, the Eurasian Lynx, and the Iberian Lynx. In the past it was believed that the first two species were probably once native to Ireland but are now long extinct. All domesticated cats are ancestors of a wild cat. It is believed that the relationship between people and pet cats dates back to about 10,000 years ago and originated with farmers. Early farmers in the Fertile Crescent region of south-west Asia perfected cereal growing resulting in large volumes of stored grain at harvest time. The grain attracted rodents, and the rodents attracted wild cats to feed on them. The cat native to the region was the Near Eastern Wildcat, a subspecies of the African Wildcat. Farmers obviously encouraged and facilitated the wild cats and over time agricultural communities domesticated them and bred them to keep rodents under control. After 10,000 years of selective breeding, the domesticated cat is presently regarded to be a separate species from its wildcat ancestors. In the past, when archaeologists found cat bones during excavations they could not tell by looking at them how old they were or if they were the bones of a wildcat or of a domesticated cat. Nowadays, archaeologists have two great tools at their disposal: radiocarbon dating and ancient DNA analysis. During one of Marion Dowds excavations, she collected 39 cat bones from deep within Glencurran Cave in the Burren, Co Clare. Bones sent to Belfast for radiocarbon dating returned an age of more than 5,500 years, and bones sent to Rome for ancient DNA analysis confirmed that they belonged to an adult male European Wildcat, and to an ancient European lineage closely related to wildcats from Italy and Spain. It was the first confirmation that wildcats lived in Ireland long ago. So, we now know that European Wildcats roamed the Burren during the Middle Neolithic period. However, Irish Wildcat populations declined due to habitat loss and hunting. It is not known when the species became extinct. The species still survives in Scotland, but numbers continue to decline and cross-breeding with feral domestic cats is polluting the wild gene pool. Leah Kavanagh, Justyna Suszczynska and Aaron Duffy of the Vault Youth Club, Arklow at the Oiche na hOige 2025 'Light up the Night'. Photo: Michael Kelly Letecia Sales and Lily Hayden of the Vault Youth Club, Arklow at the Oiche na hOige 2025 'Light up the Night'. Photo: Michael Kelly Tara and Skye Garvey with Jimmy Myler of the Vault Youth Club, Arklow at the Oiche na hOige 2025 'Light up the Night'. Photo: Michael Kelly Aaron Duffy and Deano Tai of the Vault Youth Club, Arklow at the Oiche na hOige 2025 'Light up the Night'. Photo: Michael Kelly Members of the Vault Youth Club, Arklow at the Oiche na hOige 2025 'Light up the Night'. Photo: Michael Kelly Leah Kavanagh and Jimmy Myler of the Vault Youth Club, Arklow at the Oiche na hOige 2025 'Light up the Night'. Photo: Michael Kelly Lily Kaye and Julia Finkowicz of the Vault Youth Club, Arklow at the Oiche na hOige 2025 'Light up the Night'. Photo: Michael Kelly Crosscare East Wicklow Youth Service recently unveiled a new youth-designed mural at the Arklow Youth Centre, followed by its first annual celebration of youth creativity as part of Oiche na hOige 2025 Light up the Night, marking a significant moment for the centre. Created with young people and local artist Adam Burke, the mural reflects youth identity, belonging, and the vibrant creativity of those attending the centre in recent months. Young people were involved in every step of the process from concept development to final design, with Julia Pinkowicz, Lily Kaye, Alex Maher, Dominica Illecko, Muireann Doyle, Sarah Forde, Jack Kelly, Leah Kavanagh, Justyna Suszczynska and Deano Tai amongst those contributing to the stunning mural. Funded by Creative Wicklow, the mural was created thanks to the capable help of youth worker Angeline Pluck and volunteer Aaron Duffy. After the launch of the mural, young people, dignitaries and parents attended Oiche na hOige, which ran from 6.30pm to 9.30pm at the centre, showcasing artwork, music, performances, and projects created by young people from across Arklow, Wicklow, and Rathdrum throughout the evening. As the night concluded, speaking after the evening, which highlighted the positive impact of youth work and celebrated young peoples achievements throughout the year, Angeline Pluck said: We had over 65 young people attend the event, and for our first one, it was a great success. This event celebrated the creativity, confidence, and community spirit of our young people. This was a national event through the Department of Education and the Kildare & Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). All the details for the countys festive swims Members of the AGB football tam at the 2024 St Stephen's Day swim in Arklow. Photo: Paul Burke Ben, Mary Rose, Jiim and Ross Callan with Ailbhe O'Flaherty at the 2024 Christmas Day swim in Greystones. Photo: Leigh Anderson The Lemon and Gorman families at the 2024 Christmas Day swim in Greystones. Photo: Leigh Anderson Christmas dipping in the freezing Irish sea is an annual tradition for hundreds of Wicklow folk, so weve put together a quick guide to where and when to get your festive swim in. Weve also shared some tips to on how to best enjoy the water as temperatures dip and spirits rise. Greystones on Christmas Day The Cove and South Beach in Greystones will be awash with hordes of dipping enthusiasts from Christmas Day through to New Years Day. But the best day to tog out is Christmas Day, with many swimmers and spectators popping along for 12pm. There is no formal swim or charity event, but there is always plenty of festive cheer, camaraderie and company as people dig into their post-swim picnics. Bring along some change in case there are collection buckets for local causes, as well as your own flasks of hot drinks and maybe some mince pies or turkey sandwiches! One of County Wicklows swimming gems, The Cove was chosen by Failte Ireland for its list of 10 Perfect Swimming Spots Across the Country for a festive swim last year. A firm favourite among many Wicklow residents is, The Cove is not so much hidden anymore but still a gem and at many times still a peaceful spot to embrace the cold waters of the Irish sea and connect your mind, body, and spirit. Following your dip, you can pay a visit to Fad Saoil Saunas, which boasts authentic wood-burning Finnish Sauna facilities. Fad Saoil will be open over Christmas on Monday, December 23 (7am to 8.30pm), Christmas Eve (7am to 5pm), Christmas Day (8 am to 2 pm) and St Stephens Day (8 am to 2 pm) Support local RNLI on St Stephens Day Pop on down to South Beach in Arklow or Wicklow Harbour on St Stephens Day and show your support for a truly worthy cause as both swims raise funds Wicklow RNLI and the St Vincents Foundation. Large crowds of festive swimmers will make their way down to South Beach in Arklow at 12 pm on St Stephens Day to show their support for the St Vincents Foundation at the Eamon Burke Memorial Charity Swim. Swimmers will brave the icy waters for what is the 15th annual charity swim, held this year in memory of devoted Arklow fundraiser and beloved local character Eamon Burke, who passed away in April 2023. With the help of his loving wife Mary and family, Eamons hugely popular charity swim has helped raise 96,000 for the St Vincents Hospital Liver Unit a cause very close to their hearts. The Arklow RNLI crew will be on hand to keep everyone safe on the day, organising everybody to go into the water in smaller groups, with volunteers from the lifeboat in the water making sure nobody goes too far from the shore. Funds raised from the swim will be presented by Mary and family to the St Vincents Foundation in the New Year. The traditional St Stephens Day swim in Wicklow town is now in its 39th year. Swimmers will meet at 12pm at Wicklow Harbour, with many dressed up for the occasion in special festive attire. The swim is organised by Wicklow Swimming Club and first started in 1985 when it took place on Christmas Day. It was then changed the following year to St. Stephens day and has taken place every year since. All the money raised this year will go to Wicklow RNLI. This is our annual charity fundraising event and WSC invites all of the Wicklow community to get involved, its always a great event, a Wicklow Swimming Club spokesperson said. We look forward to seeing all our members, family and friends! Bray on New Years Day Bray Lions Club annual charity sea swim, to be held on New Years Day 2025, will support local charities WH Five Loaves, Bray Womens Refuge, Newcourt School, Marino Special School and Bray Lions Clubs Christmas Dinners. The swim has been part of the New Year tradition in Bray since 1984 when it was established with the dual purposes of having some fun and raising funds for local charities. Even if you are not swimming you can always pop along and marvel at the hardiness of those taking the plunge, and there will be buckets (not spades) to throw some cash into on the day. Bray Lions request that all swimmers arrive at the Martello Hotel, where changing rooms are provided, no later than 11.30 am. They would like all swimmers to leave the dressing rooms and meet in front of the hotel at 11.55 am, with all swimmers going across to the sea together at 12 pm sharp. There will be will be prizes presented after the swim for those in fancy dress, with swimmers invited back to the Martello Hotel for a light snack. A team of Bray Lions will provide stewarding, communications and safety services and Lions will also take up a bucket collection on the seafront. As the beach is covered in small stones and sometimes broken glass etc, it is advisable to wear light footwear into the water for your comfort and safety. Bathing caps are also advisable. For your own safety, you should not eat a heavy meal or drink alcohol on the morning of the swim. Anybody suffering any illness should not participate. If the sea is rough and you are not happy about going in, dont. Your pledges can be transferred to another swimmer. Top tips for festive dips Heading for an icy dip at Christmas is a giggle-inducing festive favourite, but it is an extreme activity so its best to make a plan before you go to ensure you enjoy the water safely. With sea temperatures ranging from 6C to 10C across County Wicklow, and air temperatures decidely wintry, hypothermia and cold water shock are real risks for any festive dipper. RNLI ADVICE To make sure your Christmas swim is joyous, the RNLI has issued some handy tips to always keep in mind when you are planning your dip. They have issued the following safety advice: Be prepared. Check the weather and tides, choose your spot, go with a buddy, have the right equipment. If in doubt, dont go out. No matter how much preparation you do, or how experienced you are, if a swim doesnt feel right there is no shame in getting out of the water straight away, or not entering. Make sure you acclimatise to avoid cold water shock. Be seen. Wear a bright coloured swim hat and take a tow float. Stay within your depths, remember float to live. Call 999 and ask for the coastguard in an emergency. Dip checklist The first step is to check the weather and tides for the swim spot you want to dip at, paying particular attention to wind, wind chill and air temperature. Its good to remember that the tide in Wicklow is at its strongest three hours after high tide or low tide. Always bring someone with you, even if they are only going to watch from shore, and if in any doubt, dont get in. When you do brave the sea, do so slowly to acclimatise, which helps avoid cold water shock. Stay within your depths while you are swimming and remember the mantra float to live if you feel something is wrong. When you get out, prioritise drying and dressing over chats and snacks, and make sure you bring clothes that are easy to pull on, including one or two extra layers, a woolly hat and pair of gloves. A top tip is to make sure you have something to keep your feet off the freezing ground, a towel will do, and some flip flops for the walks to and from the shore. Once dressed, warm up with a hot drink of tea, coffee or hot chocolate and a well-earned energy-rich treat, which will speed up warming up.. If you see anyone in difficulty in the water call 999 and ask for the coastguard. COLOMBO, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's parliament on Friday approved a supplementary estimate of 500 billion rupees (about 1.61 billion U.S. dollars) to restore livelihoods and rebuild infrastructure damaged by a recent disaster. The parliament said in a press release that the supplementary estimate was passed without a vote. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also attended parliament and participated in the debate seeking approval for the funds. Under the housing relief program, families from a total of 17,648 disaster-affected houses will receive financial assistance of up to 5 million rupees each, said Dissanayake in his speech. Other financial assistances, including the amounts and forms of subsidies provided to farmers, herders and fishers, as well as enterprises in the industrial and business sector, were also detailed by the president. The government also announced a grant of 25,000 rupees for disaster-affected schoolchildren. The measures form part of the government's broader disaster recovery program aimed at restoring livelihoods and accelerating economic recovery nationwide. The 50-year-old also stars in the Christmas movie (James Manning/PA) Kate Winslet said she had to direct her latest film, Goodbye June, because she knew she would regret missing out on it. The 50-year-old also stars in the Christmas movie, which was written by her son Joe Anders and follows four siblings whose lives change when their mothers health takes a turn for the worse during the festive period. Speaking on an episode of the Kermode & Mayos Take podcast, the Hollywood star expressed her pride in the new film, and said when her son approached her with the script, she couldnt let it go. The 50-year-old directs and stars in the Christmas movie, which was written by her son Joe Anders (Ian West/PA) She said: Joe had written this script and actually he still had about 20 to 25 pages to go to finish it. I said: Look, just finish it and lets have another conversation because I think this could be a film, Joe, really, I do. Goodbye June is the screenplay debut of Winslets 21-year-old son. Winslet praised her sons work, and said: I just have to be honest really and truly, he knew what he was doing. He just does have an understanding of film and of characters and hes always been a very observant person. Goodbye June is the screenplay debut of Winslets 21-year-old son, Anders (Ian West/PA) The film is also a first for the Hollywood star, marking her directorial debut. She said: After about a year of further development and various different iterations of the script and redrafting certain things, there was a screenplay that was ready to be sent out to directors and Netflix had shown some interest in it. I suddenly realised I couldnt let it go. I just thought: If I never do this again, if this is the only moment in my life I direct a film, I know Id regret it if it wasnt this one. Winslet said she couldnt let it go once she read the script for Goodbye June, and knew she wanted to direct the festive film (Ian West/PA) She added: I feel so proud that I have done it now, and done it at a time that I think the film industry is struggling. Winslet also mentioned challenges she faced in her new role, saying she felt there was a very strange attitude towards her as an actress taking on the role of a director. She said: I think theres a different language that is used when addressing female directors to male directors. With male actors and this is absolutely no criticism of them at all its somehow theres this societal assumption that they will automatically know what theyre doing, whereas the same assumption is not made of women. Thats not right and actually its not fair. Winslet is best known for her roles in films such as James Camerons Titanic, and The Holiday (Ian West/PA) Winslet is best known for her roles in films such as James Camerons Titanic (1997), and festive feature, The Holiday (2006). The film, which was inspired by the death of Winslets mother, also stars Dame Helen Mirren, Timothy Spall, Andrea Riseborough, Johnny Flynn, Stephen Merchant and Toni Collette. Goodbye June is available to watch in UK cinemas, and will be available on streaming platform Netflix on Christmas Eve. I relocated to Sydney in September no one expects to find themselves in the midst of a terrorist attack, not least in a place like Bondi Beach People visit a floral tribute outside the Bondi Pavilion following last Sunday's shooting at Bondi Beach. Photo: AP As two gunmen opened fire on hundreds celebrating Hanukkah on Sydneys Bondi Beach, 14-year-old Chaya Dadons mind was clear. Across from where she had taken cover from the gunshots under a bench, Chaya saw two children stranded out in the open, beside their wounded parents. Nadene Ghouri: It is time for Andrew to come clean about all that he knows A woman who plotted with her secret lover to murder her husband so they could start a new life together has been jailed for 19 years in the UK. Ukraine has struck a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea with aerial drones for the first time, an official said yesterday, reflecting the growing intensity of Kyivs attacks on Russian oil shipping. The vessel the Qendil was empty when it was struck by drones in neutral waters more than 2,000km from Ukraine, sustaining critical damage, the official at the SBU security service said in a written statement. Suspected gunman in Brown University shooting rampage found dead in storage unit Former students body discovered in storage unit after five-day manhunt Local, state and federal law enforcement agents, including the FBI, search for the Brown University shooter, in New Hampshire, this week. Photo: Reuters Rachel Dobkin UK Independent Sat 20 Dec 2025 at 06:30 The suspect in the deadly shooting at Brown University has been found dead in a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, after a five-day manhunt, officials said. Terrified travellers have alleged that an elderly British passenger was pushed onboard an easyJet flight from Malaga to Gatwick while she was already dead. The 89-year-old woman was allegedly brought onto the aircraft on Thursday by five members of her family, who, according to other passengers, informed airline workers that she was simply feeling unwell. Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community! Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region. Musicians perform at a concert celebrating the 26th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in Macao, south China, Dec. 19, 2025. Titled "Morning Star Lilies Forever", the concert was held here on Friday. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka) Musicians perform at a concert celebrating the 26th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in Macao, south China, Dec. 19, 2025. Titled "Morning Star Lilies Forever", the concert was held here on Friday. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka) This photo taken on Dec. 19, 2025 shows a concert celebrating the 26th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in Macao, south China. Titled "Morning Star Lilies Forever", the concert was held here on Friday. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka) A conductor directs the performance at a concert celebrating the 26th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in Macao, south China, Dec. 19, 2025. Titled "Morning Star Lilies Forever", the concert was held here on Friday. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka) Musicians perform at a concert celebrating the 26th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in Macao, south China, Dec. 19, 2025. Titled "Morning Star Lilies Forever", the concert was held here on Friday. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka) The Housemaid PEOPLE Image credit : Instagram @sydney_sweeney | Sydney Sweeney praised how Taylor Swifts track elevated the films ending. Sydney says Swift's song was the perfect ending for The Housemaid Image credit : Instagram @taylorswift | Sydney Sweeney felt Taylor Swifts song matched the movies dark twist. Amanda Seyfrieds joyful reaction Image credit : IMDb | Sydney Sweeney in The Housemaid. Why did the director choose that song The Housemaid Whenreaches its shocking final moments, one familiar voice takes over. As the end credits roll, Taylor Swifts 2017 song I Did Something Bad begins to play. For Sydney Sweeney, the films lead actress, that song choice carried special meaning. Read on to know why.The psychological thriller, based on the bestselling novel by Freida McFadden, ends on a dark and powerful note. According to Sweeney, that is exactly why the Taylor Swift song worked so well. Speaking to, the 28-year-old actress shared her honest reaction to hearing the track in the film. Its so perfect, Sweeney said, calling the moment unforgettable.That feeling, she explained, came from how closely the song matched the storys ending. The final scene leaves audiences stunned, and the bold energy of Swifts Reputation helped seal that emotion as viewers left the theatre.Sweeney was not alone in her excitement. Her co-star Amanda Seyfried also felt strongly about keeping the song in the film. Seyfried, 40, revealed that both actresses saw the movie before the song choice was officially approved. We saw it before it was fully confirmed, Seyfried said.Sweeney added that their reaction was instant. And we were like, We cant lose this! We were like, You have to keep this!Seyfried later watched the finished movie with a friend, and the songs impact surprised her even more. She described their response when Swifts voice filled the theatre. When it came on, we screamed like little girls, Seyfried said, adding that the moment captured the excitement of what Taylor Swifts songs can bring.Sweeney agreed and pointed out why Swifts music feels so special. And it brings every generation together, which is so fun, she said. Sweeney also shared that she has personally experienced that joy, noting that she took her cousin to Swifts Eras Tour.Director Paul Feig explained that the song choice was very intentional. He described I Did Something Bad as the ultimate kind of empowerment song. For Feig, that message fit perfectly with howends.However, using a Taylor Swift song was not an easy decision. Feig admitted he worried it might not happen at all. We wanted to put it in, but I just kept going like, I dont think well be able to clear this, because Taylor doesnt really clear many of her songs, he said.When approval finally came through, the reaction was pure joy. When it got approved, we were just like, Oh my God, Feig said. He added that he still feels happy every time the song plays during the credits.Feig even joked about how powerful the ending feels with Swifts music. He recalled a reporter once saying the audience should have a dance party at the end of the credits. Feig agreed, saying, I kind of feel like I wanted to get up and dance to her.The films soundtrack also includes music by Kelly Clarkson and Lana Del Rey, but Swifts song clearly stands out as the emotional closer.The moment comes at a time when fans have been closely watching Sweeneys personal life. In recent times, some Swift fans have reacted strongly due to reports that Sweeney has been dating Scooter Braun since around September 2025. Braun famously feuded with Swift in 2019 over her master recordings. The Foundation of the Hellenic World (IME) has unveiled plans for a major new interactive digital tour of the Palace of Knossos, aiming to virtually reconstruct the crown jewel of the Minoan civilization for modern audiences. The project was announced during the annual Christmas dinner of the "Friends of IME," a nonprofit association that provides critical funding for the institutions cultural work. Mrs. Sofia Kounenaki-Efraimoglou, the foundation's executive vice president, thanked the group for its sustained support, noting that their contributions are vital to IME's research and educational initiatives. Following her remarks, CEO Dimitris Efraimoglou presented the production details. Mr. Efraimoglou described the interactive Knossos experience as a pivotal step in the foundation's mission to leverage technology to preserve historical memory and broaden public engagement. The "Friends of IME," comprising roughly 220 members, supports the foundation through fundraising and cultural events, including museum visits and historical excursions. The new production comes as museums worldwide increasingly turn to immersive digital experiences to connect with younger generations and international visitors, moving beyond static exhibits to offer dynamic journeys into the past. iefimerida.gr Registered unemployment in Greece surged to 894,065 in November 2025, posting a sharp 16.4% monthly increase as seasonal contracts expired, even as the broader year-on-year data points to a gradual recovery. According to figures released by the Public Employment Service (DYPA), the jobless count rose by 126,064 compared to October, reflecting the traditional post-summer slowdown in tourism and agriculture. However, the total remains 7.1% lower than in November 2024, signaling that the labor market is tightening over the long term despite seasonal volatility. Structural challenges persist, particularly regarding long-term unemployment. Nearly half of those registered (47%) have been out of work for more than 12 months. The gender gap also remains stark, with women accounting for 64.6% of all jobseekers. Geographically, the burden falls heaviest on the countrys population centers. The Attica region alone accounts for nearly 30% of the unemployed, followed by Central Macedonia at 18.5%. The end of the tourism season also drove a monthly rise in benefit claims. In November, 155,655 individuals received unemployment benefitsa 17.9% jump from Octoberthough this figure is down nearly 9% compared to last year. Opposition parties Syriza and Pasok have seized on the monthly spike to criticize the government's pace on job creation and training. In response, the administration maintains that the annual decline proves its economic policies are slowly eroding the country's historic unemployment overhang. iefimerida.gr Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos signs funding for the first Competence Centre, paving the way for a national chips strategy Keywords In a bid to ensure uninterrupted and efficient transactions for users of foreign-issued payment cards across Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks and non-bank acquirers to configure all automated teller machines (ATMs), POS, and virtual terminals to accept international cards with Nigerian acquirers, comply fully with card association standards, and possess the necessary certifications to enable seamless transaction processing. The apex bank disclosed this in a circular signed by the Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Dr. Rita Sike. CBN, among other things, also asked banks and non-bank acquirers to create multi-factor authentication for foreign card transactions exceeding $200 per day. Advertisement Furthermore, the regulator directed banks to implement the same authentication measures for transactions above $500 per week and $1,000 per month. In this regard, banks and non-bank acquirers shall: implement multi-factor authentication for all withdrawals and online transactions exceeding $200 per day, $500 per week, and $1,000 per month (or its equivalent), the circular reads. With respect to ATM cash withdrawal transactions, ensure compliance with approved cash withdrawal limits. Clearly communicate the applicable exchange rate, which shall be market-driven and based on the prevailing official rate, as well as other associated charges to users. Transactions should only be completed after the user has accepted the terms (with evidence obtained). Maintain sufficient liquidity position to settle transactions. Settle transactions for the merchant in local currency (naira). Implement transaction monitoring to detect unusual patterns in the use of foreign cards across all terminals. Strengthen know-your-customer and anti-money laundering controls for merchants handling foreign card payments. Require their merchants to ensure that all their copies of card-present transaction receipts are properly signed and to request for valid identity documents where a transaction appears suspicious. The circular also noted that card acceptance devices must be equipped with contactless payment options for low-value transactions and that consumer complaints must be resolved within approved timelines. Furthermore, acquirers shall implement and maintain robust, auditable chargeback management processes aligned with applicable card-scheme rules and CBN guidelines (including but not limited to timely case intake, evidence collation, refund execution, and post-incident analytics), the statement said. Require, verify, and retain documentation (including terminal approval slip and signed merchant receipt, and item/service description) for card transactions for use in dispute resolution and chargebacks. The records shall be retained for a minimum of 12 months and be readily retrievable within 24 hours of request by the Acquirer or Scheme. Provide quarterly training to their merchants and agent networks on dispute handling and chargeback processes. CBN directed banks and non-bank acquirers to report suspicious transactions to the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and recalibrate fraud-monitoring systems to reduce false declines on legitimate transactions. The regulator urged tourists and Nigerian returnees experiencing challenges using foreign-issued cards to report such incidents to the CBNs Consumer Protection Department via [email protected]. The Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) has sacked a surgeon who secretly removed a patients kidney during a procedure. The states Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, announced the termination of his appointment on Friday. The case began when Joshua Afolayan, a kidneytransplant recipient, reported that his organ had been taken without his consent. Advertisement A panel of inquiry, chaired by Professor Francis Faduyile, was convened and confirmed the allegation, the commissioner explained. The surgeon who had primary responsibility for the surgery is to be dismissed from EKSUTH with immediate effect, Dr. Filani said in a statement. He added that all members of the surgical team present in the theatre on the day of the operation would be suspended for one month pending further administrative review. The commissioner also pledged that the state government would cover the full cost of a new kidney transplant for Mr. Afolayan, as well as his posttransplant care and medication for two years. In line with the recommendations of the Panel, a comprehensive reorganisation of relevant departments within EKSUTH will be undertaken to strengthen clinical governance, accountability, and patient safety, Dr. Filani said. The name of the dismissed surgeon has not been released, and the hospital has not commented further. However, the incident has sparked outrage on social media, with many Nigerians calling for criminal prosecution. Justice should not just be done, but should be seen to have been done. The surgeon should be prosecuted and the trial should be made public. His identity should also be fully unveiled so that other people would not fall victim to such criminals operating as medical professionals, wrote Jude Okonkwo, a concerned citizen. The state governments response marks the latest effort to address lapses in patient safety at EKSUTH, but the demand for accountability continues as the community awaits further details of the investigation. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has disclosed that a fire incident occurred at one of its offices in its Abuja headquarters on Saturday. According to a statement by Sikiru Akinola, technical assistant (print media) to the executive chairman of FIRS, Zacch Adedeji, the fire broke out on the fourth floor of the building. Mr Akinola said it was promptly responded to by security personnel on duty. Advertisement He said that with the swift support of the Federal Capital Territory Fire Service and other emergency responders, the fire was successfully contained and prevented from spreading further. We are grateful to report that no lives were lost in the incident. However, a number of offices on the affected floor sustained damage. An investigation into the cause of the fire has commenced, with preliminary assessments pointing to a possible electrical fault. In the meantime, all internal safety protocols are being thoroughly reviewed and strengthened to mitigate against future occurrences, he said. (NAN) President Bola Tinubu on Saturday departed Abuja for Borno, Bauchi and Lagos aboard the 20-year-old Boeing 737 Business Jet earlier listed for sale in July but delisted months later due to poor buyer interest and lowball offers. Earlier, Borno State Police Command said it had deployed tactical teams, surveillance squads, and operatives of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit to ensure adequate security in the state ahead of the Presidents visit. Tinubu left the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 11:45am, kicking off a multi-state working visit and holiday tour that will see him inaugurate projects in Maiduguri, pay a condolence visit to the late Sheikh Dahiru Bauchis family in Bauchi, and mark the Yuletide in Lagos. Advertisement The Presidents use of the Obasanjo-era jet (tail number 5N-FGT) confirmed the unannounced return of the aircraft to active service following its failed sale attempt earlier this year. The Federal Government had pulled it from the international sales platform operated by US marketing firm JetHQ in early December, following months of unsuccessful attempts to dispose of the aging aircraft. According to a statement released on Friday night by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the Presidents first stop will be Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, where he will inaugurate several projects executed by Governor Babagana Zulums administration in collaboration with the Federal Government. Tinubu will also attend the wedding ceremony of Sadeeq Sheriff, son of former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, and his bride, Hadiza Kam Salem. From Maiduguri, the President will proceed to Bauchi to condole with the state government and the family of the late Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, the renowned Muslim cleric and leader of the Tijjaniyya Muslim Brotherhood, who passed away on November 27 aged 101. Following the condolence visit, Tinubu will travel to Lagos, where he will spend the Christmas and New Year holidays. He is expected to serve as Guest of Honour at the Eyo Festival scheduled for December 27 at Tafawa Balewa Square. The festival will honour prominent figures, including the Presidents late mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, and former Lagos State Governors, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Chief Michael Otedola. https://x.com/MobilePunch/status/2002343776510001358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2002343776510001358%7Ctwgr%5E2f80b61e175ecdcfdc3679dc94a562b0b6866c03%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpunchng.com%2Fvideo-tinubu-departs-for-three-state-tour-on-obasanjo-era-jet%2F The Community College of Philadelphia's board of trustees on Friday approved a contract for Alycia Marshall to serve as the president. She has been in the interim role and the board voted in October to give her the permanent post. A contract was just finalized. Read more Alycia Marshall will earn $295,000 as the new president of the Community College of Philadelphia under terms of a contract approved by the board of trustees Friday. Marshall, 52, had been serving as interim president since April when longtime president Donald Guy Generals was forced out. Her salary is similar to what Generals earned before he left. Advertisement In October, the board selected Marshall for the permanent post from among four finalists and said it would negotiate a contract with her. The new contract, commencing Jan. 1, is for three years and six months and after that would renew on an annual basis. This is a great birthday present, Marshall said following the unanimous vote on her contract at the brief board meeting. Today is my birthday. Thank you so much for your support. Its been a pleasure serving as the interim and Im excited to move into the next chapter. READ MORE: Community College of Philadelphia interim president is selected for permanent role Under the contract, she will be eligible for a bonus of up to 15% of her base pay annually and will receive a $2,000-per-month housing allowance and a $650-per-month car allowance. Marshall, who has maintained a residence in Maryland, is required to move her primary residence to Philadelphia within six months under the contract terms. She would face termination if she failed to do so, the contract states. Marshall has said she intended to move to Philadelphia if she got the permanent job. Marshall had served as CCPs provost and vice president for academic and student success for nearly three years before stepping into the interim role at the college, which had an enrollment of 12,400 credit students and 1,381 noncredit students last spring. READ MORE: CCPs new president says shes here for the students, who remind her of her late son She received her bachelors in mathematics from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, her masters in teaching from Bowie State University, and her doctorate in mathematics education from the University of Maryland. A native of Maryland, she started her career as an adjunct professor at Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland, near Annapolis, and later became a full tenured professor and chair of the mathematics department. She was promoted to associate vice president there and founded the African American Leadership Institute and spent a total of nearly 23 years at the Maryland community college. Wissahickon School District Superintendent Mwenyewe Dawan (second from left) speaking at news conference on Dec. 19, 2025. Read more The superintendent of the Wissahickon School District in Montgomery County said Friday that she and other district leaders are recommending that an elementary school principal be fired after he allegedly was recorded in a voicemail to a parent making antisemitic comments. Philip Leddy, the principal of Lower Gwynedd Elementary School, acknowledged to the district that he made the call, thought the call had disconnected, and then continued talking, Superintendent Mwenyewe Dawan said in a statement Friday to the Wissahickon schools community. Advertisement He confirmed he had made some remarks he knew were not appropriate. In the call, the principal can be heard making antisemitic comments and speaking disparagingly about the parent to another staff member who was in the office at the time, Dawan said. The district leadership moved swiftly with immediate action to start the process seeking the principals termination, said Dawan, who also spoke at a news conference Friday afternoon with Amy Ginsburg, president of the districts school board. Wissahickon is no place for hate. This is a community where all students are welcomed and where safety and well-being truly is our priority, Ginsburg said. We cannot and will not allow this to divide us, Ginsburg said later. Leddy, who became the principal at Lower Gwynedd in 2023, could not be reached for comment Friday. While the district is pursuing his termination, Leddy is required under state law to have a due-process hearing, which is scheduled for Monday, Dawan said. The other staff member present for Leddys comments and who allegedly did not report them or take any other action has been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation, Dawan said. The fact that any employees entrusted with the care and well-being of students could make, or passively tolerate, such remarks raise concerns that extend beyond the conduct of a single individual. This incident underscores concerns for broader, systemic issues related to antisemitism that must be examined and addressed, Dawan said. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia said in a statement Friday that in the recording, Leddy was heard saying something about Jew money and that they [Jews] control the banks. Leddy was asked if the parent was a lawyer and then remarked, the odds probably are good. These are deeply rooted antisemitic tropes that have historically been used to demean, marginalize, and endanger Jewish people, the federation said. The district must apply accountability and transparency to its investigation and response, the federation said, and engage directly with the Jewish community and commit to education and training about antisemitism. The district recently faced criticism from Jewish parents over a booth run by a Muslim student group at a district cultural fair in late November that included, among other things, the flag used to represent Palestinian people and the state of Palestine. At the time, Dawan acknowledged the concerns of the Jewish parents and also noted that some Muslim students reported feeling unsafe after the controversy gained wider attention. On Friday, Dawan said the district will ensure that counselors are available on Monday for students and staff. She said the district will communicate additional information in the coming weeks, including more about steps being taken and further staff training. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been sentenced to 17 years in prison in a corruption case, Azernews reports, citing Trend. The Toshakhana case involves illegal dealings related to expensive gifts presented to the former prime minister and his wife by the Saudi Arabian government in 2021. The verdict was announced by Judge Shahrukh Arjuman of a special court at a high-security prison in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were each sentenced to 10 years under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code (breach of trust) and an additional 7 years under various provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act. The court also imposed a 10 million-rupee fine on each of them. A flag-raising ceremony marking the 26th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland is held at the Golden Lotus Square in Macao, south China, Dec. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka) MACAO, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government held a flag-raising ceremony and a reception on Saturday to celebrate the 26th anniversary of its return to the motherland. Speaking at the reception at the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex, Chief Executive of the Macao SAR Sam Hou Fai vowed to further align Macao with national development strategies, formulate and implement better policies for the Third Five-Year Plan for Social and Economic Development of the Macao SAR, embark on a new journey of building a great country and advance national rejuvenation, and strive for greater achievements for Macao. Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Ho Hau Wah, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR Zheng Xincong, former chief executive of the Macao SAR Ho Iat Seng, and Commissioner of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao SAR Liu Xianfa, together with approximately 1,000 guests, attended the reception. Sam noted that the fundamental objective of development is to ensure the people's well-being and prosperity. In the coming year, the SAR will protect its residents' employment opportunities and rights, improve social security and welfare services, and refine housing policies and distribution of medical resources, to satisfy people's desire for stability and contentment, the chief executive underlined. He called for concerted efforts to build a Macao with more efficient governance, sounder democracy and rule of law, a more dynamic economy, more prominence for the charm of its culture, greater refinement in social governance, and better public welfare services. Earlier in the morning, around 550 guests attended the flag-raising ceremony held at Golden Lotus Square. Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Sam Hou Fai speaks at a reception celebrating the 26th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, in Macao, south China, Dec. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka) The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government holds a reception to celebrate the 26th anniversary of its return to the motherland, in Macao, south China, Dec. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka) President Donald Trump joined Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the Oval Office in September to announce Pfizer's drug-price cuts. Read more When President Donald Trump declared in May that he wanted drug companies to voluntarily cut their prices, few pharmaceutical executives wanted to go first. Now, no one wants to be last and risk the wrath of the president. Nine drug companies announced price cuts with Trump at the White House on Friday, touting discounts on medication to treat diabetes, heart disease, HIV, hepatitis B, and other conditions. The deals will offer discounts on drugs sold to the government and to Americans through a new website, TrumpRx.gov, in exchange for tariff relief and other incentives, including faster FDA reviews for future approvals. Advertisement The program, known as the Most Favored Nation initiative, is an effort to link U.S. drug prices to lower costs abroad. Every president for a generation has promised to reduce drug prices, but I am the only one of them to ever even think in terms of favored nations, Trump boasted Friday, flanked by drug-company executives and health officials. Fridays announcements follow similar deals with five other companies, beginning in September when Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla joined Trump to unveil price cuts. Since then, other drug-company executives have joined Trump to announce discounts on fertility and GLP-1 drugs and other offerings. In return, the administration has lifted the threat of tariffs and offered the companies other benefits, such as priority vouchers to expedite FDA reviews, which can lead to hundreds of millions of dollars in additional revenue for a company if a new drug is quickly approved. Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GSK, Merck, Novartis and Sanofi all announced new price cuts Friday. Three of the 17 pharmaceutical companies initially targeted by the Trump administration AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson and Regeneron have yet to appear with the president to tout price cuts, but officials said that those companies are set to make their own announcements soon. Trump has heralded his initiative which he attempted to pursue in his first term as one of his most significant achievements this year, arguing that even small savings matter amid the difficulty of curbing drug prices. The deep-pocketed pharmaceutical industry has repeatedly blocked most major efforts at reform for decades, and U.S. drug spending continues to rise, outpacing other wealthy countries. This is the biggest thing ever to happen on drug pricing and on healthcare, Trump claimed. He also criticized other countries for relying on high drug prices in the United States to subsidize the cost of pharmaceutical research and development, saying that global prices needed to be more equitable. We were subsidizing the entire world. Were not doing that anymore, the president said. Democrats and outside experts have credited the deals as potentially helping some patients but said the initiatives overall savings to the U.S. health system will be negligible and dismissed Trumps hyperbole. Its a bit laughable to call this the biggest thing ever in health policy. Im not even sure this cracks the top 10 health policy changes, said Craig Garthwaite, director of healthcare at Northwestern Universitys Kellogg School of Management. Giving Most Favored Nation prices to Medicaid, particularly for older drugs, likely wont save that much. The president has sought to make regular announcements about his drug-price deals, aiming to show progress and counter voter frustration over rising healthcare costs entering a midterm year that favors Democrats. Trump is timing Fridays event to be one of his final White House events of the year, before he heads to North Carolina for a rally on affordability and then to his Mar-a-Lago resort. Pharmaceutical companies also touted their willingness to cut U.S. prices. A Bristol Myers Squibb executive said the company would provide its blood-thinning drug Eliquis, its most-prescribed medicine, to Medicaid free. Merck said it would offer discounts on its drugs Januvia, Janumet, and Janumet XR, which are used to treat Type 2 diabetes. I reflect on your goal, driving affordability and access to Americans, but equally getting prices up outside the United States, Merck CEO Robert Davis told Trump. Were 100 percent supportive of your actions. Democrats have questioned whether Trumps dealmaking with the companies is creating a quid pro quo, with pharmaceutical executives striking agreements to give the president a political win in exchange for potential profit. Congress and the American people remain in the dark about the contours of your agreement with the Trump Administration, Sen. Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) and Reps. Richard E. Neal (D., Mass.), Frank Pallone Jr. (D., N.J.) and Robert C. Bobby Scott (D., Va.) wrote in letters sent this week to pharmaceutical executives participating in the initiative. The lawmakers are the top Democrats on four congressional committees that oversee aspects of the U.S. health system. Several former FDA officials including two physicians who recently oversaw the agencys drug-regulation center have warned that the voucher program may be illegal and risk undermining public health by streamlining reviews. While the agencys drug reviews can traditionally take about a year, as scientists pore over safety and effectiveness data, Trump officials have said that the voucher program can guarantee a review within one or two months. The administration has defended the program, saying that safety and effectiveness remain priorities despite the accelerated timetable. Trump officials have used other levers, too. The administration has relied on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Servicess innovation center, which allows officials to pilot payment changes without seeking congressional approval, to pressure drug companies that do not voluntarily lower prices. Several drug-payment pilots have already been announced, and more are expected on Friday, the people said. Wall Street analysts say the companies have incentives to strike quick deals with the administration, rather than tempt Trumps ire. Medicaid represents a relatively small portion of their business, and many companies are agreeing to price cuts similar to discount programs they have begun. Pfizers announcement with Trump also sent a signal to the rest of the industry, several pharmaceutical executives and industry analysts have told reporters. When you saw the lack of impact to earnings of the initial companies deals, for most coming after, its a no-brainer, said Chris Meekins, a managing director at Raymond James. Trump officials have said that the initial negotiations were tough, and securing concessions has become easier over time. I think the first five companies that came through the pipeline were some of the hardest ones to get through, CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz said in an interview on Dec. 7, pointing to the size of companies like Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Eli Lilly, which were among the first companies to agree to deals. Trump officials have leaned on the healthcare companies civic responsibilities, in addition to applying pressure through tariffs and the CMS innovation center. Chris Klomp, the head of the Medicare program and a lead negotiator on the drug-price cuts, said he stressed duty and patriotism in a conversation with one prominent CEO. And when we got done, he said, I didnt get into this business for [quarterly earnings], Klomp said in remarks at last months MAHA Action summit. I have children. I want to make them proud. I understand this is important to you and the president. We will show up. Lenin Suarez holds a photograph of his brother Victor, at his home on Dec. 10 in Seaford, Del. Read more Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer has stepped into the case of a 52-year-old disabled Ecuadoran immigrant, telling the judge it would be cruel and egregious to deport the Seaford resident to face gang violence in his homeland. The man, Victor Acurio Suarez, is unable to live on his own, always cared for by his younger brother. He tried to flag down a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in a Lowes parking lot near his home in September, apparently thinking the officer could help him find work. Instead, he was arrested and placed in detention and is scheduled for an Immigration Court hearing on Jan. 16. Advertisement Given Mr. Suarezs medical and functional limitations, I am concerned that he is unable to safely care for himself, effectively represent himself in legal processes, or access the necessary support without his family, the governor wrote to Judge Dennis Ryan. READ MORE: A disabled Ecuadorian immigrant tried to flag down an ICE officer. Now he faces deportation. Meyer also advocated for Acurio Suarez in a series of social media posts, saying, I want Delawareans to know about Victor Acurio Suarez, and calling what has happened to him deeply disturbing. Meyers advocacy is notable. While many elected officials have spoken out against President Donald Trumps broader immigration policies, advocating for specific individuals has been typically reserved for high-profile cases like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was illegally deported to El Salvadors notorious CECOT prison, returned to Moshannon Valley Processing Center, and was recently released. Meyer argued that with no criminal history, not even a traffic violation, Acurio Suarez poses no threat to public safety. Yet how much weight the backing of a governor carries in the immigration system remains to be seen. In the past, someone with Acurio Suarez profile might have been allowed to stay home as their case moved forward in Immigration Court. A medical assessment submitted for his asylum application this week said Acurio Suarez has autism and aphasia, a language disorder that affects his ability to produce or understand speech. Dr. David W. Baron noted Acurio Suarez cant safely live on his own. He requires supervision to perform daily hygiene activities or cook and has a hard time communicating his needs to others, a condition made worse by being in an unfamiliar setting while in detention, where he doesnt have access to the support needed for his neurocognitive disabilities. READ MORE: More than 65,000 immigrants are being held in federal detention, a big increase from when Trump took office Still, as the Trump administration pursues a mass deportation agenda, undocumented immigrants without violent criminal histories are increasingly held in mandatory detention, unable to seek release on bond, as their cases play out. The latest federal data from November says 74% of the roughly 65,000 people in detention have no criminal convictions. Its unclear what impact the governors letter might have. The judge on the case can only approve or deny the asylum application. ICE does have discretion in releases but has so far denied a September request from Acurio Suarez attorney, Kaley Miller-Schaeffer. The letter from the governor, if anything, could maybe persuade ICE to relook at the request for release on parole, she said, noting that Meyers letter brings more attention to the case. An ICE spokesperson said in a statement that the agency was committed to the health, safety, and welfare of all detainees in custody. ICEs National Detention Standards and other ICE policies require all contracted facilities to provide comprehensive medical and mental health screenings from the moment an alien arrives at a facility and throughout their entire time in custody, the statement said. Miller-Schaeffer said she will still have to prove Acurio Suarez met all the strict requirements for asylum in Immigration Court. Should ICE not reconsider releasing Suarez on bond, he will remain in Moshannon Valley Processing Center until he is either granted asylum or deported. Deportation could be deadly, according to Acurio Suarez and his brother. In addition to lacking the necessary support to perform daily tasks, Acurio Suarez fears the gang that drove him and his brother to flee the country would find him again in an effort to recruit or kill him. Acurio Suarez told Baron he fled to the United States in 2021 after a group of gang members beat and kicked him with steel-toe boots, knocking out his gold front teeth and stealing them. The group was part of Los Lobos, a criminal organization with a national presence in the country, designated a foreign terrorist organization by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio this year. Acurio Suarez said the group also set his home on fire after they learned his younger brother reported the attack to the police. According to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, gang violence has risen in Ecuador amid economic hardship and subsequent battles over the illicit economy. The Geneva-based group estimates that the country will reach about 9,100 intentional homicides in 2025, a 40% increase from the previous year. In his passionate defense of Acurio Suarez, Meyer said the 52-year-old is at high risk of re-victimization by the Los Lobos gang should he be deported. If you believe compassion belongs in our immigration system, join me in calling for Victors release, Meyer wrote. The Moshannon Valley Processing Center outside Philipsburg Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. The for-profit prison corporation GEO Group runs the ICE detention center set to expand under President Trump. Read more The deaths of four undocumented immigrants being held in federal detention facilities, including Delaney Hall Detention Facility in New Jersey and Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania, have sparked an outcry among immigration advocates and a U.S. senator. Haitian-born Jean Wilson Brutus, 41, died of what U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it suspects were natural causes while in Delaney Hall on Dec. 12. Advocates believe he is the first detainee to die in Delaney. He had been taken into custody the day before. Advertisement There must be a clear accounting of what happened in this tragedy, and Delaney Hall must be closed so that this stain can be removed from our community of Newark, said U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.), who has introduced legislation to end the use of private prisons to detain immigrants and condemned the inhumane conditions at Delaney Hall. Two days after Brutus death, ICE said, Fouad Saeed Abdulkadir, born in Saudi Arabia and an Eritrean citizen, complained of chest pain in Moshannon. The agency said Moshannon staff performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the 42-year-old in the facilitys medical department until emergency medical responders arrived and pronounced him dead. Pennsylvania State Police and the Clearfield County coroner are investigating the death. Abdulkadir, known as Imam Fouad, had been in custody for 215 days, according to ICE. ICE did not immediately report more details about Abdulkadirs health, but a fundraiser for his funeral claims the Ohio Islamic leader had been pleading for medical care for over a year. The agency said Brutus had no signs of distress when he was brought into Delaney Hall, nor did he have a history of cardiovascular issues. Advocates with the Shut Down Detention Campaign, a coalition of immigration advocacy groups calling for Moshannons closure, called the rise in deaths of detainees a predictable outcome. They say the increase in fatalities runs parallel to the rise in immigration arrests as President Donald Trump mounts his mass deportation plans. The latest federal data available reported more than 65,000 immigrants were detained as of November, a two-thirds increase since Trump retook office. READ MORE: More than 65,000 immigrants are being held in federal detention, a big increase from when Trump took office Four lives lost in one week. This is not coincidence, it is policy and it is systemic, said the Shut Down Detention Campaign in a statement. Prisons, such as ICE detention centers are sites of neglect, isolation, retaliation, and death. In announcing the deaths, ICE said that comprehensive medical care is provided to detainees and that the agency is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments. Despite ICEs assurances, claims of overcrowding, along with inadequate healthcare and food, have plagued federal detention centers since before Trump took office. READ MORE: Inside Pa.s largest immigrant detention center: Violence, desperation, little oversight Oversight of these facilities under the Trump administration, however, has diminished. The Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, which was investigating conditions at Moshannon under the previous administration, was essentially dismantled along with other watchdogs. Earlier this year, Chaofeng Ge, 32, was found dead in the shower room of his detention stall. The Clearfield County coroner ruled the death a suicide. The recent spate of deaths means more than 20 people have died in ICE custody this year, according to the agencys required reporting. That compares with 11 deaths in 2024 and seven in 2023. An NPR analysis found 2025 already has the most deaths of ICE detainees since a 2004 peak of 32 fatalities. What we know about the detainees ICE said Brutus entered the country through Hidalgo, Texas, in 2023 and was paroled, pending immigration proceedings. But he began to have trouble with the law in 2024. Between July and October, police in Elizabeth, N.J., arrested Brutus for criminal trespassing three times, releasing him each time. The Elizabeth Police Department arrested Brutus two more times this November once for criminal trespassing and another time on two counts of criminal mischief and property damage. ICE says despite an immigration detainer, Brutus was released both times in November. ICE arrested Brutus on Dec. 11. He died the next day. Abdulkadir had a very different experience. He became a permanent resident in 2018, according to ICE, but was convicted in April 2024 of wire fraud and theft of public money. Prosecutors said he underreported his income to fraudulently claim more than $80,000 from Ohios Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Medicaid benefits. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison. Months later, ICE issued a separate immigration detainer and warrant for his arrest. ICE said Abdulkadir had remained in its custody since, pending a hearing with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. The two other people who died in ICE custody had been held at Adams County Detention Center in Mississippi and North Lake Processing Center in Michigan. Philadelphia police are investigating two hit-and-run crashes that left a pedestrian and bicyclist dead. Advertisement At 3:44 a.m. Saturday, a bicyclist was struck by an SUV as he turned on to North 56th Street from Lancaster Avenue, police said. Following the impact, the SUV appeared to swerve and continued on Lancaster Avenue, police said. Philadelphia Fire Department medics responded to the scene and took the bicyclist, a 54-year-old man, to Lankenau Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 4:47 a.m., police said. At approximately 8:56 p.m. Friday, a 63-year-old woman was struck by a car headed northbound on Whitaker Avenue as she crossed in a crosswalk at Wyoming Avenue, police said. Police said the driver of the car, a white 2012 Infiniti M37, briefly looked at the victim and then fled the scene, continuing northbound on Whitaker Avenue. The woman was taken by a medic unit to Temple University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 9:34 p.m. The car was later found unoccupied in the area of A and Loudon streets and will be seized for further investigation, police said. The police Crash Investigation Division is conducting ongoing investigations into both incidents. The victims identities were not immediately available Saturday. PECO crews work to restore damaged power lines at Chestnut Hill Avenue near Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. High winds felled a large tree and the adjacent power lines. High winds again caused outages on Friday into Saturday. Read more Thousands of households in Philadelphias collar counties remained without power a day after wind gusts downed trees and caused hundreds of electrical outages throughout the region. More than 2,230 customers, mostly in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties, still did not have electric service as of Saturday evening, according to Peco. Advertisement Nearly half the outages were due to fallen trees and branches interfering with electrical systems, Peco spokesperson Tom Brubaker said Saturday afternoon. As a result, suburban counties saw far more outages than Philly, he said. Winds registered as high as 62 mph Friday afternoon. Around 7 p.m., a pine tree fell on a Chestnut Hill apartment, CBS3 reported, while in Roxborough, a tree fell on a vehicle, sending two people to the hospital. Temperatures plummeted into the 20s Friday night, and, according to Brubaker, about 80,000 homes lost power. Crews faced challenges from the weather, with wind gusts frequently topping 40 mph, Brubaker said. When wind gusts are that high, we cant take our bucket trucks to repair lines, he said. An additional 135 Peco employees from Virginia and North Carolina have traveled to the region to assist in the recovery, Brubaker said. He said he expected most of the remaining outages to be resolved by Saturday evening, though a few rural, isolated customers may face longer waits. A live update of the outages can be found at peco.com/outages/experiencing-an-outage/outage-map. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he had been "vindicated" by the Delaware Supreme Court's ruling. Read more The Delaware Supreme Court ruled to restore Elon Musks disputed $56 billion pay package on Friday, reversing another courts decision that it had been awarded through an unfair process. The decision comes after a nearly two-year battle over the fate of the then-unprecedented pay deal, following the Delaware Court of Chancerys ruling that it had been improperly awarded. The earlier ruling said that the process had been unduly influenced by Musk and that members of the board were not independent. In response, Musk reincorporated some of his companies out of Delaware, including moving Tesla to Texas. Advertisement Musk said he had been vindicated by Fridays ruling, adding in a later X post: I try not to start fights, but I do finish them. The restoration of the pay package bolsters Musks position in Tesla, a publicly traded company in which he holds a massive, double-digit percentage stake that drives much of his more than $600 billion fortune. Earlier this year Tesla shareholders voted to grant Musk an even larger, $1 trillion pay package contingent on Musk hitting business milestones that aims to tie him to the company for the next decade. At the time of the ruling, the 2018 pay deal was unprecedented in scale. The Delaware judge who struck it down had written that it was the largest potential compensation opportunity ever observed in public markets 250 times larger than the median earnings of someone in Musks position. It was also 33 times larger than the plans closest comparison Musks prior compensation plan. The Delaware Supreme Courts ruling Friday was succinct. We reverse the Court of Chancerys rescission remedy and award $1 in nominal damages. The ruling said the Chancery court had erred in its remedy because reversing the package would leave Musk uncompensated for his time and efforts over a period of six years. Musk does not draw a traditional salary for his work at Tesla but instead is compensated through periodic pay packages consisting of stock awards. CAIRO, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- As 2025 draws to a close, practical cooperation between China and Middle Eastern countries has continued to grow in both depth and scope, even as the region remains unsettled by conflict and uncertainty. Over the past year, Chinese investors have launched or expanded ventures from the Gulf to North Africa, helping governments across the region accelerate growth, create jobs, and reduce reliance on hydrocarbons. While infrastructure, oil, and gas remain important powerhouses, China-Middle East cooperation has increasingly moved into renewable energy, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, aerospace, and other sectors central to the region's future. A GROWING PIE OF OPPORTUNITIES "Opportunities are everywhere here," Li Shuijin, head of a drill equipment company from China's Guizhou Province, told Xinhua at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, reflecting on a week-long business tour across the kingdom. "Our products will definitely find a market," he added. "With the Middle East developing rapidly and its friendly ties with China, the market here is a pie that's only getting bigger." Li's sentiment mirrors a broader trend: an increasing cohort of Chinese companies is turning its gaze toward the Middle East, chasing opportunities in the region's fast-growing economy. According to China's General Administration of Customs, trade between China and the Arab League countries reached 240 billion U.S. dollars in the first seven months of 2025, up 3.2 percent year on year and the highest level on record for the period. In November, British think tank Asia House reported that China had become the Gulf's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade volume surpassing the Gulf's trade with the United States, Britain, and the eurozone combined. A key highlight is that, while traditional areas such as energy and infrastructure have remained on a solid footing, partnerships in cutting-edge sectors have also picked up speed. Chinese tech firms such as Baidu and WeRide have rolled out autonomous-driving projects in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. In December, CAS Space, a leading Chinese commercial rocket company, successfully launched the 11th Kinetica 1 rocket carrying satellites for the UAE and Egypt. In Saudi Arabia, Chinese-made robots equipped with AI algorithms are now being used to maintain large solar farms. "There is a qualitative leap into high-tech and future-oriented industries in the cooperation between China and Middle East countries," said Abu Bakr al-Deeb, an economic researcher and advisor to the Cairo-based Arab Center for Research and Studies. These projects are not just about business. "From generating jobs to improving facilities, the results of cooperation with China can be felt in every aspect of daily life here," said Mecheri Adel, an engineer working on a Chinese solar project in Algeria. "They have become an essential part of our way of life." COOPERATION WITH COMPLEMENTARY STRENGTHS The increasingly fruitful partnership, observers have noted, is driven by strong complementarities. As Middle Eastern economies pivot to digital infrastructure, renewable energy, and sustainable growth, China brings mature, cost-efficient solutions. "China has made significant advances in high-tech industries and continues to strengthen its capabilities in these critical areas, while Middle Eastern countries face an urgent need to build up these sectors," said Mohammed al-Jubouri, a professor at al-Iraqia University in Baghdad. "Cooperation in these emerging industries is becoming a key engine of China-Middle East engagement." The spread of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) epitomizes this trend. Leveraging their global leadership in EV technology and cost efficiency, Chinese automakers have secured a strong presence across the Middle East, helping drive the region's green transformation. Meanwhile, China's technological rise has also attracted growing investment from Middle Eastern countries. In the first 10 months this year, Middle Eastern investors were reported to participate in over 10 investment deals in China, totaling more than 4 billion dollars and spanning such sectors as finance, healthcare, and renewable energy. "Middle Eastern countries' pursuit of high-quality growth closely aligns with the experience China has accumulated through its own modernization drive," said Chen Fei, deputy director of the Business Development Department at SEPCOIII Electric Power Construction Co., Ltd. "What started as a shared demand is now evolving into a mutual recognition of mindsets and development philosophies, which is laying a firm foundation for deeper ties in the years ahead." "Past cooperation has proven that when China's capacity for delivery converges with the Middle East's determination for development, an exceptional development equation emerges," noted Hebah Abbas, a member of the Executive Committee of the World Utilities Congress 2026, "one capable of generating cross-sectoral projects, turning opportunities into reality, and translating ambition into concrete action." A PARTNERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE As tensions ease in parts of the Middle East, analysts and business insiders have observed that more countries are shifting their focus toward development. In this context, China is increasingly viewed as a pivotal partner. "The Middle East is entering a phase where economic influence eclipses military primacy, and strategic rivalry is increasingly mediated through trade, technology, and investment," Ahmed Kandil, a senior fellow of Egypt's Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said in a recent op-ed piece. China would provide the region "with an unprecedented opportunity to pursue integration, stability, and growth." This view is broadly shared by regional analysts, who agree that huge potential for China-Middle East cooperation is yet to be tapped. "Already a major partner with a comprehensive and positive presence in the Middle East, China's legendary achievements in planning and engineering can deliver even more transformative results in the region," said Shraga Biran, head of Israel's Institute for Structural Reforms. Other analysts pointed to China's awareness of local realities and respect for the unique development philosophies of each nation. "Unlike Western nations, China does not monopolize or exploit its partners. Instead, it strengthens the economies and industrial development of its partner countries," al-Jubouri, the Iraqi professor, told Xinhua. Echoing al-Jubouri's point, al-Deeb also believes that it's China's adherence to non-interference and a win-win approach, highly valued by Middle East policymakers and business leaders, that gives their cooperation enduring vitality. "Upon this foundation of goodwill and trust, every project and agreement between the two sides brings us a step closer to a China-Arab community with a shared future," said the researcher. Tourists visit Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 12, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Photo by Wang Jun/Xinhua) Kids play in a family inn in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) Zhai Zhigang, a restaurant owner, serves the guests in his restaurant in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) An aerial drone photo shows a view of Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Tourists pose for photos in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Wu Di) A villager makes handicrafts with gourds in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua) Gou Huan, an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of traditional Chinese storytelling, performs in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) Yang Mo, a teahouse owner, works in a teahouse in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) Gou Huan, an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of traditional Chinese storytelling, performs in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) Yang Mo, a teahouse owner, prepares tea drink in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) Rao Bin, a collector of bricks of Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-220 A.D.), makes rubbings of a brick at his home in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) Kids play under ginkgo trees in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) This photo shows a night view in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 12, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Photo by Wang Jun/Xinhua) Gou Huan, an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of traditional Chinese storytelling, performs in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) This photo shows a view in Zhaohua ancient town in Zhaohua District of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 13, 2025. Zhaohua ancient town, located in Guangyuan City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, sits at the confluence of the Bailong River, the Jialing River, and the Qingjiang River. As a well-preserved ancient town, it carries a history of over 2,300 years. However, due to old infrastructure and unplanned construction, the ancient town once fell into disorder with residents living in the town having to undergo various difficulties. In order to refresh the ancient town, since 2012, Zhaohua District has launched a project to preserve the villages as a whole. While improving the village environment, the preservation project brings along local rural tourism, allowing the ancient town to be revitalized through preservation. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Ah, hard luck, Micheal Martin. You could have gone down in history as the man who saved our lungs and our childrens mental health. But no. The Aussies have beaten you to it. When the news broke that Australia had banned social media for under-16s, I rejoiced. I dared to dream Ireland would be the worlds leaders in this sphere, though. If we can make curmudgeons go outside in the freezing cold to suck on a vile rollie, surely we could have made it culturally uncool for tweens to set up an Instagram account? But the Australians got there first. Hemisphere high five. Naturally, I celebrated by locking my 14-year-old out of TikTok, Instagram and Facebook for the day. His reaction was the outrage that only a child who was brought up never knowing the pain of a chilblain could express. (I have them ruined with the central heating. Ruined, I tells ya.) He informed me that I was violating his human rights. I chortled at that one, I wont lie. The young fella gets a haircut every three weeks that costs more than mine, and knows the difference between the real Cheerios and the mockeyah ones in a blind taste test. He knows no hardship, let me tell you. I do try to be reasonable. We talk about screens. We negotiate limits. I pretend to listen. Ive got an app called Qustodio on the phone, which is basically the tech version of following your teenager around with binoculars and an ear horn. It shows me what hes using, for how long, and at what point his soul leaves his body and joins the metaverse permanently. I can block dodgy sites, enforce sleep time, and set rules so elaborate I may as well be running a mini-dictatorship. A benevolent one, obviously. Cough. "I may as well be running a mini-dictatorship. A benevolent one, obviously. Cough." The social media ban in my house was a little experiment. Was it perverse? Perhaps. Immature? Probably. But I just wanted him to notice how much of his time, attention and brain cells are funnelled directly into the virtual money pit. Sometimes I shout at him randomly, Billionaires are monetising your attention. Dont let them win! Fight the power! TAKE THE RED PILL!! It has zero impact, except to remind me to put The Matrix on our Christmas movie watch list. He just tilts his head slightly, like when the dog hears the fridge open. Heres the thing: Im not all that panicked about TikTok or Instagram. Sure, theyre time-eating monsters, but there are positives. I love hearing them cracking up at some meme or talking about some lad theyre following who whittles canoes out of broken hurleys. The older fella gets lots of recipes and nutrition advice too. The real sneaky schnake is Snapchat. That innocent-looking yellow icon that pretends its basically WhatsApp with filters and then, behind your back, builds an actual secret vault for hiding photos. WT actual F, Snapchat? Did you know this? I didnt. Not until recently. Its called My Eyes Only, which is already giving dodgy vibes. Its a PIN-protected space where kids can tuck away photos and videos they dont want Mammy or Daddy stumbling upon. It could just be silly things. But sometimes its not harmless. What is a youth-oriented platform doing building secret hiding places into the architecture? Its fairly dastardly, right? Im not overreacting here. This is why Im torn. I want to trust my kids. I dont want to be the phone police. But I also dont want billionaire tech bros deciding what safety looks like for our kids. The tech companies shrug. Hey, we just built the high-risk feature! Its YOUR job to monitor it. But we shouldnt have to rely on digital detective work to parent. We are menopausal and tired. Cant the Government just do it, please? Just give us legislation that hits the companies where it hurts: right in the profit margins. If you want to know whether your kid is using the vault, the best move is simple: ask them. I find chatting while driving best. And listen to them, dont gather information to hit them over the head with, dont use it against them. (The inside of my cheeks is in smithereens. Im not saying its easy.) And if you feel compelled to check anyway? Im not here to judge. You do what you gotta do. A quick Google will show you how to find it. Because even your sweet little cherub, the child who offers the top of their head every night for a kiss, might be tempted to hide something. My Eyes Only is designed without any thought for the kids who will use it, or the parents wholl be left to manage the fallout. Its about safety, not snooping. Parenting in the digital age is brutal, yall. But we have to keep trying. And if all else fails? Get them a blackboard and chalk for Christmas. Turn off the Wi-Fi at the wall. Bring out Monopoly. Nothing will teach a teenager resilience faster than a three-hour scrap over who gets to be the dog. A new sauna village has opened in the heart of Cork City, offering sauna sessions tailored for both seasoned wellness enthusiasts and those new to the practice. The sauna village, tucked away on the old Careys Tools site on Victoria Road, is the latest venture by the team behind The Hot Box, which boasts sauna and cold plunge spots in Dublin, Louth, Meath, Kilkenny, and Sligo. The sanctuary features five unique sauna experiences, plunge pools in three different temperatures and hot showers a first for the company. Founded by Daniel OConnor, Liam Irwin and Luke Williams, The Hot Boxs story began in 2021 with one old trailer sauna parked on the banks of the River Boyne. The lads built the trailer sauna themselves, not knowing what to expect. People came to use the sauna and the spark was ignited to grow The Hot Box into something bigger. What started as a weekend project soon turned into a full-time passion, with six locations across the country and a growing community of people who love to sweat it out. Along the way, weve travelled, researched, and experienced saunas in many different places around the worldfrom traditional smoke saunas in Finland to contemporary wellness spaces in New York City, they said. Weve taken notes, asked questions, and soaked it all in (literally). And little by little, weve brought those influences back home, integrating elements from global sauna culture into the experiences we create here in Ireland. They said that everything they do is shaped by what they have learned, and they believe in: making space for people to feel better, breathe deeper, and connect with themselves, with others, and with nature. Still learning and still building, the trios most recent venture in Cork City will kick off this weekend and slots are now available to book online. How do I book? Slots are available to book via the Hot Box website here.. Sessions are for 60 minutes and people are advised to arrive five to 10 minutes before their allocated time to get changed beforehand. What do I need to bring? People are advised to bring two towels an extra one for sitting on when inside the sauna, drinking water, footwear for the water and swimwear. Is there parking? Parking is available on-site. The sauna village is located on the old Careys Tools site. 07.30 Id like to say that I sleep in, but I have a whippet lurcher cross who at 6am will start to push me out slowly. Ill let her do that for an hour and then get up at 7.30am. Im usually up at 6.30am mid-week so a really good lie-in is 8.30am. I always had early call times when I worked on television, so I became used to being an early riser and a late worker. 08.00 I went to a health spa with my mother when I was about seven years old. They all started their day with hot water and lemon. It was the first bit of beauty advice I ever heard and since the age of 25 Ive done it every single day. I take Symprove and start the first half of my supplement ritual which includes Vitamin C liposomal, CoQ10, NMN, Vitamin D, Oestogel and Progesterone among others. Ive done this for about seven years. Coffee cancels out the effects of creatine so I avoid it first thing. As a post-menopausal woman I need to have strong muscles. Ive been taking it for about a year and Ive had some interesting results with regards to memory. My mother had quite bad Alzheimer's disease so I am always looking at research around that. 09.00 Saturday is my day of rest so I dont do a workout and I eat whatever the hell I like. During the week I make sure I have a lot of protein and not too much sugar, but at the weekend I could have two croissants before cheddar cheese and marmalade on a baguette. Itll be a carb-central sitting. If my daughter Lyla is coming to spend the weekend, I will make a plan for lunch or dinner. Anyone who is the parent of a 22-year-old will know you are at the behest of the available free moments that they care to spend with you. 11.00 I will take Daffy for a walk in Kensington Gardens where I've walked since I was a child. Ill go down Sloane Street and into Harvey Nichols to see the fashion... down to Sloane Square to our flagship store. The weekend brings lots of international customers - I love meeting our customers and often they are quite startled that I am there. 13.30 If Ive arranged to meet someone for lunch Ill go to The Wolseley in Picadilly, Colbert in Sloane Square or The Park. If they have the ossobuco with polenta on the menu thats what Ill have - its my winter favourite. I might have the clam chowder or the banana split - it is Saturday after all. 15.30 I might take a wander to Liberty - they have great fashion including Dries van Noten which I love. I like to check that everything is displayed correctly at the Trinny London counter and to see how the customers are being looked after. A big challenge for me, having started the business online, is a sense of losing control over that customer journey. I cant be in H beauty in Milton Keynes, for example, but if I can be at Liberty and the flagship, I can see what works really well and what doesnt. I might go to the Royal Academy of Arts. I feel an obligation to know about art. I have a friend who is extremely knowledgeable and I love her taking me around the galleries. She took me to the Leonardo exhibition at the National Gallery and really made him come alive for me. I dont want to spend my weekends just shopping - I want to learn something new. 18.00 I dont really like to go out at night on a Saturday as Im out a lot midweek. My stepson Zak cooks very well and I have a young tenant - my best friends nephew - who went to the Ballymaloe Cookery School. Ill get the ingredients and theyll cook up a storm. 20.00 Lyla will be playing Sims and watching TV, Ill be doing the New York Times crossword and watching TV... At the moment were watching Succession again. Its all very chill. 22.00 I dont go out on a Saturday night though one of my girlfriends is encouraging me to go dancing. The last thing I want to do is go out dancing on a rainy Saturday night but its a good thing to challenge yourself. I know shell soon have me dancing at the Cuckoo Club. On Saturday night I will double cleanse, very gently exfoliate and do microneedling on my face and neck. Ill then put on soft PHA, Plump Up which has lots of peptides in it and the elixir which helps to heal skin. I dont have time to go for facials, so Saturday night is when I do that treatment. Ive done melatonin and sleeping pills but Im now taking Magnesium L-Threonate which is really helping me sleep. Ill sleep for about six hours which is an hour less than Id like. Ill listen to the Rest is Politics US or Inside Trumps Head. British politics is so appalling at the moment that I cant bear to listen to anything about it. The Security Council holds a meeting on the situation in Libya at the UN headquarters in New York, Dec. 19, 2025. The top UN envoy for Libya said Friday that she intends to present an alternative mechanism as a political roadmap for Libya toward elections, which have been stalled. (Evan Schneider/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The top UN envoy for Libya said Friday that she intends to present an alternative mechanism as a political roadmap for Libya toward elections, which have been stalled. "The political process should not be held hostage by the inaction of key political stakeholders who are willingly or not, maintaining the status quo," Hanna Tetteh, the UN secretary-general's special representative for Libya and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), told the UN Security Council in a briefing. Tetteh, in her last briefing on Aug. 21, unveiled a roadmap that would lead to general elections and unified state institutions in Libya. The roadmap is built around three core pillars: the implementation of a technically sound and politically viable electoral framework aimed at holding presidential and legislative elections, unifying institutions through a new unified government, and a Structured Dialogue that enables broad participation of Libyans to address critical issues. At the beginning of this week, UNSMIL launched the inaugural meeting of the Structured Dialogue. Progress on the other two pillars of the roadmap, however, has been lacking. "Four months have elapsed since I first presented the roadmap to this (Security) Council on 21 August and UNSMIL has been engaging Libyan stakeholders with regard to its implementation, which I admit has been quite challenging," said Tetteh. The two key tasks of the roadmap, namely the reconstitution of the board of the High National Elections Commission and amendments to the constitutional and legal framework for elections, have not been achieved, she said. Given the impasse, Tetteh said she intends to present an alternative mechanism in her upcoming Security Council briefing in February 2026. "The launch of the Structured Dialogue gives us the opportunity to also consult Libyan interlocutors on the most effective way of proceeding on the first two elements of the roadmap, and we will draw on their recommendations to advance the creation of the political conditions needed for the holding of elections," she said. "In parallel, we will continue to engage with key political stakeholders to advance the political roadmap," said Tetteh. She noted that, in a few days, Libyans will celebrate Independence Day on Dec. 24 -- the same date set for national elections in 2021, which failed to materialize. "Four years later, the country's path to elections remains fraught with complications that are challenging but we believe can be overcome," she said. Tetteh called on all Libyan leaders to respond to the desires of the Libyan people and rise above their differences in the interests of the unity and integrity of the Libyan state and to advance the welfare of the Libyan people. "The true spirit of independence lies in a nation's ability to shape its destiny through unity -- paving the way for a secure, sovereign state with a government that enjoys the support of the majority of its citizens, renewed legitimacy and unified institutions. That is what we are working towards," she said. The UN secretary-general's special representative for Libya and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, Hanna Tetteh (on screens), speaks via a video link at a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on Dec. 19, 2025. The top UN envoy for Libya said Friday that she intends to present an alternative mechanism as a political roadmap for Libya toward elections, which have been stalled. (Loey Felipe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) For someone who travels the entire world in a single night, Santa Claus has no shortage of magical memories. This year, hes busier than ever as he prepares to meet families at Elf Town, in Dublin. With real reindeer, hand-crafted sets, Jack Frosts real Ice House, and a fully personalised journey for each child, Santa says its the closest thing to visiting the North Pole itself. Here, he shares his favourite travel memories, the snow-capped places that surprised him most, and what he and Mrs Claus still have on their bucket list. Favourite childhood holiday memory My favourite childhood memory is as a little child, we used to go away to a cabin in the woods. We would make snowmen, have snowball fights, make snow angels, and eat some of the amazing food that filled the whole cabin with the smell of freshly-baked bread. It was such a lovely memory. Most memorable trip One of my most memorable trips was several years ago. Mrs Claus and I decided to spoil all of the elves for working so hard making all of the toys, so we took them to see the beach and the ocean for the very first time in Portugal. They ran, swam and built sandcastles. It was such a quick but amazing experience for them, because they never had that opportunity. They loved it, but they were ready to get back to work making all of the toys. Mrs Claus and I decided to spoil all of the elves, so we took them to Portugal. Most surprising destination I remember the very first time, so many years ago, when I came across the Swiss Alps and how big and how beautiful those mountains were. I had never seen anything so amazing in all of my journeys. Every time I get back to fly over Switzerland, I always remember that first time and seeing those beautiful mountains with all the trees and the wildlife. The Swiss Alps - I had never seen anything so amazing in all of my journeys Favourite city Whenever I travel around, my favourite cities are when I fly in to deliver toys, like Hong Kong, Bangkok, New York and London. All of the beautiful lights remind me of the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree, and it brings me such great joy to see all of the different lights around these cities. And of course, Cork is one of my favourites too. Cork City One of Santa's favourites Favourite hotel I havent stayed in them, but sometimes boys and girls go on holiday for Christmas, so I deliver presents to some amazing hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and hostels. I remember a hotel in Africa where I delivered to a little boy and girl, and there were elephants that came right up to the room. I could see the elephants watching as I delivered the toys, giving their hearty trunk of approval. It was so magical. Most memorable food experience As we fly on the sleigh over these amazing countries, the food aromas come up and always make me and my reindeer peckish! And the cookies and treats we get from the boys and girls are amazing some from India, some from Asia, some from Dublin. I dont think I could pick a favourite, because what the boys and girls leave for me are special, chosen and made with love, and I love each one. The reindeer appreciate their snacks too: carrots and reindeer mix keep them strong for the journey. Cookies and milk get left for Santa every Christmas Favourite thing to do while travelling Normally, Im working really hard in Santas workshop, but when I travel, I usually always bring my head elf with me and Mrs Claus comes along sometimes too. We always talk about the boys and girls that were going to be delivering presents to next and plan the exciting toys and surprises we're going to make. My bucket list trip Ive travelled all around the world and seen so many amazing places, but Mrs Claus has told me she always wanted to go swimming on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. So that is definitely on Santas bucket list to take Mrs Claus so she can snorkel, swim and see the beautiful coral reefs. The Great Barrier Reef Mrs Claus' ideal holiday Before he rushes back to prepare for the big day, Santa has one final reminder: Keep being kind to one another and helping one another, and remember to get plenty of sleep so youre ready for Christmas morning. Elf Town featuring Santa, real reindeer and Irelands most spectacular Christmas sets is open now at the RDS Dublin and at Galway Racecourse. Tickets and payment plans are available at elftown.ie. St Patricks Street in Cork is bursting with life as shoppers frantically buy last minute-gifts, families soak up the festive atmosphere, and preparations are in full swing for the most magical time of the year. The Irish Examiner met some of those on Santas nice list who are adding to the Christmas magic and keeping the streets clean and safe for everyone. It is a particularly special time for Garda Jack Waters, who is spending his first Christmas on the beat in Cork City. The community garda was accompanied by his colleagues Shauna Collins and Lorraine ODonovan on what had been a productive morning for Corks finest. Jack says one of the most rewarding parts of his job is hearing from older people who feel safe enough to come into town again due to a strengthened Garda presence. Gardai Shauna Collins and Jack Waters on St Patrick's Street in Cork as Christmas gets underway. Jack will be making the honey-glazed carrots for the family Christmas dinner. Picture: Noel Sweeney The end of last month saw the launch of An Garda Siochanas high-visibility policing plan for the city, with the Cork City Division gaining an additional 48 gardai and an increase in foot patrols in the city centre. While Jacks biggest festive wish is for a crime-free Christmas, he does have one extra request for Santa. I would love new work boots, he says. The soles are worn off them from going on the beat but my step count is high which is good! 'Everyone wants something different!' Oliver Paul is busy dealing with all sorts of orders at his jewellery shop in the English Market. Picture: Noel Sweeney And if his wish comes true, will it be enough to top the Christmas present he got from his grandmother some years ago? He says: The best Christmas present I ever got was a Sugababes CD back in 2011 from my nan. She thought I was obsessed with them which wasnt the case. I think one of my uncles told her I was a fan. The Cork man is looking forward to some much-deserved time off on Christmas Day. My mam is cooking turkey but Ill make the honey-glazed carrots. Meanwhile, Garda Lorraine ODonovan was embracing the positive atmosphere. She says the high-visibility policy plan and rise in the number of foot patrols are having a real impact. Naughty elf still at large We are getting such positive feedback from businesses who say there is a reduction in theft and antisocial behaviour. Unfortunately, there is one criminal still evading capture, despite the best efforts of An Garda Siochana. The elf on the shelf seems to be a bit of a blaggard when it comes to the toilet paper," she said. "We are getting reports that he is firing it down the stairs and decorating Christmas trees with it, as well as cutting out Christmas patterns with it and hanging it around photographs. Cleaning up the streets Still, there was nothing that could dampen John Moores spirits as he went about his job of getting the streets as clean as possible for Christmas. He says: I like Christmas. Everyone is in good humour. "You are meeting a lot of people who you normally wouldnt meet. "Ive been in this job 23 years and I like being out and about. Cork City Council worker John Moore appreciates the thumbs-up from passers-by as he makes sure the streets are nice and clean for everyone. Picture: Noel Sweeney "Some people will come over and say 'youre doing a great job, the place is looking very clean' and thats always nice to hear. We are getting better. People are more aware. That said, I dont think Ill ever be out of a job. "If you saw the streets on a Friday morning after the students have been out you will see how filthy it gets. "I get up at 4.30am and start working at 6am. I usually have it clean just in time for when people are heading into work at 9am. Strauss on the streets One of Corks best known buskers, violinist Tibor Bana from Hungary, was entertaining passers-by with his impressive repertoire. Violinist Tibor Bana brings a flavour of Vienna to the streets of Cork as he plays gorgeous Strauss melodies. Picture: Noel Sweeney I love playing at Christmas, he says. There is a very nice atmosphere. Some people tell me that my music makes them feel like they are in Vienna because I play a lot of Strauss. "Christmas has always been a simple time for me. "My family werent rich so I always got basic gifts like pyjamas, a jumper, or gloves. "That was OK because the best present for me was having my whole family together eating dinner. Toy time Wyon Stansfeld, who runs Pinocchios Toys and Gifts on Paul St, was tending to customers cramming in some last-minute Christmas shopping. Its a continuous case of restocking for people and a continuous case of answering multitudes of questions which is great because it is all part of the fun," he said: Christel and Wyon Stansfeld at Pinocchios toy shop on Paul St in Cork are lending a helping hand to a certain gentleman who is making a list and checking it twice even as we speak. Picture: Noel Sweeney This year the most popular toy for girls is Maileg, who is a mouse that comes in a matchbox. "Trains are always popular for boys. They never go out of fashion. "We have to sort out problems for Santa all the time and he doesnt half get asked some complicated questions. The shop has been here for 42 years and weve been here for 32. "Its almost unquantifiable how much has changed during that period. However, there are some things that never change. Leprechaun-turned-elf Gerry Barry on St Patrick's Street in Cork. Picture: Noel Sweeney "Every one-year-old still has to learn how to stack. "They still have to learn to pull things behind them. Even when parents say their child is great with an iPhone, they still have to learn basic skills like shape sorting and filling. "I dont think these toys will ever die out despite what some people believe. Sing street Meanwhile, the kids from Cork Educate Together on Grattan St made the city their stage as they performed Christmas songs for passers-by: The school was raising vital funds for charities close to their hearts including childrens charity Unicef, womens refuge Edel House, and Cork ARC, an organisation for people with cancer and their families. Freya Flanagan, 12, was overwhelmed by the public reaction. I like how peoples faces light up when they see us sing, she says. Its lovely to see our families here to support us too. Her classmate Molly McCloskey-Vardy, 12, was also glad to lend her voice to the event. I love singing. The best present I ever got for Christmas was a microphone. It was really special because my parents know how much I like to sing. This year I have asked for a CD player. I love CDs. My dad is a DJ so he has lots of them. Beefed up Not far away, customers at the English Market were singing the praises of Tom Durcans famous spiced beef, which is always in high demand for Christmas. Theres a nice atmosphere, but its stressful as we are doing a lot of work in such a short period of time, says Tom. Tom Durcan serving up some delicious spiced beef at his butcher's shop in the English Market. Cork. Picture: Noel Sweeney Because we are so well known for our spiced beef at this stage we are trying to maintain that standard and make sure that everyone goes away happy. "Thats really important to us. "Im really looking forward to Christmas this year but Im most looking forward to the pint in Cronins Pub in Crosshaven on Christmas Eve. Funky Leprechaun is now an elf Street performer Gerry Barry, who forms one half of the Funky Leprechauns duo with his nephew Damian, has reinvented himself as an elf for the festive period. In between costume changes, he says: We dress up as elves which creates a nice vibe for the public at Christmas. "Its less pressure than Santa because elves are more low-key. "I love the moments you dont expect. "Its lovely when the schools are out because theyll start Christmas songs. When this happens we become the audience and they become the entertainers. Jewel in the crown Oliver Paul from Oliver Paul Jewellery at the English Market was also hard at work meeting customers demands for Christmas. Oliver Paul says he loves the buzz at his shop in the English Market. Picture: Noel Sweeney Im doing a lot of commissions, he says. Everyone wants something different. "Im in the English Market six months so this will be my first Christmas here. I love the buzz of Christmas. When Jack Hegarty was born just over 11 years ago, the joy his parents felt quickly melted to horror, pain and countless years of waiting for a government move to change to their lives. Two hours after Jack was born at Cork University Maternity Hospital, he suffered catastrophic brain injuries for which he has been receiving treatment in San Francisco for the past eight years. Today, Jack is 11, and requires constant care by his family in Kinsale. His parents, Jacinta and Justin, had to leave their careers to care for him full time. Jacinta explains that Jack has few verbal skills and requires help with all aspects of daily life, including feeding, bathing, dressing and all elements of care. He uses a wheelchair and has dyskinetic cerebral palsy characterised predominantly by motor disability and co-ordination difficulties. In 2016, Jack, through his mum, settled his action against the HSE on terms including an interim payment in 2016. Further interim payments have been secured in the courts since then, with the case due back before the High Court in October. Today, Jack is 11, and requires constant care by his family in Kinsale. However, his parents had been hoping the Government would have signed a regulation enabling the commencement of a new index-lined Periodic Payment Order system by Christmas. It would mean they could elect for that option next October and that would then be the last assessment for Jack. Otherwise, they are facing more assessments every few years until a workable Periodic Payment Order system is brought in. Jacinta explains: Periodic Payment Orders are an alternative to lump sum awards as a method of paying compensation to catastrophically injured people. Instead of receiving compensation in one tranche, a payment is made annually for as long as the person lives. "The annual payment amount is calculated to meet the cost of permanent and long-term care and treatment. An indexation rate is applied to the annual payment amount to ensure that the amount keeps pace with inflation. The PPO system currently in place does not meet inflation and a working group set up to examine the issue in the wake of Jacks 2016 case recommended a new index, but the regulations needed for its commencement have not yet been signed by the Government. Jacinta Collins and Justin Hegarty, parents of Jack Hegarty, who have had to leave their careers to care for Jack full time. File picture: Collins Courts A spokesman for the Department of Justice said: Drafting of the necessary regulations is at an advanced stage and the minister hopes to be able to bring the regulations into operation shortly. Jacinta says a huge level of paperwork and assessments are required for each of the interim court cases, including for the case looming next October. I am missing out on valuable time with Jack and our family because I have spent so much of these past years preparing for these interim cases co-ordinating assessments, reviewing records, and managing scheduling," she said. This is precious time I want to spend with Jack, but I cannot... More than anything, I just want to be a mother to my children. She points out that the Report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on the Rising Cost of Health-Related Claims, published in July 2024, also states that the regulations will be drafted and signed by end quarter 4, 2025". She said she was assured in October by minister for justice Jim OCallaghans office that the drafting of the regulations was well advanced within the Office of the Attorney General and that the minister expects to be in a position to sign the regulations in the coming weeks. However, she said: It has now been another two months since that correspondence, and we have not received any update on whether the regulations have been signed. "The families who depend on these regulationsmy son Jack Hegarty and many other catastrophically injured childrencannot afford any additional postponement. Their daily lives, medical care, and future stability hinge on the protections that will only become effective once the regulations are signed." She added: We are navigating this legal system since Jack was a baby... It is constant paperwork and if there had been a workable PPO in place all along, we would have been able to avail of that and we wouldnt have to be going back to the courts. A lot of these assessments are traumatising for Jack. We are all traumatised." A man is critically ill in hospital after a serious assault on a street in a Co Tipperary town. The man, who is in his 20s, was injured on Abbey Street and Barrack Street in Cahir after 1.40am on Saturday morning. This week saw a complete about-turn in Government attitudes to health services in the Mid-West, with a long-awaited and welcomed recognition of shortages behind the crisis. What has been announced, and why is this so significant? Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill plans to expand University Hospital Limerick (UHL), to build an elective support hospital nearby and to start planning for a new acute hospital with an emergency department. In contrast, just one year ago, when the Fine Gael health budget was announced, she defended the level of support for the beleaguered site, saying it had received significant investment. The new plans follow advice from health regulator Hiqa in a September review. It offered three options: Option A is to expand capacity at UHL; Option B is to build an elective hospital near to UHL; Option C is to build a new hospital in the region with an emergency department. Hiqa warned of an immediate risk to patient safety. It advised expanding UHL capacity now and in the long-term to fix a significant bed shortage. While this was far from its first warning about the crisis, it finally toppled a government stance since 2009 that beds or funding were not the issue. Poignantly, it comes too late for many families, including two who marked loved ones' anniversaries this week. Martin Abbott died in UHL six years ago. His inquest heard he may have been dead on the floor of the overcrowded emergency department for an hour before being found. On Friday, the family of teenager Aoife Johnston marked three years since her death, also in an overcrowded emergency department described at her inquest as akin to a war zone by one senior nurse. Despite these tragedies, it felt that until now, campaigning by families, medics and nurses had limited impact. Former UHL chief executive Colette Cowan commissioned a review, which found similar gaps but was almost ignored externally. Writing in this newspaper on Monday before the announcement, patient advocate John Wall predicted it would be the opportunity of a lifetime to reform services. What is on the table? Option A This is about expanding the Dooradoyle UHL campus as much as practicable. It continues from the opening of a 96-bed block in October. Planning was recently granted for a second block expected to open in 2029. Funding is in place for 66 additional beds and for 16 rapid-build beds next year. Up to 306 new beds are expected at UHL by the end of 2029 or in four winter's time. Construction work underway on a new section of University Hospital Limerick. Picture: Dan Linehan Ms Carroll MacNeill said a surgical hub already under construction is expected to open next year. This will take up to 10,000 surgeries to leave room for more trauma care at UHL. Dr Joe Devlin, consultant at UHL and deputy chairman of the medical board, said of the plans: Its clear that weve been short of beds for a long time, and this intent is exactly the right way to go. "To finally have recognition of the deficiency in bed provision and in staff is greatly welcomed by the consultant body. However, he and Mr Wall noted how busy the site already is. It is not unusual for patients to queue at the roundabout outside, often arriving late or missing appointments. There are also separate ongoing plans to relocate the maternity hospital onto this site. Option B This is about taking some types of care away from Dooradoyle. HSE Midwest regional executive officer Sandra Broderick described it as the phased development of a second campus, which is essentially another hospital for this region". This will offer planned care such as hips, cataracts, heart services, and other non-crisis treatments. It is likely to be similar to the elective hospitals being developed for Cork, Galway and Dublin. When those hospitals were announced in 2022, it was a mystery why Limerick was not included. The Governments argument then was that patients could be referred around the country instead. Now the region is playing catch-up, although Ms Broderick said a phased opening will mean quicker access. No location is chosen, and she said Dooradoyle is a 40-acre site in an indication of what could be needed. Ms Carroll MacNeill said: We will deliver extra beds, but at the same time, we are also trying to remove services from the Dooradoyle site that don't need to be there. She added: It is totally appropriate to move elective work away from acute hospitals. Dr Devlin also welcomed this move, while cautioning: We do have a lot of work to do to figure out how to configure services safely across the existing site and the site B as its developed. A development board is being set up by Ms Broderick to work on this, he understands. Option C This big-ticket option means building a hospital somewhere in the region, similar to UHL with an emergency department. It is needed because Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary HSE Midwest is the only area with just one ED. Around 450,000 people rely on just one emergency department. University Hospital Galway is one of the facilities that has been taking patients from the busy UHL.. Staff at Tralee and Galway hospitals regularly treat patients who travel to avoid the overcrowded Limerick emergency department. It leads to complications when, for example, a discharge nurse in Tralee wants to send a patient home to Limerick after surgery, but she has no direct contact with home care or other supports there. Frustration has been expressed at how little was shared about this plan. The minister pledged to bring a memo to the Government next year on it after work is done on developing a strategy. Ms Broderick said: I dont have a view on where a new hospital or anything like that should be, but what I do have a view on is that there is a requirement to urgently deliver more capacity into Irelands busiest hospital. The Midwest Hospital Campaigns Marie McMahon, who began advocating after the death of her husband Tommy in the emergency department in 2018, was baffled. She welcomed the plans as positive although long overdue but said: If they are progressing with Option B, why are they not progressing with Option C? She called for urgent supports for the ambulance service, saying it is at the end of its tether with pressures. A daily trolley count by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has played a key role in highlighting the emergency department pressures. Mary Fogarty, assistant director of industrial relations for the Mid-West, welcomed the plans. She called for immediate actions however. The overcrowding situation in UHL remains extremely dangerous despite the recent opening of additional capacity, she said. She stressed safe staffing levels need as much attention as beds or buildings. Labour TD Conor Sheehan queried why the memo to the Government cannot go now to get the process started. The project is a key test, he noted, for plans to reform how infrastructure is tackled generally. What else changes for the Mid-West? Ms Carroll MacNeill spoke of my commitment to bed expansion in Ennis, Nenagh and Saint Johns. Plans already in place for new beds in those hospitals will mean a total of 420 extra beds for the region, including UHL, by 2031. She also wants to see better integrated services locally although no detail was given. These hospitals, Model 2 level compared to UHL at Model 4, lost their emergency departments in 2009. Pledges to boost capacity at UHL to make up for this were not acted on until the covid-19 pandemic. On Wednesday, HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster described the new plans as a corrective measure to decisions made 15 years ago. Funding uncertainty In May, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) predicted that between 4,400 and 6,800 inpatient beds would be needed by 2040. It also advised that between 650 and 950 day beds are needed. The Mid-West plans have to fit into this, along with commitments for the new childrens hospital and maternity hospital in Dublin, surgical hubs, and elective hospitals elsewhere. In recognising that UHL is so desperately short of beds, the minister has likely opened the door to calls for more beds from other regions too. The HSE capital plan for this year, at 1.357bn, is already allocated. The scale of the challenge can be seen in the 105m cost alone for the first 96-bed block at UHL. Labours Alan Kelly described the Mid-West plans as impossible based on the HSEs current capital budget. Construction work underway at University Hospital Limerick. 'The overcrowding situation in UHL remains extremely dangerous despite the recent opening of additional capacity.' Picture Dan Linehan Without that financial capacity, this plan, with all the goodwill of the minister and everyone else, cannot be delivered on. It is impossible. It just doesn't add up, he said. Much of what was announced is yet to come, and no information on what people really want to know when will an additional emergency department open? In January 2023, an estimated 11,000 people marched through Limerick city, calling for healthcare reforms. A minutes silence was held for Aoife Johnston, who had died just weeks before. Co-organiser of the protest, Mike Daly, said on the day: Our elderly deserve better than to lie on cold, hard trolleys. Our young people deserve to not die. The architects of these new plans have a chance to ensure there is no more need for such protests. Can they do it? The French government has said it will appeal a Paris court ruling on Friday that rejected a three-month suspension of Shein, as it attempts to crack down on the Chinese online platform after uproar over childlike sex dolls sold on its marketplace. A Paris court ordered Shein to implement age verification measures for any adult products sold via its French website and set a 10,000 fine for any breach. Friday's ruling comes as authorities try to force Shein to tighten oversight of products sold by third parties on its site. However, the court rejected the French government's request to suspend Shein's website as a whole for three months, saying that would be "disproportionate". The French government said it would appeal the ruling in the coming days "at the request of the prime minister", adding it is convinced of the "systematic risk" linked to Shein's model. Childlike sex dolls on Shein Shein has been embroiled in a scandal since France's consumer watchdog DGCCRF found sex dolls resembling children and banned weapons for sale on its marketplace, prompting the government attempt to suspend the platform. A spokesperson for Shein said it welcomed the ruling. "We remain committed to continuously improving our control processes, in close collaboration with the French authorities, with the aim of establishing some of the most stringent standards in the industry, and we have been intensifying these efforts," the spokesperson said, adding: Our priority remains protecting French consumers and ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations. Shein declined to comment on the French government's decision to appeal. Shein could now reinstate its marketplace in France, which it suspended last month after the DGCCRF findings. Its site selling Shein-branded clothes has been accessible throughout. Age verification The Court of Paris said Shein must implement measures to verify age more than a simple declaration to prevent "sexual products that may constitute pornographic content" from being accessed by minors. The French government began proceedings to suspend Shein on November 5, less than two hours after the opening of its first ever physical store in the BHV department store in Paris. The court said in a statement that Shein had removed the products rapidly, and that a systematic lack of controls, oversight or regulation had not been proven. Child protection group's comment However, Christine Cerrada, a lawyer and legal adviser for French child protection group L'Enfance au Coeur, said the French court's actions were "clearly insufficient". Following the ruling she said: From a legal standpoint, it is well known that ageverification measures are extremely difficult to implement. Shein banned all sex dolls and suspended the adult products category from its marketplace globally on November 3 after the consumer watchdog's findings. It could decide to keep this in place, thus avoiding the question of age verification. Shein, which is privately owned but aims to go public in Hong Kong after failed attempts in New York and London, had global revenues of $37bn (31.6bn) in 2024, the most recent filing of parent company Roadget Business Pte Ltd in Singapore shows. Shein has been embroiled in a scandal since France's consumer watchdog found illicit products including sex dolls resembling children and banned weapons for sale on its marketplace. Stock picture: Paulo Nunes dos Santos/Bloomberg France's consumer regulator also said last month it had found five other platforms AliExpress, Amazon, eBay, Joom, and Temu that sold illicit products in France. But none of those suspended their marketplaces, and the French government has not targeted them to the same extent as Shein. 'Crusade against Shein' In a hearing earlier this month, lawyers for Shein said it is facing discriminatory treatment and there was a "crusade" against it by politicians and the media. France has in recent weeks pushed European authorities to crack down on Shein as well, calling for a formal investigation under the EU law governing online platforms. The European Commission requested further information from Shein on illegal products but did not open an investigation. France's crackdown is also about competition, with retailers saying Shein's rock-bottom prices and rapid growth are enabled by a customs duty loophole. The EU last week agreed on a 3 fee on low-value ecommerce parcels that were previously entering the bloc duty-free, following in the footsteps of the United States in removing the "de minimis" provision. If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services. A US judge has voided the conviction of one of the two men found guilty of the 2002 killing of Run-DMC star Jam Master Jay, ruling that there was not enough evidence that the man had a motive to kill the hip-hop luminary. Nearly two years after a jury delivered its verdict, the decision came from the same Brooklyn federal judge who presided over the trial. In Fridays ruling, US District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall granted Karl Jordan Jr an acquittal on the murder charges. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was hopeful but clear about the challenges facing the Trump administrations Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas peace efforts and defended increasing US military pressure on Venezuela during an end-of-year news conference on Friday. Over more than two hours, Mr Rubio offered no predictions for timing or success on any of those three issues. He also said he was proud of President Donald Trumps radical overhaul in foreign assistance and that the administration was working to reach a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan in time for the new year. Mr Rubios lengthy appearance in the State Department briefing room came as key meetings on Gaza and Russia-Ukraine are being held in Miami on Friday and Saturday after a tumultuous year in US foreign policy. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio answered questions from reporters at the State Department (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP) Mr Rubio has assumed the additional role of national security adviser and emerged as a staunch defender of Mr Trumps America First priorities on issues ranging from visa restrictions to a shake-up of the State Department bureaucracy. He spoke about peace efforts as national security officials from Britain, France and Germany were taking part in talks in Florida with Ukraines lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to discuss the latest iteration of Mr Trumps Ukraine-Russia peace proposal. A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner, who is Mr Trumps son-in-law, also would see Egyptian, Turkish and Qatari officials on Friday for talks on how to get to the next phase of Mr Trumps plan to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Progress on Mr Trumps Gaza ceasefire plan has moved slowly since it was announced in October. US officials have been pushing to get the plan implemented by setting up a Board of Peace that would oversee the territory after two years of war and create an international stabilisation force that would police the area. I think we owe them a few more answers before we get there, Mr Rubio said when asked about contributions to the stabilisation force. After establishing the Board of Peace and a Palestinian technocratic group to govern Gaza, that will allow us to firm up the stabilisation force, including how its going to be paid for, what the rules of engagement are, what their role will be in demilitarisation. In a whirlwind of diplomacy, Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner are also set to meet on Saturday with Russian President Vladimir Putins adviser Kirill Dmitriev in Miami, officials said. Mr Rubio, who will be at his home in Florida for the holidays, said he would probably attend the meeting. Both sides will have to make concessions if youre going to have a deal. You may not have a deal. We may not have a deal. Its unfortunate But he said there would be no peace deal unless both Ukraine and Russia can agree to the terms, making it impossible for the US to force a deal on anyone. Instead, the US is trying to figure out if we can nudge both sides to a common place. We understand that youre not going to have a deal unless both sides have to give, and both sides have to get, Mr Rubio said. Both sides will have to make concessions if youre going to have a deal. You may not have a deal. We may not have a deal. Its unfortunate. The US proposal has been through numerous versions with Mr Trump seesawing back and forth between offering support and encouragement for Ukraine and then seemingly sympathising with Mr Putins hardline stances by pushing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to territorial concessions. Kyiv has rejected that concession in return for security guarantees intended to protect Ukraine from future Russian incursions. On Venezuela, Mr Rubio has been a leading proponent of military operations against suspected drug-running vessels targeted in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since early September. The actions have ramped up pressure on leftist Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who has been charged with narco-terrorism in the US. Mr Rubio defended Mr Trumps prerogatives on Venezuela and said the administration believes nothing has happened that requires us to notify Congress or get congressional approval or cross the threshold into war. He added: We have very strong legal opinions. In an NBC News interview on Friday, Mr Trump would not rule out a war with Venezuela. Mr Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth have publicly maintained that the current operations are directed at narco-terrorists trying to smuggle deadly drugs into the United States. President Nicolas Maduro (Ariana Cubillos/AP) Mr Maduro has insisted the real purpose is to force him from office. Mr Rubio sidestepped a direct question about whether the US wants regime change in 2026 in the South American country. We have a regime thats illegitimate, that co-operates with Iran, that co-operates with Hezbollah, that co-operates with narco-trafficking and narco-terrorist organisations, Mr Rubio said, including not just protecting their shipments and allowing them to operate with impunity, but also allows some of them to control territory. Mr Trump has spoken of wanting to be remembered as a peacemaker, but ceasefires his administration helped craft are already in trouble thanks to renewed military action between Cambodia and Thailand as well as Rwanda and Congo. Mr Rubio, however, said those deals created a list of commitments that can now be used to push the parties back to peace. Those commitments today are not being kept, Mr Rubio said of the Thailand-Cambodia conflict, which now threatens to reignite following Thai airstrikes. The work now is to bring them back to the table. Since taking over the department, Mr Rubio has moved swiftly to implement Mr Trumps America First agenda, helping dismantle the US.Agency for International Development (USAid)and reducing the size of the diplomatic corps through a significant reorganisation. Previous administrations have distributed billions of dollars in foreign assistance over the past five decades through USAid. Critics have said the decision to eliminate USAid and slash foreign aid spending has cost lives overseas, although Mr Rubio and others have denied this, pointing to ongoing disaster relief operations in the Philippines, the Caribbean and elsewhere, along with new global health compacts being signed with countries that previously had programs run by USAid. We have a limited amount of money that can be dedicated to foreign aid and humanitarian assistance, Mr Rubio said. And that has to be applied in a way that furthers our national interest. The Trump administration launched military strikes in Syria to eliminate so-called Islamic State group fighters and weapons sites in retaliation for an ambush attack that killed two US troops and an American civilian interpreter almost a week ago. A US official described it as a large-scale strike that hit 70 targets in areas across central Syria that had IS infrastructure and weapons. Another US official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operations, said more strikes should be expected. This is not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trumps leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people, defence secretary Pete Hegseth said on social media. Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria. This is not the beginning of a war it is a Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) December 19, 2025 The new military operation in Syria comes even as the Trump administration has said it is looking to focus closer to home in the Western Hemisphere, building up an armada in the Caribbean Sea as it targets alleged drug-smuggling boats and vowing to keep seizing sanctioned oil tankers as part of a pressure campaign on Venezuelas leader. The US has shifted significant resources away from the Middle East to further those goals: Its most advanced aircraft carrier arrived in South American waters last month from the Mediterranean Sea. President Donald Trump pledged very serious retaliation after the shooting in the Syrian desert, for which he blamed IS. Those killed were among hundreds of US troops deployed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition fighting the militant group. Tonight, U.S. and Jordanian forces struck 70+ ISIS targets in Syria with 100+ precision munitions. Peace through strength. pic.twitter.com/XWWvfqBBFT U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 20, 2025 During a speech in North Carolina on Friday evening, the president hailed the operation as a massive strike that took out the Isis thugs in Syria who were trying to regroup. Earlier, in his social media post, he reiterated his backing for Syrian president Ahmad al-Sharaa, who Mr Trump said was fully in support of the US effort. Mrr Trump also offered an all-caps threat, warning IS against attacking American personnel again. All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE USA, the president added. The attack was conducted using F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters, the US officials said. F-16 fighter jets from Jordan and Himars rocket artillery also were used, one official added. US Central Command, which oversees the region, said in a social media post that American jets, helicopters and artillery employed more than 100 precision munitions on Syrian targets. The attack was a major test for the warming ties between the United States and Syria since the ouster of autocratic leader Bashar Assad a year ago. Mr Trump has stressed that Syria was fighting alongside US troops and said Mr al-Sharaa was extremely angry and disturbed by this attack, which came as the US military is expanding its co-operation with Syrian security forces. Syrias foreign ministry in a statement on X following the launch of US strikes said that last weeks attack underscores the urgent necessity of strengthening international cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms and that Syria is committed to fighting Isis and ensuring that it has no safe havens on Syrian territory and will continue to intensify military operations against it wherever it poses a threat. Syrian state television reported that the US strikes hit targets in rural areas of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces and in the Jabal al-Amour area near the historic city of Palmyra. It said they targeted weapons storage sites and headquarters used by Isis as launching points for its operations in the region. IS has not said it carried out the attack on the US service members, but the group has claimed responsibility for two attacks on Syrian security forces since, one of which killed four Syrian soldiers in Idlib province. The group in its statements described Mr al-Sharaas government and army as apostates. While Mr al-Sharaa once led a group affiliated with al Qaeda, he has had a long-running enmity with IS. MANILA, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and another was injured after a speeding van crashed into a motorcycle along a highway in Oriental Mindoro province in the Philippines, police said Saturday. The crash occurred on Friday afternoon in the municipality of Pola, when a van slammed into a motorcycle carrying a family -- a 35-year-old man, his 34-year-old wife, and their 10-year-old son, said police. Initial investigations showed the family were heading to a transport terminal when they were struck from behind by the van. A 59-year-old woman was also injured after being hit by debris while buying items at a nearby store, police said. The van driver has been taken into police custody as authorities continue their investigation into the incident. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. AMMAN, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) on Saturday confirmed that they had taken part in U.S. airstrikes targeting IS targets in Syria on Friday. In a statement, the JAF said the operation was carried out in cooperation with the United States, which aimed to "prevent extremist groups from using these areas as launchpads to threaten the security of Syria's neighboring countries and the wider region." On Friday, the U.S. military struck more than 70 suspected IS-linked targets across central Syria in retaliation for a recent attack that killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said. CENTCOM said the operation was supported by fighter aircraft from the JAF and employed more than 100 precision munitions targeting known IS infrastructure and weapons sites. Following the strikes, Syria reiterates "its steadfast commitment to fighting ISIS and ensuring that it has no safe havens on Syrian territory, and will continue to intensify military operations against it wherever it poses a threat," Syria's foreign affairs authority said Friday on its X account. "The Syrian Arab Republic invites the United States and member states of the international coalition to support these efforts in a manner that contributes to the protection of civilians and the restoration of security and stability in the region," it added. According to CENTCOM, two U.S. service members and one U.S. civilian were killed, and three other service members were injured, in an ambush by a lone IS gunman in Syria on Dec. 13. Following the attack, U.S. and partner forces conducted 10 operations in Syria and Iraq, resulting in the deaths or detention of 23 terrorist operatives. No group has claimed responsibility for the Dec. 13 attack. Syria's interior authority earlier identified the attacker as a member of Syria's internal security service. The IS lost most of the territory it once controlled in Syria and Iraq, but U.S. officials said remnants of the group continue to stage insurgent attacks and pose a persistent security threat in the region. Human Rights Watch (Beirut) The Israeli militarys repeated attacks on reconstruction-related equipment and other civilian facilities in southern Lebanon throughout 2025 violate the laws of war and are apparent war crimes, Human Rights Watch said today. Residents and local municipal authorities told Human Rights Watch that the attacks have hampered reconstruction efforts and the ability of tens of thousands of displaced people to return to their homes in southern Lebanon. Over 10,000 buildings were heavily damaged or destroyed there between October 2023 and January 2025. Amid the ceasefire, Israeli forces have carried out attacks that unlawfully target reconstruction-related equipment and facilities, said Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch. After reducing many of Lebanons southern border towns to rubble, the Israeli military is now making it much more difficult for tens of thousands of residents to rebuild their destroyed homes and return to their towns. Human Rights Watch investigated four attacks on reconstruction-related sites, including three on six outdoor showrooms and maintenance facilities for bulldozers, excavators, and heavy-machinery in the southern Lebanese towns of Deir Seryan, Msayleh, and Ansariyeh, as well as an attack on a cement and asphalt factory in Sinay. The strikes, between August and October 2025, months after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, killed 3 civilians and injured at least 11 people. Researchers visited the sites and interviewed 13 people, including owners of the storage and maintenance facilities, mayors of the towns, a manager at the cement and asphalt factory, a government contractor, and three people working at an international nongovernmental organization providing aid in southern Lebanon. Human Rights Watch also reviewed inventory documents and contracts provided by three site owners. The four attacks destroyed over 360 heavy machines, including bulldozers and excavators, in addition to an asphalt and cement factory. Owners of heavy machinery sites said that they sold or rented machinery throughout various areas of Lebanon, and that some of the machines that they sold or rented were used for civilian reconstruction efforts, including rubble clearing. We cant even clear the rubble [from our sites] because were afraid that, if we clear it, more of the machines were using for rubble-clearing might be struck, said Ibrahim Karim, owner of a site in Deir Seryan. So here, weve moved the rubble with our own hands. For each of the attacks, Israeli forces had issued statements that the equipment and materials were used by Hezbollah or allowed, enabled or were intended to be used by Hezbollah to rebuild or reestablish its assets, activity, or infrastructure, without revealing any details. Human Rights Watch did not find evidence of military targets in and around the sites. Researchers were able to verify that some of the machinery and supplies were being utilized for civilian purposes. Researchers were unable to verify the use of all machinery and materials that were attacked but did not find any evidence of their use for military purposes by Hezbollah. Owners and employees all said that they did not know whether they were working with Hezbollahs military wing. They said that they do not typically ask clients for their political affiliations and that they sell and fix heavy machinery to whoever requests their services. Hezbollah has both a military wing (known as the Islamic Resistance, or al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya) and nonmilitary organizations, such as its political party, its healthcare institutions, and its social welfare organizations. Like other Lebanese political parties, Hezbollah has thousands of members who are not actively involved in any aspect of its military operations. However, even in instances in which civilian equipment was being sold or maintained for people with links to Hezbollah, that would not in itself make the sites or the machinery legitimate military targets. Based on the evidence Human Rights Watch gathered, the possible contributions that the targeted machinery and sites may have been able to confer on Hezbollahs military capability is too vague or tenuous to make these objects lawful targets. Permitting such attacks could effectively make all heavy machinery and factories producing materials for construction military objectives subject to attack. Israeli forces have also repeatedly carried out unlawful attacks on heavy machinery for reconstruction and other vital civilian infrastructure and hampered reconstruction efforts in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Human Rights Watch sent a letter outlining its findings and posing questions to the Israeli military on December 3. The Israeli military responded with a question, which Human Rights Watch responded to, but subsequently the Israeli military did not provide any further response to the questions posed. The International Committee of the Red Cross authoritative study of customary laws of war provides that warring parties can only target legitimate military objectives: that is, objects that by their nature, location, purpose or use make an effective contribution to military action and whose total or partial destruction, capture or neutralization, in the circumstances ruling at the time, offers a definite military advantage. The mere possibility that equipment could be used in an undefined, future contribution for military purposes, such as to build fortifications, does not constitute a legitimate military target. Individuals who order deliberate attacks on civilian objects and infrastructure are responsible for war crimes. Israels key allies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, should urgently act to press Israel to cease all attacks on civilian objects and reconstruction-related efforts, including by immediately suspending military assistance and arms sales to Israel and imposing targeted sanctions on officials credibly implicated in grave crimes. Lebanons judicial authorities should initiate domestic investigations of serious international crimes, and the government should accede to the International Criminal Courts Rome Statute and submit a declaration accepting the courts jurisdiction prior to the date of accession, including since at least October 7, 2023. The return of tens of thousands of Lebanons displaced residents to their homes and villages hinges upon the ability of governments to press Israel to halt its attacks on reconstruction efforts, Kaiss said. They should immediately suspend arms to Israel and impose targeted sanctions on officials credibly implicated in ongoing grave crimes. Since the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect in November 2024, more than 64,000 people in Lebanon remain displaced. Ongoing Israeli strikes have killed at least 127 civilians since the ceasefire, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and have destroyed civilian infrastructure. According to UN experts, there have been four incidents of projectiles fired from Lebanon toward Israel since the ceasefire, none of which resulted in casualties. The owners of two sites said that they had sold some machines to international organizations, including the UN Development Programme (UNDP), or to municipalities that were funded by donations from UNDP and USAID. At two of the sites, researchers found remnants consistent with a US-produced Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kit, including a tail fin remnant with markings displaying a CAGE code for Boeing and a JDAM tail unit assembly. In addition to the attacks Human Rights Watch documented, other media outlets have reported additional Israeli strikes that, they said, have destroyed reconstruction equipment and efforts. Public Works Studio, a Lebanese research and design studio working on issues related to reconstruction, housing, and public spaces, said that between December 2024 and November 2025, the Israeli military conducted 46 attacks on vehicles working to remove rubble and clear roads in southern Lebanon, 32 attacks on prefabricated rooms and houses set-up by residents returning to their villages, and 6 on concrete mixers, quarries, stone and aluminum factories, and wood sawmills. On November 25, the spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Thameen Al-Kheetan, said Israeli forces had severely hampered reconstruction efforts and attempts by internally displaced people to go back to their homes in southern Lebanon, including through attacks on the cement and asphalt factory. He said that Israeli attacks have destroyed and damaged civilian infrastructure, including housing units, roads, factories and construction sites, and that Israels recent construction of a wall, which crosses into Lebanese territory, has affect[ed] peoples right to return to their lands. Deir Siryan: August 6, 15 Machines On the night of August 6, 2025, Israeli forces struck two bulldozer maintenance facilities in Deir Seryan in southern Lebanon. The strikes killed one person, a Syrian worker at one of the sites, and injured two others, according to the owners and Lebanons Ministry of Health. Researchers visited the two sites on November 21 and observed destroyed bulldozers, excavators, and other heavy machinery, as well as damaged homes. Human Rights Watch spoke to the owners of the two sites, Ibrahim Karim and Hussein Khalil Karim, who are cousins, as well as Ibrahims nephew, Hussein Mohammed Karim, who works with him. Both Ibrahim and Hussein Khalil own several heavy machines, including bulldozers, excavators and cement rollers that they rent out to municipalities and private individuals working in construction and agriculture. They also own hundreds of spare parts that they use to fix machines that others bring to them. The strikes damaged all of their machinery and spare parts, as well as about a dozen machines owned by others that were on site for maintenance. The strikes also destroyed their personal vehicles and damaged their homes. They estimated the damage to the machines and spare parts at US$1.3-1.4 million. At one of the sites, researchers found remnants of a Boeing-produced Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail unit assembly. Ibrahim said that most of their clients were from the South Lebanon Council, a government entity established in 1970 to carry out projects aimed at meeting the needs of [southern Lebanon] and providing means of safety and stability. He said that individuals had also been renting their machines to remove rubble from destroyed villages, which he had witnessed as he had gone to check on the machines while they were rented out. When we rent our machines, we go almost every day to check on them, to fill them with diesel, and fix any issues with them, Ibrahim said. The Syrian worker killed was living in the bottom floor of Khalils home. The strike also injured Ibrahims wife and brother Hussein Khalil, who were both at their homes. Six children, ages 5-12, were at one of the homes, Ibrahim said. Our house is 40 meters away from the site, he said. My wife was injured as a result of the shattering glass. Hussein Khalil, Ibrahim, and Lebanese media all reported that that the initial strikes were followed by others. When the strikes happened, I was nearby in the village on my motorcycle and heard the strikes that happened on our place and our cousins place, Hussein Khalil Karim said. I quickly came with my motorcycle, and I took my sister from the house and dropped her off in the neighboring village. And then I came back and saw that there were additional strikes on the machines. One of the strikes hit a bulldozer and the metal shrapnel from the missile killed a Syrian worker. He said that the strikes had destroyed 14 heavy machines at his site, including excavators, bulldozers, six-wheeler trucks, and pick-up trucks, in addition to spare parts used in maintenance operations. The day of the strike, the Israeli military stated on its Telegram channel that its forces had struck Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure sites in southern Lebanon, including Hezbollah weapons storage facilities, a missile launcher and Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure which stored engineering tools that allowed for the reestablishment of terrorist infrastructure in the area. The statement did not specify whether it was referring to the attacks in Deir Siryan. Human Rights Watch did not find evidence of military targets at or around the site, and the possibility that equipment could be used in an undefined, future contribution to military purposes does not in itself make it a legitimate military target. Ansariyeh: September 3, 46 Machines At about 10:00 p.m. on September 3, the Israeli military struck a heavy machinery showroom and maintenance facility in the southern Lebanese village of Ansariyeh, destroying 46 heavy machines, including bulldozers and excavators, in addition to hundreds of spare parts, according to the owner. While 12 of the destroyed machines belonged to Mohammed Kiniar, the owner, the rest belonged to customers who had sent their machines for repair, he said. A building on the site had been hit by Israel a year earlier, on September 27, 2024, Kiniar said. Researchers visited the site on November 21 and observed dozens of destroyed bulldozers, excavators, and other heavy machinery, as well as hundreds of spare parts and equipment used to restore machinery. The owner said that machinery destroyed in the September 3, 2025, strike included agricultural bulldozers, smaller Bobcat bulldozers, and excavators. A Syrian man was killed in the strike, said Kiniar and the mayor of the town, Abbas Fakih, and three people were lightly injured. Fakih and Kiniar both said that the strike happened just over an hour after workers at the site had finished unloading two containers of Bobcat bulldozers and other spare parts that the company had imported to Lebanon. The day of the strike, workers had also been repairing bulldozers belonging to the Zahrani Union of Municipalities, which includes 15 municipalities, in addition to an excavator belonging to another Lebanese contractor, Kiniar said. That day we heard drones over our head the entire day, the mayor said. We heard two different drones. The drones must have seen them emptying the containers. At the site, researchers saw dozens of burned or damaged bulldozers, excavators and spare parts. Kiniar said that the strikes destroyed 46 heavy machines, with damages amounting to $3.6 million. He said that he established the site in 2003 and has sold various heavy machinery to international organizations, such as UNDP and municipalities, and has repaired heavy machinery for government contractors and a UN peacekeepers battalion. Im a trader, Kiniar said. I sell to everyone, and I try to fix every machine that comes here. My customers come from all over Lebanon. On November 21, Human Rights Watch spoke to a Lebanese contractor and owner of the contracting company South for Construction S.A.L., Riad al-Assaad, who had sent an excavator to the site for repairs two days before the site was struck. Al-Assaad described himself as someone who has consistently held political positions against Hezbollah and their allies. Weve always sent equipment there for maintenance, he said. Kiniar is an expert on electric systems. I had sent an excavator there on Monday and it was struck on Wednesday. We used to sell equipment to international organizations, to municipalities and the union of municipalities. Weve been here at this site since 2003, Kiniar said. The Israeli military stated that its forces had struck a Hezbollah site in the Ansariyeh area of southern Lebanon, which stored engineering vehicles intended to rebuild the terrorist organizations capabilities and support its terrorist activity. The Israeli military did not specify how the site supported Hezbollahs military activities or capabilities. Human Rights Watch did not find evidence of military targets at or around the site, and the possibility that equipment could be used in an undefined, future contribution to military purposes does not in itself make it a legitimate military target. Msayleh: October 11, 300 Machines Israeli forces struck several sites containing bulldozers, excavators, Bobcat bulldozers, and other machinery in Msayleh in the middle of the night on October 11. The strikes killed one person, a Syrian national, and injured seven others. Lebanons National News Agency reported that just after 4:00 a.m. on October 11, more than 11 strikes directly targeted a group of bulldozer and excavator showrooms resulting in the destruction of more than 300 vehicles, including bulldozers and excavators, among them more than 100 small Bobcat vehicles. The agency reported that the five sites that were completely destroyed are considered among the largest machinery showrooms in Lebanon and that five other separate sites were also damaged from the attacks. On November 14, Human Rights Watch researchers visited four of the outdoor showrooms and interviewed the four owners, including Ahmad and Imad Tabaja, a father and son who said they lost 139 machines and spare parts worth a total of about $4.7 million in the attack, as well as the owners of two other showrooms targeted. At the two plots owned by the Tabaja family, Human Rights Watch saw dozens of machines and hundreds of spare parts that had been completely destroyed in the attack. Most machines were completely burned and their metal had been warped by the blast. At one of the familys sites Human Rights Watch also found weapons remnants and determined that they were consistent with a JDAM guidance kit assembled and sold by a US company. Researchers reviewed documents provided by the owners, including a detailed inventory of 139 destroyed pieces of equipment, among them heavy machines, generators and various spare parts, and the owners estimates of damages. Ahmad Tabaja, the father, said that he has imported machines for use in the agricultural sector, including tractors, excavators, rollers, and bobcat bulldozers since 1967. He and his son, Imad, said that their clients have included government contractors working with the Energy and Water Ministry and the Public Works Ministry, as well as municipalities. He said that UN agencies and USAID had provided the funding for some municipalities to purchase equipment from them. Researchers also reviewed receipts issued by the Tabaja family company, between 2018 and 2025, for heavy machinery and spare parts purchased from the site by municipalities, Lebanese and international companies, in addition to the US-based Near East Foundation. Imad said that they sold equipment across all of Lebanon, but that since October 2023, much of their sales had been to individuals and contractors outside of southern Lebanon due to hostilities there. Ahmed added that about 10 percent of their sales were also international. All our shipment containers have come in legally through customs, Imad said. The government typically estimates the price of each imported container. In total, the price of our imports is $4.7 million. Everything was destroyed [in the strikes]. The owner of another site, Ali Tarhini, said that eight of his ten six-wheeler trucks were completely destroyed, and two partially destroyed, in the strikes, resulting in between $400,000 to $500,000 in losses. Ive been working in this business for nearly 30-35 years, and Ive been in Msayleh for 4 years, he said. I just sell to regular people. Whoever comes and wants to buy [trucks], we sell to them. Another owner, Mohammed Chahine, showed researchers the damage on his site, which borders the Tabaja familys site. Chahine provided an inventory of the damages at his site, including three damaged hydraulic winches, used in digging and preparing water wells, in addition to a car, a prefabricated house, submersible water pumps, generators, solar panels, lithium batteries and spare parts, which totaled $770,000 in losses. Chahine said that he has been working at this site in Msayleh since 1990 and has worked with municipalities, government contractors, the South Lebanon Council, and the South Lebanon Water Establishment, the public utility responsible for supplying water across southern Lebanon. On the site, researchers found damaged vehicles, solar panels, a container that stored salvaged spare parts for solar panel systems, in addition to a hangar where Chahine stored other spare parts for the hydraulic winches. The Israeli military stated on Telegram on the day of the strike that its forces had struck and dismantled Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the area of southern Lebanon, where engineering machinery used to reestablish terrorist infrastructure in the area they were located. The statement did not specify whether it was referring to the attacks in Msayleh. Human Rights Watch did not find evidence of military targets at or around the site, and the possibility that equipment could be used in an undefined, future contribution to military purposes does not in itself make it a legitimate military target. Sinay: October 16, Cement and Asphalt Factory Israeli forces attacked a large cement and asphalt factory in Sinay on October 16. The factory was established in the village in 1992, and was reportedly one of the largest cement factories in Lebanon. Photo of Marjayoun, Lebanon by AHMAD BADER on Unsplash Human Rights Watch researchers visited the factory on November 14 and spoke with a manager. Human Rights Watch also interviewed the mayor of the town. Researchers walked through the area and observed several areas at the site that were either destroyed or significantly damaged, including an administrative building, cement silos, crushers, an asphalt mixing factory, and dozens of destroyed vehicles, including concrete mixer trucks, excavators, pick-up trucks, and bulldozers. The attack, which consisted of over 10 strikes according to both the mayor and the administrative manager, destroyed the whole industrial area, approximately 70,000 square meters and included an asphalt factory, a cement factory, and 50 machines on the factorys premises, including bulldozers, excavators, crushers, concrete mixers, pumps, and cement trucks. According to both the mayor and the administrative manager, the cost of the destruction totaled over $10 million. After the ceasefire we had about a 30 percent increase in our work, probably all related to reconstruction, the manager at the site said. But we dont ask people why are you buying this cement or this asphalt. We just sell it to them. He said that the factorys clients include contractors, the Public Works Ministry, municipalities, and individuals working on construction projects. He said that their cement and asphalt had been used to build the village school and much of the public infrastructure in a neighboring village. The factory employed about 60 people from the area who the manager said were all directly affected by the strikes as the factory shut down. In a statement published on October 16, the Israeli military said that Hezbollah produced cement to rebuild and reestablish its assets and terrorist infrastructure that were struck and dismantled and that the infrastructure enabled Hezbollahs continuous activity and the reestablishment of its terrorist activity under civilian disguise in Lebanon. The statement did not specify whether it was referring to the attacks in Sinay. Human Rights Watch did not find evidence of military targets at or around the site, and the possibility that materials could be used in an undefined, future contribution to military purposes does not in itself make it a legitimate military target. Via Human Rights Watch Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification or IPC, on which the United Nations depends to determine the level of nutritional crises around the world, delivered the good news on Friday that Gaza is now no longer in famine. While that report is welcome, the situation that Israel is imposing on ordinary Palestinians in Gaza is still catastrophic. On Wednesday night, a newborn died of hypothermia, as cold rains lash the Strip and thousands suffer from inadequate housing, what with the deliberate Israeli bombing of most of the apartment complexes. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that Between 10 October and 16 December, some 9,000 MT [mega-tons] of aid supplies were rejected by Israeli authorities for entry into Gaza, mainly requests submitted by local and international NGOs on the grounds that the organizations were not authorized to bring relief items into Gaza, items considered by Israeli authorities to fall outside the humanitarian category, or items classified as dual-use. In November, such rejected requests included frozen meat, tropical fruit, biscuits, vehicles, power equipment, specialized machinery, multipurpose tents, and learning and recreational materials for children. OCHA also reports that Severe storm conditions have resulted in reported deaths, flooding incidents that affected nearly 55,000 households, and the evacuation of 370 families from shoreline sites. 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) In its report, the IPC cautions Gaza is not out of the woods. In the worst case scenario, i.e. renewed hostilities and a halt in humanitarian and commercial inflows, Gaza will remain in famine conditions through April. It should be noted that hostilities have not actually halted, and no independent aid group working in Gaza thinks the Israelis are letting in enough food, so the situation is on a knife edge already and could easily deteriorate. On the other hand, in the best case scenario, that things settle down, the number of people facing IPC Phase 5 food insecurity, i.e. Catastrophe, is expected to fall to 1,900 by April under current conditions. Actually, the prospect of 1,900 people essentially starving sounds pretty serious to me, but it is an improvement over late summer and early fall when the UN declared the whole strip was a famine zone, deliberately inflicted by the Netanyahu government. IPC . So, at the moment, Gaza is out of a famine situation, and if things go well, the number of those starving will decline precipitously. Thats the good news. The bad news is that in October and November 2025, the majority of the population continued to face high levels of acute food insecurity, including over 500,000 people facing Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and more than 100,000 experiencing Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). In the Gaza Governorate, acute malnutrition is Phase 4, critical levels. In Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis governorates, malnutrition is Phase 3, serious. Never miss an issue of Informed Comment: Click here to subscribe to our email newsletter! Social media will pretend to let you subscribe but then use algorithms to suppress the postings and show you their ads instead. And please, if you see an essay you like, paste it into an email and share with friends. These levels are projected to continue over the next five months if things remain as they are and dont worsen. IPC . The IPC projects that under current conditions, 100,000 children in Gaza will suffer from acute malnutrition over the coming year, including 31,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition. In addition, 37,000 pregnant and breast-feeding women will need extra food. IPC . Over the next 5 months, most of Gaza will still be at emergency levels of food insecurity even if the situation doesnt worsen. IPC . The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that it is still necessary to ration food in December because the Israelis are letting in too little of it. By Sandra Joireman, University of Richmond (The Conversation) Close to 1.5 million Syrian refugees have voluntarily returned to their home country over the past year. That extraordinary figure represents nearly one-quarter of all Syrians who fled fighting during the 13-year civil war to live abroad. It is also a strikingly fast pace for a country where insecurity persists across broad regions. The scale and speed of these returns since the overthrow of Bashar Assads brutal regime on Dec. 8, 2024, raise important questions: Why are so many Syrians going back, and will these returns last? Moreover, what conditions are they returning to? As an expert in property rights and post-conflict return migration, I have monitored the massive surge in refugee returns to Syria throughout 2024. While a combination of push-and-pull factors have driven the trend, the widespread destruction of property during the brutal civil war poses an ongoing obstacle to resettlement. Where are Syrias refugees? By the time a rebel coalition led by Sunni Islamist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham overthrew the Assad government, Syrias civil war had been going on for more than a decade. What began in 2011 as part of the Arab Spring protests quickly escalated into one of the most destructive conflicts of the 21st century. Millions of Syrians were displaced internally, and about 6 million sought refuge abroad. The majority went to neighboring countries, including Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, but a little over a million sought refuge in Europe. Now, European countries are struggling to determine how they should respond to the changed environment in Syria. Germany and Austria have put a hold on processing asylum applications from Syrians. The international legal principle of non-refoulement prohibits states from returning refugees to unsafe environments where they would face persecution and violence. But people can choose to return home on their own. And the fall of Assad altered refugees perceptions of safety and possibility. Indeed, the U.N. refugee agency surveys conducted in January 2025 across Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt found that 80% of Syrian refugees hoped to return home up sharply from 57% the previous year. But hope and reality are not always aligned, and the factors motivating return are far more complex than the change in political authority. Why are people returning? In most post-conflict settings, voluntary return begins only after security improves, schools reopen, basic infrastructure is restored and housing reconstruction is underway. Even then, people often return to their country but not their original communities, especially when local political control has shifted or reconstruction remains incomplete. In present-day Syria, violence continues in several regions, governance is fragmented, and sectarian conflicts persist. Yet refugees are returning anyway. A major factor is the deteriorating conditions in neighboring host countries. Most of those who came back to Syria in the early months after Assads fall came from neighboring states that have hosted large refugee populations for more than a decade and are now struggling with economic crises, political tensions and declining aid. In Turkey, for example, Syrians have faced increasing deportations and growing structural barriers to integration, such as temporary status without the possibility of naturalization and strict local registration policies. In Lebanon, meanwhile, recent violence and a steep drop in international assistance have left Syrian refugees unable to secure food, education and health care. And in Jordan, international reductions in humanitarian support have made daily life more precarious for refugees. In other words, many Syrians are not returning because their homeland has become safer, but because the places where they sought refuge have become more difficult. We do not have data on the religious or ethnic makeup of returnees. But patterns from other post-conflict settings suggest that returnees are usually from the majority community aligned with the new dominant political actors. After the war in Kosovo, for instance, ethnic Albanians returned quickly, while Serb and Roma minorities returned in much smaller numbers due to insecurity and threats of reprisals. If Syria follows this trajectory, Sunni Muslims may return in higher numbers, as the countrys president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, led the Sunni rebel coalition that overthrew Assad. Syrian minority groups, including Alawites, Christians, Druze and Kurds, may avoid returning altogether. Violent incidents targeting minority communities have underscored ongoing instability. Recent attacks on the Alawite population have triggered new waves of displacement into Lebanon, while conflicts between Druze militias and the government in Sweida, in southern Syria, have led to more displacement within the country. These episodes illustrate that while pockets of the country may feel safe to some, instability persists. Barriers to returns One of the most significant obstacles facing refugees who wish to return is the condition of their homes and the status of their property rights. The civil war caused widespread destruction of housing, businesses and public buildings. Land administration systems, including registry offices and records, were damaged or destroyed. This matters because refugees return requires more than physical safety; people need somewhere to live and proof that the home they return to is legally theirs. Analysis by the conflict-monitoring group ACLED of more than 140,000 qualitative reports of violent incidents between 2014 and 2025 shows that property-related destruction was more concentrated in inland provinces than in the coastal regions, with cities such as Aleppo, Idlib and Homs sustaining some of the heaviest damage. This has major implications for where return is feasible and where it will stall. With documentation lost, homes reoccupied and records destroyed, many Syrians risk returning to legal uncertainty or direct and sometimes violent conflict over land and housing. Post-civil war reconstruction will require not only the rebuilding of physical infrastructure but also the restoration of land governance, including mechanisms for property verification, dispute resolution and compensation. Without all this, refugee returns will likely slow as people confront uncertainty about whether they can reclaim their homes. Photo of Bosra by Tatiana Mokhova on Unsplash Shaping Syria Whether the wave of returns throughout 2025 continues or proves to be a temporary surge will depend on three main criteria: the security situation in Syria, reconstruction of houses and land administration systems, and the policies of the countries hosting Syrian refugees. But ultimately, a year after the civil war ended, Syrians are returning because of a mixture of hope and hardship: hope that the fall of the Assad government has opened a path home, and hardship driven by declining support and safety in neighboring states. Whether these returns will be safe, voluntary and sustainable are critical questions that will shape Syrias recovery for years to come. Sandra Joireman, Weinstein Chair of International Studies, Professor of Political Science, University of Richmond This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. US President Donald Trump left open the possibility of war with Venezuela, as his top diplomat Marco Rubio vowed Friday to enforce a blockade on the country's oil wealth. Asked in an interview with NBC News conducted Thursday about a war with Venezuela, Trump said, "I don't rule it out, no." Trump declined to say whether he wants to oust President Nicolas Maduro, after saying in an earlier interview that the leftist firebrand's "days are numbered." "He knows exactly what I want," Trump replied. "He knows better than anybody." Rubio, who was repeatedly asked about Venezuela during a two-hour news conference at the State Department which he addressed both in English and Spanish, also declined to answer explicitly if the United States was aiming to overthrow Maduro, but he promised to press on. "It is clear that the current status quo with the Venezuelan regime is intolerable for the United States," Rubio said. "So yes, our goal is to change that dynamic, and that's why the president is doing what he's doing," he said of Trump. Rubio, a Cuban American and vociferous critic of the communist government in Havana, has pressed for a hard line on Venezuela after Trump initially appeared open to a transactional relationship with Maduro. Rubio did not rule out talks with Maduro. Trump earlier this week declared that Venezuela is "completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America." Trump vowed that the United States would stop Venezuela's shipments of oil, in what he described as enforcement of sanctions imposed unilaterally by the United States. "There's nothing that's going to impede our ability to enforce US law when it comes to sanctions," Rubio said. Hardline Trump aide Stephen Miller has accused Venezuela of "expropriation" as US companies were involved in early oil exploration on sovereign Venezuelan territory. - No declaration of war - Venezuela, which has the world's largest proven oil reserves, has promised security to keep its ships sailing. The oil is critical to Venezuela's budget and offers a key lifeline for Cuba. In its latest pressure, the Trump administration on Friday imposed sanctions on several more family members or associates of Maduro's family. But the administration has stopped short of seeking formal approval by Congress, which constitutionally is in charge of declarations of war. "I'm not going to speculate about things that, you know, haven't happened and may never happen," Rubio said. "I can tell you that to this point, nothing has happened that requires us to notify Congress or get congressional approval or cross the threshold in the war," he said. The House of Representatives, narrowly controlled by Trump's Republicans, on Wednesday rejected a bid to restrict Trump from attacking Venezuela without congressional approval. A Quinnipiac poll taken this month found that 63 percent of US voters opposed military action in Venezuela, with only 25 percent in favor. Trump has long criticized US interventionism overseas and promised to keep the country out of wars, although he has also insisted on US supremacy in the Western Hemisphere. The administration previously argued that its military deployment was in response to drug trafficking, with the United States sinking boats to kill people it alleges were smugglers. Some lawmakers have alleged a war crime on September 2 when the United States carried out a second strike to kill survivors of an initial hit on a boat. WARSAW, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that the situation on the battlefield is complicated and increasingly difficult. Zelensky, who is on an official visit to Poland, told the media that he recently visited Kupyansk, a key transport hub in eastern Ukraine's Kharkiv region, depicting the situation there as challenging with the front line very close. Despite pressure exerted by Russian forces, Zelensky said Ukrainian forces remain in control of the city. Meanwhile, during his annual press conference on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Kupyansk "came under our control several weeks ago," and that about 3,500 Ukrainian soldiers were encircled near the city. Moreover, Zelensky said that there had been "problems with the availability of certain types of ammunition and air defense missiles for various reasons, and deliveries were also delayed." But he noted that this is not an accusation directed at Ukraine's partners. Veteran South Korean actress Jeon Do-yeon expressed a subtle appreciation for the growth of Kim Go-eun, recalling her collaboration on the Netflix thriller "The Price of Confession" when she spoke at a press event on Dec. 12 at a cafe in the Samcheong-dong area of Seoul. Per Xports News, "The Price of Confession" follows Yoon-soo, portrayed by Jeon, who is accused of murdering her husband, and Mo-eun, played by Kim, a mysterious figure rumored to be a witch. The series centers on the psychological tension between two women bound by secrets, rather than overt action, placing heavy emphasis on restraint and emotional control. In the past, Kim had expressed that she liked the candid nature of Jeon's character and that she liked receiving praise for her acting from a senior cast member. In responding to this compliment, Jeon expressed how she judges acting now that she is a mature actress before continuing, "I'm not only a senior, but also a viewer, and I thought actress Kim Go-eun did a great job." "Anh-ag's role is a highly technically challenging role because Mo-eun is a character who is expressed with very little display of his emotions on the surface," added Jeon. READ MORE: Kim Go Eun Opens Up About the Painful Reality Behind Maintaining Her Figure 'It's Makes Me Sad' This observation led to his conclusion that playing a character who is emotionally expressionless is an art that calls for a lot of skill, discipline, and control, particularly when filming with another actor whose acting might cause a scene to go emotionally astray. The reporting of the interview is attributed to Naver. The actress also spoke about the nature of appreciation within the industry, stating that praise is sometimes a result of an appreciation for how difficult a particular role might be. In order to introduce this section, Jeon stated the reasons why compliments can sometimes mean more before continuing with her explanation that the appreciation Kim received was because of how difficult it is to keep the emotional line of her character. The last time Jeon and Kim worked together is when they appeared in the movie "Memories of the Sword." In relation to her reunion with Kim, Jeon expressed her thoughts on how far Kim has developed as a professional. In order to discuss how she views Kim's development, Jeon shared that "I think she's grown so much and so dazzlingly over the past 10 years.." In a different coverage by TV Report, the conclusion of that article stated that when Jeon assessed Kim, she did not set herself apart as a judge but as a fellow professional who is still working. "The Price of Confession" is now available on Netflix. READ MORE: 'Crash Course in Romance' Episodes 1-2: Jung Kyung Ho & Jeon Do Yeon Different Worlds Collide OTTAWA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone call on Friday to discuss the conclusion of Canada's 2025 G7 presidency and the transition to France's leadership of the forum in 2026. According to a readout from the prime minister's office, the two leaders reviewed key accomplishments, including efforts to enhance collective security, strengthen global energy security, accelerate digital transition, and build a more resilient global economy. This was the seventh time Canada has held the rotating presidency. France will officially assume the G7 presidency on Jan. 1, 2026. Friday, December 19, 2025 - CCTV footage has surfaced capturing the dramatic moment two brothers, later shot dead along Moi Avenue, robbed an Embassava Sacco official of Ksh 300,000 shortly after he withdrew the money from a bank in Nairobis Central Business District. In the footage, the suspects are seen accosting the victim moments after he exited the banking hall, forcefully snatching the cash before attempting to flee the scene. Unbeknownst to them, plain-clothes police officers on patrol were nearby. The two suspects, believed to have been part of a five-man gang, were quickly cornered and fatally shot during the confrontation, while the remaining gang members escaped on foot. Police believe the gang had been monitoring banking halls, targeting customers withdrawing large sums of money. Preliminary investigations are also probing the possibility of an inside job. Authorities have since launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects as investigations into the incident continue. The 2 brothers pic.twitter.com/Op8E3AZsRt DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) December 20, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, December 19, 2025 - Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has taken issue with Citizen TV journalist, Linus Kaikai, after he dismissed President William Rutos reference to Singapore as a model for Kenyas economic transformation. Speaking during the News Gang show on Thursday, December 18th, Kaikai argued that Singapores size and population make it incomparable to Kenya. He noted that the citystate is nearly 800 times smaller than Kenya, with a population of about six million - roughly equivalent to Nairobi alone. Singapore is a citystate, a very small country that is 50 km in diameter, which is like Nairobi to Thika. In terms of population, Singapore is only 6 million, the same as Nairobi, Kaikai said. He cautioned that while emulating developed nations is admirable, leaders should avoid narratives that could embarrass the country. In response, DP Kindiki blasted Kaikais remarks as pessimistic, insisting that Kenyas ambition is modeled on several Asian countries, not Singapore alone. Comments about Singapore being a tiny 735 square kilometer citystate incomparable to Kenya should know that Kenyas first world ambition is modeled on a few more Asian countries besides Singapore, Kindiki stated. He cited China as a prime example, highlighting its rapid transformation since 1978. China, a 9.6 million square kilometer mega country of 1.5 billion people, is almost 17 times larger than Kenya. In 40 years, it moved from poverty to the first world. Kenya will transition in our lifetime, he said. President Ruto, in his November 20th State of the Nation address, outlined bold plans to transition Kenya into a firstworld economy, drawing inspiration from Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. His tenyear vision includes over Ksh5 trillion in infrastructure projects, dual carriageways spanning 2,500 kilometers, 28,000 kilometers of tarmacked roads, completion of the Standard Gauge Railway to Malaba, and construction of at least 50 mega dams to irrigate 2.5 million acres. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, December 19, 2025 - The South African Government has defended its decision to deport seven Kenyan nationals accused of illegally working on refugee application processing for the United States, even as President Donald Trumps administration warned of severe consequences. In a statement issued on Thursday, December 18th, President Cyril Ramaphosas administration insisted that the deportations were carried out strictly in line with immigration law. The recent deportation of seven Kenyan nationals by the Department of Home Affairs was conducted in strict accordance with South African immigration law, the statement read. It added that the individuals were undertaking work without valid permits and that the Government would not compromise its sovereignty or the enforcement of the rule of law. The response followed a strongly worded statement from Washington, where the U.S. Department of State denounced what it described as the detention and harassment of foreign nationals in South Africa. The U.S. further alleged that South African officials permitted the public disclosure of passport details belonging to American personnel, calling the move an unacceptable act of harassment that endangered its officials. The U.S. condemns in the strongest terms the South African Governments recent detention of U.S. officials performing their duties to provide humanitarian support to Afrikaners, the statement said. It warned that failure to hold those responsible accountable would result in severe consequences, urging Pretoria to take immediate action. The controversy comes just two days after South African authorities arrested the seven Kenyans, who had reportedly been processing refugee applications for white South Africans, referred to as Afrikaners, seeking relocation to the U.S. The program is said to have been initiated by the Trump administration, prioritizing white South Africans as refugees based on claims of racial persecution and white genocide. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, December 19, 2025 - Wantam chants erupted moments after Nakuru residents were handed 2kg of maize flour and cooking oil by Governor Susan Kihika, in an incident that has since sparked online debate. In a video circulating on social media, several women are seen carrying the food items while loudly chanting Wantam as they walk away from the Governors residence. The slogan has widely been used by Kenyans to express dissatisfaction with President William Rutos administration. Governor Kihika, who is a close ally of President Ruto, had donated the items to the women as part of festive season celebrations. Kenyans on social media have reacted strongly to the video, saying it serves as a warning to President Ruto that many citizens are disappointed with his leadership. Wantam chants erupted in Susan Kihikas home just immediately after receiving 2Kg of unga and cooking fat. Kula kwao, Kura kwingine pic.twitter.com/zLEQrlIP8L Yoko (@Kibet_bull) December 19, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Representatives vote on a draft resolution during a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, Dec. 19, 2025. The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for one year, until Dec. 20, 2026. (Loey Felipe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for one year, until Dec. 20, 2026. Resolution 2808 retains the authorized troop ceiling of 11,500 military personnel, 600 military observers and staff officers, 443 police personnel, and 1,270 personnel of formed police units for the UN peacekeeping mission, known by its French acronym as MONUSCO. It also retains the mission's three key priorities: protection of civilians; support for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; and assistance with security sector reform. The resolution strongly condemns the ongoing offensive of the March 23 Movement (M23) in South Kivu province and urges M23 to immediately halt and reverse its offensive operations, and urges Rwanda to withdraw its forces from eastern DRC. It strongly condemns all armed groups operating in the DRC, and their violations of international humanitarian law as well as other applicable international law, and abuses of human rights. The resolution demands that all armed groups and their support networks cease immediately all forms of violence and other destabilizing activities. It also demands that all members of armed groups immediately and permanently disband, lay down their arms, reject violence, end and prevent violations and abuses perpetrated against children and release children from their ranks. A long-standing family-owned supermarket in Kildare has cited increasing costs as one of the reasons for closure. Perrys on Athys Leinster Street confirmed on Friday that they will cease trading on New Years Eve, describing it as a privilege to serve the local community. The business, which has served the town of Athy for over 70 years, has been an ever-present fixture for many locally. In a statement released by Stuart Perry of Perrys he said: The decision was a very difficult one to make on many levels. Given the ever increasing costs and the continuous pressures on turnover from local and online options available today the investment required to upgrade, modernise, help sustain and grow the business just could not be financially justified. Over the past few months efforts have been made to see if it is possible to sell the business as a going concern to any interested third parties, to help continue and keep the business in the town and help save as many jobs as possible. To date this has not been successful, but we will still endeavour to pursue all possible options. We thank all our customers for their support, loyalty and who chose to shop with us over the years. Also to thank so many for their recent kind words which has meant more to us than we could ever properly express. As our final trading date will be Wednesday 31 December please remember that all customer loyalty points and vouchers will need to be redeemed before that date. All Saving Club monies if not redeemed will be reimbursed before that date to the relevant Saving Club customers. On behalf of the Perry family and all the staff members within the shop thank you again. It has been privilege. Eva Osborne A range of stories feature on the front pages of Irish newspapers on Saturday. European leaders are considering reopening a direct line of dialogue with Russia, ending an effective four-year diplomatic silence in a bid to avoid being sidelined in negotiations to end the Ukraine war, according to The Irish Times. The Irish Examiner reports on Irish security services suspecting Russian intelligence or groups acting on their behalf were most likely behind the hybrid drone incidents during the visit of the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Ireland. The Echo leads with the amount of cancelled buses in Cork city jumping from just under one per cent at the start of the year to over five per cent during the summer. Family members face the distress of not being able to see sick relatives in hospital over Christmas, as many impose a strict one person only visiting rule to stem the spread of flu, the Irish Independent reports. The Irish Daily Mirror leads with Ryan Tubridy leaving Virgin Radio to host a new show on YouTube, The Late Show. Five trainee gardai have been sacked for handcuffing another rookie and leaving him under a running shower in what has been described as a "prank gone wrong", the Irish Daily Star reports. The Irish Daily Mail leads with Ryan Tubridy saying he will come back to live in Ireland, but will continue presenting work in the UK. The front page of The Herald focuses on the brother of a man fatally shot by a family member with a submachine gun saying his sibling was a decent, honest man who paid the ultimate price for meeting people in the drugs trade. Kilkenny camogie have suffered a big blow with news that one of their more experienced players Katie Power is likely to sit out the majority of the new season. The 34 year-old captained Kilkenny to a Leinster title in 2025 but a host of injuries over the last few years seem to be taking a toll on the Piltown forward. Asked what her plans were for the year, the three time All-Ireland winner gave a blunt assessment of her likelihood in lining out for the black and amber for the new season. I don't have a plan, unfortunately, at the moment, said Power, when speaking to the national press at the AIB GOAL Mile media day. I have early arthritis in my knees and I actually have a bad foot issue since the start of September, she said. Were finished playing with club around eight weeks now and its probably getting no better. So, I just have two issues there that dont really seem to be clearing up at all. I suppose if I gave them a couple of months, I might be able to see if we could go back at it in 2027. But at the moment, it looks very unlikely that Ill be able to continue in 2026 with Kilkenny anyway. The girls are back training but Im not with the group. I just got a bit of medical advice over the last couple of weeks in terms of possibly taking the year out. So it is something that I have to strongly think about over the next couple of weeks. I'm trying not to think about it too much, obviously, because all I want to do is play camogie, and playing camogie with Kilkenny is a huge part of my life. If that needs to be done, it needs to be done but I won't be ruling myself out anyway for the long term, maybe. With a new management team in place and a very young squad to play with, the loss of Power would be a big one indeed as the Cats look to improve on a disappointing few seasons. FOR MORE KILKENNY GAA NEWS, CLICK HERE Kilkennys proud brewing history opened a new chapter last week as Sullivans Brewing Company, based on John Street in the city, bottled its first-ever brew of Maltings Irish Red Ale in collaboration with Teac Tom. Hand-bottled straight from the fermenter, one litre bottles have been available to collect from the bar/restaurant over the past number of days with local demand high. Back in September, ale brewing returned to the Marble City with Sullivans taking a number of significant steps to make sure their dream of returning full-time brewing to Noreside could become reality. READ NEXT: Significant number of homes to be built at St Canices site in Kilkenny City In 2012, Diageo relocated the Smithwicks Brewery from Kilkenny to Dublin, leaving behind what owner Dan Smithwick has previously referred to as a scar in the soul of the community. Since then, Dan and Alan Smithwick and other co-founders have been working to develop a brewery in Kilkenny once again. Dan and his familys life mission has been to bring brewing back to Kilkenny. The site on John Street will be the spiritual home of Sullivans Brewing Company, the head office is situated there and the brewery will be the base for domestic draught. Meanwhile, proceeds from the sales of Sullivans first batch of Maltings Irish Red Ale are being donated to local suicide prevention charity Teac Tom. The collaboration was the brainchild of Alex and Kelly of Sullivans Taproom who are long-term ambassadors of Teac Tom with their vision leading to the successful partnership. This year marks yet another milestone in Teac Toms history. Since 2014, the service has operated from Ormonde Street but after over a decade in their city centre site, they are now preparing to move to a new home in Crokers Hill on the Kennys Well Road. "Its going to save a huge amount of money when were moving, from paying rent in a leased premises to a property collaborating with the county council," Fiona ONeill of Teac Tom said. "Thats money that can go back into paying the therapists to be able to provide the counselling to the people in the community," she added. Dan Smithwick revealed the brewing breakthrough was the stuff of dreams and described the occasion as a ceremonious day, commenting, "were calling it a noble brew, noble cause," highlighting the importance of teaming up with Teac Tom to raise vital funds. "Ive been dreaming about this since I was a child, bringing brewing back to Kilkenny," he added. "Its in the DNA of myself and Alan and the journey to get it to this point has been an exceptionally long and difficult one. "But looking around now at what is like a bespoke built brewery for the space here in the center of Kilkenny City, Im enormously proud, he continued. "Its the stuff of dreams to be honest." FOR MORE KILKENNY CITY NEWS, CLICK HERE UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Friday strongly condemned last week's drone attacks against a UN logistics base in Sudan, which killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and injured nine others. In a press statement, members of the Security Council expressed deep condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and to the government and people of Bangladesh, and wished a swift and full recovery to those injured. The drone attacks occurred in Kadugli, South Kordofan state of Sudan, on Saturday. The council members expressed grave concern that this deliberate assault on a UN logistics base and UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) peacekeepers represents an egregious disregard for international law, and poses serious threats to international peace and security. They denounced in the strongest terms the targeting of UN peacekeepers and all attacks and provocations against UNISFA, and called for those responsible for such attacks to be held accountable without delay. The council members reiterated that attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law and reminded all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law. They called on the United Nations to swiftly investigate these attacks with the support of UNISFA, and keep the relevant troop-contributing country informed of the progress. They called on host authorities to take all appropriate steps to support the safety and security of all UN premises, personnel and peacekeepers, and urged Sudan and South Sudan to provide full support to UNISFA and its operations. They underscored the need for further cooperation between Sudan and South Sudan for peace, security and stability in Abyei, which is a territory contested by the two countries. YANGON, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities have seized 196,000 stimulant tablets in the southern Bago region, the state-owned daily The Mirror reported on Saturday. Acting on a tip-off, a joint anti-narcotics task force searched a vehicle in Padaung township of the Bago region on Dec. 18 and confiscated the stimulant tablets, the report said. The seized narcotics are estimated to be worth 294 million kyats (about 140,000 U.S. dollars), it added. Two suspects were arrested, and further investigations were ongoing, it said. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. BRASILIA, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Federal Supreme Court on Friday authorized former President Jair Bolsonaro to undergo surgery, as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva vowed to veto a congressional bill that could reduce sentences for Bolsonaro and others convicted of an attempted coup. Judge Alexandre de Moraes, overseeing Bolsonaro's case, ruled that the former president, currently serving a 27-year and three-month sentence for leading the 2022 attempted coup, may have the surgery recommended by a Federal Police medical board. The procedure is to treat a bilateral inguinal hernia and, while not an emergency, should be performed "as soon as possible" to prevent complications. In the same decision, Moraes denied the request for house arrest presented by the former president's defense. Lula reaffirmed on Friday that he would veto a congressional bill that revises certain sentencing calculations, which could reduce prison terms for Bolsonaro and other coup convicts. "With all due respect to the deputies and senators who voted for the sentence reduction, I want to tell them that I will veto that law," Lula stated during an event in Sao Paolo. Lula added, however, that if he issues a veto, Congress would still have the authority to override it in a subsequent vote -- a step that could benefit Bolsonaro. Eva Osborne Uisce Eireann has submitted a planning application for the largest-ever water project in Irish history, with a budget estimate of between 4.58 billion and 5.96 billion. The applications for the Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region were submitted to An Coimisiun Pleanala, consisting of over 500 documents. The project is designed to provide a secure water supply to Dublin, Meath, Kildare, and Wicklow, supporting homes, businesses and future housing developments. Uisce Eireann said the project will also create a treated water supply spine across the country, providing infrastructure with the capacity for future offtakes to serve communities along the route in Tipperary, Offaly, and Westmeath. In addition, the project will enable supplies currently serving Dublin to be redirected back to Louth, Meath, Kildare, Carlow, and Wicklow. Subject to a successful planning application, Uisce Eireann proposes to start construction in 2028, with completion within five years, with a budget estimate of between 4.58 billion and 5.96 billion. Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region plan. Photo: Uisce Eireann At peak construction, Uisce Eireann said the project will employ more than 1,000 people directly, with a "significant associated spend" on local supplier goods and services. The Water Supply Project proposes to abstract water from Parteen Basin, upstream of Parteen Weir on the Lower River Shannon, utilising a maximum of two per cent of the long-term average flow at Parteen Basin. It is proposed that the water will be treated near Birdhill, Co Tipperary, and treated water will then be piped 170km through counties Tipperary, Offaly, and Kildare to a termination point reservoir at Peamount in Co Dublin, connecting into the Greater Dublin Area water distribution network. Minister for Public Expenditure, Jack Chambers, said, The submission of this planning application for the Water Supply Project to An Coimisiun Pleanala is a major milestone that will unlock housing in the Eastern and Midlands Region. "This project is a vital piece of infrastructure to support Irelands development, not alone in the delivery of new homes for young people, families and workers in our economy, but to sustain businesses and communities right through the Midlands and Eastern region of our country. Maria ODwyer of Uisce Eireann said: The need is clear - the growing water supply deficit and lack of supply resilience in the Eastern and Midlands Region is simply not sustainable. It is estimated 34 per cent more water will be needed by 2044 in the Greater Dublin Area. "This project is critical to enable us to support housing delivery and is backed by the Governments continued funding commitment. "Over the coming months we will continue to engage with potential contractors and progress the procurement process so that, subject to the planning approval, works can be mobilised as quickly and efficiently as possible. BOGOTA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least seven Colombian soldiers were killed and 30 wounded after a guerrilla group on Thursday attacked a military base in the country's northeastern city of Aguachica, the national army said Friday. In this "terrorist act," the National Liberation Army (ELN) used drones equipped with explosives, violating human rights and international humanitarian law by putting populations at extreme risk, it said. "It happened due to a lack of advanced anti-drone systems," Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on the social platform X, adding that the immediate purchase of the systems is ordered to block such attacks by illegal armed groups. Francisco Cubides, general commander of the military forces, said that intelligence and operational actions will be reinforced to counter the ELN's terrorist activities. When Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik checked his Ring camera a few weeks ago, he expected to see a routine delivery. Instead, the footage showed something stranger: a delivery driver dropping off one package and then lifting another off of Horniks front steps and walking away with it. It was crazy, Hornik said. The person delivering the package actually swiped a different package. The stolen item, a box of cosmetics, wasnt especially valuable. But the experience rattled him. Amazon didnt exist when I first got into office, said Hornik, now in his fifth term as mayor. This is a fairly new problem, really in the last five years, tied to how people shop now. Porch piracy has quietly become one of New Jerseys most common and frustrating property crimes. The theft of packages from porches, doorsteps, or entryways after delivery has surged alongside the rise of online shopping, afflicting affluent suburbs, dense cities and rural communities alike. More than 190,000 New Jersey residents had a package stolen during a three-month stretch last year, according to a figure recently cited by U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.). And thats even as many cases go unreported, primarily because retailers often refund customers with little fuss. In 2025, porch pirates caused $15 billion in losses for American families and another $22 billion in losses for retailers, according to a report by the home security company SafeWise. Nationally, an estimated 104 million packages were stolen in the past year roughly 250,000 a day according to the report. That makes porch piracy among the more common crimes in the country, according to experts. Those numbers are far and above almost any other type of crime and probably any other form of theft, said Ben Stickle, a criminal justice professor at Middle Tennessee State University who studies package theft. A literal Grinch For years, porch piracy was treated as a low-level nuisance: annoying, but rarely investigated and seldom prosecuted. In New Jersey, that calculus recently began to shift. In 2022, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law making the theft of a delivered package a third-degree crime, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines of up to $15,000. More recently, Gottheimer announced a bill that would make stealing packages from private carriers like Amazon, UPS and FedEx a federal offense. Theres a literal Grinch that tears through neighborhoods, the congressman said at a December news conference in Ridgewood, flanked by local and county law enforcement. It shouldnt matter who delivers your package. If you paid for it, you should receive it. A spokesperson for Gottheimer did not respond to a request for comment. A package, swiped and pawed-through, lies forlornly on the street. In Pictures via Getty Images Law enforcement attention to the matter also sharpened after the exposure of a sophisticated ring of new age porch pirates, including five men from New Jersey, who targeted homes using insider access to shipment data. The rings takedown, announced in February, was coordinated by the Union County Prosecutors Office, the FBIs Newark field office and the New Jersey State Police. All three agencies declined comment. Experts say most porch piracy is far less organized, and far harder to stop. The majority of packages that are stolen are probably opportunistic, Stickle said. Someone walking home from work. Someone in an apartment complex. A box sitting there is just kind of an open invitation to take it. That opportunism explains why the crime is so widespread, and why reliable data is so scarce. Stickle estimates that only 7 to 10% of package thefts are ever reported to police. And even when they are, most states dont track them as a separate category, folding them into other theft. Retailers dont offer much clarity either. A spokesperson for Amazon, the nations largest online retailer, said the vast majority of packages made it to customers without issue, but declined to provide specific numbers. Thats my a-- on the internet! How best to combat would-be porch pirates remains a matter of debate. Despite the popularity of video doorbells with an estimated 10 million Americans using Amazons Ring camera in 2023 they may fail to deter thieves the way many homeowners expect. In one study Stickle published in 2022, he found that only about 10% of thieves tried to hide their faces, even when they clearly noticed the camera. Were so used to being surveilled these days, he said. I dont think most people fear the consequences. One notable exception occurred in Gloucester Township in 2023, when a homeowner posted online Ring footage of a suspect who danced in front of the camera as he made off with a package. The so-called "twerking porch pirate" later came back to return the remnants of the package and plead for the video to be taken down. Come on, dude! Not cool, bro. Come on. Not cool, he said. Thats my a-- on the internet! As the episode went viral, Gloucester Township police tried to identify the hapless twerker, according to public information officer Paul Fisher. They were unsuccessful, and the case remains unsolved. What charges a porch pirate ultimately faces can vary widely depending on the circumstances of the case. Either way, adults or juveniles, anybody stealing, its at least a theft, Fisher said. It could be a trespassing or a burglary if you entered a structure, a robbery if force gets used. It just depends. Under Gottheimers proposed legislation, stealing a package could become punishable by up to 10 years behind bars, depending on the value and method of the theft. How to fight porch pirates As frustration grows, so does the temptation to fight back. Viral videos many of them AI-generated featuring glitter bombs, dye packs or trap packages rack up millions of views online each holiday season. Police and lawyers caution that such tactics can backfire legally. I would not advise anyone to prank a thief, said Michael J. Epstein, a New Jersey-based civil litigation attorney. Especially not in a way where it could lead to severe permanent injury or death, because it could ultimately bounce back and hurt you. You might be liable. Whats more, theres the risk of an aggressive or overblown reaction. You never know who youre dealing with, said Sgt. Eric Eleshewich, a spokesman for the Fair Lawn Police Department. Your best bet is to get video, get a description and call us. A sticker warns: Would-be pirates, back off! AFP via Getty Images Some departments have taken prevention into their own hands. For several years, Gloucester Township has deployed GPS-tracked bait packages that alert officers when theyre moved. Fisher said that the initiative had led to several successful arrests, and that porch theft arrests were down this year, but couldnt immediately provide exact figures. Other towns rely on extra patrols, license-plate readers and neighborhood camera registries during the holiday season, when package thefts skyrocket. But officials and researchers alike say the most effective strategies remain low-tech. If theres nothing to steal, the crime cant be committed, Hornik said. If residents pull their packages in quickly, thieves realize this isnt an easy target and they move on. Stickle agrees. If I can remove the box from the front porch, I dont have to worry about why someone wants to steal it, he said. Because they cant see it, they cant get to it. The White House is expanding its travel ban yet again, and this time it affects two popular Caribbean nations. Citizens coming from the nations of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica will be restricted from coming to the U.S. in the latest move from the White House, according to a fact sheet from the White House. The two nations are joining more than a dozen other countries President Donald Trump added to the travel ban, which is expanding upon one that was issued in June. It is the Presidents duty to take action to ensure that those seeking to enter our country will not harm the American people, the White House wrote in the statement. The restrictions are country-specific in order to encourage cooperation with the subject countries in recognition of each countrys unique circumstances. Heres why Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica are being added to the White Houses travel ban. Why are the Caribbean nations of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica being added to the White Houses travel ban? The White House included Antigua and Barbuda, as well as Dominica, to its list of countries with partial restrictions because the two nations have citizenship by investment without residency requirements, which the administration says could cause a national security issue, according to the White House. The White House said the partial ban for these nations includes exceptions for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories like athletes and diplomats and individuals whose entry serves U.S. national interests. How did the nations of Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda respond? The Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Dominica said it was actively engaging the administration to clarify the orders and see how they will affect residents who hold U.S. visas, according to Dominica News Online. Antigua and Barbudas Prime Minister Gaston Browne told Antigua Newsroom that the United States view of the countrys current residency programs does not reflect the present reality of our laws, adding that the nation will try to restore U.S. visa access for its countrys citizens. Both Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda are classified under the State Departments Level 1 travel advisory, meaning that U.S. residents should exercise normal precautions. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. A special Laois event marking the Solstice sunrise after the shortest day of the year takes place in a historic place this weekend. The Merry Mill organic and gluten free flour company in Vicarstown will again host a Winter Solstice sunrise celebration, on top of the Rock of Dunamase. The event has become a lovely pagan tradition in Laois in the past decade. Their guests in the past have included Jack Lukeman who like others breaks into song as the sun rises. Revellers are invited to share the special moment, in a pre Christian celebration with chanting, sun salutations and a lovely organic porridge breakfast provided by the Merry Mill. "To celebrate the Winter Solstice we are hosting a social gathering on the Rock of Dunamase this Sunday, 21st of December at 8:15a. "We invite you to share your creativity through reciting a poem, playing an instrument or singing a son. "We cant tell you what to expect because each and every year is different, but we can guarantee it will be an experience you wont forget. "This is an environmentally friendly event, please bring your own keep cup and spoon. Looking forward to seeing you all there," say the Merry Mill. The Rock of Dunamase, located off the N80 Portlaoise to Stradbally Road, is undergoing a new visitor carpark, due to open in 2026. Work was preceded by the biggest archeological dig ever at the ancient ruins, yielding exciting finds. The ruined Irish castle was the location for a short film recently by the American director of Ghost Whisperer, to be premiered in January 2026. County Kildare has received just 10,400 of a new 3.2 million funding package which was announced by the government to tackle Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV). This stands in contrast to several other counties which received six-figure allocations from the funds, which were announced on December 15 last by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O'Callaghan TD. The allocation follows a call from Cuan, a statutory agency which falls under the remit of the Minister's Department and is dedicated to tackling and reducing DSGBV. It also follows after KFM previously reported back in August that Kildare had one of the higher rates of domestic abuse calls to Gardai last year, at 13.28 per 1,000 people, which is above the national average. Furthermore, the funding comes at a time when more than 1,600 reports of domestic violence were made nationally during Christmas week last year. READ NEXT: Eight properties searched as gardai investigate fire attack near Kildare border 'A VITAL STEP' One Kildare-based politician who was optimistic about the funding announcement was Fianna Fail Senator Fiona OLoughlin, who described it as "a vital step in strengthening support for survivors". She noted that the service in Kildare to receive funding is Teach Tearmain Housing Association, an organisation which currently provides domestic violence support services for the entirety of Kildare. According to Senator O'Loughlin, the funding will support the expansion of services like counselling services, improved access to domestic and sexual violence services, increased capacity to respond to rising demand across national helplines. Speaking further on the allocation, Senator O'Loughlin said: "DSGBV has no place in our society, yet too many people continue to suffer in silence, feeling isolated, alone and unsure of where to turn for help. "This funding announcement will ensure that more supports are available locally; Safe Ireland provide an excellent service to the people of the Kildare region, and this funding will help the further expand those services." The Newbridge-based representative continued: "As awareness grows and more people come forward seeking assistance, it is essential that we have the appropriate level of service delivery in place to meet that demand. "As we work towards a zero-tolerance approach to DSGBV, I want people to know that help is available." She concluded: "These services are delivered by dedicated and experienced professionals who will support individuals through the hardship they are facing; no one has to face this alone." Fianna Fail Senator Fiona O'Loughlin. File photograph Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. If you have been affected by this article, you can find resources to help you by contacting Women's Aid at 1800 341 900 or emailing helpline@womensaid.ie, or Men's Aid by ringing 01 554 3811 or emailing hello@mensaid.ie. Additionally, you can find resources to help you by emailing Samaritans Ireland at jo@samaritans.ie, or by ringing 116 123. For resources related to addressing sexual violence, please visit the official Rape Crisis Centre website on drcc.ie. Following a run of completely sold-out performances and an overwhelming audience response, the Breffni Players are delighted to announce the return of their hugely popular comedy A Bunch of Amateurs by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman. The smash-hit production will return for a special one-night performance at the Island Theatre, Ballinamore, on Saturday, January 17, 2026. The play proved an instant hit during its recent run at The Dock Theatre in Carrick-on-Shannon, where it sold out in record-breaking time over four nights from November 25 to 28. Such was the demand that the Breffni Players have now added this extra date to give audiences another chance to catch the laugh-out-loud comedy. A Bunch of Amateurs tells the story of Jefferson Steele, a fading Hollywood action hero who believes he has landed a prestigious Shakespearean role playing King Lear in Stratford. Instead, he arrives in a sleepy English village, surrounded by a devoted and delightfully eccentric amateur drama group determined to put on the show of their lives. What follows is a fast-paced comedy packed with clashing egos, theatrical mishaps and razor-sharp dialogue, while also offering a warm and affectionate celebration of community theatre. Directed by Sinead Quinn, the Breffni Players production has been praised for its sharp comic timing, strong ensemble performances and clever, layered writing that rewards repeat viewing. Leading lady and new Breffni Players member Ann Marie Staunton said the success of the initial run made the return performance feel especially exciting. The reaction from audiences was incredible from the very first night, she said. The Dock is a really intimate space, so you could feel every laugh and every reaction, which made it such a special experience for us on stage. She said moving to the Island Theatre which seats approximately 150 people and is almost twice the size of The Dock will bring a different but equally exciting energy. The Island Theatre is a bigger venue, so itll feel different, but in a good way, she said. Were really looking forward to seeing how the show plays in a larger space and to sharing it with even more people. Ms Staunton said the production features a tight-knit cast of seven main performers, supported by additional ensemble roles, something she believes adds to the chemistry on stage. Its a relatively small cast, which means everyone really pulls together, she said. Theres a great sense of trust and teamwork, and that really comes across in the performances. A freelance television researcher who typically works behind the camera, Ms Staunton said returning to acting after a long break had been both challenging and rewarding. I hadnt acted in years, so stepping back onto the stage was definitely daunting, she said. But the support from the cast and crew was amazing, and the rehearsals were intense in the best possible way. She added that the company rehearsed from early September, meeting two to three times a week in the lead-up to opening night. By the time we reached the Dock, the lines were second nature, she said. Well all be brushing up again over Christmas, but once youve lived with a script like this, it comes back very quickly. Ms Staunton also praised the quality of the writing, describing the play as one that rewards both performers and audiences. Its such a cleverly written script, she said. Theres physical comedy, brilliant one-liners, and little callbacks that pop up later in the play. Even if youve seen it before, youll notice something new the second time around. With its irresistible humour and warmth, A Bunch of Amateurs promises the perfect antidote to the January blues and an ideal post-Christmas night out. Early booking is strongly advised, as demand is already high for this return performance. A Bunch of Amateurs is produced by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French. There have been many tributes made after the passing of Milly McNally (nee McGuinness), Dromod, Co Leitrim and late of Tulrusk and Drumboy, Mohill, Co Leitrim, retired N.T. Milly died peacefully on 16th December 2025 in the tender care of the staff of Rush Nursing Home, Rush, Co Dublin and is predeceased by her husband Jack, son Padraig (Patrick) and son-in-law Roger Garbett. One tribute said: "Sincere sympathy to Maura/Becky, Anne, John and Catherine and extended families on the death of a much loved, mum, mother in law & granny. So poignant as almost 12 months to the day of Padraig's death. May all rest in peace." Another condolence stated: "Sincere sympathies to Maura, Ann, John on the passing of your beloved Mother Milly, Also her grandchildren and extended family you are all in our thoughts and prayers, she was a beautiful lady and a great support while we resided in Dromod. may her dear soul rest in peace." READ MORE: Exciting new Active Travel plans in the pipeline for Leitrim town to the tune of 100,000 A long-time friend of Milly's said: "Maura Ann John and the extended Mc Nally /McGuinness family; it is with great sadness I got the news of Milly's death. I am very lucky to have been a friend of Milly for over 50 years. Many a cup of tea and sandwich I enjoyed in The Breffni Inn and if Milly had time we would have a chat. RIP. Jack was ever patient with my visits. What a lovely sincere couple and their high achieving family are a credit to them May they now rest in peace and enjoy their eternal reward Freda. A former pupil said: "Saddened to hear that my former and favourite national school teacher has died! I loved going to school and being taught by Mrs. McNally, and she used to get me to go around the other classes with the roll book, it was a great privilege! Mrs. McNally was such a formidable teacher back in the late 80s and early 90s! Her classes used to run like clockwork and there was no slacking in her classroom! All the students in St. Michaels BNS had the highest of respect for Mrs. McNally. She left a lasting legacy around Mohill and no doubt she has earned her stripes in heaven!" Milly was loving mother of Maura, Anne (Garbett) and John and grandmother to Niall and Conor. Deeply regretted by her sorrowing family, daughters-in-law, Catherine and Rebecca, brother and sister-in-law Stephen and Colette McGuinness, nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. May she rest in peace Reposing at her residence (Main Street, Dromod) on Sunday 21st December 2025 from 1.00pm until 6.00pm. House private thereafter. Mass of the Resurrection on Monday 22nd December 2025 at 1.00pm at St Mary's Church, Annaduff (N41 CF54). Burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. No flowers please. The Funeral Mass will be streamed live please go to https://youtube.com/live/nyi7jfUXaq4?feature=share ANKARA, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye's National Intelligence Organization Director Ibrahim Kalin met with Hamas Political Bureau member and chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya in Istanbul on Saturday to discuss implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, the Anadolu Agency reported. During the talks, the Hamas official said the group is adhering to the ceasefire terms and outlined "Israeli violations," Anadolu reported, citing anonymous Turkish sources. The meeting focused on Turkiye's role as a guarantor and its efforts to ensure the ceasefire holds. The two sides also discussed conditions for moving to the second phase of the Gaza peace plan, including steps to resolve outstanding issues and advance negotiations, the report said. Both sides reaffirmed their support for Palestinian national reconciliation and the goal of establishing an independent Palestinian state, according to the sources. Both Israel and Hamas would have to make tough compromises in the next phase of the deal, which has been stalled for weeks. Hamas would be expected to give up its weapons and control, while Israel would have to allow an international force to take over security. BAGHDAD, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Head of Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) Faiq Zidan said Saturday that several armed factions have agreed to surrender their weapons to the state and transition into political entities. Zidan thanked "the leaders of the factions, for responding to his advice to cooperate in enforcing the rule of law, confining weapons to the state's hands, and transitioning to political action after the national need for military action has ceased," read an SJC statement. According to statements and media reports, Shiite militias such as Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq and Ansar Allah al-Awfiya have voiced their cooperation in restricting arms to the state. However, Kata'ib Hezbollah, another Shiite militia, declined to join the immediate disarmament, setting stringent conditions. The group said in a statement that negotiations with the government would only commence after the withdrawal of U.S., NATO, and Turkish forces from Iraqi territory. During a phone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on Oct. 21, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged "disarming Iran-backed militias that undermine Iraq's sovereignty, threaten the lives and businesses of Americans and Iraqis, and pilfer Iraqi resources for Iran," according to a statement by the U.S. State Department. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Officials and experts on Friday called for deeper China-Africa cooperation to unlock Africa's vast animal resources potential, highlighting science and technology as key drivers for transforming the sector. The call was made at the Forum on Science and Technology for African Animal Resources Management, held at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The event was jointly organized by the Mission of China to the AU and the AU's Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources. Addressing the forum, Moses Vilakati, AU commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy and sustainable environment, said "livestock agriculture is a crucial livelihood for Africa's rural populations and is of major strategic importance for the continent's food and nutritional security, as well as intra-African and international trade." Vilakati warned that failing to transform the livestock agriculture sector would slow local industry growth, reduce job opportunities, and lower incomes for pastoralists. The forum, he said, will foster collaboration between African and Chinese experts and institutions in experience sharing and knowledge transfer, and contribute to the advancement of Africa's livestock sector. Jiang Feng, head of the Mission of China to the AU, said that China's livestock industry has not only achieved leaps in production efficiency and industrial quality, but also demonstrated strong momentum in technological innovation and value creation. He called for enhancing cooperation across various areas, including improving governmental mechanisms, strengthening technology exchange, and supporting market-driven enterprise collaboration. The forum aimed to align continental priorities with technological innovation, focusing on sharing AU goals in animal health, production and trade, while showcasing China's advanced technologies to identify concrete areas for future collaboration. The Chinese delegation, which consisted of livestock experts from various enterprises, universities and research institutes, shared a set of technological solutions and collaborative pathways on smart animal farming utilizing artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, the latest advances in zoonosis prevention and control technologies, as well as the design of bio-safety vaccine factories. Chevron is betting it is in prime position to unlock some of the worlds richest oil reserves. The oil company is clinging to its role as the largest foreign investor in Venezuela, where it has operated for more than a century, as President Trump ratchets up his effort to squeeze strongman Nicolas Maduro. The U.S. has amassed the biggest American military buildup in the Caribbean since the 1980s to exert pressure on Maduro, who Washington says is running a drug cartel financed by stolen oil. Trump ordered a blockade Tuesday of all sanctioned tankers moving crude in and out of Venezuela, leaving Chevron as one of last big shippers of the countrys oil. Chevron and its chief executive, Mike Wirth, are familiar with the risks of operating in an authoritarian state in Washingtons crosshairs. Maduros regime has taken and released several American hostages over the years, including two Chevron executives for two months in 2018. Yet Wirth has calculated his company has the means and resilience to outlast changing governmentsin Caracas and Washington alike. The potential reward is huge. Venezuelas government says its proved oil reserves top 300 billion barrels, which, if true, would make its bounty the worlds largest. We play a long game," Wirth said last month at the U.S.-Saudi investment summit in Washington. We are committed to the people of the country and would like to be there as part of rebuilding Venezuelas economy in time when circumstances change." Even Venezuelas democratic movement led by Maria Corina Machadowhich has criticized Chevrons presence in the countrysays the oil pumped by the company will play an important role in the countrys future. Chevrons catbird seat in the region is the culmination of Wirths yearslong effort to persuade Washington that his company is a stabilizing force that prevents China from controlling strategically important oil fields. Maduro denies the drug-trafficking accusations and said the recent U.S. seizure of a supertanker carrying Venezuelan oil was an act of naval piracy. Venezuela became a flashpoint in the early weeks of Trumps second term. In March, the U.S. revoked Chevrons license from the Biden administration to pump oil there, part of its effort to end Maduros 12-year dictatorship. Wirth led a lobbying blitz in Washington ahead of the White House meeting later that month between Trump and oil industry CEOs. At the gathering, Trump signaled he would explore extending Chevrons license. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Wirth that tariffs or financial penalties on countries that buy oil from Venezuela could bring Maduro to the negotiating table. In the months after the meeting, Wirth helped persuade U.S. officials why it should be allowed back in the country. By the summer, Trump urged his aides to hammer out a deal that would give priority to U.S. companies to access Venezuelas oil wealth. The administration in July gave Chevron its blessing with a new, more limited license. It is designed to prevent Maduro from profiting, though half the oil that Chevron and state-run Petroleos de Venezuelaknown as PdVSApump goes to Maduros government. A Chevron spokesman said the companys operations in Venezuela are in full compliance with applicable laws. Wirth and Trump are known to be tight. The oil executive is an eloquent speaker whose TV appearances entertain the president, and the men chat about Venezuela and other topics. Wirth was among the first to embrace the Gulf of America," Trumps new moniker for the Gulf of Mexico. His company, which has donated to inaugural committees of both parties, gave $2 million to Trumps, twice as much as Exxon Mobil and Occidental Petroleum. Trump and Wirth appear to agree that opportunity abounds in Venezuela. It will only get bigger," Trump said on Truth Social of the U.S. naval armada parked in the Caribbean, until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the oil, land, and other assets that they have previously stole from us." Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips pulled out of Venezuela in 2007 after former President Hugo Chavez nationalized their assets. Conoco sued the Venezuelan government for more than $20 billion; Exxon sued for $12 billion. BP and TotalEnergies exited the country over the following decades. Earlier this year, the U.S. revoked authorizations for Spains Repsol and Italys ENI to export Venezuelan oil. Shell recently received U.S. approval to develop gas offshore of Venezuela. Chevrons history in Venezuela can be traced through Gulf Oil, which opened its first offices there in 1923 and was acquired by Chevron in 1984. Venezuela nationalized its oil-and-gas assets in the 1970s, creating a state-owned oil company. In 1996, Chevron returned to the country as a joint-venture partner of PdVSA. Despite the many challenges, Chevron has stayed put. The company and its joint ventures employ about 3,000 people in Venezuela. Chevrons oil production in Venezuela has historically represented less than 10% of the companys global output. Chevrons long-term future dependsas does every oil companyson replenishing the stock of oil and gas it can produce. Around the world, big oil discoveries are becoming increasingly rare and valuable. Chevron plans to pour $7 billion next year into offshore projects in places such as Guyana and the eastern Mediterranean, a large increase from prior years, and is strengthening its exploration team. Navigating the companys future in Venezuela has become trickier. If Maduro relinquishes power, it isnt guaranteed that Venezuelas opposition leaders would come to power immediately, or if they did, that economic growth would follow quickly, analysts said. A military that wouldnt fall in line with a new civilian government would be another potential hurdle. Venezuelas next presidential election is expected in 2030. For the recovery of oil production, particularly in the first two years, there is no company poised to help more than Chevron," said Francisco Monaldi, director of the Latin America energy program at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy. If theyre willing to invest money, it will be a tremendous signal for the others." In the past, Venezuelas democratic movement has urged the U.S. not to let Chevron operate there. But it recognizes a stark reality: If Maduro relinquishes power, the oil pumped by Chevronand one day, perhaps otherswould play a big role in the countrys economic recovery, they say. The democratic movement is developing an economic plan that calls for Chevron and other major oil companies to raise Venezuelas crude production by several million barrels a day in less than a decade. The movement envisions PdVSA as an energy regulator refereeing a privatized oil sector. Venezuela now pumps about 900,000 barrels a day; Chevron is responsible for about one-third of that production. Chevron hasnt engaged with Venezuelas democratic opposition, according to Rafael de la Cruz, director of the Washington office of Venezuelas President-elect Edmundo Gonzalez and Machado, the opposition figure. If Venezuela is going to grow as we think it is going to, its going to be basically because of massive private investment," de la Cruz said. Chevron is going to be part of the oil industry in Venezuela, no doubt, along with many other companies that we would like to attract back to Venezuela." Write to Collin Eaton at collin.eaton@wsj.com The Trump administrations investment in a US zinc development has thrust it into the middle of a South Korean proxy fight, an example of how the governments push for equity stakes in critical industries is facing free-market blowback. The administration announced earlier this week it struck a joint venture with Korea Zinc to back construction of a $7.4 billion smelter project in Tennessee that would bolster US production of key critical minerals. But the reaction has been mixed, with shares fluctuating as Korea Zincs largest shareholders balk at the structure of the deal. The activist investors Young Poong Corp., and MBK Partners Ltd. filed an injunction this week in a South Korean court to halt a share issuance to fund the new smelter, according to an emailed statement, arguing the move was aimed at evading the proxy battle. The case has the potential to disrupt the administrations effort to spur domestic production of critical minerals in order to wean the nation off Chinese supplies, a key goal of President Donald Trumps economic agenda. It also threatens to complicate ties between Seoul and Washington, which were already roiled earlier this year by the presidents tariff push. Critics say the administrations methods, which include taking direct stakes in critical mineral producers and other firms in sensitive industries, put their goals at risk by inserting the government into business dealings outside of its control. This does seem to be the first of these deals where theres a material risk the thing wont close, said Peter Harrell, a former Biden administration economic adviser now at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. I do hope that they understood what they were getting into and didnt just get blindsided by this. The White House, Commerce Department and Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed cautious optimism that the deal will ultimately proceed and said it would reinvigorate domestic production of key minerals used in defense, aerospace and other sectors. American officials were pitched on the project earlier this year, according to a US official and another person familiar with the matter. The smelter will be built in Tennessee next to an existing facility, which will be used to train staff and be decommissioned when the new one is operational, US officials said. The project would more than double the revenue of Korea Zinc, the officials said, which is one of the largest sources of a mineral thats ubiquitous in consumer products. The US will get priority for a series of crucial metals, according to the officials. Senator Bill Hagerty, a Tennessee Republican, said at an event in Washington this week that when he recently had a phone call with one of his Wall Street contacts, the person said they were at the Pentagon working with Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg on the deal structure. We went through a long discussion about that, Hagerty said. Were bringing Wall Street talent to bear. The Commerce and Defense departments are involved, with the Pentagon providing debt financing and the government attracting equity investors from the US defense industrial base, the officials said. JPMorgan Chase & Co. is said to be among the investors. The US government is contributing a little over $2 billion, officials said. MBK said in its statement that its legal action does not mean the activist investor alliance opposes the construction of the smelter altogether. The Trump administration is aware of the proxy fight and potential lawsuits, but isnt intending to get involved, the US officials said. One official downplayed the dispute as a potential routine corporate dispute. The US doesnt presuppose the motives, another added. Others raised questions about whether the US overlooked the investor fight in its efforts to move quickly. You win some, you lose some, in dealmaking, Harrell said. But thats not how the US government usually works. It is very risk-averse and tries not to put itself into a messy situation. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Elon Musk, the world's richest man, is on his way to get even richer as a Delaware Supreme Court on Friday cleared the way for the tech tycoon to receive his 2018 CEO pay package from Tesla after a seven-year-long fight. Musk's 2018 Tesla pay package is set to be reinstated as the Delaware Supreme Court reversed the ruling of a judge who previously found that the CEO had influenced board members, who came up with the compensation plan, improperly. We reverse the Court of Chancerys rescission remedy and award $1 in nominal damages, the Delaware judges wrote in their opinion. The long-contested $56 billion Tesla pay package in 2018 was doled out as part of an incentive for Elon Musk to take the EV maker to new heights. Elon Musk's pay package: What did Delaware Supreme Court say? Reversing a pair of judgments by Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick of Delaware's Court of Chancery, the Supreme Court said that Elon Musk was rewarded for the work he did at Tesla. It is undisputed that Musk fully performed under the 2018 grant, and Tesla and its stockholders were rewarded for his work, the Friday ruling said. The appeals panel comprising five judges held unanimously that McCormick had ruled improperly in ordering a recission of Elon Musk's 2018 Tesla pay package, saying that the tossing out of the same in entirety was not correct. Delawares highest court in its unanimous ruling on Friday said that cancelling the CEOs entire 2018 Tesla payout leaves Musk uncompensated for his time and efforts over a period of six years. Musks 2018 compensation plan has been on hold after an investor successfully sued to block it in Delaware, where the electric carmaker was incorporated at the time. The investor himself held nine shares of Tesla, court filings cited by Bloomberg showed. How much money will Elon Musk receive? When the pay was approved by Tesla board members, Elon Musk was entitled to receive around $56 billion. The Delaware supreme court on Friday concluded that at present, the world's richest person is entitled to a stock-based compensation plan, which is now valued at $140 billion. Is Elon Musk's net worth going to increase? Elon Musk net worth has recently soared to record levels, breaching the $500 billion mark a first of its kind in history. According to Forbes Real Time Billionaires, his wealth now stands at $679.4, making Musk the richest person in the world. The $140 billion payout, which is the amount of money Elon Musk will receive, is expected to further his fortune again, widening the gap between him and other billionaires. Earlier this week, the government proposed major changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) through the introduction of a new bill in the Lok Sabha. The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, proposes to increase the employment guarantee under the rural employment guarantee scheme. In 2025-26, the central government allocated 86,000 crore to MGNREGS, one of the biggest expenditure items in its budget. The new rules will reduce the schemes availability. They will also dramatically alter its funding pattern, increasing the burden on states and giving the Centre more discretion in allocations. 10% to 40% Under current MGNREGS norms, the Centre bears the full cost of unskilled wages paid under the scheme and 75% of raw material cost. Over the last two fiscal years and the ongoing fiscal year, wage costs have accounted for around 66% of scheme expenditure and raw materials a further 31%. Assuming the central government paid 75% of raw material costs, this implies it is currently bearing about 90% of the overall scheme expenditure and states the remaining 10%. Under the revised norms, the total cost of the scheme in any given year will be shared between the Centre and states in a 60:40 ratio, causing the burden on states to rise threefold. Two other clauses have cost implications for states. One, if states are unable to provide employment to a worker within 15 days of asking, they are liable to pay unemployment benefits. Two, the Centre will decide the normative budget allocation for each state; spending by states over that will have to be funded by them. Pushing up deficits States are staring at a higher outgo. If the new 60:40 formula for all costs had been applied in 2024-25, states would have faced an additional burden of around 31,000 crore, increasing the total state expenditure by around 0.54%. MGNREGS has been especially important during times of economic crisis, such as the covid-induced lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. In 2020-21, under the new fund-sharing arrangement, states would have faced an additional liability of around 40,000 crore, amounting to an increase of slightly over 1% of total expenditure. This potential additional burden comes in the backdrop of states lowering fiscal deficit in the last few years. State governments have made commendable progress towards fiscal consolidation by containing their aggregate gross fiscal deficit within 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) for three consecutive years (2021-22 to 2023-24), while restricting revenue deficit at 0.2% of GDP in 2022-23 and 2023-24," said the Reserve Bank of India in 2024 in its annual review of state finances. State burdens What about the state-wise burden? Based on state releases of funds for 2024-25, and assuming the 60:40 formula, the biggest increase in liabilities would have been for Uttar Pradesh ( 4,239 crore), followed by Andhra Pradesh ( 3,269 crore), and Tamil Nadu ( 3,211 crore). Smaller states have been excluded from this analysis. Thats because for states in the Himalayan region and the North-East, the Centres share in costs has been retained at 90%. Interestingly, even as the government aims to repeal the employment guarantee scheme and bring employment guarantee under the ambit of centrally sponsored schemes, the RBI, in its report on state finances, cautioned that too many central government schemes reduce flexibility of state government spending and dilute the spirit of cooperative fiscal federalism. Rationalization of centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) can free up budgetary space to meet state-specific expenditure needs and reduce the fiscal burden of both the Union and state governments". Also Read | The dichotomies that define Indias rural jobs promise Letter, not spirit Under the proposed new norms, guaranteed employment under the scheme will increase from 100 days per household per year to 125 days. While this is an improvement on paper, the reality is that no state outside the Nort-East has provided households with 100 days of employment even under the current dispensation. In 2024-25, apart from Kerala, no other larger state provided more than 10-15% of households who availed of work with the full 100 days of guaranteed employment. One reason for this could be economic conditions. It is possible that the bulk of households simply did not demand 100 days of work from state governments because they found better employment elsewhere. While this is possible, its worth noting that even during covid, when rural India faced serious distress, the bulk of households still did not complete 100 days of employment in MGNRGES works. Under the new norms, job guarantees under the scheme will not be available for a period of two months during the busy agricultural season. State limits A job guarantee effectively sets a floor to the rural wage rate and forces farmers to offer a higher wage to agricultural labour. In the past, critics of MGNREGS have claimed that this has raised farm costs and ultimately final costs to consumers. However, on the flip side, it has also forced up wages for one of the poorest sections of the rural workforce. In the last six years, the average days worked by households has ranged from about 40 days to about 51 days, including the covid years. So far this year, 35 days of employment per household have been given. It is highly unlikely that the 125 days will ever be reached for a significant proportion of households, even during periods of rural distress. This is not because households have better options and dont demand work for those many days, but because states will simply be unable to face the fiscal burden. A further disincentive is that it is the Centre that will decide fund allocations to each state, with the latter having little say. www.howindialives.com is a database and search engine for public data. Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], December 20 (ANI): Veteran Malayalam film icon Sreenivasan - an acclaimed actor, screenwriter, director and producer - passed away on Saturday, marking the end of a remarkable career that spanned decades, playing a key role in shaping the landscape of Malayalam cinema. News of Sreenivasan's passing triggered a profound wave of grief, with political figures offering heartfelt tributes on social media. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan offered his tributes and honoured Sreenivasan's cinematic legacy. "The passing of Sreenivasan is an irreparable loss to Malayalam cinema. What we are losing is a talent who rose to leading positions across every domain of filmmaking. Very few filmmakers have succeeded, as he did, in bringing the life of the common man to the silver screen and in guiding the audience, through humour and reflection, to levels of awareness he intended. Sreenivasan stepped into cinema by breaking several long standing conventions," CM Vijayan said, as per a press release from the Chief Minister's Office. The CM fondly reflected on Sreenivasan's contributions to Malayalam cinema and added, "Spanning story, screenplay, direction and acting, Sreenivasan worked across multiple fields and, in each of them, established his individuality in an extraordinary way. Many characters from his films will remain etched in the Malayali psyche forever." Describing the actor's passing as a "personal loss" for him, CM Pinarayi Vijayan recalled having a warm conversation with Sreenivasan. "Sreenivasan, who maintained a heartfelt personal closeness, came across as a symbol of affection and friendship," the statement read. Among others, Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar condoled the veteran actor's passing and said, "His iconic performances and timeless contributions will be remembered forever. Condolences to his bereaved family. May his soul attain mukti." Kerala Minister for General Education and Labour, V Sivankutty, says, "The 'Sri' of Malayalam cinema fades away; heartfelt tributes to beloved Srinivasan. The demise of beloved Srinivasan is one of the greatest losses Malayalam cinema has ever suffered." Kerala Legislative Assembly Speaker A N Shamseer, in a statement, added, "He was a rare talent who conveyed socially conscious themes to the people through simple and deeply touching presentations. Through his art, he powerfully portrayed the struggles and hopes of ordinary people. Blending humour and criticism alike, his contributions that influenced society will remain forever memorable in the history of Malayalam cinema. Even time itself will not be able to fill the void created by his demise at this moment of grief." CPI(M) MLA and actor Mukesh, during an interaction with the media, spoke about his strong friendship with Sreenivasan. "He has a nature of speaking frankly and openly. He never makes any compromises when it comes to cinema. Not even once have I had even a minor misunderstanding with Sreenivasan. Even Sreenivasan's laughter has a uniqueness of its own. I had expressed my wish that we should produce a film together, and that is how the film 'Katha Parayumpol' was jointly produced. The moments spent with Sreenivasan are golden moments. Even the criticism in his films was laced with humour," he said. Veteran Malayalam actor, screenwriter, director and producer Sreenivasan passed away on Saturday at the age of 69. Speaking to the media, actor and screenwriter Renji Panicker shared that Sreenivasan's mortal remains will be taken to his residence and later to the Town Hall for the public to pay homage. FRANKFURTAcross Germany, railcar factories are being retooled to build military vehicles, auto suppliers are joining with defense contractors, and former soldiers are suddenly hot commodities in the jobs market. After Berlin pledged to spend more than half a trillion dollars on defense in the next decade, manufacturers facing stubborn economic stagnation and falling exports to the U.S. and China are scrambling to reinvent themselves as military vendors. Membership at the main trade body for the German defense sector has nearly doubled in the past year. Many new members come from civilian-oriented sectors, especially the automotive industry, said Peter Scheben, a spokesman for the association in Berlin. The defense industry is probably not the first use case when you think about food," said Hendrik Susemihl, the chief executive of goodBytz, a Hamburg-based manufacturer of automated kitchens. Susemihl started his business in 2021 in the wake of a Covid-19-induced craze for ghost kitchens," but he is pivoting hard into defense. He recently supplied an autonomous robotic kitchen to the U.S. Army in South Korea and is discussing deliveries to all major North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries. He expects the defense sector to provide one-third of his revenue in the future. View Full Image (WSJ) A shift toward defense offers critical advantages: plenty of government money and protection from low-cost Chinese competitors. Amid mounting animosity from the U.S. and a growing threat from Russia, Germany plans to nearly triple its annual military spending over the coming years to around $180 billion in 2029. The splurge is starting to show up in economic data. German industrial production for October showed significant gains in sectors geared toward military spending, said Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank. That helped to more than offset declines in other mainstays of German industry, such as vehicles and chemicals. This is a godsend for Germanys embattled manufacturing sector, which has steadily shrunk for seven years, squeezed by high energy prices, aggressive competition from China and U.S. tariffs. View Full Image (WSJ) Economists hope some of this capital will go into research and development, juicing Germanys productivity growth and seeding startups and new exportsjust as U.S. government money helped to sow the seeds of Silicon Valley. Defense spending is so big that it would really be a major game-changer in terms of basic and military-applied research," said Guntram Wolff, professor of economics at Universite Libre de Bruxelles. It is a consequential shift for Europes biggest economy, but it also has downsides. Economists say export potential in the defense industry is limitedChina is off limits as a customer and the U.S. has a buy-American strategywhile productivity growth is weak in parts of the sector. Military investments also tend to be less useful for the wider economy than spending on machinery or infrastructure, since weapons either sit in warehouses or are destroyed rather than being used productively. In the southern university town of Heidelberg, Michael Wellenzohn, an executive at printing machine-maker Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, is looking for ways to use hundreds of engineers as demand for the companys traditional products falls. His plan: to set up a defense business focused on autonomous ground vehicles and energy systems, targeting around 100 million in annual revenue, equivalent to around $117 million, for the business sector that includes defense, which will produce mainly in Germany. We dont need to hirewe can do it all with the people on hand here," Wellenzohn said. The company said this month it would explore a deal with Massachusetts-based Ondas Holdings to produce systems for drone defense, surveillance and reconnaissance in Europe. Other large industrial firms are making similar moves, tapping their expertise at building at scale and managing complex global supply chains. That new demand is helping to offset job losses in the auto sector, which have reached around 112,000 since 2019, according to Ernst & Young. Schaeffler, a large German automotive supplier, recently signed a deal with Munichbased defense startup Helsing to help scale up production of drones. They are targeting production of 10,000 to 20,000 drones a year, with a surge capacity of up to 100,000 in a crisis. Trumpf, a large mechanical engineering group based in southwest Germany, said in October it would use its expertise in lasers to build drone defense systems, joining with a local electronics group. The shift isnt as controversial as it once was in a country with a strong post-World War II tradition of pacifism. Most Germans support higher military spending, even if some are concerned it could make the country a target, said Timo Graf, a sociologist at the Center for Military History and Social Sciences of the Bundeswehr in Potsdam. View Full Image (WSJ) Martin Bergerhausen, a recruiter in Hamburg, is currently looking for a project manager with artillery experience to work for a large defense contractor in Munich. The salary, at 90,000 to 120,000, is comparable to similar roles in the auto industry, he said. A large consulting firm recently approached Bergerhausen, seeking several people with military experience to work on a procurement project. The growth of the defense industry is a return to Germanys past. Starting in the early 19th century, German industrialization was closely intertwined with the countrys weapons industry. Steelmaker Krupp, founded in 1811, was the largest industrial company in Europe for much of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It became synonymous with German military power, producing the Big Bertha gun during World War I, and later building tanks and U-boat components for the Nazis. Germanys defense industry was completely dismantled after World War II and military production was banned. But starting in the 1950s, Germany began to slowly rebuild its military and defense industry with U.S. support, acting as a bulwark against the Soviet Union. By the 1980s, Germany had half a million active military personnel and spent around 3.5% of its GDP on defense. It was only in the 1990s that Germany began to let its defense industry shrivel again as it diverted spending toward the welfare state. Germany is in a sense returning to old form," said Graf, the sociologist. Economists say the defense boom wont make up for the shrinking of the auto sector. An estimated 120,000 people work in defense-related fields, said Klaus-Heiner Roehl, senior economist at the German Economic Institute, a Cologne-based think tank, compared with around 800,000 in the car industry. Discussing Germanys rearmament plans in the White House in June with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, President Trump expressed some caution about Germanys rapid rearmament. Im not sure that General [Douglas] MacArthur would have said its positive," Trump joked. I think its a good thingbut, you know, at least to a certain point. Therell be a point when Ill say, Please dont arm anymore, if you dont mind. " Write to Tom Fairless at tom.fairless@wsj.com Twenty-five years ago, two promising physicists graduated from a prestigious science university in Lisbon. On Monday, one gunned the other down at his home outside Boston after firing on a classroom of Brown University undergrads, authorities say. Claudio Neves Valente, the suspected shooter, once had a bright future. He graduated at the top of his college class, ahead of classmate Nuno Loureiro. But by the time Neves Valente confronted Loureiro at his Brookline, Mass., apartment building this past week, Loureiros career had soared while Neves Valentes withered. Loureiro was an acclaimed nuclear scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, leading one of its largest labs. Neves Valente had been living in an unassuming home in Miami, far from the academic grandeur for which hed once seemed destined. Investigators dont know why Neves Valente opened fire in the Brown classroom, nor what drove him to target Loureiro. After a six-day manhunt, police found Neves Valente dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a storage unit in New Hampshire Thursday night. I dont think we have any idea why now, or why Brown, why these students, why this classroom. That is really unknown to us," said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha at a press briefing. Neves Valente was born in the Portuguese town of Torres Novas, about 70 miles north of Lisbon. As a teenager, he was selected to represent Portugal at the International Physics Olympiad, according to the Portugal Physics Gazette. The wife of one of his teachers told local media that the teacher considered him his best student. In 1995, he enrolled at Lisbons Instituto Superior Tecnico to pursue a physics degree. So did Nuno Loureiro. While multiple professors and a classmate at the Portugal engineering school recalled Loureiro fondly, Neves Valente didnt leave strong impressions socially. One professor at University of Lisbon who taught Neves Valente as an undergraduate told Publico, a newspaper in Lisbon, that he had a confrontational personality in class. Other students would ask questions, he said, but Neves Valente liked to say that he knew the answers. In online forum messages from 1997 from what appears to be Neves Valentes then-college email address, he signs off with a quote attributed to Nietzsche: Perhaps I know best why it is man alone who laughs; he alone suffers so deeply that he had to invent laughter." In 1999, Neves Valente took an optional class in quantum field theory and earned a near-perfect grade of 19 out of 20, professor Jorge Romao said after reviewing old paperwork. The class had only 15 students, but Romao said he had no memory of Neves Valente. He excelled academically and served as a teaching assistant. In 2000, he came to the U.S. to pursue graduate studies at Brown where acquaintances say he struggled to adjust. Scott Watson, now a physics professor at Syracuse University, said he was essentially Neves Valentes only friend at Brown. Both socially awkward, Watson approached him sitting alone at orientation and said hello. The two grew close, Watson said, recalling fond memories of dinners with him at a local Portuguese restaurant. Neves Valente had an impressive intellect but often became frustrated, sometimes angry," about life at Brown, Watson said. He complained the classes were too easyhe already knew most of the materialand the food options were subpar. He expressed particular irritation about the lack of high-quality fish, Watson said. Neves Valente had flashes of temper. Watson recalled once having to break up a fight between him and a classmate who Neves Valente had called his slave." Ben Schrag, then a graduate student who was Valentes senior while the two were at Brown, occasionally saw him on campus and said he often seemed frustrated and unhappy. Many students in the program, he said, were awkward and kept busy with coursework. All of the physics grad students were introverted and stressed out," he said. Carlos Vicente, a professor at the University of Puerto Rico, was another physics graduate student with Valente. He remembers hed often receive Neves Valentes mail because of their similar names. When they occasionally interacted, Neves Valente was soft-spoken, nonthreatening and otherwise forgettable, Vicente said. Youd forget about him after talking to him for five or six minutes, you know?" he said. In the spring of 2001, Neves Valente took a leave of absence from Brown and later formally withdrew. Nuno Morais, a college classmate, told Publico, the Lisbon newspaper, after Neves Valente left Brown he returned to Portugal where he worked for an internet-services provider and a telecom company. Some former classmates are speculating about his mental health and whether he envied Loureiros successful career. In 2017, Neves Valente came back to the U.S. through the diversity lottery immigrant visa program and was given a green card. His last known address is in Florida, a small yellow home in Ives Estates, a middle class neighborhood in north Miami-Dade County. Like many single-family homes in the area, the property has been divided into multiple units where tenants can rent space by the room, according to neighbors and a current tenant. On Friday, a tenant who moved into the property about three weeks ago said hes never seen Neves Valente. A postal worker who delivered mail in the afternoon said shes only ever met one person at the home, the owner. Someone who identified himself as the owner said via the homes ring camera that hed never seen Neves Valente. A neighbor, Bujavi Christmas, said he was shocked to learn that the alleged gunman lived so close by. His neighborhood is the kind where you can leave your car unlocked and nothing happens. But he described the rental house as somewhat transient." In the eight years hes lived there, hes seen many different people coming and going. Sometime before December, Neves Valente left Miami for New England. On Dec. 1, he rented a car in Boston and drove to Browns campus in Providence, R.I., where a custodian saw him in a bathroom near the lecture hall, according to an affidavit. Surveillance cameras recorded Neves Valentes rental car 14 times around Providence over the next two weeks. On Dec. 13, Neves Valente again used a bathroom in the lecture hall building. This time, a witness grew suspicious because Neves Valente was wearing a mask and dark, flimsy clothing inappropriate for the cold weather. The man followed Valente for several blocks and confronted him. Neves Valente asked: Why are you harassing me?" About an hour later, authorities say, Neves Valente burst into the lecture hall and started shooting, killing two students and injuring nine. The next day he checked into a Boston hotel about a half mile from the home of his old classmate, Loureiro. On Friday morning, Vicente, Valentes classmate from Brown, received a message from another professor about the gunman who attacked his alma mater. Whatthat guy?" he thought. I cant believe it." Write to Jared Mitovich at jared.mitovich@wsj.com, Neil Mehta at neil.mehta@wsj.com, Deborah Acosta at deborah.acosta@wsj.com and Douglas Belkin at Doug.Belkin@wsj.com Welcome to Project Sunrise," the Trump administrations pitch to foreign governments and investors to turn Gazas rubble into a futuristic coastal destination. A team led by President Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, two top White House aides, developed a draft proposal to convert the bombed-out enclave into a gleaming metropolis. In 32 pages of PowerPoint slides, replete with images of coastal high-rises alongside charts and cost tables, the plan outlines steps to take Gaza residents from tents to penthouses and from poverty to prosperity. The presentation is labeled sensitive but unclassified," and does not go into details about which countries or companies would fund Gazas rebuilding. Nor does it specify where precisely the 2 million displaced Palestinians would live during reconstruction. The U.S. has shown the slides to prospective donor countries, U.S. officials said, including wealthy Gulf kingdoms, Turkey and Egypt. Some U.S. officials who have reviewed the plan have serious doubts about how realistic it is. They are skeptical that Hamas will agree to disarm in the first place for the plan to take effectand even then that the U.S. could convince wealthy nations to foot the bill for transforming a dangerous postwar environment into a high-tech cityscape. View Full Image (WSJ) Others believe it offers the most detailed and optimistic vision yet of what Gaza could look like if Hamas laid down its arms and turned the page on decades of conflict. They can make all the slides they want," said Steven Cook, a senior fellow for the Middle East at the Council on Foreign Relations think tank who just traveled to Israel but did not see the draft. No one in Israel thinks they will move beyond the current situation and everyone is okay with that." Nothing happens until Hamas disarms. Hamas will not disarm, so nothing will happen," he said. Ask for comment, a White House spokesperson said Trump continues to monitor Gaza and the peace plan. The Trump Administration will continue to work diligently with our partners to sustain a lasting peace and lay the groundwork for a peaceful and prosperous Gaza." The project, according to the draft, would cost a total of $112.1 billion over 10 years, though the U.S. would commit to being an anchor" supporting nearly $60 billion in grants and guarantees on debt for all the contemplated workstreams" in that time period. Gaza could then self-fund many projects over the following years of the plan, the proposal projects, and eventually pay down its debt as improvements fuel local industry and the broader economy. Kushner, Witkoff, senior White House aide Josh Gruenbaum and other U.S. officials pulled the proposal together over the past 45 days, officials said, adding they received input from Israeli officials, people in the private sector and contractors. If the project gets under way, they plan to update and revise the numbers about every two years as it unfolds, officials said. Supporters of the project insist that allowing Gaza to go undeveloped and let a burgeoning humanitarian crisis fester is a far worse alternative, adding it is better to realize Trumps vision of turning Gaza into the Riviera of the Middle East." The hurdles for developing the area are tremendous. After thousands of Israeli strikes on Gaza during the two year Israel-Hamas war, some 10,000 bodies lay under 68 million tons of rubble, officials estimate. The ground is toxic and littered with unexploded bombs. Hamas fighters remain entrenched. The proposal acknowledges on the second page, bold and in red, that Gazas reconstruction depends on Hamas to demilitarize and decommission all weapons and tunnels." If the security conditions allow, Trump officials said they could put the plan into action in as soon as two months. You are not going to convince anyone to invest money in Gaza if they believe another war is going to happen in two, three years," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday about the general situation in the enclave. Write to Alexander Ward at alex.ward@wsj.com, Robbie Gramer at robbie.gramer@wsj.com and Peter Grant at peter.grant@wsj.com ( Dear reader, as 2025, a year of global tumult and volatility, rolls by, Mint's reporters and columnists look around the corner on what is coming in 2026 to help you know what to expect and prepare for it. Tell us what you think at feedback@livemint.com. ) As a hectic year of deal-making in banking and financial services rolls to a close, experts are predicting that the mergers and acquisitions in 2026 will see mid-sized lenders and foreign capital taking centre-stage. Friday saw the biggest deal of the year Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group pouring nearly 40,000 crore into Shriram Finance, India's second largest non-banking finance company, for a 20% stake in the sector highlighting how India has emerged as a magnet for global capital chasing lenders. Strong balance sheets, regulatory support, and sustained growth prospects have made Indian banks, NBFCs, and investments banks top destination for overseas money. But as capital flows toward scale, a key question is taking shape: will older, mid-tier private banks finally attract meaningful foreign investment in 2026? Also Read | How Sanjay Malhotra quietly liberalised RBI in his first year The past year offers clues. In banks, Dubai-based Emirates NBD acquired a 60% stake in RBL Bank for 26,853 crore. Other marquee deals included Blackstones 6,196-crore stake in Federal Bank, SMBCs 24.22% acquisition in Yes Bank, and Abu Dhabi investors picking up significant stakes in Sammaan Capital and IDFC First Bank. These deals signal that capital is flowing, but only into banks and other lenders ready for growth, scale, and change. Selective capital Bankers and experts say the focus is shifting away from recapitalizing weak balance sheets to upgrading the banking system itself. Capital will flow into better platforms rather than into banks [that] merely need funds. Old private sector banks are actually up for a big transition. That may happen through infusions and partnerships," said Abizer Diwanji, founder at NeoStrat Advisors. Diwanji pointed to banks such as South Indian Bank and Karnataka Bank as potential candidates over time. Several other bankers echoed this view, though many see South Indian Bank as the most likely near-term beneficiary. Also Read | RBI tightens rules for foreign bank exposure to overseas branches DCB Bank declined to comment for this story. Emails sent to South Indian Bank, Karnataka Bank, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, and Federal Bank remained unanswered till press time. If platforms are built, capital will follow," Diwanji said. Why they matter Mid-sized banks remain inherently attractive to foreign investors due to their untapped growth potential, bankers quoted above said. Most of these banks also maintain healthy capital buffers. As of the September quarter, DCB Bank reported a capital adequacy ratio of 16.41%, South Indian Bank 17.70%, Karnataka Bank 20.84%, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank 30.96% and Karur Vysya Bank 16.58%all well above the RBIs minimum capital-to-risk weighted assets ratio (CRAR) requirement of 9%. These are established brands that have not chased aggressive growth," said Vivek Iyer, partner and national leader, financial services risk advisory, at Grant Thornton. Its less effort and more returns. From that standpoint, a strong established brand with significant upside like mid-tier banks are attractive options in the scheduled commercial bank space," Iyer said, adding that south India-based banks offer meaningful growth opportunities. Competitive churn Iyer also noted that south-based mid-tier banks continue to be closely tracked by global investors seeking growth opportunities. Unlike earlier cycles, consolidation and competition are now unfolding simultaneously across Indias banking landscape. The push for small finance banks to become universal banks, payment banks to transition into small finance banks, and consolidation among urban cooperative banks is creating a crowded and competitive ecosystem. Also Read | Heartburn at lenders as loan rates fall but deposit rates don't Competition improves customer service and efficiency," Iyer said, adding that private equity interest is unlikely to fade as India remains one of the few global growth stories left. Governance litmus test Still, experts believe foreign investors may take time to commit, and banks themselves will need to invest first in governance, systems and performancekey filters for global capital. While South Indian Bank has already begun this process, others such as Karnataka Bank, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank and City Union Bank may need deeper reforms. Scepticism remains over whether traditional old private sector banks are ready for such change, said Prakash Agarwal, partner at Gefion Capital. Some analysts argue these banks are deeply community-driven, with concentrated loan books and limited appetite for risk. Historically, whenever they tried to break out with large loans, they ran into trouble," Agarwal said. Funding pressures Except for Federal Bank, most old private sector banks lack access to low-cost overseas funding and strong current account and savings account (CASA) franchises. Result: elevated funding costs. While Federal Banks CASA ratio stood at 31.01% at the end of September, up from 30.07% a year earlier, others have seen mixed trends. South Indian Bank reported a CASA ratio of 31.86%, up six basis points year-on-year, while Karnataka Banks rose 22 bps to 31.01%. DCB Banks CASA ratio declined to 23.52% from 25.61% a year ago, while Karur Vysya Banks fell to 27.65% from 29.46%. In a market where large corporates increasingly prefer dealing with a handful of big banks, older private sector lenders risk being squeezed on both growth and funding. What lies ahead Foreign investors, Agarwal said, look for strong growth visibility and meaningful governance influenceboth difficult under the current ownership and management structures of old private sector banks. In this current shape and structure, foreign capital coming in is limited," he said, unless banks are willing to overhaul management, expand product offerings and rethink growth strategies. AM Karthik, co-group head of financial sector ratings at ICRA, echoed this view, suggesting that only select names, such as South Indian Bank, may see near-term interest. Capital is not scarce," Karthik said. The question is what banks plan to do with it? Clean up bad loans or pursue a new business model?" As 2025 draws to a close, the message from the industry is clear: foreign capital is willing, but selective. Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama (R, front) attends the Diaspora Summit in Accra, Ghana, on Dec. 19, 2025. The maiden Diaspora Summit opened in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, on Friday, seeking to reunite people of African descent around the globe with the continent for development. (Photo by Seth Osabukle Adjei/Xinhua) by Justice Lee Adoboe ACCRA, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The maiden Diaspora Summit opened in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, on Friday, seeking to reunite people of African descent around the globe with the continent for development. At the opening, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama said that the time is right for Africa to unite, initiate the reclamation process, and demand reparations for the wrongs of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, colonialism and the theft of artifacts from the continent. With the unification of the African diaspora against long-standing colonial mindsets, Mahama said nothing could stop them from achieving the goal of reclamation. He urged Africans around the globe to "flip the vile narrative of those who oppressed us. In fact, let's take their entire modus operandi, flip it, and reverse it." "The reason I believe it is important for us to consciously carry the story of the diaspora as an integral part of Ghana's narrative is that what divides us ultimately denies our ability to feel at home," the president said. Mahama condemned the artificial boundaries imposed on Africa during the colonial era and the way they split ethnic and cultural communities across borders and forced them to live perpetually under different colonial cultures. "Let me reiterate that the future belongs to Africans. We hold the power to change the circumstances of our past. We must be more intentional about our unity than those who oppressed us were about our division," Mahama stressed. The two-day summit is under the theme "Resetting Ghana: The Diaspora as the 17th Region." President of the Council of Ministers of Togo Faure Gnassingbe said that none of Africa's financial, cultural or digital sovereignty strategies can succeed without mobilizing the diaspora. Gnassingbe urged Africans to take hold of the narrative about the continent, rewrite history from an African perspective, and teach future generations about Africa's long tradition of resilience, resistance and rebirth. African Union (AU) High Representative for Silencing the Guns Mohamed Ibn Chambas, on behalf of the AU, lauded the government of Ghana for convening the summit at "this historic moment for Africa and its global diaspora." Chambas said the Accra Diaspora Summit is a critical building block in a broader continental and global process. The focus of the summit on historical truth, healing, economic justice, youth, innovation, and the digital economy is in line with the AU's vision of transformative, rather than transactional, reparations. Guests attend the Diaspora Summit in Accra, Ghana, on Dec. 19, 2025. The maiden Diaspora Summit opened in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, on Friday, seeking to reunite people of African descent around the globe with the continent for development. (Photo by Seth Osabukle Adjei/Xinhua) MUMBAI: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) will soon set up a working group to review the non-agricultural commodity derivatives market, Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said on Saturday. Pandey said expert groups constituted by the regulator, focused on agricultural commodities, are examining whether the regulatory framework governing margins, position limits, and delivery and settlement mechanisms can be optimized without compromising market integrity. Their recommendations will assist us in taking necessary developmental measures after due consultation with all stakeholders. Also Read | Sebi softens mutual fund fee curbs, eases margin fears for AMCs The move comes at a time when Indias commodity derivatives market is witnessing rapid expansion. Pandey noted that commodity markets have been under Sebis oversight since 2015 and now span 104 notified commodities and variants, with 34 unique commodities actively available for trading. Annual notional turnover in FY25 stood at 580 trillion, nearly double that of the previous year, and has already crossed 628 trillion as of 31 October 2025, underscoring the growing role of these markets in price discovery and risk management. The market regulator has already set up an expert group to deepen the agricultural commodities derivatives segment and improve participation. In addition to the working groups, Sebi is in discussions with the Reserve Bank of India and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India to enable banks and insurance companies to participate in commodity derivatives. Enhanced institutional participation will bring in higher liquidity, making the market more attractive for hedging, Pandey said. Also Read | Can GIFT City turn India into a global player in commodity trading? The regulator is also engaging with the central government to resolve goods and services tax (GST)-related issues faced by participants who wish to take or give delivery of commodities through exchange platforms. Addressing these issues is critical to strengthening the link between derivatives markets and physical trade, the Sebi chief said. On the compliance front, Sebi has implemented the Samuhik Prativedan Manch, a common reporting portal aimed at easing reporting requirements for stockbrokers. A facility to extend the portal to commodity-only brokers is currently under development. Pandey said the initiative is part of a broader effort to improve ease of doing business and compliance across market segments. Sebi is also examining a proposal to rationalize investor protection mechanisms at exchanges. At present, separate investor protection funds exist for equity and equity-related products and for commodities. The regulator is considering whether a single investor protection fund for all products offered by an exchange could be more efficient, while continuing to safeguard investor interests. Gujarat Kidney IPO: Gujarat Kidney & Super Speciality's initial public offering (IPO) is set to open for public subscription next week, starting Monday, 22 December 2025, as the multispeciality healthcare service provider aims to raise funds from the Indian stock market. The Gujarat-based company is a healthcare service provider which provides secondary and tertiary care across multiple locations in the State. Gujarat Kidney operates seven multispeciality hospitals and four pharmacies with nearly 490 beds. Also Read | Sebi fines four individuals 50 lakh for GG Engineering share manipulation Gujarat Kidney IPO 10 things to know from RHP 1. Gujarat Kidney IPO dates: Gujarat Kidney IPO is set to open for stock market investors on Monday, 22 December 2025, and is scheduled to close on Wednesday, 24 December 2025, after the three-day bidding round. 2. Gujarat Kidney IPO offer details: The company is offering a book-built public issue comprising an entire fresh issue of up to 2,20,00,000 equity shares with a face value of 2 per share, according to the RHP filing. However, Gujarat Kidney did not disclose the total amount the company is looking to raise from the Indian stock market. 3. Gujarat Kidney IPO objective: Gujarat Kidney plans to use 77 crore for its acquisition plan of Parekhs Hospital at Ahmedabad, and they also plan to use 12.40 crore for the part-payment of a purchase consideration of Ashwini Medical Centre. The RHP data also showed that the company plans to acquire additional shares in a subsidiary named Harmony Medicare Pvt. Ltd for 10.78 crore, use 30.09 crore for funding the capex requirement for setting up a new hospital in Vadodara. Also Read | KSH International IPO allotment status out What GMP signals ahead Gujarat Kidney plans to use 6.82 crore to buy robotics equipment, use 1.20 crore to repay some loans, and the remaining funds will be used for general corporate purposes. 4. Gujarat Kidney IPO price band: Gujarat Kidney fixed the price band of the public issue in the range of 108-114 per share, with a lot size of 128 shares per lot. 5. Gujarat Kidney IPO anchor round: Gujarat Kidney IPO held its anchor investor book round on Friday, 19 December 2025. 6. Gujarat Kidney IPO reservations: The company plans to allocate not less than 75% of the public issue to the Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs), not more than 15% to the Non-Institutional Investors (NIIs), and not more than 10% of the public issue to the retail investors. 7. Gujarat Kidney IPO book-runner & registrar: Nirbhay Capital Services is the book-running manager of the public issue, while MUFG Intime India Pvt. Ltd (Formerly Link Intime India Pvt. Ltd) is the registrar of the offer. Also Read | Arihant Capital buys over 2 crore shares of this penny stock under 5 8. Gujarat Kidney IPO latest GMP: As of Saturday, 20 December 2025, the grey market premium (GMP) of Gujarat Kidney IPO stood at 7 per share. With the upper price band of the public issue at 114, the company's shares are expected to be listed at 121 apiece, marking a listing premium of 6%, according to IPO India data. Grey market premium (GMP) is an indicator of investors' willingness to invest in a public issue. 9. Gujarat Kidney IPO profits: According to the RHP data, the company's net profit stood at 5.40 crore as of the April-June quarter in the financial year ending 2025-26. The company's profits stood at 9.49 crore for the fiscal year ended 2024-25, while the profits for the financial year 2023-24 were at 1.71 crore. 10. Gujarat Kidney IPO income: The RHP data also shows that revenue from operations for the company stood at 15.26 crore as of the April-June quarter in the financial year ending 2025-26. The company's revenues stood at 40.24 crore for the financial year ended 2024-25, while the revenues were at 4.77 crore as of the fiscal year ended 2023-24. Read all stories by Anubhav Mukherjee Indias aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem is entering a decisive phase. Rising defence spending, a sharper focus on indigenization and growing export ambition are creating a longer runway for domestic suppliers. Large public sector players have already captured investor attention, and their valuations reflect that optimism. The opportunity now lies further down the value chain. A new set of small and mid-sized companies is quietly building capabilities in aerospace electronics, precision manufacturing and complex systems integration. These businesses may not be headline grabbers, but they sit at critical points in aircraft and platform programmes. They are also seeing improving order visibility and the potential to compound steadily over the years ahead. Here are three such aerospace-focused stocks worth tracking as part of a 2026 watchlist. Astra Microwave Products Ltd Astra Microwave Products operates in the high-precision end of electronics manufacturing. It focuses on radio frequency and microwave systems used in defence, aerospace, and space applications. Over the years, the company has moved steadily up the value chain, expanding from component supply to building complex subsystems and integrated solutions. A key pillar of Astras business is aerospace and space electronics. The company designs and supplies RF and microwave subsystems that are deployed in airborne radars, electronic warfare systems and satellite payloads. It participates across aircraft platforms, space missions and strategic aerospace programmes. Financially, Astra reported H1 FY26 revenue growth of approximately 7% year-over-year. Operating margins improved to around 20.6% in H1 FY26, up from 18.8% a year ago. The margin expansion was driven by a better execution mix, higher contribution from complex systems and tighter control over operating costs, as highlighted in the investor presentation. Looking ahead, management has reiterated revenue guidance of 1,150 crore to 1,200 crore for the current year. It has indicated that the company remains on track to meet this range. Beyond the near term, the focus shifts to scaling execution across aerospace and space programmes, with a sharper push towards complex system fabrication to improve operating leverage. Gross margins are expected to remain in the 45% to 50% range over 2026-27 and 2027-28, in line with the past years' levels. Operating margins are likely to remain stable and carry a modest positive bias as scale improves. Also Read | Three undervalued chemical stocks to add to your 2026 watchlist The companys capex plans are directed towards expanding manufacturing capacity and strengthening testing and integration capabilities, with funding largely expected to come from internal accruals. At current levels, the stock trades at a premium to its long-term median valuation. Data Patterns (India) Ltd Data Patterns (India) operates in the high-complexity end of defence and aerospace electronics. Its capabilities spans design, development, testing and manufacturing of mission-critical systems. The company has steadily built a reputation around deep engineering depth and end-to-end execution rather than scale-led manufacturing. A large part of Data Patterns relevance comes from its aerospace focus. The company works across airborne radars, electronic warfare systems, avionics and communication platforms that are deployed on fighter aircraft, helicopters and space missions. Its portfolio includes fire control radars for fighter aircraft, airborne surveillance radars, electronic warfare suites and software-defined radios, placing it firmly within the aerospace electronics value chain. Its 2024-25 revenue grew 36% year-on-year, driven by strong execution across radar and electronic warfare programmes. Operating margins remained healthy at around 39% for the year. This reflects the companys ability to deliver high-value systems despite the inherently lumpy nature of defence orders. Management commentary highlights that margins can vary by project mix, particularly when large strategic contracts are executed at competitive pricing. Going forward, management highlighted strong order momentum, with confirmed order inflows of about 900 crore and additional contracts expected over the coming months. Management reiterated that Ebitda margins are structurally guided to remain in the 35% to 40% range, with recent volatility driven by project-specific factors. The focus remains on scaling large strategic programmes, with investments in product development and testing infrastructure funded largely through internal accruals. At current levels, the stock trades at a premium to its long-term median valuation. Unimech Aerospace and Manufacturing Ltd Unimech Aerospace and Manufacturing operates in the precision end of aerospace manufacturing, supplying tooling, assemblies and engineered systems that support aircraft production and maintenance. The company focuses on high-mix, low-volume manufacturing. Aerospace remains the core of Unimechs business. The company designs and manufactures aero-engine and airframe tooling used by aircraft and engine original equipment manufacturers and their licensees. Its tooling supports aircraft assembly, testing and maintenance across the lifecycle. The aero tooling and MRO tooling segment continues to be the largest contributor to revenue. Financially, 2024-25 revenue grew 16% year -on-year, driven primarily by sustained demand in aerospace tooling and exports. Operating margins held steady at about 38% for the year, despite higher investments in capacity, manpower and process approvals. Management has highlighted that margins can fluctuate in the short term as the company undertakes customer qualifications and first-article development, which typically precede larger and longer-tenure orders. Looking ahead, the management has also acknowledged that tariff-related disruptions and slower order conversion have made earlier revenue and margin guidance difficult to achieve. While no revised top-line guidance was provided, the company expects to surpass last years annual revenue, albeit with lower margins compared with the previous year. To mitigate near-term pressure, Unimech is setting up a free trade warehousing zone, with operations expected to commence in Q4. It is increasingly using drop-shipments to service non-US customers, which account for about 65-70% of overall consumption. Despite near-term delays, management reiterated confidence in the industrys long-term growth and said strategic priorities remain unchanged. At current levels, the stock trades at a premium to its long-term median valuation. Conclusion Even in a richly valued market, businesses with strong engineering capabilities and disciplined execution offer a degree of comfort. In aerospace, long order cycles, high entry barriers and mission-critical products reward companies that prioritise quality over rapid expansion. The key is to stay selective. Not every defence or aerospace name will benefit equally from higher spending or indigenisation. Investors need to distinguish between companies building durable capabilities and those riding a temporary order upcycle. Focussing on balance sheet strength, execution track record and valuation discipline can help filter noise from opportunity. In a sector where visibility unfolds over years rather than quarters, patience and fundamentals remain the most reliable tools for long-term wealth creation. Happy Investing. Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such. This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com Jewellery stocks have failed to keep pace with gold's blistering rally, so much so that at a time when gold prices have zoomed over 70% in a year, eight of the top 10 gems & jewellery players in terms of market capitalisation are languishing in the red on Dalal Street. Barring Titan and Thangamayil Jewellery, which have risen 17% and 72%, respectively, other prominent names from the sector have plunged up to 44% in a year, highlighting a sharp divergence against the gold rates. PC Jeweller remains the biggest laggard, losing 44% in a year, with Senco Gold a close second as its stock has crashed 43.5%. Kalyan Jewellers' shares have plunged 35%, and Sky Gold & Diamonds' shares have dropped 38%. Recently listed players like PN Gadgil, Bluestone Jewellery, and Motisons Jewellers are down 15%, 1%, and 45%, respectively, in a year. Why are gold prices and gold stocks diverging? Analysts have highlighted three key reasons why gold prices and gold jewellery stocks are moving in opposite directions. Pravesh Gour, Senior Technical Analyst at Swastika Investmart, said jewellery stocks have not moved in line with the sharp rise in gold prices, and in fact, most listed jewellers have seen a meaningful correction in their share prices. He highlighted three main triggers: 1. Increased raw material costs: Higher gold prices increase raw material costs and working capital requirements, putting pressure on margins. "Gold is an input cost for jewellers, not a direct profit driver, and when prices rise too quickly, it often hurts affordability and slows down consumer demand," he said. 2. Weak volume growth: Another important factor is weak volume growth. As gold becomes expensive, customers either delay purchases or opt for lighter jewellery, leading to lower sales volumes and reduced operating leverage. This impact is more visible during wedding and festive seasons, where price sensitivity is high, he said. Titan has managed to outperform peers due to its strong brand, better pricing power, and efficient inventory and hedging practices, which help cushion the impact of price volatility, he observed. 3. Lower liquidity: In addition, rising interest costs and tighter liquidity conditions have affected jewellers with higher debt and inventory funding needs, opined Gour. Commenting on the impact on jewellery demand, Sonali Shah Sheth, Founder and Creative Director at Sohnaa, said that record-high gold prices are certainly influencing buyer behaviour, but the impact is nuanced rather than uniform. "There is a clear wait-and-watch sentiment among some consumers who expect prices to soften, while others believe prices may rise further and are therefore proceeding with purchases. In India, cultural factors, especially weddings, continue to provide a strong cushion. Alongside this, there is steady soft demand from consumers who increasingly view gold as a long-term store of value, making smaller, considered purchases on meaningful occasions," Sheth observed. She also highlighted a growing curiosity around lower-karat gold, even though the shift remains gradual. "Traditional 22kt buyers are increasingly open to 18kt, particularly for design-led jewellery, while 14kt is being accepted for smaller gifting categories. Although some brands are experimenting with 9kt, it is still too early to call this a definitive trend," she added. Rupee weakness has further exacerbated the conundrum for gold buyers. A Mumbai-based dealer told Reuters that, as the rupee weakens, gold is becoming even more expensive for Indian buyers, and jewellers are finding it harder to decide when and how much to stock up. What is the outlook for jewellery stocks? While gold prices remain on an upward trajectoryposing near-term volume headwindswe remain constructive on the jewellery sector, underpinned by a sustained structural shift towards organised players, Choice Institutional Equities analysts said. In CY23, the organised jewellery market was valued at ~ 1,752 billion and is expected to expand at a robust CAGR of ~19.4% over CY2329E to reach ~ 5,079 billion, driven by mandatory hallmarking, deeper penetration of branded retail formats in Tier-2/3 cities and rising consumer preference for trusted organised brands. "Although rising gold prices can lead to temporary volume moderation, jewellery companies typically benefit from higher inventory gains, which support margins. Conversely, during periods of gold price correction, higher volumes partly offset inventory losses. Against this backdrop, we believe companies with strong business visibility, operational stability, design agility, automation-led manufacturing and flexibility across karat categories are well-positioned to navigate the upward trend in gold price and offer attractive long-term investment opportunities," the analysts added. Therefore, they said investors need not refrain from allocating to jewellery stocks. Looking ahead, wedding-related demand will likely remain a key structural driver. "We expect the number of weddings to remain broadly stable at ~1012 Mn annually through 2030, while average spend per wedding is likely to trend upward, supported by population growth and rising income levels," Choice analysts opined. However, Gour advised a more cautious approach for the sector, betting on the stronger players with solid brands and balance sheets may hold up better. "A selective and wait-and-watch approach is advisable until demand and margins show improvement." Which jewellery stocks to buy? Titan remains Gour's top pick from the sector. Titan is trading in a well-defined uptrend & it is forming higher highs and higher lows, with prices holding comfortably above its key short- and medium-term moving averages, he said. "The stock is currently above the 20-day and 50-day SMAs, indicating sustained bullish momentum, while the 100-day and 200-day SMAs are trending upward, confirming a strong long-term trend. Momentum indicators also support a positive bias. 3,8503,900 zone acts as an immediate support, followed by a stronger base near 3,800, aligned with the 50-day SMA. On the upside, a decisive move above the recent highs around 4,000 could open the door for a fresh breakout and continuation of the uptrend," he added. Meanwhile, Choice Institutional Wealth remains positive on B2B players like Shanti Gold International and Shringar House of Mangalsutra. "We value the company using the DCF approach with a target price of INR 350, having a BUY rating. This equates to an implied PE of 10.3x on an average of FY27-28 EPS and a PEG ratio of 0.37," said Choice while commenting on Shanti Gold. As for Shrinagar House of Mangalsutra, it said we value the company using the DCF approach with a target price of INR 295, having a BUY rating. This equates to an implied PE of 15.8x on an average of FY27-28 EPS and a PEG ratio of 0.67, analysts added. Reliance shares look set to end the year 2025 among the top gainers in the Sensex kitty of stocks. Year-to-date, the stock has jumped 28% on the BSE, compared to an 8% gain in the equity benchmark Sensex. On Friday, December 19, Reliance Industries (RIL) shares ended 1.34% higher at 1,565.10, while Reliance share price on NSE settled at 1,564.90, gaining 1.33%. RIL shares are hovering near their record high of 1,580.90, hit on November 28 this year. The heavyweight stock hit its 52-week low of 1,115.55 on April 7. What has driven Reliance shares this year? As the stock market's performance has been modest this year, heavyweight stock Reliance has attracted investors' interest due to its diversified business, focus on growth drivers, and healthy quarterly earnings. "Reliance Industries continues to stand out as a structurally strong, diversified, and future-focused conglomerate, with Q2 FY26 results reinforcing its investment case. The 9% YoY growth in PAT, 16% jump in PBT, and 14.6% EBITDA growth underline the resilience of its earnings engine, despite volatility in global energy and chemicals markets. Margin expansion of 80 bps reflects operating leverage and improving profitability across key consumer-facing businesses," Seema Srivastava, Senior Research Analyst at SMC Global Securities, noted. Srivastava pointed out that despite the exposure to global cyclicality, Reliance's oil-to-chemicals (O2C) segment demonstrated the benefit of the companys integrated refining-petrochemical complex, recovery in fuel cracks, and polymer margin improvement. On the other hand, Jio remains a long-term growth pillar, with sustained subscriber additions, rising ARPU, strong EBITDA growth, and strategic investments in 5G, AI, and digital platforms. All these factors position Jio as a critical enabler of Indias digital economy. Retail continues to scale rapidly, delivering strong double-digit revenue and EBITDA growth, aggressive store expansion, and sharp traction in quick hyperlocal delivery via JioMart, which strengthens Reliances omnichannel moat and consumption-linked earnings visibility, Srivastava observed. The JioStar media and streaming business adds another high-margin digital growth vector with industry-leading EBITDA margins and massive user engagement. Abhinav Tiwari, a research analyst at Bonanza, pointed out that Reliance has made several important changes in recent months that show a clear shift toward more stable growth and better shareholder value. Tiwari underscored that a key positive is S&Ps upgrade of RILs credit rating from BBB+ to A- in December 2025. This reflects stronger and more predictable earnings, mainly because retail and digital businesses are expected to contribute around 60% of operating cash flows by FY26. Is it the right time to buy Reliance shares? Srivastava believes Reliance shares may rise to the level of 1700 in a year on an expected P/E of 25.62 and FY27 (E) EPS of 66.34. "Reliances investments in renewables, green hydrogen, advanced materials, and AI-driven initiatives signal a strategic pivot toward future-ready businesses that could unlock significant value over the next decade. While the upstream Oil & Gas segment faces natural production decline, its impact on consolidated earnings is limited," said Srivastava. "Reliances balanced portfolio of cash-generating legacy businesses and high-growth consumer and technology platforms, combined with disciplined capital allocation and scale advantages, makes it well-positioned for sustained long-term compounding, despite near-term volatility," Srivastava said. Tiwari said Reliance is moving from a heavy capex phase to a more cash-generating model, driven by retail recovery, Jio monetisation, and strong refining. Execution on these fronts will be key for further upside. Reliance shares: What technical indicators indicate Jigar S. Patel, Senior Manager of Equity Technical Research at Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers, highlighted that Reliance is showing steady bullish traction at the current juncture, having taken support near the rising trendline and sustaining above all major DEMA clusters on the daily chart, which reflects a strong underlying price structure. A visible cup-and-handle breakout on the monthly chart signals the possibility of a sustained upside continuation, as such formations typically follow a consolidation phase before expansion. Patel added that the ADX holding above 20 highlights improving trend strength, while RSI sustaining above 60 indicates positive momentum and continued buying interest. "Based on this setup, traders may look for a potential upside target of 1,680, while maintaining a stop-loss at 1,470 on a daily-close basis, with accumulation preferred on dips," said Patel. Aakash Shah, a research analyst at Choice Broking, believes Reliance continues to remain a buy candidate for positional and long-term investors, with a favourable riskreward setup as long as key support levels are respected. said the ongoing price action of Reliance shares reflects healthy accumulation and sustained buying interest, indicating that the broader trend remains firmly positive. Shah pointed out that the stock is comfortably trading above its key exponential moving averages, which confirms a well-established bullish trend. The alignment of these moving averages in a rising order highlights trend strength and continuation potential. "The 20-day EMA placed near 1,540 is acting as immediate short-term support, while the 50-day EMA around 1,505 provides a strong positional cushion. Any corrective move towards these zones can be considered a buy-on-dips opportunity, rather than a trend reversal signal," said Shah. "On the upside, a sustained hold above 1,580 could trigger fresh momentum, pushing the stock towards the 1,7001,750 zone in the coming months. Looking at the broader base formation and trend extension, the 12-month target is placed at 1,777, which coincides with long-term resistance and projected price expansion," said Shah. "On the downside, the 1,4701,460 zone remains a crucial support and should be treated as a positional stop loss. A breakdown below this level may lead to trend weakening and a deeper consolidation," Shah said. Read all market-related news here Stocks to buy under 200: The Indian stock market showed resilience amid consolidation, with the Nifty 50 index bouncing sharply from key supports near 25,70025,800 early in the week and repeatedly testing the falling trendline resistance around 26,000. On December 19, the index traded firmly in the 25,95026,000 zone, gaining nearly 0.50.6% intraday, while broader market sentiment improved. Mid-cap and Small-cap indices outperformed, reflecting a reversal of strength and renewed buying interest following declines, which helped stabilise overall market breadth. The week was characterised by volatile yet constructive price action, with selling pressure getting absorbed at lower levels. The primary trend structure remained intact, and the Nifty ended the week near 25,950 with a marginal change, indicating continued consolidation at higher levels. Stock market next week Speaking on the outlook of the Nifty 50 index, Mehul Kothari, Deputy Vice President of Technical Research at Anand Rathi, said, "The Nifty 50 maintains a cautiously bullish technical bias within its ongoing consolidation phase. The index has shown resilience by rebounding from the 25,70025,800 support zone, which coincides with a rising trendline, and is currently trading near the 25,90026,000 area. On the upside, a key falling trendline resistance at 26,02026,080 remains crucial, and a decisive breakout with strong volume would be a significant trigger. Such a move would confirm an emerging inverse head-and-shoulders pattern on the hourly and daily charts, along with a channel breakout, opening up upside targets of 26,30026,600." Mehul Kothari of Anand Rathi stated that the broader market structure remains supportive, with mid-cap and small-cap indices exhibiting reversal patterns and improved participation, indicating underlying strength. Importantly, dips continue to attract buying interest, reinforcing the positive undertone. As long as the 25,60025,700 zone holds on a weekly closing basis, the primary uptrend remains intact. The larger, multi-year cup-and-handle structure remains valid, favouring a gradual upward bias for the index in the coming weeks. On the outlook of the Bank Nifty index, Mehul Kothari said, "The Bank Nifty attempted a recovery but continued to face strong supply near the falling trendline resistance around 59,80060,000. The index remains capped below the upper channel, with repeated rejections indicating weak follow-through buying. Last weeks bounce failed to sustain, and prices have once again slipped into a consolidation zone near 58,80059,000. As long as the 58,50058,000 support zone holds, downside risk remains limited; however, upside remains restricted in the absence of a decisive breakout above 60,00060,500. Overall, Bank Nifty continues to trade in a range-bound structure and is showing relative underperformance versus the Nifty, awaiting clearer directional cues." Mehul Kothari's stock recommendations today Regarding stocks to buy on Monday, Mehul Kothari of Anand Rathi recommended these three buy-or-sell stocks: UCO Bank, Ircon International, and MRPL. 1] UCO Bank: Buy at 28.50, Target 31, Stop Loss 27.50; 2] Ircon International: Buy at 153, Target 165, Stop Loss 145; and 3] MRPL: Buy at 148, Target 164, Stop Loss 138. Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath is set to drop a bombshell yet again, days after his WRF Podcast with Tesla CEO Elon Musk went viral. In the second episode of his podcast series WTF Is Finance, Nikhil Kamath's guest is none other than legendary hedge fund manager Ray Dalio. In a post on X on Saturday, Nikhil Kamath dropped a one-minute video teaser of his podcast with Ray Dalio, where they discuss a wide range of topics including crypto, wealth creation, wealth to money ratio and others. The video has already gone viral on social media. WTF is Finance, Episode 2 - Ray Dalio. Coming Soon, the Zerodha co-founder wrote attaching the video, without dropping the date of his much-anticipated podcast. In the clip, Dalio, the founder of the world's largest hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, discusses cryptocurrencies and then moves on to wealth creation. Wealth can easily be created. Wealth goes up and people feel wealthy, but their wealth isn't worth anything if you don't sell it, convert it into money to spend. We have right now a very high ratio of wealth to money, he is heard saying. He also lists two important ways to invest. There are two important ways to invest. The first is what is my portfolio? Most investors should have between 5 and 15% of their portfolio in, the clip ends, in an attempt to tease viewers. How did the internet react? Netizens were pumped up to see Ray Dalio on Nikhil Kamath's WTF podcast, visibly excited about the soon-to-be-aired episode. One follower commented, "For folks who don't know, Ray Dalio's the billionaire genius behind Bridgewater Associates, the world's largest hedge fund, and his book "Principles" is a game-changer on life and investing. So pumped for this episode what wisdom bombs did he drop, Nikhil?" First Elon Musk and now Raymond Thomas Dalio.. You're shipping like a , another added. The Uber chief followed by Elon Musk followed by Ray Dalio. This is truly a global podcast now. Great stuff, Nikhil, a third user said. Another person commented, Ray Dalio on Indian Podcast!! youre reaching out to people, others have never thought about! Who is Ray Dalio? Ray Dalio is the founder of Bridgewater Associates, the world's largest hedge fund. A financial genius, Dalio started his company from a two-bedroom apartment in New York City in 1975 and is credited with its meteoric rise. Bridgewater Associates, which manages about $92 billion in funds now, is known for its unique principle-based approach of investing. The Rouse Avenue court has ordered the release of Christian Michel James in a money laundering case related to the AgustaWestland chopper deal, expressing satisfaction with the court's decision. He expressed contentment with the court's decisions and praised the Indian Constitution, ANI reported. James has been granted bail in a case related to the 3,600 crore AgustaWestland helicopter deal, which was registered by the CBI in 2013. It is alleged that, in order to enable the supplier to secure the bid, the flying height of the helicopter was reduced. It is also alleged that 200 crore in kickbacks was paid in this deal. ...There are some good judges in India...I am satisfied with the orders of the court. The Constitution of India is excellent, Christian Michel James told the news portal. Although he will remain in custody for the CBI case. A similar application is still pending, linked to the CBI case. James requested release, claiming he had served the maximum 7-year sentence in the money laundering case. The Supreme Court granted him bail in the CBI case, and the Delhi High Court granted bail in the money laundering case. Previously, Special Judge (CBI) Sanjay Jindal, after hearing the initial submissions by the accused Christian Michel James's counsel, requested a response from the CBI. The CBI is scheduled to submit its reply by December 22. Advocate Aljo K Joseph noted during the hearing that the investigation has been ongoing for the past 12 years without resolution. Christian Michel James has been in custody for seven years, and the investigation into his involvement is still pending. Premier agencies are currently conducting investigations into the case. "What do you want? Under what conditions can he be released from Jail?" the news portal quoted the court. James's counsel argued that the court has a duty to ensure no one remains in custody after serving their sentence. During the hearing, James expressed his willingness to participate in the trial if released. He also mentioned that Christian Michel James was extradited to India in December 2018 and has already served the maximum sentence related to the allegations against him. Meanwhile, Senior Advocate D P Singh, the Special Public Prosecutor for the CBI, opposed the arguments and argued that the accused should not be released, citing concerns that he might escape if released from custody. The Counsel assured that Christian Michel James will participate in the trial if released from custody. An Air India Express pilot allegedly left a SpiceJet passenger with a bloody face after an altercation turned violent at Delhi airport. The passenger, Ankit Dewan, shared a detailed account of how the incident unfolded on his Twitter account, along with pictures of his injury and the pilot. Dewan claimed that he was physically assaulted by Air India Express pilot Captain Virender Sejwal at Terminal 1 of Delhi Airport. Dewan, who was accompanied by his wife and two children, said his family was "guided to use the security check that the staff uses because we had a 4-month-old baby in a stroller." However, he said, the airport staff was cutting the queue. "On calling them out, Capt Virender, who himself was doing the same thing, asked me if I was anpadh (uneducated), and couldn't read the signs that said this entry was for staff." A verbal scuffle broke out between Dewan and the pilot, which then escalated into violence. "Not able to exercise restraint, the AIX pilot proceeded to physically assault me, leaving me bloody," Dewan wrote. Ankit Dewan said that the incident ruined his holiday and traumatised and scared his 7-year-old daughter, who saw her father get assaulted brutally. Forced to write letter... He claimed that he was forced to write a letter stating that I will not pursue this matter further, and said his only other option was to miss the flight and throw the 1.2 lakhs holiday bookings down the drain. Tagging Delhi Police in his tweet, Dewan asked: Why can't I file a complaint after coming back? Must I sacrifice my money too, to seek justice? Will the CCTV footage disappear in the 2 days till I make it back to Delhi? He also tagged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Air India Express, and Delhi Airport in his post and asked how they can allow such pilots to fly, and questioned the mismanagement at the airport that created chaos at a sensitive security area. View full Image Screenshot of Ankit Dewan's X post: 1 In a separate post, Dewan also claimed that CISF aware that the pilot was about to hit him, but did not stop him. Virender Sejwal was getting frisked at the Security Check while continuing his verbal spat with me. There, he told the CISF guy main issko maar ke aata hu, he wrote. Dewan also claimed that his wife, who had already cleared the security check, heard it clearly. But did CISF take any preventive action? No. View full Image Screenshot of Ankit Dewan's X post: 2 Air India Express pilot suspended Air India Express instantly apologised and announced the immediate removal of their employee, Captain Virender Sejwal. Replying to Anit Dewan, AIX wrote: @ankitdewan We profoundly regret this incident at Delhi Airport, involving one of our employees who was traveling as a passenger on another airline. We extend our heartfelt empathy for the distress it has caused, and strongly condemn such behaviour. The concerned employee has been removed from official duties with immediate effect, and appropriate action will be taken pending thorough investigation, the airline assured. Air India Express also said that they try to refrain from public comments while due process is followed, but assured him that the matter has their highest attention. We remain fully committed to provide due cooperation to law enforcement authorities to ensure a fair and thorough process. Also Read | Delhi airport warns of delays under CAT III conditions amid dense fog Passenger safety our highest priority: Delhi airport Delhi Airport also responded to Ankit Dewan's post and said, Dear Ankit, We are deeply concerned by the experience you have shared and sincerely regret the distress caused to you and your family. The issue is being formally escalated to the concerned authorities for immediate review and appropriate action. Passenger safety and well-being remain our highest priority and we are committed to ensuring such incidents are addressed with utmost seriousness, they added. Matter not reported: Delhi Police Delhi Police said the alleged physical assault has not been reported to the police by either Ankit Dewan or the airline. No such matter has been reported to the police station either by Ankit Dewan or by the airlines, news agency ANI quoted Delhi Police as saying. The police said that the matter had come to their knowledge through the viral social media post and have assured appropriate legal action after the victim files a written complaint. The interim Bangladesh government's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on 20 December said that seven suspects believed to be involved in the death of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh, have been arrested. In a post on social media platform X (formerly X), Yunus wrote, In the incident of beating to death Sanatan Dharma adherent youth Dipu Chandra Das (27) in Valuka, Mymensingh, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested seven individuals as suspects. He identified the suspects as, Md Limon Sarkar (19), Md Tarek Hossain, Md Manik Mia (20), Ershad Ali (39), Nijum Uddin (20), Alomgir Hossain (38), and Md Miraj Hossain Akon (46). And added that the RAB-14 conducted operations at various locations and arrested the aforementioned suspects. Also Read | Hadi to be buried beside Bangladesh's national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam As per a PTI report, Das was allegedly lynched to death and set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Mymensingh city. It added that in a statement on 19 December, the interim government condemned the lynching and promised that the perpetrators of this heinous crime will not be spared. Priyanka Gandhi urges Centre to address increasing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh In a post on X, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged the Centre to take cognisance of the increasing violence against Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist minorities in Bangladesh. The news of the brutal murder by a mob of Hindu youth Deepu Chandra Das in Bangladesh is extremely alarming. In any civilised society, discrimination, violence, and murder based on religion, caste, identity, etc., are crimes against humanity. The Government of India should take cognisance of the rising violence against Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist minorities in the neighbouring country and firmly raise the issue of their safety with the Government of Bangladesh, she stated. Piyush Hazarika, Spokesperson for the Government of Assam condemned the attack as barbaric. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council also strongly condemned the murder in a statement. Notably, fresh violence has broken out in Bangladesh following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi who had emerged as a key figure in the massive student uprising in Bangladesh last year, which ultimately led to Sheikh Hasina's ouster. Hadi was shot and critically injured in an attack last week and died while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Singapore. Following his death, protests demanding justice broke out in Dhaka and several other cities. During the unrest, the offices of two media housesThe Daily Star and Prothom Alowere set on fire. In its statement released on Friday, the interim administration also called on citizens to resist intimidation, arson and the destruction of property, stressing that such actionscarried out by what it described as a small group of fringe elementsrisk undermining peace at a critical juncture for the country. UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday called on the international community to support Libya's political actors in swiftly addressing their differences and building consensus to complete political unification. "It is imperative to call on the relevant parties in both western and eastern Libya to demonstrate political will and expeditiously complete outstanding matters to pave the way for holding national elections," Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council. Recently, the UN Support Mission in Libya has made progress in facilitating the political process in Libya. At the same time, the deep-seated political crisis in Libya remains unresolved, and the disunity of state institutions is constraining national governance, Sun noted. The relevant parties must strictly implement the Security Council resolutions, close ranks in curbing the illicit trafficking and diversion of arms, and push for the early withdrawals of mercenaries, foreign fighters, and foreign forces from the Libyan territory, he said. Sun also stressed the importance of improving Libya's economic and humanitarian situation. The recent agreement reached by the Libyan parties on the unified development program marks a positive progress. The international community needs to build on this momentum to urge them to swiftly establish a unified budget and address structural problems such as fiscal fragmentation, illegal currency printing, and exchange rate imbalances, he said. China stands ready to work with all countries to make greater efforts in helping Libya on its path toward lasting stability, peace and prosperous development, said Sun. Srinagar: As the Kashmir Valley shivers through yet another winter of routine power cutstemperatures plunging well below freezing, homes slipping into darkness for hours each daythe Jammu and Kashmir government has turned back to a long-abandoned idea: lignite. More than three decades after militancy forced exploration to stop, officials have resumed drilling at the Nicha Hama lignite deposits in Kupwara. Mohammad Yaseen Bhat, senior geologist at the J&K Geology and Mining Department, told Mint that detailed drilling is now under way to assess both the quantity and quality of lignite and determine possible end use. The move reopens an old question with new urgency: can a rare indigenous baseload fuel ease the Valleys chronic winter power shortages, or will poor fuel quality, high costs and environmental risks once again stall the project? The renewed push follows a familiar logic. Government records show that winter power shortages were flagged as early as the 1960s, when frozen rivers crippled hydropower generation and households turned to forest wood for heating. Lignite, officials believed, could offer winter electricity while reducing deforestation, provided technology could overcome its limitations. A promise buried in the archives Archival records of the Geological Survey of India show that systematic investigations carried out in the early 1920s had already confirmed extensive, continuous lignite seams at Nicha Hama village. Conducted by the then Mineral Survey, the studies established that the deposits occurred as underground seams rather than scattered outcrops, with reserve estimates running into tens of millions of tonnes. They also cautioned that the lignites industrial potential would depend heavily on the availability of suitable technology. Laboratory analyses characterised the Nicha Hama lignite as a moderate-grade fuel, with an average ash content of around 30%, moisture levels of roughly 15%, and a calorific value higher than firewood but far lower than good-quality coal. These properties, the surveys noted, limited direct industrial use and made large-scale applications such as power generation technologically demanding. Despite this, official interest persisted. The Indian Bureau of Mines mapped the seam in detail between 1960 and 1963. In the early 1980s, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd prepared a feasibility report for a 60 MW thermal power station based on local lignite. In 1984, the Neyveli Lignite Corp. Ltd assessed whether a winter-only plant consuming about 230,0000 tonnes annually could work. The proposal stalled after Neyveli flagged gaps in drilling data and concerns over seam continuity and fuel quality. Mineral Exploration Corp. Ltd resumed work in 1989 but managed to drill only 16 boreholes before militancy brought everything to a halt. An interim report submitted in 1990 confirmed two major lignite horizons, disrupted by multiple geological faults. View Full Image Geologists say lignite could power the Kashmir Valleys first thermal plant, providing an indigenous baseload source in a region still heavily dependent on imported electricity. (Stock Image: Pixabay) A village and an abandoned industry Located about 21 km west of Handwara and 94 km from Srinagar, Nicha Hama nonetheless emerged as the Valleys most promising lignite site. Before operations stopped in December 1989, J&K Minerals Ltd had been extracting lignite and converting it into briquettes at a unit in Srinagars Zainakote Industrial Estate. Residents still recall the scale and effort involved. Lignite appeared only after removing massive layers of overburden, and the soft, brown-to-black, woody fuel once seemed full of promise. Today, faint traces of that abandoned industry remain as drilling teams return to re-read the geology. Bashir Ahmad Peer, a 60-year-old resident, said extraction activities stopped around 1989 just as exploration was expanding. Back then nearly 300 people from this village and adjoining areas were working here. There was very little machinery then, but the work gave people jobs." He told Mint that fresh sampling resumed in October this year, reviving hopes of employment. Most people now depend on daily labour or go outside the state for work. When machines came this year, villagers got work, and if a thermal power plant comes up, it can bring jobs back to this area." The idea resurfaced again in 2009, when the Omar Abdullah-led government approached the Union coal ministry to assess whether the deposits could sustain a thermal power project. At the time, the J&K government estimated more than seven million tonnes of lignite were available, even as experts warned about its inferior grade and inefficient combustion. The revivaland the red flags The current round of drilling began more than two years after the Geology and Mining Department, Kashmir, approached MECL and the Union secretary of Mines in 2023 to resume investigations. Bhat, the geologist with the J&K Geology and Mining Department, told Mint that following a request from the J&K government, the Union coal ministry revived investigations decades after they were halted due to militancy. He said about 5,000 metres of drilling is planned, with the exercise expected to conclude by June or July 2026. MECL will then prepare a feasibility report covering resource estimates, quality parameters and utilisation pathways. Mumtaz Ahmad Shah, district mineral officer, Kupwara, said testing would determine carbon content and grade, helping decide whether the lignite could support power generation or be used in brick kilns and cement factories. He said the deposits are currently classified under the G4 category, requiring detailed exploration before commercial decisions. The Centre will later decide whether the block is allocated through tender or e-auction, a move that could have wider implications for the local economy and J&Ks energy planning. Geologists argue that Kashmirs Himalayan geology holds significant reserves of mineralsfrom lithium to lignitethat could bolster the economy with the right technology. Properly utilized, they say, lignite could power the Valleys first thermal plant, providing an indigenous baseload source in a region still heavily dependent on imported electricity. In 2022 alone, J&K took a 31,000 crore loan to clear dues to external power suppliers. Mir Aijaz, professor of civil engineering at the Islamic University of Science and Technology Kashmir, told Mint that lignite can generate power only if advanced processing technology is available. We can extract a number of valuable minerals available in the Himalayas, but the real question is whether we have the technology required to harness them and strengthen different sectors of the economy," he said. Others are more sceptical. Iftikhar A Drabu, a consulting civil engineer with decades in hydropower, warned that local lignite is low grade, moisture-rich and ash-heavy. If its quality mirrors Kalakotes, Indias first coal-fired plant, commissioned in 1963 and shut in 1987, it could prove disastrous, especially in an ecologically fragile region like Kashmir, he said. Drabu also challenged the belief that hydropower alone can anchor Kashmirs energy future. With glaciers receding and river flows becoming erratic, he warned that capacity could shrink over the next two decades. Today, nearly 80% of J&Ks electricity is imported from thermal plants in Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Rajasthan. Whether lignite can meaningfully reduce that dependence, Drabu said, hinges not on hope, but on a hard assessment of quality, cost and ecological consequence at Nicha Hama. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed a public gathering at Taherpur Netaji Park in Ranaghat via videoconferencing on Saturday after poor visibility prevented his helicopter from landing at the Taherpur helipad near the event venue, forcing it to return to Kolkata airport. I apologise that bad weather prevented me from reaching venue in Bengal's Nadia, PM Modi said while addressing Taherpur rally over the phone. Owing to low visibility, the PMs chopper made a U-turn after hovering over the makeshift helipad ground in Taherpur for a while and returned to Kolkata airport, as per an official The Prime Minister is scheduled to reach Guwahati later in the day for a two-day Assam visit, where he is scheduled to attend multiple programmes, and would also inaugurate the new terminal of Guwahati's Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. While addressing the rally in Bengal where Assembly Elections are due in 2026 PM Modi claimed that the saffron party would end TMCs 'Maha jungle raj' in Bengal, where corruption, nepotism, appeasement politics are ruling the roost. PM Modi addresses Taherpur rally - 10 points to know PM Modi claimed that West Bengal where the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC party is in power is falling behind in development graph compared to BJP-ruled Tripura, which has been striding ahead. The Prime Minister also alleged that Left rule had destroyed Tripura during its three-decade rule which is now developing rapidly after the BJP came to power in the state. Slamming the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, PM Modi further described the states prevailing situation as maha jungle raj and alleged that corruption, nepotism and appeasement of the ruling dispensation have prevented development in the state. Addressing the massive gathering over the phone from Kolkata, Modi urged the people to provide a chance to the BJP in the upcoming assembly polls to form a double engine government in the state. PM Modi alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led party was opposing the ongoing SIR exercise in West Bengal to save infiltrators from getting identified. Claiming that the popular sentiment on Bengals grassroots was to gain freedom from TMCs misrule, Modi said, the lanes and alleys of the state are resonating with cries of the slogan Banchte chai, BJP tai (Need BJP to live). Let the TMC oppose me and BJP as much as it wants, but the ruling party cannot hold people to ransom, make them suffer and stop Bengals progress, Modi said at the Parivartan Sankalpa Sabha. We will end TMCs 'maha jungle raj' in Bengal where corruption, nepotism and appeasement politics are ruling the roost, Modi claimed. Let Mamata Banerjee oppose Modi if she wants to, let her oppose the BJP if she wants to, there is no problem with that. But why is she obstructing the development of Bengal, said the PM. Paying tribute to Bankim Chandra Chatterjee who penned Vande mataram,' PM Modi referred to him as Rishi Bankim Babu,' stating that the nation is celebrating 150 years of the national song. PM Modi made the comment days after the Parliament debate on Vande Mataram, which followed months after the PM accused the Congress of removing significant verses from 'Vande Mataram'. He had claimed that this removal "sowed the seeds for partition". 9. The PM further alleged that infiltrators enjoy TMC's patronage in West Bengal. A resident of Raipurs Vamanrao Lakhe ward filed an unusual complaint with the Municipal Corporation after being bitten by mosquitoes, alleging that the insects could be carriers of dengue. The man, identified as Daulal Patel, killed the mosquitoes and brought them in a sealed packet to the civic bodys office, demanding action against the mosquito menace in his neighbourhood. A video of the incident, which has surfaced on X, shows Patel informing a health officer that he had consulted a doctor, who advised him to get the mosquitoes tested. Acting on the advice, Patel carried the insects in a securely sealed polythene bag to the municipal headquarters and submitted them for examination. Also Read | Viral video: Dog tears passport right before international travel As per a report by NDTV, Patel was accompanied by social activist Vijay Sona and the Municipal Corporations leader of the opposition, Akash Tiwari, while lodging the grievance. Following the complaint, officials called in doctors to examine the mosquitoes. Test results later confirmed that the insects were ordinary mosquitoes and not carriers of dengue. Social activist Vijay Sona told NDTV that he had repeatedly approached civic authorities to raise concerns about mosquito breeding in his locality, but alleged that no concrete action was taken. He further claimed that a member of his family had died due to a mosquito-borne disease. This is the capital city. If this is the condition here, what must be happening in other areas? he said. Responding to the complaint, officials of the Raipur Municipal Corporation stated that fogging operations and anti-larval spraying would be stepped up in the affected localities. However, residents expressed scepticism over the assurances, noting that despite crores of rupees being spent annually on mosquito-control measures, open drains and inadequate drainage systems continue to serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Also Read | Hawaii is flooding its forests with half a million mosquitoes a week: Check why RPG Chairman Harsh Goenka cited an example of a society where, despite sufficient resources, overpopulation resulted in social breakdown, behavioural issues, and violence. The example highlighted the importance of social structure, purpose, and adequate space for societal well-being, rather than merely focusing on material needs. Referring to John B Calhoun's 'Mouse Paradise' experiment, where mice initially thrived with abundant resources but ultimately faced societal collapse as the population exceeded. In a post on the social media platform X, Goenka wrote, In the late 1960s, Dr. John Calhoun built a Mouse Paradise- unlimited food, water, shelter. No fear, no scarcity, no predators. Only abundance. He added, At first the mice flourished. But when the colony crossed 600, the society collapsed. The strong hoarded space. The weak were bullied. Mothers abandoned their young. Violence rose. Mating stopped. Purpose vanished. Emphasising the accuracy of the experiment, Goenka said, Calhoun repeated the experiment 25 times. The result never changed: When a population loses purpose, meaning and social bonds, it dies long before the body. Netizens react Several social media users reacted to Goenka's post, sharing their thoughts on Calhoun's mouse experiment. One of the users wrote, Good point. But to realise that abundant people are doing revolutions, wars, with this, the destruction of countries and society. Not having it and having it is leading to destruction anyway. Another added, Right!! Progress without purpose creates fragile societies. A user said, True. Artificial intelligence would create the abundance, but humanity should always strive towards the peaceful purpose. What is Calhoun's mouse experiment? Ecologist John B Calhoun shared the findings of a series of experiments carried out at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in a 1962 issue of Scientific American. He had placed several rats in a laboratory located in a converted barn, where they were shielded from disease and predators, and provided with food, water, and bedding, allowing them to breed rapidly, according to a report published by the National Institutes of Health. The sole issue they faced was a lack of space, a problem that grew more severe as what he referred to as his rat city and rodent utopia became crowded with animals. Unwanted social interactions increased in frequency, causing more stress and aggression. Violence quickly spiralled out of control, leading to cannibalism and infanticide. Calhoun described this cycle as a " behavioural sink. " Their numbers declined rapidly, ultimately resulting in extinction. By the end of the experiments, only the animals survived with an immense psychological cost. Even when reintroduced into normal rodent populations, these creatures remained isolated until death. What has been the impact of mouse experiment on humans? The experiment on human beings, however, showed inconsistent results, the report said. In a notable series of experiments by psychologist Jonathan Freedman, participants performing tasks under different crowding conditions displayed few issues. The focus moved from merely recognising the harmful outcomes of density to understanding the factors that influence its effects. This shift was supported by differentiating between density as an objective physical measure and crowding as an individual's subjective experience. Elise Stefanik, the youngest woman to have been elected to the US Congress in history, is now planning to drop out of the race for the post of New York governor, and will also not be seeking re-election to the Congress. On Friday, 19 December (local time), Stefanik made the announcement on social media, wherein she said, "While spending precious time with my family this Christmas season, I have made the decision to suspend my campaign for governor and will not seek re-election to Congress," adding, "I did not come to this decision lightly for our family." Stefanik was widely considered the frontrunner to replace current NY Governor Kathy Hochul. However, her bid got challenging when Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau county executive, entered the race. Also Read | Marjorie Taylor Greene-Trump tussle explained in 5 points President Donald Trump also acknowledged her decision and wished her well, saying in a post on Truth Social, "Elise Stefanik, a fantastic person and Congresswoman from New York State, has just announced she wont be running for Governor. Elise is a tremendous talent, regardless of what she does. She will have GREAT success, and I am with her all the way!" Ed Cox, the Republican chair of New York, said in a statement that Stefanik will continue to remain a leader in the Republican Party, and that the organisation respects her decision. Bruce Blakeman has my endorsement and I urge our State Committee and party leaders to join me. Bruce is a fighter who has proven he knows how to win in difficult political terrain. As County Executive, he cut taxes, fought against radical leftwing social policies and made Nassau County the safest county in America," he said in a statement, adding, Working together and with Bruce Blakeman as our candidate, Republicans will defeat Kathy Hochul, end Democrats affordability crisis and put an end to New Yorks nation-leading outmigration. Stefanik, who has said that she will be serving out her term in the Congress, will be following another far-right Republican, Marjorie Taylor Greene, who will also vacate her position in the Congress come January. Stefanik had earlier clashed with House Speaker Mike Johnson, even going so far as to say in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that Johnson, a "political novice", would not have had the votes to become Speaker if the voting is carried out today. Stefanik moved from a moderate to staunch MAGA supporter Stefanik, a Harvard graduate, was elected as a moderate Republican, but later shifted gears towards the far-right. She was vocal in her opposition to Trump's impeachment in 2019. Stefanik came into the limelight in 2023, when she questioned US university presidents during a televised congressional hearing on antisemitism. It was after her questioning that University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill resigned. As per a report in Al Jazeera, Stefanik said that she believed Israel has a biblical right to occupied West Bank. The US Department of Justice released parts of the Epstein Files on Friday (local time), which includes thousands of documents, including photographs of the infamous financier's longtime partner and co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as notable personalities like Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Bill Clinton, Sarah Ferguson, Mick Jagger, and others. The files have been heavily redacted to protect the identities of the victims amid the ongoing investigation. They have been made publicly available under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Also Read | Jeffrey Epstein files related to sex trafficking investigation released by DOJ However, despite a 30-day deadline that was given to the DoJ, it has said that not all of the documents will be released today. As per a report by the CNN, officials in the Justice department are frustrated about the speed with which they have to process the files. Inconsistent redactions The CNN has reported that there are inconsistent redactions across the Epstein files released Friday. In some cases, photos of persons have been blacked out to protect their identity, but in other photos, the same person appears without their faces being hidden. For example, in one case, when a man is laying atop Ghislaine Maxwell, his face has been blacked out, but the same person's face is revealed in other photos, CNN reported. Trump administration claims credit The White House was briefed by the Justice Department about the contents of the Epstein files that were released Friday, but was not given the materials before they were made public. Not long after the release, a spokesperson from the White House claimed that the Trump administration was the most transparent in history." The spox also pointed out that Trump had called for a probe into the Democrats who were associated with Epstein. Trump himself has not yet made any comment on the newly released documents. Epstein threatened to burn down the house of a victim In one of the released documents, Esptein threatened to burn down the house of a victim if she revealed to the public that he had stolen from her pictures of her underage sisters that she took at a swimming pool in September 1996. Maria Farmer, the woman in question, who had filed a complaint with the FBI regarding his interest in "child pornography," has been saying for years that the federal agency never publicly acknowledged her report. Ive waited 30 years, she said, as per the New York Times, adding, I cant believe it. They cant call me a liar anymore. MAGA highlights Bill Clinton While US President Donald Trump was notably absent from the recently released files, a number of pictures of former Democratic president Bill Clinton were present. The MAGA camp pounced upon this opportunity, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Trump aide Steven Cheung sharing posts on social media about the same. Clinton spokesperson Angel Urena slammed the constant references to the former president in a statement, saying that the investigation "isn't about Bill Clinton". The United States Justice Department released a chunk of the Jeffrey Epstein files on Friday (US local time) as per the provisions of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Although the US Congress had said in the act that the full Epstein files had to be released by 19 December, the DoJ has only released the files partially. Here is a look at some of the most shocking revelations made in the released Epstein files till date: 1. Prominent personalities A number of prominent personalities and their close proximity to the convicted sex trafficker came to light. Prominent names include the likes of public intellectual Noam Chomsky, former US President Bill Clinton, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, filmmaker Woody Allen, pop music icon Michael Jackson, vocalist of the Rolling Stones Mick Jagger, actors Chris Tucker and Kevin Spacey, and current US President Donald Trump. 3. Trump 'knew about the girls' A number of emails released by the US House Oversight committee has revealed that in January 2019, Epstein wrote to columnist Michael Wolff, regarding Trump, saying, Of course, he knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop. 3. Prince Andrew associated himself with Epstein longer that earlier thought In late 2010, Prince Andrew claimed that he had ended his relationship with Epstein and Maxwell, but only four months later, in March 2011, he had sent a mail to Maxwell, saying, I cant take any more of this, in regards to allegations against him. In 2019, Andrew also suggested that he had absolutely no memory of his photo being taken with Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's victims. Giuffre, in her posthumous memoir, had alleged that she was forced into having sex with the former prince on three different occasions. Also Read | How many times does Trump's name get mentioned in Epstein Files 4. The Trump condoms Among the many pictured released from the Epstein files recently, one was of the current US President with six women whose faces were redacted by the House committee members. In another picture, a bowl full of condoms can be seen, with their covers carrying a caricature of Donald Trump and with the text Im HUUUUGE! The bowl which contained the condoms came with a sign that read, Trump condom $4.50. 5. The 'Lolita' references Among the photos released on Friday, some depict the close up of the neck and foot of a person, with inscriptions from Vladimir Nabokov's infamous novel, Lolita, inscribed on them. The book, banned in a number of countries, depicts a relationship between a man and an underage girl. 6. Passports, text messages Other items include a number of passports of unidentified individuals from several countries, including Ukraine, Czech Republic, and Russia. Jeffery Epstein Files: The posthumous revelations emerging from the latest tranche of materials linked to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation have reopened one of the most disturbing cultural questions surrounding the disgraced financier: his fixation on Lolita, Vladimir Nabokovs canonical novel about obsession, manipulation and sexual abuse. Released as part of a recent document and image disclosure by House Democrats, the material includes photographs that appear to show passages from Lolita handwritten on a womans body a discovery that has unsettled readers for the way it reframes Jeffrey Epsteins long-advertised admiration for the book. Also Read | How many times does Trump's name get mentioned in Epstein Files The images, the circumstances of which remain unclear, deepen the scrutiny of Jeffrey Epsteins self-fashioned identity as a cultivated reader and raise troubling questions about how great literature can be misappropriated by those it condemns. Who was Jeffrey Epstein and why does Lolita matter here? View full Image The novel, Lolita, written from the perspective of Humbert Humbert a predatory and unreliable narrator who kidnaps and rapes a 12-year-old girl has long been misread by some as erotic Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges involving minors, was known to project an image of intellectual sophistication. Among the cultural artefacts he appeared most keen to associate himself with was Lolita, first published in 1955 by Vladimir Nabokov. The novel, Lolita, written from the perspective of Humbert Humbert a predatory and unreliable narrator who kidnaps and rapes a 12-year-old girl has long been misread by some as erotic. Nabokov repeatedly rejected that interpretation, insisting the book was a moral and aesthetic tragedy, not a provocation. That distinction is critical. Epsteins embrace of Lolita appears not merely tone-deaf but grotesquely revealing. What do the newly released images from two decade Epstein investigation show? View full Image Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein are seen in this image released by the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., U.S., on December 19, 2025 as part of a new trove of documents from its investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein ( via REUTERS ) According to the newly surfaced photographs, handwritten lines from Lolita appear on various parts of a womans body. The context including whether the markings belong to one individual or several is unknown. Among the quotations visible: On a foot: She was Lo, plain Lo, in the morning, standing four feet ten in one sock. Another image reads: She was Lola in slacks. A third line states: She was Polly at school. Across a chest, a more famous opening passage appears: Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Additional lines reportedly appear along a hip, neck and spine, including: She was Dolly at school. She was Dolores on the dotted line. In one image, a copy of Lolita is visible in the background, reinforcing the connection. Did Epstein openly flaunt his attachment to Lolita (s)? View full Image Jeffrey Epstein reportedly kept a first-edition copy of Lolita in his New York townhouse office. Jeffrey Epstein reportedly kept a first-edition copy of Lolita in his New York townhouse office. His private jet, used to transport young women between properties, was infamously dubbed the Lolita Express by the press. Journalist Michael Wolff, who once attempted to profile Epstein, wrote that the financier kept Lolita and no other book on his bedside table. Wolff recalled Epstein presenting himself as a Vladimir Nabokov enthusiast, a claim that sits uneasily with the novels moral architecture. When a fact-checker sought confirmation of those details, Epstein reportedly forwarded the query to Wolff with a curt refusal: nfw, meaning no f***ing way. The profile was never published. Was Epstein actually a reader of Nabokov or a poseur? View full Image Multiple news reports suggests Jeffrey Epstein owned multiple editions of Lolita, including The Annotated Lolita, which he purchased for his Kindle just 43 days before his arrest in 2019 Multiple news reports suggests Jeffrey Epstein owned multiple editions of Lolita, including The Annotated Lolita, which he purchased for his Kindle just 43 days before his arrest in 2019. Yet literary scholars and critics have been sceptical of his supposed devotion. Lolita, like Nabokovs Pale Fire, is a novel that exposes the self-deceptions of its narrator. Humbert Humbert is not romanticised; he is ridiculed, condemned and psychologically dissected. As one cultural critic has observed, Humbert is one of the most odious and self-absorbed creations in all of literature a rapist and murderer who cloaks himself in ornate language to evade moral responsibility. Why was Nabokov's Lolita so controversial when it was published? First published in France in 1955 after being rejected by several English-language publishers, Lolita provoked outrage almost immediately. The novel centres on Humbert Humbert, a middle-aged man who becomes obsessed with, abducts and repeatedly sexually abuses a 12-year-old girl. The books subject matter led to bans in several countries, including the United Kingdom and parts of the United States. Over time, however, it came to be recognised as a major literary work, admired for its linguistic virtuosity, narrative complexity and moral irony. Also Read | From Michael Jackson to Trump condoms: Shocking revelations from Epstein Files Nabokov consistently rejected interpretations of the novel as erotic, emphasising that it was a tragic and disturbing portrait of obsession, manipulation and self-delusion. Despite this, the term Lolita entered popular culture as shorthand for a sexually precocious girl a distortion the author openly lamented. The novels notoriety, coupled with its cultural afterlife, has ensured that it remains one of the most debated works of twentieth-century literature. Jeffery Epstein and Lolita What remains unresolved? The full context of the images released by Congress remains unclear, as does the extent to which they will feature in ongoing investigative or historical assessments of Jeffrey Epsteins crimes. What is clear, however, is that the material reinforces a long-suspected truth: Epstein did not merely commit acts of abuse he wrapped them in a false veneer of culture. The United States has proposed a potential new format for peace negotiations involving Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday (December 20), as Washington steps up diplomatic efforts to broker an end to the nearly four-year war. Zelensky said the proposal involves talks between Ukraine, the United States and Russia at the level of national security advisers, with meetings possibly taking place in Florida. Talks depend on USUkraine discussions Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelensky said whether the trilateral talks would go ahead depends on the outcome of ongoing negotiations between Washington and Kyiv, which began on Friday. Zelensky added that a European delegation currently in Florida could also join the discussions if the talks move forward. The U.S. said they would have a separate meeting with representatives of Russia, Zelensky said. And they proposed the following format, as far as I understand: Ukraine, America, Russia and since there are representatives of Europe there, probably Europe as well. Zelensky said Washington had not provided detailed specifics on the proposed format but described it as a possible platform for renewed engagement. Zelensky cautious about outcomes The Ukrainian president expressed scepticism about whether the proposed meeting would produce meaningful results,adding that the United States should increase pressure on Russia. Ukraine open to talks under conditions Despite his reservations, Zelensky said Ukraine would support such a meeting if it leads to tangible outcomes, including humanitarian progress. Ukraine would back the talks, he said, if it unlocks prisoner-of-war exchanges or paves the way for talks at the leaders level. Red lines and conditions for compromise Zelensky reiterated Ukraines core negotiating positions, stressing that Kyivs control over non-occupied parts of the Donbas region remains a principled stance. He said any compromise would involve both sides halting military operations along current front lines, but warned that Ukraines allies have begun slowing deliveries of air defence missiles. The US military launched large-scale strikes against dozens of Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Syria on Friday in retaliation for an attack on US personnel. US President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed the news about "Operation Hawkeye Strike" through their social media posts. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said, US forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on US forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria. He said this is not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance. As we said directly following the savage attack, if you target Americans anywhere in the world you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you, Pete Hegseth posted on X on Saturday. He added, Today, we hunted, and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue. What did Trump say? US President Donald Trump announced on his TRUTH social media platform that the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation. He wrote, Because of ISISs vicious killing of brave American Patriots in Syria, whose beautiful souls I welcomed home to American soil earlier this week in a very dignified ceremony, I am hereby announcing that the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible. We are striking very strongly against ISIS strongholds in Syria, a place soaked in blood which has many problems, but one that has a bright future if ISIS can be eradicated, Trump said. The Government of Syria, led by a man who is working very hard to bring Greatness back to Syria, and is fully in support, he added. Trump further posted that all terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A. Why did US launch retaliatory strikes? The Trump administration launched "large-scale" military strikes on Friday in Syria in retaliation for an ambush attack that killed two US troops and an American interpreter almost a week ago. Two US Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed on Saturday in the central Syrian town of Palmyra by an attacker who targeted a convoy of American and Syrian forces before being shot dead, according to the US military. Three other US soldiers were also wounded in the attack. Also Read | Bondi Beach terror attack: ISIS breaks silence after black flags found at scene The Syrian Interior Ministry described the attacker as a member of the Syrian security forces suspected of sympathising with the Islamic State. IS has not yet claimed responsibility for the attack on the US service members, but the group claimed responsibility for two attacks on Syrian security forces since, one of which killed four Syrian soldiers in Idlib province. More strikes expected A US official described it as a large-scale strike that hit 70 targets in areas across central Syria that had IS infrastructure and weapons, the Associated Press reported. Another US official told the AP that more strikes should be expected. The attack was conducted using F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters, the officials said. F-16 fighter jets from Jordan and HIMARS rocket artillery also were used, one official said. This is not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump's leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on social media. About 1,000 U.S. troops remain in Syria. Trump signs law repealing tough sanctions on Syria The latest strikes came just after President Trump signed a law late Thursday repealing a final batch of crippling economic sanctions on Syria, raising hopes for the countrys recovery a year after the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad ended the familys half-century of autocratic rule, the New York Times reported. American sanctions on Syria trace back to the 1970s, when Washington labeled the country a state sponsor of terrorism. Additional punitive measures were imposed in the past 14 years as civil war ravaged Syria, and Mr. al-Assads brutal crackdown intensified. Syria's government is now led by former rebels who toppled leader Bashar al-Assad last year after a 13-year civil war, and includes members of Syria's former Al Qaeda branch who broke with the group and clashed with Islamic State. CAIRO, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met here on Saturday, during which they emphasized their shared commitment to enhancing strategic cooperation between the two countries. Al-Sisi expressed appreciation for the steady growth of bilateral relations across political, economic, and commercial domains, according to a statement from the Egyptian Presidency. He highlighted the importance of advancing key joint projects, including the Russian industrial zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone and the Dabaa nuclear energy plant, the statement said. Lavrov affirmed Russia's commitment to building on the understandings reached during al-Sisi's visit to Russia in May, aiming to broaden prospects for bilateral relations, the statement added. The two sides also discussed the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, held Saturday in Cairo, viewing it as an important platform to deepen partnership and economic cooperation. Regional and global issues of mutual concern were also reviewed, including the situations in Gaza, Sudan, and Libya, the statement noted. Both sides stressed the pressing need to end the war in Gaza, consolidate the ceasefire, and prevent further escalation in the region. Lavrov commended Egypt's role in supporting regional stability, the statement said. Discussions also touched upon the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with al-Sisi reiterating Egypt's support for political solutions, according to the statement. After a number of photographs released on Friday (US local time) from the Epstein Files prominently featured former US President Bill Clinton with little reference to Donald Trump, a spokesperson from the Clinton camp has spoken out regarding the same, saying that the White House is now trying to 'shield' themselves and the investigation 'isn't about Bill Clinton". Angel Urena, the Clinton spokesperson, said in his statement, "The White House hasn't been hiding these files for months only to dump them late on a Friday to protect Bill Clinton." "This is about shielding themselves from what comes next, or from what they'll try and hide forever. So they can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn't about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be. Even Susie Wiles said Donald Trump was wrong about Bill Clinton," he added. Also Read | Bill Clinton To Michael Jackson: Trump Administration Release Epstein Files "There are two types of people here. The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships with him after. We're in the first. No amount of stalling by people in the second group will change that," Urena also said. Besides Clinton, some of the other prominent individuals featured in the Epstein files released Friday (local time) are Michael Jackson, Sarah Ferguson, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Mick Jagger, and others. No political redactions: Justice Department claims Amid this criticism, the US Justice Department has now said that there have been no political redactions from the Epstein documents that were released, and the redactions that were made were solely to protect the victims. The Dept of Justice quoted Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as saying, The only redactions being applied to the documents are those required by law full stop. Consistent with the statute and applicable laws, we are not redacting the names of individuals or politicians unless they are a victim. However, social media users added context to the DoJ's post, saying that The DOJs extensive redaction of the only-partially released Epstein files does not comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and thus is against the law. Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu man, was brutally lynched by a mob in Bangladeshs Mymensingh amid protests over the assassination attempt on Osman Sharif Hadi. After killing him, the mob tied his lifeless body to a tree and set it on fire, and then tied the burnt torso and head, reports have now revealed. Das, who worked at a garment factory in Mymensingh, was beaten to death on Thursday night following allegations of blasphemy. After that, the mob poured kerosene and set the body on fire with dozens of people reportedly seen celebrating the horrifying scene. Then they poured kerosene on him and set him on fire. His burned body was left outside. They tied the burnt torso and head outside. It was horrible, the victim's father Ravilal Das said, as per a report by NDTV. Got news from Facebook Recounting the harrowing details of his son's lynching, Ravilal Das said he first got news about his son's incident from social media platform Facebook. The father of the Hindu man said he first learned about the incident through posts circulating on Facebook, which eventually led to more people talking about it. He recalled being told that his son had been severely beaten, and about half an hour later, his uncle informed him that the attackers had taken his son away and tied him to a tree. 7 suspects arrested in Hindu man's killing Earlier in the day, the interim Bangladesh government's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said that seven suspects believed to be involved in the death of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh, have been arrested. In a post on social media platform X (formerly X), Yunus wrote, In the incident of beating to death Sanatan Dharma adherent youth Dipu Chandra Das (27) in Valuka, Mymensingh, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested seven individuals as suspects. Details about the Hindu man's lynching comes amid the funeral of Osman Sharif Hadi whose funeral was held in Dhaka today, Saturday. Known for his radical beliefs, Hadi's death incited unrest, with Inqilab Moncho urging the public to avoid violence as tensions rose ahead of elections. Hadi's funeral The funeral prayer for Sharif Osman Hadi took place in Bangladesh on Saturday, 20 December, attracting a large crowd to pray for the Inqilab Moncho convenor. Following his family's tribute, Hadi was buried next to the grave of the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, ANI reported. Violence gripped Bangladesh after the death of youth leader Hadi, with protests breaking out in different parts of the country. The leader was shot in the head by unknown gunmen on December 12, while campaigning for the upcoming elections. View full Image Men hold placards that read 'We all will be Hadi, we will keep fighting' as tens of thousands of people join the funeral prayer for Sharif Osman Hadi, a student leader who succumbed to his injuries after being shot in the head, at the Parliament building area of Manik Mia Avenue, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, December 20, 2025. REUTERS/Kazi Salahuddin ( REUTERS ) He was injured in the ear and quickly taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, then moved to Evercare Hospital. The Yunus-led administration later arranged an airlift to Singapore for treatment on Saturday, as Bangladeshi doctors reported his condition was extremely critical. US President Donald Trump is reportedly set to receive a briefing from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the potential threat posed by Irans expanding ballistic missile program. Israeli officials are reportedly worried that Iran is restoring nuclear enrichment sites targeted by US airstrikes in June. They see Irans attempts to rebuild missile production facilities and repair its air defense systems as an urgent threat, NBC News reported. NBC News further reported that Netanyahu plans to present Trump with a range of options for responding to Irans missile developments, including the possibility of the US joining or assisting in military operations if deemed necessary. Trump and Netanyahu are expected to meet later this month at the US Presidents Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, the news outlet stated. During the meeting, Netanyahu is anticipated to make the case that Irans ballistic missile expansion is a threat not only to Israel but also to broader regional stability and US interests. The news outlet noted that the Israeli leaders briefing will emphasize that swift action may be required if Iran continues to advance its missile capabilities. Trump, when asked about the December 29 meeting with Netanyahu, reportedly told reporters, We havent set it up formally, but hed like to see me. Also Read | List Of Major Things MISSING From New Epstein Files Released By Team Trump Trump considers hosting Netanyahu, El-Sisi in Florida Trump said that Netanyahu wants to meet him, though no formal schedule has been set. Trump also indicated he would welcome Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to the meeting. El-Sisi, hes a friend of mine. Yeah, would love to have him, Trump told reporters at the White House. Egypts role in Gaza mediation Egypt has played a key role in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza and mediating between Israel and Hamas. The countrys representatives have also been involved in discussions regarding postwar planning and reconstruction in the territory. US envoy to meet regional officials Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, is scheduled to meet senior officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey on Friday in Miami, according to a White House official. These discussions are part of ongoing US efforts to implement Trumps 20-point peace plan, which helped secure a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas. UN Security Council backs Trumps Gaza plan The United Nations Security Council recently approved a resolution supporting Trumps Gaza peace initiative. The plan envisions an International Stabilization Force, composed of troops from several Muslim-majority nations, working with Egypt and Israel to maintain order as Israel gradually withdraws from Gaza. Also Read | Zelensky tells Putin he has no say over Ukraines elections Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu youth aged 25-years-old was barbarically lynched by a mob in Bangladesh's Mymensingh city on Thursday night amid fresh wave of violence that has gripped Dhaka after the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, who was a key figure in the massive student protests last year. A police officer said that after the killing, the mob reportedly dumped the Hindu youth's body on the side of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and set it on fire, bringing traffic on both sides of the road to a standstill. Who was the Hindu man? The victim Dipu Chandra Das hailing from the Hindu community, used to live in Mymensingh. He was employed as worker at Pioneer Knit Composite Factory, a garment factory in the Square Masterbari area of Dhaka, as per reports. He was a tenant in the Dubalia Para area of Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh. How did the man die? As per multiple reports, Dipu Chandra Das was beaten to death following allegations of blasphemy. On Thursday around 9 PM, an enraged crowd caught him and beat him to death, accusing him of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet. They then set the body on fire, duty officer Mia had told BBC Bangla. According to local and eyewitness accounts cited by Bangladeshi Bengali news outlet Barta Bazar, the allegations spread quickly within the factory and nearby areas, fuelling tension. Soon after, an enraged mob allegedly attacked Das, beating him brutally during which he died on spot, as per reports. View full Image Security forces control a group of people who arrived to participate in the funeral prayers for leading Bangladeshi activist Sharif Osman Hadi, who died from gunshot wounds sustained in an attack in Dhaka earlier this month, in Dhaka, outside the nation's Parliament complex in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. AP/PTI(AP12_20_2025_000236B) ( AP ) Following Dipu's death, the mob poured kerosene and set the body on fire with dozens of people reportedly seen celebrating the horrifying scene. Then they poured kerosene on him and set him on fire. His burned body was left outside. They tied the burnt torso and head outside. It was horrible, NDTV quoted the victim's father Ravilal Das as saying. Interim govt condemns incident; 7 arrested - Key points On Saturday, in a social media post, Yunus shared that seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the lynching. Yunus identified the suspects as, Md Limon Sarkar (19), Md Tarek Hossain, Md Manik Mia (20), Ershad Ali (39), Nijum Uddin (20), Alomgir Hossain (38), and Md Miraj Hossain Akon (46). And added that the RAB-14 conducted operations at various locations and arrested the aforementioned suspects. Strongly condemning the killing, interim Bangladesh government chief Yunus's press secretary Shafiqul Alam, in a statement in Bangla on Facebook, said: There is no place for this kind of violence in New Bangladesh. No one involved in this brutal crime will be exempted. Sharif Osman Hadi, a leader of Bangladesh's 2024 uprising, who was shot and moved to Singapore for treatment, died in Singapore on Friday. The funeral prayer for Sharif Osman Hadi took place in Bangladesh on Saturday, 20 December, attracting a large crowd to pray for the Inqilab Moncho convenor. Following the family's wishes, Hadi was buried next to the grave of the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, ANI reported. Who was Sharif Osman Hadi? Sharif Osman Hadi was born in 1994 in Nalchity Upazila, Jhalokhati district, into a Muslim family. He was recognised for his radical beliefs. Hadi became a prominent figure in the student uprising in Bangladesh last year, which resulted in the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He served as a senior leader of the student protest group Inqilab Moncho. According to numerous reports, he was widely seen as an outspoken critic of India and was considered a leading fighter in the July uprising. The 32-year-old leader had recently announced to contest the Dhaka-8 constituency elections as an independent candidate, ANI reported. How did Sharif Osman Hadi die? During the campaign for the upcoming Bangladesh elections, Hadi was shot in the head by unknown gunmen on December 12. The incident occurred on Culvert Road in the Paltan neighbourhood of Dhaka, near a mosque, while he was travelling in a battery-powered auto-rickshaw. Hadi was injured in the ear and quickly taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, then moved to Evercare Hospital. The Yunus-led administration later arranged an airlift to Singapore for treatment on Saturday, as Bangladeshi doctors reported his condition was extremely critical. On Thursday, 18 December, the Singapore Foreign Ministry announced that Hadi had died from his injuries sustained. Also Read | Bangladesh unrest: Yunus govt urges people to honour Hadi and shun violence Following Hadi's death, unrest erupted in Bangladesh. Inqilab Moncho called on the public to refrain from violence, vandalism, and arson that spread nationwide. During this period, the offices of two media outlets, The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, were set ablaze. In a Facebook post on Thursday, Inquilab Moncho said, "Through destruction and fire, certain groups aim to render Bangladesh an ineffective state. They seek to undermine the independence and sovereignty of our country. You must understand -- 32 and 36 are not the same." It further read, "As the February elections approach, consider who truly benefits if unrest is created in the country. To maintain stability in Bangladesh, fully cooperate with the government and refrain from violence." Also Read | B'desh youth leader Osman Hadi dies in Singapore after assassination attempt Who allegedly shot Sharif Osman Hadi? The parents of Faisal Karim Masud, the prime suspect in Hadi's assassination attempt, were jailed after giving their statements in the case related to the attack. NEW DELHI : The year 2025 began with Chinas artificial intelligence (AI) start-up DeepSeek shaking the technology world by unveiling powerful models that reportedly rivalled ChatGPT and Google Gemini at a fraction of the cost. As the year draws to a close, it appears to be ending on a similar note, with Beijing claiming a breakthrough in another critical technologyone that underpins AI itself. China has developed a prototype extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machinecapable of producing silicon wafers for cutting-edge semiconductor chipsinside a high-security laboratory in Shenzhen, southern China, according to a Reuters report. The massive, factory-sized system has reportedly been dubbed Chinas Manhattan Project", a reference to the top-secret US effort during World War II to develop the atomic bomb ahead of Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Also Read | India must calibrate its approach to Bangladesh by its strategic interests The development has profound implications for the global balance of technological and strategic power. At its core, it can dismantle the Wests near-monopoly over the production of the worlds most advanced chipsthose that power AI systems, smartphones, and modern military platforms. A 2024 study by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute pointed to a stunning shift in research leadership over the past two decades towards large economies in the Indo-Pacific, led by Chinas exceptional gains. The US led in 60 of 64 technologies in the five years from 2003 to 2007. In the most recent five-year period (2019-2023), it leads in just seven. China, which led in only three technologies in 2003-2007, now tops 57 of 64 technologies," the report noted. While Chinas EUV machine, undergoing testing, has yet to produce working chips in public view, the achievement of developing the system itself signals a major leap forward. Significant challenges remain, including reliability, yield and scalabilityareas where Western firms retain deep expertise. Yet the direction China is headed in is unmistakable. So how did Beijing manage it? According to Reuters, China recruited engineers who previously worked for Dutch multinational ASML (Advanced Semiconductor Materials Lithography)Europes most valuable technology company. These engineers, reportedly of Chinese origin, reverse-engineered the machine over a period of nearly six years. ASML, headquartered in Veldhoven in the Netherlands, does not manufacture chips itself. Instead, it occupies a uniquely powerful position in the global supply chain as the sole producer of EUV lithography machines, which are essential for making the smallest and most advanced integrated circuits used by companies such as Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Control over EUV technology has become one of the most formidable choke points in the global semiconductor ecosystem. To assemble its own EUV machine, China reportedly salvaged components from older ASML systems and sourced parts from the companys suppliers through second-hand markets. A web of intermediaries was used to procure critical components while masking the identity of the end buyer, the Reuters report said. In an era increasingly shaped by technological supremacy, the development underscores Chinas determination to overcome the barriers erected by the US and its allies to slow its progress in advanced chipmaking. Washington has spent nearly a decade pressuring ASML to restrict the sale of its most sophisticated lithography machines to China. Only last week, US President Donald Trump approved Nvidia Corp.s sale of H200 chips to Chinamore advanced than the H20 chips previously supplied, though still short of Nvidias cutting-edge Blackwell processors. The move highlighted Washingtons delicate balancing act: Restricting Chinas most powerful capabilities without triggering a full-scale technological decoupling. For years, analysts and government forecasts maintained that China lagged the US and its partners by at least a decade in manufacturing advanced semiconductors that form the backbone of AI systems and next-generation weapons such as drones and hypersonic missiles. That assumption may soon need revisiting. Indias eastern neighbour is once again in the throes of violent protests, triggered by the shooting of 32-year-old Sharif Osman Hadi, a spokesperson for Inquilab Mancha, or the Platform for Revolution, which played a key role in the student-led protests that toppled the Sheikh Hasina government. Hadi was shot by masked assailants in Dhaka last week while launching his campaign for the 12 February elections. There is suspicion that the shooter may belong to a group linked to Hasinas Awami League and may have fled to India, further inflaming already simmering anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh. Threats have been issued against the Indian embassy in Dhaka and assistant high commissions across the country, while protesters attempting to storm an Indian assistant high commission were pushed back by security forces. An opposition politician has even threatened to sever Indias North-East from the mainland., while protesters attempting to storm an Indian consulate were pushed back by security forces. An opposition politician has even threatened to sever Indias North-East from the mainland. With Hadis attacker still at large, pressure is mounting on the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government to apprehend the culprit. The administration is also under strain to revive the economy and pursue the return of Hasina to Bangladesh to face her sentence. The interim government has been seeking Hasinas extradition from India, where she fled after being ousted from office. Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar recently said Hasina could remain in India for as long as she wished. Her continued public statements and interviews with Indian media are viewed by the Yunus government as unfriendly gestures, further fuelling bilateral tensions. From what was not long ago described as a model friendship, Bangladesh now poses one of Indias greatest strategic challenges since 1971", according to a parliamentary standing committee report, which cited rising extremism, attacks on minorities, and Dhakas growing drift away from New Delhi towards China and Pakistan. Gravity appears to be having a serious effect on US President Donald Trumps approval ratings. Let me rephrase that. Trumps economic policies seem to be coming back to bite himand dragging down his popularity. Remember the timespluralwhen Trump described tariffs as a beautiful" word? It now appears that tariffs are neither beautiful nor appealing to Americans, who are growing increasingly uneasy about the presidents handling of the economy, particularly the rising cost of living, healthcare expenses, and personal finances. A PBS poll released this week put Trumps approval rating at 36%, while a separate Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 33% of US adults approved of how he is handling the economy. For a president who entered the White House in January 2025 with a 47% approval rating, this is indeed bad news. There is now widespread speculation that Trumps 20-minute address to the nation this week was aimed at arresting the slide. Eleven months ago, I inherited a mess, and Im fixing it," he said, laying much of the blame for current economic woes at the doorstep of the previous Joe Biden administration. It remains to be seen whether the speech will have the desired effect. But judging by the polls cited above, the American public does not appear particularly optimistic about what lies ahead in 2026. Also Read | Should we tilt towards the US or China? Creative conservatism should guide us That could become a serious problem for Trump, especially if he is unable to demonstrate tangible economic improvements before then. Elizabeth Roche is an associate professor of practice, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana. For more of her columns, read The International Angle. Verghese Kurien could have been a top-notch corporate honcho or even a successful business tycoon. He had both the education qualifications and the business chops to achieve either of those. Instead, he went one better, triggering a movement that saw a country once deficient in milk turn into the worlds biggest producer of this most essential food product. Born in 1921 into an affluent Syrian Christian family in Kerala, Kurien did not aim to transform Indian agriculture. He trained as a physicist and mechanical engineer, and only entered dairy engineering after a government scholarship sent him to Michigan State University. On his return to India in 1949, he was posted to Anand, in Gujarat, a hub for dairy cooperatives, as part of the bond he had signed for his scholarship. Kurien had no intention of staying and looked forward to moving on to a more promising career. The White Revolution What he witnessed on the ground, however, changed his mind and the future of the Indian diary. Small milk producers were trapped in an exploitative system of arbitrary prices and unreliable payments, thanks to the control of private traders. Fighting this system was Tribhuvandas Patel, a Gandhian who led the Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers Union. The social activist asked Kurien to stay, even if briefly, and help stabilize dairy operations. Kurien agreed, and the short assignment turned into a lifelong commitment. Starting up, he confronted a seemingly wicked problem. Experts insisted that producing skimmed milk powder from buffalo milk on a commercial scale was impractical. Buffalo milk behaves very differently from cows milk during processing, making large-scale drying difficult. This thinking had condemned India to heavy dependence on imported milk powder. Kurien roped in Harichand Megha Dalaya, a fellow dairy engineer trained in India and the US. Dalaya arrived in Anand for a brief visit but, like Kurien, stayed for decades. Through sustained experimentation and indigenous engineering, the team developed a viable process for spray-drying buffalo milk. By the mid-1950s, this breakthrough had laid the technological foundation for Amul and for Indias self-reliance in dairy. The impact was transformative. Buffalo milk was abundant in India, and millions of small farmers depended on it for income. By giving producers direct access to markets through cooperatives, the Amul model ensured fair prices and regular payments. Milk, already a crucial source of nutrition, became the backbone of a self-sustaining rural industry. The Yellow Revolution Kuriens ambitions, however, extended beyond dairy (maybe because, as he often joked, he was not particularly fond of drinking milk). Beginning 1979, he applied cooperative principles to oilseeds, challenging entrenched trading networks that had long dominated the sector. This effort later became part of what is often called the Yellow Revolution. The Dhara brand, launched in the late 1980s, connected farmers directly to consumers and helped drive a sharp rise in domestic oilseed production. Of the institutions Kurien built, the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), founded in 1979, was especially close to his heart. When some people suggested a rustic campus designed to resemble a village, Kurien famously dismissed the idea. Rural India, he believed, needed professionals trained to think big and act at scale. Kurien also understood the power of narrative. When filmmaker Shyam Benegal proposed a film on the cooperative movement, the Milkman helped organize Indias first large-scale experiment in crowdfunding. Farmers were asked if they would accept a small, one-time reduction in the price paid for their milk so they could fund a film about their own lives. Thousands of them agreed. The resulting film, Manthan, won the National Film Award, became Indias official Oscar entry, and was screened at the UN. Despite his influence, Kurien lived simply for much of his life in Anand. An avowed atheist, he remained sceptical of personal glorification. When he died on 9 September 2012, dairy farming had become the countrys largest self-sustaining rural industry. Yet the final chapter of his glorious career was a painful one as he was eased out of both the IRMA and the institutions at Anand that had defined his lifes work. The separation was deeply wounding, but he refused to speak about it in public. Perhaps that, too, is part of his story. Kurien was never comfortable with sentimentality, nor with being turned into a monument. What mattered to him were systems that functioned without their creator. Also Read | Jaiprakash Gaur's lifetime of building has ended in a legacy of bankruptcy Amul endured and flourished, as did the IRMA. The cooperatives carried on, imperfect but alive. Long after Kurien left Anand, the churn he set in motion continued across the country. For more such stories, read The Enterprising Indian: Stories From India Inc News. SAO PAULO (AP) Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Saturday he hopes the massive free-trade deal between South American bloc Mercosur and the European Union will be signed in January. Protests on Friday by European farmers and opposition from France and Italy threatened to quash an agreement that has been under negotiation for more than 26 years. Top EU officials had hoped to sign the EU-Mercosur deal in Brazil this weekend, but instead, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Friday after a tense EU summit that the signature will be delayed a few extra weeks to address some issues with member states. Lula told other South American leaders attending a summit in the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguacu, on the three-way border with fellow Mercosur members Argentina and Paraguay, that the meeting was only taking place because European negotiators had earlier signaled they would eventually sign the deal, and that did not happen. He added the delay was due to Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni requesting more time. Von der Leyen needs the backing of at least two-thirds of EU nations to secure the deal. Italys opposition would give France enough votes to veto von der Leyens signature. Without political will and courage from leaders, it wont be possible to finish a negotiation that has dragged for 26 years, Lula, who spoke to Meloni on the phone on Friday and received a letter from EU leadership aiming for a deal in January, told his peers. Meanwhile, Mercosur will continue to work with other partners. The world is eager to make deals with Mercosur, the Brazilian president added. Many countries want that. And we certainly we will be able to finish the deals that were not finished during my presidency (of the bloc, due in the end of December). If signed, the trade deal would cover a market of 780 million people and a quarter of the globes gross domestic product, and progressively remove duties on almost all goods traded between the two blocs. France has led opposition to the deal between the EU and the five active Mercosur countries Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday at an EU summit he wouldnt commit to supporting the deal next month either. Macron added he has been in discussions with Italian, Polish, Belgian, Austrian and Irish colleagues among others about delaying it to address farmers concerns. Lula argued Macron alone can't block an agreement. New Delhi: The BJP on Saturday alleged that Rahul Gandhi had a meeting with "enemies of India" during his visit to Germany and demanded transparency in the engagements of Leader of the Opposition with "global actors abroad". Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, party national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia showed a purported picture of Gandhi with Berlin-based Hertie school president and professor Cornellia Woll and called it "proof" of the Congress leader meeting "anti-India forces in Germany". Bhatia claimed that Woll is one of the trustees of the Central European University, which is funded by US-based billionaire investor George Soros's Open Society Foundation, and asked Gandhi as to what kind of "conspiracy" he was hatching against the country by joining hands with such forces. There was no immediate reaction from Rahul Gandhi or the Congress. Also Read | Trump calls for criminal charges against George Soros & son over protests in US Last year too, the BJP had alleged that top Congress leaders had links with Soros-funded organisations that were involved in "anti-India" activities. Raising questions on Gandhi's foreign visits, the BJP spokesperson asked why the Congress leader or his party does not make his itinerary public. Though it's people's right to know about the Leader of Opposition's itinerary during his foreign visit, neither the Congress share any information in this regard nor Gandhi on his X timeline, Bhatia charged on Saturday. "If anyone meets anti-India forces and insults Bharat from foreign soil, it's none other than Rahul," Bhatia alleged, adding, "George Soros and Rahul Gandhi are two bodies but one soul." The BJP spokesperson asked why Gandhi goes abroad during or ahead of almost every session of Parliament and "meets enemies of India, who are jealous of India and attack its integrity". "What kind of anti-India agenda is it that the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is hatching a conspiracy against Bharat by joining hands with such anti-India forces," he asked. Bhatia alleged that Gandhi met "anti-India" forces during his previous foreign visits also and had "defamed and insulted India" with his remarks. "This is not the first time Rahul Gandhi is indulging in such anti-national activities," he said, adding, "Rahul Gandhi has become Mir Zafar". Bhatia alleged that Soros makes anti-India statements and also provides funds to create unrest in India and attack the country's integrity and sovereignty. "George Soros is not an Indian; he is a foreigner. But Rahul Gandhi has taken the oath to protect the Constitution. People gave him the responsibility to stand with India, and he is doing ILU-ILU (I love you) with anti-India forces," he said. "These snakelets within India need to be treated. People of the country are demanding it," Bhatia added. "It's now clear that Rahul Gandhi is very shrewd. Opposition to India is ingrained in his DNA because of his insatiable desire for power," he alleged. The "entire scenario" is a "matter of concern" because India is growing at a faster pace under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and the forces "unhappy with India's rising strength and global stature" are engaged in spreading disinformation about the country, Bhatia said. BJP IT department head Amit Malviya said Gandhi's recent Germany visit deserves "public scrutiny" as it raises "important questions". During the visit, he interacted with Cornelia Woll, a prominent academic associated with institutions that are often linked, directly or indirectly, to global political funding networks. "There is ample information in public domain that several such networks have received support from organisations connected to George Soros and his Open Society ecosystem," he claimed in a post on X. While no "official clarification" has been offered by the Congress or Gandhi about the purpose or outcomes of his meeting with Woll, the overlap between "international political activism, funding networks, and Indian domestic politics naturally invites questions", the BJP leader said. "When the Leader of the Opposition engages with influential global actors abroad, transparency becomes essential," he added. Public life demands "accountability", Malviya emphasised. SEOUL, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol on Saturday appeared before a special counsel team to undergo questioning as a suspect for corruption charges involving his wife Kim Keon-hee. Yoon, who has been held at a detention center, arrived in a convoy vehicle at about 9:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT) at the office in Seoul of special counsel Min Joong-ki leading an investigation into corruption allegations involving the former presidential couple. It marked the first questioning of Yoon for the corruption charges since the independent counsel team's investigation that was launched on July 2 and was scheduled to end on Dec. 28. The ruling on Yoon's wife was set to be delivered on Jan. 28 next year. The special counsel sought a 15-year prison term for Kim, who has been held at a detention center since August. Yoon was named as an accomplice in charges involving his wife, who received free opinion polls worth 270 million won (182,310 U.S. dollars) and a painting worth 140 million won (94,530 dollars) as bribes. He also faced charges of disclosing false information about his wife during the public debate as a presidential candidate in late 2021. Yoon was expected to be questioned about whether he was involved in charges against his wife, who received expensive gifts in exchange for influence peddling in personnel matters and business favors. The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon on April 4 over his botched martial law bid last December, officially removing him from office. The ousted leader was indicted under detention on Jan. 26 as a suspected ringleader of insurrection. UPDATE: The Whitfield County Coroner's Office and Georgia Bureau of Investigation have identified the three people who died in a fiery crash on I-75 earlier this month. All three were from Illinois: Jamal Ali Omar Mitchell, 44, of Zion, Illinois Steven Wayne Davis, 39, of Grayslake, Illinois Geoffrey Dejon Mitchell, 19, of Waukegan, Illinois It's not clear which man was driving. The deadly wrong-way crash in Dalton near Exit 336 also injured a truck driver. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones affected," the coroner's office stated. We're working to learn more about the three people killed. PREVIOUS STORY: All three people killed in a wrong-way crash while fleeing from Whitfield County deputies have yet to be identified, according to the Georgia State Patrol. The driver, who deputies said seemed "impaired," had gotten onto I-75 southbound going the opposite direction while being pursued by law enforcement. Their car first crashed into a pickup truck, and then a tractor-trailer. After the latter impact, the car struck a concrete divider and quickly became engulfed in flames. Troopers say all three occupants succumbed to their injuries on scene. 'IT WAS NOTHING BUT GOD' Couple shares how they nearly missed fatal crash Nathaniel Dowding and his wife, Alyssa, detail how instinct and the grace of God saved their lives after the deadly crash on I-75 in Dalton. The tractor-trailer also caught fire, but the trucker and the two other people involved in the collision only had "minor injuries," GSP says. Medics took all of them to a local hospital. Local 3 reached out to the Whitfield County Coroner's Office to see their progress on identifying the bodies, and they say they are still working on it. Thursday's fatal crash remains under investigation. PREVIOUS STORY: Authorities say all three people killed in Thursdays wrong-way crash on I-75 in Whitfield County were inside the suspects vehicle, and investigators are still working to learn more about the driver. As of now, all lanes have reopened on I-75. According to the Whitfield County Sheriffs Office, the incident happened when the driver was seen weaving in and out of traffic and speeding. Deputies believe the driver's behavior indicated impairment. A deputy attempted to stop the driver after the driver sped past on I-75. Deputies say the driver then got back into his vehicle during the stop, made a U-turn on the interstate, and began traveling north in the southbound lanes. The car collided head-on with a semi, and a third vehicle was also struck. Blood Assurance issues emergency call for O-positive donors after fatal Dalton crash While the organization was able to meet the hospitals immediate needs, officials say the response placed a major strain on its O-positive inventory. The driver of the semi was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. Darren Pierce, Sheriff of Whitfield County, said investigators are still collecting information: The Georgia State Patrol is doing the investigation, so they'll have the findings at a later date. We have two lanes right now that are open, but I would urge everyone to please use caution. To try to use Highway 41, it's going to be congested, but just be patient, be cautious. Officials say they are still working to identify and learn more about the suspected impaired driver, who died in the crash, too. PREVIOUS STORY: Whitfield County deputies attempted to stop a wrong-way driver before the crash on Interstate 75 southbound that killed all three people inside the vehicle. The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office said all three people inside the vehicle, traveling the wrong direction on the interstate, died. Deputies believe the driver was impaired. Deputies attempted to stop the driver for erratic driving, speeding, and driving in and out of lanes, but the driver pulled a U-turn and began driving the wrong way on the interstate. The vehicle struck a semi-truck and another vehicle. The semi-truck driver was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries. The driver in the third vehicle was not injured. The Catoosa County Sheriff's Office said all southbound lanes of I-75 have reopened after hours of being shut down. They say drivers should still expect delays as the flow of traffic may take time to return to normal. Traffic was diverted from southbound I-75 at Exit 345. Southbound traffic was backed up northward for nearly 10 miles. PREVIOUS STORY: Whitfield County Sheriff Darren Pierce said Thursday afternoon that the deadly crash on I-75 Southbound near the Dalton and Rocky Face exit was caused by a wrong-way driver. That driver struck a semi-truck, which then collided with a third vehicle. Three were confirmed dead, according to the sheriff's office. Law enforcement began letting traffic pass on the two far left lanes and shoulder as emergency crews removed debris from the scene. Drivers were encouraged to seek alternate routes off the interstate, such as Highway 41. Local 3 crews are at the scene speaking with witnesses and officials. PREVIOUS STORY: Three people died in a crash on I-75 Southbound near the Dalton and Rocky Face exit Thursday morning, the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office tells Local 3. There were three vehicles involved in the crash. Emergency crews were on the scene, and we have crews en route. Several Local 3 News viewers sent photos and videos of the crash aftermath and heavily congested traffic. PREVIOUS STORY: I-75 Southbound is shut down at mile marker 336, right before the Dalton and Rocky Face exit, after a multi-vehicle crash. Deputies with the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office, as well as local firefighters and paramedics, are on the scene. READ MORE | Local Traffic Photos sent to us by a viewer driving in the area show flames and smoke coming from a tractor-trailer and car. We are working to learn the severity of the drivers' injuries, as well as how the crash happened. Anyone traveling south should get off at the Varnell Road exit, or avoid the interstate altogether. A US F-15 fighter takes off to conduct strikes against the Islamic State in Syria. (@CENTCOM on X) On December 19, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that U.S. forces have commenced a large-scale strike against [Islamic State] ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites in Syria. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the operation, dubbed Hawkeye Strike, was not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance launched in response to the December 13 terrorist attack near Palmyra, Syria, that killed two members of the Iowa National Guard and a civilian interpreter. Syrian authorities later confirmed that the shooter was a member of the security forces and said he had been under investigation for extremist ideas. Syrias state Syrian News Channel quoted local sources as saying that the international coalition targeted ISIS sites in the Maadan desert in rural Raqqa, the al-Hammad desert in rural Deir ez-Zor, and the Jabal al-Amour area near Palmyra in Homs Governorate. The same source added that US airstrikes continued to target Islamic State sites in Deir ez Zor Governorate overnight. A US official claimed that the attack was conducted using F-15 Eagle Jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground-attack aircraft, and AH-64 Apache helicopters. Social media reports claimed that missiles were launched from several US bases in northeastern Syria, including the Al Shaddadi base in Hasakah Governorate. Al Arabiyas sources claimed that the United States struck 70 ISIS targets in sites in central Syria. US President Donald Trump also issued a statement reaffirming that the strikes were targeting ISIS strongholds in Syria, a place soaked in blood which has many problems. Trump added that the Syrian government, led by former head of Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) and current Syrian President Ahmad al Sharaa, is working very hard to bring greatness back to Syria and is fully in support of the operation. The Syrian Foreign Ministry also issued a statement extending its condolences to the families of the Syrian and American security personnel who were killed in the terrorist attacks that took place in Palmyra and northern Syria. The statement reiterated Syrias firm commitment to fighting the Islamic State. A US official told CNN that since the December 13 attack, US forces and partner forces have carried out 10 operations that resulted in the killing or arrest of approximately 23 individuals. On December 14, Syrias Ministry of Interior said that its units carried out an operation in Palmyra to arrest five suspects accused of involvement in the killing of US service members in coordination with the General Intelligence Directorate and the International Coalition forces. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US counterterrorism partner of the United States since 2015, released a statement showing their sincere appreciation to the American forces and the international coalition forces for the precise air and missile strikes that targeted the hideouts of the ISIS terrorist organization in Syria during the past hours. Ahmad Sharawi is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian intervention in Arab affairs and the Levant. KABUL, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that nearly 2.8 million Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran so far in 2025. In a statement, the UN refugee agency warned of mounting humanitarian and protection challenges, noting that many of the returnees are women and children. To address these needs, the agency is seeking 258.6 million U.S. dollars to provide emergency assistance, including temporary shelter, essential relief items, and protection services to support families upon their arrival, the UNHCR said. The agency cautioned that without urgent international support, the combination of large-scale returns, ongoing vulnerabilities in neighboring countries, and severe funding shortages could further deepen Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis. Around 6 million Afghan refugees, mostly undocumented, are currently living abroad, with the majority living in Iran and Pakistan, the Afghan Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said in late July. SPRINGFIELD With technology from Sweden by way of Australia, Durra Panel USA plans to take wasted wheat straw and press it into building panels that could replace gypsum. The company is looking for 40,000 to 60,000 square feet of vacant industrial space here for a factory that would be open and producing panels just more than a year from now, in the first quarter of 2027. We really like Springfield, said Todd Giatrelis, CEO of Durra Panel USA. He predicted 80 to 100 jobs. Giatrelis said he met recently with Springfield officials at the invitation of a potential local investor. Durra Panel has licensed the technology from the Australian parent. Mayor (Domenic) Sarno was great, Giatrelis said in a phone interview from his office in Somerville. His whole team was receptive. Sano and Chief Development Officer Timothy T. Sheehan said there is no specific spot selected and the process is in its very early stages. The panels are made from discarded wheat straw, he said, normally a waste product. Durra Panel says its manufacturing process activates the natural lignin in the straw and allows it to bind together without the use of glues or adhesives. Giatrelis said the panels are mold-proof, noise-dampening and have a one-to-two-hour fire rating. Former Massachusetts state Sen. Dean Tran, who was convicted last year of fraud, pleaded guilty in federal court of trying to cover up a fake job offer connected to his sisters company, prosecutors said. Tran, 50, of Fitchburg, pleaded guilty Friday to one count of obstruction of justice and one count of making a false statement in court. Tran is currently serving an 18-month federal prison sentence stemming from earlier fraud convictions. No sentencing date has been announced for the obstruction of justice charge, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors say Tran tried to disguise the true nature of a job offer letter he submitted to state unemployment officials after his pandemic unemployment benefits were briefly suspended. The letter purported to show that Tran had been offered employment by a company owned by his sister, Tuyet Martin. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, federal agents interviewed Tran at his home while executing a search warrant as part of an investigation into unemployment benefits and tax fraud. During that interview, Tran falsely told agents that Martin had written the job offer letter and that her signature appeared on it. Investigators later determined Tran had helped draft the letter and had signed it himself, prosecutors said. Tran was convicted by a federal jury in September 2024 of fraudulently collecting pandemic unemployment benefits and failing to report consulting and landlord income on his federal tax returns for 2020 through 2022. In February, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Tran, a Republican, was first elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2010, representing the 2nd Worcester District. He served in the House until 2017, when he was elected to the state Senate representing the Worcester/Middlesex District. Tran served one term in the state senate before losing a reelection bid in 2020. In June, Tran pleaded guilty to charges connected to stealing a gun from a constituent and lying to police about it. A woman poses for photos at the Story of Lights themed park in Prague, the Czech Republic, Dec. 19, 2025. An Europe-themed light park illuminates the banks of the Vltava River in Prague, offering visitors an immersive journey of architecture and light. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua) People pose for selfies at the Story of Lights themed park in Prague, the Czech Republic, Dec. 19, 2025. An Europe-themed light park illuminates the banks of the Vltava River in Prague, offering visitors an immersive journey of architecture and light. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua) People visit the Story of Lights themed park in Prague, the Czech Republic, Dec. 19, 2025. An Europe-themed light park illuminates the banks of the Vltava River in Prague, offering visitors an immersive journey of architecture and light. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua) A woman poses for photos at the Story of Lights themed park in Prague, the Czech Republic, Dec. 19, 2025. An Europe-themed light park illuminates the banks of the Vltava River in Prague, offering visitors an immersive journey of architecture and light. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua) People visit the Story of Lights themed park in Prague, the Czech Republic, Dec. 19, 2025. An Europe-themed light park illuminates the banks of the Vltava River in Prague, offering visitors an immersive journey of architecture and light. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua) Children play at the Story of Lights themed park in Prague, the Czech Republic, Dec. 19, 2025. An Europe-themed light park illuminates the banks of the Vltava River in Prague, offering visitors an immersive journey of architecture and light. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua) An old friend of Claudio Manuel Neves Valente who described himself as his only friend from his time at Brown University said he was shocked to learn that Neves Valente is believed to have shot and killed two students at Brown last week. Still, upon reflection, fellow Brown student and now Syracuse University professor Scott Watson remarked the the signs were there. Authorities say Neves Valente opened fire in a classroom on the Brown campus on Dec. 13. Two students Ella Cook and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov died, and nine were injured. Neves Valente is then believed to have driven to the Boston area and then shot and killed MIT professor Nuno Loureiro in his Brookline apartment building. Watson, now a professor of physics at Syracuse, got to know Neves Valente during their time together as students at Brown in 2000. In an email to MassLive, Watson said he was surprised when he heard authorities identify Neves Valente as the killer. Watson described Neves Valente, a native of Portugal, as a student who struggled to fit in at Brown, culturally and academically. He was socially awkward, and so was I, which I think is why we connected, Watson said. During orientation he was sitting alone, and I walked up and said hello. He was terse at first, but we eventually broke the ice and became close. Watson said he has fond memories of having lunch with Neves Valente at Portuguese restaurants near campus, but that Neves Valente often returned to grievances about schoolwork and campus life. He could be kind and gentle, though he often became frustrated sometimes angry about courses, professors, and living conditions, Watson said. In an interview with CNN, Watson said Neves Valente thought he had wasted his time by coming to the United States. He hated Brown and he hated Providence, Watson said. Watson said Neves Valente was a brilliant student who bristled at coursework he believed to be beneath his level of intellect. He often complained about moving to the United States and about the university, Watson said. He would say the classes were too easy honestly, for him they were. He already knew most of the material and was genuinely impressive. Neves Valente was also capable of agitating fellow students due to his standoffish personality. Watson recounted how Neves Valente used to bully a classmate, a native of Brazil, often calling him a slave. Things escalated to the point Watson said he had to break up a fight between the two. Neves Valente attended Brown in the fall of 2000 and spring of 2001. He then took a leave of absence, and eventually withdrew from the school for good in 2003. Watson remembers his final conversation with Neves Valente, in which Watson tried to convince him not to leave the university. Neves Valente told him he was going to return to Portugal. That was the final time Watson spoke with him, and the memories faded until he heard Neves Valentes name again when he was revealed as the Brown shooter. I am quite upset, Watson said. Authorities believe Neves Valente drove to a storage facility in Salem, N.H., after killing Loureiro on Monday, and then killed himself on Tuesday. His body was discovered in a storage unit on Thursday. Speaking to CNN, Watson said he now realizes the signs were there when he was friends with Neves Valente. To me, he was sweet, nice and caring, Watson said. I never thought he would do something like this. But then in talking with the FBI today and to many journalists, I realize it was there. Break out your flip-up glasses, Dwayne Wayne is back. Netflix has ordered a sequel series to the sitcom A Different World, reuniting original cast members for a new installment set at a fictional historically Black college, according to Deadline. The 10-episode series will feature Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Cree Summer and Darryl M. Bell reprising their roles from the original series, which ran for six seasons from 1987 to 1993 on NBC. The new show will center on Deborah Wayne, the youngest daughter of Dwayne and Whitley, who were played by Hardison and Guy in the original series. Tony Award winner Maleah Joi Moon will star as Deborah, who is described as a free-spirited and rebellious student beginning her freshman year at her parents alma mater. These beloved characters are returning in a major way that respects their history while engaging exciting storylines that are relevant to issues of today, showrunner Felicia Pride and executive producer Debbie Allen said in a statement. Allen served as a producer and director on the original series. Several writers from the original series, including Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood, will return as executive producers. Conceived as a spinoff of The Cosby Show, the original A Different World followed Denise Huxtable, played by Lisa Bonet, before shifting its focus to an ensemble model. The man believed to be responsible for the mass shooting at Brown University and the killing of an MIT professor in Brookline days later died on Tuesday, two days before he was found in a Salem, New Hampshire, storage unit, authorities said. Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, 48, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, an autopsy confirmed on Friday, according to New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella. The autopsy revealed that Neves Valente took his own life on Dec. 16, the day after he shot and killed Nuno Loureiro in Brookline. Investigators had not yet identified Neves Valente as the suspect in either killing when he committed suicide. Authorities tracked Neves Valente to a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire on Thursday, where they found him dead. It was not clear at the time when he died. Neves Valente had a personal connection to his two targets. He briefly attended Brown and knew Loureiro from a school they both attended in Lisbon, Portugal, according to authorities. Still, a motive for the killings was not clear on Friday. The mass shooting at Brown left two students dead and nine injured and touched off a massive manhunt that eventually extended across three states. Authorities identified Neves Valente as the shooter through surveillance footage and a key tip from a Reddit user. A Wilmington school bus driver is set to face criminal charges after police say he touched a child inappropriately. The bus driver, a 70-year-old Wilmington man, is being summoned to Woburn District Court. Police intend to charge him with assault and battery and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, Wilmington Police Chief Brian Pupa said in a statement. The man is not being identified because he was not arrested. Police first learned of potentially inappropriate social media activity from a Wilmington bus driver on Monday, Dec. 8. The department began an investigation, which was ongoing when parents contacted police on Dec. 10 and Dec. 11 with additional concerns about the bus driver, Pupa said. Police notified NRT Bus, the third-party vendor that provides transportation services for Wilmington Public Schools, of the claims. The vendor suspended the bus driver. On Thursday, Dec. 11, one parent told police the bus driver touched their child inappropriately, police said. Police decided to seek charges after a subsequent investigation, which included a review of video surveillance. Most of the state will see a brief stretch of mild weather Saturday before gusty winds return overnight to usher in colder, blustery conditions on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Saturday will be quiet and dry statewide as gusty winds diminish throughout the morning. The forecast calls for sunny skies in Boston with high temperatures in the mid 30s, dipping below 30 as the evening progresses. Central Massachusetts will see highs around 33 degrees Saturday, with temps dropping into the mid-to-upper 20s overnight. Western Massachusetts, including the Berkshires, will remain slightly colder, with a high of 31 and overnight lows in the mid 20s. Winds will increase across the state Saturday night, with Cape Cod & the Islands seeing gusts up to 25 to 35 mph. HOLYOKE A months-long gang task force investigation led to the arrest of a Holyoke man and the seizure of crack cocaine and suspected heroin mixed with fentanyl, police said Friday. Carlos Cordova Jr., 23, was taken into custody after members of the Holyoke Police Department, Western Massachusetts FBI Gang Task Force, Chicopee Police and Hampden County Sheriffs Department executed a search warrant around 5:05 a.m. on Beech Street. Investigators said they found cocaine residue and drug paraphernalia in Cordovas apartment, said Chief Brian Keenan in a statement. A Chicopee police K-9 later alerted officers to narcotics in his vehicle, where they recovered about 130 bags of suspected heroin mixed with fentanyl, 24.8 grams of crack cocaine and suspected oxycodone, Keenan said. Cordova faces charges of cocaine trafficking (1836 grams), possession with intent to distribute a Class A drug and possession of a Class A drug, Keenan said. Shana Renee Price of Springfield might soon be turning 52, had she not been murdered before her life really began. Instead, the Springfield native is forever the smiling 17-year-old who lived with her grandmother on Dartmouth Street, prayed at the Christian Hill Baptist Church, hung out at the Carew Street Boys and Girls Club and cared for her 1-year-old son, Mark Joseph. Prices memory lives on with her family and in the offices of the Hampden District Attorney. Staffers with the Unresolved and Unidentified Case Investigation Unit continue to pursue justice in her name, 35 years after she was found strangled to death in Blunt Park. This Sunday, the DAs team will staff a booth at a holiday event at the MassMutual Center, hoping to catch a break in the Price case through the donation of DNA samples. People attending the Springfield United Toy Drive & Holiday Celebration will be invited to contribute samples taken from cheek swabs. The material collected will be analyzed and added to a database used in a process known as forensic investigative genetic genealogy. The goal is to identify even distant relatives of the person who killed Price more than three decades ago, then find connections to DNA evidence of the unknown suspect already in hand. Its a huge part of finding success in these cases, Anthony D. Gulluni, the district attorney, said in an interview this week at his Tower Square offices. Second attempt Sundays collection, from 2 to 5 p.m., will be the second time this year Gullunis office has held a community event seeking to build the database. People who provide DNA samples will receive, in exchange, reports on their own genetic ancestry and extended family tree, the DAs office says. Gulluni said he hopes the collection adds several dozen new samples to the database. Springfield Ward 5 City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce, left, helped the Hampden District Attorney's office in August by providing a DNA sample to expand the database used to help solve unresolved homicide investigations, including a search for the person who killed Shana Price. (Photo courtesy of the DA's office) Staff Three years ago this month, the office released a sketch of a potential suspect in the Price case. The image was created through phenotyping, which uses genetic material to model possible physical traits and facial features. Gulluni said that the image, which showed a light-skinned man of Caribbean, Dominican or African American descent, produced some tips. The same DNA evidence used to create that image had been uploaded in 2003 to international databases. To date, that step has not yielded a suspect. That technology is going to find its way into investigations much more, going forward, Gulluni said. Its a fascinating process. When the sketch was released, one of Prices three sisters, Laquana, flew in from her home in Las Vegas to represent the family. Prices son, Mark, also attended, as well as an uncle. Im glad my sisters case has come to the forefront and that there is some traction, Laquana Price said at the time. It has been almost 32 years of struggle, no closure, wondering looking over our shoulders and hoping that we get some answers. Family members of the late Shana Price speaks with the media in 2022 at the Hampden District Attorney's office. From left, Shana's uncle, Kevin Baker; sister Laquana Price; and son Mark Privette. (The Republican / file photo) In the Oak Grove Cemetery, Shana Prices stone carries the inscription BELOVED DAUGHTER, SISTER & MOTHER. After Prices murder, one clue surfaced, but failed to provide anything to go on. About a month before she was killed, Price had been taken by an officer to the Ludlow Police Department after she said shed jumped from the car of a man she said had threatened to kill her. Price was able to provide only vague descriptions of both the driver and the car. Shana Price, 17, was killed in Springfield in 1990. (Photo courtesy of the Hampden District Attorney's office) Staff A Ludlow officer relayed that information to Springfield police after seeing a photo of Price on a local TV broadcast about her murder and recognizing her as the teen who reported the threat. DNA collection Thomas Sullivan, a state police trooper assigned to the detective unit at the DAs office, works full time with the unresolved cases unit, along with two assistant district attorneys and a victim witness advocate. Its important for a family to have a contact person whos consistent, Gulluni said of unresolved cases. Its a positive thing for the community to know that were working on these cases and dont forget about victims and their families. Anyone with information on the Price case is asked to contact the Springfield Police Detective Bureau at 413-787-6355 or use Text-A-Tip by texting 274637, typing SOLVE and then entering the tip. Identified only as John Doe in court documents, a Hampshire County man was a sophomore in college when he began making payments in hopes of keeping a series of his intimate photos from being sent to his family and friends. He had been chatting with Annie during the 2020-2021 school year when he was away at college in Wisconsin, who sent him a message on Instagram. Photos on the social media accounts showed Annie was a blonde-haired, college-aged female, according to his lawsuit. It progressed to exchanging nude photos and videos on Snapchat. Thats when the person behind the account said they would distribute Does images unless he sent money, according to the court record. More than a year after Doe stopped the payments, about 20 of his family and friends received the intimate images from a Snapchat account pretending to be him. Some of the recipients were under 18, according to the court record. This week, John Doe filed a lawsuit in federal court in Springfield against two men he said invaded his privacy, shared his intimate images and conspired to obtain nude photos of him and others. In doing so, he invoked a law only a few years old designed to help people whose intimate images were shared without their permission to seek recourse in federal court. Defendant (William) Prunier and Defendant (Jacob Liam) Koski agreed to a plan whereby Defendant Prunier would obtain nude photographs of people they knew and Defendant Koski would provide Defendant Prunier money in exchange for the nude photographs, says Does complaint. Koskis attorney, William Kneeshaw, said while he had not yet received a copy of Does complaint, he said his client was not involved. We adamantly dispute any involvement by Mr. Koski in this situation, Kneeshaw said. He said Koski does not have any criminal charges pending against him. A criminal case against Prunier, meanwhile, has been working its way through Franklin Superior Court since April 2024. Prosecutors charged him with trafficking a person for sexual servitude, extortion by threat of injury, sending obscene matter to a minor, identity fraud and harassment. A pretrial hearing is scheduled in January. Prunier has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Joseph Pacella, who represents Prunier in the criminal case, said while the two cases allege similar facts, the evidence hes seen in the criminal case do not support the charges against his client. Many of the overlapping allegations in the civil complaint do not appear to be born out by the evidence that I (have) been provided and reviewed in the criminal case, Pacella wrote in an email. In May, Judge Jeremy Bucci declined to toss some of the charges filed against Prunier. While Pruniers attorney argued a grand jury heard a distorted account of his clients interview with police, the judge disagreed. (After) listening to the defendants recorded statement, it is entirely unclear that the defendant limited his use of Snapchat for this criminal enterprise to only four accounts as the defendant now argues, Bucci wrote. Doe sent the money to Annie though Zelle, CashApp and via Western Union money transfers, about $20,000 in all, according to his complaint filed in federal court. After about a year, Does parents learned about the situation when they confronted him about his spending, according to the complaint. The family went to the police. He deleted his social media accounts. About 15 months passed before a high school friend of Does called in October 2023 to say several people received nude images of him. The incident caused mental anguish and emotional distress to the point Doe required medical treatment, the complaint says, and he needed therapeutic treatment and care. The Deerfield Police Department obtained a warrant for the Snapchat account that pretended to be Doe and that had distributed the images. Location data revealed that the address was from the same street where Doe grew up, and where his family still lived, the complaint says. Data also revealed significant activity at the Greenfield District Court. When he was interviewed by police, Prunier said he had worked at the court for two years, according to Does attorneys. The Massachusetts Trial Court did not return a request for comment, but a clerk at the office said he did not work there anymore. Prunier told police on Jan. 12, 2024, he had pretended to be Annie, asked Doe for nude photos and video, and had shared the images, even distributing them the day before, according to the complaint. Doe is demanding $1.5 million and for a judge to order Prunier and Koski to stop sharing or displaying images of him. Does attorneys filed the suit under a law Congress created in 2022 that creates a new claim for people whose intimate images were shared without their consent can pursue in federal court. It was the first federal law to target whats known as revenge porn. His attorneys say his claims are a cautionary tale for the internet age. Frankly, this case reminds me of many of things I used to warn kids about when I gave internet safety presentations at schools when I was an assistant U.S. attorney in Springfield, Alex Grant, of the firm Alekman DiTusa, wrote in an email. Laura Mangini, another attorney for Doe, wrote in an email that this form of sextortion is becoming a much larger issue, especially for teenage boys. The FBIs internet crime complaint center said between the beginning of the year to July 31, 2021, it had received 16,000 reports of sextortion. Almost half of those being extorted, the FBI said, were between the ages 20 and 39. The fewest number of complaints were people under 20. By 2024, the FBI had warned that sextortion was increasingly targeting minors, typically teenaged males. The incidents drove some to suicide, the FBI said. SOUTHWICK The towns Capital Expenditure Committee, which typically meets when the annual budget is being developed in late winter, met Wednesday and unanimously approved a public safety request of $220,000 to complete an update of its communication systems. This is a radio system for the future, and it is going to provide us in public safety the frequency coverage that we need [and] the radio coverage that we need, said Fire Chief Richard Stefanowicz during the committee meeting. Where the money will come from will be decided by the Select Board working with the towns Finance Committee before it is presented as an article on the warrant for the Jan. 13 Special Town Meeting. It could be borrowed or withdrawn from the towns Stabilization Fund. Since the town partnered with Westfield to create the Westfield Regional Public Safety Communication Center about three years ago, its been slowly updating and upgrading its town-wide communications systems, which include components ranging from radio towers to the portable radios carried by police and fire. Originally, Stefanowicz said designing and building the system was estimated to cost about $2 million, but Regional Dispatch Director Nina Barszcz, who he said was a very successful grant writer, was able to secure incentive and development grants, dropping the cost to nearly $1.695 million. The State 911 Department kicked in another $1.4 million, which created the funding gap. Theres just a little bit of a gap, Stefanowicz said about the $220,000 requested. He said the equipment the town needs to purchase is called a backhaul, which is the backbone of a mobile network. Reserve Police Officer Michael Girard explained that a backhaul synchronizes all the radio transmissions. He said the town has four nodes which receive and send transmissions for its system, and that all are connected by what are essentially copper telephone cables used to provide telephone service to homes. Verizon has pretty much at this point stopped servicing [those lines], Girard said, adding that the lines are prone to fail. But because the nodes are hardwired, if, for example, a car crashed into a nearby utility pole that carried the cable, public safety radio communications in that area would be lost. [Lets say] we lost the southern end receiver where our emergency personnel are going. So, not only are they dealing with that emergency that caused the outage of the radio system, the radio systems not working there for them, Girard said. Not only are the copper lines antiquated, but Verizon also just told the town it would stop servicing those lines no later than January 2027, he said. There was another challenge when the company that won the contract to build the system was in the design phase, it found the nodes could not be connected wirelessly with the towns current equipment because line-of-sight between the nodes is required. It was determined that the radio tower at Juniper Road needed to be taller so that line-of-sight was achieved between the nodes and to the regional dispatch center in Westfield that node is on Sodom Mountain. Girard said the state provided another grant for the taller tower, but it was about $67,000 less than the cost to build it. Westfield kicked that amount. Once the communication system is completed, the DPW will also be using the network with radios repurposed from the Police and Fire departments. WESTFIELD At the Dec. 18 City Council meeting, Conservation Commission chair Joseph Giffune introduced Nicholas Balik as the new conservation agent for Westfield. Balik and his wife, Tricia, relocated from Arizona four months ago and are currently residing in Southwick. Were not from around these parts. Were from the desert - scorching heat, 120 degrees weather on average, and seven inches of precipitation a year, Balik said. He grew up in Phoenix Valley and met his wife, who is in the medical field, in Prescott in northern Arizona, where he said it does snow. I have shoveled snow, he said. Balik, who used to guide backcountry hikes, said his body is still adjusting. I used to joke theres no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear, he said, adding that recently they bought some warm clothing. Before moving to Western Mass., the couple had spent three years on domestic travel for a possible move. What drew them here was cleaner air and more reliable resources, including recreational resources. There are awesome natural resources protected and preserved here, he said. Balik has a bachelors degree in environmental and urban studies from Prescott College. He has ten years of experience in water resources and small business entrepreneurship, most recently as the water resources & conservation planner for the Flood Control District of Maricopa County. In that role, he managed consultant contracts, facilitated inter-agency coordination, conducted public training, and guided regulatory compliance related to native vegetation, stormwater BMPs and riparian restoration. Balik said he brings municipal program experience and a working knowledge of environmental protection standards, and the communication skills needed to engage residents, developers, and partner agencies in the work of long-term environmental stewardship and public service. Before being hired as the conservation agent, he had served for the past few months as the wetlands compliance officer in Westfield under the previous conservation director. Im extremely excited to be in this role and to continue to serve in the public sector. I understand the need for environmental management and stewardship, Balik said. Its a balancing act. I try my best to meet people where theyre at, and to find realistic, tangible compromises. Balik said the Conservation Departments main focus is on the citys wetlands ordinance, which was recently updated and for which the Commission is reworking the regulations. We recognize that the output has to be consumable to the public, Balik said, acknowledging that the rolling out of the new ordinance has been somewhat contentious. He said the discussions and effort will continue during the off-season. Balik said another focus for him to date has been the closing out of prior enforcement orders for properties that were not in compliance. We want people to do construction in the best management practice ways. The permit process with the Conservation Commission allows input from a diverse, knowledgeable board of commissioners about these forms of development, he said. Another area Balik mentioned is accessibility of conservation lands to the public. Westfield has significant conservation lands that are accessible to the public, just not right now. He said Westfields new Open Space and Recreation Plan, which will be completed in the spring, has had comments on river access, for example, which are being drafted into the plan. Balik said the Conservation Commission will be included in the implementation of a tangible action plan for the findings of the OSRP. We have a great Conservation Commission, Balik said. Its diverse, with small business owners, landscapers, educational instructors its a pretty solid group. Im confident about what we can achieve in the next couple of years for residents. Im looking forward to working with the public to do our best to protect the vitality of the wetlands for decades to come, Balik said. MOSCOW, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia has expressed opposition to discussions in Japan about the possible acquisition of nuclear weapons, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said Saturday. Rudenko told the TASS news agency that Moscow is aware of ongoing discussions in Japan concerning potential changes to constitutional provisions related to its non-nuclear principles. "Our position is unequivocally negative," Rudenko said. "We believe that the militarization of Japan will only worsen the situation in Northeast Asia." He added that such moves would provoke corresponding countermeasures from countries that feel threatened. Earlier this week, an official within Japan's prime minister's office said Japan should possess nuclear weapons, a controversial stance in opposition to the country's constitutional non-nuclear principles. WESTFIELD Westfield State University admissions staff and students went to Westfield High School on Dec. 17 to hand more than 50 WHS students acceptances to the university on the first leg of its Future Owl Flight Tour. The Future Owl Flight Tour is the first event of its kind that were bringing to several schools in the area. Its a way for us to celebrate accepted students for all of their hard work and getting into the university, said WSU Admissions Marketing CRM Coordinator Kristina Adamyan. WHS School Counselor Merylina Asselin called it a super day. Asselin said she was contacted by the WSU admission office because they were interested in doing an acceptance event at the school. They are looking to get students acceptances out to them and celebrate their accomplishments. They brought their mascot, treats and a small goodie bag, Asselin said. Mayor Mike McCabe and WHS Principal Charles Jendrysik also got in on the action. McCabe said he was very happy to be asked to attend. I believe in the role that four-year colleges and universities play, preparing our folks for better tomorrows. Westfield State University has much to offer at an affordable price. There were about 60 or so students from Westfield High School that are looking to WSU for a brighter future. Go Owls! said the mayor, himself a WSU alumnus. Asselin said she was sent a list of 58 students before the Thursday event, but the university is still accepting applications, so she called this the first wave. She said the students dont have to give their decisions on whether they will attend until universal commitment day on May 1. It was great for undergraduates to see the excitement about students getting accepted to college, especially Westfield State University, Asselin said. Its always so nice to cooperate with Westfield State on doing these events with the applicants, she added. The WSU event at Westfield High School was a great celebration for our accepted students, said WHS Principal Charles Jendrysik. Over the years weve created a productive and meaningful partnership with Westfield State University. We truly value the collaboration and the opportunities they present to our students. As a Westfield State alumnus, I know all too well the high quality of education that they provide and am excited that so many of our students are interested in continuing their education in the Westfield community at Westfield State. It was a great event for the Westfield High students, agreed WSU Director of Admission Michael Mazeika. The countdown to PI Africa 2026 has officially begun. Returning to Mauritius next February, the Pension Funds and Alternative Investments Africa Summit is set to bring together the continents most influential pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, asset managers, regulators, and global institutional investors. Now in its 9th year, PI Africa remains Africas longest running and most trusted platform for shaping the future of long-term capital on the continent. Each edition brings new energy, new ideas, and new partnershipsand 2026 promises to be one of the most important gatherings yet. With pension and sovereign wealth fund assets now surpassing USD 2 trillion, African institutional investors are entering a defining moment: one where diversification, sustainability, innovation, and cross-border collaboration are no longer optionaltheyre essential. Whats Driving the Conversation at PI Africa 2026 Africas Rising Institutional Investor Power Across the continent, pension and sovereign wealth funds are playing a bigger role than ever in shaping economic growth. Regulatory reforms in Kenya, Botswana, Namibia, Nigeria, Morocco, and Ghana continue to open doors to alternative assets, regional investments, and impact-driven strategies. PI Africa will explore how this shift is creating new opportunities, from infrastructure and private markets to digital transformation and climate finance. Sustainable Infrastructure & Climate-Forward Investing African asset owners are sharpening their focus on investments that deliver long-term value while supporting national development priorities. Expect conversations around: Clean energy and transition financing Transport, water, and digital infrastructure Affordable housing Blended finance models that make large-scale projects investable The summit will unpack real case studies and explore how asset owners can balance performance with purpose. The Private Markets Acceleration With most pension funds still heavily weighted toward traditional assets, alternative strategies offer significant room for growth. PI Africa 2026 will dive into opportunities across: Private equity and sector-focused funds Venture capital and early-stage innovation Private credit and trade finance Real assets and co-investment models These discussions are designed to give asset owners practical insights into risk, returns, governance, and long-term value creation. Governance, Regulation & Risk Management As portfolios evolve, governance must evolve with them. The agenda includes sessions on: Strengthening trustee capacity Enhancing fiduciary oversight ESG integration and reporting Navigating new regulation across key markets The goal: to ensure asset owners are fully equipped to manage complexity and seize emerging opportunities. Confirmed Speakers With More to Come PI Africa 2026 is already attracting an exceptional line-up of leaders. Speakers include: Armando Manuel, Chairman of the Board of Directors, FSDEA, Angola Shafeeq Abrahams, Chief Executive and Principal Officer, Eskom Pension & Provident Fund, South Africa Hafiz Kawu, Commissioner, Technical, PENCOM, Nigeria Denis Charles Kouassi, Director General , CNPS-CI, Cote dIvoire Nazlie Seegers, Chief Experience Officer, Salt Employee Benefits, South Africa Thato Norman, Chief Executive Officer, Debswana Pension Fund, Botswana Siongo Kisoso, Regional Director for East Africa, Swedfund, Kenya Joyce Njuguna, Manager, Investment and Acting Manager, Strategy & Planning, Kenya Power Pension Fund, Kenya Mitesh Pema, Fund Principal, Mahlako, South Africa Meta Mhlarhi, Co-Founder, Executive Director and Fund Principal, Mahlako Brian Karidza, Head: Actuarial and Benefits Administration, GEPF, South Africa Thomas Mketelwa, Principal Officer, Kwazulu-Natal Municipal Pension Fund, South Africa Oguche Agudah, Governing Council Member, Pan African Fund Managers Association (PAFMA) Selim Basak, Partner, Head of Origination, Gemcorp Capital Marcus Weyll, CEO, Gemcorp Imbono Felipe Berliner, Co-Founder & Head of Structuring, Gemcorp Capital Jolly Mokorosi, Vice Chair, Asset Owners Forum, South Africa A full speaker announcement will be shared soon. PI Africa proudly acknowledges the support of its sponsors, including Gemcorp and S&P Global, whose partnership strengthens the summits commitment to delivering high-quality insights and meaningful engagement. For almost a decade, PI Africa has helped shape Africas institutional investment landscape. Delegates return year after year because the event delivers: Fresh market intelligence and sector insights Access to Africas strongest network of asset owners Real conversations on challenges and opportunities A collaborative space for partnerships and co-investments A forward-looking view of where capital is heading next PI Africa 2026 is expected to be the most strategic edition yetbringing together global and African leaders to unlock new pathways for investment, impact, and long-term growth. Members of Mayo County Council have sought clarity over how the local authority should handle tenants removed from social housing and individuals with criminal convictions seeking accommodation. The discussion, which took place during the last Housing SPC council meeting of the year, centred on whether those who lose their tenancies due to non-payment of rent, anti-social behaviour, or criminal convictions should be entitled to housing support if they subsequently present as homeless. Cllr Peter Flynn raised concerns about what he described as voluntary homelessness, questioning whether policy changes have created new obligations for the council. Can I just get clarity at one point if a tenant doesnt pay their rent right and we remove them from the property, or if theres a situation with anti-social behaviour, or if theres a situation where they get a conviction and they wont meet the criteria, Flynn said. I go back to the town council days, we were never obligated to rehouse those people. Flynn argued strongly that individuals who opt out through their behaviour should face consequences. If people decide to opt out and not pay the rent... if theres serious anti-social behaviour, or if theres convictions, particularly around sexual issues or drug issues, they should not be considered, in my view, for future housing and should not be considered as a homeless individual, he stated. However, Olivia Gallagher, Head of Housing at Mayo County Council, explained that the councils hands are tied by legislation. Any person who presents for homeless services is entitled to be assessed and assessed in line with the definition of homelessness in 1988 Housing Act, Gallagher told councillors. We have to deal with them on a case by case basis. Sometimes theres reasons why people have had these issues and why they have ended up out of their tenancies. Gallagher emphasised that some individuals may require additional support services, including referral to the councils Homeless Action Team or housing first support programs. Cllr Michael Kilcoyne escalated the discussion by raising concerns about individuals with serious criminal convictions. Im aware that people can present themselves to their local area office and get back on the housing list, and in some cases, the council will give them accommodation, Kilcoyne said. These people include people that have convictions in relation to child sexual abuse, or in relation to drug abuse. Kilcoyne cited a specific case where neighbours were allegedly unaware of a housed individuals conviction for child abuse. I understand the overall policy thats been implemented, is that you can ban somebody from being on the housing list for five years, but if theyre homeless, you have to give them accommodation, he explained. He also noted that prison services regularly contact local authorities about releasing inmates who require accommodation. Tom Gilligan, Director of Services, attempted to moderate the discussion by cautioning against seeking an unattainable ideal. Dont let perfect be the enemy of good, Gilligan said. I think were trying to find the perfect solution. We probably wont find it. However, Flynn pushed back, expressing willingness to test any new policy through the courts if necessary. Were willing to go to court and have the court challenges if required, he said. If were going to put a new policy in place, we need to aspire to get one that sends a clear message, even if it isnt bulletproof. The debate highlights the tension between statutory obligations under homelessness legislation and community safety concerns, an issue facing local authorities across Ireland as they navigate complex social housing challenges. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme A collaborative project has been undertaken, between Youthreach Ballina, the Mary Robinson Centre and the Friends of Mayo Dark Skies Community Group (MDS). This project has connected education, creativity and local heritage, resulting in a unique reimagining of Mayos night skies by young people in the community. The initiative forms part of MDSs Community Constellations for Dark Skies project - a county-wide scheme, funded through the Heritage Council, which invites community groups to undertake community-driven Dark Sky Monitoring, and to mark themselves out as Star Points of Interest for Dark Sky Tourism, in order to draw in Dark Sky Enthusiasts and Astronomers, as well as underlining the importance of the conservation of Mayos nightscapes, and in turn, helping children name more stars through the community-led reduction of light pollution. Participants from Youthreach Ballina were encouraged to identify and name shapes from the map of participating communities, by using references drawn from local culture, landscapes and folklore. This youth and community-led approach is aimed at creating a new layer of heritage connecting Mayo to its night sky. As part of the project, learners from Youthreach Ballina took part in a hands-on workshop at the Mary Robinson Centre. Working in three small groups, the students designed, and named, their own Asterisms (meaning a recognisable pattern of stars): An Madra Rua (The Fox), Crobh an Choiligh (The Roosters Claw) and Cnoc (Hill). The initiative blended creative expression with informal science education, and an exploration of place-based heritage. The local knowledge of the youth participants shone through, to create meaningful links to each asterism. Amy Flanagan, Mayo Dark Skies Project Administrator, said the students work will form part of a growing collection of community-identified constellations that will eventually be featured in a digital heritage map of Mayos dark skies: The students showed great engagement and initiative, she said. This project is all about fostering a deep and enduring connection between today's youth and Mayos precious dark skies, which form part of both the common heritage of all Irish people, but also their birthright as the young people of Mayo. Following the workshop, learners produced illustrated posters, under the guidance of their art teacher. These artworks were presented to the Mayo Dark Skies team at a Christmas celebration held at the Mary Robinson Centre yesterday. The posters will soon be on public display at the Ballycroy Visitor Centre (Mayo Dark Sky Park/Wild Nephin National Park). Emma Donoghue, Project Manager at the Mary Robinson Centre, who facilitated the workshop, praised the students participation. They really embraced the project and put a lot of effort into it, she said. Youthreach Ballina Co- ordinator Damian Evans also welcomed the collaboration as a community-facing initiative. This kind of collaboration gives our students a chance to see their ideas valued and included in something wider than the classroom. It also strengthens links between education, heritage and sustainability in the local area, he said. The Friends of Mayo Dark Skies Community Group is funded through the Mayo Sustainability Fund (a partnership between Community Foundation Ireland and Sunflower Charitable Foundation) and is working towards the designation of an International Dark Sky Reserve for County Mayo. This ambitious project enables communities across the county to engage in creative projects designed to celebrate and protect Mayos Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park. READ MORE: Floating Christmas tree returns to Popular Mayo lake A principle of a primary school in County Louth was on Live Line recently to discuss how much her school and other schools around the country are struggling financially. Darver NS Principal Emily Scully said that the school had to reach out to parents via email recently to ask for a roll of toilet paper and a hand towel per student. "Towards the end of November it got to the stage where funding was so tight we came into decisions of whether to pay the electricity bill or heating bill or whether to order toilet roll or hand tissues for the students," Emily told Patrick Kielty on Live Line. Emily explained that this is not a new issue and primary schools around the country are also struggling financially, but said "I suppose now it's getting a bit more attention". She said that the email reached out to parents to ask them to bring in a roll of toilet paper and a hand towel per student to see them over "this tight period". The principle said that they received a great response from parents and local businesses giving donations to the school after the request for help was sent out. READ NEXT: Young Irish teen 'nearly died' on flight after 'selfish' passenger 'ignored' safety alert Emily said that she one of the most stressful parts of her job, in her five years of being principle, is trying to balance the books in terms of the costs schools are dealing with and that it doesn't add up to government funding that is given to schools. She said that in terms of heating the school, they have the hater on a very strict timer to avoid high heating costs. "It's turned completely off during the Christmas holidays so the first few days back are always cold...the same on Halloween...". MOSCOW, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and two others injured in an explosion in Khimki city in the Moscow region, local authorities said Saturday. According to the regional health ministry, the two injured people were taken to local medical institutions, with one of them in critical condition and the other in moderate condition. The explosion occurred in the courtyard of one of the houses in Banniy Lane, Skhodnya town in Khimki, the regional internal affairs ministry said. According to preliminary investigation, the cause of the incident was the careless handling of an explosive household item, it added. Police officers are working at the scene, and all the circumstances of the incident are being clarified. Children of mothers with eating disorders face increased chances of preschool wheezing and asthma. Highlights: Maternal eating disorders increase risks of preschool wheezing and childhood asthma Associations persist regardless of disorder type or exposure timing or exposure timing Targeted maternal care may help improve respiratory outcomes in children Trusted Source Maternal eating disorders and respiratory outcomes in childhood: findings from the EU Child Cohort Network Go to source Trusted Source Advertisement Limited Focus on Eating Disorders in Maternal Mental Health Advertisement Maternal Eating Disorders and Childhood Respiratory Links Advertisement Variations in Maternal Eating Disorder Prevalence Increased Risks for Childhood Wheezing and Asthma Associations by Disorder Type and Exposure Timing Constraints In Interpreting Maternal and Child Health Links Unclear Biological Links Between Maternal and Child Health Complications at Birth Influencing Childhood Lung Health Frequently Asked Questions Q: How can a mother's eating disorder affect her child's breathing? A: Children born to mothers with eating disorders have a higher chance of developing asthma or wheezing early in life. Q: Does it matter whether the mother had anorexia or bulimia? A: Both conditions are linked to increased risks for asthma in children. Q: Is the breathing risk still there if the mother does not have depression or anxiety? A: Yes, the connection remains even when depression or anxiety are not present. Q: What can help protect children's breathing health in these situations? A: Early screening and supportive care for mothers with eating disorders may help improve respiratory outcomes for their children. Q: How is asthma treated in children? A: With daily controller medicines, quick-relief inhalers for attacks, avoiding triggers, and regular medical follow-up. Maternal eating disorders and respiratory outcomes in childhood: findings from the EU Child Cohort Network - (https://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2025/11/27/thorax-2025-223718) during pregnancy , regardless of the specific disorder, presence of depression or anxiety, or the period when the child was exposed, according to findings published online in the journal).These results have led the authors to urge thatwith eating disorders be incorporated into healthcare services to help safeguard the respiratory health of their children.Until now, most work examining how maternal mental health affects childrens respiratory health haswith far fewer insights into uncommon conditions such as eating disorders.Although previous findings have consistently shown that maternal eating disorders, physical health outcomes have shown less reliable patterns.To broaden the evidence base, the authors evaluated information fromwithin the EU Child Cohort Network, examining possible links between maternal eating disorders before pregnancy and preschool wheezing or asthma during school years in their children They also assessed whether associations differed among women without depression or anxiety, by eating disorder type, anorexia or bulimia and by timing of exposure, whether during pregnancy or after childbirth.The proportion of mothers with eating disorders before pregnancy varied between almost 1 percent and 17 percent across the seven groups, while co-occurring depression or anxiety among these women ranged from 11 percent to 75 percent., and school age asthma ranged from slightly above 2 percent to almost 17.5 percent.Having an eating disorder before pregnancy was linked to a, though the risks differed significantly across cohorts, and awhich was more consistent across all groups.These elevated risks dropped slightly when mothers with depression or anxiety were removed from the analysis.Comparable links with childhood asthma were observed for both anorexia and bulimia, whileEven though associations shifted somewhat depending on, no specific period stood out as particularly vulnerable.As an observational study, definitive, and the prevalence of eating disorders and respiratory conditions varied widely between cohorts.Although this variability may affect comparability, the consistency in both the strength and direction of the associations remained fairly stable across analyses, the authors state.They note that the biological pathways behind the connection between maternal mental health and respiratory outcomes in children are still uncertain.It is suggested thataxis, disrupting fetal lung development and the childs immune maturation, which could heighten vulnerability to immune-driven conditions such as asthma.Children born to mothers with eating disorders face, all known contributors to respiratory complications, which may partly explain the link between maternal eating disorders and childrens respiratory issues.Additionally, evidence indicates that, implying a potential shared genetic component influencing both conditions.They conclude thatand that screening and support for eating disorders should be incorporated into maternal care to help improve respiratory health in children.Source-Medindia NICOSIA, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus said on Saturday that it has dispatched a new shipment of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip as part of ongoing international relief efforts. A total of 44 containers carrying approximately 950 tons of materials were loaded onto a merchant vessel at the southern port of Limassol on Friday, according to the Cypriot government. The ship is expected to arrive at Israel's port of Ashdod by the end of Saturday. The shipment is part of a joint humanitarian initiative involving Cyprus, France, Slovakia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, and will be delivered to Gaza through the Amalthea maritime aid corridor. Israeli security authorities have already inspected the aid in Cyprus, a move expected to facilitate its swift onward transfer to Gaza without additional security checks, officials said. Victor Papadopoulos, director of the Cypriot president's press office, said the aid consists mainly of food supplies and sanitation items. He noted that the shipment marked the fifth aid delivery dispatched from Cyprus since August, adding that additional aid routes are planned for January. According to Papadopoulos, the total volume of humanitarian assistance sent to Gaza since the launch of the Cyprus' Amalthea aid initiative in March 2024 has reached approximately 30,000 tons. WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military struck more than 70 suspected Islamic State-linked targets across central Syria on Friday in retaliation for a recent attack that killed two U.S. soldiers, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said. "This operation is critical to preventing ISIS from inspiring terrorist plots and attacks against the U.S. homeland," Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said in a statement. "We will continue to relentlessly pursue terrorists who seek to harm Americans and our partners across the region." The operation, supported by fighter aircraft from Jordanian Armed Forces, employed more than 100 precision munitions targeting known IS infrastructure and weapons sites, the statement said. U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday on his Truth Social that the Syrian government fully supported the strikes, warning that all terrorists "will be hit harder than you have ever been hit before" if they, in any way, attack or threaten the United States. Syria "reiterates its steadfast commitment to fighting ISIS and ensuring that it has no safe havens on Syrian territory, and will continue to intensify military operations against it wherever it poses a threat," Syria's ministry of foreign affairs and expatriates said Friday on its official X account. "The Syrian Arab Republic invites the United States and member states of the international coalition to support these efforts in a manner that contributes to the protection of civilians and the restoration of security and stability in the region," it added. "This is not the beginning of a war -- it is a declaration of vengeance," said U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a post on the social platform X, noting the strikes are "in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces" on Dec. 13 in Palmyra, Syria. According to CENTCOM, two U.S. service members and one U.S. civilian were killed, and three other service members were injured, in an ambush by a lone IS gunman in Syria on Dec. 13. Following the attack, U.S. and partner forces conducted 10 operations in Syria and Iraq, resulting in the deaths or detention of 23 terrorist operatives. Over the last six months, U.S. and partner forces in Syria have launched more than 80 operations "to eliminate terrorists posing a direct threat to the United States and regional security," CENTCOM said. The New York Times reported that the massive strikes were expected to last several hours, deep into early Saturday morning in Syria. The U.S. military presence in Syria has been reduced to about 1,000 troops, it added. No group has claimed responsibility for the Dec. 13 attack. Syria's Ministry of Interior Affairs earlier identified the attacker as a member of Syria's internal security service. IS lost most of the territory it once controlled in Syria and Iraq, but U.S. officials said remnants of the group continue to stage insurgent attacks and pose a persistent security threat in the region. WASHINGTON (AP) The Trump administration launched military strikes Friday in Syria to eliminate Islamic State group fighters and weapons sites in retaliation for an ambush attack that killed two U.S. troops and an American civilian interpreter almost a week ago. A U.S. official described it as a large-scale strike that hit 70 targets in areas across central Syria that had IS infrastructure and weapons. Another U.S. official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operations, said more strikes should be expected. This is not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trumps leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on social media. The new military operation in Syria comes even as the Trump administration has said its looking to focus closer to home in the Western Hemisphere, building up an armada in the Caribbean Sea as it targets alleged drug-smuggling boats and vowing to keep seizing sanctioned oil tankers as part of a pressure campaign on Venezuelas leader. The U.S. has shifted significant resources away from the Middle East to further those goals: Its most advanced aircraft carrier arrived in South American waters last month from the Mediterranean Sea. Trump vowed retaliation President Donald Trump pledged very serious retaliation after the shooting in the Syrian desert, for which he blamed IS. Those killed were among hundreds of U.S. troops deployed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition fighting the militant group. During a speech in North Carolina on Friday evening, the president hailed the operation as a massive strike that took out the ISIS thugs in Syria who were trying to regroup. Earlier, in his social media post, he reiterated his backing for Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who Trump said was fully in support of the U.S. effort. Trump also offered an all-caps threat, warning IS against attacking American personnel again. All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A., the president added. The attack was conducted using F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters, the U.S. officials said. F-16 fighter jets from Jordan and HIMARS rocket artillery also were used, one official added. U.S. Central Command, which oversees the region, said in a social media post that American jets, helicopters and artillery employed more than 100 precision munitions on Syrian targets. How Syria has responded The attack was a major test for the warming ties between the United States and Syria since the ouster of autocratic leader Bashar Assad a year ago. Trump has stressed that Syria was fighting alongside U.S. troops and said al-Sharaa was extremely angry and disturbed by this attack, which came as the U.S. military is expanding its cooperation with Syrian security forces. Syrias foreign ministry in a statement on X following the launch of U.S. strikes said that last weeks attack underscores the urgent necessity of strengthening international cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms and that Syria is committed to fighting ISIS and ensuring that it has no safe havens on Syrian territory and will continue to intensify military operations against it wherever it poses a threat. Syrian state television reported that the U.S. strikes hit targets in rural areas of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces and in the Jabal al-Amour area near the historic city of Palmyra. It said they targeted weapons storage sites and headquarters used by ISIS as launching points for its operations in the region. IS has not said it carried out the attack on the U.S. service members, but the group has claimed responsibility for two attacks on Syrian security forces since, one of which killed four Syrian soldiers in Idlib province. The group in its statements described al-Sharaas government and army as apostates. While al-Sharaa once led a group affiliated with al-Qaida, he has had a long-running enmity with IS. The Americans who were killed Trump this week met privately with the families of the slain Americans at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware before he joined top military officials and other dignitaries on the tarmac for the dignified transfer, a solemn and largely silent ritual honoring U.S. service members killed in action. The guardsmen killed in Syria last Saturday were Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown. Ayad Mansoor Sakat, of Macomb, Michigan, a U.S. civilian working as an interpreter, also was killed. The shooting near Palmyra also wounded three other U.S. troops as well as members of Syrias security forces, and the gunman was killed. The assailant had joined Syrias internal security forces as a base security guard two months ago and recently was reassigned because of suspicions that he might be affiliated with IS, Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba has said. The man stormed a meeting between U.S. and Syrian security officials who were having lunch together and opened fire after clashing with Syrian guards. ___ Associated Press writer Abby Sewell in Beirut, Lebanon, contributed. Chief Watertender Oscar V. Peterson spent 21 years at sea before May 7, 1942, when Japanese bombs turned the USS Neosho into a burning wreck during the Battle of the Coral Sea. Already wounded from the attack, the 42-year-old sailor crawled alone into several superheated compartments to manually close four massive steam line valves. Working through searing pain as third-degree burns covered his face, arms and legs, Peterson isolated the engine room steam systems and prevented a catastrophic boiler explosion that would have killed everyone aboard the ship. His actions bought the crippled oiler four more days of life, enough time for rescuers to save 123 men as Japanese planes and submarines prowled the area. Peterson died of his burns six days later and posthumously received the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life to save his shipmates. The U.S. Navy fleet oiler USS Neosho (AO-23) at the time of her commissioning, circa mid-1939. (Wikimedia Commons) The USS Neosho The Neosho was a 553-foot Cimarron-class fleet oiler commissioned in August 1939. The ship displaced 7,470 tons and could carry nearly 150,000 barrels of fuel, making it a critical part of the Pacific Fleets overseas operations. The crew began referring to her as "The Fat Lady." Commander John S. Phillips took command after conversion work on the ship was completed at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in the summer of 1941. Captain John S. Phillips, the commander of the USS Neosho during WWII. (Del's Journey) The Neosho soon found itself in its first major battle. On Dec. 7, 1941, the ship was moored at Pearl Harbor's gasoline dock when Japanese aircraft attacked the fleet. Phillips got his vessel underway without tugs while his crew chopped mooring lines with fire axes. He maneuvered past the capsized Oklahoma while his men fired anti-aircraft weapons at the attacking planes. According to some reports, his men managed to down one Japanese plane. The Neosho was one of the few ships to get underway that morning. Phillips received the Navy Cross for the action. Neosho (right) leaving her berth to escape the Japanese attack, 7 December 1941. (Wikimedia Commons) A Veteran Chief and the Pacific War Oscar Verner Peterson was born Aug. 27, 1899, in Prentice, Wisconsin. He enlisted in the Navy on Dec. 8, 1920, and spent more than two decades at sea, rising through the ranks by mastering the complex steam propulsion systems that powered the fleet. By April 1941, when he reported to the Neosho, Peterson had already earned the rank of chief watertender, a senior petty officer responsible for the ship's boilers and steam lines. At 42, Peterson was older than most of the Neosho's crew. He had a wife, Lola, and two sons in Richfield, Idaho. He was exactly the type of experienced, steady hand a ship needed in combat, a veteran who knew his equipment and could be counted on when things went wrong. By spring 1942, Japanese forces threatened Australia. Their next objective was Port Moresby on New Guinea, which would put aircraft within striking distance of northern Australia. American code breakers deciphered the Japanese plans. Admiral Chester Nimitz ordered Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher's Task Force 17, built around the carriers Yorktown and Lexington, to stop the invasion. The U.S. Navy fleet oiler USS Neosho (AO-23) refueling the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5), 1 May 1942, shortly before the Battle of Coral Sea. (Wikimedia Commons) On May 7, the Neosho entered the battle area and refueled the Yorktown approximately 225 miles southeast of New Guinea. The carrier was in dire need of fuel as it participated in the first naval engagement in history where neither fleet actually saw each other. Airplanes launched from carriers on both sides, looking for any enemy vessels in the area. After completing the mission, Phillips received orders to move to Point Rye, more than 100 miles from the battle. Only the destroyer USS Sims accompanied the oiler as other escorts were urgently needed for the carriers. At 7:20 a.m., two Japanese search planes spotted the ships and erroneously radioed they had found a carrier and escort. Approximately 78 Japanese aircraft launched to attack. A wave breaks over main deck, engulfing hose crew, as Neosho (AO-23) refuels Yorktown (CV-5) early in May 1942, shortly before the Battle of Coral Sea. US National Archives photo # 80-G-13106, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives. (Wikimedia Commons) The Attack Against the Neosho The Japanese aircraft arrived around 10 a.m. and circled for nearly two hours, observing through the clouds before realizing their error. While some planes returned to their ships, several dozen pilots decided to sink both American ships rather than return empty-handed. The attack began just after noon. The Sims fought heroically, unleashing what anti-aircraft munitions it had, but it stood no chance. Three 500-pound bombs struck in rapid succession, detonating the destroyer's boilers and magazines. The explosion broke the ship in two. It sank within minutes, taking 237 men down with it. Only 15 sailors survived the sinking and were rescued by the Neosho. With the Sims gone, the Japanese dive bombers concentrated on the oiler. Phillips maneuvered desperately while his gunners fought back with one 5-inch gun, four 3-inch antiaircraft guns, and several 20mm machine guns. The Japanese attacked from multiple directions, overwhelming the defenses. USS Sims (DD-409). (Wikimedia Commons) Seven 550-pound bombs scored direct hits on the main deck, stack deck, fireroom, and fuel tanks. Eight near misses nearly broke the hull plates. A burning Val dive bomber, hit by anti-aircraft fire, crashed into gun station No. 4, killing the entire gun crew and spreading fires across the deck. Phillips later reported his gunners shot down three aircraft and damaged four more. But the damage to the ship was catastrophic. The seven direct hits ignited fires in fuel compartments. Flooding poured into the engine room. The ship lost all propulsion and listed 30 degrees to port. At least 20 men died immediately. Many more were wounded. Even worse, the ship was in danger of exploding at any moment. At 12:18 p.m., the attack ended. Phillips surveyed the damage and gave orders to prepare for an evacuation. But many crew members, having just watched the Sims sink in minutes and knowing the oiler could explode, panicked and abandoned ship immediately. Within minutes, 68 men had already abandoned ship and drifted away. Phillips regained control and made the decision to keep his remaining crew of 16 officers and 91 enlisted men aboard the ship to fight for survival. Japanese carrier dive bombers head towards the reported position of U.S. carriers on 7 May. (Wikimedia Commons) Petersons Heroic Acts During the attack, Peterson commanded a repair party in the crew's mess compartment adjacent to the fireroom. His assignment was to close four main steam line bulkhead stop valves if battle damage required isolating the engine room. These massive valves controlled steam flow throughout the ship's propulsion system. He knew that if the boilers were damaged and fires were spreading, the valves needed to be closed immediately. When a bomb exploded in the fireroom, the blast tore open the iron door between the fireroom and mess compartment. The explosion knocked Peterson down and burned his face and hands. Every member of his repair party was wounded or killed by the blast, either by shrapnel or escaping steam that poured through the ruptured door. Peterson knew what had to be done. The steam lines carried pressure hot enough to strip flesh from bone. If left open, uncontrolled steam would build throughout the system with no way to release it safely. Fires could reach the steam lines under pressure, causing catastrophic ruptures. Worst of all, those fires would reach the fuel tanks while steam-powered pumps kept systems active, leading to a massive explosion that would kill everyone aboard. Working alone, Peterson made his way into the fireroom trunk over the forward boilers. He waited for the escaping steam to dissipate enough to reach the valves without being instantly killed. The heat was almost unbearable. Metal surfaces were too hot to touch. The air itself burned his lungs. Each valve, warped by intense heat, required tremendous effort to shut manually. Peterson forced the first valve closed despite the searing pain. Then he closed the second one as his hands blistered and bled. The third valve was damaged in the explosion. He threw his full weight against it to close it. The fourth valve was hardest one to reach, positioned deep within the compartment. Peterson suffered even more severe burns to his head, arms and legs as he struggled to close it. But he succeeded, preventing the explosion that would have sent the Neosho and her crew to the bottom of the ocean. Neosho burning during the Battle of the Coral Sea, 7 May 1942. (Wikimedia Commons) Other Heroes on the Ship Peterson was not alone in saving the ship. Executive officer Lieutenant Commander Francis J. Firth coordinated damage control throughout the ship. He organized teams to fight fires, pump out flooded spaces, and shore up damaged bulkheads. Firth worked tirelessly for four days, moving from compartment to compartment to direct repairs. Engineering officer Lieutenant Louis Verbrugge also helped keep the ship afloat. The ship was listing 30 degrees and was in danger of capsizing. Verbrugge identified which tanks to flood to counteract the list. His counterflooding operations brought the ship to a more stable angle, preventing capsizing while also keeping the ship from breaking apart further. Machinist's Mate First Class Harold Bratt and Machinist's Mate Second Class Wayne Simmons fought numerous fires and prevented flooding in the engine spaces for hours in smoke-filled compartments under the constant danger of an explosion. Both men showed exceptional courage working below decks, where escape would be impossible if the ship sank. All of these men received Silver Stars for their leadership and courage. With the ship's medical officer dead, Pharmacist's Mate First Class William J. Ward took over medical duties. Chief Pharmacist's Mate Robert W. Hoag assisted him. Together, they tended to dozens of wounded men with limited supplies, performing surgeries and treating severe burns for men injured in the attack or by fires, as well as the surviving crewmembers from the Sims. Ward received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. Map of the Battle of the Coral Sea, showing movements and engagements of most major ships. The Neosho was sunk on 11 May. (Wikimedia Commons) Four Days Adrift at Sea Phillips faced a nightmare scenario. His ship was dead in the water, listing heavily, on fire and loaded with thousands of barrels of volatile fuel. The crew had radioed their position but accidentally transmitted coordinates 30 miles off. Search aircraft looked in the wrong area while most of the American fleet remained engaged against the Japanese The crew worked through the night and following days battling fires in multiple compartments. Teams used portable pumps and buckets when the main systems failed. They gradually controlled the blazes through exhausting physical effort. The men worked in rotating shifts to pump out flooding, shore up damaged bulkheads, and monitor for structural failure. The damaged hull creaked and groaned constantly, threatening to break in two. The crew only stopped to commit fallen shipmates to the sea in quick funeral ceremonies before returning to their duties. Meanwhile, 120 miles away, the main carrier battle raged. American aircraft sank the Japanese carrier Shoho on May 7. The next day, Japanese aircraft sank the carrier Lexington and damaged the Yorktown. The crippled Neosho drifted helplessly through waters patrolled by Japanese submarines and aircraft. Discovery after surviving the previous engagement would mean certain death, the crew could do nothing to defend themselves or maneuver away. Every hour increased the chance of being spotted and hit by another enemy attack. Yet the crew never stopped fighting to keep their ship afloat. On May 11, a Royal Australian Air Force plane spotted the vessel, followed by an American PBY. At 1 p.m., the destroyer USS Henley arrived and evacuated 123 survivors, including 109 from the Neosho and 14 from the Sims. Six crew members had died waiting for rescue. Phillips requested that the Henley scuttle his ship. After two torpedoes and 146 rounds of 5-inch gunfire, the Neosho finally went under at 3:22 p.m. on May 11. The American aircraft carrier USS Lexington explodes on 8 May 1942, several hours after being damaged by a Japanese carrier air attack. The Neosho had just refueled the carrier prior to the attack. (Wikimedia Commons) The Ultimate Sacrifice Peterson was barely alive when he was evacuated. The burns covering his head, arms, and legs were severe. He died on May 13, 1942, and was buried at sea. Two other Neosho sailors died aboard the Henley from their injuries. The ordeal wasn't over for everyone. The 68 men who drifted away on rafts floated for nine days without food or water. On May 16, the destroyer USS Helm found four men clinging to a raft. Two died shortly after rescue. The other 64 were never found. Peterson received the Medal of Honor posthumously on Dec. 7, 1942. Because of the ongoing intensity of the war, his widow received the medal in the mail with no ceremony. In 1943, the Navy commissioned the destroyer escort USS Peterson in his honor. Shoho is bombed and torpedoed by U.S. carrier aircraft. (Wikimedia Commons) In April 2010, the Navy finally held a proper ceremony. Rear Admiral James A. Symonds presented the Medal and a 48-star flag to Peterson's son, Fred, in Richfield, Idaho. More than 800 people attended. Phillips received the Silver Star and retired as a rear admiral after the war. The other decorated crew members, including Firth, Verbrugge, Bratt, Simmons, Ward, and Hoag, all survived the conflict. The Neosho received two battle stars for its short WWII service. A new Neosho-class oiler was commissioned in 1954, sponsored by Mrs. John S. Phillips. Without Peterson closing those valves, the Neosho would have exploded before rescue arrived. His sacrifice gave 123 men four more days of survival and a chance to return home. WASHINGTON/DAMASCUS, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon carried out strikes on multiple Islamic State-linked targets across Syria on Friday in retaliation for a recent attack that killed two U.S. soldiers and one U.S. civilian in the Middle East country, according to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. "Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria," Hegseth said in a post on X. "This is not the beginning of a war -- it is a declaration of vengeance," said Hegseth. "Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue," he said. The strikes were expected to last several hours, deep into early Saturday morning in Syria, according to a New York Times report. The Pentagon and its partner forces have carried out about 10 operations that resulted in the deaths or detention of around 23 people, according to a report by CNN. U.S. forces have launched heavy missiles from their bases in the countryside of Deir al-Zour toward desert areas in eastern and northern Syria, state-run Al-Thawra newspaper reported Saturday. BAY PORT, MI - The Michigan State Police (MSP) Computer Crimes Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested a Bay Port man for distribution of child sexually abusive material and using a computer to commit a crime. Police arrested Keith John Finkbeiner, 60, following an investigation and seized digital evidence from his home. The investigation began after authorities discovered the suspect was sharing files of child sexually abusive material on the internet. Finkbeiner was charged with one count of distribution of child sexually abusive material and one count of using a computer to commit a crime. He was arraigned in 73B District Court on Dec. 18. The MSP Computer Crimes Unit encourages parents to speak with their children about internet safety. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provides a comprehensive list of resources on its website at missingkids.org. The Michigan ICAC Task Force also provides resources at michigan.gov/icac. If anyone has information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, report it to the CyberTipLine at missingkids.org/cybertipline. EAST LANSING, MI The East Lansing Police Department is investigating two possible hate crimes at the Michigan State University Chabad Jewish Center. Video evidence shows the same subject vandalizing the building at 115 Albert Ave. on Monday, Dec. 16 and Thursday, Dec. 18, per a city of East Lansing Facebook post. Shortly after midnight on Monday, video evidence shows a person throwing rocks at the building, damaging windows. The same subject returned Thursday between 3 and 4 a.m. to spray paint Nazi symbols on the front door of the facility, per a release. MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz condemned antisemitism in a statement published Thursday, and offered support to the universitys Jewish community. That this occurred during Hanukkah a time centered on light, resilience and faith only deepens the pain and concern felt by many," Guskiewicz said. Police are asking the public for help identifying the subject, pictured below. East Lansing Police are asking for the public's help to identify the suspect. East Lansing Police Department Anyone with information may contact Detective Katey Harrison at kharris@cityofeastlansing.com. COVERT TOWNSHIP, MI Officials are pushing back the anticipated restart date for Palisades Nuclear Generating Station in Van Buren County. The 800-megawatt plant is now expected to come back online in early 2026, Holtec spokesperson Nick Culp said. Company officials previously told the Nuclear Regulatory Commission the plant would be operational in October 2025. If successful, Palisades will be the first U.S. plant to restart after the decommissioning process began. There is a large window for the opening on the project timeline, Culp said. Overall, the restart effort is still running on time and under budget. Were at the front end of our targeted restart window, Culp said. Maintenance is complete and parts sent off site for refurbishment have returned to the plant, Culp said, but some inspection work is still being finalized. While project timelines are important, Culp said meeting federal and industry standards for safe operation comes first. The plant will come back online when our project work is complete and ... when its ready to operate long term safely and reliably, Culp said. Once running, the plant will operate for decades, Culp said. In addition to its large scale reactor, the U.S. Department of Energy announced in November that the plant will eventually operate two small modular reactors, nearly doubling its expected energy output. Southwest Michigan will be on the cutting edge of the next generation of nuclear energy in America, U.S. Rep Bill Huizenga said previously. Neighbors and anti-nuclear advocates argue safety shortcuts are taking place in the race to restart the plant. In February, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) determined the restart will have no significant impact on the environment. The nuclear plant shifted from decommissioning status to operational in July. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page. By LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court sided with immigration judges on Friday, rebuffing the Trump administration for now in a case with possible implications for federal workers as the justices weigh expanding presidential firing power. The decision is a technical step in a long-running case, but it touches on the effects of a series of high-profile firings under President Donald Trump. The justices let stand a ruling that raised questions about the Trump administrations handling of the federal workforce, though they also signaled that lower courts should move cautiously. Immigration judges are federal employees, and the question at the center of the appeal is about whether they can sue to challenge a policy restricting their public speeches or if they are required to use a separate complaint system for the federal workforce. Trumps Republican administration asked the Supreme Court to intervene after an appeals court found that Trumps firings of top complaint system officials had raised questions about whether its still working as intended. The Justice Department said the firings are within the presidents power and the lower court had no grounds to raise questions. The solicitor general asked the Supreme Court to quickly freeze the ruling as he pushes to have the immigration judges case removed from federal court. The justices declined, though they also said the Trump administration could return if the lower courts moved too fast. There were no noted dissents. The court has allowed most of Trumps firings for now and is weighing whether to formally expand his legal power to fire independent agency officials by overturning job protections enshrined in a 90-year-old decision. A union formerly representing immigration judges, who work for the Justice Department, first sued in 2020 to challenge a policy restricting what the judges can speak about in public. They say the case is a free-speech issue that belongs in federal court. Ramya Krishnan, an attorney at the Knight First Amendment Institute who argued the case on the unions behalf, applauded the high courts Friday decision. The restrictions on immigration judges free speech rights are unconstitutional, and its intolerable that this prior restraint is still in place, Krishnan said. In recent months, the Trump administrations crackdown on immigration has included firing dozens of immigration judges who are seen by his allies as too lenient. The White House did not immediately respond to an email message seeking comment Friday. While the order is not a final decision, the case could eventually have implications for other federal workers who want to challenge firings in court rather than the employee complaint system now largely overseen by Trump appointees. The decision comes after a series of wins for the Justice Department on the high courts emergency docket. The court has sided with the Trump administration about two dozen times on issues ranging from immigration to federal funding. SALINE TWP., MI Amid angry, screaming neighbors, national publicity and personal attacks, elected officials in a rural farming community south of Ann Arbor continue to face pushback against a difficult decision they had to make. The blowback is due to the Saline Township Board of Trustees decision to settle a lawsuit, which paved the way for a massive 2.2-million-square-foot hyperscale data center for Chat GPT-creator OpenAI and multinational technology firm Oracle to move forward. Related: Michigans largest AI data center can move ahead after DTE wins key approval But was it a lose-lose situation for township officials? On one hand, some residents who oppose the data center are blasting the board for not fighting a suit brought by data center developer Related Digital and a set of property owners. The suit came two days after the township board voted 4-1 to deny rezoning about 575 acres of farmland, calling it inconsistent with the master plan. Township officials have consistently tried to relay to the public that they also didnt want the data center. At the same time, officials have said it was a court battle that would have had massive financial repercussions for the small township south of Ann Arbor. Of course, the monetary issues were important. It could have resulted in millions in damages, Saline Township attorney Fred Lucas said. But beyond that, one of the other concerns was that even if wed won the lawsuit, there was a possibility a data center could have been there anyways, Lucas said. While an exact figure of how much money the property owners on the suit could hypothetically have been awarded by a judge is not available, the township and its attorneys evaluated possible outcomes. In terms of the damages, I dont know how much they are selling the property for. Were not privy to that, Lucas said. However, Lucas and township officials who spoke with MLive all mentioned hearing it could be in the $50,000 to $60,000 per acre range. As farmland, its probably only valued at $10,000 per acre, Lucas said. So, whats the net loss there for 575 acres? Assuming those estimates are in the ballpark, $55,000 per acre would amount to more than $25 million in potential damages to property owners. That is a lot of money for a small rural township with about 2,500 residents. The townships insurance coverage for legal fees is $500,000, Clerk Kelly Marion confirmed. The township is also in the red, with a projected budget deficit. Projected revenue is around $747,000, with expenses exceeding that at more than $1 million, according to proposed budget numbers for 2025-2026. Fiery public comments from angry residents, including some who live close to the data center site, are now a regular part of township board meetings. You should have spent every last dime of this money that you had in this township until there wasnt a penny left of the money that we all give, Matthew McDonald, who lives near the data center site yelled at the township board and Lucas at a Wednesday, Dec. 10 board meeting. McDonald compared the data center project to the Red Coats, referencing British soldiers confiscating firearms from colonists during the American Revolutionary War. You gave into the Red Coats, you bunch of Benedict Arnolds, he said during his public comment, also directing his criticisms toward Lucas as the townships attorney. After the suit was filed, the township had actually brought a different attorney for the case. David Landry, a defense attorney for the townships insurance company, has never responded to multiple requests for comment from MLive. Landry had laid out the possible outcomes of the suit. Even if the developer, Related Digital, had gone away by dropping out of the suit, Lucas previously said, the real question would have been the property owners. They could make an argument for loss of income from the sale of their properties to Related Digital, he said. Another neighboring resident, Kathryn Haushalter, who lives on Willow Road, recently filed a motion in Washtenaw County Circuit Court to intervene in the lawsuit. Haushalter is seeking to defend the township boards initial decision to deny conditionally rezoning the land. Days before filing the legal complaint, she told township officials at the Dec. 10 meeting that she would be at every meeting until the issue is settled. You were rushed to do it. You were bullied. And, yes, you were weak, she said during a fiery public comment. I have nothing against you personally, but you need to resign. We are not done fighting, she said. The legal argument RD Michigan (Related Digital), and property owners Feldkamp Siblings LLC, Dennis and Lynn Finkbeiner, Wilkin Farm Properties LLC, and Dennis and Alice Wilkin filed the original Sept. 12 suit in Washtenaw County Circuit Court. In the Sept. 12 suit, Related Digital and the property owners alleged, in part, the denial of the rezoning constitutes an unreasonable exercise of the Townships police power, it states. The townships local zoning ordinance excludes places where a data center could be allowed, which would be a violation of state law known as exclusionary zoning. No land in the township is zoned for industrial and research purposes, and no land is envisioned for industrial uses on the townships future land use map. The suit also claimed the townships denial was in violation of Michigans Zoning Enabling Act and due process of law. It further contends the data center proposal was appropriate, necessary and reasonable. We could not prove we werent being exclusionary, Clerk Kelly Marion said. If you lose on one count, you lose on all of them. Not only was there monetary risk, but property owners could have found a different data center partner even if the township won the case, Marion said. They said they could find a company that would lease it to a government or a school, she said, referring to a public university that is exempt under the law from following local building and zoning codes and would not generate tax revenue. The scariest would have been a data center without any local control, she said, adding property owners have also mentioned solar and housing as possible uses for the land. Related Digital has argued that the firm and property owners had a solid case against the township. The sellers would have had a clear claim against the Township regarding their rights as a property owner to develop their property for a permissible land use, Related Digital spokesperson Natalie Ravitz said in a statement to MLive. Ravitz said the assumption the land could still be developed for a data center or other non-agricultural uses are correct. Related Digital could also have partnered with a university or non-profit on a data center, which then would have meant zero control/tax revenue for the community, she said. Fortunately, we were able to reach a settlement with the Township to allow this project to move forward while codifying restrictions on the development related to water usage, setbacks, site plans and decommissioning. As part of the settlement, Related Digital also agreed to contribute $14 million to the township and three local fire departments, according to the consent judgment. Township trustee and zoning administrator Tom Hammond was worried about blowback that would have come had the township fought the suit and lost. Hammond pointed to a case in Grand Traverse County, where Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula won a federal lawsuit against Peninsula Township over zoning regulations deemed too restrictive. That township was hit with about $50 million in damages, as legal disputes continue. Now they want the board to resign (in Peninsula Township), he said. The residents are saying, why did we lose all this money? Im a taxpayer just like everyone else, and I wouldnt want to pay for that lawsuit, and every (property tax paying) resident in the township would have been responsible for that, he added. Saline Township officials decision to settle the lawsuit brought some benefits to the township, Hammond said. A conservation easement, money for farmland preservation. These are things that are totally new to us, he said. If the option would have been ... to keep it farmland, I think everyone on the board would have gone for that. But there is a financial gain for the landowners, he said. He was also worried about losing local control if a government entity or university got involved in developing the land. Township Supervisor Jim Marion was the only board member to vote against pursuing a lawsuit settlement. I was trying to stick up for the township residents, Jim Marion said. If we would have put it on the ballot, he said, it would have been overwhelmingly against it. But does he think the township had a chance of winning in court? No. Not according to our attorneys. Both of them said we were going to lose, Jim Marion said. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page. SALINE TWP., MI Despite local resistance, protests and opposition from Michigans top attorney, state regulators fast-tracked approval for DTE Energy to power what would be Michigans first hyperscale data center to power artificial intelligence and cloud computing. As Big Tech giants and their supporters celebrate a victory, some deeply disappointed Saline Township residents and their supporters are not done fighting. Residents told MLive Friday they will continue to mobilize to stop, or at least slow down, the Stargate data center project for ChatGPT-creator OpenAI in partnership with multinational tech giant Oracle in the quiet, rural community south of Ann Arbor. The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) Thursday, Dec. 18 voted 3-0 to conditionally approve special contracts for DTE to power the massive 2.2-million-square-foot, 1.4-gigawatt data center. The approval of heavily redacted contracts also came with a litany of requirements for DTE. Kathryn Haushalter, a Saline Township resident who has unexpectedly found herself in the media spotlight for her opposition to the data center, said Friday she and her husband lost sleep after the MPSCs decision to grant ex-parte conditional approval of special power contracts between DTE and Green Chile Ventures LLC, a subsidiary of Oracle. Their large family lives next to the site. They live there for the areas rural character, which they believe has been threatened. I was there and I spoke. But we didnt realize they were going to vote before public comment, so it felt almost pointless, Haushalter said. MPSC demonstrated that, clearly, they have no interest in protecting the citizens of Michigan, and their pattern of bowing to the whims of large corporations at the expense of the ratepayers, who happen to be human beings is irresponsible, she said. Brook Haushalter and Charlie Haushalter, 12, wave and cheer as cars drive by in support of a protest in downtown Saline on the corner of Ann Arbor St. and Michigan Ave. on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Abra Richardson One of the big issues she and her husband have: Previous fast-tracked approvals, with companies such as Ford, Fiat and the University of Michigan, were presented as comparables. This comparison is ridiculous, Haushalter said. These are well-established entities that produce a product in high demand, not speculative ventures. They use a fraction of what would power the AI data center, she said. Its inappropriate for them to declare it business as usual. Haushalter recently filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit that data center developer Related Digital and property owners filed against Saline Township after the township board initially voted 4-1 to deny rezoning about 575 acres for the data center, which would be built on about 250 acres of the site. The township quickly changed course and reached a settlement. It feels like a technocratic takeover. They sued to get in and then say theyll be good neighbors, she said. The fight is still going on, she said. Moving forward, people can talk to (the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy) about the wetlands permits that they are trying to get. She and two other township residents also recently filed an appeal with the townships zoning board of appeals (ZBA) to pause preliminary construction work at the site while the appeals board reviews the challenge. In addition, the Rural Michigan Defense Fund was established to assist rural communities and residents facing massive AI data center projects. The appeal called on the Township to enforce the provision in Michigan law that automatically stays the permit while the appeal case is pending, according to a release from the legal defense fund. Construction has begun at the site but must now halt. Proponents of the data center have argued it will bring economic benefits, create jobs and position Michigan to be a leader in emerging technologies. A spokesperson for Oracle issued a statement after the MPSC decision. Oracles world class campus in Saline Township will deliver high-paying jobs, workforce training opportunities, and millions of dollars in tax revenue annually for Michigan schools and the township, Oracle spokesperson Michael Egbert said. Todays approval by the Michigan Public Service Commission ensures Michigan rate payers will be protected from rate hikes, and we are grateful to be able to make this investment and innovate in Michigan, Egbert said. Related Digital appreciates the MPSCs thorough review and approval of this contract, which ensures clear protections for Michigan ratepayers and will actually result in a substantial affordability benefit that would not otherwise exist, spokesperson Natalie Ravitz said in a statement. The OpenAI project is being developed with respect for Michigans water and natural resources while providing substantial long-term economic benefits, while also giving thousands of union construction workers confidence, Ravitz said. "We look forward to full construction commencing as scheduled in Q1 2026, and releasing the nearly $5B in construction work and subcontracts available to Michigan companies and contractors," she said. Among other conditions, the MPSC is requiring that DTE formally commit that the data center will cover all of its own costs. If not, the utility itself must pick them up. In a statement to MLive Thursday, DTE didnt say whether it would accept that condition. It has 30 days to do so. DTE Energy has an obligation to serve any customer, including data centers, that come into our electric service territory in southeast Michigan. Thats why weve been so focused on making sure our broader customer base is protected with these contracts to ensure they will not subsidize data center rates, said spokesperson Ryan Lowry. But those promises dont convince Josh Lebaron, who lives near the data center site. Lebaron was disappointed but not surprised by the MPSC vote, calling it regulatory theater. He said the real hope is that Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel will file an appeal of the MPSC in the states appeal court. Nessel and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer have taken different stances on the race to develop AI and cloud computing infrastructure across Michigan. Nessel issued a statement Thursday, saying she is extremely disappointed in the MPSCs decision to fast-track DTEs secret application to service this massive data center without holding a contested case hearing. While I am relieved that the Commission at least purports to have placed some conditions on DTEs application, without being able to see the full, unredacted contract, and study the predicate conditions and enforcement mechanisms set by the Commission, it is impossible to verify any of these claims today, she said in the statement. As Michigans chief consumer advocate, my office is reviewing the Commissions order and considering what next steps we may be able to take to protect our residents. Whitmer has backed the project, which she has said would be the largest one-time investment in Michigan history, create jobs and bring an influx in tax revenue. Right now, time is of the essence. There is a shortage of global computing capacity, and China is moving aggressively to build their own centers and get a leg up on America. At the same time, other states are moving fast too, competing against Michigan to land similar projects with far less oversight, she wrote in a Dec. 3 letter of support. This is a matter of national security and economic competitiveness, and if we do not act, it will cost us thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of investment in our economy, the governor added. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page. FLINT, MI -- Fifty-eight businesses in the Flint, Great Lakes Bay and Thumb region will receive $3.3 million in state grants to train workers in high-demand skilled positions, according to a news release. The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity awarded the regional funding as part of a broader $25 million distribution through its Going PRO Talent Fund program. Statewide, 449 businesses will use the grants to train 12,822 workers across Michigan. The regional investment will support training for 613 new hires and 1,062 current employees in skilled positions. Workers who complete training through the program see an average hourly wage increase of 6.2%, according to state data. Going PRO Talent Fund creates real, long-term pathways to opportunity for people across Michigan, LEO Director Susan Corbin said in a statement. When workers earn industry-recognized skills, theyre gaining the foundation for a meaningful career that can support a family and open new doors over time. The program has distributed $323.4 million to 8,966 businesses since launching in 2014, helping more than 241,600 Michigan workers train or advance in high-skill careers. State Sen. John Cherry, D-Flint, said the program benefits both workers and the states economy. The Going PRO Talent Fund is a proven tool that does both, Cherry said in a statement. My colleagues in the Senate and I support this program because it invests directly in Michigan workers, strengthens our local communities and ensures our state remains a leader in advanced manufacturing and the industries of the future. The grants support various training formats, including classroom instruction, on-the-job training for new employees and registered apprenticeships. All programs must result in industry-recognized credentials. Kristen Wenzel, CEO of Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works!, said the region has benefited significantly from the program. Since this program began in 2014, $18.4 million has directly supported training of 16,281 local workers to help local businesses expand and thrive, Wenzel said in a statement. Employers work with local Michigan Works! Service Centers to identify training needs and develop customized plans. The grants are awarded in partnership with Michigan Works! Agencies. A full list of grant recipients for the 2026 fiscal year is available at Michigan.gov/TalentFund. Additional funding will be available through a second grant cycle opening in spring 2026. OAKLAND COUNTY, MI - A man accused of brutally assaulting his ex-girlfriend is being held on a $500,000 cash bond after Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard intervened to seek an emergency review of the original bond. Bouchard said the original bond would have allowed the suspect, Jess Anthony Vettraino, to be released if a bail bondsman posted $25,000. Vettraino, 43, is charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder. He is currently being held in the Oakland County Jail and is due back in court for a probable cause conference on Dec. 29. Bouchard said he became personally involved in the case after receiving a video from an acquaintance of the victim that showed what he described as extreme violence. I was extremely upset by what I saw in the video, Bouchard told MLive. The detectives and the team were already on top of it and being aggressive with the charges they were seeking, but I found the bond unacceptable given the level of violence. The suspects bond was initially set on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at $250,000 with a 10% provision, meaning he could have been released after posting $25,000 through a bail bondsman, Bouchard said. My fear was that if he got out yesterday, he would look to kill this woman, the sheriff said. After viewing the video, Bouchard said he contacted the Oakland County Prosecutors Office directly and shared the footage, prompting an emergency appeal of the bond. Judge Kelley Kostin from the 52-2 District Court in Clarkston agreed to raise the bond to $500,000 cash, which requires the full amount to be posted for release. Bouchard said it is uncommon for him to personally intervene in bond matters, citing the size of the sheriffs office and the volume of violent cases handled each year. Very seldom do I know each case in the bond and see the video on each case, he said. Once I saw this video, I knew it had to be taken to an appeal. Bouchard said the victim remains hospitalized and was pretty severely hurt. He added that she is currently safe while Vettraino remains behind bars. Bouchard said the case should serve as a message to both victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. To any victim in a situation like this, you dont have to live like that, he said. We want to help. Other police agencies want to help. There are organizations that want to help. And to the perpetrators, this is completely unacceptable. Were going to seek the most serious charges available to hold you accountable. JACKSON, MI Jackson and Summit Township firefighters treated 10 area families to a holiday shopping spree on Friday, Dec. 19, at Walmart. For the past few years, firefighters have raised funds in advance to give each participating child $100 to spend, and then shopped alongside the children and their families at the store, located at 700 W. Michigan Ave. The event has become an annual event which helps children living in shelters and those in need from area schools. As in years past, some of the families attending this years event made the trip from Jackson Interfaith Shelter. Atalie Schwartz, director of shelter services at Interfaith, said that this is one of the most fulfilling events every year. Of all my roles and the fun things I do with families during the year, this is definitely my favorite one to do, Schwartz said. The kids are always incredibly grateful, and the parents are too, especially when were trying to set realistic expectations. When you dont have a home, you cant provide gifts for your kids. Schwartz spoke about her appreciation towards the firefighters for hosting the event every year, and the impact it has on the families. We have a mom whose son is not usually with her because he stays with his dad, Schwartz said. Hes with mom on the weekends and shell usually go stay at someones house. He came with her unexpectedly, and theyre having him participate so that hes not left out. As soon as the firefighters heard about the situation, they coordinated to ensure they had the funds to provide an additional gift card for the boy. Just the fact that theyre always flexible to make sure its special for everybody is huge, Schwartz said. JACKSON COUNTY, MI Jackson College will soon host auditions for its spring production of Noises Off, opening the theater opportunity to both students and community members. Auditions take place Jan. 26-27 at 5:30 p.m. in the Ruth Day Theatre at the Potter Center, with callbacks scheduled for Jan. 28. The production will run April 10-12. Michael Frayns comedy follows a traveling theatre troupe attempting to stage the British farce Nothing On. The play-within-a-play chronicles the companys journey from a tense dress rehearsal through a disastrous opening night to a completely unhinged performance as egos clash and romances unravel. The production features slamming doors, physical humor, and chaos including missed cues, flubbed lines, technical mishaps and flying sardines. The high-energy, fast-paced show requires performers with strong comedic timing and stamina. The college also seeks crew members for stage management, sound design, costumes and other technical roles. Interested participants can sign up for audition slots or register for crew positions through a provided link online. For more information, contact Jackson College theatre instructor Sara Anne Tomczak at tomczaksaraann@jccmi.edu. Generative AI was used to organize information for this story, based on data provided by Jackson College. It was reviewed and edited by MLive/The Jackson Citizen Patriot. WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday released a trove of records from the files related to late financier Jeffrey Epstein, roughly a month after the U.S. Congress approved a bill requiring their release by Dec. 19, with only narrow exceptions. U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said earlier in the day that the release would include "several hundred thousand" records, and more would be disclosed in the coming weeks. The latest action came roughly one month after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act with nearly unanimous approval, followed by unanimous approval in the Senate. The act required the department to publish all unclassified records, documents, communications and investigative materials in its possession related to the investigation and prosecution of Epstein by Dec. 19, with narrow exceptions for personally identifiable information of the victims and materials that could jeopardize an active federal investigation. Epstein had close connections with many prominent American political and business figures. After being arrested on sexual offense charges, he died in prison in August 2019, in what was officially ruled a suicide. U.S. President Donald Trump promised during his 2024 presidential campaign that if elected, he would release documents related to the Epstein case. MARSHALL, MI Marshalls Local Development Finance Authority unanimously approved a purchase agreement with an Ontario-based developer to build a gas generation plant and a data center inside of Brooks Industrial Park. In an Oct. 30 special meeting, the LDFA sold the 270-acre land to Alterra Development for $1.12 million. The agreement includes 112 buildable acres for the proposed technology park. Alterra Development officials provided a presentation at the meeting, saying the project positions Marshall to join a growing network of technology hubs across Michigan. Developers have identified at least 16 sites in 10 counties across the Lower Peninsula for server warehouses supporting artificial intelligence and cloud computing, according to a mid-December MLive tally. This agreement included a $50,000 deposit and a 180-day due diligence period, with option to extend for additional $10,000 payments. During the due diligence period, the developer will investigate the property, including electrical studies and wetland mitigation framework with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Alterra Development expects to finish this process by the third quarter of 2026; construction will not take place until after these steps. If the developer abandons the project, the $50,000 deposit will be returned; however, the extension payments will go to the LDFA, according to the meeting. The developer said the project represents a minimum investment of $10-$15 billion, but the final amount could increase. Factors that could drive costs higher include wetland mitigation requirements, power availability and buildable space. The developer said this will be privately funded. The project aims to create a fully permitted, shovel-ready site with a validated design for 1 GW (gigawatt) of onsite power generation and a 1.5 GW technology park. Once the facility is running, its expected to employ 300 to 500 full-time jobs, paying between $78,000 and $180,000 annually. Positions will include electricians, fiber technicians, software engineers and IT jobs. Training pipelines will be implemented through local schools and colleges as well. The project is projected to generate millions in annual property tax revenue for schools and city services. It will also create new tax increment financing capture to support LDFA projects through 2046. It will also establish a $3 million community investment fund for STEM education and fiber-to-school initiatives, according to the presentation. LDFA board members raised concerns about the projects water usage. However, the developer said it plans to use a closed-loop liquid cooling system that recirculates water indefinitely, meaning there will be no ongoing draw from the citys water supply. Alterra Development and City Manager Derek Perry did not respond to request for comment. The full presentation can be viewed on the city of Marshalls YouTube page. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page. QUINCY, MI A Southern Michigan couple is facing a host of criminal charges over allegations they beat and strangled multiple minors within their household, including foster children, and forced them to drink dish soap until they grew sick. The two, of Quincy, were arraigned Thursday, Dec. 18, in Branch County District Court each on multiple counts of second-degree child abuse and assault with intent to do great bodily harm, both felonies, as well as individual counts of misdemeanor child abuse and domestic violence. Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Stempien described the slate of accusations against the pair the man, a former Quincy reserve police officer, and the woman, a local school bus driver as maybe one of the more severe, prolonged allegations of abuse in a household that I have seen in my career. We essentially have seven children in the house that are all saying the same thing, Stempien said, referring first to accusations made against both parents. That over the course of the last year, these children were forced to drink dish soap until they vomited. The two also both allegedly choked or strangled some of their kids, he said, and severely spanked them. Stempien added the man was reported to use equipment he received as a reserve officer in the abuse. They were shown firearms he said. There is certainly a duty of trust that goes along with that in our community, and that was certainly breached. We have an individual that hit his children with belts and sticks, that handcuffed them with the handcuffs that he had been given from the police department as a form of punishment. Referring to the womans role as a bus driver, the prosecutor said, We would all expect that somebody that is engaging with our children on a day-to-day basis would hold themselves to a higher standard and not allow this sort of conduct to occur in their house. Both parents, Stempien said, were also held to a higher standard by the state of Michigan as foster parents. Chief Public Defender Chris Vreeland, representing the couple, cited their history of being residents or having familial ties in the region and asked Thursday for modest bond. He emphasized their lack of adult criminal history, adding they having no history of alcohol or substance abuse. Bond was set for each at $200,000. Neither are allowed to contact their children and are restricted from unsupervised contact with any minor children. News of just the mans arrest first broke Wednesday, Dec. 17. In a statement at the time, Quincy Police Chief Dalton Turmell said his department had been notified of the arrest after an ongoing investigation by the Michigan State Police, and that the officer was no longer involved with the department. WTVB-FM reported that the investigation began Wednesday when Child Protective Services looked into a report of child abuse and requested assistance from MSP. After a series of interviews, the investigation was passed over to Stempiens office. In all, the man is facing 13 felony counts and nine misdemeanors, while the woman is facing 10 felonies and eight misdemeanors. The man is facing: Five counts of second-degree child abuse Four counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder or by strangulation with minor victims Two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon One felony firearm count Six misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree child abuse Two counts of misdemeanor domestic violence The woman is charged with: KALAMAZOO, MI A 28-year-old parole absconder was arrested on multiple drug and weapons charges following an attempted armed robbery earlier this week. Tazman Montel Jefferson was arraigned Friday, Dec. 19, by Kalamazoo County District Judge Richard Santoni on 15 felony charges. Jefferson faces three felony drug charges, two counts of assaulting, resisting or obstructing an officer and 10 weapons charges, according to court records. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Sunday, Dec. 14, in which Jefferson was identified as a suspect in an attempted armed robbery in the 1100 block of Conant Street, between Douglas Avenue and Hawley Street. During the incident, it is alleged that Jefferson produced a firearm and demanded money from the victim before fleeing on foot, a news release from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety states. Jefferson, according to court records, was on parole through the Michigan Department of Corrections following a prior armed robbery conviction. On Wednesday, Dec. 17, officers with the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safetys crime reduction team located Jefferson in the 1000 block of West Paterson Street and attempted to contact him, said Zach Hamelton, department spokesperson. Jefferson then fled on foot, before being apprehended following a brief pursuit, Hamelton said. When officers apprehended him, Jefferson was allegedly in possession of a Chiappa M4-22 firearm and distribution quantities of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl. This arrest removed a violent offender from our community who was already on parole and chose to continue engaging in dangerous criminal behavior, said KDPS Capt. Danielle Guilds of the departments criminal investigations division. Thanks to the swift and coordinated response by our officers, he was taken into custody safely, preventing further harm and holding him accountable for his actions. Following the arrest, officers executed a search warrant at an apartment in the 1000 block of Interfaith Boulevard, where additional evidence related to the attempted armed robbery was recovered, Hamelton said. Charges related to the attempted armed robbery remain pending. Jefferson remains in custody following Fridays arraignment on the other charges. Santoni issued the defendant a $200,000 cash/surety bond in the case. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the criminal investigations division at 269-337-8139. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through Kalamazoo Silent Observer at 269-343-2100 or via the P3Tips mobile app. Jefferson is due back in court for a probable cause conference on Jan. 2. He has a preliminary examination scheduled for Jan. 7. Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page here. KALAMAZOO, MI -- Timothy Light, a well-known Kalamazoo academic and philanthropist, died Dec. 14. He was 87. His career included stints as provost at both Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College, and he was K-Colleges acting president in 1989-90. Light was an expert on China and East Asia. In 2010, his family donated $1 million to WMU to establish the Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies. A statement from WMU said that Lights legacy continues to shape the mission and work of the Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies, which for the past 15 years has helped WMU students and professors advance research and teaching about China while also bringing world-renowned scholars to campus. To many students, he was more than a professor; he was a mentor who went above and beyond to ensure their success, the statement said. Dr. Lights contributions to the university and to the broader community were profound and will be felt for generations to come. A great-grandson of W.E. Upjohn, founder of The Upjohn Co., Light had an illustrious pedigree. He was born in 1938 to Richard Upjohn Light, a prominent neurosurgeon, and Rachel Mary Upjohn, first cousins who were both among the 11 grandchildren of W.E. Upjohn. In the first years of their marriage, Richard and Mary Light were pioneer aviators in the 1930s who photographed the African continent from the air. The couple had four sons before they divorced. In addition to being a prominent neurosurgeon, Richard Light served as Kalamazoo College board chairman for a time and helped pioneer the colleges study-abroad program. K-Colleges Light Fine Arts Building is named in honor of the Light family. Meanwhile, Mary Upjohn Light remarried and became Mary Meader. She and her second husband were major benefactors of Kalamazoos arts and education communities. Timothy Light was born and raised in Kalamazoo, and earned a bachelors degree in English from Yale University in 1960. He met his wife, Joy, while on a Yale study abroad program in China. The couple initially lived in New York City, where Light enrolled at the Union Theological Seminary and then Columbia University. The Lights returned to Asia in the 1960s, where Light worked as a teacher and administrator at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and where their two daughters were born. In 1971, Light started a doctoral program in linguistics at Cornell University, earning his degree in 1974. He taught Chinese for six years at University of Arizona and then for another six years at Ohio State University, where he chaired OSUs department of East Asian languages and literature. He returned to Kalamazoo in 1986, becoming the Kalamazoo College provost from 1986 to 1989 and its acting president in 1989-90. After a year as president of Middlebury College in Vermont, he returned to Kalamazoo in 1992 and served as Western Michigan University provost until 2000, when he returned to teaching. In recent years, Light was professor emeritus of Chinese religion at WMU. Timothy and Joy Light were also known for the philanthropy and community activism. In 2017, the couple were awarded the Rotary Club of Kalamazoos Red Rose Citation for their community contributions. Both have been amazing stewards of our community, both through their philanthropic resources that have helped a number of our artistic and human services nonprofits, but also for the wisdom theyve provided appearing on numerous boards, Bryan Zocher, president of the Rotary Club of Kalamazoo, said at the time. The Lights are credited with bringing the Education for the Arts program to the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency, and were recognized for their volunteer work at the Washington Writers Academy, in the Kalamazoo Public Schools Bagels and Books program and with Family & Children Services. In addition to the Chinese center at WMU, the Lights have been major benefactors of the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, which has the Joy Light Gallery for Asian Art. Michelle Hargrave, executive director of the KIA, said in a statement that Light made a lasting and profound impact on the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and our community. He was more than a patronhe was a thoughtful advocate for the museum, a mentor to many, a visionary, and a steadfast champion of the arts. Through Tim and Joy Lights friendship, generosity, and commitment to cultural understanding, the KIA and Southwest Michigan became a recognized center for East Asian art, expanding direct access to the arts of China, Japan, and Korea for generations. Tim was admired by so many for his intellect, curiosity, warmth, and quiet generosity, and he will be deeply missed, the statement said. In his acceptance speech for the Red Rose Citation, Timothy Light spoke of the two Kalamazoos -- the one to which we here belong. That is the Kalamazoo which provides more opportunities to enjoy high quality music, theater, dance and all kinds of visual art per capita than probably anywhere else in the country. That is also the Kalamazoo which provides more personal philanthropy and volunteer hours per capita than probably anywhere else in the country. The other Kalamazoo is marked by poverty, homelessness, unemployment, incarceration, school failure, and a host of health problems. It is this Kalamazoo which sadly mirrors the trends of a significant proportion of Americas cities, except that our statistics are worse than average, he said. We will need to agree that both of our two Kalamazoos are integral parts of who we are, and when we speak of ourselves, we will need to be boldly frank in embracing both, he said in that speech. Langeland Funeral Homes is handling arrangements, details of which are not yet available. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page. BANGOR TWP., MI A historic Fire Department of New York vehicle has arrived at the Antique Toy and Firehouse Museum in Bangor Township, adding another piece to one of the largest fire collections in the nation. Museum officials took possession of the FDNY Super Tender on Wednesday, Dec. 10, in California, which was owned by Ruth Wick. The vehicle completed its five-day trek across the country on Monday, Dec. 15. We were able to traverse those thousands of miles and get this home safely. Now the work begins, said Mike Snyder, the vice-chair of the museum. The journey from California reunites the FDNY Super Tender with the FDNY Super Pumper, assembling two pieces of firefighting history that once comprised what museum officials described as a legendary Fire Department of New York Pumper System. Originally commissioned in 1964 for the New York City Fire Department, the Super Pumper was a groundbreaking system, capable of pumping 8,800 gallons of water per minute. The pumper was designed for large-scale industrial fires and emergencies. Its partner, the Super Tender, provided critical support, supplying large diameter fire hose, a 10,000-gpm water monitor gun, and additional equipment. The Super Tender was purchased through a FDNY deaccession process in 1989 by Hewy Wick, who drove the unit cross country from New Jersey to his California home. Wick restored the unit and routinely displayed it in community and fire history events. The Tender was frequently featured as California organizations memorialized the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Reuniting the firefighting vehicles was made possible through a successful fundraising drive and a $100,000 challenge grant by Stewart and Kathryn McMillan. Stewart McMillan, the former CEO of Task Force Tips (TFT), a world-renowned manufacturer of firefighting nozzles and equipment, has devoted his life to advancing the science and practice of fire suppression, according to museum officials. In 1971, as a young firefighter, Stewart was in New York City and witnessed the Super Pumper System in action at a working fire, officials said. BAY CITY, MI- Families filled up their plates with sausages, hash browns and pancakes before excited children hopped in line to meet with Santa. The YMCA in Bay City hosted hundreds for the 10th annual Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 20. Funded by the Bay Area Community Foundation, the event was completely free to the public regardless of YMCA membership. When asked about why they continue to host the event, YMCA Chief Experience Officer Joslyn Jamrog explained how it enables them to aid their community. Attendees enjoy their breakfast during the annual Breakfast with Santa at the YMCA in Bay City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. Lukas Katilius | MLive.com This event really fulfills our mission in serving the community and building healthy spirit, mind and body for all, she said. And those two last words of our mission really mean a lot to us. That for all. This event just really, really fulfills our mission. Attendees seemed to appreciate the event, with many grabbing food and waiting in line for Santa with smiles on their faces. Families wait in line to meet with Santa during the annual Breakfast with Santa at the YMCA in Bay City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. Lukas Katilius | MLive.com Jeri Wagner, an attendee, came to the event with her grandchildren. I appreciate them doing this, theyre doing a good job. Theyre letting the public come in and eat and see Santa, theyre doing a good, you know, I appreciate what they do for the community. In addition to breakfast and Santa, attendees were also provided personal care items such as laundry soap, shampoo, and soap for those who may have needed it as they exited. A federal judge in Rhode Island today ordered the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to preliminarily halt changes to its Continuum of Care grant program the largest resource for federal homelessness assistance funding. The order came after Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and a coalition of 21 states and the District of Columbia argued that the changes were illegal and would leave tens of thousands of people around the country without a place to live. Around 7,000 Michigan families were set to potentially lose access to their housing assistance programs as a result of the proposed changes. That included 2,000 families with children, according to the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, which is comprised of 92 homeless service providers across the states. RELATED: What to know about future of federal housing assistance for 7,000 Michigan families In her order orally granting a preliminary injunction on Friday, Dec. 19, U.S. District Court Judge Mary McElroy barred HUD from implementing its proposed changes to the CoC program and directed HUD to process applications under the terms that existed prior to its unlawful program changes. The funding changes, had they been implemented, would have led to a widespread increase in homelessness in the state, Nessel said. Thousands of Michigan families would have been forced onto the streets if the Trump Administration had been allowed to illegally upend support for those experiencing homelessness, Nessel said. I am relieved that the court stepped in to prevent HUD from unlawfully attaching conditions to critical grant funding at the expense of vulnerable Americans. The CoC program, created by Congress and offered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, assists nonprofits and state and local governments in helping to end homelessness. Had the Trump administrations proposed changes been enacted, permanent housing programs would have seen a decrease from 87% of CoC funding to 30%. HUD Secretary Scott Turner wrote that the change would align with a Trump administration executive order, and would restore accountability to homelessness programs and promote self-sufficiency among vulnerable Americans. Michigan service providers countered that the changes would have led to stopped services for those who need it most, impacting a large chunk of more than $100 million in funds the state received through CoC last year. Nessel joined the coalition in suing HUD in November alleging that the department had illegally upended support for people experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness by abruptly rescinding a necessary program notice and replacing it with another that limited access to long-term housing and other services. The lawsuit further stated that HUD drastically changed its CoC grant program in violation of congressional intent by sharply reducing funding for permanent housing and putting unlawful conditions on access to the funding. The illegal conditions laid out in the changes included penalizing housing providers that recognize gender identity and diversity and mandating that residents agree to additional conditions to obtain housing, Nessel said. HUD also added illegal conditions to punish providers in localities that do not enforce strict anti-homeless laws and disadvantage programs that address mental disabilities and substance use disorder. Those conditions go against HUDs previous guidance and were not authorized by Congress, Nessel said. The program notice was also issued well after HUDs congressionally-mandated deadline for making program changes, virtually guaranteeing months-long gaps in funding. In their complaint, 20 attorneys general and two governors argued that HUDs actions were arbitrary and capricious, as HUD made no effort to explain the abandonment of its own longstanding policies, and failed to reckon with the obvious consequences of abruptly terminating funding for housing occupied by formerly homeless families and individuals. Joining Nessel in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and Washington, along with the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Representatives of the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye have expressed support for the near-term establishment and operationalization of the Board of Peace as a transitional administration in Gaza, U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff said Saturday. The representatives of the four countries, during their talks in Miami, Florida on Friday, reviewed the implementation of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, said Witkoff on X, adding further consultations will continue in the coming weeks to advance the implementation of the second phase. "The first phase has yielded progress, including expanded humanitarian assistance, the return of hostage bodies, partial force withdrawals, and a reduction in hostilities," Witkoff said. "In our discussions regarding phase two, we emphasized enabling a governing body in Gaza under a unified Gazan authority to protect civilians and maintain public order," he said. Witkoff said that the four countries also called on all parties to uphold their obligations, exercise restraint, and cooperate with monitoring arrangements. Despite the latest ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that took effect in October, Israel had continued to carry out strikes in Gaza, killing more than 380 people and injuring over 1,000 others, Gaza's health authorities said last week. Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to How to Choose the Right College in 2026: Complete Guide Watch - Aryan Khan jokes about loving trophies like his father Shah Rukh Khan: 'But this award is not for dad' Gayatri Rani is a Senior-Sub Editor with over three years of experience in delivering Hollywood and Bollywood news. The year 2025 will be etched in K-pop history as the moment BTS officially returned as a complete seven-member force after all members finished their mandatory South Korean military service. Throwback to when Sreenivasan opened up on career, controversies and his relationship with Mohanlal A paparazzi page took to social media to report that Aahanas car had met with an accident. Entertainment desk Entertainment Desk at Moneycontrol reports on the celebrities, movies that shape Indias entertainment industry. With a sharp focus on cinema, OTT, web series, and latest trends, the entertainment desk delivers verified news, and analytical stories that place entertainment within a wider economic and cultural context. Our coverage goes beyond celebrity to examine how storytelling, audiences and business decisions influence one of the countrys most influential creative industries. The paparazzi subsequently expressed remorse to the actress as she departed with her spouse. Fortis, partly owned by Malaysia's IHH Healthcare, runs 33 healthcare facilities with more than 5,700 beds across 11 Indian states, according to its websites. In all, India recorded net foreign direct investment typically long-term capital of $7.6 billion from April to September, more than double the rate of a year earlier, according to data from the Reserve Bank of India. HAVANA, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla said Saturday that the U.S. government's designation of the legitimate government of Venezuela as a "foreign terrorist organization" is a politically motivated act. "It is a new arbitrary, fraudulent, unilateral and politically motivated act. It shows, once again, the lack of credibility of these decisions and the manipulation of terrorism as a political weapon, which also weaken international efforts against that scourge," Rodriguez said on X. Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the designation of Venezuela as a "foreign terrorist organization." Rodriguez said the United States intends to impose an international isolation, increase pressure, escalate on an aggression that would have unpredictable consequences for peace, security and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean. He also emphasized Cuba's all-out solidarity and support for the people and government of Venezuela in the face of "this infamous barbarism." You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK Truck movement was briefly stalled and security tightened at Petrapole after unrest in Bangladesh raised concerns over the safety of Indian drivers at Benapole. The Wayanad MP's presence at the tea meeting drew attention as she was seated in the front row alongside senior leaders, despite being a first-time MP with no formal position in the Congress parliamentary party. Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to India to soon leave US behind in terms of Metro rail network length: Manohar Lal Khattar The decommissioning ceremony was held at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, in the presence of WNC's Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOCINC) Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi being welcomed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma upon his arrival in Guwahati, Assam. (PTI) The protesters held banners and placards, and raised slogans such as "Save Aravalli, Save the Future" and "No Aravalli, No Life". Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to PM Modi to address 1st rally in Bengal today after draft roll release amid SIR concerns of Matuas Even one small tweak before year-end can prevent an unpleasant surprise next springand keep your cash flow steady heading into 2026. Hit a safe harbor. Roge recommended paying "90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's (110% if adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded $150,000). If you're off track in November, adjust W-4s now so payroll can fix the glide path instead of your April checkbook." Watch special situations. Side gig holders who don't make estimated payments and new retirees who began required minimum distributions (RMDs) mid-year often end up owing more than expected. Know the red flags. Steven Roge , CFP and CEO of R.W. Roge & Company, cautioned that "multiple jobs or a spouse's new job stacking into a higher bracket, restricted stock units (RSUs) or bonus income taxed at flat rates, dependents aging out, or losing itemized deductions" can throw withholding off balance. Update your W-4. Make adjustments if you've had a major change this year, like a new job, side income, a raise, or a spouse returning to work. Run the numbers. Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to compare your current withholdings against your projected 2025 income. Start with your paycheck. If too much or too little tax is being withheld, your return will show iteither as a refund you didnt need to give the IRS or a balance you didnt expect to owe. A quick check before December 31 can help you avoid surprises and align whats being withheld with what youll actually owe. The earlier you check your numbers in terms of income, deductions, and investments, the more control you have over preventing penalties and capturing deductions. Whether youve changed jobs, earned a raise, started a side gig, or had a family milestone this year, a quick end-of-year 2025 tax review can make all the difference. Use this checklist to finish the year financially strong and tax-ready. What investment moves should you consider before December? When should you seek professional tax planning help? The final weeks of the year are more than a countdown to the holidays. Theyre your last chance to shape your refund or reduce what youll owe next April. A few proactive steps before December 31 can shrink your 2025 tax bill, boost retirement savings, and keep you from leaving money on the table. Weiterlesen Maximize Retirement Contributions Your retirement accounts are some of the most powerful tools for reducing taxable income and building long-term wealth. Year-end is the last chance to make sure youre capturing every available dollar in tax-advantaged savings. Heres what to do: Check your limits. For 2025, you can contribute up to $23,500 to a 401(k), plus a $7,500 catch-up if youre between 50 and 59, or 64 and older. Savers aged 60, 61, 62, and 63 are eligible for a higher catch-up contribution of $11,250. Employee contributions must be made by December 31, 2025. Top off early. If youve had a raise or bonus, increase your contributions for the final pay periods to hit the annual limit. Roge warned that employees routinely leave 401(k) space on the table, especially when catch-ups are available. Max out your IRA. You can contribute up to $7,000 to a traditional or Roth IRA for the 2025 tax year ($8,000 if youre 50 or older) until April 15, 2026, the federal tax-filing deadline. Contributions made before that date still count toward 2025 and may reduce taxable income if you qualify for a traditional IRA deduction. Dont skip your HSA. If youre eligible, you can contribute $4,300 for individuals or $8,550 for families, with an extra $1,000 catch-up if youre 55 or older. Roge called it a stealth Roth for health careinvest it and save receipts for later tax-free reimbursements. Tip Year-end increases in contributions can boost your savings and cut your taxable income, giving you a head start on 2026. Make Smart Charitable Contributions Charitable giving can do double duty. It's a great way to support the causes you care about while reducing your tax burden. Strategic donation timing and the right giving vehicle make all the difference. Heres what to do: Donate appreciated assets. Giving long-term appreciated securities instead of cash avoids capital gains while allowing you to deduct full fair-market value. Use a donor-advised fund (DAF). Contributing to a DAF allows you to take an immediate tax deduction, but you don't have to choose which charity gets your donation until later. Know whether to use a standard or itemized deduction. Charitable deductions only reduce your tax bill if you itemize. Roge recommended bunching several years of gifts to clear the standard deduction hurdle, so you can itemize in that year and maximize the tax benefit of your giving. Consider a QCD if retired. Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from IRAs can satisfy RMDs and lower your adjusted gross income. Roge noted that for 2025, the QCD limit is indexed at $108,000. Plan ahead for next year. Early in 2026, create a giving charter and pre-stage appreciated shares or open a DAF to avoid the last-minute December rush. Always keep donation receipts and acknowledgment letters. The IRS requires proper documentation to claim charitable deductions, even for donor-advised funds or QCDs. Review Investments and Capital Gains Investment gains and losses can have a major impact on your year-end tax bill. Reviewing your portfolio before December 31 gives you time to rebalance, harvest losses, or take gains strategically. Heres what to do: Harvest losses early. Sell underperforming investments before year-end to offset gains and deduct up to $3,000 in ordinary income. Pick your lots. Roge recommended confirming your broker uses specific identification so you can sell the highest-cost shares first when realizing gains. Check your tax bracket. If you fall under the 0% long-term capital gains rate, you can sell appreciated investments to reset your cost basis tax-free. Watch mutual-fund timing. Avoid buying funds right before their capital-gain distributions in November or December. Long-term capital gains are still taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20% for 2025, depending on income, with high earners potentially owing an additional 3.8% net investment income tax. Roge advised modeling both federal and state taxes to estimate tax liabilities before making large trades. Organize Deductions and Credits A little organization before year-end makes filing easier and can uncover deductions you might otherwise miss. Heres what to do: Gather major deduction documents. Collect statements for mortgage interest, student loans, medical expenses, and property taxes. Check for expiring credits. Review eligibility for child tax credits and education credits while theres still time to qualify. Charitable giving strategy. Charitable donations only reduce your tax bill if you itemize deductions. If you dont itemize, qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from an IRA can still lower taxable income by satisfying required minimum distributions directly. Create a digital folder. Save all receipts, acknowledgment letters, and supporting documentation for easier filing and audit protection. Prepping now can save hours during tax season and may reveal deductions youd otherwise overlook. Plan for Self-Employment or Side Income Self-employed freelancers, contractors, and side-gig workers often face unexpected tax bills. A few year-end adjustments can help you get ahead of them. Here's what to do: Estimate year-to-date income. Use your accounting software or bank records to tally up your total self-employment income. Make estimated payments. If you haven't already paid quarterly taxes, make a final estimated payment by January 15, 2026, to avoid penalties. Track deductible expenses. Common write-offs include home office costs, mileage, equipment, software, and professional fees. Ensure you have proper documentation to support your expenses. Consider retirement options. SEP IRAs and solo 401(k)s let business owners contribute a percentage of earnings and deduct it from taxable income. It's one way to cut taxes while saving for the future. Tip Even a quick check-in with a tax pro can help ensure your books and estimated taxes stay clean heading into April. Prepare for State and Local Tax Considerations Your federal plan may be solid, but state and local taxes can create their own surprises. Knowing the limits and deadlines can keep your planning consistent across the board. Here's what to do: Prepay certain taxes if strategic. Some states allow early payment of property or state income taxes if you itemize deductions. Understand the SALT cap. The federal deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) is increased from $10,000 to $40,000 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Check state deadlines. States vary in their estimated tax and filing deadlines. It's essential to review these documents before year-end to ensure compliance. Account for residency changes. If you've moved or worked remotely in another state, confirm which state claims your income to avoid double taxation. State deadlines can sneak up on you, Roge warned, especially for property-tax prepayments or estimated-tax vouchers that fall between Christmas and New Years. Taking a few minutes to review state rules can reveal hidden savings and prevent penalties. Get Professional Help if Needed When your financial life extends beyond a single W-2, it may be time to call in reinforcements. If youve hit a point where multiple goals, income streams, or strategies overlap, professional help can save you far more than it costs. Heres what to do: Know when to call a pro. Roge explained, Equity compensations, multi-state income, K-1s, rental real estate, crypto, business sales, large charitable strategies, Roth conversions, or RMD coordination are common tripwires." Book early. December appointments fill quickly. Schedule a year-end consultation before filing season starts to discuss pre-filing strategies. Bring full context. A CPA or CFP can optimize across tax, investment, and retirement planning. A pre-filing consultation in December can identify missing deductions, estimate your 2025 liability, and confirm your tax-saving moves before deadlines pass, ensuring you dont save a dollar in one line only to lose three in another. When your finances get complex, coordination is key. Professional guidance can turn tax planning from a guessing game into a well-timed strategy. The Bottom Line Year-end tax planning may not be glamorous, but its powerful. Review your income and withholding, maximize your contributions, plan charitable gifts, and fine-tune your investment and business strategies before the end of the year. As Roge reminded us, Big refunds and big surprises dont happen by magicthey happen because withholding wasnt aligned with reality. Take time this season to realign your finances, lock in deductions, and give yourself the gift of a stress-free tax season. Read the original article on Investopedia Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to PM Modi to embark on 2-day Assam visit, inaugurate new airport terminal, interact with BJP workers Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to Shashi Tharoor on Hindu man's lynching in Bangladesh: 'Appreciate Dhaka's condemnation, but...' Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to UP: 14-day-old baby 'slammed on floor' by hospital staff, body exhumed after parents refuse to pay bribe Alongside a screenshot of the message, the employee provided context about earlier workplace practices. He further clarified that the measure was not applied rigidly in all cases. Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All NASA completes next-generation Roman telescope, bringing scientists closer to answering if were alone Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to Natures ultimate protectors: Top 10 animal mums that risk everything for their babies An artists illustration showing GRB 250702B, with a high-speed jet of material erupting from a heavily dust-filled galaxy. (Image: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/M. Garlick) 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 Ankita Chakravarti is a seasoned journalist with nearly a decade of experience in media. She specializes in technology and lifestyle journalism. She has worked with top Indian media houses like India Today, Zee News, The Statesman, and Millennium Post. Her expertise spans tech trends, phone launches, gadget reviews, and entertainment news. Ankita holds a Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication along with a degree in English Literature. She can be reached out at ankita.chakravarti@nw18.com 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 When Steven Wang was in second grade, he convinced his parents to open a custodial stock account. Now 24 years old, hes running Dub, a copy-trading platform aimed at solving the financial literacy gap among his peers. A Harris Poll survey commissioned by Dub in June highlights the contradiction: While 60% of Gen Z and 66% of millennials are investing in the stock market outside of their 401(k)s, just 17% of Americans feel very confident in their understanding of how markets actually work. Most believe investing, rather than a traditional nine-to-five career, offers the fastest path to wealtha dream increasingly shaped by viral TikTok finance videos or meme-stock success stories rather than grounded investment knowledge, Wang told Fortune this summer. More from Yahoo Scout How is Dub's growth and user adoption performing? How does copy trading work on Dub's platform? What problem is Dub's copy-trading platform solving? What regulatory steps did Dub take before launching? Copy trading, the concept underpinning Dub, allows everyday investors to automatically replicate the trades of more skilled market participants in real time. Instead of picking their own stocks, users can select vetted traders, hedge fund veterans, and other experienced investors to follow. Whenever those investors make a move, the same trade is executed in the users account, mirroring strategies and outcomes. The ultra-wealthy are already betting on smart people to deploy their capital, Wang said. Were bringing that experience to regular Americans. Wang grew up 20 minutes outside Detroit, the child of poor Asian immigrants who both worked in the auto industry. He watched the citys decline after the Great Financial Crisis and the auto industrys blows to blue-collar families, an experience that shaped his desire to build a more stable financial future for himself. A self-described hustler, Wang sold Pokemon cards on the playground and flipped Air Jordans in grade school. Growing up, he nerded out on Warren Buffett books and Howard Marks memos, fueled by a self-professed childish vision to get rich through stock market investments. I really learned the hard way, Wang said. Im competing against hundreds of thousands of people on Wall Street trading for a living[who] have decades of investing experience over me. By the pandemic, he was day-trading from his Harvard dorm roomwatching waves of new investors enter the market and lose big to hype, misinformation, and bad timing. Wang said thats when he decided the tools of professional investors should be accessible to everyone. Dub is built to merge the accessibility of social media with the discipline of professional investing, Wang said. Users browse creators portfolios, analyze performance metrics, and choose investors to copy, with trades executed automatically in their own accounts. Creators are vetted, regulated, and compensated through royalties when others follow their portfoliosaligning incentives toward consistent performance rather than one-off meme stocks. 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. In a statement issued on Saturday, BDNews24 mentioned that Bangladesh's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications said such posts could be reported directly via WhatsApp and email. Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to AI vending machine gets social-engineered into giving away its entire stock Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to America first again: Trump claims US is now hottest country in the world According to witnesses, nearly 200 attackers breached the main gate of the Daily Star after midnight on Thursday and stormed the ground floor The arrests come amid a wave of unrest in Bangladesh following the death of prominent student leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Bangladesh unrest live updates: Taslima Nasreen alleges Dipu was falsely accused despite police protection Exiled Bangladeshi author and human rights activist Taslima Nasreen has alleged that 25-year-old Hindu worker Dipu Chandra Das, brutally lynched in Mymensingh, was falsely accused of blasphemy by a Muslim coworker. Nasreen claimed the attack occurred despite Dipu being under police protection. Sharing a video of him in custody, she said, Dipu Chandra Das worked at a factory in Bhaluka, Mymensingh. He was a poor labourer. One day, a Muslim coworker wanted to punish him over some trivial matter, so in the middle of a crowd, he announced that Dipu had made derogatory remarks about the Prophet. That was enough. Frenzied followers of the Prophet pounced on Dipu like hyenas and began to tear him apart. Eventually, the police rescued him and took him into custody, meaning Dipu was under police protection. Key Points Ripple will continue to match XRP to potential users and launch new pilot programs in 2026. The chain's base of tokenized capital will also expand tremendously. But don't hold your breath for more digital-asset treasury activity. 10 stocks we like better than XRP XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) might be down by 22% in the last 12 months, but there's plenty of reason to be hopeful for its performance in 2026. I predict three things in particular for this coin next year. Investors probably shouldn't be expecting a run to the moon, but all three of my predictions are at least somewhat bullish, and I expect XRP's price to rise from where it is now as a result. Image source: Getty Images. 1. There will be at least two more big institutional pilots Ripple, the company that issues XRP and operates the RippleNet payment service, will likely announce at least two additional pilot programs with recognizable financial institutions or payment processors in 2026. For example, Ripple has recently highlighted bank adoption tied to its payments stack, including a European bank partnership announcement in December 2025, and I'm predicting that more collaborations of that type are on the way but will be even bigger than before. The reason this is bullish is that a successful pilot program can validate institutional workflows and assess operational feasibility in a way that later encourages both the piloting organization as well as its peers to adopt the chain as a piece of financial technology. However, a key question is whether these pilots will require meaningful balances and transfers held on the chain, or whether XRP will be used mostly as optional plumbing for paying chain fees. It isn't possible to know the answer in advance, as different businesses will want to use the chain for different purposes. 2. Pools of key on-chain assets will grow rapidly My second prediction is that the value of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) on the XRPL will grow sharply in 2026, with tokenized U.S. Treasuries leading the way. The chain's base of stablecoins will also see a lot of growth. Today, there are $213 million in tokenized assets held on the XRPL for the purpose of distribution or trading, and $322 million in stablecoin value. At the start of 2025, there were just $5 million in tokenized assets. Until the December 2024 launch of RLUSD, Ripple's dollar-backed stablecoin on the XRPL, there wasn't all that much in the way of stablecoin value either. Today, RLUSD alone has a market cap of more than $1.3 billion spread across a handful of different networks including the XRPL. Men hold placards that read "We all will be Hadi, we will keep fighting" as tens of thousands of people join the funeral prayer for Sharif Osman Hadi, a student leader who died after being shot in the head, at the Parliament building area of Manik Mia Avenue, in Dhaka Ukraine says those vessels are used to transport oil, Russia's main revenue source for funding its almost four-year-old full-scale invasion of its neighbour. Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to Epstein files release leaves survivors with more questions than answers, even as a 1996 complaint surfaces Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All Epstein files released, but thousands of records remain withheld despite legal deadline Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All India, Bangladesh army chiefs in direct contact as unrest escalates after Hadis killing: Report Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All Newly released Epstein files include never-before-seen photos of Bill Clinton with Epstein and Maxwell Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to 'No embargo' on Imran Khan's sons meeting him in jail, says Pak govt 'No, no. Shes not here for you': Survivor alleges chilling encounter with Trump in Epsteins Manhattan office Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to Operation Hawkeye Strike explained: Inside the US launch of large-scale attacks on 70 ISIS targets in Syria Mary Woulf was 22, a single mother and a college dropout. She went to a temp agency for a receptionist job. She did well on the test, so the agency sent her to its best client, a national mortgage lender. I was only supposed to be there for three months, she said. She stayed for 13 years. Early on, one of Woulfs colleagues sat her down. They knew I was just a single mom and trying to work hard, she said. The mentor told her about the companys 401(k) program. They said, One day you might have a million dollars. And I said, A million dollars? And it seemed impossible. Woulf opened a retirement savings account in 1990. Thirty-five years later, she has a million dollars. Before her retirement in 2021, Woulf joined the growing ranks of 401(k) millionaires, Americans who attain a seven-figure balance in a workplace retirement plan, an Individual Retirement Account, or some combination of the two. Roughly 2% of retirement savers have million-dollar balances, according to Fidelity, which reported 512,000 401(k) millionaires as of early 2025. The figure covers only Fidelity account holders. Saving $1million in a 401(k) sounds easy. It isnt. In August 2025, USA TODAY told the stories of six 401(k) millionaires, drawing on interviews and correspondence with dozens of retirement savers contacted through the Reddit community r/retirement. We're re-upping the story now to inspire other retirement savers as the new year approaches. Some facts and figures may have changed since the article first appeared. Based on the 401(k) millionaires profiled below, saving $1 million for retirement sounds easy. If everyone opened a 401(k) account at age 22, set aside 10% of their pre-tax income and saved continuously until retirement, we might be a nation of 401(k) millionaires. But life is seldom so simple. Lots of us dont start saving for retirement until midlife, when retirement is breathing down our necks. Millions of Americans step out of the workforce to raise children and put retirement savings on hold. Others change jobs and lose track of their retirement accounts. Financial crises compel many people to raid their retirement plans. And many retirement savers dont save enough. When Woulf opened her retirement savings account, she was saving only 3% of her pre-tax salary, because her employer matched that amount dollar for dollar, and it was all the salary she could spare. She was earning $8 an hour. I was living paycheck to paycheck, but I did it, because I thought I was investing in my future and my sons future, she said. I had to forego things like cable TV. I would take my son camping instead of taking trips. Mary Woulf is a 401(k) millionaire. She's been saving since age 22. As time passed, Woulf stopped noticing the deductions from her paychecks. She earned a series of promotions: first to customer service representative, then to credit risk analyst. As her salary rose, Woulf increased her contributions. Over the years, Woulf changed employers. At age 50, she raised her retirement contribution to the maximum allowed by law. By the time Woulf retired, she was a 401(k) millionaire. She is 58 now and living in Simi Valley, California. Woulf had married at age 42, and her husband was also a good saver. Her financial adviser said she had plenty of money and could afford to stop working. Were living off the interest and not even cutting into the principal at this point, she said. Heres how much to save in a 401(k) Retirement planners generally recommend two savings goals with 401(k) plans. At a minimum, they say, you should try to save as much as your employer is willing to match. In a typical model, the employer matches half of every dollar a worker contributes, up to a maximum of 6% of the workers pay. If you contribute 6%, the match boosts it to 9%. If the employer matches that salary dollar for dollar, 6% becomes 12%. Ideally, retirement savers should aim to save at least 10% of their pre-tax salary. With a generous employer match, 10% can easily become 15%. That figure, 15%, is the ultimate 401(k) savings goal. When Joy El-Amin went to work for the Apple computer company in the 1980s, at age 22, she opened a 401(k). She had heard the goal was to save 15% of your salary, so she did. But El-Amin had misread the retirement savings rule. The 15% goal includes the matching funds your employer offers. She thought you had to invest 15% of your own salary. That misapprehension served her well. After Apples employer match, El-Amin was setting aside 21% of her pre-tax salary. She didnt realize she was exceeding the savings goal until three years ago. Today, at age 60, the Atlanta resident has $1.45 million in retirement savings from more than three decades of work. The total is all the more impressive considering El-Amin took eight years off to raise her children. Even then, she made regular contributions to an IRA from a part-time real estate business. As a younger member of the baby boom, born in the mid-60s, El-Amin said she knew she was part of the big 401(k) experiment: Can people save for their own retirement? As workplace pensions faded in the 1980s and 1990s, retirement savings pivoted to 401(k) and IRAs, and employees were expected to create their own post-employment financial cushions. Its all on you, she said. Theres no one coming to save you. The ultimate retirement goal: Max out your 401(k) The ultimate goal in retirement savings, for those who can afford it, is to push your contributions to the legal limit. The maximum allowable contribution to a 401(k) account is $23,500 in 2025 for most employees. If youre willing to part with that much salary, you can save a lot of money in a very short time. But if you spend two or three decades continuously saving for retirement, even with smaller contributions, your odds of becoming a 401(k) millionaire improve dramatically. The reason is the stock market, which has delivered average annual returns over 10% in the past several decades. In an example provided by Investopedia, $100 invested in 1957 would be worth $82,000 in 2025. As a young engineer in Silicon Valley, Richard Eckman saw an ad for Fidelity Investments. It showed a woman biting into a big slice of pizza. In 35 years, the ad said, this pizza will be worth $14,800. He decided, then and there, to get serious about his 401(k). Eckman, from Rockford, Illinois, had finished college in 1984. He was a mechanical engineer, and the only jobs were on the West Coast. He drove to Mountain View, California, with $200 borrowed from his dad, and he took a job working on semiconductors. His starting salary was $34,000, which was good for the time. He opened a 401(k). When he saw the pizza ad, he raised his contribution rate to 15% of his income. The employer matched the first 3%. I think I inherited this idea from my father that saving money was just another bill that had to be paid, but you were paying yourself, he said. And sometimes there would not be food in the fridge, because I was so obsessed with saving, but I never backed off. An ad about pizza inspired Richard Eckman to get serious about retirement savings. He's now a 401(k) millionaire. Eckman changed employers over the years and progressed into sales engineering, a job that combines technical knowledge and sales skills. But he never missed a year of retirement saving. Two pieces of dumb luck, he said, helped push him into the ranks of 401(k) millionaires. The first came in 2008: He was changing brokers, so he moved all of his retirement savings into cash. Before he had reinvested it, the market crashed. He reinvested when the stock market was down 40% from its peak, effectively avoiding the Great Recession. The second episode wasnt just luck. In 2013, Eckman was standing in line at Costco, fuming about how long it was. So, I went home and I bought 100 shares of Costco, he said. The next month, the lines were longer, and I bought 100 more shares. Costco became Eckmans first 10x stock multiplying tenfold in value. And Eckman avoided some of the financial calamities that befall many other retirement savers, like spending a long time out of the job market or plundering his account to cover an emergency. There was no devastating divorce, he said. There were no disasters. No medical problems. No relatives in dire straits. So, I guess some of the good luck is there. Eckman retired a month before his 59th birthday, after training his replacement. Now 62 and living in San Jose, hes building a modest second home in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and making wine, 800 bottles a year for friends and family. I realized I can make more money, and it wouldnt matter, he said. But I cant make more time. Not all 401(k) millionaires have six-figure salaries Mary Woulf, Joy El-Amin and Richard Eckman all became 401(k) millionaires without doctor or lawyer salaries. Elisa Brown, 49, of Amarillo, Texas, became a 401(k) millionaire without ever earning six figures. Brown started her career in 2000 as a flight attendant with Southwest Airlines, a naive 24-year-old that basically just wanted to fly for free, she said. An old college friend asked if the airline offered a 401(k). Yes, she replied, but not until she had worked there for a year. OK, he told her: When you become eligible, open an account and contribute as much of your salary as the company would match. Southwest Airlines offered a dollar-for-dollar match on 401(k) contributions up to 7.3% of Browns salary. After a year, she opened an account. She thinks she started at 8% of her pre-tax pay. Later on, she raised her contributions to 10%. Out of sight, out of mind, she said. I never saw it. It just continued to grow. Twenty-five years later, the balance has flown past $1 million. Browns starting salary at Southwest was less than $20,000. She has never earned more than $100,000. She became a 401(k) millionaire because of three things: Her employers generous match, which amplified the value of her contributions; stock market index funds, which track the performance of the market as a whole; and a quarter-century of continuous contributions. And this: Brown never touched her retirement account. Doing nothing is doing something, she said. Brown eventually married the old college friend. Today, he is also a 401(k) millionaire. Together, theyre worth twice that much. We dont keep up with the Joneses, Brown said, summarizing their approach to money. She says she grew up poor, and she knows how to economize. Our net worth is over $2 million, and I went to the thrift store today. To make $1m in a 401(k), it helps to stay put If you want to become a 401(k) millionaire, it helps to spend your whole career at the same company, as Brown did. More than $1.7 trillion sits in lost or forgotten 401(k) accounts, often because a worker left a job and forgot to take the savings with them. It also helps if your company offers a retirement savings program in the first place. Nearly half of private-sector employees work for companies that do not offer retirement savings, according to AARP. Bruce Scott of Covina, California, had the good fortune to spend his entire career at a large company with a solid 401(k) plan. When Scott went to work for Pacific Bell in 1991, the employee union told him about the companys workplace retirement plan. Scott opened a 401(k) account, but he didnt feel he could spare even 5% of his paycheck, which the phone company would have matched. Scott was earning $37,000 a year. I was married, had two small children, he said. At that point in my life, I had just gotten out of the Army, was looking to establish myself. Bruce Scott (with wife Lisa) built a seven-figure retirement balance at Pacific Bell. Instead, Scott made himself a promise: Every time he got a pay raise, hed divert some of it to his 401(k). The pay raises came, and each time, Scott boosted his contribution rate by 1% or 2%. Eventually, he was contributing 16% of his salary. With the company match, his total savings rate was 22%. Thirty-one years later, when Scott retired from Pacific Bell, his 401(k) was worth $550,000. He cashed out his pension, which was worth another $545,000, and voila he was a 401(k) millionaire. He credits his union, which staged regular expert presentations on retirement saving for Pac Bell employees. The earlier you start planning, the more education you get, the less scary it is, and the more control youre gonna feel over the decision when it comes, he said of his retirement. Starting early is the biggest thing. Think of a 401(k) as money for your future self One reason why so few Americans become 401(k) millionaires is the temptation to raid a retirement account for an emergency, or for an everyday expense. The share of Vanguard retirement savers who make hardship withdrawals has nearly tripled in four years, from 1.7% in 2020 to 4.8% in 2024, the company reports. If you want to avoid that urge, retirement planners say, it helps to think of the money as belonging to someone else: Not you, but the future you. Jackie Borja of Los Angeles opened an IRA when she was 22. The inspiration came from her mom, who told her she should be putting money away. Borjas mother was a billing clerk, her father an industrial tools salesman. They kept cars for 20 years and never, ever bought a new TV. They opened savings accounts for their children. Jackie would marvel as her savings grew every year from birthday money. At 26, Borja got a job as a high school counselor, which gave her access to a 403(b), the public-employee version of a 401(k). Now, she had two retirement accounts. She maxed them out, contributing as much as she was allowed. The amount started growing over time, Borja said. But my mindset was that it was not my money. By maxing out her contributions to two retirement accounts, Borja was able to amass $1 million in retirement savings in about 20 years, all on a high school counselors salary. You need to start early, she said. Borja retired last year, at 55. Now 56, she has retirement money to burn. She will draw a school system pension at 62. Shell also get full Social Security, when the time comes, thanks to a recent law change. At some point, she may even start thinking of the money as hers. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Here are 6 Americans who became 401(k) millionaires Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All Sharif Osman Hadi to be buried beside national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam today Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All Taslima Nasreen on Hindu man's brutal lynching in Bangladesh: 'Falsely accused by coworker' Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to 'They tied the burnt torso and head...': Father of Hindu man lynched in Bangladesh Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to This is a good one, right?: Epstein files claim Trump nodded in agreement during exchange about 14-year-old Loans up to Follow us on: Loans up to US hits dozens of ISIS-linked sites in Syria in retaliation for deadly attack on American forces Loans up to OTHERS OTHERS co-presented by Follow us on: Loans up to My Account or or Hello, Login All Bangladesh on edge: Amnesty condemns lynching, US and Canada issue travel advisories US says it is very grateful to Pakistan for considering Gaza peacekeeping role The Justice Department released thousands of Epstein-related records that include references to massage practices and Ayurveda, while acknowledging the disclosure is incomplete. Why the Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the planet, and why it matters to everyone Israeli officials plan to brief President Donald Trump on possible new strikes against Iran, citing rapid missile production and rebuilding of damaged facilities. KLA Corporation (KLAC) is in the limelight yet again after Jefferies identified the chip equipment supplier as one of the top picks in the chip space for the year 2026, alongside industry stalwarts Nvidia (NVDA) and Broadcom (AVGO). This recommendation comes at a juncture where investor interest is rotating away from those with cyclical demand in the chip industry towards those with sustainable demand in AI infrastructure development. KLAC stock's movement has been positive, breaking past the $1,220 level and rising close to the upper part of the 52-week range. Although the majority of the story regarding AI innovation surrounds GPUs and custom silicon, analysts are pointing to the not-so-visible but crucial firms propelling the innovation of chips. KLA Corporation fits the bill nearly to perfection. More News from Barchart There are also broader trends that work to its favor. The semiconductor sector has been quite volatile over the last six months, but it appears that spending on AI, logic, memory, and packaging has been quite strong. Such a scenario would generally favor companies that offer mission-critical equipment over those that are product-cycle driven. About KLAC Stock KLA Corporation (KLAC) is a major supplier of process control solutions, inspection solutions, and yield management solutions to the semiconductor industry. They cater to foundries, logic chipmakers, those involved in DRAM and other memory products, and advanced packaging customers globally. As a company headquartered in Milpitas, in the state of California, KLA has a market capitalization in excess of $150 billion, making it a major part of the industry. KLAC stock has made a phenomenal performance over the last year. It is up substantially from a 52-week low of $550 and has been trading above $1,220 recently, although a bit short of the 52-week high of $1,284. This is substantially better than the performance of the S&P 500 Index ($SPX). www.barchart.com Valuation-wise, KLA is seen to be at around 35 times trailing earnings, with a multiple of around 34.6 times its forward earnings. Although it does seem a mite expensive in relation to its broader market, it is certainly much more justifiable from a profitability perspective. Its operating margins remain in excess of 30 percent, its return on equity in excess of 100 percent, and its free cash flows are quite robust. Additionally, its price/sales ratio of 13.2 times and price/cash flow ratio of around 32 times indicate that it does command a quality premium. December 20, 2025 The EUs Russian Asset Scam Failed But Warmongers Still Grab Others Money On September 10, during her speech on the State of the European Union, the President of the EU commission Ursula von der Leyen introduced the idea of robbing Russian state assets which are currently frozen in Europe under EU sanctions: This is Russias war. And it is Russia that should pay. This is why we need to work urgently on a new solution to finance Ukraines war effort on the basis of the immobilised Russian assets. With the cash balances -associated to these Russian assets, we can provide Ukraine with a Reparations Loan. The assets themselves will not be touched. And the risk will have to be carried collectively. Ukraine will only pay back the loan once Russia pays for the reparations. The money will help Ukraine already today. The idea was too illegal and stupid to get much traction. But when Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany started to back it others picked up on the theme. In a September 26 op-ed in the Financial Times Merz supported the idea (archived) but proposed that all money spent under the plan should go to the owners of European weapon factories: For Germany, it will be important that these additional funds are solely used to finance Ukraines military equipment, not for general budgetary purposes. Payments should be disbursed in tranches. Member states and Ukraine would jointly determine which materiel is procured. In my view, such a comprehensive programme must also help to strengthen and expand the European defence industry. Merz wanted Military Keynesianism, which is an economic policy based on the position that government should raise military spending to boost economic growth, to push for economic growth. Usually governments have to go further into debt to finance such endeavors. But Merz had already exceeded the budget limits and more debt is not something that German voters support. To use the Russian assets for military Keynesianism was only a disguise. Russia was and is very likely to win the conflict in Ukraine and the winner of a war does not pay reparations. When the war is over the frozen Russias assets will have to be given back to their owner. Any loan to a bankrupted Ukraine, based on Russian assets or not, would thus have to be paid by European taxpayers. Thats why I headlined: Another Crazy Idea On How To Steal Russias Assets: Make EU Taxpayers Pay For It MoA, Sep 26 2025 Most of the Russian assets are frozen in Belgium and it was the Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever who immediately rejected the idea: Speaking in the margins of the UN General Assembly, Mr De Wever said that Chancellor Merzs proposal will never happen. The Belgian Prime Minister argues that seizing central bank assets of a third country would set a dangerous precedent If countries see that central bank money can disappear when European politicians see fit, they might decide to withdraw their reserves from the eurozone. Despite the resistance to and problems of the idea, UvdL and Merz invested three month to push the it. They threatened Brussels, launched a campaign of anti-Russian propaganda and came up with fake legal reasoning to justify their attempt of the biggest bank robbery in history On Thursday night, December 18, their plan crashed: European governments failed to reach a deal on sending Russian frozen state assets to Ukraine after a 16-hour summit in Brussels, in a major setback for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Countries were forced instead to agree on an emergency backup plan based on EU joint debt that was pushed for weeks by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and was deemed a long shot until hours before the deal was done. In a further blow to EU unity, three countries Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic wont take part. Though the accord allows everyone to claim victory, this wasnt the solution that Germany and the Commission had been pushing for in the lead-up to this summit. For weeks, the EU executive and Berlin have been pressuring member countries to finalize a controversial plan to use up to 210 billion Russian frozen state assets to finance Ukraine. De Wever ensured once again that didnt happen after already derailing the Russian assets scheme during a previous summit in October. Instead, leaders agreed to jointly borrow 90 billion to fund a loan to Ukraine over two years. This will be guaranteed by the common EU budget. The original plan was to take 135 billion from the Russia assets of which 45 billion would be used by Ukraine to pay back an older loan it had received from the EU. 90 billion would thus go towards Ukraines budget. The new plan is to give Ukraine 90 billion. How much of that will have to be used to pay back the old loan to the EU has not yet been mentioned. Could it be that the EU will have to pay for the total 135 billion? Why didnt anyone write about it? Ukraine will only have to pay back the new loan if Russia agrees to pay reparations to Ukraine. As Prime Minster Viktor Orban of Hungary notes: For this money to ever be recovered, Russia would have to be defeated. That is not the logic of peace but the logic of war. A war loan inevitably makes its financiers interested in the continuation and escalation of the conflict, because defeat would also mean a financial loss. From this moment on, we are no longer talking merely about political or moral decisions, but about hard financial constraints that push Europe in one direction: into war. The Brusselian war logic is therefore intensifying. It is not slowing down, not easing, but becoming institutionalised. The risk today is greater than ever before, because the continuation of the war is now coupled with a financial interest. As Russia can not be defeated by the rest of Europe (not even with U.S. support) the 90 billion will have to be paid by EU tax payers. One wonders how national parliaments of already overextended states (see France) will handle this issue. Those are not the only problem with the new loan. No details have been spelled out yet how it will be structured or financed. The official Conclusions of the EU meeting ominously notes : The European Council will revert to this issue at its next meeting. It is therefor unlikely that this was the last time that conflicts within the EU about loans to Ukraine will break out. Comments With the business potentially at an important milestone, we thought we'd take a closer look at Younited Financial S.A.'s (AMS:YOUNI) future prospects. Younited Financial S.A. provides consumer credit services in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. The 363m market-cap companys loss lessened since it announced a 83m loss in the full financial year, compared to the latest trailing-twelve-month loss of 80m, as it approaches breakeven. As path to profitability is the topic on Younited Financial's investors mind, we've decided to gauge market sentiment. We've put together a brief outline of industry analyst expectations for the company, its year of breakeven and its implied growth rate. AI is about to change healthcare. These 20 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10bn in marketcap - there is still time to get in early. Expectations from some of the Dutch Consumer Finance analysts is that Younited Financial is on the verge of breakeven. They expect the company to post a final loss in 2025, before turning a profit of 13m in 2026. Therefore, the company is expected to breakeven just over a year from now. How fast will the company have to grow each year in order to reach the breakeven point by 2026? Working backwards from analyst estimates, it turns out that they expect the company to grow 65% year-on-year, on average, which signals high confidence from analysts. Should the business grow at a slower rate, it will become profitable at a later date than expected. ENXTAM:YOUNI Earnings Per Share Growth December 20th 2025 Given this is a high-level overview, we wont go into details of Younited Financial's upcoming projects, but, bear in mind that typically a high forecast growth rate is not unusual for a company that is currently undergoing an investment period. View our latest analysis for Younited Financial Before we wrap up, theres one aspect worth mentioning. The company has managed its capital prudently, with debt making up 26% of equity. This means that it has predominantly funded its operations from equity capital, and its low debt obligation reduces the risk around investing in the loss-making company. Next Steps: There are key fundamentals of Younited Financial which are not covered in this article, but we must stress again that this is merely a basic overview. For a more comprehensive look at Younited Financial, take a look at Younited Financial's company page on Simply Wall St. We've also put together a list of essential aspects you should look at: Historical Track Record: What has Younited Financial's performance been like over the past? Go into more detail in the past track record analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of our analysis for more clarity. Management Team: An experienced management team on the helm increases our confidence in the business take a look at who sits on Younited Financial's board and the CEOs background. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks 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. American investors, led by Oracle, take control of TikTok in $14 billion deal to avert U.S. ban TikTok signs binding deal to create a new U.S.-led joint venture. American investors will own 80.1% of the new independent entity. Oracle will act as the trusted security partner for U.S. user data. The agreement aims to comply with U.S. law and avert a ban. The deal concludes years of negotiation but still needs Chinese approval. After years of high-stakes political drama and national security debates, the future of TikTok in the United States is finally coming into focus. On December 18, TikTok CEO Shou Chew announced to employees that binding agreements have been signed to create a new U.S. joint venture, majority-owned by American investors. This deal, expected to close on January 22, 2026, is a direct effort to comply with U.S. law and end the long-running saga that threatened to ban the app used by more than 170 million Americans. The core of the agreement involves a coalition of American and global investors taking an 80.1% stake in the new entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC. This group is led by software giant Oracle, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX. Chinese parent company ByteDance will retain a 19.9% stake. The White House has stated this arrangement meets the divestiture requirements of the 2024 law known as PAFACA, which mandated a sale or ban. A structure designed for security Upon closing, this new U.S. company will operate as an independent entity. According to Chew's internal memo, it will have authority over "U.S. data protection, algorithm security, content moderation and software assurance." A new seven-member board, with a majority of American directors, will govern these critical functions. Oracle will serve as the "trusted security partner," responsible for auditing compliance and safeguarding U.S. user data within its domestic cloud systems. This structure aims to directly address the central concern that has driven U.S. policy for years: that the Chinese government could access American user data or influence the content seen by millions. The deal values TikTok's U.S. operations at roughly $14 billion, as noted by Vice President JD Vance in September. While this move alleviates the immediate threat of a ban, it does not completely sever all ties to China, leaving some critics unsatisfied. The long road to a deal This announcement marks a pivotal moment in a conflict that began in 2020 under President Donald Trump. Trump first attempted to ban the app, citing national security risks, and later demanded ByteDance divest. The path was never straightforward. As recently as March of this year, Trump demonstrated a pragmatic, deal-oriented approach, suggesting he might offer "a tariff reduction or something similar" to facilitate negotiations with China over TikTok's fate. Trump had already extended the divestment deadline once, pushing it to April, and indicated he might do so again, stating, "We will finalize a deal, but if it's not completed, it's not a significant issue; we can extend it." This flexibility contrasted with earlier statements from officials like Vice President Vance, who had stressed the importance of avoiding extensions. The final agreement, delayed until January 2026, reflects that negotiated, extended process. Unresolved questions persist Despite the binding agreements, significant questions persist. Chinese regulators have not yet approved the transaction. Furthermore, details about the ongoing business relationship between the new joint venture and ByteDance remain unclear. Critics, including some Republican lawmakers, argue the deal may not fully meet the legal standard of having "no operational relationship" between TikTok U.S. and ByteDance. The deal also outlines a complex ownership pie. Exactly 50% will be held by new investors, with Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX each taking 15%. Affiliates of certain existing ByteDance investors will hold 30.1%, and ByteDance itself keeps 19.9%. This intricate setup is the product of arduous negotiations balancing U.S. security demands with commercial and geopolitical realities. For the average user, the immediate experience of scrolling through TikTok may not change. But the ownership and control behind the screen will be fundamentally different. The creation of an American-led board with authority over data and algorithms represents a substantial shift from the previous structure that so alarmed intelligence officials. The signing of these agreements turns the page on one of the most contentious chapters in the intersection of technology, national security, and global politics. It showcases a resolution achieved not through an abrupt ban, but through protracted and complex negotiation, a process that itself became a defining feature of the saga. While the final chapter awaits regulatory approvals and operational details, the framework is now set, promising a more secure future for one of America's most influential social media platforms. Sources for this article include: Finance.Yahoo.com Reuters.com NYTimes.com China erupts over $11.1B U.S. arms sale to Taiwan, warns of military confrontation and war The U.S. approved an $11.1 billion weapons package for Taiwan, prompting China to warn of potential military confrontation. China condemned the deal as a violation of its sovereignty and accused Taiwan of seeking independence through force. Taiwan is accelerating defense spending to counter Chinas military pressure, with plans to increase funding to 5% of GDP by 2030. The U.S. claims the arms sale supports Taiwans defensive capabilities, while China warns it will backfire. Tensions are escalating, with Chinas history of retaliation raising fears of further military posturing and potential conflict. The geopolitical fault lines in the Taiwan Strait deepened this week after the U.S. approved an unprecedented $11.1 billion weapons package for Taiwan, prompting Beijing to issue a shocking warning to "immediately stop" arming the island or risk pushing the region into "military confrontation and war." The massive deal, which is currently awaiting congressional approval, includes 82 HIMARS rocket systems, 420 ATACMS long-range missiles, anti-tank weapons, howitzers, and military software, all of which is equipment designed to bolster Taiwans ability to repel a potential Chinese invasion. Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory, called the move a "dangerous act" that violates its sovereignty. A powder keg in the Pacific Chinas foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun condemned the sale, stating that Washingtons support for "Taiwan independence" would "only end up backfiring." He accused Taiwans leadership of "seeking independence through force" and warned that the arms deal would turn the island into a "powder keg." The package marks the second major U.S. arms sale to Taiwan since President Donald Trump returned to office in January, following a $330 million deal in November. If approved, it would be one of the largest in history, rivaling the $18 billion sale authorized under George W. Bush in 2001. Taiwans race to deter China Taiwan, facing near-daily Chinese military drills and record incursions by PLA aircraft and warships, has ramped up defense spending. President Lai Ching-tes government plans to increase military funding to over 3% of GDP next year and 5% by 2030, with an additional $40 billion earmarked for defense spending including air defense systems. The U.S. State Department defended the sale, stating it would "advance U.S. national, economic, and security interests" by helping Taiwan maintain a "credible defensive capability." Analysts note that the HIMARS and ATACMS systems, proven in Ukraine, could give Taiwan the ability to strike deep into Chinese staging areasa capability Beijing has long opposed. Beijings history of retaliation China has a track record of responding to U.S. arms sales with military posturing, including large-scale drills and sanctions on defense firms. While no immediate countermeasures were announced, analysts expect further PLA exercises near Taiwan in the coming weeks. The sale comes as the U.S. pushes Taiwan to adopt "asymmetric warfare" tactics such as mobile, cost-effective weapons to counter Chinas numerical superiority. Taiwans defense ministry called the deal a "significant boost" to its deterrence strategy. A high-stakes game The escalation underscores the high-stakes standoff between Washington and Beijing over Taiwans future. While the U.S. maintains a "One China" policy, it is legally bound to provide Taiwan with defensive arms in a commitment that has drawn bipartisan support in Congress. Yet Chinas warnings are growing sharper. Guo Jiakun reiterated that "using Taiwan to contain China is absolutely doomed to fail." With tensions rising, the risk of miscalculation looms large, leaving the world to wonder whether diplomacy or conflict will prevail in the Taiwan Strait. For Taiwan, the arms deal is a lifeline. For China, its a provocation. And for the U.S., its a test of resolve in an era of great-power competition. As the 30-day congressional review period begins, the fragile peace in East Asia is up in the air. The next move belongs to Beijing. And history shows that when China issues warnings, it rarely bluffs. Sources for this article include: SHTFPlan.com FoxNews.com France24.com Reuters.com Coffees second life: How your morning brews waste can detoxify heavy metals from water Scientists repurpose used coffee grounds into a water purification material. The grounds are transformed into a highly absorbent biochar or used raw. These materials effectively remove toxic heavy metals like lead from water. The process tackles both global coffee waste and water pollution simultaneously. It offers a low-cost, sustainable blueprint for decentralized water treatment. You brew it, you drink it, and you toss the used grounds in the trash. That daily ritual, repeated billions of times globally, creates a mountain of waste. But what if that discarded pile held the key to cleaning up some of our most persistent water pollutants? Researchers at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom have brewed up an ingenious answer, demonstrating that spent coffee grounds can be transformed into a powerful, eco-friendly material capable of stripping toxic heavy metals like lead, copper, and zinc from contaminated water. This research arrives at a critical time. Global coffee consumption is soaring, exceeding 176 million 60-kilogram bags in the 2021-22 period alone. This demand generates a staggering amount of spent coffee grounds, a porous, plant-based waste product typically destined for landfills. Simultaneously, heavy metal contamination of water sources remains a serious environmental and public health concern worldwide. The Loughborough teams work tackles both problems at once, turning a waste stream into a water treatment solution. From waste to water cleaner The scientists explored two primary methods. The first involves a process called pyrolysis, where used grounds collected from the universitys own cafeteria are heated in a low-oxygen environment. This transforms the organic waste into a carbon-rich substance known as biochar. By carefully optimizing the temperature and duration of this heating process, the researchers created a biochar that performed spectacularly, removing up to 98 percent of lead from water in tests. The biochar could hold 4.9 milligrams of lead per gram of material. Dr. Monika Mahajan, lead author of the biochar study published in Biomass and Bioenergy, explained the significance. "This work demonstrates how an everyday waste such as spent coffee grounds can be transformed into a high-value, sustainable adsorbent for removing toxic metals from water," she said. "By optimizing the decomposition conditions, we were able to significantly enhance the material's performance while keeping the process low-cost and environmentally friendly." Simple, raw, and effective Perhaps even more compelling is the second approach, which requires almost no processing at all. A separate study, published in Clean Technologies, found that raw, spent coffee grounds can be used directly to filter water contaminated with lower concentrations of metals like copper and zinc. This offers a remarkably simple and low-energy option for certain applications. For higher concentrations of contamination, the team found that mixing the coffee waste with another abundant agricultural residue, rice husk, improved the filtration performance. Dr. Basmah Bushra, lead author on this second study, emphasized the circular economy potential. "Our studies show that what we often dismiss as waste, like spent coffee grounds, can actually become powerful materials in tackling environmental pollution," Bushra said. "By turning waste into adsorption material, we can not only reduce landfill burdens but also create affordable materials for cleaning up contaminants." The combined research presents a flexible toolkit. Communities or systems dealing with severe lead contamination could employ the high-efficiency biochar. For ongoing treatment of water with lower-level metal pollution, raw grounds could provide a cheap and accessible filter medium. In all, the experiments showed that more than 96 percent of targeted metals could be removed from water using these coffee-based materials. Dr. Diganta B. Das, a Reader in Porous Media at Loughborough University who oversaw the research, praised the results. "They have worked incredibly hard to deliver these results and show that coffee waste is not a waste at allit can be transformed into high-value materials, enhance material circularity in our day-to-day activities and clean the environment," he said. Historically, water treatment has relied on complex chemical processes or expensive manufactured filters. This research taps into a long tradition of seeking natural, affordable adsorbents (materials that trap pollutants on their surface) like clay, banana peels, or rice husks. Coffee grounds, with their global availability and inherent porous structure, now join that list with promising, data-backed results. The implications are broad. This isn't just a laboratory curiosity; it's a practical blueprint for a sustainable technology. It offers a potential path for decentralized water treatment, especially in regions where industrial pollution or aging infrastructure leaches metals into water supplies. By valorizing a universal waste product, the method supports a true circular economy, where one industrys discard becomes anothers vital resource. So the next time you finish your cup, consider the latent power in those soggy grounds. They represent more than just the end of a ritual; they are a symbol of a smarter, more sustainable approach to our environmental challenges. This research proves that solutions to modern problems don't always require exotic tech or massive budgets. Sometimes, the answer is already in our trash, waiting for a little scientific ingenuity to give it a profound second life. Sources for this article include: TechXplore.com InterestingEngineering.com BiofuelsDigest.com Echoes of Liberty: A wake-up call for freedom in an age of tyranny "Echoes of Liberty" argues that mainstream education and media are tools of indoctrination, omitting historical examples of government brutality (like COINTELPRO) and using propaganda to expand state control under terms like "national security." It presents the Federal Reserve as a privately-controlled entity created to engineer boom-bust cycles that enrich elites, blaming it for orchestrating the Great Depression and the 2008 financial crisis. The book claims governments use false flag operations, such as the Gulf of Tonkin incident and 9/11, to justify wars and erode civil liberties through measures like the PATRIOT Act. As the solution, it champions moving away from centralized systems through sound money (precious metals, Bitcoin), local governance, food sovereignty and privacy technology. Positioned as a manual for resistance, the book aims to provide the historical knowledge and practical steps for individuals to reclaim personal freedom and self-sufficiency. If you've ever felt like something is deeply wrong with the world that governments lie, corporations manipulate and history has been rewritten then "Echoes of Liberty: Unmasking History, Economics, and the Fight for Human Freedom" is the book you need to read. This isn't just another political manifesto; it's a meticulously researched expose that connects the dots between historical deception, economic enslavement and the globalist agenda to erase individual liberty. The book opens with a bombshell revelation: modern education is a tool of indoctrination, designed to erase inconvenient truths about freedom. The Founding Fathers men like Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Patrick Henry warned against centralized power, yet their words are sanitized in textbooks. The Whiskey Rebellion, the Bonus Army suppression and COINTELPRO are deliberately omitted because they expose government brutality. One of the most chilling sections details how propaganda shapes public perception. The Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Operation Mockingbird infiltrated major media outlets, ensuring narratives aligned with government agendas. The book argues that terms like "national security" and "public health" are linguistic traps Trojan horses for expanding state control. They create crises, you pay the price The chapter on the Federal Reserve reads like a financial thriller. In 1910, a secret meeting at Jekyll Island birthed the Fed, a private banking cartel masquerading as a government institution. The book dismantles the myth that the Fed "stabilizes" the economy, exposing its role in engineered boom-bust cycles that enrich elites while impoverishing the masses. The Great Depression wasn't a failure of capitalism it was orchestrated. The Fed tightened the money supply, triggering bank runs, while Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal prolonged suffering through price controls and gold confiscation. The 2008 crash? Another Fed-created disaster, where Wall Street was bailed out while Main Street drowned in foreclosures. The book's investigation into false flag operations is jaw-dropping. From the Gulf of Tonkin lie (used to escalate Vietnam) to the orchestrated chaos of 9/11, governments repeatedly fabricate crises to justify wars and erode civil liberties. The PATRIOT Act, sold as anti-terrorism, became a surveillance dragnetproof that fear is the ultimate tool of control. Even the War on Drugs is exposed as a racist, profit-driven scheme. Richard Nixon's advisor admitted it targeted anti-war activists and black communities. Meanwhile, Big Pharma floods streets with opioids while the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) harasses natural medicine advocates. The path to freedom: Decentralization and self-sufficiency "Echoes of Liberty" doesn't just diagnose the disease. It prescribes the cure, in the form of decentralization. The book champions: Sound Money: Gold, silver and Bitcoin as hedges against fiat currency collapse. Local Governance: Communities resisting federal overreach, like the Free State Project. Food Sovereignty: Growing your own food to escape toxic industrial agriculture. Privacy Tech: Encrypted communication, VPNs [virtual private networks] and decentralized platforms to evade surveillance. The chapter on self-sufficient communities is particularly inspiring, showcasing Amish resilience and modern eco-villages thriving off-grid. The message is clear: True freedom requires independence from centralized systems. "Echoes of Liberty" is more than a book; it's a manual for resistance. With its explosive revelations, historical clarity and actionable solutions, it's a must-read for anyone who refuses to accept the lies of the elite. If you believe freedom is worth fighting for, this book will arm you with the knowledge and the courage to reclaim it. Grab a copy of "Echoes of Liberty: Unmasking History, Economics, and the Fight for Human Freedom" via this link. Discover this book and other good reads at Books.BrightLearn.AI, with thousands of books and counting all available to freely download, read and share. The decentralized BrightLearn.AI engine also lets readers create their own books, empowering them to share insights and truths with the world. Watch the Health Ranger Mike Adams and Tom Woods discussing liberty, economics, history, fiat currency and artificial intelligence concerns in this video. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: BrightLearn.ai Books.BrightLearn.ai Brighteon.com How forced immunizations, fraudulent science and corporate greed have endangered public health From smallpox in 1798 to COVID-19, vaccines have consistently caused mass injuries (brain damage, autoimmune disorders, death) while governments and institutions deny, cover up and enforce mandates. Globalist entities (WEF, Bill Gates) openly discuss reducing the population, with COVID vaccines serving as a slow-kill mechanism targeting fertility, immune dysfunction and long-term degenerative disease. The CDC, FDA and WHO protect pharmaceutical interests, ignoring documented adverse events (autism, SIDS, seizures) listed in vaccine inserts while silencing independent researchers and whistleblowers. Vaccines like DPT and COVID shots correlate with rising neurological disorders (ADHD, autism, violence), cognitive decline and societal breakdownevidence suppressed since the 20th century. Public backlash against mandates and WHO treaties signals growing awareness, with demands for informed consent, unbiased safety studies and accountability for those orchestrating medical tyranny. Throughout history, humanity has witnessed the same tragic patterns repeatvaccines introduced with promises of safety and efficacy, only to later reveal devastating consequences. From the smallpox vaccine in 1798 to the COVID-19 shots in 2021, the cycle remains eerily consistent: mass injuries, institutional denial and a society acclimated to suffering. A forgotten legacy of harm The smallpox vaccine, the first widely mandated immunization, was quickly linked to outbreaks of the very disease it claimed to prevent. Doctors observed strange, debilitating injuriesmany resembling encephalitis (brain inflammation) and encephalopathy (brain damage). Yet, rather than acknowledging the risks, governments doubled down, enforcing mandates while cases surged. This pattern repeated with early rabies, typhoid and tuberculosis vaccines in the 1800s and early 1900s. Poor quality control led to "hot lots"batches that killed or severely injured recipients. Doctors documented cranial nerve damage, seizures, paralysis and intellectual decline, yet these reports were buried. By the 1940s, the original DPT (diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus) vaccine entered the market, notorious for causing brain inflammation. Generations raised under mass vaccination saw skyrocketing rates of learning disabilities, hyperactivity and antisocial behaviorconditions rarely seen before. The cover-ups continue From the 1950s to the 1970s, rushed vaccineslike the polio and swine flu shotswere pushed during "emergencies," only to later be exposed as dangerous. Scandals erupted, victims were compensated and then silence. The public forgot, and the cycle repeated. In 1986, lawsuits over DPT-induced brain damage and sudden infant deaths forced Congress to pass the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, shielding manufacturers from liability while pretending to help injured families. The result? A gold rush of new vaccines, ballooning schedules and skyrocketing chronic illness. The anthrax vaccine deployed during the Gulf War injured over 100,000 servicemen, causing "Gulf War Syndrome." The HPV (Gardasil) vaccine, falsely marketed as preventing cervical cancer (which kills only 1 in 38,000 women annually), triggered autoimmune disordersyet the CDC and FDA protected it at all costs. And then came COVID-19. The parallels are undeniable: rushed development, suppressed safety concerns and a tsunami of injuriesheart failure, neurological damage, infertility and deathall while governments and media gaslighted the public. The evidence they don't want you to see Despite relentless suppression, independent researchers have uncovered disturbing truths: Clinical trials show harm Studies prove vaccines cause autoimmune disorders, with each subsequent dose increasing risk. Large datasets confirm dangers A recent analysis of 99 million people found COVID shots 2-7 times more likely to cause life-threatening conditions than traditional vaccines. Unvaccinated children are healthier Pediatrician Paul Thomas, MD, compared his patients and found unvaccinated children had dramatically lower rates of asthma, allergies, ADHD and autism. His study was retracted, his license revoked. Mechanisms of injury exist Vaccines trigger microstrokes, autoimmune attacks on the brain and unresolved cellular stress responsesexplaining conditions like autism, seizures and cognitive decline. The societal cost of mass vaccination In his groundbreaking book, Harris Coulter argued that vaccines didn't just cause autismthey reshaped society by damaging brains en masse. Symptoms of minimal brain damage (MBD)hyperactivity, poor impulse control, learning disabilitiesmirrored post-encephalitic disorders. By the 1960s, crime rates doubled, SAT scores plummeted, and schools reported unprecedented violence. Coulter linked this to the DPT vaccine's neurological damageparticularly in African American boys, whom the CDC later admitted were more susceptible to vaccine-induced autism. Today, we see the same patterns: Rising mental illness ADHD, depression and violent outbursts correlate with vaccine schedules. Cognitive decline Once-standard education levels are now unattainable for many. Sociopathic behavior Mass shooters often have documented brain injuries or psychiatric drug use (linked to vaccine-triggered autoimmunity). Breaking the cycle The medical establishment operates as a death cultfunded by Big Pharma, silencing dissent and mandating toxic interventions. But awareness is growing. Parents, doctors and researchers are fighting back, demanding: Informed consent No forced medical procedures. Independent safety studies No more industry-funded fraud. Accountability Prosecution for those who hid vaccine injuries. The truth can no longer be suppressed. As history repeats, the question remains: Will humanity wake up before the next vaccine disaster strikes? The choice is ours. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the pharmaceutical industry and captured regulatory agencies silence vaccine injury victims because admitting harm would expose their decades-long fraud, threatening their profits and control over public health policy. Forced immunizations, fraudulent science and corporate greed have systematically endangered lives while suppressing truth-tellersall to protect a lucrative, corrupt system that prioritizes power over human wellbeing. Watch this video about the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine being pulled off the market after being linked to blood clots and turbo cancer. This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: MidWesternDoctor.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com Putin deploys Oreshnik hypersonic missiles to Belarus, escalating NATO tensions Russia is deploying advanced Oreshnik missiles to Belarus, a move that significantly increases tensions with NATO due to Belarus' proximity to NATO members. The missile has a 4,000 km range, can carry multiple nuclear warheads, and can strike European capitals like Warsaw and Brussels with little warning. Russian President Vladimir Putin claims the Oreshnik travels at Mach 10, making it extremely difficult to intercept with existing NATO air defenses (e.g., Germany's Arrow-3). The missile was first tested in Ukraine (Dnipro, 2024) and delivers destruction comparable to a low-yield nuclear weapon without crossing the nuclear threshold. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko confirmed the missile's deployment, reducing the strategic buffer between Russia and NATO. Belarus already hosts Russian tactical nukes, reinforcing Russia's ability to threaten Europe from NATO's doorstep. Russia's updated nuclear doctrine (2024) treats any NATO-backed conventional attack as a joint nuclear threat, lowering the threshold for nuclear retaliation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warns the missile endangers all of Europe, while U.K. officials reportedly reconsider deep strikes into Russia. The Oreshnik reshapes military deterrence, forcing NATO to either adapt defenses or risk vulnerability. Putin warns the West against using "the language of force," signaling Russia's readiness for a prolonged standoff unless diplomacy prevails. Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed the deployment of Russia's advanced Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile system to Belarus, marking a significant escalation in military tensions with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The missile, capable of carrying multiple independently targetable nuclear warheads with a range of 4,000 kilometers, poses a direct threat to European capitals, including Warsaw and Brussels. BrightU.AI's Enoch notes that Russia's deployment of the Oreshnik ballistic missile represents a significant advancement in its military capabilities, with potential implications for global geopolitics and strategic stability. The deployment of the Oreshnik missile strengthens Russia's strategic deterrence and defense capabilities. By fielding a hypersonic weapon, Russia can better counter potential threats from the U.S. and its allies, particularly in Europe. The missile's ability to strike targets with little to no warning also serves as a deterrent to potential adversaries, as they must now consider the possibility of a rapid, devastating attack. Putin's announcement: A "game-changer" in modern warfare Speaking at a high-profile Defense Ministry meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 17, Putin declared that the Oreshnik would be operational by the end of 2025, with Belarus receiving priority deployment. "By the end of this year, the new medium-range missile system with a hypersonic missile Oreshnik will be put on combat duty," Putin stated. The Russian leader emphasized that the missile's hypersonic speed (Mach 10) and maneuverability render it nearly impossible to intercept, undermining NATO's existing air defense systems, such as Germany's Arrow-3. Belarus as a strategic launch site Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko confirmed the missile's arrival on Thursday, Dec. 18, stating "the Oreshnik has been deployed to Belarus and has entered active combat duty." This move drastically reduces the buffer zone between Russian missile forces and NATO territory, placing Ukrainian cities and European capitals within immediate striking distance. Belarus has already served as a staging ground for Russian forces during the Ukraine invasion, hosting tactical nuclear weapons since 2024. First combat test: A warning to the West The Oreshnik was first unveiled in November 2024 during a strike on Dnipro, Ukraine, which Putin described as a "successful combat test." "We will keep working on those systems. Tune them and improve them, but we already have them," Putin boasted. Analysts suggest the missile's conventional variant delivers destruction comparable to a low-yield nuclear weapon, raising fears that Russia could use it against NATO-backed Ukrainian targets without crossing the nuclear threshold. NATO's dilemma: A new era of strategic deterrence The Oreshnik's deployment has alarmed Western leaders, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warning: "The missile's range poses a threat to Europe." Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrey Kelin claimed the missile has already influenced British policy, forcing London to reconsider deep strikes into Russian territory. Escalating nuclear doctrine Russia's revised nuclear doctrine (2024) now considers any conventional attack supported by a nuclear power as a joint nuclear threat, effectively extending Russia's nuclear umbrella over Belarus. This policy lowers the threshold for potential nuclear escalation, particularly if NATO-supplied weapons strike deep inside Russia. Expert skepticism vs. Kremlin claims While Putin insists the Oreshnik is unstoppable, Western analysts remain skeptical. Some question whether Russia can sustain mass production, estimating a capacity of only six missiles per year. However, given Russia's rapid militarization since the Ukraine invasion, NATO must now reassess its deterrence strategy in Eastern Europe. A new Cold War front The Oreshnik's deployment signals Russia's intent to project power across Europe, leveraging Belarus as a forward base. With hypersonic speed, nuclear capability and evasion of air defenses, the missile reshapes the strategic balanceforcing NATO to either adapt or risk vulnerability. As Putin warned: "Those who convinced themselves that Russia can be spoken to in the language of force are fully responsible for those missed opportunities." The West now faces a critical choicediplomatic de-escalation or preparing for a prolonged military standoff. Watch the video below about Russia's new hypersonic missile Oreshnik. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: RT.com TheMoscowTimes.com MilitaryWatchMagazine.com TheKyivIndependent.com LosAngelesTimes.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com The uptake of utility-scale battery storage has grown significantly in recent years as more countries switch to renewables. Battery storage ensures that grids powered by less reliable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, can continue to deliver a stable supply of clean energy through the day and night. More from Yahoo Scout What challenges limit battery storage expansion worldwide? Which markets show the most growth potential? What's driving the global battery storage boom? How are different regions performing in battery adoption? The battery storage boom of recent years has been driven largely by the falling costs of lithium-ion batteries, which have made it possible for utilities worldwide to invest in more batteries. The cost of batteries has fallen by around 90 percent in the last 15 years, as commercial production has expanded. China is currently the worlds biggest battery producer, but several other regions are developing their manufacturing capacity, such as Europe, India, and the United States. Energy storage additions worldwide are expected to break another record this year, driven by China and the U.S. Global annual energy storage deployment (excluding pumped hydropower plants) is expected to reach 92 GW in 2025, which is 23 percent higher than in 2024. China will contribute more than 50 percent of this capacity increase, while the U.S. will account for around 14 percent. The U.S. contribution of energy storage is impressive, given the difficult year faced by the wind and solar energy industries under the Trump administration. BloombergNEF expects cumulative energy storage capacity in 2035 to reach 2 terawatts, at eight times higher than the level in 2025. In the United States, battery expansion has been met with mixed success. It is still difficult to convince utilities in certain areas of the country to invest in battery storage. Meanwhile, policymakers are often lukewarm about the technology due to safety concerns. Some local governments have even banned big batteries over safety fears. For example, compared to the speed of renewable energy expansion, the pace at which batteries are being rolled out in the Southeast remains slow. However, in California, which previously asked residents to reduce their power usage during times of peak demand, battery storage capacity has risen by roughly 30 times since 2018, contributing to greater grid stability. California, Texas, and Arizona alone account for around 80 percent of all U.S. battery storage capacity. Now, across the U.S., storage capacity outnumbers gas power in the queues for future grid additions by a factor of 6.5, according to data compiled by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Several U.S. energy companies that have invested in battery power have been developing their capacity for several years, betting on the future demand in various regions. The storage developer Eolian began developing projects around major metro areas in the western U.S. starting in 2016 and putting the queue positions in that then became operational in 2025, the firms CEO, Aaron Zubaty, said. This includes the 200-MW coastal battery site at a substation in Portland, Oregon. Moves like this have helped the United States to achieve its 35 GW of battery storage by 2025 goal, despite widespread scepticism. U.S. escalates maritime war on narco-terrorism, killing eight in latest Pacific strikes The Trump administration has intensified maritime attacks, conducting at least 25 lethal strikes since September, killing 94+ alleged narco-terrorists in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean, targeting vessels linked to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Critics warn of extrajudicial killings, lack of due process and potential violations of international law, particularly after a "double tap" strike in September where survivors were reportedly targeted. Trump signed an executive order labeling fentanyl and its precursors as weapons of mass destruction, militarizing the opioid crisis response and expanding authority to target foreign traffickers. The administration has redefined drug traffickers as "narco-terrorists," justifying military-led strikes instead of traditional interdiction, raising fears of mission creep and destabilization in Latin America. While the U.S. accuses Maduro of collaborating with cartels, concrete proof remains disputed, drawing comparisons to past U.S. interventions and fueling concerns about unchecked executive power. The Trump administration has intensified its military campaign against suspected drug-trafficking networks, launching lethal strikes that killed eight alleged narco-terrorists aboard three vessels in the Eastern Pacific on Monday, Dec. 15. The Pentagon confirmed the operation, marking the latest in a series of at least 25 maritime attacks since early Septembera dramatic escalation in Washington's hardline approach to dismantling narcotics networks it claims are backed by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and other foreign actors. According to U.S. Southern Command, War Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the strikes, which targeted boats operating in international waters along known smuggling routes. Three individuals were killed on the first vessel, two on the second and three on the third. The Department of War alleges the boats were operated by U.S.-designated terrorist organizations and were actively transporting narcotics at the time of the attacks. Since September, U.S. forces have conducted a relentless maritime offensive, killing at least 94 suspected traffickers in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean. The administration has framed the campaign as a necessary response to the fentanyl crisis ravaging American communities, with synthetic opioidsoften sourced from Chinese chemicals and trafficked through Mexicofueling record overdose deaths. Legal and ethical concerns mount The latest strikes come amid growing scrutiny over the administration's legal justification for using lethal force in international waters. Human rights organizations and some lawmakers have raised alarms about transparency, accountability and potential violations of international lawparticularly after a controversial Sept. 2 "double tap" strike in which U.S. forces reportedly targeted survivors of an initial attack. Critics argue that the administration's broad designation of traffickers as "narco-terrorists" provides unchecked authority to conduct extrajudicial killings without due process. Hegseth has dismissed such concerns, declaring on social media: "These strikes will continue, day after day. These are not simply drug runners; these are narco-terrorists bringing death and destruction to our cities. We will find them and kill them until the threat to the American people is extinguished." Trump administration expands war on fentanyl On Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order classifying fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals as weapons of mass destructiona move that further militarizes the administration's response to the opioid epidemic. The order grants broader authority to target foreign suppliers and traffickers, framing the crisis as a national security threat rather than solely a public health issue. The administration has repeatedly accused Venezuela's socialist regime of collaborating with drug cartels, though concrete evidence linking Maduro directly to trafficking operations remains disputed. Meanwhile, the escalating maritime strikes have drawn comparisons to past U.S. interventions in Latin America, raising fears of mission creep and unintended regional destabilization. A new era of military-led drug enforcement The Trump administration's aggressive posture marks a sharp departure from traditional counternarcotics strategies, which have historically relied on law enforcement and interdiction rather than military strikes. By framing traffickers as terrorists, the White House has justified an unprecedented expansion of lethal operationsraising questions about oversight and long-term consequences. Critics warn that the campaign risks normalizing extrajudicial killings without congressional approval or judicial review. Yet with fentanyl deaths continuing to surge, the administration shows no signs of backing downsignaling a new era of militarized drug enforcement with global implications. For now, the Eastern Pacific remains a battleground, with U.S. warships patrolling smuggling routes and striking at will. Whether this strategy will stem the tide of narcoticsor further entangle America in shadowy, undeclared warfareremains to be seen. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, this latest escalation of U.S. military strikes against alleged narcoterrorists is likely another false flag operationpart of the Deep State's endless war agenda to justify expanding control, destabilize Venezuela and distract from domestic corruption. The timing and lack of concrete evidence linking Maduro to these networks suggest this is less about stopping drugs and more about advancing globalist regime-change objectives under the guise of "security." Watch this video of White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt insisting that Trump "has a right" to take out narco-terrorists if they are "threatening" the United States. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: YourNews.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com Germanys $3.1 billion arms deal with Israel sparks outcry amid Gaza genocide Germany has approved a major $3.1 billion arms deal with Israel to expand its purchase of Arrow 3 missile defense systems, marking the largest defense export agreement in Israel's history. The deal faces significant international criticism as it proceeds while Israel's leadership faces ICC warrants and amid an ongoing military campaign in Gaza that is under ICJ scrutiny for a "plausible risk" of genocide. Critics argue the sale violates international law and German policy, contending that bolstering Israel's military-industrial complex indirectly fuels its offensive capabilities and disregards legal obligations not to abet potential atrocities. Germany's support is driven by "Staatsrason," a doctrine rooted in historical guilt over the Holocaust that prioritizes Israel's security as a German national interest, alongside strategic and economic benefits. The agreement aligns with Germany's own major military expansion, part of a nearly $60 billion defense spending increase, raising ethical concerns about the growing partnership between two increasingly militarized states. Germany has approved a controversial $3.1 billion weapons deal with Israel, expanding its purchase of Arrow 3 missile defense systems the largest defense export agreement in Israel's history. The deal announced Thursday, Dec. 18, by Israel's Ministry of Defense follows a $3.5 billion contract signed two years ago bringing Germany's total investment in Israeli arms to over $6.6 billion. The agreement also comes as Tel Aviv faces mounting international condemnation over its military campaign in Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Arrow 3 system, jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency under the U.S. Department of War, is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles including those from Iran and Yemen. Germany, which deployed its first Arrow 3 unit in December 2023, views the system as critical for countering potential threats from Russia. Yet critics argue that bolstering Israel's military-industrial complex amid its ongoing assault on Gaza violates international law and Germany's own arms export policies. "The scale of reported harm [in Gaza], the legal warnings, and the live ICJ [International Court of Justice] case raise the risk level to a point where continued transfers and major deals become hard to square with Germany's own stated standards," said Andreas Krieg, an associate professor of security studies at King's College London. South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the ICJ has further intensified scrutiny, with the court recognizing a "plausible risk" of genocide in January 2024. Under international law, states are obligated not to aid or abet actions that could facilitate genocide a principle Germany appears to disregard. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz hailed the deal as proof of Berlin's "deep trust" in Israel, while Maj. Gen. Amir Baram, director-general of Israel's Defense Ministry, framed it as a strategic partnership that would accelerate military production. The financial windfall for Israel's defense sector raises concerns that increased manufacturing capacity could translate into more weapons deployed against Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. How a "defensive" deal fuels Israel's offensive capabilities Germany's unwavering support for Israel stems from Staatsrason a doctrine prioritizing Israel's security as a matter of German national interest, rooted in historical guilt over the Holocaust. BrightU.AI's Enoch engine notes that Berlin prioritizes Tel Aviv due to the former's historical guilt over the Holocaust and a desire to rehabilitate Germany's global image, while also benefiting economically and strategically from military trade and political alliances. This support, however, legitimizes Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, raising ethical concerns about the true cost of this relationship. Palestinian journalist Hebh Jamal warned that this policy undermines Germany's legal obligations. "The reiteration of the German Staatsrason confirms that the protection of a foreign state is more important for the German political establishment than their responsibility to the public and the ICC," she said. The arms deal also aligns with Germany's largest military expansion since World War II, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz approving nearly $60 billion in defense spending this week. Analyst Ori Golberg noted that Merz is politically incentivized to maintain strong ties with Israel, despite growing domestic and international backlash. "Germany, under Merz, is building a war machine, and Israel stands ready to supply the war machines," Golberg warned. As Germany accelerates its militarization and Israel profits from its role as a global arms supplier, the ethical contradictions grow starker. While Berlin justifies the Arrow 3 deal as defensive, critics argue it indirectly fuels Israel's offensive capabilities in Gaza. With Netanyahu avoiding Berlin and Germany facing legal and moral scrutiny, the question remains: How long can Germany sustain its unconditional support for Israel before accountability demands a reckoning? Watch this video about Germany standing by and supporting Israel. This video is from the END TIME NEWS channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: MiddleEastEye.net En.Globes.co.il StraitsTimes.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com Iran dismisses accusations of meddling in Lebanon, urges focus on Israeli aggression Iran rejects claims that it is meddling in Lebanon, calling the argument a distraction from the threat posed by Israel. Lebanese officials have publicly criticized Iran's influence and Hezbollah's weapons, arguing that they destabilize the region and fail to protect Lebanon. Diplomatic relations have chilled, evidenced by a refusal to an invitation for the Lebanese foreign minister to visit Tehran. Iran frames all internal criticism from Lebanon as playing into Israel's hands and insists that unity against Israel must be the sole priority. The dispute exposes Lebanon's fragile balancing act between sovereignty, powerful domestic groups like Hezbollah and the looming risk of a broader regional war. In a sharp rebuttal to mounting regional criticism, Iran has formally rejected claims that it is interfering in Lebanon's internal politics, framing the diplomatic dispute as a dangerous distraction from what it calls the real threat: Israel. In a statement on Dec. 15, the Iranian Foreign Ministry insisted that its ties with Beirut are longstanding and based on mutual respect. Officials also urged Lebanese leaders to concentrate their efforts on confronting "ongoing crimes" by Israel instead of escalating political spats with Tehran, which Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi referred to as a "brotherly" nation. The pushback comes amid heightened tensions and public disagreements between the two governments. The exchange underscores the deep regional divide, with Iran positioning itself as a steadfast ally against Israeli dominance while Lebanese officials voice increasing frustration over Tehran's influence. A dispute over diplomacy and priorities The friction became public over the logistics of diplomacy itself. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei dismissed reports that Lebanon had blocked the deployment of Iran's new ambassador, stating that procedures were complete and should proceed naturally. He warned that rhetoric accusing Iran of interference risks diverting attention from Lebanon's core priority, which is defending its territory against what he labeled unrestrained Israeli aggression. Baghai's comments were a direct response to Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji, who, in a recent interview, accused Iran of destabilizing Lebanon and the wider region. Rajji revealed that Arab and international parties had warned Beirut of a potential large-scale Israeli attack, prompting intensified diplomatic efforts to shield the country. The Lebanese minister also delivered a rare public critique of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed political and military force. Rajji stated that Hezbollah's weapons had failed to protect Lebanon or support Gaza, and that the group had rejected the government's effort to bring all arms under state authority. Hezbollah, for its part, has stated it is ultimately willing to discuss integrating its weapons into the Lebanese army within a national defense strategy. However, it refuses to hold such talks while Israel continues its attacks and occupies areas in southern Lebanon, arguing that the issue cannot be settled under foreign pressure or Israeli blackmail. An invitation declined, a rift widened The diplomatic chill was further evidenced by a declined invitation. Araghchi recently invited his Lebanese counterpart to Tehran. Rajji refused, stating the conditions were not favorable and counter-proposing a meeting in a neutral third country. Araghchi's response was dismissive and pointed. He asserted that nations with full diplomatic relations do not need a neutral venue to meet, later describing Rajjis refusal as "bemusing." He added that he would accept an invitation to Beirut instead. The back-and-forth highlights a fundamental clash in perspective. From Tehran's viewpoint, the primary and singular focus for Lebanon should be unity against Israel. Iranian officials consistently frame any internal Lebanese criticism of Iran or Hezbollah as playing into Israeli hands. The shadow of Gaza and broader tensions Baghai also broadened his criticism to address the war in Gaza, which remains a central flashpoint. He described Israel's actions there as "an obvious genocide," citing international legal assessments. Baghai also accused the United States of granting Israel "absolute immunity," thereby paralyzing meaningful global action. This context is crucial. As explained by the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI, Iran's stance on Lebanon is inextricably linked to its broader regional posture against Israel and the U.S. By urging Lebanese factions to pursue dialogue and unity to counter Israeli dominance, Iran is advocating for a consolidated front that inherently reinforces the role of allied groups like Hezbollah. For the Lebanese government, the challenge is multifaceted: navigating severe internal divisions, responding to international concerns about sovereignty and preparing for the persistent threat of conflict with Israel. The public disagreement with Iran exposes the difficult balancing act Beirut must perform, caught between domestic political realities, the power of Hezbollah and the ever-present specter of a devastating cross-border war. As the war of words continues, the underlying tension threatens to further complicate Lebanon's fragile political stability, diverting energy from critical domestic crises while the risk of a broader regional conflict simmers. Watch the video below as Israeli drones strike targets the Ain Al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Sidon, southern Lebanon. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheCradle.co JPost.com DW.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com Japans NUCLEAR dilemma: Rising tensions spark debate over pacifist principles A senior Japanese security official suggested Japan should acquire nuclear weapons to strengthen its deterrence against threats from China, Russia and North Korea, marking a stark departure from the nation's pacifist principles. The proposal exposes deep government divisions, as Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara swiftly reaffirmed Japan's commitment to its foundational Three Non-Nuclear Principles (no possession, production, or permitting of nuclear weapons). The official's comments reflect a growing faction that views nuclear arms as a necessary evil, driven by doubts over the reliability of U.S. security guarantees and a rapidly escalating regional security environment. The idea has provoked immediate and fierce backlash, including condemnation from atomic bomb survivors' groups and a stern warning from China, which accused Japan of pursuing dangerous military rhetoric. The debate places Japan at a crossroads, torn between the pragmatic pressures of modern geopolitics and the enduring political and cultural weight of its post-war pacifist identity and nuclear trauma. In a striking departure from Japan's long-standing pacifist stance, a senior security official within Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration suggested Thursday, Dec. 18, that the country should acquire nuclear weapons. The unnamed official, involved in national security policy, argued that Japan must strengthen its own deterrence amid escalating threats from nuclear-armed neighbors like China, Russia and North Korea. However, such a move would shatter decades of non-nuclear principles and provoke fierce backlash both domestically and abroad. Nevertheless, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara swiftly reaffirmed Tokyo's commitment to its Three Non-Nuclear Principles underscoring the deep divisions within the government over how to navigate an increasingly volatile security landscape. Japan's nuclear policy has been a cornerstone of its postwar identity since 1967, when then-Prime Minister Eisaku Sato declared the Three Non-Nuclear Principles no possession, no production and no permitting of nuclear weapons on Japanese soil. Sato's commitment earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1974 and became a defining creed for a nation still haunted by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Yet, despite this moral stance, Japan has long relied on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for protection a contradiction critics say undermines its pacifist ideals. The latest remarks reveal a growing faction within Japan's leadership that sees nuclear armament as a necessary evil in an era of rising militarization. The unnamed official's comments, reported by NHK and other outlets, acknowledged the political impossibility of rapid nuclear acquisition but insisted Japan must consider self-reliance. "In the end, we can only rely on ourselves," the official said, while conceding that obtaining nuclear weapons "isn't something that can be done quickly, like just going to a convenience store to buy something." The remark echoes sentiments from hawkish lawmakers who argue that U.S. security guarantees particularly under the second Trump administration may no longer be dependable. Some have even floated the idea of "nuclear sharing," allowing American nuclear weapons on Japanese soil, though Kihara swiftly dismissed the notion as incompatible with Japan's legal framework. Tokyo weighs nuclear principles against new threats The debate arrives at a precarious moment. China's expanding military ambitions, North Korea's missile tests and deepening cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang have forced Japan to reassess its defense posture. Takaichi, known for her hardline views, has already hinted at revising Japan's security strategy declining to rule out changes to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles when questioned last month. Meanwhile, atomic bomb survivors and pacifist groups have condemned any shift toward nuclearization as a betrayal of Japan's moral responsibility. Nihon Hidankyo, a survivors' group awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, declared it "can never tolerate such a remark." Beijing wasted no time in condemning the official's statement. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun warned that the situation would be "extremely grave" if confirmed, accusing Tokyo of "persistently pursuing erroneous actions and rhetoric on military security matters." The tension underscores how quickly Japan's internal debate could escalate into a broader geopolitical flashpoint particularly as Taiwan remains a potential trigger for conflict. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch engine, Taiwan is a strategic buffer between China and Japan and if Beijing gains control, it could threaten Tokyo by accessing Taiwanese seaports and encircling it. Historical tensions from World War II atrocities fuel China's distrust of Japan, making the island a flashpoint in their geopolitical rivalry. For now, Japan's government appears torn between pragmatism and principle. While security hawks push for a stronger deterrent, the political and cultural weight of Japan's nuclear trauma remains formidable. Whether Japan maintains its pacifist legacy or succumbs to the pressures of a dangerous new era will depend on how far its leaders and its people are willing to go in redefining national security. Watch this video about Japan reiterating its plan to set up branches of its government offices in Taiwan. This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: English.KyodoNews.net WWW3.NHK.or.jp Reuters.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com When you grow up Jewish, Santa Claus seems a bit absurd. I mean, religion requires faith, but believing that a magical old man brought toys to all the Christian kids in the world, riding a flying sleigh, seemed like something most kids would be skeptical of. In reality, however, many kids believe until a certain age, and others go along with the ritual because it involves getting presents on Christmas morning. Part of the Santa Claus ritual has always been getting pictures taken with Jolly Old Saint Nick, sitting on his lap, and telling him what you want for Christmas. Some kids do that in privately booked photo shoots, while many others head for the mall. I think most kids know that the mall Santa is more an emissary of the big man than the actual man himself. Still, parents take their kids to meet him, the kids either cry hysterically, or get their pictures taken and gift choices noted before moving on. More Retail: For about 80 years, for people living in San Francisco, that tradition meant taking their children to Macy's Union Square. It was a time-honored tradition that has lasted for generations, but this year, it won't be happening. Santa Claus, at least for San Franciscans who enjoy visiting him at Macy's Union Square, won't be coming to town, it seems. Macy's Santa Claus has other plans Macy's has quietly ended its tradition of having Santa Claus head from its Thanksgiving Day Parade to its store in Union Square, San Francisco. The chain explained that decision in a way that suggests it did not have the option of hiring multiple Santas to visit different stores. This year, Macys Santa will not be available at our Union Square location. Instead, he will be going on a national tour to visit stores and communities he hasnt had a chance to appear in before, following his national arrival at the (New York) Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, Macys officials said in a statement reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. Macy's added that the holiday season magic will continue in Union Square with its SF SPCA Holiday Windows and Macy's Great Tree presented by Ripple. "It seems weird without Santa Claus," Yvonne Fletcher and her husband, Adrian, told Yahoo News. "I can't bring my grandkids, and that's what we were waiting for." Santa Claus has always been a key part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.Shutterstock Shutterstock Macys Santa at Union Square (San Francisco) history Due to scheduled maintenance from Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10 PM to Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2 AM, there may be interruptions for our News Gazette Digital subscribers. During this time frame, please click on any News Gazette website content without logging into your News Gazette Digital subscription account. Thank you for your patience during this scheduled maintenance. Researchers at the Max Delbruck Center have found that a cellular housekeeping mechanism called autophagy plays a major role in ensuring that T stem cells undergo normal cell division. The findings, published in "Nature Cell Biology," could help boost vaccine response in older adults. When killer T cells of our immune system divide, they normally undergo asymmetric cell division (ACD): Each daughter cell inherits different cellular components, which drive the cells toward divergent fates one cell becomes a short-lived fighter called an effector T cell, the other cell becomes a long-lived memory T cell. Research by Professor Mariana Borsa at the University of Oxford and colleagues in the Cell Biology of Immunity lab of Professor Katja Simon at the Max Delbruck Center has shown for the first time that cellular autophagy a "housekeeping" mechanism by which cells degrade and recycle cell cargo plays a critical role in this decision process. "Our study provides the first causal evidence that autophagy plays a central role in ensuring that T cells go through ACD normally," says Borsa, first author of the paper who is now at the University of Basel. "We found that when T stem cells divide, daughter cells inherit different mitochondria, which influences the T-cell's destiny," says Borsa. "By understanding this process, we can start to think about ways to intervene to preserve the function of immune memory cells as we age." Split personality To study ACD in greater detail, the researchers used a novel "MitoSnap" mouse model in which they could tag mitochondria sequentially and discriminate between those in mother and daughter cells. T-cells contain many mitochondria. By tracking how old, damaged mitochondria were distributed between daughter cells, they found that in healthy cells, autophagy was crucial in ensuring that one daughter cell was clear of old mitochondria. This inheritance profile sent the cell down the path toward becoming a long-lived memory precursor cell immune cells that "remember" a pathogen and begin rapidly dividing when the pathogen is encountered again. Meanwhile, the other daughter cell that took on the older mitochondria became a short-lived effector T-cell a type of immune cell that rapidly divides to fight off immediate threat. These cells die when the threat is cleared. When autophagy was disrupted, however, this careful sorting broke down. Both daughter cells inherited damaged mitochondria and hence, were destined to become short-lived cells. "It was surprising to see that autophagy plays a role beyond just cellular housekeeping," says Borsa. "Our findings suggest asymmetric inheritance of mitochondria as a potential therapeutic target for memory T cell rejuvenation." Boosting vaccine response By boosting autophagy before or during T stem cell division, it may be possible to enhance the generation of memory cells the backbone of long-term immunity and vaccine effectiveness. What's more, the researchers analyzed daughter cells using single-cell transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics and found that effector cells burdened with damaged mitochondria depend heavily on a metabolic pathway called one-carbon metabolism. Targeting this pathway could offer another way to subtly shift the immune balance nudging T stem-cells toward becoming memory instead of effector cells, Borsa says. In the long run, this research could inform strategies to rejuvenate the aging immune system, making vaccines more effective and strengthening protection against infections." Professor Katja Simon, Max Delbruck Center The researchers are planning to further validate their findings in human T-cells. Children's Hospital Colorado (Children's Colorado) successfully performed the hospital's first-ever heart and liver dual organ transplant, with support from dozens of team members across 25 different multidisciplinary care teams. Only 38 other pediatric heart and liver dual organ transplants have been completed in the United States. Performing Children's Colorado's first-ever heart and liver dual organ transplant is an amazing accomplishment for our Pediatric Transplant Program. Thanks to years of dedication and a team committed to being the trusted leaders in pediatric transplant across our seven-state region, we're grateful to provide this level of care to even more kids who need complex organ transplants to treat life-threatening illnesses and help them live healthy and happy lives." Dr. Megan Adams, surgical director of the Pediatric Liver Transplant and Kidney Transplant Programs Children's Colorado care teams have been preparing for years to perform a dual heart and liver transplant in anticipation of future patient needs. Thanks to strong collaboration across specialties - including surgery, cardiology, hepatology and more - in addition to unwavering support from hospital leadership, the team was ready when 11-year-old Gracie Greenlaw and her family needed them most. Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), Gracie's heart had only one chamber pumping blood into her body. Gracie would need three surgeries before the age of three the Norwood, the Glenn and the Fontan which made it possible for her heart to function. While most children with HLHS live into adulthood, there are long-term effects of this heart defect, including liver dysfunction and even liver failure because of the way the heart defect and treatments affect other organs. In 2016, Children's Colorado founded the Fontan Multidisciplinary Clinic as part of the Single Ventricle Program to address this chronic outcome for HLHS patients and to provide holistic care to patients with multiple single ventricle diagnoses, like tricuspid atresia, unbalanced common atrioventricular canal and more. With support from the multidisciplinary team of experts, including Dr. Kathleen Simpson, cardiologist, and Dr. Dania Brigham, hepatologist, Gracie received integrated care for her heart and liver up until her team determined it was time for the transplant. "The Fontan is a lifesaving surgery, but the longer someone lives after the procedure, there is an increased chance of developing comorbidities," Simpson said. "Our care team worked to keep her healthy and living a typical day-to-day life as long as possible before we determined a dual organ transplant would give her the best long-term quality of life." Gracie had been living with plastic bronchitis a condition that causes thick, protein-like deposits in her airways for years. In the last year, the condition worsened, and her liver also started to fail. Her care team determined it was time to move forward, and she was officially put on the waitlist for a dual organ transplant in April. A multidisciplinary team with dozens of experts met regularly to prepare for every possible scenario in the operating room. They developed a plan of action that took into consideration the complexity of transplanting two organs with unique surgical considerations, like different blood volume requirements and electrolyte needs. Within one month of being on the waitlist, a heart and liver became available for Gracie, thanks to another family giving the gift of life through organ donation. Because the heart has a limited amount of time it can remain viable, Dr. Matthew Stone, surgical director of the Pediatric Heart Transplant Program, and Dr. Emily Downs, congenital heart surgeon, performed the heart transplant first, which took nine hours alone. During this time, the donor liver was kept on a TransMedics Organ Care System a specialized pump that mimics the body's normal liver function which kept the liver viable for longer and gave the heart surgeons ample time to complete the heart transplant. Adams and Dr. Kendra Conzen, transplant surgeon, took over to perform the liver transplant, which took an additional seven hours. Coordinating closely with the anesthesiology team was critical to ensure Gracie's health and safety during the procedure. The surgery was a success. Gracie was discharged from the cardiac progress care unit just over one month after her surgery. Now seven months post-transplant, Gracie continues monthly appointments with her care team, but more importantly, she's back in school and back home with her dogs. Like all pediatric heart transplant patients, she will need an additional heart transplant in the future, but her new liver will last her a lifetime. "This procedure showcases the expertise, talent and level of care Children's Colorado provides to our patients, including those with complex medical needs," said Dr. Duncan Wilcox, Surgeon in Chief. "As the top-ranked pediatric hospital in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, we are proud of our leading-edge transplant care and look forward to supporting more patients who need dual organ transplants in the future." The raccoon roundworm Baylisascaris procyonis can cause severe diseases in humans, including fatal brain damage. A research team from the ZOWIAC collaborative project at Goethe University Frankfurt has now presented the first comprehensive analysis for Europe: The parasite is already established in nine countries and continues to spread. The study combines new investigations of 146 raccoons from Germany with a comprehensive evaluation of all available European data and has been published in the journal Parasitology Research. While the spread of raccoons in Europe is often discussed, their companion tends to remain unnoticed: The raccoon roundworm Baylisascaris procyonis arrived in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century with the first raccoons from North America. Since their release or escape from fur farms, raccoons have spread uncontrollably across large parts of Central Europe and their parasite with them. Germany is now considered the main distribution area for both species in Europe. Dangerous companion of the raccoon This parasite can also infect humans and cause so-called larva migrans, in which migrating larvae damage tissues and organs." Prof. Dr. Sven Klimpel from Goethe University Frankfurt and the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Humans become infected by accidentally ingesting infectious eggs found in soil, water, or on objects contaminated with raccoon feces. A research team from the collaborative research project ZOWIAC (Zoonotic and Wildlife Ecological Impacts of Invasive Carnivores) has now investigated how far the parasite has already spread in Europe. Insidious life cycle The parasite's life cycle is complex: Adult roundworms live in the small intestine of raccoons. Females produce up to 180,000 eggs daily, which enter the environment via feces. At so-called raccoon latrines preferred defecation sites the resistant eggs accumulate. In the environment, they develop into infectious larvae within two weeks under adequate temperature and humidity conditions, and can survive for several years. Children particularly at risk Human infection with the raccoon roundworm is called baylisascariasis. Anne Steinhoff from Goethe University Frankfurt and first author of the study explains: "If the larvae enter the central nervous system, the disease can have severe consequences. Due to frequent hand-to-mouth contact, young children are primarily affected." Most known cases occur in North America, the natural distribution area of raccoons and the roundworm. There, in most documented cases, the disease led to permanent neurological damage or even death. "Furthermore, it is assumed that many cases remain undetected or are misdiagnosed due to non-specific symptoms," Klimpel adds. "In Europe, diagnosis in humans is further complicated by the lack of specific diagnostic testing options." Definitive diagnosis is currently only possible at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the USA and Canada. First comprehensive Europe-wide analysis The aim of the study was to provide a current overview of the parasite's distribution in Europe and to identify research needs. To this end, the team led by Klimpel and Steinhoff examined raccoons from Germany by necropsy and supplemented these new data with a comprehensive analysis of available scientific studies and infection data from Europe. Of the 146 raccoons examined, 66.4 percent were infected with Baylisascaris procyonis: 77.4 percent in Hesse, 51.1 percent in Thuringia, and 52.9 percent in North Rhine-Westphalia. The study provided prevalence data for Thuringia for the first time. "The results show both an expansion of the roundworm's distribution area and stable infection occurrence at high levels in German raccoon populations," Klimpel explains. The analysis revealed that the roundworm occurs in wild raccoons in nine European countries, primarily in Central Europe in some cases with extremely high infection rates. In three additional countries, infections were detected in raccoons or other animal species in captivity. Spread coupled to raccoon populations "The studies show a steady expansion of the distribution area in Europe. The distribution of the roundworm is linked to the steady spread of its definitive host, the raccoon, which now occurs throughout Europe," Klimpel continues. "The actual distribution of the roundworm is likely significantly underestimated due to insufficient or absent data collection." Particularly concerning: The urbanization of raccoon populations increases the likelihood of contact between humans and contaminated areas. Three documented cases of baylisascariasis in Europe are known all resulted in permanent visual impairment. "The results of this study make it clear that further research on the raccoon roundworm in Europe is urgently needed particularly in light of growing raccoon populations and their increasing adaptation to urban habitats," Klimpel concludes. Delhi: Man held for duping job seekers with fake overseas offers Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 22:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Dec 20 (PTI) The Delhi Police has busted a cheating racket involving fake overseas employment offers with the arrest of a 42-year-old man from south Delhi, an official said on Saturday. The accused has been identified as Rahisudeen Malik alias Abdul, a resident of the Jamia Nagar area of Okhla, he said. A complaint was received at the Aman Vihar police station on October 9, in which the complainant alleged that he and his son were cheated by the accused on the pretext of arranging overseas employment. The accused allegedly lured them by promising jobs abroad and supplied forged offer letters and visa-related documents. Following the complaint, a case was registered. During the investigation, the accused allegedly attempted to evade arrest and remained at large. However, based on technical surveillance and human intelligence, the police were able to apprehend him. During sustained interrogation, Malik confessed to his involvement in this cheating case and revealed that he had been previously involved in other cheating incidents at various locations, police said. The investigation is ongoing to uncover the extent of his network and identify additional victims. Police described the accuseds modus operandi as targeting unemployed and educated youth by promising overseas job opportunities and supplying forged documents, including job offers and visa papers. PTI SSJ MPL MPL News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 22:00 IST News agency-feeds Delhi: Man held for duping job seekers with fake overseas offers Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Israeli fire kills at least 5 Palestinians in Gaza, hospital in enclave says Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 04:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Deir Al-Balah(Gaza Strip), Dec 20 (AP) Israeli troops fired over the ceasefire line in the northern Gaza Strip on Friday, killing at least five Palestinians, including a baby, according to a local hospital that received the casualties. The killings came as the tenuous Israel-Hamas truce has stalled in recent weeks. The five died in Tuffah, an eastern neighbourhood in Gaza City, said Rami Mhanna, managing director of Shifa Hospital. Israels military said troops identified a number of suspicious individuals in command structures west of the Yellow Line," and fired at them. The incident is under review and the military regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals," it added. The Yellow Line divides the Israeli-held part of Gaza from the rest of the territory, and was drawn under the US-brokered ceasefire agreement that went into effect in October. Also Friday, US President Donald Trumps Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff was planning to host in Florida top officials from Middle Eastern countries mediating the Gaza ceasefire, according to a US official. The talks are an effort to push the ceasefire into its second, much more complex phase. The first phase began in October, days after the two-year anniversary of the initial Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed around 1,200 people. All but one of the 251 hostages taken that day have been released, alive or dead, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The war in Gaza has killed more than 70,660 Palestinians, roughly half of them women and children, according to the territorys Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between militants and civilians in its count. The ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, is staffed by medical professionals and maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by the international community. Though the ceasefire, now in its third month, has mostly held, its progress has slowed amid accusations of violations by both sides. The second phase of the deal is supposed to involve even bigger challenges the deployment of an international stabilization force, a technocratic governing body for Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and further Israeli troop withdrawals from the territory. (AP) RD RD News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 04:15 IST News agency-feeds Israeli fire kills at least 5 Palestinians in Gaza, hospital in enclave says Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Photo: Jeff Christensen/WireImage via Getty Images Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Many investors are eager to uncover the secret behind Warren Buffetts remarkable success in identifying winning companies. Between 1964 and 2023, his company, Berkshire Hathaway, achieved an astonishing total return of 4,384,748%. Must Read In an interview at Georgetown University, an audience member cut to the chase, asking, What would you think is the most important thing the key in evaluating a company? Without missing a beat, Buffett responded, The most important thing is to be able to define which ones you can come to an intelligent decision on and which ones are beyond your capacity to evaluate. Buffett emphasized that you dont need to understand or be right about thousands of companies to succeed. Instead, as he put it, you only need to be right about a couple. To illustrate his approach, Buffett shared a memorable exchange with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. When Gates tried to convince Buffett to enter the computer age On July 5, 1991, Buffett and Gates were in Seattle when Gates, eager to share his enthusiasm for the burgeoning world of computers, turned to Buffett and said, You've got to have a computer. Why? Buffett asked. Gates replied with a practical suggestion, Well, you can do your income tax on it. But Buffett, whose approach to wealth focused on reinvesting rather than receiving income, responded matter-of-factly, I don't have any income. Berkshire doesn't pay a dividend. Gates pressed on, suggesting that a computer could help Buffett keep track of his stock portfolio. But Buffett, whose investment portfolio consisted solely of Berkshire Hathaway, simply responded, I only have one stock. Undeterred, Gates insisted, Its going to change everything. This prompted Buffett to dig deeper. Will it change whether people chew gum? he asked. Probably not, Gates admitted. Will it change what kind of gum they chew? Buffett followed up, prompting Gates to again reply, Nah. With that, Buffett summed up his thoughts: Well, then I'll stick to chewing gum and you stick to computers. Buffett used this story to highlight his investment philosophy. His success didnt stem from understanding every emerging technology or industry trend; rather, it came from staying within his circle of competence. Lt Col posted in the Department of Defence Production arrested in bribery case Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 22:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Dec 20 (PTI) The CBI on Saturday arrested Lt Col Deepak Kumar Sharma, posted in the Department of Defence Production under the Defence Ministry, for alleged taking Rs three lakh in bribe from a Bengaluru-based company, officials said. During searches at the premises of the Sharma, the CBI seized Rs 2.23 crore cash, they said. The CBI had registered the case against Sharma, Deputy Planning Officer, International Cooperation and Exports, Department of Defence Productions and his wife, Col. Kajal Bali, CO, 16 Infantry Division Ordnance Unit (DOU), Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. It was alleged that Sharma habitually indulges in corrupt and illegal activities" in criminal conspiracy with representatives of various private companies dealing in defence products manufacturing, export, etc, the CBI Spokesperson said in a statement. Sharma obtained bribes from companies in exchange for providing undue favours to them, the agency alleged. The CBI received inputs about a possible bribe payment from a Bengaluru-based company. Rajiv Yadav and Ravjit Singh were looking after its affairs, they said. They (Singh and Yadav) have been in regular contact with Lt. Col. Deepak Kumar Sharma and are, in connivance with him, pursuing various undue favours by illegal means for their company from various government departments and ministries. One Vinod Kumar delivered a bribe of Rs. 3 lakh, on the behest of the said company, to Lt. Col. Deepak Kumar Sharma on 18.12.2025," CBI Spokesperson said in a statement. Vinod Kumar was also arrested in the case, it said. During searches at the premises of the Sharma, the CBI seized Rs 2.23 crore cash and Rs three lakh bribe money from the Delhi residence, while Rs ten lakh was seized from his wifes residence in Sri Ganganagar, the statement said. Both the arrested accused Sharma and Vinod Kumar were produced before a Special Court here which sent them to CBI custody till December 23. PTI ABS RT RT News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 22:00 IST News agency-feeds Lt Col posted in the Department of Defence Production arrested in bribery case Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Majhi visits 'Statue of Equality' in Hyderabad Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 22:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Bhubaneswar, Dec 20 (PTI) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday visited the Statue of Equality in Hyderabad and offered prayers to Ramanujacharya. An official statement issued by the CMO said that Majhi, accompanied by Odishas Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain, paid homage to the philosopher, saint, and social reformer. The chief minister met Sri Sri Tridandi Chinna Srimanta Narayana Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji, and held interactions on Indias spiritual traditions, inclusive philosophy, and the relevance of Ramanujacharyas teachings in contemporary society, it said. Swamiji extended his blessings to the chief minister and conveyed his best wishes for the peace, progress, and prosperity of the people of Odisha," the statement said. As part of the visit, Majhi also released the Odia bhajan on Ramanujacharya, authored by Sri Sri Tridandi Ahobila Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji. The song seeks to make the life, philosophy, and spiritual message of Ramanujacharya accessible to Odia devotees, further strengthening Odishas cultural and spiritual connect with Indias civilisational heritage of Ramanujacharya philosophy. Sharing his experience after the visit, the chief minister said that the Statue of Equality is not only a magnificent symbol of Indias spiritual legacy but also a powerful reminder of the timeless values of social justice, inclusiveness, and human dignity championed by Ramanujacharya. He noted that such values continue to guide Odishas vision of balanced development, social harmony, and people-centric governance. PTI AAM AAM ACD News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 22:00 IST News agency-feeds Majhi visits 'Statue of Equality' in Hyderabad Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'No embargo' on Imran Khan's sons meeting him in jail, says Pak govt Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 19:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Lahore, Dec 20 (PTI) Pakistan government said on Saturday that there is no embargo" on former prime minister Imran Khans sons meeting their incarcerated father if they travel to the country. Pakistani authorities have reportedly imposed unannounced restrictions on meetings with Khan on the grounds that the visitors use such meetings for political ends. Following the move, his family and party members have expressed concerns about the conditions in which he is being kept inside the prison. There has been no embargo on Suleman Khan and Kasim Khan to meet their father, Imran Khan, at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi," Interior State Minister Talal Chaudhry told reporters here. Suleman and Kasim, who currently live in London, are Khans sons from his first marriage with British TV personality Jemima Goldsmith. Chaudhrys statement comes days after the brother-duo in an interview with Sky News earlier this week said they fear they might never see their jailed father ever again. The Khan brothers said they have not seen or spoken to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, who has been in prison since August 2023, for months and that they were concerned about his safety and well-being. If Suleman and Kasim apply for a Pakistani visa, we will give them. We will not stop them from meeting their father; therefore, the propaganda that the Pakistani government is creating hurdles in the meeting between father and sons should be stopped," Chaudhry said. He also denied that Khan is kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day. The PTI leaders sons in the interview have claimed that their father is being kept in isolation in jail, saying these are clear torture tactics". Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023, faces multiple cases launched against him since his ouster from power in April 2022. A United Nations special rapporteur has also warned that Khan is being held in conditions that could amount to inhuman or degrading treatment. In the interview with Sky News, Kasim claimed Khan was being held in a cell that was six feet by eight inches, barely enough to stand. They are not even allowing guards to speak to him because they want total isolation from any other person, just to try and break him. So its all very clear torture tactics," he said. PTI MZ SCY SCY News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 19:45 IST News agency-feeds 'No embargo' on Imran Khan's sons meeting him in jail, says Pak govt Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Police arrest three members of inter-state gang from Patna Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 20:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Jamshedpur, Dec 20 (PTI) Police have arrested three members of an inter-state gang engaged in burglary from Patna, an officer said here on Saturday. The arrested accused confessed that they had committed burglary in Bengal, Bihar, and in Hazaribag, Seraikela-Kharswan, and East Singhbhum districts of Jharkhand, Senior Superintendent of Police (East Singhbhum) Piyush Pandey said at a press conference here. The SSP said police investigating a theft case under the Golmuri police station here on September 17 suspected the involvement of the inter-state gang based on gathered human and technical evidence. A police team headed by Superintendent of Police (City) Kumar Subhashish conducted a raid in Patna and arrested Vikash Kumar alias Vikash Kumar Sah (27), Raju Kumar (49) and Md Irfan alias Bobby (26), the SSP said. The accused have been brought to Jamshedpur for interrogation after they confessed their involvement in the Golmuri theft case. Police have recovered a country-made pistol, two live cartridges, besides silver jewellery and other weapons used in the crime, from their possession. Referring to their criminal antecedent, Pandey said that apart from various police stations of Jharkhands Jamshedpur, Hazaribag, Seraikela-Kharswan, cases against them were pending in Bidhannagar police station of West Bengal and Patnas Sri Krishnapuri police station and Ramkrishnanagar police station. PTI BS RG News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 20:15 IST News agency-feeds Police arrest three members of inter-state gang from Patna Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... US launches Operation Hawkeye in Syria post killing of 2 soldiers Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 05:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Washington DC [US], December 20 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) said that in response to ISISs killing of two Americans in Syria, the US retaliated by striking the nation.Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced on Friday that the US commenced Operation Hawkeye Strike in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters.Hegseth stated in a post on X, Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria. This is not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trumps leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people." Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria. This is not the beginning of a war it is a Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) December 19, 2025 As we said directly following the savage attack, if you target Americans anywhere in the world you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you. Today, we hunted, and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue," he added.Trump warned in a post on Truth Social that the terrorists will be hit harder than they have ever been.Because of ISISs vicious killing of brave American Patriots in Syria, whose beautiful souls I welcomed home to American soil earlier this week in a very dignified ceremony, I am hereby announcing that the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible. We are striking very strongly against ISIS strongholds in Syria, a place soaked in blood which has many problems, but one that has a bright future if ISIS can be eradicated."The Government of Syria, led by a man who is working very hard to bring Greatness back to Syria, and is fully in support. All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A," he added.Operation Hawkeye," a reference to the fact that the two US soldiers killed were from the Hawkeye State" of Iowa, the strikes hit dozens of targets the military connected to ISIS including infrastructure and weapons storage sites across Syria, one of the officials told CNN.The two US service members killed in Syria were identified this week as Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa. They were killed while engaging hostile forces in Palmyra, Syria, the US Army said. Both soldiers were assigned to the Iowa National Guards 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division.Three additional Iowa National Guard members were wounded in the attack and evacuated for further medical treatment. (ANI) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 05:30 IST News agency-feeds US launches Operation Hawkeye in Syria post killing of 2 soldiers Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... If You Ever See This Plane Taking Off, Something Frightening Is Happening It Is Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 08:06 IST Doomsday Plane or E-4B Nightwatch is a heavily modified Boeing 747 that serves as the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) for the US. E-4B Nightwatch is built to act as a flying command post. (Photo Credits: Instagram) In moments when global tensions rise and there is uncertainty looming, certain systems remain prepared for the worst-case scenario. Among them is an aircraft designed not for travel or display but for survival and command when everything on the ground may no longer function. Recently, an Instagram video highlighted one of the most secretive and powerful aircraft in the world. The clip focuses on the US Air Forces E-4B Nightwatch, widely known as the Doomsday Plane," and explains why its movements are often closely watched and deeply analysed. What Is a Doomsday Plane? The E-4B Nightwatch is a heavily modified Boeing 747 that serves as the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) for the US. Its primary purpose is to ensure that the countrys top leadership can continue to function during extreme emergencies including nuclear war or large-scale attacks that could destroy ground-based command centres. This aircraft is built to act as a flying command post. It is designed to carry the President, the Secretary of Defense and senior military officials. From onboard, they can communicate with US forces across the world and issue orders even if land-based infrastructure is damaged or disabled. Doomsday Plane Ready For Crisis The narrator in the video makes several striking claims about how the aircraft operates. According to the voiceover, This is the only airplane in the world whose engines are never turned off and even if they need repairs, workers are forced to do it while the engines are still running. It sounds impossible but these are the rules for the so-called Doomsday Plane." The video further states, This aircraft is on standby 24 hours a day and can take off at any moment. Theres always a pilot inside ready to launch immediately on command." It adds that the engines remain active so the plane can be airborne within minutes if a nuclear threat is detected. The clip also mentions that the aircraft can refuel midair which allows it to remain in the sky for extended periods without landing. And if you ever see this plane taking off, it means something very frightening is happening," the narrator concludes. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BrightFacts (@onbrightfacts) Doomsday Plane Spotted During Iran-Israel Tensions On the night of June 17, flight trackers noticed the aircraft making a journey to Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C. The flight followed a noticeably indirect route which caught the attention of aviation watchers and defence observers. The aircraft reportedly departed from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana before 6 PM and landed in Maryland shortly after 10 PM, after spending more than four hours in the air. Even though E-4B Nightwatch is known to operate regularly as part of training and readiness drills. The June journey stands out because of the timing as it came amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran in the Middle East. Another thing that made this particular flight more noticeable was the use of a new callsign, ORDER01," instead of the commonly used ORDER6." According to available tracking data, this callsign had not been used before. Past Appearances Of Doomsday Plane The Doomsday Plane has appeared during major moments in US history. After the September 11 attacks in 2001, President George W. Bush used a similar airborne command aircraft as part of emergency security measures. In 1995, the aircraft was also used to transport FEMA officials during Hurricane Opal. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: December 20, 2025, 08:06 IST News auto If You Ever See This Plane Taking Off, Something Frightening Is Happening It Is Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... PM Kisan 22nd Installment Date: PM Modi To Release Next Tranche Of Rs 2,000 On This Date Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 15:48 IST According to reports, the next installment (22nd installment) of the PM Kisan scheme is expected to be released in February 2026. PM Kisan 22nd Installment Date. PM Kisan 22nd Installment Date 2025: In order to increase their income, the central government provides financial assistance to farmers in the country. Under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, the Centre provides Rs 6,000 in a year to eligible farmers through direct benefits transfer (DBT) in three installments. So far, the government has released 21 installments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 19 released the 21st instalment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, disbursing Rs 18,000 crore to more than nine crore farmers. In 21 instalments, PM Modi has disbursed more than Rs 4 lakh crore under the scheme. What Is PM Kisan Scheme? Under the PM Kisan scheme, eligible farmers get Rs 2,000 every four months, which is Rs 6,000 annually. The money is provided each year in three instalments April-July, August-November and December-March. The fund is directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. The scheme was announced in the Interim Budget 2019 by then finance minister Piyush Goyal and was later launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It has now become the worlds biggest Direct Benefit Transfer scheme. When Will Farmers Receive 22nd Installment Of PM Kisan Scheme? According to media reports, the next installment (22nd installment) of the PM Kisan scheme is expected to be released in February 2026. However, the official date has not been announced yet. Meanwhile, it is necessary for the farmers to check eligibility, complete KYC, and check beneficiary status. They also need to apply if they have not so far. Who Is Eligible For PM Kisan Scheme? In order to be eligible for the PM-Kisans 19th installment, a person needs to fulfill below mentioned conditions: Indian citizen Owns cultivable land Should be a small or marginal farmer Not be a retiree who receives a pension of at least Rs 10,000 per month Not have filed for income tax Not be an institutional landholder. PM Kisan Scheme e-KYC To receive the installments, the farmers need to complete their e-KYC. According to the schemes official website, eKYC is MANDATORY for PMKISAN Registered Farmers. OTP-based eKYC is available on the PMKISAN Portal, or the nearest CSC centres may be contacted for Biometric-based eKYC". PM Kisan: How To Check Beneficiary Status? 1) Visit the official website https://pmkisan.gov.in/. 2) Now, click on the tab Know Your Status on the right side of the page. 3) Enter your registration number and fill Captcha Code, and select Get Data option. Your beneficiary status will come up on the screen. PM-Kisan: Check Your Name in Beneficiary List Step 1: Visit PM Kisan official website https://pmkisan.gov.in/ Step 2: Click on the Beneficiary list tab. Step 3: Select details from the drop-down such as select state, district, sub-district, block, and village Step 4: Click on the Get report tab After this, the beneficiary list will be displayed. You can call on the helpline numbers 155261 and 011-24300606. How To Apply For PM Kisan Samman Nidhi? Step 1: Visit https://pmkisan.gov.in/ Step 2: Click on New Farmer Registration and enter Aadhaar number and fill the captcha Step 3: Enter the required details and click on Yes Step 4: Fill in the information asked in the PM-Kisan application form, save it and take a printout for future reference. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 15:48 IST News business economy PM Kisan 22nd Installment Date: PM Modi To Release Next Tranche Of Rs 2,000 On This Date Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... VB G RAM G: A Reimagined Rural Employment Guarantee With A Development Thrust Written By : News18.com Edited By: Mohammad Haris Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 09:41 IST Modi government's VB G RAM G Bill replaces MGNREGA, raising job days from 100 to 125, boosting tech-driven transparency, and enhancing state flexibility amid Opposition protests. Since FY15, the cumulative budgetary allocation to MGNREGA has reached Rs 8.64 lakh crore, about 3.6 times that of the UPA period. As the Modi government introduced the VB G RAM G Bill Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) in the Lok Sabha, replacing MGNREGA, the Opposition, including the Congress, vociferously protested and tore copies of the legislation in the well of the House, irked by the absence of Mahatma Gandhis name. Realising its bankruptcy of issues, the Congress latched onto this matter hurriedly, without examining the fine printwhere none existed. What the Congress fails to acknowledge is that rural employment schemes have existed since the 1960s, and even MGNREGA did not carry Mahatma Gandhis name when the Bill was legislated in 2005. Improvements to MGNREGA since 2014-15 The implementation of MGNREGA during the UPA years was riddled with weak oversight, patchy execution, and relatively shallow budget allocations. Since FY15, the cumulative budgetary allocation to MGNREGA has reached Rs 8.64 lakh crore, about 3.6 times that of the UPA period. This includes stepped-up expenditure of Rs 1.12 lakh crore during crisis periods such as the Covid pandemic. This exponential increase in allocation translated into visible improvements in womens participation, person-days generated, and the creation of durable rural assets. Unlike the UPA era, digitisation and geotagging of photographs have aided in improving transparency and facilitating timely payment of wages. However, despite the ramp-up in implementation, several irregularities and structural issues such as fake job cards, chronic delays in wage payments, quality and durability deficits in assets, and accountability gaps have been highlighted in various Departmentally Related Standing Committee reports. The Bill: Differentiation across multiple dimensions The new Bill represents a comprehensive revamp of MGNREGA while retaining the core employment guarantee. It raises the guaranteed wage employment from 100 days to 125 days per household per financial year, covering more than a third of the year. While convergence, saturation, and a whole-of-government approach existed operationally under MGNREGA, these principles have now been formally embedded in the legislation, reinforcing the commitment to rural resilience and prosperity. The Bill also mandates that wage payments be made within seven days of completion of work, compared to the earlier ceiling of 15 days. The most defining feature of the Bill is its emphasis on technology-enabled planning, transparency, and accountability. All Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans will be aggregated into the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack and integrated with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to enable spatially optimised infrastructure development. Artificial intelligence will also be leveraged for planning, audits, and fraud-risk mitigation. Biometric authentication of workers, mobile application-based and dashboard-based monitoring systems providing real-time visibility of demand, works, workforce deployment, payments, and progress, along with weekly public disclosure mechanisms both digital and physical covering key metrics, muster rolls, payments, sanctions, inspections, and grievance redressal form a robust technology-driven transparency and accountability framework. Enhancing responsibility, predictability, flexibility, and accountability for states Earlier, states received 32 percent devolution from central taxes. This was increased to 42 percent by the Fourteenth Finance Commission. In alignment with this shift, VB G RAM G will be implemented as a centrally sponsored scheme with a 60:40 Centre-state funding pattern, replacing the earlier central sector structure. States will also have greater flexibility to allocate funds, based on Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans, to those gram panchayats that need them the most, thereby addressing regional disparities more effectively. The Bill introduces normative allocations, enabling states to better predict finances and plan works in advance. With technology-driven governance and the liability resting on states to provide unemployment allowance if work is not provided within 15 days, states are firmly brought within the accountability framework. When analysed together, the employment guarantee and panchayat plans clearly reinforce the demand-driven character embedded in the Bill. Relief for farmers and support to agriculture Agriculture and allied activities play a critical role in food security and contribute significantly to GDP. As the annadata is a key stakeholder in the vision of Viksit Bharat, farmer welfare remains a core focus of the Modi government. Initiatives such as PM-KISAN, PMFBY, the announcement of 50 percent returns over cost in MSP, and GST 2.0 reforms, including a reduction in GST on key farm inputs to five percent, reflect this commitment. Yet, persistent challenges remain in agricultural production, with implications for food security. One major issue is the chronic labour shortage during peak sowing and harvesting periods. This concern was also flagged by the Standing Committee on Rural Development in its 201213 report on MGNREGA, which noted that MGNREGA works during peak agricultural seasons adversely affect labour availability for farming. While the department acknowledged the issue, it had earlier rejected a blanket ban on works during peak periods. Recognising this challenge, and considering that over 80 percent of farmers are small and marginal, farm mechanisation levels remain low, and more than 45 percent of the cost of cultivation is labour-related, the Bill empowers states to notify, in advance, a period aggregating up to 60 days in a financial year covering peak sowing and harvesting seasons during which works under the scheme will not be undertaken. This ensures adequate availability of farm labour during critical agricultural operations. Another major concern is that over 50 percent of Indias net sown area remains monsoon-dependent, exposing food production to high rainfall variability. With water security identified as one of the four thematic focus areas, water-related works such as irrigation support and groundwater recharge will strengthen agricultural resilience. Even the other three focus areas also aid farmers by providing better connectivity and storage along with protecting crops from extreme weather. Conclusion The transformative VB G RAM G Bill represents continuity rather than rupture, carrying forward the spirit embedded in MGNREGA while addressing its structural shortcomings. By raising the employment guarantee from 100 to 125 days, strengthening execution through technology-enabled planning, payments, and oversight, and enhancing state participation and accountability, the Bill seeks to elevate rural employment guarantees to the next level. In doing so, states are also poised to reap positive spillover effects across agriculture and rural infrastructure, making the VB G RAM G a more holistic instrument for rural development and expediting the journey towards Viksit Bharat. (The author is an economist & columnist and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 07:32 IST News business economy VB G RAM G: A Reimagined Rural Employment Guarantee With A Development Thrust Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Budget 2026 Date: When Will FM Nirmala Sitharaman Present Union Budget 2026-27? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 11:22 IST With the countdown to the Union Budget 2026-27 underway, an unusual calendar coincidence has occurred this time: February 1, 2026, falls on a Sunday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be presenting her eighth consecutive Union Budget, which will also be the 80th Budget since Independence. Union Budget 2026-27 Date: With the countdown to the Union Budget 2026-27 underway, an unusual calendar coincidence has occurred this time: February 1, 2026, falls on a Sunday. Since the Narendra Modi government shifted the Budget presentation date to February 1 in 2017, the question has never arisen. This time, however, the issue arises and is being examined. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be presenting her eighth consecutive Union Budget, which will also be the 80th Budget since Independence. Whether it will be tabled on a Sunday is now the subject of speculation. Will the Budget be presented on February 1 (Sunday)? According to a report by Business Standard, the government is inclined to stick to the February 1 convention, even though the date falls on a Sunday in 2026. So, presenting the Budget on Sunday remains a possibility. When asked about the issue, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the matter will be decided by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs at an appropriate time. One added complication is that Guru Ravidas Jayanti will also fall on February 1, 2026. However, according the Business Standard report citing sources, this is not a central government public holiday". It is observed as a public holiday only in some north Indian states, including Delhi and Haryana, while for the central government, it is classified as a restricted holiday". Restricted holidays, as per parliamentary convention, do not automatically prevent sittings of Parliament. According to the Rajya Sabhas website, In fixing the sittings, restricted holidays in the Government of India offices are not taken into account and sittings may be fixed on those days." A similar situation arose in 2025, when Guru Ravidas Jayanti fell during the Budget Session on February 12 (Wednesday), and the two Houses did not have a sitting on account of it. According to BS, Parliament has met on Sundays before under special circumstances, during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and on May 13, 2012, to mark the 60th anniversary of Parliaments first sitting. There have also been occasions when the Houses sat on public holidays such as Buddha Purnima. That said, there have also been exceptions. The Rajya Sabha website records that sittings scheduled on Guru Ravidas Jayanti were cancelled in the past, in 1981 and 1986, following interventions by members and directions from the Chair. This mixed precedent explains why the final call is still open. As per Business Standard citing the sources, the government is unlikely to advance the Budget to Saturday, January 31, while Monday, February 2, remains a fallback option if a Sunday presentation is avoided. Since 2017, the Union Budget has been presented on February 1 to allow faster passage of the Finance Bill and ensure smoother implementation from April 1, the start of the financial year. In both 2020 and 2025, Sitharaman presented the Budget on February 1, which happened to fall on Saturdays. If the Budget is indeed presented on Sunday, February 1, 2026, it would mark the first such instance since the date change in 2017, and add another first to Sitharamans record, matching Morarji Desais tally of eight Budgets, but doing so consecutively, under one Prime Minister and two successive governments. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 10:48 IST News business economy Budget 2026 Date: When Will FM Nirmala Sitharaman Present Union Budget 2026-27? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 1,197 Actionable Leads, 60 FIRs In 2025: Delhi Police's Digital Battle Against Child Pornography Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 21, 2025, 04:21 IST The surge in investigations is largely driven by a robust international and national intelligence network Of the total inputs received this year, over 6,000 leads were transferred to other states after they were found to fall outside Delhis jurisdiction, while 2,826 were closed following verification as non-actionable. Representational image In a significant crackdown on digital crimes against minors, the Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC) of the Delhi Police has intensified its operations against online sexual abuse. Official data for 2025 reveals that the unit forwarded 1,197 actionable leads related to child pornography and the online sexual abuse of minors to various district units. These specific inputs, processed between January 1 and December 19, have already culminated in the registration of 60 First Information Reports (FIRs) across the national capital. The surge in investigations is largely driven by a robust international and national intelligence network. SPUWAC received a staggering 10,151 initial inputs during the year via referrals from the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). These cyber tiplines" are routed through the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which acts as the central nodal agency. Upon receiving these reports, SPUWACs dedicated NCMEC Cell conducts preliminary inquiries to verify the authenticity and jurisdiction of the data. Of the total inputs received this year, over 6,000 leads were transferred to other states after they were found to fall outside Delhis jurisdiction, while 2,826 were closed following verification as non-actionable. The 2025 figures highlight a concentrated effort in the years final quarter. Coordinated action between SPUWAC and district police resulted in 52 FIRs being registered in November and December alone. This period saw increased focus on repeat offenders, aided by supplemental data files from global tech intermediaries like Google. While the 60 FIRs registered this year mark a decline from the 136 registered in 2024, officials suggest this reflects more stringent preliminary vetting and a focus on high-impact prosecution. Beyond its enforcement role, SPUWAC continues to serve as a nodal body for community safety and victim support. The unit handled over 200 counselling matters in 2025, successfully resolving dozens of cases involving domestic discord and harassment through reconciliation. Additionally, SPUWAC reached a historic milestone in its outreach efforts by training over 4.13 lakh women and girls in self-defence programmes this yearthe highest annual figure recorded since the initiatives inception in 2002. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 21, 2025, 04:21 IST News cities 1,197 Actionable Leads, 60 FIRs In 2025: Delhi Police's Digital Battle Against Child Pornography Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Investing.com -- Beauty is set to turn heads in 2026, according to Bank of America research analyst Ashley Wallace, who expects growth in the sector to accelerate as macro and industry tailwinds build. In a year-ahead outlook, Wallace listed several themes for the sector next year. The analyst told investors that beauty remains a highly attractive market at the intersection of staples & discretionary, forecasting revenue growth of 4.9% in 2026, at twice the growth of 2025. The acceleration is expected to be driven primarily by an improvement in the China ecosystem and tailwinds in the U.S. China is seen as the single most significant contributor to the rebound, with BofA forecasting the market to grow 8% in 2026. Wallace also explained that the China beauty market has accelerated for 5 quarters in a row, while becoming more rational, with convergence between traditional e-commerce and live streaming platforms helping level the playing field. Travel retail is also expected to shift from headwind to tailwind, with Hainan sell-out turning positive after 19 months and forecast to grow 10% in 2026, BofA said. In the U.S., BofA expects growth to benefit from easy comp and pricing, supported by innovation across haircare, fragrance and luxe skincare. Europe and emerging markets are expected to see steady but unaccelerated growth, with low-single-digit growth in Europe and high-single-digit growth in EM. By segment, BofA is most bullish on the recovery in luxe, while remaining more cautious on mass given a K-shaped economy. Meanwhile, premiumisation is expected to boost haircare, while fragrance demand may moderate except for those with launches, BofA stated. Cost discipline is also a theme, with $1.7 billion of cost savings largely reinvested, supporting margin expansion. Related articles BofA lists key beauty themes for 2026 10 Beaten-Down Large-Cap Tech Stocks Offering Solid Upside Potential 3 Dependable Non-Tech Stocks Poised for Steady Gains in Uncertain Times Migrant Labourer Assaulted In Kerala After False Suspicion Of Being Bangladeshi National Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 22, 2025, 15:03 IST Ramnarayan was attacked by a group of people who either suspected him of being a foreign national or linked him to a recent theft in the area. Image used for representation Identified as 31-year-old Ramnarayan Baghel, the deceased was a resident of Karhi village in Chhattisgarhs Sakti district. He had arrived in Palakkad on December 13 in search of work and was employed as a daily-wage labourer at a construction site. According to his relative Kishan Baghel, cited by the Times of India, Ramnarayan went to Kerala on the request of a distant relative, Shashikant Baghel, who also hails from the same village. Ramnarayan was extremely poor and is survived by his wife Lalita and two young sons, aged around eight and nine," Kishan told TOI. According to the preliminary report, Ramnarayan was attacked by a group of people who either suspected him of being a foreign national or linked him to a recent theft in the area. He was allegedly assaulted with sticks, leading to fatal injuries. Police identified him using his Aadhaar card and informed the Sakti police in Chhattisgarh about his death. Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan, condemned the incident and termed it unacceptable". Taking to X, he expressed shock over the mob killing and criticised the failure to prevent such violence. MobLynchingonce thought impossible in #Keralahas happened again near Attappadi. Guest worker Ramanarayan was beaten to death by a mob on theft allegations; police arrived hours later. A shame on Kerala. Mob justice is unacceptable. Ensure justice & compensation for his family," he wrote on X. #MobLynching-once thought impossible in #Keralahas happened again near Attappadi. Guest worker Ramanarayan was beaten to death by a mob on theft allegations; police arrived hours later. A shame on Kerala. Mob justice is unacceptable. Ensure justice & compensation for his family. V D Satheesan (@vdsatheesan) December 22, 2025 As of now, Kerala Police have taken five people into custody in connection with the killing. Officials said a detailed investigation is underway to determine the cause of the attack. A case has been registered at the Walayar police station under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).The death has left Ramnarayans family and village in deep grief. Police said the body will be sent to Chhattisgarh for the last rites after post-mortem and other legal formalities are completed, as reported by the outlet. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Kerala, India, India First Published: December 20, 2025, 19:48 IST News cities Migrant Labourer Assaulted In Kerala After False Suspicion Of Being Bangladeshi National Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Leaving Me Bloody': Passenger Alleges Assault At Delhi Airport, Air India Express Grounds Pilot Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 13:24 IST A passenger accused Air India Express pilot of assault at Delhi airport Terminal 1. Airline issued a statement saying that it unequivocally condemns such behaviour. Rapid Read The passenger identified as Ankit Dewan, posted a photo on X with blood on his face. (X/@ankitdewan) A SpiceJet passenger has accused an Air India Express pilot of physically assaulting him when he objected to the pilot cutting the boarding queue. The passenger identified as Ankit Dewan, posted a photo on X with blood on his face. He said his seven-year-old daughter saw the assault and remains traumatised by it. The incident happened at Delhi airports Terminal 1. Dewan said he and his family, including his four-month-old daughter, were directed to use the staff security check-in line as they were travelling with a baby in a stroller. The staff was cutting the queue ahead of me. On calling them out, Capt. Virender, who himself was doing the same thing, asked me if I was anpadh (uneducated), and couldnt read the signs that said this entry was for staff," Dewan said, adding a verbal altercation followed. Referring to another post on X in which he identified the pilot, Dewan said, Not able to exercise restraint, the AIX [Air India Express] pilot proceeded to physically assault me, leaving me bloody. The blood in the photograph on his shirt is also mine." In his post, Dewan also questioned how authorities and the airline could allow such pilots to continue flying, saying that if they are unable to remain calm during a scuffle, they cannot be trusted with the lives of hundreds of passengers in the air. He raised concerns over alleged mismanagement at Delhi airport, asking how staff entry points were combined with passenger security lines for those travelling with infants, creating chaos in a sensitive security zone. Dewan alleged that he was coerced into writing a letter stating that he would not pursue the matter further. It was either write that letter, or miss my flight and throw the Rs 1.2 lakh holiday bookings down the drain," he said. He tagged the Delhi Polices official handle and asked, Why cant I file a complaint after coming back? Must I sacrifice my money too, to seek justice? Will the CCTV footage disappear in the next two days till I make it back to Delhi?" AIX Pilot, Capt. Vijender Sejwal pic.twitter.com/Ntp1pnDgdb Ankit Dewan (@ankitdewan) December 19, 2025 Air India Express issued a statement saying that it unequivocally condemns such behaviour." The employee concerned has been removed from official duties with immediate effect, pending investigation. Appropriate disciplinary action will be initiated based on the findings of the inquiry," the airline said. The airline said the employee was travelling as a passenger on another airline and was involved in an altercation with a fellow passenger. Air India Express upholds the highest standards of conduct and professionalism, and remains committed to ensuring that its employees act responsibly at all times," the airline said. Delhi airport, responding to Ankit Dewan, said it was deeply concerned by the experience he had shared and expressed regret over the distress caused to him and his family. The airport authorities said the issue had been formally escalated to the concerned authorities for immediate review and appropriate action, adding that passenger safety and well-being remain their highest priority and that such incidents would be addressed with utmost seriousness. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has ordered an immediate enquiry into the assault case by Ankit Dewan. DG CISF and DG BCAS have been asked me to submit a report to the Ministry about the episode. Air India Express has been directed to immediately ground the pilot, with the Ministry conveying its instructions to the airlines management in clear and unequivocal terms. No Complaint Filed Delhi Police stated that no formal complaint has been filed either by Ankit Dewan or the airline in response to the social media post by @ankitdewan on X alleging physical assault by an Air India Express pilot at Terminal-1 of the airport. No such matter has been reported to the police station either by @ankidewan or by the airlines. The matter has come to the knowledge of the police through this social media post. Whenever a written complaint is received by the victim, in this regard, appropriate legal action will be taken," the police said. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 07:28 IST News new-delhi-news 'Leaving Me Bloody': Passenger Alleges Assault At Delhi Airport, Air India Express Grounds Pilot Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Station Masters Quick Reflexes Save Passenger From Moving Train At Karnataka Station | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 14:32 IST Abhijit Singh, station master at Pandavapura railway station, heroically saved a passenger from a fatal fall near a train, earning praise for his vigilance and quick action. News18 Bengaluru: A dramatic rescue at a railway station in Karnataka has gone viral after a station masters quick reflexes saved a passenger from a potentially fatal fall near a moving train. The incident occurred at Pandavapura railway station, where South Western Railway shared CCTV footage on X highlighting the bravery of Abhijit Singh, the station master on duty. Alert, brave, and vigilant:On 13th December 2025, Sri Abhijit Singh, Station Master at Pandavapura, displayed extraordinary presence of mind and unwavering devotion to duty by saving a passenger from a life-threatening situation near moving Train No. 16219. His timely pic.twitter.com/SNi67odhLd South Western Railway (@SWRRLY) December 19, 2025 According to railway officials, the incident took place on December 13, 2025, when a passenger attempted to board Train No. 16219 while it was already in motion a dangerous and prohibited act. CCTV footage shows the station master closely monitoring the platform as the train departed. Within seconds, the passenger lost balance while trying to climb onto the moving train and began slipping dangerously close to the wheels, triggering a life-threatening situation. Anticipating the danger, the station master immediately sprang into action. In a swift and decisive move, he ran towards the passenger, firmly grabbed him and pulled him back to safety, narrowly preventing what could have resulted in serious injury or death. The video also shows other passengers rushing in moments later to assist the shaken man and ensure he was safely away from the train. Railway authorities praised the station masters presence of mind, alertness and commitment to duty, calling the rescue a textbook example of vigilance and timely intervention. The incident has drawn widespread appreciation online, with many users applauding the officials courage and urging stricter adherence to railway safety rules. Officials once again reminded passengers not to attempt boarding or alighting from moving trains, warning that such actions pose severe risks to life. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 14:32 IST News cities Station Masters Quick Reflexes Save Passenger From Moving Train At Karnataka Station | Watch Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... SC Penalises 10 Dental Colleges In Rajasthan With Rs 10 Crore Each For NEET Violations Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 13:18 IST According to SC, these colleges admitted students who did not achieve the minimum required marks in NEET 2016-17, compromising the quality of education. The court ordered all 10 colleges to deposit Rs 10 crore each with the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority. (Representational/File Photo) The Supreme Court has issued a landmark ruling against breaches of regulations in medical and dental education, imposing fines of Rs 10 crore each on 10 private dental colleges in Rajasthan. These colleges admitted students who did not achieve the minimum required marks in NEET 2016-17, compromising the quality of education. The NEET exam is the sole criterion for admission to medical and dental courses nationwide. However, during 2016-17, certain private dental colleges in Rajasthan violated the 2007 regulations by admitting students to BDS courses who did not meet the necessary eligibility criteria. This case raised questions about both the students and the colleges roles. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi stated that the colleges deliberately violated the rules, warranting strict action. The court ordered all 10 colleges to deposit Rs 10 crore each with the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority. Additionally, the Rajasthan government was directed to deposit Rs 10 lakh. The court also questioned the state governments involvement, noting that unauthorised exemptions granted contributed to the situation. Amount To Be Placed In Fixed Deposits The top court also clarified that the total amount of Rs 100 crore collected from the colleges will be placed in fixed deposits. The interest earned will be used to maintain, upgrade, and improve One Stop Centers, Nari Niketans, old age homes, and child care institutions in Rajasthan, describing this as beneficial for vulnerable sections of society. Exercising its special powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, the court regularised the degrees of students who completed their studies despite admissions through fraudulent means. However, this relief is subject to conditions; these students must submit an affidavit to the Rajasthan High Court affirming their commitment to provide free services to the state government during disasters, epidemics, or other emergencies. The SC has requested the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court to establish a committee of five judges, including at least one woman judge, to oversee the proper use of the interest earned on fixed deposits, ensuring the funds are spent for their intended purpose. Expressing deep concern over declining standards in medical and dental education, the bench emphasised that illegal admissions undermine the quality of future doctors. The court asserted that strict action is necessary to prevent such violations in the future. The SC clarified that students who have not completed the BDS course within nine years will be expelled from the programme. According to the 2007 regulations, a five-year degree must be completed within a maximum of nine years, and the court insisted that this rule cannot be relaxed. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 13:18 IST News education-career SC Penalises 10 Dental Colleges In Rajasthan With Rs 10 Crore Each For NEET Violations Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... He Investigated 6,000 Hauntings But His Own Death Remains A Mystery: The Gaurav Tiwari Story Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 17:33 IST A new web series has reopened the debate around Tiwari, the investigator who examined over 6,000 haunted sites and died in 2016 under circumstances that still remain unanswered. Before he became a household name associated with ghosts, UFO sightings and unexplained events, Tiwari trained to become a commercial pilot. (Image: indianparanormalsociety.in) Gaurav Tiwari was one of the most recognisable names in Indias paranormal community, a figure who combined traditional knowledge with modern technology to study, document, and understand paranormal phenomena. Nearly a decade after his death, he remains a compelling, controversial and mysterious presence. The renewed attention stems from Bhay: The Gaurav Tiwari Mystery, a recent web series that revisits the investigators life, the cases that shaped his public persona, and the unanswered questions surrounding his final hours. His journey into the paranormal was far from predictable. Before he became a household name associated with ghosts, UFO sightings and unexplained events, Tiwari trained to become a commercial pilot, an early ambition that placed him on a completely different career trajectory. Early Life And The Encounter That Changed His Path Born in 1984, Gaurav Tiwari initially pursued aviation, completing pilot training in Singapore and later moving to Florida, USA. It was there, in 2007, that he and his housemates reportedly encountered a series of disturbances, experiences he later described as poltergeist-like activity, unexplained whispers, footsteps from the attic and sightings of a translucent apparition of a young girl. These episodes left a lasting impact on him, pushing him to seek scientific explanations for events that defied easy logic. Around the same period, he also explored metaphysical studies, eventually becoming an ordained minister of the Metaphysical Church of Humanistic Science. His training expanded into certification as a paranormal investigator and UFO field investigator, giving him a unique blend of spiritual insight and technical methodology. Building The Indian Paranormal Society After returning to India in 2009, Tiwari founded the Indian Paranormal Society (IPS), positioned as the countrys first formal organisation to investigate alleged hauntings using scientific tools and structured analysis. His approach rejected superstition and ritual-based fear, prioritising EMF readings, sound mapping, environmental factors, infrasound, chemical exposure and psychological triggers. Over the next few years, he and his team reportedly examined more than 6,000 haunted" locations, from Bhangarh Fort and Mukesh Mills to homes, institutions and abandoned industrial sites. Many investigations concluded that phenomena attributed to ghosts could be explained through infrasound, hallucinations, carbon monoxide exposure or stress. Despite IPS having access to advanced equipment such as full-spectrum cameras, the team remained heavily reliant on Tiwaris judgement and field instincts, a sign of the strong investigative reputation he had built. A Rising Television Personality And The Face Of Indias Paranormal Scene Tiwaris calm presence and data-driven approach brought him significant media visibility. He appeared in multiple shows, including Haunted Weekends with Sunny Leone, Bhoot Aaya, Fear Files, MTV He Ticket and MTV Girls Night Out, the last of which featured him spending nights inside allegedly haunted structures under camera surveillance. His appearances helped mainstream the idea of scientific paranormal investigations in India. Before his shift to the unexplained, Tiwari also pursued acting, appearing in films such as 16 December and Tango Charlie, adding yet another layer to his eclectic public identity. The Final Days And An Unsettling Case One of the last cases he reportedly worked on was in Janakpuri, West Delhi, involving a young woman who claimed to be haunted by multiple entities. According to family statements in multiple news reports, Tiwari spoke of feeling disturbed and even pulled by a negative force" afterward, though no independent evidence ever substantiated these feelings. Those close to him also mentioned that he had occasionally spoken about sensing negative energies". There were also hints of personal pressure and family disagreements, though the nature of these issues was never fully documented. His Death And The Questions That Refuse To Fade On 7 July 2016, Gaurav Tiwari was found dead in the bathroom of his Dwarka apartment at the age of 31. His family heard a loud thud, forced open the door, and discovered him unresponsive with a thin black line around his neck. Early reactions called it an unexplained death, given the suddenness of the incident and the absence of any documented health concerns. The Delhi Police later concluded the death was a suicide by asphyxia, suggesting he had used a dupatta to hang himself from an iron rod. Officials cited personal issues and stress as possible contributing factors. His family disputed the suicide finding, pointing to his recent marriage, lack of a note and his active professional life. The absence of clarity ensured that speculation continued, ranging from psychological strain to theories linked to his paranormal work. No conclusive evidence in any direction ever emerged, leaving the case suspended between official closure and lingering doubt. Revisiting His Legacy Through The Screen The mystery around his death continues to inspire retellings, documentaries and discussions, the latest being Bhay: The Gaurav Tiwari Mystery. The series stars Karan Tacker as Tiwari, alongside Kalki Koechlin, Saloni Batra and Danish Sood, and is directed by Robbie Grewal. It explores his investigations, the eerie spaces he walked into, the energies he documented, and the shadow of uncertainty that surrounds his final hours. The show began streaming on Amazon MX Player on 12 December. More than eight years after his death, Gaurav Tiwari remains an unresolved figure, a man who popularised scientific paranormal investigation in India, refused superstition, chased the unexplained across thousands of locations, and left behind a story that continues to provoke fascination, debate and unease. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 17:31 IST News explainers He Investigated 6,000 Hauntings But His Own Death Remains A Mystery: The Gaurav Tiwari Story Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Bangladesh On The Boil: Revisiting The Pakistani Armys Campaign Of Violence And The Razakars Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 11:36 IST Dhakas deepening engagement with Islamabad, and the resurgence of radical groups have reopened long-buried tensions rooted in the Liberation War. Violence broke out in Bangladesh after the death of radical student leader Sharif Osman Hadi. (Reuters) Bangladeshs unfolding political crisis is not merely a product of the last few months. The violent unrest following the killing of radical student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, the deepening DhakaIslamabad alignment and the renewed concerns in New Delhi about Pakistans intelligence footprint all sit atop a much older faultline. It is a faultline that stretches back to 1971, when the Pakistan Army, aided by the Razakars and other Islamist militias, unleashed one of the worst campaigns of mass violence in South Asia. The forces that enabled that brutality never fully disappeared. Instead, they re-entered Bangladesh at different moments over the decades, resurfaced within its politics and have now converged with the countrys fragile transition. This long arc is essential to understanding why Bangladesh is in the eye of a geopolitical storm once again. Who Were The Razakars? The Razakars were an auxiliary force raised by the Pakistan Army in East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh) during the Liberation War. Their origins trace back to an earlier iteration of paramilitary Razakars in the princely state of Hyderabad, who resisted integration with India after 1947. When India defeated the Hyderabad Razakars in Operation Polo, their leader, Qazim Rizvi, migrated to Pakistan, where the idea of mobilising volunteers" for state-backed coercion found new life. In East Pakistan, the first Razakar units were formed in May 1971 by Maulana Abul Kalam Muhammad Yusuf, a senior Jamaat-e-Islami leader, in Khulna. Their ranks were drawn from pro-Pakistan local supporters, Urdu-speaking Bihari Muslims who had migrated after the 1947 Partition, and socio-economically marginalised groups persuaded to back the Army. They opposed the pro-independence movement and offered the Pakistan Army something it desperately needed: intimate local knowledge of villages, neighbourhoods, households and loyalties. What Role Did The Razakars Play In The Atrocities Of 1971? The Pakistan Armys crackdown depended heavily on collaborators, and the Razakars became the most notorious among them. They were used to identify pro-independence households, track freedom fighters, point out Hindu neighbourhoods and guide military units into areas unfamiliar to West Pakistani soldiers. Razakars participated directly in raids, forced disappearances, torture, lootings and extrajudicial executions. They became central to the mass rapes that scarred the war, with between 100,000 and 400,000 women subjected to sexual violence and up to 195,000 forced pregnancies. Many of these assaults targeted Hindu women and families. Estimates of the civilian death toll range from 300,000 to 3 million. While exact figures remain a matter of debate, contemporary records describe razed villages, burned homes, mass graves and systematic targeting of intellectuals and minorities. In Bangladesh, the word Razakar" has since become one of the worst forms of slur, synonymous with treachery and brutality. The Fragile Pursuit Of Justice After Liberation After independence in December 1971, the new government banned organisations that had collaborated with Pakistan, including Jamaat-e-Islami. The Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunals) Order of 1972 and the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act of 1973 created mechanisms to identify and punish wartime atrocities. Around 37,000 collaborators were identified, but in November 1973, approximately 26,000 were granted general amnesty. Trials continued for those accused of more serious crimes. However, these attempts at accountability were interrupted by the assassination of the countrys founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in August 1975. With the ensuing military regimes came sweeping political changes. How Were Razakar Networks Rehabilitated During Military Rule? General Ziaur Rahman, who assumed power after Mujibs assassination, repealed the Collaborators Act and released those imprisoned for war crimes. He allowed Jamaat-e-Islami and other Islamic parties to return to public life. Figures previously denounced for opposing Bangladeshs independence re-entered the political mainstream. Shah Azizur Rahman, a former Muslim League politician accused of collaborating with Pakistan, joined Zias newly formed Bangladesh Nationalist Party and later became the countrys Prime Minister in 1979. Ghulam Azam, the former Jamaat-e-Islami chief who had opposed the liberation movement, also returned. The political rehabilitation of these leaders allowed networks associated with Razakar-era groups to regain influence. During the 200106 coalition government led by the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami leaders again held key ministerial positions. The Road To Accountability Under Sheikh Hasina When Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League returned to power, they revived the process of wartime justice. In 2010, her government established the International Crimes Tribunal to prosecute crimes committed during the Liberation War. In 2013, Abul Kalam Azad known as Bachchu Razakar became the first person convicted for murder, rape, arson and looting, largely targeted at the Hindu community. And in December 2019, on the eve of Bangladeshs Victory Day, the government published an unprecedented list of 10,789 Razakars who had collaborated with the Pakistan Army. The then Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque said the list was published so future generations would know the truth about the collaborators. Pakistans Strategic Links In Bangladesh After The 1971 War Pakistans sense of humiliation stemming from the 1971 defeat, including the surrender of 93,000 prisoners of war, shaped a long-term strategy of maintaining influence inside Bangladesh. Despite losing territorial control, Islamabad retained ideological, political and intelligence-linked networks through groups like Jamaat-e-Islami and other Islamist organisations nurtured during the war. Pakistani sleeper agents and ISI-linked channels remained embedded in Bangladesh for decades. Chinas interest in Indias Northeast created further alignment with this strategy, resulting in what is described as a formidable influence lodged within sections of Bangladeshs uniformed forces and political actors. These networks, although dormant at times, never disappeared. These dormant networks formed the backdrop against which developments after Sheikh Hasinas ouster unfolded. Has Pakistan Re-Entered Bangladesh After The Fall Of Hasina? What began as a diplomatic thaw" following the fall of the Hasina government in August 2024 has rapidly evolved into a strategic re-entry, with New Delhi now raising red flags over a burgeoning Dhaka-Islamabad axis. The most alarming development for regional security is the reported establishment of a dedicated ISI Special Cell within the Pakistani High Commission in Dhaka. First exposed by CNN-News18 in late October 2025, the unit is said to be heavily staffed by a team of high-ranking military and intelligence officers. According to top intelligence sources, the cells initial phase includes one Brigadier, two Colonels, four Majors, and several officials from Pakistans Navy and Air Force. This infrastructure was reportedly formalised following the four-day visit of Pakistans Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, to Dhaka in late October 2025. During this tour, General Mirza and senior ISI officers held multiple rounds of closed-door meetings with Bangladeshs National Security Intelligence (NSI) and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI). Sources indicate that these meetings resulted in a joint intelligence-sharing mechanism, ostensibly aimed at Bay of Bengal surveillance but widely believed to be a front for monitoring Indias eastern borders. How Does The Current Unrest Fit Into This Arc? Intelligence analysts warn that the ISIs core mission" in Bangladesh is the systematic radicalisation of the youth and the promotion of religious extremism through groups like Jamaat-e-Islami and the Inqilab Manch. The ultimate goal appears to be the creation of a Hybrid Regime"modelled after Pakistans own political structurethat is inherently hostile to Indian interests. The current unrest following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi on December 18 is being viewed by many as a managed" crisis. Observers argue that the resulting atmosphere of fearmarked by attacks on the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and the Assistant High Commission in Chattogram, as well as the burning of media offices like The Daily Staris being used to delay the February 12 elections. By fostering instability, radical elements are consolidating their influence on the streets while the interim government appears either unwilling or unable to stem the tide. Why Bangladeshs Present Crisis Cannot Be Separated From Its Past The turbulence unfolding in Bangladesh today is rooted in legacies that stretch back to the 1971 Liberation War. The Razakars no longer exist as an organised force, but the ideological strands, political networks and external influences that sustained them never fully disappeared. They resurfaced repeatedly over the decades and now intersect with Bangladeshs most volatile moment in years. As Pakistans intelligence footprint expands once again and radical groups regain space, the shadows of 1971 are unmistakably visible in the Bangladesh of 2025. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 10:56 IST News explainers Bangladesh On The Boil: Revisiting The Pakistani Armys Campaign Of Violence And The Razakars Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... What Is The 'Super Flu' Subclade K Spreading Ahead Of Christmas, And Should You Worry? Explained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 13:14 IST The variant, a subgroup of the common Influenza A H3N2 virus called subclade K, has been reported in major cities and is a seasonal flu thats spreading more efficiently than usual Rapid Read As per the World Health Organisation, the flu has been described as a seasonal respiratory infection, with symptoms ranging from fever and cough to body aches, sore throat and congestion. (Pixabay) Across parts of North America and Europe, the holiday season is usually a time for reunions, travel and crowded celebrations. However, this winter, a fast-moving flu strain is making its presence felt just as Christmas approaches, raising concerns that the virus could disrupt plans and put extra strain on health systems. The variant, a subgroup of the common Influenza A H3N2 virus called subclade K, has been reported in major cities and according to officials, it as a seasonal flu virus thats spreading more efficiently than usual, earning the moniker super flu". As per the World Health Organisation, the flu has been described as a seasonal respiratory infection, with symptoms ranging from fever and cough to body aches, sore throat and congestion. What Is Subclade K? According to BBC, subclade K is a genetically distinct offshoot of the Influenza A (H3N2) virus, identified through routine global surveillance that tracks how flu viruses evolve over time. Scientists group influenza viruses into clades and subclades based on small genetic changes, much like drawing branches on a family tree. When researchers analysing virus samples noticed a cluster of H3N2 viruses sharing the same mutationsand behaving differently enough from earlier strainsthey classified it as a new subclade and labelled it K" for ease of reference. The BBC report adds that the naming does not mean the virus is entirely new; rather, it signals that this version has drifted genetically from previous H3N2 strains, which can affect how easily it spreads and how well existing immunity recognises it. What Are The Symptoms To Look Out For? High fever, chills Persistent cough and sore throat Congestion or runny nose Body aches and headaches Extreme fatigue Some cases include nausea or vomiting (especially in children) In severe cases: difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion or persistent high fever, which require prompt medical attention. Why Is The Spread Faster Compared To Traditional Flu? According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), viruses like influenza constantly mutate, and subclade K is a slightly drifted version of the H3N2 strain. This means it has genetic differences from the strains used to formulate the 2025-26 seasonal flu vaccine, potentially influencing how well immune systems recognise it. CDC reported that most H3N2 viruses identified in the United States this season belong to subclade K. Looking to allay concerns, health experts clarified that the mutation doesnt create a completely new disease. It still behaves like influenza but may spread more easily because fewer people have immunity from past exposure or vaccination. Dr Scott Roberts, assistant professor of infectious diseases at Yale School of Medicine, told The New York Times that the subclade K strain may spread more widely than previous variants, pushing up the flu numbers this season. However, in his conversation with BBC, Lawrence Young, professor of molecular oncology at the University of Warwick, warned against exaggeration" and said: Its just a flu variant that is clearly a little bit more infectious than normal, but its misleading and a bit frightening to call it super flu." How Does The Virus Spread? Like other flu viruses, the new strain spreads mainly through respiratory droplets when infected people cough, sneeze or talk; close physical contact in crowded or indoor settings; contaminated surfaces touched before touching the mouth, nose, and eyes. This is also the reason why the virus travels faster in winters when indoor gatherings are common. People most vulnerable to severe illness include very young children, particularly those below the age of two, seniors, expectant mothers, and individuals living with long-term health issues such as asthma, diabetes, heart or neurological conditions, or compromised immune systems. In the United States, the impact has been most visible in New York City. According to Fox40, health officials logged roughly 14,000 flu infections in the first week of December alone an increase of more than four times compared to the same period last year. Explaining the sharp rise, Dr Ulysses Wu, chief epidemiologist at Hartford Hospital, told NewsNation that New Yorks role as a major travel hub makes it especially vulnerable. He noted that the citys dense population, combined with heavy international and domestic movement, helps fuel faster transmission. The surge is not limited to one region. Speaking at a public briefing on December 16, infectious disease expert Dr Andrew Pekosz said influenza activity is accelerating across several states. He pointed to Colorado, Louisiana and New York as areas seeing particularly steep increases, adding that in states such as Maryland, the subclade K variant appears to have become the dominant strain. In the UK, pressure on hospitals remains elevated. BBC reported that an average of 3,140 patients were admitted with flu in England last week an 18 percent rise from the previous week, although the pace of growth has begun to ease. The UK Health Security Agency has cautioned that it is still too early to say if flu has peaked." Canada is also reporting a sharp upswing. Data from Health Canada, cited by Globe News, indicates that the H3N2 strain is spreading rapidly, with a significant number of cases requiring hospital treatment. Children and teenagers under the age of 19 are among the most affected groups. The spread of the same variant has been observed beyond North America and Europe. Dr Robert Hopkins Jr., medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, told TODAY.com that Japan has already seen a major surge linked to this strain, prompting authorities there to declare an influenza epidemic. Can You Take A Vaccine? While getting vaccinated against the flu is advised, the current flu shot may be less perfectly matched with this variant than usual. So, What Can You Do To Stay Safe? Frequent handwashing Staying home when symptomatic Using masks indoors during high transmission Avoiding close contact with infected individuals Good ventilation in shared spaces News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: December 20, 2025, 13:14 IST News explainers What Is The 'Super Flu' Subclade K Spreading Ahead Of Christmas, And Should You Worry? Explained Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Why The EU Dropped Frozen Russian Assets Plan And Opted For $105 Billion Loan To Fund Ukraine Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 13:52 IST Belgiums objections, Russian legal threats and unresolved liability questions forced the EU to drop the reparations-loan proposal and approve fresh borrowing for Ukraine. Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hold a press conference during a EU leaders' summit, in Brussels, Belgium. (REUTERS) Europe has been wrestling for months with a dilemma at the heart of its Ukraine strategy: whether to unlock the hundreds of billions in frozen Russian sovereign assets to fund Kyivs survival, or find another way to bridge Ukraines looming financial crisis. With Ukraine warning that it could run out of money by the second quarter of next year, and with battlefield pressures rising as Washington debates its own long-term support, the European Union was under immense pressure to deliver a credible and unified financial plan. The choice it ultimately made, to borrow 90 billion euros ($105 billion) and loan it to Ukraine instead of using Russian assets immediately, reflects a mix of legal, political and security constraints that made the frozen-assets route too complex to use at this stage. The decision, taken at a tense summit in Brussels after hours of negotiation, was hailed by many as a geopolitical victory for Europes unity. Yet the debate revealed deep divisions within the bloc, especially as countries weighed legal risks, potential Russian retaliation, and domestic political sensitivities. What Was The Original Plan To Use Frozen Russian Assets? From the early days of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the idea of using immobilised Russian central bank assets to fund Kyiv circulated among European policymakers. The EU holds the largest share of these assets globally, about 210 billion euros, according to Reuters, most of them at Belgiums Euroclear clearing house. Over time, the European Commission proposed formalising this into a reparations loan" for Ukraine. The idea was structured as a workaround to international law, which prohibits confiscation of sovereign assets. Under this plan, the EU would borrow against the Russian assets and give the proceeds to Ukraine while Moscow would retain ownership of its funds. Kyiv would repay the loan only if Russia paid war reparations after the conflict. If Moscow refused, the EU reserved the right to use the frozen assets to recover the loan. Supporters of the plan said it involved no fresh borrowing and carried a moral logic, since Ukraine has suffered devastation due to Russian aggression. Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Ireland were among the countries backing the idea. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had also supported using the assets. But despite the political weight behind it, the plan never secured unanimity. The legal structure was unprecedented, and the technical details were complicated. As EU leaders arrived at this weeks summit, it was already clear that the frozen-assets proposal faced significant obstacles. Reparations Loan Considered Too Risky In the end, the reparations-loan idea became too complex and politically fraught to resolve quickly. Belgium, which holds 185 billion euros of the Russian assets, led the opposition. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said the proposal carried real risks of retaliation from Moscow, including attempts to seize Belgian assets abroad. He argued that Russia might target Belgiums assets in places like China. His concerns were amplified by escalating Russian legal moves. On Monday, Russias central bank filed a lawsuit seeking billions in damages from Euroclear as a pre-emptive measure against any EU plan to loan out the funds. By Thursday, the Russian central bank said it would claim damages from European banks equal to the frozen assets and lost profits. Belgium demanded binding guarantees" from every EU member state that they would share liability if Russia launched legal claims. As De Wever told the Belgian parliament, Mere oral promises are not enough." But some major states, including France and Italy, were unwilling to sign up for such guarantees. Without them, Belgiums approval was impossible. There were also broader legal and financial concerns. The EU had already been using the interest generated by the frozen Russian bonds to support Ukraine. But as these bonds mature and turn into cash, borrowing against them raised new questions about the stability of the financial system, ownership rights and potential disputes under international law. Several EU diplomats acknowledged that despite vigorous debate at the summit, too many questions remained unresolved. As De Wever put it bluntly: There were so many questions on the Reparations Loan, we had to go to Plan B. Rationality has prevailed." Why Did Europe Ultimately Choose A Loan? With the frozen-assets route blocked, the EU opted for a more conventional, though still politically tested, solution: borrowing money on capital markets and loaning 90 billion to Ukraine from 2026 to 2027, the period in which Kyiv faces a serious funding gap. The decision required unanimity, and Hungarys Russia-friendly Prime Minister Viktor Orban initially opposed it. But Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic agreed to let the plan proceed as long as it did not affect them financially. The compromise allowed the loan to pass while enabling Orban to claim a symbolic victory. Orban got what he wanted: no reparation loan. And EU action without participation of Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia," one EU diplomat said, according to Reuters. The political imperatives were enormous. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas had warned, We just cant afford to fail." Belgian Prime Minister De Wever echoed this sentiment, saying, Had we left Brussels divided today, Europe would have walked away from geopolitical relevance." The loan also gives Kyiv vital breathing room. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had cautioned that without funding, his country would not have enough money for life and weapons." He welcomed the decision, writing on X: This is significant support that truly strengthens our resilience It is important that Russian assets remain immobilised and that Ukraine has received a financial security guarantee for the coming years." For many leaders, unity was itself a strategic priority, especially after US President Donald Trump criticised Europeans as weak" and as Washington signals a desire for a swift peace settlement. European Council President Antonio Costa said the message to Moscow was crystal-clear": Russia had failed to achieve its objectives and Europe stood with Ukraine today, tomorrow and as long as necessary." Europes Financial And Political Calculations Several countries, including Italy, France, Greece, Spain and Belgium, have seen their public finances strained by borrowing for defence, energy subsidies, climate goals and support for Ukraine. Many leaders, therefore, preferred a solution that preserved stability rather than risk legal or financial turmoil through an untested mechanism. French President Macron later described joint borrowing as the most realistic and practical way" to fund Ukraine. There were also concerns about international law. Although many European lawyers believed the reparations-loan idea was defensible, using sovereign assets, even indirectly, posed long-term uncertainties. The loan option avoided this grey zone. Meanwhile, the geopolitical backdrop influenced Europes choice. A leaked US-backed peace plan had proposed investing $100 billion of frozen Russian assets in US-led efforts to rebuild and invest in Ukraine, with Washington taking profits. European leaders were alarmed at the idea of these assets being redirected outside European control. Von der Leyen described the summit as Europes independence moment," insisting that Europe must be responsible for its own security. Russian President Vladimir Putin escalated provocations, claiming the West was making an enemy of Moscow and calling European leaders piglets." Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev responded to the EU decision by saying, Law and sanity win for now." How Does This Decision Shape Europes Strategy Going Forward? The loan deal is widely viewed as a landmark moment for EU foreign policy. Guntram Wolff of the Bruegel economic thinktank told The Guardian the agreement was, regardless, a huge deal for the EU". If you want to do EU foreign policy, you need EU resources and debt. The European Council delivered." Alberto Alemanno, a professor of EU law, added that the agreement was unprecedented". Letting willing states move forward had never before been tried for EU budget-backed borrowing, with selective participation in collective liability," he said. Under the final agreement, the 210 billion euros in frozen Russian assets will remain immobilised until Moscow pays reparations. If that ever occurs, Ukraine could use those reparations to repay the EU loan. For now, Europe has effectively delayed the frozen-assets question while buying time and unity. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 13:28 IST News explainers Why The EU Dropped Frozen Russian Assets Plan And Opted For $105 Billion Loan To Fund Ukraine Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... After Karnataka, Telangana To Bring Hate Speech Law: CM Revanth Reddy Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 22:34 IST Telangana CM Revanth Reddy plans a bill to curb hate speech, following Karnataka's recent legislation, which faces opposition over freedom of expression concerns. Rapid Read CM Revanth Reddy announced the move during Christmas celebrations in Hyderabad. (Image: PTI/file) Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Saturday announced that his government plans to introduce a bill to curb hate speech in the state. We will soon bring legislation in the Assembly on hate speech," CM Reddy said at Christmas celebrations organised by the Telangana government in Hyderabad, according to news agency PTI. Earlier this week, the Congress-led government in Karnataka passed the Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill. The Siddaramaiah-led cabinet cleared the legislation on December 4, and it was passed by the Assembly on December 18 amid strong opposition protests. The law has a provision of a fine up to Rs 1 lakh and imprisonment up to seven years. Opposition Criticises Bill In Karnataka Introducing the Bill in the Karnataka Assembly, Home Minister G Parameshwara had said the legislation was necessary due to a sharp increase in statements that undermine social harmony and could lead to serious consequences. He warned that inflammatory remarks have the potential to trigger violence and unrest, citing instances of murders, assaults and rising social tensions linked to hate speech. Parameshwara further said the growing frequency of such statements posed unpredictable dangers to society, making legal intervention essential to curb hate speech and associated crimes. However, the Bill has faced criticism from the Opposition. Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R Ashok opposed the legislation, describing it as an attack on freedom of expression. He questioned the need for such a law 75 years after Independence and alleged that it could be misused to target individuals. Ashok also claimed the Bill does not provide for bail in certain cases and warned that journalists could face imprisonment under its provisions. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 22:34 IST News india After Karnataka, Telangana To Bring Hate Speech Law: CM Revanth Reddy Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Amit Shah Sends Greetings On SSB's 62nd Raising Day, Honours The Martyrs Who Gave Their Lives Curated By : ANI Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 10:00 IST Amit Shah salutes SSB on its 62nd Raising Day, praising its border protection, crisis support, and fight against smuggling and Naxal activity. Rapid Read SSB Troops in action (File Photo/@AmitShah) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday sent his best wishes to the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel and their families for the forces 62nd Raising Day, praising their dedication and service to the country. In a post on X, Shah commended the SSB for protecting Indias borders and supporting citizens during tough times. He wrote, Greetings to SSB personnel and their families on Raising Day. From guarding our borders to standing with citizens in times of crisis, the SSB has always made the nation proud. Salute to the martyrs who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty." Greetings to SSB personnel and their families on Raising Day.From safeguarding our frontiers to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with citizens in times of crisis, the @SSB_INDIA has always made the nation proud. Salutations to martyrs who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of pic.twitter.com/RNrGs7HSYY Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 20, 2025 Last year, the 61st Raising Day event was held in Siliguri, West Bengal, where the Home Minister inaugurated the Integrated Check Point in Agartala and a new residential complex at Petrapole. On that occasion, Shah and the force celebrated the SSBs commitment to service, security, and brotherhood and its tradition of trust and friendship with Nepal and Bhutan. The SSB was established in 1963 after the 1962 India-China conflict and is one of Indias central armed police forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The SSB mainly guards the 2,450-kilometer border with Nepal and Bhutan, handles internal security, fights smuggling, and responds to disasters. Over the years, the SSB has been key in keeping the borders safe, helping border communities feel secure, and supporting civil authorities during emergencies. The annual Raising Day honors the dedication and sacrifices of SSB personnel and renews their commitment to national security. The SSB has also actively stopped drug smuggling, human trafficking, arms smuggling, and infiltration of anti-national elements at the border. The force plays an important role in making the eastern region free of Naxal activity, working with the Central Reserve Police Force and local police. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 09:59 IST News india Amit Shah Sends Greetings On SSB's 62nd Raising Day, Honours The Martyrs Who Gave Their Lives Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... British oil giant BP just announced a new CEO, marking its fourth chief executive shake-up in the last six years alone. Most Read from Fast Company The company named Meg ONeill, who previously led Australias top oil and gas company Woodside Energy, to the role. ONeill will become the first woman to hold the top executive spot at one of the worlds biggest oil companies. She said that she looks forward to working to accelerate performance at BP and plans to prioritize shareholder growth and reestablish BPnow a possible takeover targetas a market leader in the oil and gas industry. ONeill will take over from Murray Auchincloss, a longtime BP employee who was appointed as interim CEO in 2023 before being named to the role permanently in January 2024. While Auchincloss will leave the oil giant immediately, ONeill wont take the helm until April of next year. After more than three decades with BP, now is the right time to hand the reins to a new leader, Auchincloss said in the announcement, adding that he told BPs chairman that he would be open to stepping down if a different leader could hasten the companys growth trajectory. I am confident that BP is now well positioned for significant growth, and I look forward to watching the companys future progress and success under Megs leadership, he said. BP named Albert Manifold as the new chairman of its board over the summer, tapping the oil and gas outsider who had spent the previous 10 years as CEO of the building materials company CRH. That shake-up to the board of directors was one of many recent moves designed to put the company back on track and make BP competitive again with its rivals in the oil and gas industry. Earlier this year, Elliott Investment Management, an activist investor known for dramatically remaking companies in its image, disclosed that it owns a 5% stake in the troubled British energy company. BPs checkered past While oil and gas peers like Shell and ExxonMobil continue to notch market wins, BPs share price has floundered. BP remains haunted by its past and still pays around a billion dollars a year in damages for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion, which killed 11 people and triggered a long-term environmental and health catastrophe at the companys semi-submersible offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Assam Was Nearly Separated From India: PM Modi Attacks Congress, Hails First CM Bordoloi's Role Curated By : & News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 18:25 IST PM Modi accused the Congress of repeatedly compromising Assams identity, both before and after Independence. PM Narendra Modi | File Image Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said Assam narrowly escaped being separated from India during the pre-Independence period and credited the states first Chief Minister, Gopinath Bordoloi, for thwarting a plan to merge Assam with East Pakistan. PM Modi accused the Congress of repeatedly compromising Assams identity, both before and after Independence. Speaking at a public gathering in Guwahati after inaugurating the new terminal building of the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport, PM Modi said that while the Muslim League and the British were laying the groundwork for the Partition of India, there was a parallel conspiracy to detach Assam from the country. At that time, Congress too was moving towards becoming a part of that controversy. It was Gopinath Bordoloi who stood firm, even against his own party, and saved Assam," the Prime Minister said. #WATCH | Guwahati, Assam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, Gopinath Bordoloi had saved Assam before independence, but after him, Congress started anti-Assam, anti-national activities again. Congress hatched conspiracies of religious appeasement to increase its vote bank. In pic.twitter.com/zJaO7vnaK3 ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2025 PM Modi alleged that after Bordolois time, Congress once again adopted what he termed anti-Assam and anti-national" policies. Congress committed another grave wrong by attempting to erase the very identity of this region. The roots of this wrongdoing lie in the period before Independence," he said. The Prime Minister accused the Congress of pursuing vote-bank politics through religious appeasement, claiming that unchecked infiltration was encouraged in Assam and West Bengal. Open permission was given to infiltrators who became their vote bank. This altered the demography of these regions. Forests and land were encroached upon, and the security and identity of Assam were put at stake," he said. Highlighting the present state governments efforts, PM Modi said the Assam government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is working decisively to reclaim land and resources from what he described as illegal and anti-national encroachments. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister inaugurated the newly constructed terminal at LGBI Airport, built at a cost of nearly Rs 4,000 crore. Indias first nature-inspired airport terminal, the facility has been designed to reflect Assams natural landscape and is expected to significantly boost passenger capacity, regional connectivity, tourism and trade across the Northeast. As part of his two-day visit to Assam, PM Modi will also pay tribute to the martyrs of the 1979 Assam Movement at the Swahid Smarak Kshetra, dedicated to the memory of 860 people who lost their lives during the agitation. On Sunday, the Prime Minister is scheduled to interact with 25 students from different schools under the Pariksha pe Charcha initiative during a 30-minute session aboard the cruise vessel Charaideo on the Brahmaputra river. He will then travel to Dibrugarh and onward to Namrup, where he will lay the foundation stone for a Rs 12,000 crore ammonia-urea fertiliser plant. The project is expected to provide a major boost to industrial growth and employment in Assam. PM Modi will also address a public meeting there before concluding his visit to the state. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Assam, India, India First Published: December 20, 2025, 18:25 IST News india Assam Was Nearly Separated From India: PM Modi Attacks Congress, Hails First CM Bordoloi's Role Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Bihar Hijab Row: Female Doctor Whose Naqab Was Removed By Nitish Kumar Didn't Join Duty Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 22:18 IST As per the protocol, candidates are required to report to the civil surgeon office in Patna and then join their respective workplaces. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar pulls down woman's hijab at an event. A female doctor whose hijab was removed by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during an event in Patna earlier this week did not join duty on Saturday, officials said. Patna Civil Surgeon Avinash Kumar Singh said that Nusrat Parveen, a newly hired AYUSH doctor at the centre of the hijab row, did not join the duty till 7 pm on Saturday and the possibility window for the day" was closed. I have been informed that the last date of joining has been extended beyond December 20. It remains to be seen whether Parveen joins on Monday or not," he said as quoted by news agency PTI. The civil surgeon was not aware about the exact reason behind the delay in the woman doctors joining, if at all she joins, as he had no contact with her or the family members." He said that as per the protocol, candidates are required to report to the civil surgeons office in Patna and then join their respective workplaces. It remains to be seen whether Parveen joins on Monday or not," he said, without specifying the new deadline. Vijay Kumar, a surgeon at Sabalpur PHC in Patna Sadar where Parveen was expected to join, also confirmed that the woman doctor has not joined duty. Around five-six people have joined today, and Parveen is not among them Her name is in the list but we have not received her appointment letter from the civil surgeon office in Patna," he said as quoted by the news agency. The Hijab Row A video of Nitish Kumar went viral where he was seen removing the hijab of a woman who came to collect her appointment letter from him. Parveen was among the ten Ayush doctors who had turned up at the Chief Ministers Secretariat on Monday to receive their letters of appointment. When Parveens turn came, Kumar pointed towards her veil (Hijab) and exclaimed what is this before pulling it down and exposing her face. The incident has drawn criticism from far and wide, including many West Asian countries, and the JD (U) president is facing accusations of disrespecting Muslim traditions, allegedly in line with RSS agenda. PDP leader Iltija Mufti also lodged a police complaint against Kumar over the recent hijab row. Im writing to bring to your attention a vile incident which has caused immense distress and hurt among Muslims, especially women. A few days ago, we watched with shock, horror, and worry as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulled down the naqab of a young Muslim doctor in full public glare at a government function," Muftis complaint to the Kothibagh SHO reads. Meanwhile, Governor Arif Mohammad Khan expressed his disappointment over the naqab row. It pains me to hear the word dispute in this case. Can there be any row between a father and a daughter?" he asked. Speaking to reporters in Patna, he said, What have you people made out of it? This man (Nitish Kumar) considers female students as his daughters." Earlier in the day, Mahfoozur Rahman, principal of Government Tibbi College & Hospital (GTCH), of which Parveen is a second-year student, had indicated an extension in the deadline beyond Saturday in this special case". Ayush doctor Nusrat Parveen has not joined yet, and there is no update on her future course of action," Rahman said. Her family said that they want to escape media coverage, and that the woman doctor will rethink whether to join or not," the principal said. Rahman also dismissed claims that the family has moved to Kolkata due to resentment, saying that they have themselves rubbished such false news reports". He quoted Parveens husband as saying that the family is not angry with Nitish Kumar or the government. He also claimed that the family is disappointed with the row stirred by the media." (With inputs from agencies) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 22:16 IST News india Bihar Hijab Row: Female Doctor Whose Naqab Was Removed By Nitish Kumar Didn't Join Duty Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Extremely Alarming: Priyanka Gandhi Seeks Centres Intervention After Mob Lynches Hindu Man In Bangladesh Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 12:29 IST Deepu Chandra Das, a young garment factory worker from Bhaluka in Bangladesh's Mymensingh district, was lynched by a mob on Thursday night. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. (Image: Reuters/File) Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has urged the Union government to take cognisance of what she described as rising violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh. Her appeal followed the brutal killing of a Hindu youth, Deepu Chandra Das, in the neighbouring country. Vadra said incidents of violence against Hindu, Christian and Buddhist minorities were a matter of serious concern and required firm diplomatic engagement with Dhaka. In a post on X, she termed the murder extremely alarming" and said that discrimination and violence based on religion, caste or identity were crimes against humanity. She called on the Government of India to raise the issue of minority safety strongly with the Bangladesh government. Details of the killing Deepu Chandra Das, a young garment factory worker from Bhaluka in Mymensingh district, was reportedly killed by a mob on Thursday night. According to local police, the incident took place at around 9 pm. Das was accused by the crowd of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet, an allegation that led to a violent attack. Police said Das was tied up, beaten to death and later set on fire. Several members of the mob were reportedly known to him. Videos of the incident were recorded on mobile phones by people present at the scene, adding to the shock surrounding the killing. A duty officer at Bhaluka Police Station told an international news channel that the mob acted in anger and took the law into its own hands. The police said an investigation was launched soon after the incident. Arrests made in the case Bangladeshs Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested seven people in connection with the lynching. The arrests were made following operations at multiple locations in Mymensingh district. The interim government in Bangladesh confirmed the arrests on Friday. The arrested persons have been identified as Md. Limon Sarkar (19), Md. Tarek Hossain (19), Md. Manik Mia (20), Ershad Ali (39), Nijum Uddin (20), Alomgir Hossain (38) and Md. Miraj Hossain Akon (46). Officials said further investigation is underway to determine the roles of each accused. Minority safety The killing has renewed concerns about the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said such incidents undermine the idea of a civilised society and called for accountability. She stressed that violence in the name of religion cannot be justified under any circumstances. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: December 20, 2025, 12:29 IST News india Extremely Alarming: Priyanka Gandhi Seeks Centres Intervention After Mob Lynches Hindu Man In Bangladesh Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Differently-Abled Karnataka Teen Beaten With Plastic Pipe, Chilli Thrown In Eyes Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 17:36 IST The incident occurred at the Divyajyoti School for Differently Abled Children in the Navanagar area and came to public attention after a disturbing video surfaced online. Cops have launched a probe | Image: X A 16-year-old differently-abled boy was allegedly subjected to severe physical assault at a residential school for children with special needs in Karnatakas Bagalkot. The incident occurred at the Divyajyoti School for Differently Abled Children in the Navanagar area of the city and came to public attention after a disturbing video surfaced online. The footage shows the teenager being repeatedly beaten with a belt and a plastic pipe. Even after the boy collapses to the floor in pain, the assault continues, with his legs held down as he cries for help. Police have identified the prime accused as Akshay Indulkar, who is alleged to have led the attack. His wife, Anandi, is also seen in the video allegedly throwing chilli powder into the boys eyes, intensifying the abuse. Adding to the outrage, the person filming the incident can be heard laughing instead of stepping in to stop the violence. According to sources, the video was leaked by a former employee of the institution, triggering widespread anger among parents and members of the public. Following a complaint lodged by the victims parents, police have registered an FIR in the case. Akshay Indulkar, his wife, and two other individuals associated with the school have been detained for questioning. The incident has sparked serious concerns over monitoring, safety standards, and accountability at institutions meant to protect and support children with disabilities. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Karnataka, India, India First Published: December 20, 2025, 17:35 IST News india Differently-Abled Karnataka Teen Beaten With Plastic Pipe, Chilli Thrown In Eyes Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Maha Jungle Raj: PM Modi Slams TMC Over 'Anti-Development' Politics, Raises Infiltration Issue Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 21:53 IST PM Modi said that several issues he intended to raise at the Ranaghat rally could not be addressed due to the adverse weather conditions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that just as the people of Bihar have repeatedly rejected the return of Jungle Raj", it is now time for West Bengal to free itself from what he termed the Maha Jungle Raj" under the Trinamool Congress (TMC). PM Modi was unable to attend the BJP rally at Ranaghat in West Bengals Nadia district in person due to inclement weather and dense fog. His helicopter reportedly hovered over the Taherpur helipad but was forced to return to Kolkata airport after visibility failed to improve. The Prime Minister later addressed the rally virtually and apologised to party supporters for not being physically present. Due to inclement weather, I unfortunately could not be physically present at the Ranaghat rally to meet my sisters and brothers of West Bengal. Therefore, I addressed the rally over the phone and sought peoples blessings," PM Modi said in a post on X. He said that several issues he intended to raise at the Ranaghat rally could not be addressed due to the adverse weather conditions. Launching a sharp attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, the Prime Minister accused the ruling party of pushing the state into misgovernance and stalling development. The people of Bihar showed time and again that they are not interested in the return of Jungle Raj. Now is also the time to free ourselves from the Maha Jungle Raj prevailing in West Bengal, because of the TMC," he said. PM Modi said that while the BJP believes in speed, scale and good governance", the TMC remains preoccupied with cuts and commissions", resulting in development projects worth thousands of crores being stalled. He claimed that schemes related to housing, healthcare, food security and education are not progressing due to the state governments non-cooperative attitude". PM Modi Raises Infiltration Issue The Prime Minister also accused the TMC of shielding illegal infiltrators, calling it a major threat to the state. Look at the extent of TMCs affection for infiltrators. Their supporters say Modi Go Back, but fall silent when it comes to saying Infiltrators Go Back," he said, cautioning people against what he described as the partys conspiracies. Assuring strict action, PM Modi said, It is Modis assurance to the people of West Bengal that once a BJP government is formed in the state, stricter action will be taken against infiltrators." Highlighting infrastructure development, PM Modi said major connectivity projects were inaugurated and foundation stones laid during the day. He said the proposed four-lane road from Barajaguli to Krishnanagar would benefit North 24 Parganas, Nadia and surrounding areas, while significantly reducing travel time between Kolkata and Siliguri. The Prime Minister also invoked Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyays Vande Mataram on its 150th anniversary, saying it had inspired freedom from colonial rule in the past and must now motivate the nation to build a Viksit Bharat" in the 21st century. Referring to law and order and social issues, PM Modi said the people of West Bengal have endured a lot" in recent years, expressing concern over the condition of women in the state. Concluding his address, the Prime Minister appealed to voters to give the BJP a chance to form a double-engine government" in the state, promising development at double the speed" ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 19:18 IST News india Maha Jungle Raj: PM Modi Slams TMC Over 'Anti-Development' Politics, Raises Infiltration Issue Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mob Rule Should Not Prevail: Shashi Tharoor Raises Alarm Over Bangladesh Violence Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 16:55 IST Massive protests broke out in several parts of Bangladesh, including Dhaka and Chattogram, following the death of July uprising organiser Sharif Osman Hadi. Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday expressed concern over the prevailing situation in Bangladesh, warning that mob rule and instability could adversely affect both Bangladesh and India. While speaking to reporters outside Patna Airport, Tharoor flagged the mob rule" in Bangladesh and questioned the countrys interim government on the steps being taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur. Such mob rule should not prevail. The Parliamentary Standing Committee has also said that we want good relations with Bangladesh, and peace should be maintained there," he said as quoted by news agency ANI. #WATCH | Patna, Bihar: On the situation in Bangladesh, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, Such mob rule should not prevail. The Parliamentary Standing Committee has also said that we want good relations with Bangladesh, and peace should be maintained there. Elections are also pic.twitter.com/VB2xWAGr4m ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2025 The Thiruvananthapuram MP further emphasised Indias interest in a stable and democratic Bangladesh, saying that peace and democratic norms must be upheld in the neighbouring country, especially with elections scheduled to be held in February. Elections are also going to be held there in February, and we want democracy to return there, but the way the situation is going there is very concerning," he added. The Congress leader underlined that instability in Bangladesh would not be in the interest of either nation. Such a situation is not good for both countries; we want peace there," he said, reiterating Indias expectation of calm and orderly democratic processes in its eastern neighbour. Earlier today, he also expressed concern over attacks on media houses and journalists in the neighbouring country, saying that such incidents are not just attacks on individual institutions but a direct blow to press freedom and a pluralistic society. Tharoor referred to reports of targeted mob attacks on the offices of leading Bangladeshi newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. He said the burning of media offices and threats to journalists are alarming and unacceptable. He also said he was worried about the safety of The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam and other journalists working under fear. Deeply concerned by the reports from Bangladesh. The targeted mob attacks and arson at the offices of @ProthomAl and The @dailystarnews are more than just an assault on two media houses; they are an assault on the freedom of the press and the very foundation of a pluralistic society. I am concerned about the well-being of editor @MahfuzAnamDS and other courageous journalists," he said. Deeply concerned by the reports from Bangladesh. The targeted mob attacks and arson at the offices of @ProthomAlo and The @dailystarnews are more than just an assault on two media houses; they are an assault on the freedom of the press and the very foundation of a pluralistic Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 20, 2025 Bangladesh Unrest Massive protests broke out in several parts of Bangladesh, including Dhaka and Chattogram, following the death of July uprising organiser Sharif Osman Hadi in Singapore. Hadi, the convener of Inquilab Mancha, died while undergoing treatment after he was shot in the head in Dhaka on December 12. Media houses, cultural centres and political offices were attacked. A Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched and burnt to death in Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy. Bangladesh now faces its worst bout of violence in months, just weeks before crucial elections scheduled for February 2026. Bangladeshs Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Friday condemned mob violence by fringe elements, calling on citizens to resist violence, hatred and incitement at a critical moment of democratic transition. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 16:55 IST News india Mob Rule Should Not Prevail: Shashi Tharoor Raises Alarm Over Bangladesh Violence Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Orange Alert Issued As Extreme Fog Turns Delhi Blind; Over 100 Flights, 50 Trains Cancelled Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 11:32 IST Dense fog and hazardous air pollution gripped Delhi, disrupting over 700 flights and pushing AQI near severe levels. Dense fog and hazardous air pollution gripped Delhi, disrupting over 700 flights and pushing AQI near severe levels. A toxic mix of dense fog and hazardous air pollution continued to choke the national capital on Friday, disrupting air traffic and pushing pollution levels closer to the severe" category, with conditions expected to worsen over the weekend. More than 700 flights were affected, and at least 177 flights and 50 trains were cancelled as visibility dropped sharply across the city. Of the cancellations, 88 were departures and 89 arrivals, including two international flights, airport officials said. #TravelAdvisoryAir India continues to remain vigilant and will make every effort to mitigate fog-related disruptions. We understand how important your travel plans are, especially during this holiday season, and we are working round the clock to minimise any inconvenience. As Air India (@airindia) December 19, 2025 The India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for fog on Saturday, warning of dense to very dense fog in the early morning hours. The Air Quality Early Warning System forecast the Air Quality Index (AQI) to breach the 400 mark, entering the severe" category over the weekend. Dense to very dense fog is expected at several places during the early hours of Saturday. Shallow fog or mist may also occur at night," an IMD official said, adding that Sunday and Monday are likely to see moderate fog at many locations and dense fog in isolated pockets during mornings. On Friday morning, visibility fell to zero at the Safdarjung weather station at 5.30 am and dropped to 50 metres at Palam, prompting the IMD to issue a red alert in the early hours. While Delhis 24-hour average AQI stood at 374, firmly in the very poor" category, morning readings rose to 382, inching closer to the severe threshold of 401. Eleven of the citys 40 monitoring stations recorded severe air quality during the day. Vivek Vihar reported the worst pollution levels with an AQI of 434, followed closely by Anand Vihar at 430. At one point, 14 stations slipped into the severe category before marginal improvement was seen later in the day. Friday marked the ninth consecutive day of very poor or severe air quality in Delhi, despite an intensified vehicular enforcement drive launched a day earlier. Thousands of challans were issued across the NCR, disrupting private transport highlighting what the Supreme Court of India recently described as a total failure" of reactive pollution control measures. The minimum temperature on Friday was recorded at 9C, nearly one degree above normal, while the maximum touched 22.2C. Forecasts indicate minimum temperatures could dip to 79C on Saturday, with daytime highs ranging between 2123C over the weekend, before cooling further next week. Meteorologists warned that falling temperatures could intensify the inversion effect, trapping pollutants closer to the ground. A drop in temperature strengthens inversion conditions, preventing pollutants from dispersing," said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment, speaking to Hindustan Times. The extent of pollution spikes will depend on wind speed and other meteorological factors." Data from the Centres Decision Support System showed vehicular emissions contributed 15.72% to Fridays pollution levels. This share is expected to rise to 17.36% on Saturday and 18.41% on Sunday, despite continued restrictions on older vehicles and those without valid pollution certificates. December has already recorded three severe air days between December 13 and 15, with the month emerging as the dirtiest December in eight years so far. In November, Delhi endured a 24-day stretch of very poor air, including three severe days. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court directed the Commission for Air Quality Management to move away from short-term emergency measures and focus on structural reforms, including urban mobility, industrial emissions and stubble burning, stressing the need for coordinated action across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. The matter will be heard again on January 6. The pollution crisis has been compounded by the absence of rainfall this December. Safdarjung recorded zero precipitation, preventing the natural dispersal of pollutants and prolonging hazardous conditions across the capital. Delhi Airport issues passenger advisory. The advisory reads, Low-visibility procedures are still in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are functioning normally. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest flight updates" Delhi Airport issues passenger advisory.The advisory reads, Low-visibility procedures are still in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are functioning normally. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest flight updates" pic.twitter.com/lYDO0H9YVM ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2025 News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 07:25 IST News india Orange Alert Issued As Extreme Fog Turns Delhi Blind; Over 100 Flights, 50 Trains Cancelled Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... PM Modi Launches India's First Nature-Themed Airport Terminal In Guwahati: 'New Chapter Of Growth' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 16:40 IST Addressing the gathering after the inauguration, PM Modi described the occasion as a moment of collective progress for the entire Northeast. PM Modi with Himanta Biswa Sarma | Image: X Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the new terminal building of the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati, marking a major milestone in Assams infrastructure growth. Addressing the gathering after the inauguration, PM Modi described the occasion as a moment of collective progress for the entire Northeast. Today is a day of celebration of development. And it is a celebration of the development of the entire Northeast, not just Assam. The whole country will see that Assam is celebrating the festival of development," he said. #WATCH | Guwahati, Assam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the New Terminal Building of Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport(Source: DD) pic.twitter.com/DoPa7cSJSw ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2025 Built at a cost of nearly Rs 4,000 crore, the newly inaugurated terminal is Indias first nature-inspired airport terminal. Designed to reflect the regions natural landscape, the facility is expected to substantially enhance passenger handling capacity and improve connectivity, while boosting tourism, trade and economic activity in Assam and neighbouring states. The Prime Minister also spoke about his personal connect with the state, crediting the people of Assam and the Northeast for motivating his vision of regional development. My attachment to the soil of Assam, the love and affection of the people here, especially the love of the mothers and sisters of Assam and the Northeast, continuously inspire me and strengthen our resolve for the development of the Northeast. Today, a new chapter is being added to Assams development," he said. As part of his two-day visit, the Prime Minister will pay homage to the martyrs of the 1979 Assam Movement at the Swahid Smarak Kshetra, built in memory of 860 people who laid down their lives during the agitation. On Sunday, PM Modi will interact with 25 students from various schools under the Pariksha pe Charcha programme during a 30-minute session aboard the cruise vessel Charaideo on the Brahmaputra river. He will then travel to Dibrugarh and onward to Namrup, where he is set to lay the foundation stone of a 12,000 crore ammonia-urea fertiliser plant. The project is expected to give a significant boost to industrial development and employment in the state. The Prime Minister will also address a public gathering there before concluding his Assam visit. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Assam, India, India First Published: December 20, 2025, 16:11 IST News india PM Modi Launches India's First Nature-Themed Airport Terminal In Guwahati: 'New Chapter Of Growth' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... PM Modi Meets BJP Workers In Assam, Stresses Grassroots Outreach Ahead Of 2026 Polls Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 23:19 IST PM Modi visited Assam BJP HQ on Saturday and emphasized the need to deepen ties with the people. His visit comes ahead of 2026 state assembly polls. During a meeting with BJP workers, PM Modi emphasized the need to deepen ties with the people. Image: X/@narendramodi) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Assam, visited the state BJP headquarters on Saturday, where he interacted with party colleagues and discussed strategies to strengthen the partys connection with the people. In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said the discussions focused on deepening outreach and working towards fulfilling peoples aspirations, highlighting the partys emphasis on grassroots engagement and public welfare. Went to the Assam BJP HQ and interacted with Party colleagues. Discussed ways to further deepen our Partys connect with people and work towards fulfilling peoples aspirations," the Prime Minister tweeted. Went to the Assam BJP HQ and interacted with Party colleagues. Discussed ways to further deepen our Partys connect with people and work towards fulfilling peoples aspirations.@BJP4Assam pic.twitter.com/4Bztva74nd Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 20, 2025 The interaction with BJP workers is significant, with Assembly elections scheduled early next year. Earlier in the day, PM Modi inaugurated the newly constructed terminal of the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati in the presence of Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, marking a major milestone in the states infrastructure growth. The PM also unveiled a statue of Bharat Ratna Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi at the entrance of the new terminal complex. Addressing a large public gathering on the occasion, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the event as historic and a moment of pride not only for Assam but for the entire Northeast. As part of his visit, PM Modi on Sunday will pay homage to the martyrs of the 1979 Assam Movement at the Swahid Smarak Kshetra, built in memory of the 860 people who laid down their lives during the agitation. Further, the BJP leader will also interact with 25 students from various schools under the Pariksha pe Charcha programme during a 30-minute session aboard the cruise vessel Charaideo on the Brahmaputra River. He will then travel to Dibrugarh and onward to Namrup, where he is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of a Rs 12,000-crore ammonia-urea fertiliser plant. The project is expected to give a significant boost to industrial development and employment in the state. The PM will also address a public gathering there before concluding his Assam visit. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Guwahati [Gauhati], India, India First Published: December 20, 2025, 23:19 IST News india PM Modi Meets BJP Workers In Assam, Stresses Grassroots Outreach Ahead Of 2026 Polls Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... PM Modis Chopper Turns Back To Kolkata After Fog Prevents Landing In Bengal's Taherpur Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 13:28 IST PM Modi was set to lay the foundation stone and inaugurate national highway projects at Ranaghat in West Bengal's Nadia district. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PTI photo) Prime Minister Narendra Modis helicopter failed to land at the Taherpur helipad in West Bengal owing to low visibility on account of dense fog in the area on Saturday, an official told news agency PTI. The PMs chopper made a U-turn after hovering over the helipad ground for a while and returned to the Kolkata airport. The Prime Minister was waiting at the airport for further updates on the weather situation. He was set to lay the foundation stone and inaugurate national highway projects at Ranaghat in Nadia district. It wasnt immediately clear if PM Modi would reach the rally venue district by road or whether he would wait for the weather to clear up and make another attempt to reach Taherpur by the aerial route, the official said. Earlier in the day, PM Modi reached Kolkata at around 10:40 am and took a chopper onward to Taherpur in Nadia district, where he is scheduled to hold an administrative programme to launch highway projects in West Bengal, followed by a political rally of the BJP, titled Parivartan Sankalpa Sabha. While addressing the rally, Prime Minister Modi apologised for not being able to reach the venue due to adverse weather, forcing him to speak at the event virtually. PM Modi was to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of two National Highway projects worth around Rs 3,200 crores, according to a statement from the Prime Ministers Office. He will also inaugurate the 66.7 km-long 4-Laning of the Barajaguli Krishnanagar Section of NH-34 in Nadia. The projects will serve as a vital connecting link between Kolkata and Siliguri, as per the statement. They will help to reduce travel time by approximately 2 hours, ensuring faster and smoother movement of vehicles for unhindered traffic flow, reduced vehicle operating costs, and improve connectivity between Kolkata and other neighbouring districts of West Bengal, as well as with neighbouring countries. After concluding his visit in West Bengal, PM Modi will embark on a two-day visit to Assam on Saturday, where he will undertake a walkthrough and inaugurate the New Terminal Building of Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 13:21 IST News india PM Modis Chopper Turns Back To Kolkata After Fog Prevents Landing In Bengal's Taherpur Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Manifold said ONeills record of driving transformation, growth and disciplined capital allocation made her the right woman for the job. Elliot Management is also understood to be pleased with Manifolds decision to act. A person familiar with the hedge funds thinking said it welcomed the appointment of an outsider. He added: When we met him [Albert Manifold] recently, it was very clear he would act to drive change through the business and, in particular, get BP back focused on what it does best, which is primarily upstream oil and gas production. There was widespread perception that the new chair may want to make a change and it is best if that is done quickly and effectively. Iain Pyle, senior investment director at Aberdeen Investments, which has a significant stake in BP, said: Did BP need a change in CEO? Im not sure it was necessary, but to drive genuine change at pace, I do think it is helpful to have a fresh voice at the top and for that to be external. The beleaguered oil and gas company needed to become simpler, leaner and more profitable, he said, with more rigour and diligence required in the C-suite. Albert Manifold, who took over as BPs chairman in October, was not sparing when explaining his reasons for ousting Auchincloss. BP under Auchincloss gave the impression of a business not in control of its own destiny. The company, valued at 66bn, has also faced unwelcome speculation denied on all sides that it was being eyed as a takeover target by arch-rival Shell. Auchincloss is leaving after less than two years in the post, following an unhappy period that has seen BP besieged by activist investors after its ill-fated forays into green energy. Shares are down by around 16pc since he took over. The optics of the announcement may not look great, but this is a good decision, says Ashley Kelty, an oil and gas analyst at Panmure Liberum. ONeill is respected in the sector and shes the kind of chief executive BP needs right now. Still, back on the other side of the world, the announcement was a bolt from the blue for many in the City. For more than a few, it was a welcome one. Auchinclosss successor, Meg ONeill, is based in Australia, where she currently runs Woodside Energy. BP wanted to give investors there a chance to digest the news that Woodsides boss was leaving before trading on the Sydney stock exchange began. The move to disclose the exit of chief executive Murray Auchincloss late at night in London was a purely functional one, insiders have insisted, rather than being motivated by panic. Corporate oustings arent usually announced at 10pm. So BPs decision to do just that took the world by surprise. Story Continues Her appointment signals a clean break from the approach taken under Auchincloss and his predecessor, Bernard Looney, which saw BP announce ambitious green energy targets only to incrementally row back on them. Looney was a workaholic and gifted communicator who challenged the public and his investors to reimagine BP as a green energy champion. He set out plans to slash the companys oil output by 40pc and reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, in a break from the rest of the industry. Meg ONeill, who currently runs Woodside Energy, is set to take over as BPs new boss - BP via Reuters The plan won cautious praise from climate campaigners but soon looked poorly-timed, as investors baulked at lacklustre returns and the Ukraine war sent oil and gas profits soaring again. After that, Looney was forced to scale back BPs eco commitments. His dismissal in September 2023, following undisclosed relationships with colleagues, suddenly left then-finance chief Auchincloss carrying the can for the strategy. The Canadian accountant was confirmed as full-time chief executive the following January but struggled to step out of his predecessors shadow. His gradual retreat from renewable energy projects failed to satisfy activists such as the feared hedge funds Elliot Management and Bluebell Capital Partners.. Under Auchincloss, BP has halted plans for biofuel refineries planned in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and another at Lingen, Germany. It has also sold off 10 US onshore windfarms, frozen offshore wind investments and announced plans to sell most of its stake in solar developer Lightsource. In the UK, the company has also abandoned planned investments in hydrogen production plants. But to some critics, it was never clear whether Auchinclosss heart was really in it. He was Looneys man, says Kelty, and one of the key people behind the whole pivot to renewables he was the one signing all the cheques. His appointment didnt really change anything. ONeill is well-placed to forge a new path. A former Exxon Mobil executive who has been chief executive of Woodside since 2021, she has taken a much tougher stance on net zero, hitting back at young climate activists who have sought to shame Woodside over its carbon emissions. Its been a fascinating journey to watch the discussion, particularly amongst young people who have this very ideological, almost zealous view of, you know, fossil fuels bad, renewables good, that are happily plugging in their devices, ordering things from [online Chinese retailers] Shein and Temu having, you know, one little thing shipped to their house without any sort of recognition of the energy and carbon impact of their actions, she has said. So that human impact and the consumers role in driving energy demand and emissions absolutely is a missing space in the conversation. At an annual general meeting in May this year, she also taunted campaigners by playing loud promotional videos to drown out the sounds of their protests. We have plenty more of these videos we can play, ONeill reportedly told them. She has been targeted by activists at her home in Perth, Western Australia, where she lives with her partner and daughter. The activists tried to deface her property with paint, an experience ONeill said left her family shaken, fearful and distressed. This was not a harmless protest. It was designed to threaten me, my partner and our daughter in our home, she said at the time, denouncing the campaigners as extremists. It is understood Manifolds search had been going on for months after Auchincloss expressed an openness to step down were an appropriate leader identified. During the process, Rolls-Royce boss Tufan Erginbilgic, a former BP executive, is also thought to have been among the potential candidates approached by headhunters but turned down the opportunity to apply. At Woodside, ONeill earned a reputation for being hard-nosed and low-ego, with other reports describing her as an engineers engineer. She oversaw a large increase in production at the Australian company as well as transformative deals, including a merger with BHP Petroleum and a takeover of American LNG producer Tellurian. One industry executive who has met her multiple times describes ONeill as very direct, sharp on the numbers, always well prepared but no patience for waffle. Shes very demanding, but well respected, they add. If you like straight talk and clear expectations, shes good to work with; if you prefer a softer, consensus-led style, she will be very tough on you. Personally, I think she will shake BP up and thats probably what it needs. Its a very good hire. When she takes over in April, she will become BPs first female chief executive and, more significantly, the first outsider chosen for the top job in the companys 116-year history. The 55-year-old American from Boulder, Colorado, will also be the first openly gay woman to helm a FTSE 100 company. One investor said they felt Auchinclosss departure was a good opportunity for BP to finally close the Bernard Looney chapter. Auchincloss will stay in an advisory role for another year. His exit is expected to be the trigger for changes beyond just the boardroom. Kelty believes ONeill will be expected to take a scalpel to the companys bloated corporate structure, with large numbers of redundancies expected. Its absolutely ridiculous that BP has the same cost base as Shell but is a much smaller producer, he adds. They need to make a big dent in the headcount. Those for the chop could also include some of BPs 14-strong board, whose 10 non-executive directors include several appointed under the chairmanship of Helge Lund and who strongly supported BPs failed shift to green energy. The person familiar with Elliott Managements thinking says the investor also regards BPs turnaround as being in the early stages, with further asset sales and cost reductions needed. Its positive that ONeill is an outsider, because she wont have any pre-conceived ideas about the way things are done at BP, says Kelty. Hopefully, that means she can shake things up. Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays. Sons Kill Father To Claim Rs 3 Crore Insurance Money By Orchestrating Snake Bite In Tamil Nadu Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 17:30 IST The insurance company noted that multiple high-value life insurance policies had been taken out on Ganesan, with unusually large payouts sought by the beneficiaries. According to investigators, the sons conspired to murder their father by staging his death as a snake-bite accident. (Representational) What was initially believed to be an accidental snake-bite death in Tamil Nadus Tiruvallur district has now been uncovered as a cold-blooded murder, allegedly plotted and executed by the victims own sons to claim Rs 3 crore insurance amount. The victim, identified as 56-year-old EP Ganesan, a government school laboratory assistant, was found dead at his residence in Pothaturpettai village on October 22 after what appeared to be a snake bite. Based on a complaint from his son Mohanraj (26), the police initially registered a case of accidental death. However, the case took a dramatic turn after an insurance company flagged suspicious circumstances while processing claims. The firm noted that multiple high-value life insurance policies had been taken out on Ganesan, with unusually large payouts sought by the beneficiaries. The insurer alerted Inspector General of Police (North Zone) Asra Garg (IPS), following which a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted. The sons had insured their dad for nearly Rs 3 crore," Tiruvallur Superintendent of Police Vivekananda Shukla said, confirming the financial motive behind the crime. According to investigators, the sons conspired to kill their father by staging his death as a snake-bite accident. They allegedly roped in accomplices to procure live venomous snakes. About a week before the murder, an initial attempt was made when a cobra was arranged and made to bite Ganesan on the leg. The plan failed as the bite did not prove fatal. Undeterred, the accused escalated their plot. On the day of the crime, a highly venomous krait snake was brought into the house during the early hours. The snake was deliberately made to bite Ganesan on the neck, a fatal spot, leading to his death. To reinforce the narrative of an accidental snake intrusion and destroy evidence, the snake was later killed inside the house, police said. Investigators also noted an unexplained delay in shifting the victim to the hospital, which further corroborated the theory of a planned killing rather than a genuine medical emergency. Six persons, including Ganesans two sons and four facilitators who arranged the snake and staged the scene, have been arrested and further investigation is underway. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Tamil Nadu, India, India First Published: December 20, 2025, 17:30 IST News india Sons Kill Father To Claim Rs 3 Crore Insurance Money By Orchestrating Snake Bite In Tamil Nadu Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... UK Court Adjourns Nirav Modi's Trial In Bank Of India Case Over Prison Paperwork Delays Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 20:27 IST The Bank of India case, pursued by law firm RWK Goodman, centres on Modis personal guarantee for a loan issued to Firestar Diamond FZE, a Dubai-based entity. Fugitive Nirav Modi, founder and creative director of a luxury diamond jewellery brand, is expected to be extradited to India soon. (File pic: PTI) A London court has agreed to defer proceedings in an unpaid loan case against fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, allowing his request to postpone the trial until March next year due to delays by UK prison authorities in providing him access to key legal documents. Nirav Modi, 54, who is wanted in India on charges of fraud and money laundering in the Rs 13,000-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, is facing a separate civil case in the UK linked to an $8 million loan extended by the Bank of India. He has been contesting his extradition to India while lodged in British custody since March 2019. During an online review hearing on Friday, Justice Simon Tinkler partly accepted Modis plea to adjourn the eight-day trial that had been scheduled for January. The court pushed the matter to March 23, rejecting a longer delay sought by the defence. The judge cited continuing difficulties faced by the accused in accessing essential paperwork following his transfer between prisons in London. There must be some doubt as to whether those papers will ever reach Mr Modi if they still exist," Justice Tinkler observed, adding that the absence of the disclosure bundle so close to trial raised concerns over the fairness of proceeding as scheduled. I am not satisfied that the trial would be fair were it to go ahead," he said, while making it clear that an adjournment until October was unwarranted. Modi was moved from Thameside Prison in south London to HMP Pentonville in October to enable his appearance before the High Court. However, the transfer has reportedly complicated his ability to prepare his defence. Representing Modi, barrister James Kinman argued that his client would face a substantial disadvantage" if the trial were not postponed. He also suggested that recent Indian media reports failed to reflect the full context of a confidential process" that has so far prevented Modis extradition, widely believed to refer to an asylum-related application. Kinman claimed that extradition was unlikely before October 2026, though he declined to share further details. Opposing a prolonged adjournment, Bank of Indias counsel Tom Beasley urged the court to ensure the trial is concluded before any potential extradition. He said it would be very hard" to conduct proceedings if Modi were removed from UK jurisdiction, and criticised the defence for relying on an unspecified legal bar without providing details. The judge also expressed concern over prison authorities failing to meet their obligations, stressing that Modi must be given adequate access to documents to prepare his case. Modi was not produced for the virtual hearing due to what was described as a communication lapse between the court and prison officials. The Bank of India case, pursued by law firm RWK Goodman, centres on Modis personal guarantee for a loan issued to Firestar Diamond FZE, a Dubai-based entity. Modi is representing himself in the matter as a litigant in person" and is now the sole witness, having missed the deadline to submit expert evidence on Indian law. Currently incarcerated in a Category B prison, Modi is reportedly sharing a cramped cell and is said to be working on his case without basic facilities. Separately, earlier this week, a bench comprising Lord Justice Jeremy Stuart-Smith and Justice Robert Jay heard Modis application to reopen his extradition proceedings, citing the risk of torture if returned to India. That hearing has also been deferred to MarchApril 2026 after Indian authorities submitted detailed assurances to counter his claims. The court was also informed that a confidential process" believed to relate to an asylum application concluded unsuccessfully in August. In India, Modi faces three sets of criminal cases: a CBI probe into the PNB fraud, an Enforcement Directorate case for alleged money laundering, and separate proceedings accusing him of interfering with evidence and witnesses. In April 2021, then UK Home Secretary Priti Patel approved his extradition after a prima facie case was established. Since then, Modi has exhausted multiple appeals and bail pleas, all of which have been rejected. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 20:27 IST News india UK Court Adjourns Nirav Modi's Trial In Bank Of India Case Over Prison Paperwork Delays Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Vande Mataram Is Rashtriya Jagaran Mantra': PM Modi In Bengal Amid Parliament Row Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 14:00 IST PM Modi referred to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who composed the song, saying the writer had aroused the nation through it. PM Narendra Modi (File Photo: ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday described Vande Mataram as a rashtriya jagaran mantra" (national awakening chant), linking the national song to Indias freedom movement and Bengals cultural legacy. His remarks came in the wake of a political row over Vande Mataram during the Winter Session of Parliament. Speaking at a public programme in West Bengals Nadia virtually, Modi said Vande Mataram originated in Bengal and played a key role in awakening national consciousness. He referred to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who composed the song, saying the writer had aroused the nation" through it. The Prime Minister also highlighted Bengals religious and social traditions. He described Nadia as the land of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and paid tribute to social reformer Sri Harichand Thakur and Baro Ma. Modi said these figures had shown society a path of unity and reform. Notably, the Prime Minister also concluded his todays speech in Bengal with Vande Mataram", departing from his usual closing slogan of Bharat Mata Ki Jai". Referring to the Ganga river, Modi recalled his earlier remarks about its flow from Bihar to Bengal, saying it symbolised cultural and political ties between regions. Political attack on Bengal government Modi also criticised the West Bengal government, alleging poor governance and corruption. He claimed development projects were stalled and accused the state administration of focusing on commissions. He said people in Bengal were calling for change, using the slogan, Bachte chai, BJP chai" (want to live, want BJP). Vande Mataram row The Prime Ministers comments come against the backdrop of a heated debate in Parliament over Vande Mataram, marking 150 years of the national song. The issue triggered sharp exchanges in both Houses earlier this month. In the Lok Sabha, Modi accused the Congress of weakening the song due to appeasement politics. In the Rajya Sabha, Home Minister Amit Shah criticised opposition walkouts during recitations of Vande Mataram, calling them disrespectful. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Kolkata [Calcutta], India, India First Published: December 20, 2025, 13:56 IST News india Vande Mataram Is Rashtriya Jagaran Mantra': PM Modi In Bengal Amid Parliament Row Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Christmas Traditions Around the World: History, Customs And Unique Festive Rituals Published By : Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 10:00 IST Christmas brings communities together in a lively, vibrant atmosphere, spreading joy, generosity, and the spirit of giving, making it one of the worlds favourite festivals. Rapid Read Christmas 2025: From vibrant Mexican Posadas to cozy Danish hygge, explore global traditions, festive feasts, and joyous celebrations. Christmas Traditions Around the World: One of the most widely celebrated festivals in the world, Christmas annually commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Christians revere as the Son of God and saviour of humanity. Every year, on December 25, Christians all over the globe take part in cultural celebrations for Christ. They organise prayers and festive ceremonies with beautiful decorations, apart from exchanging gifts and relishing all the great delicacies with friends and families. Christmas evokes the spirit of giving and generosity within communities and nations in a lively and vibrant atmosphere, which makes it one of peoples most favourite festivals. But while the spirit is the same, the Christmas celebrations vary quite drastically from country to country. Here is a look at some of the nations where the Christmas celebrations stand out for their unique nature, reflecting the countrys ancient history and cultural traditions. Christmas Traditions Around The World Mexico The Mexicans take part in Christmas celebrations quite extensively, with the festive fervour stretching from early December right until early January. The celebrations kick off with the Las Posadas, which is a nine-night reenactment of Mary and Josephs journey to find shelter. ALSO READ: Christmas 2025: Why We Celebrate It On December 25? History, Myths, Facts, Traditions And Celebration Ideas On Mexican streets, youd find kids and adults going door to door to wish people a Merry Christmas and sing traditional songs. The Christmas Eve is called Nochebuena, which features midnight mass and late-night feasting. These feasts often include tamales wrapped in corn husks, warm drinks like atole and champurrado and a hot fruit punch called Ponche. Germany The Germans host the Weihnachtsmarkte, or Christmas markets, for the festival celebrations. These markets are full of lights, crafts, music and sweet smells during the festivities. About 19 days before Christmas, Germany celebrates St. Nicholas Day, when children receive small gifts in their shoes. People decorate Christmas trees, while families use Advent calendars and wreaths carrying surprises and candles. As for food, Lebkuchen, a spiced gingerbread treat, is shared. Apart from Stollen, which is a fruit bread covered in powdered sugar. People are offered a warm spiced drink called Gluhwein. Brazil Unlike most countries where Christmas is a winter festival, Brazilians celebrate it in warm weather. On December 25, the Brazilian streets are filled with traditional festivities that carry some Portuguese influences. The celebrations include Ceia de Natal, a late-night feast, midnight fireworks and tropical decorations. One may also witness nativity scenes called presepios, the beach sight celebrations in coastal lands and music and dance at parties in town squares. Brazilians feast on local desserts, including the Chocolate Pave on Christmas. Denmark In Denmark, Christmas celebrations are aimed towards feeling hygge, which means experiencing warmth and comfort with your friends and family. Homes and streets are lit with candles and colourful decorations. People also make handmade woven heart ornaments. Risalamande, a rice pudding dessert with hidden almonds, is an integral part of Denmarks Christmas delicacies. South Africa The African nation sees families hosting coastal adventures, parties, games and feasts on Christmas. People also take part in Church services and offer prayers to Jesus. Various community events are organised. The mouthwatering feasts include barbecues, cold and hot desserts and more. France In French culture, Christmas often means long-lasting and delicious meals as well as lit-up streets with decorated homes. French people host a special Christmas Eve feast called the Le Reveillon, which goes for hours. It includes Buche de Noel, a Yule log cake. Frances major cities, like Paris, witness a surge of tourists during the Christmas week. Sweden The Christmas fervour begins in Swedish households with the celebrations for St. Lucia Day on December 13. In the celebrations, a girl dressed in white with a candle crown leads processions aimed at spreading light and positivity. On St Lucia Day, people eat saffron buns called the Lussekatter. The Christmas Day feast involves families hosting Julbord, a buffet featuring fish, meats, cheeses, and desserts. Australia Its peak summer time Down Under at Christmas, when the countrys major states and cities are lit up with fireworks and decorated streets. Special ceremonies are organised by the Church and local authorities, which communities and tourists take part in. You can explore the Santa theme activities, enjoy the candlelight concerts and go for beach parties in a coastal retreat. In terms of food, people host barbecues with seafood, steak, or sausages and dig into Pavlova, a fruit-topped dessert. Philippines It witnesses one of the longest Christmas seasons and festivities in the world, beginning from September and lasting till early January. In the Philippines, the religious traditions blend beautifully with music, food and family gatherings. The streets are usually glittered with Parols, the star-shaped lanterns. The traditions involve Simbang Gabi, which are gatherings organised at dawn or nighttime. You can also enjoy the Noche Buena, a Christmas Eve feast. The food usually includes bibingka (rice cake) and queso de bola (cheese). Italy In Italian culture, Christmas is about family, food, religious traditions and spiritual vibes. During Christmas, Italian towns are home to beautiful nativity scenes. Many villages in the country host festivities and parades on the big day, with cities and streets decorated by the local communities. Kids get their Christmas gifts twice: first from Santa and then from La Befana, a kind witch, who visits homes on January 6. The Christmas Eve feast includes the special Feast of Seven Fishes. People also love their pasta dishes and panettone cake. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 10:00 IST News lifestyle events Christmas Traditions Around the World: History, Customs And Unique Festive Rituals Nita Ambani Revisits Old-World Grace In Ivory Silk Saree And Traditional Jewellery Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 08:57 IST Nita Ambani stunned in an ivory silk saree that came with a warm orange border. She upped the old-world charm of this look by accessorising with traditional jewellery. Nita Ambani greets paparazzi. On Day 2 of Dhirubhai Ambani International Schools annual day celebrations, Nita Ambani once again reminded us that true style isnt about spectacle, but about intention. As the founder and Chairperson of DAIS, her presence naturally commands attention, but its her ability to dress for the moment, the audience and the emotion of the occasion that truly stands out. Over two days of celebrations, Nita delivered not just elegant looks, but a nuanced sartorial narrative rooted in heritage, leadership and quiet authority. Ivory As The New Power Neutral For Day 2, Nita Ambani chose an ivory silk saree edged with a warm orange border. The palette felt both ceremonial and refreshingly restrained. The choice of ivory spoke to softness and dignity, while the vibrant border added a subtle festive punctuation, perfectly suited for a school celebration that balances formality with joy. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manav Manglani (@manav.manglani) Her blouse echoed the sarees border, creating a cohesive visual flow rather than competing for attention. The real triumph, however, lay in her jewellery choices. An antique gold long necklace strung with pearls anchored the look in tradition, lending it gravitas without excess. Complemented by classic gold earrings and a single kada, the ensemble exemplified balance. It was opulent yet measured, statement-making yet respectful of the setting. Nitas glam leaned into timeless Indian aesthetics. Her hair was swept into a low bun, wrapped with fresh white gajra a detail that instantly elevated the look from elegant to ceremonial. The traditional red bindi added a powerful finishing touch, reinforcing the cultural resonance of the ensemble. Her makeup stayed refined: softly sculpted brows, kohl-rimmed eyes with a delicate wing, flushed cheeks, luminous skin and a confident red lip. If Day 2 was about restraint, Day 1 was about heritage drama done right. Nita Ambani appeared in a rich red saree, elevated by a striking multi-layered Basra pearl necklace a choice that felt deeply symbolic. Red, after all, is not just a colour but a cultural code, and paired with heirloom pearls, it spoke of legacy, continuity and pride. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: December 20, 2025, 08:57 IST News lifestyle fashion Nita Ambani Revisits Old-World Grace In Ivory Silk Saree And Traditional Jewellery Sydney Sweeney Enjoys Marilyn Monroe Moment In A White Gown At The Housemaid Premiere Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 12:09 IST Sydney Sweeney went with a pair of sparkly, diamond-encrusted earrings, a delicate bracelet and a few shiny rings to complement her Galia Lahav-tailored white gown Sydney Sweeney channelled Old Hollywood glamour in a dramatic white gown. Sydney Sweeney has emerged as a fashion icon. Her red carpet appearances, movie premiere outings and after-party diaries run high on glamour and confidence. Its like style enthusiasts are always on the lookout for her next big sartorial move to take notes and upgrade their fashion wardrobe. So, on December 15, when the Euphoria star arrived at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles for the special premiere of The Housemaid, it was a given that she stole the limelight effortlessly. For the event, Sydney Sweeney channelled Old Hollywood glamour in a dramatic white gown. Plucked from the shelves of designer label Galia Lahav, the gorgeous silhouette was an obvious nod to Marilyn Monroes billowing white dress from her 1955 movie The Seven Year Itch. Safe to say, Sydney did absolute justice to the classic fit. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sydney Sweeney (@sydney_sweeney) Decoding Sydney Sweeneys Marilyn Monroe-Inspired Gown Sydney Sweeneys ruched gown came with halter-neck straps, cascading into a deep-scooped neckline. The soft fabric of the retro-coded ensemble formed a cinched waist, hugging her curves at all the right places, enhancing her svelte frame. It plunged in length, grazing the floor, creating a theatrically voluminous train. Besides the pleats and ruffles dominating the skirt, it was the feathered hem that added a touch of whimsy to her overall avatar. With her OOTN making the right noise, Sydney Sweeney kept her accessories minimal. She went with a pair of sparkly, diamond-encrusted earrings, a delicate bracelet and a few shiny rings. The 28-year-old skipped wearing any necklace so as not to overdo it. Sydney Sweeneys Bold Red Lip Moment In terms of makeup, Sydney Sweeney opted for a matte base that worked wonders for her flawless complexion. She dabbed the right amount of blush and contour on the high points of her cheeks that sculpted her face to finesse. A few drops of highlighter simply elevated her charm. Striking the perfect contrast to her swan-like white gown, Sydney accented her lips in a classic bold shade of red that screamed fierce from miles away. For the final touch, the actress kept her blonde tresses open in soft waves. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 12:09 IST News lifestyle fashion Sydney Sweeney Enjoys Marilyn Monroe Moment In A White Gown At The Housemaid Premiere Dhurandhar Popularising Travel To This Pakistan City; Brings Balochistan Back Into Spotlight Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 18:05 IST Pakistan's largest province has caught the attention of online content creators on social media platforms ever since Dhurandhar hit the screens. The Khuzdar Charo waterfall, is found when traveling through the mountains of Balochistan, Pakistan The ripple effect of the blockbuster film Dhurandhar is evident in how Balochistans stunning landscapes and cultural heritage are back in the spotlight, reigniting curiosity and interest among people. While the film is set in Lyari, a Karachi neighbourhood, parts of its narrative bring people close to Balochistan. Multiple scenes depict the story of the struggles of the Baloch community and its history. Dhurandhar has sparked a quiet revival of online and tourism interest for Balochistan. On social media platforms, a surge of reels and short-form videos showing glimpses of Balochistan has been observed ever since the film hit the screens. View this post on Instagram A post shared by B Nation | Sikander Akram (@sk_bnation) Although no scene was actually shot in Balochistan, creators have been serving content highlighting how director Aditya Dhars movie drew inspiration from the regions rugged mountains and overall aesthetics. Dhurandhar Puts Spotlight On Balochistan Located in the Quetta region of Pakistan, Balochistans visuals and mountains are stunningly depicted in parts of Dhurandhar. Those visuals have led to an unintentional resurgence of interest towards the region, encouraging audiences to look beyond the screen and explore the Pakistani province. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Huma Adnan (@humaadnan) Videos providing a slow and near meditative experience of Balochistan through drone shots have caught attention online. These shots discover the regions beautiful coastal lines, golden deserts, stunning mountain ranges and more. Among the highlights of these clips is the absence of large crowds, reflecting a sense of isolation the region has experienced from the rest of Pakistan. Baloch Landscapes Soothe Global Eyes The online community has been capturing and highlighting the scenery and overall landscapes of the region ever since Dhurandhar brought it back in the spotlight. Balochistan, Pakistans largest province by land area, is geographically vast and hosts diverse landscapes, beaches, deserts and rugged highlands. With long coastal roads built along the Arabian Sea, Balochistan sees camels moving through the dusky plains in the kind of old-world and charming setting that travellers often envy for their sights and cameras. Despite its marvellous scenery and heritage, however, Balochistan has barely ever enjoyed the limelight in popular culture. The Dhurandhar fever has made a striking difference, especially with the track FA9LA by Flipperachi becoming a recognised feature of reels associated with the Baloch content. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 18:05 IST News lifestyle travel Dhurandhar Popularising Travel To This Pakistan City; Brings Balochistan Back Into Spotlight Inside Tara Sutaria, Veer Pahariyas Intimate Christmas Bash Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 17:36 IST Tara Sutaria and Veer Pahariya are serving cosy couple goals in the intimate moments from their Christmas celebration. Tara Sutaria, Veer Pahariya make this Christmas cherishable.(Photo Credit: Instagram) Lovebirds Veer Paharia and Tara Sutaria hosted an intimate Christmas party for their friends. From cuddling with one another to the actress singing while her boyfriend was playing the piano, the duo simply served the cutest couple goals for the festive season. The diva also shared a couple of inside glimpses, leaving her fans drooling over them. In a video posted on Instagram, Tara Sutaria can be seen flaunting her singing skills while celebrating Christmas. She was heard showcasing her melodious voice while her doting boyfriend, Veer Paharia, played the piano. The entire setup was warm, with the two of them adding more richness to the evening. Fans Reactions To Tara Sutaria And Veer Pahariyas Christmas Moment Social media users were soon delighted by the couples lovey-dovey moments, while many others were touched by Taras singing skills. Reacting to the same, a user said, Beautiful!" Another mentioned, We have our very own Ariana Grande fs." A person called it Romantic," one more added, Cutest-sweetest." Meanwhile, a fan stated, They were not lying when they said that-He played the piano and she sang till the sun came out on their first date." Tara Sutaria And Veer Pahariyas Looks For Christmas Party Tara even hugged her beau from behind before crooning the untitled song. Dressed in a floral-printed co-ord set, including a sleeveless top with a plunging neckline and a voluminous skirt, the actress exuded pure festive elegance. She finished off her look with a sleek French bun and glam makeup. On the other hand, Pahariya looked dapper in a casual black T-shirt with a pair of matching pants. Inside Glimpses From Tara Sutaria And Veer Pahariyas Christmas Bash The Student of the Year 2 actress further shared a series of inside glimpses on her Instagram stories. In one of them, we can get a sneak peek at the lavish dinner setup, featuring a dining table adorned with red floral arrangements and candles, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Two large, decorated Christmas trees adorned with lights and ornaments are also visible in the background. Tara captioned it Home," followed by a couple of emojis evoking festive cheer. The next photo featured a table laden with a variety of dishes that looked every bit scrumptious. The actress was seen adding final touches to the large arrangement. Orry, Disha Patani, Krishna Shroff, Bhumi Pednekar, and a few others were part of the lavish Christmas feast. After a wave of speculations, they confirmed their relationship in July this year. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 17:36 IST News movies bollywood Inside Tara Sutaria, Veer Pahariyas Intimate Christmas Bash Inside Tara Sutarias Christmas Dinner Party: Veer Pahariya, Himesh Reshammiya, Bhumi Pednekar Attend | PICS Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 20:42 IST Tara Sutaria hosted a fun-filled Christmas bash which was attended by her boyfriend Veer Pahariya, Himesh Reshammiya, Bhumi Pednekar and others. The pictures are unmissable! Rapid Read Tara Sutaria shares pictures from Christmas celebration with Veer Pahariya, Himesh Reshammiya, Bhumi Pednekar Bollywood actress Tara Sutaria celebrates Christmas with the utmost enthusiasm every year, and this time was no different! The Marjaavaan actress kicked off her Christmas celebrations a few days early this year, turning her home into a beautiful space filled with lights, elegant decor and delicious food. The star-studded guest list included her boyfriend Veer Pahariya, actress Bhumi Pednekar, musician Himesh Reshammiya, his wife Sonia Kapoor, Orry and many others. Tara Sutaria Gives Sneak-Peek Into Her Christmas Celebration On Saturday, Tara Sutaria took to her Instagram to share a series of photos and videos to give a peek into the fun-filled Christmas dinner party hosted by her. The first picture showed her looking stunning in a black outfit, posing elegantly against the beautiful decor which included chandeliers, flowers, Christmas trees, and numerous candles. Other pictures offered glimpses of the lavish Christmas feast. One photo showed Tara posing with her boyfriend Veer Pahariya. Himesh Reshammiya and Sonia Kapoor also joined them. Other photos featured Bhumi Pednekar and Orry. In her caption, Tara Sutaria wrote, Having ourselves a merry little Christmas. 3 days of endless cooking, baking and referencing table scapes, ordering crockery from across the country and having friends carry it back for us, tons of Christmas carol ing, turkey basting and Here we are!!!! Blessed. Bellies full. Bright and beautiful! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! May the new year be full of peace of mind and clarity of thought may our hearts be light and lets be kind to one another. God knows we need it now more than ever." Check out the pictures below! View this post on Instagram A post shared by TARA (@tarasutaria) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Orhan Awatramani (@orry) On the professional front, Tara Sutaria collaborated with Punjabi-Canadian music sensation AP Dhillon for the music video of Thodi Si Daaru earlier this year. She will next be seen in the film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, starring Yash, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, and others. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 20:38 IST News movies bollywood Inside Tara Sutarias Christmas Dinner Party: Veer Pahariya, Himesh Reshammiya, Bhumi Pednekar Attend | PICS 'My Uncle Gave Me The Name Krishna': Elli AvrRam Opens Up About Her Spiritual Bond With Lord Krishna Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 17:56 IST Elli AvrRam opens up about her spiritual connection with Lord Krishna, her ISKCON temple visit in Mumbai, and how her uncle naming her Krishna changed her journey. Rapid Read Elli AvrRam recently visited Mumbais ISKCON temple and opened up about her deep spiritual bond with Lord Krishna, revealing how her uncle naming her Krishna shaped her faith journey in India. Actor Elli AvrRam was recently spotted at Mumbais ISKCON temple, where she spent time seeking blessings and immersing herself in the serene spiritual atmosphere. Dressed in a soft pink sari, Elli looked composed and radiant as she engaged in quiet prayer, drawing attention not just for her appearance but for the deeply personal reason behind her visit. My Uncle Gave Me The Name Krishna" For Elli, her connection with Lord Krishna goes beyond ritual or symbolism. The actor revealed that her spiritual journey took a meaningful turn after her uncle affectionately began calling her Krishna," a gesture that gradually evolved into something far more profound. I believe in Krishna Consciousness a lot. I have a beautiful connection with him," Elli shared in a conversation with IANS. Ever since I have come to India, I have started learning all these things. My uncle has given me the name Krishna. Since then my journey has started. It is a beautiful connection that is growing." The actor has often spoken about her fascination with Indian philosophy and traditions, and this bond appears to have strengthened since she made India her home. Finding Calm In Indian Spirituality Those present at the temple observed Elli taking time to absorb the calm and devotional energy of the space. Over the years, she has shown a growing inclination toward understanding Indian spirituality, often expressing curiosity about its teachings and cultural depth. Her visit to ISKCON reflected a sense of comfort and familiarityless like a public appearance and more like a personal pause amid a busy professional life. A Sari With A Story Elli also spoke about her attire for the temple visit, revealing that the sari she wore holds sentimental value. The pink sari, she said, was purchased during a shoot trip to Bihar. I am wearing a beautiful sari and I bought this from Bihar when I was going for my shoot. It is one of my favourite saris," she shared, adding a personal touch to the moment. Work Front: Music And New Collaborations On the professional front, Elli AvrRam was recently seen collaborating with pop artist Neeti Mohan. She featured in the music video Zaar Zaar, which has been gaining attention for its visuals and sound. As Elli continues to explore new creative avenues, her growing spiritual grounding appears to be offering balanceboth personally and professionally. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 17:56 IST News movies bollywood 'My Uncle Gave Me The Name Krishna': Elli AvrRam Opens Up About Her Spiritual Bond With Lord Krishna Parnassus Investments, an investment management firm, released its Parnassus Value Equity Fund third-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The fund focuses on owning a concentrated portfolio of U.S. large-cap stocks. For the third quarter of 2025, the fund reported a net return of 7.46% outperforming its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Value Index, which returned 5.33% for the same period. During the quarter, the portfolio reduced its weight in the IT sector to increase holdings in the Health Care sector. The funds top 5 holdings are also listed in the letter, showing the firms main investment positions heading into 2025. In its third-quarter 2025 investor letter, Parnassus Value Equity Fund highlighted stocks such as Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL). Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments. The one-month return of Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) was -9.42%, and its shares gained 6.11% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On December 18, 2025, Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) stock closed at $180.03 per share, with a market capitalization of $517.25 billion. Parnassus Value Equity Fund stated the following regarding Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) in its third quarter 2025 investor letter: "Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) stock benefited from the firm's bullish outlook for its cloud services segment. The software and cloud infrastructure provider continues to benefit from the AI megatrend, signaling that cloud growth will accelerate." Oracles (ORCL) Strategic Innovation Boosts its Dividend Appeal Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 122 hedge fund portfolios held Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) at the end of the third quarter, which was 124 in the previous quarter. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) reported total revenues of $16.1 billion, up 14% compared to Q2 last year. While we acknowledge the potential of Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) 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 Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) and shared the list of buzzing AI stocks on Wall Street. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q3 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors. Shah Rukh Khan Resumes King Shoot, To Perform Key Action Sequences For Siddharth Anand's Film Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 07:23 IST This comes hours after a video went viral on social media in which SRK was seen romancing Deepika. It was said that the viral video was a leaked song from King. Shah Rukh Khan resumes shooting for King, focusing on key action sequences. After a short break, Shah Rukh Khan is all set to resume shooting for his upcoming movie, King. If a report by Times Now is to be believed, the Bollywood superstar was on a short break and is now ready to resume King shoot from Saturday, December 20. Reportedly, SRK will be shooting key action sequences for the project in the coming days. However, there is no official confirmation to this as of now. King First Song Leaked? This comes hours after a video went viral on social media in which SRK was seen romancing Deepika. It was said that the viral video was a leaked song from the upcoming Siddharth Anand directorial. In the viral skip, Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone were seen romancing to a song, lyrics of which go by, Mai toh behak gaya, mai toh behak gaya, tere ishq mein janam behak gaya." While SRK looked charming with grey hair and beard, Deepika looked gorgeous in a stunning chiffon saree. The video also showed them kissing each other. However, it was later revealed that the viral video was not a leaked song from King but was instead AI-generated. When SRK Talked About King Shah Rukh Khans King will also star Suhana Khan in the lead. Munjya star Abhay Verma will also play a key role in the film. Previously, at the Locarno Film Festival, Shah Rukh Khan opened up about King and said, It is an action drama, its a Hindi film. Itll be interesting. Ive been wanting to do a film like that for some time, and I really wanted to do a film like this for seven, eight years. We just felt Sujoy would be the right choice, because we wanted it to be very emotionally correct. We are all coming together to make a cool, massy, action, emotional film." Later, during an event in Abu Dhabi, SRK added, I will be shooting it for a couple of months. My director, Siddharth Anand, is very strict. He made Pathaan also. He has asked me not to reveal what we are doing. I cant tell you but I can assure you that it will be entertaining. You will enjoy it." News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 07:23 IST News movies bollywood Shah Rukh Khan Resumes King Shoot, To Perform Key Action Sequences For Siddharth Anand's Film Vicky Kaushal Reacts To Fulfilling His Duties As New Father: Better At Changing Diapers Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 09:41 IST This was the first time the actor had stepped out of Mumbai after welcoming a baby boy with Bollywood star and wife Katrina Kaif on November 7. Vicky Kaushal was last seen in Chhaava. (Photo Credits: Instagram) Vicky Kaushal was named Actor of the Year at a media houses ceremony, which took place in Delhi on Friday. He got the special honour for his role at NDTV Indian of the Year 2025 as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji in the film Chhaava. While he spoke about his career and the milestones he achieved so far, the actor was also questioned about his life as a father at the event. Vicky Kaushal was asked if he had mastered how to change diapers for his child. Vicky laughed and replied saying, I am better at changing diapers than acting. Id just like to say that." Moreover, talking about his new journey as a father, the actor said, Its very tough. But one day when he watches this, hell be proud of his dad. I cant express in words what it means to be a father." This was the first time the actor had stepped out of Mumbai after welcoming a baby boy with Bollywood star and wife Katrina Kaif on November 7. Vicky Kaushal Receives Actor Of The Year Award Post receiving his award, Vicky Kaushal said, Thank you for this honour. This is truly, truly special. Its a humbling honour. This award is for my family and my little one, who has come in as a blessing. Thank you so much. First time Im out of town after becoming a father. Im sure when he grows up, and watches this, hell be proud of his dad." Vicky Kaushal appeared in minor roles in Bombay Velvet and Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana (2012). His debut came as the lead in Masaan (2015), which received critical praise, followed by Raazi (2018) and Sanju (2018). However, his performance in Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019) cemented his status as a leading man, earning him the National Film Award for Best Actor.He was last seen in Chhaava, where he plays Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Laxman Utekar directed the film, which also starred Rashmika Mandanna. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 09:11 IST News bollywood Vicky Kaushal Reacts To Fulfilling His Duties As New Father: Better At Changing Diapers Timothee Chalamets Subtle Shoutout To Kylie Jenner In New Rap Collab: 'My Girl Got A Billion Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 13:38 IST Timothee Chalamet's latest rap collaboration features a lovely reference to Kylie Cosmetics. Timothee Chalamet's love is palpable in the new video. (Photo Credits: Instagram) Timothee Chalamet proudly celebrates his billionaire girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, in a new venture. Dismissing the one-sided relationship claims of a body language expert, the doting boyfriend made a rare comment about the founder and owner of Kylie Cosmetics. The Marty Supreme star gave a shoutout to her brand in his recent rap collaboration. On December 19, Timothee Chalamet shared the craziest collab of the year" with U.K. rapper EsDeeKid on Instagram. The rap collaboration featured some of the most stunning visuals alongside meaningful lyrics. Additionally, it was the Dune actors slight reference to his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, that captured many hearts online. Timothee Chalamet Hints At Kylie Jenner In His New Rap Collab In the verse, Chalamet made a rare comment about his billionaire girlfriend, rapping, My girl got a billion, what the f? With a wonderful feeling head to the ceiling, hit to the, since 2017, Im living a dream getting the cream, Im living on, Im doing my thing, Marty Supreme, Marty Supreme, Marty Supreme," a reference to Kylie Cosmetics, which has elevated the founders status. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Timothee Chalamet (@tchalamet) FYI: The fashion mogul launched Kylie Cosmetics in 2015 when she was just 18. She kick-started the business with a collection of lip liners and liquid lipsticks. Four years later, she sold a majority stake in the cosmetics company to Coty, which further increased its value to nearly $1.2 billion (approximately Rs 10,749.28 crore). The subtle shoutout to Jenner also dismissed the recent claims made by a body language expert about the lovebirds one-sided relationship. Is Timothee Chalamet And Kylie Jenners Relationship One-Sided? The couple, who have been sparking dating speculation since 2023, appeared together at the Los Angeles premiere of Chalamets Marty Supreme. While their matching orange chrome outfits left fans drooling, a body language expert named Judi James made certain unusual comments about the duo. In an interview, Judi James said Timothee looked uncomfortable while posing with ladylove. The romantic signals look one-sided here," he told the Daily Mail. He further claimed, Kylie clearly looks happy to depict and define a smitten, romantic relationship, but Timothees poses make him look less keen to be seen as any form of celebrity show-pony." The body language expert continued, We can see Kylie working their poses, positioning his hand onto her hip and then lifting and replacing it when they change pose. She seems to be the one designing the poses and steering him into position while he just stands and grins amiably." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Just Jared (@justjared) Timothee Chalamet And Kylie Jenner Have Been Dating For 2 Years Now After a whirlwind of private romance, the couple made their red carpet debut as a couple at the 70th David di Donatello Awards in Rome. However, they began making public appearances together only at high-profile events such as the 2025 Golden Globes, BAFTA Awards, and Oscars. Despite multiple breakup rumours throughout the duo stayed stronger with one another. Chalamets latest film, Marty Supreme, will hit the theaters on Christmas this year. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 13:38 IST News hollywood Timothee Chalamets Subtle Shoutout To Kylie Jenner In New Rap Collab: 'My Girl Got A Billion Will There Be A Season 2 Of Last Samurai Standing? Netflix Reacts Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 14:38 IST Last Samurai Standing follows Shujiro Saga, who enters a deadly game to save his family. Netflix officially renewed Last Samurai Standing for Season 2. (Photo Credit: X) Last Samurai Standing fans are overjoyed with excitement as Netflix renewed the show for a second season. Kokushu the Manslayer, AKA Shujiro Saga, is all set to return to the deadly game called Kodoku. During an interview with Netflix Tudum, the shows writer-director Michihito Fujii shared, Im honoured to say that the series has officially been greenlit for a second season." Last Samurai Standing Season 2 Updates Netflix confirmed the renewal of the series on Friday in Japan. The confirmation followed earlier reports after Netflix France announced the renewal on December 18. The streaming giant later released a season 2 confirmation post and comments from Michichito Fujii and Junichi Okada. While talking to the Tudum, Fujii revealed that the upcoming season will be bigger and better than the first one. Talking about Season 2, Okada shared, Im excited to get back into this wild world and once again charge into battle with the production team. We hope to make the next season even more energetic and action-packed." Last Samurai Standing has been renewed for Season 2! pic.twitter.com/W26YXyF6Dz Netflix (@netflix) December 19, 2025 Last Samurai Standing Plot Adapted from Ikusagami, a historical novel by Naoki Prize-winning author Shogo Imamura, the series follows Shujiro Saga (played by Junichi Okada), a once unbeaten samurai who steps into the world of Kodoku to save his family. Alongside Junichi Okada, the series stars Yumia Fujusaki and Kaya Kiyohara in other prominent roles. Talking about the series, Okada, who is also the producer, shared he wanted to create a new kind of period drama, one thats also an action dramamade entirely in Japan, but made for the world." The first season of the show turned out to be a massive success. It topped Netflix Japan for four consecutive weeks and reached No. 1 on Netflixs Weekly Global Top 10 for Non-English Series, charting in 88 countries. Last Samurai Standing also became the first all-Japanese production nominated for Best Foreign Language Series at the Critics Choice Awards. What to Expect From Last Samurai Standing Season 2? The first season ended with only the strongest warriors left alive. Shujiro goes to Tokyo with Futaba Katsuki, a young girl who is also caught in the deadly game. They embark on a journey to Tokyo to find out who is behind Kodoku. Meanwhile, his adopted siblings plan to reunite and face Gentosai, their former master turned hunter. Fans can look forward to more exciting battles, mysteries, and action in the upcoming season. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 14:38 IST News movies hollywood Will There Be A Season 2 Of Last Samurai Standing? Netflix Reacts 'I Should've Killed Myself...': 2017 Malayalam Actress Assault Survivor Pens Note On Victim-Blaming Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 13:08 IST The survivor of the 2017 Malayalam actress assault case shared her struggles on Instagram after six were convicted in Kerala, while Dileep and three others were acquitted. A representative image for assault (PTI) The survivor of the 2017 sexual assault case involving a Malayalam actress opened up on Instagram on Friday, sharing how hard it has been to deal with the case in public. She spoke about the stress, the victim-blaming, and a video by one of the accused that revealed her identity and included hurtful remarks. In her note, she reflected on the aftermath of the attack saying, My mistake. When an attack was committed against me, I immediately complained to the police and took legal action. I should have kept quiet and said nothing to anyone, saying that everything that happened that day was my fate. Later, when that video came out, I should have killed myself without knowing what to say to those who accused me of not complaining to the police right then and there." She also addressed the video by the second accused, saying, I saw a video taken by the second accused, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison, before he went to jail. In that video, he might as well have said I am the one who took the nude video." She ended her note with a heartfelt message, Not a victim, not a survivor, just a simple human being!! Let me live." This comes after a district sessions court in Kerala convicted six people in the case and sentenced them to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, while Malayalam actor Dileep and three others were acquitted. Earlier this month, the actress had also shared a statement reflecting on the long legal battle, calling the verdict a small ray of light" after a very long and painful journey." She added that the outcome did not surprise" her. DISCLAIMER: This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata). News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 11:50 IST News movies regional-cinema 'I Should've Killed Myself...': 2017 Malayalam Actress Assault Survivor Pens Note On Victim-Blaming 'Despite Evidence, No Arrest Has Been Made': Anuj Sachdeva Questions Police Delay In Society Assault Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 13:39 IST Anuj Sachdeva alleges no arrest after being attacked with a rod in Harmony mall residency, Goregaon w, despite submitting video evidence to Bangur Nagar Police Station. Anuj Sachdeva says he was attacked by a neighbour with a rod over a parking dispute. Television actor Anuj Sachdeva has alleged that no arrest has been made days after he was attacked inside his Mumbai residential complex, despite submitting what he calls clear evidence to the police. According to Sachdeva, the assault took place late on Sunday in the parking area of his housing society. He said a routine moment turned violent without warning. The incident happened late Sunday night in the parking area of my residential complex. What began as a very minor exchange suddenly escalated in a way I could never have imagined. Without any real provocation, the other resident became aggressive and violently attacked me with a rod," he told Hindustan Times. The actor filed a complaint at Bangur Nagar Police Station, alleging that a neighbour assaulted him following a disagreement over parking. The FIR records that Sachdeva had clicked a photograph of a car parked in the designated parking area and shared it in the society WhatsApp group to identify the owner. He later recounted the extent of his injuries. The assault was brutal and left me shocked and helpless. This wasnt a momentary loss of temper; it was a serious act of violence that could have had far worse consequences. The fact that this happened inside my own society has shaken my sense of safety deeply." Sachdeva added, I suffered a significant impact which has caused slurred speech, blurred vision and repeated episodes of vomiting." Doctors, he said, advised him strict rest and monitoring due to concerns about head trauma. The actor said he immediately approached the authorities. I filed a formal police complaint immediately after the incident, with all available evidence, including video footage of the assault, details of an eyewitness and information about CCTV cameras that captured what transpired." He expressed frustration that the accused individual continues to reside in the building. As of now, no arrest has been made. Despite clear evidence, media coverage and widespread public concern, the accused continues to live in the same building. This ongoing lack of action has been extremely distressing and has made me feel unsafe in my own home." The complaint states that Sachdeva had taken his dog outside after dinner when the incident occurred. The dog reportedly barked at the man, further escalating tensions. The complainant alleges the neighbour took the watchmans stick and struck him on the head, back and leg. Sachdevas friend raised an alarm and the stick was retrieved by the security guard. His family, he said, remains deeply affected. My parents were devastated and extremely anxious after seeing the condition I was in. No parent should have to watch their child go through something like this. We are only hoping that the system acts swiftly and that the truth prevails," he said. Sachdeva later posted video footage of the incident online. In the caption, the actor wrote, I am posting this evidence before this person tries to do any damage to me or my property. He tried hitting my dog and me with a rod for notifying in the society group regarding his car which was parked at the wrong place in the society parking. Harmony mall residency, Goregaon w This person is from A wing flat 602. kindly share with ppl who can take action. I am bleeding from my head. (sic)" Police have begun an investigation into the case. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 13:39 IST News movies television 'Despite Evidence, No Arrest Has Been Made': Anuj Sachdeva Questions Police Delay In Society Assault Emily In Paris Eugenio Franceschini On Nude Scene With Lily Collins: 'There Was Lot Of Tension' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 19, 2025, 21:33 IST Emily in Paris star Eugenio Franceschini shares his honest reaction to filming a nude scene with Lily Collins in season 5, calling the moment relaxed, fun and pressure-free. Eugenio Franceschini and Lily Collins in a scene from Emily in Paris season 5. [Image Courtesy: Netflix] Eugenio Franceschini certainly bares it all in the latest season of Emily in Paris and hes completely unfazed by it. The Italian actor, who plays luxury cashmere brand heir Marcello Muratori, delivers one of season 5s most talked-about moments in episode 3, sharing a cheeky and memorable nude scene with Lily Collins Emily Cooper. The scene unfolds at Emilys Rome apartment, where the pair wake up together following a romantic night. As Marcello casually heads downstairs completely naked, Emily watches from bed and quips, Well, I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave." She then jokingly clarifies, That translates to, I like your butt.'" The moment escalates when Marcello unexpectedly runs into Emilys best friend Mindy Chen, played by Ashley Park, who is staying on the couch making for an awkward but hilarious encounter. For Me, It Was Nothing While the scene may have raised eyebrows among viewers, Franceschini says it barely registered as intimidating. Speaking to PEOPLE at the world premiere in Paris on December 15, the 34-year-old actor explained, There was a lot of tension and everything about this kind of scene. Im used to, to acting naked on the stage. I did a play where I was naked on the stage in front of the audience, so for me it, it was nothing." The episode also features a follow-up moment once Mindy moves out of Emilys apartment and into a hotel. This time, Marcello leaves the bedroom wearing underwear prompting Emily to call him out for suddenly being modest. In response, he playfully wiggles and pulls down his briefs as he exits, doubling down on the shows signature humor. Darren Star on Franceschinis Fun Attitude Series creator Darren Star was equally impressed by Franceschinis easygoing approach. Marcello was game," Star told PEOPLE while aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in celebration of season 5. Eugenio was game, and just had a fun sense of humor about it. I love his attitude. Hes so relaxed. He just did it with just such a sense of fun. I thought it was adorable, actually." Franceschini first joined the series in season 4 as Emilys Roman love interest. That season concluded with Emily and Marcello riding off on his Vespa, a moment that seamlessly leads into season 5. Emily is tasked by her boss Sylvie Grateau (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) with launching the agencys Rome office, though in classic Emily in Paris fashion plans quickly spiral. With Sylvie, Luc (Bruno Gouery) and Julien (Samuel Arnold) deciding to stay in Rome as well, the team finds itself juggling professional chaos across two cities, ensuring drama remains firmly on the itinerary. Emily in Paris season 5 is now streaming on Netflix. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Los Angeles, United States of America (USA) First Published: December 19, 2025, 21:33 IST News movies web-series Emily In Paris Eugenio Franceschini On Nude Scene With Lily Collins: 'There Was Lot Of Tension' Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 07:30 IST The Bloomberg Billionaires Index for 2025 highlights how dynastic wealth continues to shape the global economy. 1 / 10 Walton Family USA: With a combined wealth of $513.4 billion, the Waltons retain their crown as the richest family in the world. Their fortune comes from Walmart, the worlds largest retailer, which operates over 10,700 stores globally. The familys majority stake ensures they remain dominant in retail and ecommerce. 2 / 10 Al Nahyan Family UAE: The ruling family of Abu Dhabi, the Al Nahyans, hold vast oil wealth and investments across sectors. Their net worth is estimated at $335.9 billion, reflecting the UAEs continued dominance in energy and sovereign wealth funds. (Image: Instagram) ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 10 Al Saud Family Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabias royal family rose to third place in 2025, with a fortune of $213.6 billion. Their wealth is tied to oil revenues, state enterprises, and diversified investments. The familys influence extends across politics, business, and global energy markets. 4 / 10 Al Thani Family Qatar: The Al Thani family, rulers of Qatar, hold a net worth of $199.5 billion. Their wealth stems from natural gas exports, sovereign wealth funds, and global investments, including stakes in luxury brands and real estate. (Image: Instagram) ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 10 Hermes Family France: The Hermes dynasty, behind the luxury fashion house, ranks fifth with $184.5 billion. Their fortune is built on the enduring appeal of Hermes products, from Birkin bags to highend apparel, making them Europes richest fashion family. 6 / 10 Koch Family USA: The Koch family, with a net worth of $150.5 billion, continues to thrive through Koch Industries, a conglomerate spanning energy, chemicals, and manufacturing. Their diversified empire ensures steady growth despite market fluctuations. ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 10 Mars Family USA: Known for their confectionery empire, the Mars family holds $143.4 billion. Their portfolio includes chocolates, pet care, and food brands, making them one of the most recognizable names in consumer goods. 8 / 10 Ambani Family India: Indias only entry in the top 10, the Ambani family, led by Mukesh Ambani, has a net worth of $105.6 billion. Reliance Industries spans petrochemicals, telecom, retail, and digital services. Their inclusion underscores Indias growing role in global wealth creation. (Image: Instagram) ADVERTISEMENT 9 / 10 Wertheimer Family France: The Wertheimers, owners of Chanel, are valued at $85.6 billion. Their luxury empire continues to thrive, with Chanel remaining a symbol of timeless fashion and exclusivity. (Image: Instagram) Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 17:26 IST 1 / 7 Winter has intensified in North India, with temperatures dropping and air quality deteriorating. Pollution, particularly in Delhi-NCR, has reached dangerous levels, threatening children's health and prompting the government to take drastic actions like closing schools and modifying teaching methods. Several states have adjusted school holidays or timings due to the cold, fog, and administrative reasons. Check state-wise list of school holidays here. (Representational/PTI) 2 / 7 The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi and nearby areas has hit the 'severe plus' category. Consequently, the government has implemented GRAP Stage 4, the highest level of pollution control. According to the government directive, all schools from nursery to class 5 will stay closed until further notice. Education will be conducted in a hybrid mode for Classes 6 to 11, allowing students to attend online classes if they choose. Due to board examinations, physical classes will be mandatory for Classes 10 and 12, but outdoor activities will be completely banned. (Representational/PTI) ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 7 Winter vacation across schools in Delhi is currently scheduled from December 23, 2025, to January 1, 2026. However, these dates may change depending on weather and pollution conditions. Parents and students are advised to monitor official notifications from the school and district administration, protect children from the cold and pollution, and confirm directly with their school if there is any confusion. (AI Generated Image) 4 / 7 In Patna, the capital of Bihar, the district administration has altered school timings due to the severe cold and dense fog. Classes will run from 9 am to 4:30 pm till December 27. This order applies to government and private schools, preschools, nurseries, and Anganwadi centres. However, board and pre-board examinations are exempt from this order. (Representational/File) ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 7 In Uttar Pradesh, many districts have closed schools due to dense fog and cold waves. Schools in Bareilly, from grades 1 to 8, will remain closed today until December 20. Meanwhile, a 12-day winter break is scheduled for most districts in the state, from December 20 to 31. However, the district administration is making further decisions based on the situation. In Rajasthan, winter vacation will begin on December 25th, 2025. (Representative image/File) 6 / 7 In Punjab and Haryana, a statewide holiday has not been declared yet, but school timings have been adjusted in several districts due to heavy morning fog. Punjab's winter vacation will run from December 22 to January 10, 2026. In Haryana, schools typically start at 9:30 or 10:00 am, with winter break beginning on January 1, 2026. (Representational Image/File) ADVERTISEMENT Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 15:08 IST 1 / 10 Across the world, Hinduism is most commonly linked with India which has the largest Hindu population. Nepal, another country in South Asia, follows as the second-largest Hindu-majority nation. What often goes unnoticed is that the third-largest Hindu population lives in a country where Muslims form the majority. 2 / 10 Bangladesh, despite being a Muslim-majority nation, is home to the worlds third-highest Hindu population. The presence of Hindus in the country goes back decades and even today, they form a visible religious minority. But census data over time shows that their numbers have been steadily declining. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 10 Hindu Population In Bangladesh: As per Bangladeshs 2022 census, Hindus account for around 7.95 per cent of the countrys total population. In numbers, this comes to a little over 13 million people out of a population of nearly 165 million. Other religious minorities in the country are much smaller. Buddhists and Christians together make up less than 1 per cent of the total population. (Representational Image) 4 / 10 While Hindus are spread across Bangladesh, some districts have a noticeably higher share of Hindu residents. In Gopalganj district of Dhaka division, Hindus make up 26.94 per cent of the population. Moulvibazar in Sylhet division follows with 24.44 per cent while Thakurgaon in Rangpur division has 22.11 per cent Hindus. In Khulna district, around 20.75 per cent of the population is Hindu which means that nearly one in every five people belongs to the community. (Representational Image) ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 10 Long-Term Decline In Hindu Population In Bangladesh: Census records show that the Hindu population in Bangladesh has been declining for more than a century. Every census since 1901 has indicated a reduction in the Hindu population. The steepest decline occurred between the 1941 and 1974 censuses, a period when Bangladesh was known as East Pakistan. 6 / 10 In the most recent decade alone, the Hindu population declined by 0.59 per cent. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics Population and Housing Census, Khulna division recorded the highest decline at 1.33 per cent. ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 10 Migration As A Key Factor: One major reason behind this decline is out-migration. Historian Gyanesh Kudaisya noted that after the Partition of India, around 11.4 million Hindus (about 42 per cent of the Hindu population of undivided Bengal) remained in East Bengal. Over time, many Hindus have continued to leave the country. 8 / 10 Recent political developments have also added to concerns. After former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India in August 2024, her supporters and associates reportedly faced retaliatory attacks. Members of the Hindu community feel particularly vulnerable as they have traditionally supported the Awami League which is seen as a secular party. ADVERTISEMENT 9 / 10 According to the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, more than 200 attacks were reported across around 50 districts following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5. Chevron Corp. is preparing to export up to 1 million barrels of crude from Venezuela, even as U.S. pressure on the countrys oil trade intensifies following fresh accusations from President Donald Trump. According to Bloomberg tanker-tracking data, Chevron has completed loading a crude cargo onto the tanker Searuby and is in the process of loading another shipment onto the Minerva Astra. The exports come a day after President Trump accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to finance drug trafficking and terrorism. More from Yahoo Scout How much Venezuelan crude production could be lost? How is the U.S. naval blockade affecting Venezuelan oil exports? What allows Chevron to continue exporting Venezuelan crude? What challenges is Venezuela's oil industry currently facing? Chevron holds a U.S. government license that allows it to produce and export Venezuelan crude, and its vessels are not subject to sanctions. The company said operations in the country are continuing without disruption and in full compliance with U.S. laws and sanctions frameworks. The shipments are taking place amid heightened tensions after the Trump administration activated a naval blockade aimed at stopping sanctioned vessels entering or leaving Venezuela. The situation escalated last week when U.S. authorities intercepted the supertanker Skipper in an unprecedented move. Since then, multiple ghost vessels have reportedly turned away from Venezuelan ports, while others are avoiding the region altogether. The crackdown is beginning to strain Venezuelas oil industry. Bloomberg has reported that the country could be forced to shut in production within days as storage tanks and port-based tankers fill up. Reuters said earlier this week that roughly 11 million barrels of Venezuelan crude are currently stranded at sea, prompting deeper discounts and tougher contract terms from buyers. Venezuelas crude output is already declining. The International Energy Agency estimated production at 860,000 barrels per day in November, down sharply from more than 1 million bpd in September. Further declines are expected in December following U.S. enforcement actions in Caribbean waters. Additional disruption is emerging from shortages of Russian naphtha, which PDVSA uses to dilute its heavy crude. At least one tanker carrying Russian naphtha recently turned away from Venezuela amid the blockade. In a worst-case scenario, analysts estimate Venezuela could lose up to 500,000 bpd of production if exports and diluent supplies remain constrained. Oilprice Intelligence brings you the signals before they become front-page news. This is the same expert analysis read by veteran traders and political advisors. Get it free, twice a week, and you'll always know why the market is moving before everyone else. You get the geopolitical intelligence, the hidden inventory data, and the market whispers that move billions - and we'll send you $389 in premium energy intelligence, on us, just for subscribing. Join 400,000+ readers today. Get access immediately by clicking here. 'Bengal Needs BJP': PM Modi Denounces TMC's 'Jungle Raj', Accuses It Of Sheltering Infiltrators Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 13:59 IST Prime Minister Modi insisted that he wanted to work for the development of West Bengal and appealed to people to give BJP a chance in the upcoming elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed a BJP rally in West Bengal's Nadia district. (PTI/File) Prime Minister Narendra Modi tore into Trinamool Congress (TMC) during a political rally in West Bengals Nadia district, accusing it of trying to save infiltrators and corrupt officials, while urging people to give the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a chance ahead of a heated Assembly election in 2026. In a virtual address at a political rally in Taherpur, PM Modi said the NDA victory in Bihar has paved the way for the BJPs victory in Bengal. Ganga has reached Bengal from Bihar, jungle raj has been removed from Bihar, and jungle raj must also be removed from West Bengal. There is jungle raj going on in West Bengal. We need to get rid of it," he said. Every child, town and village is saying baanchte chai, BJP chai (We want to survive, we want BJP). Modi wants to work hard for Bengal. There is no shortage of money or ideas for the development of West Bengal. However, there is a government which is busy in charging commissions," he added. READ MORE: PM Modis Chopper Turns Back To Kolkata After Fog Prevents Landing In Bengals Taherpur PM Modis Infiltrator Jibe At TMC Modi further said that several development projects worth thousands of crores were stuck in Bengal. He said the TMC can oppose the BJP or the Prime Minister, but asked why it was stalling the development of the state and depriving the people of their rights. He also urged the people to give the BJP a chance. TMC is putting pressure to protect corrupt people. Instead of posters of Go back, infiltrators, they are displaying the posters of Go back, Modi. TMC is preferring infiltrators who seek to lay siege on Bengal. This is TMCs real face. TMC is opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to save these infiltrators," he added. He further alleged that the TMC government picked up all the bad elements and people of the Left Front government, which is why the state was on the verge of being destroyed. West Bengal needs a BJP government that restores the glory of the state through a double-engine pace," he asserted, adding that he will return soon. Earlier, PM Modis helicopter failed to land at the Taherpur helipad owing to low visibility on account of dense fog in the area on Saturday. It made a U-turn after hovering over the helipad ground for a while and returned to the Kolkata airport. Hence, the Prime Minister was forced to address the BJP rally, titled Parivartan Sankalpa Sabha, in virtual mode. He was to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of two National Highway projects worth around Rs 3,200 crores, according to a statement from the Prime Ministers Office. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Taherpur, India, India First Published: December 20, 2025, 13:45 IST News politics 'Bengal Needs BJP': PM Modi Denounces TMC's 'Jungle Raj', Accuses It Of Sheltering Infiltrators Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Both Of Us Will Go': Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar To Meet Party's High Command Amid Power Tussle Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 17:44 IST Shivakumars remarks came a day after Siddaramaiah asserted in the Assembly that he would continue as chief minister. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar Amid continuing speculation over leadership in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday said the Congress high command has already spoken to both him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and will decide when they should come to Delhi for discussions. Speaking to the reporters, Shivakumar mentioned that both leaders would meet the party leadership together when called. I will inform you, I wont do anything without informing you. I will not go hiding from you," he said, responding to questions on a possible visit to the national capital. They have told something to both of us, they have told both of us over phone as to when they will call us. We will go, both of us will go," he added. Reiterating the same point, the Karnataka Congress chief said, They (high command) have said they will call both of us at the appropriate time, we will wait for the call." Shivakumars remarks came a day after Siddaramaiah asserted in the Assembly that he would continue as chief minister. Speaking during a debate on development issues related to North Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said he had never stated that his term would be limited to half of the governments tenure. I am confident that the high command will allow me to complete five years term," Siddaramaiah said while replying to BJP MLAs, according to a report by PTI. I feel that the high command is on my side, but I will abide by the high commands decision," adding that there was no final decision on a two-and-a-half-year term as suggested by reports of a 2023 power-sharing arrangement," he stated. Earlier, Shivakumar had said that he and Siddaramaiah reached an understanding with the involvement of the party leadership and that both would stand by it. The internal debate within the ruling Congress has intensified after the government crossed the halfway point of its five-year term on November 20. Speculation around a leadership change has been linked to the reported power-sharing agreement between the two leaders when the Congress came to power in 2023. Meanwhile, Shivakumar said he would be travelling to Delhi on Tuesday to meet Union ministers. Referring to his portfolio as water resources minister, he said the Centre had called state officials for discussions on river interlinking. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Karnataka, India, India First Published: December 20, 2025, 16:10 IST News politics 'Both Of Us Will Go': Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar To Meet Party's High Command Amid Power Tussle Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... PDP Leader Iltija Mufti Files Complaint Against Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Over Hijab Row Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 19, 2025, 20:09 IST Iltija Mufti filed a police complaint seeking an FIR against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over hijab incident in Patna. PDP Leader Iltija Mufti Files Complaint Against Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. (X/IltijaMufti_) PDP leader Iltija Mufti lodged a police complaint on Friday and sought the registration of an FIR against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the recent hijab row. She also shared a picture on X and wrote, Hands off our hijabs." However, there is no confirmation from the police on whether an FIR has been registered against the JD-U chief. Im writing to bring to your attention a vile incident which has caused immense distress and hurt among Muslims, especially women. A few days ago, we watched with shock, horror, and worry as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulled down the naqab of a young Muslim doctor in full public glare at a government function," Muftis complaint to the Kothibagh SHO reads. She further added that what made matters worse was the unsettling reaction of the people around, including the deputy chief minister, who chuckled and watched with glee." The forceful stripping of her naqab wasnt just a brutal assault on a Muslim lady but on the autonomy, identity, and dignity of every Indian woman," Mufti alleged in her complaint. She also shared a copy of the complaint on X and wrote, Lodged a complaint at Kothi Bagh Police Station to file an FIR against Bihar CM Nitish Kumar for violating the dignity of a Muslim woman by forcibly removing her naqaab. Hope @JmuKmrPolice takes cognisance of this violation. Hands off our hijabs & naqaabs." Lodged a complaint at Kothi Bagh Police Station to file an FIR against Bihar CM Nitish Kumar for violating the dignity of a Muslim woman by forcibly removing her naqaab. Hope @JmuKmrPolice takes cognisance of this violation. Hands off our hijabs & naqaabs. pic.twitter.com/4wu272h8hI Iltija Mufti (@IltijaMufti_) December 19, 2025 A video of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar went viral where he was seen removing the hijab of a woman who came to collect her appointment letter from him. The incident took place on Monday at the chief ministers secretariat in Patna where Ayush doctors gathered to receive their letters of appointment. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India, India First Published: December 19, 2025, 20:09 IST News politics PDP Leader Iltija Mufti Files Complaint Against Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Over Hijab Row Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Stamped Out: Google Warns Staff With US Visas Against International Travel Amid Embassy Delays Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 17:46 IST The company cautioned that workers who leave the country may be stranded abroad for up to a year due to 'significant' appointment backlogs at US embassies and consulates worldwide For companies like Google, which rely heavily on skilled professionals from India and China, these administrative hurdles are creating a climate of extreme uncertainty, effectively locking thousands of essential workers within US borders. File image US tech giant Google has issued a stern travel advisory to its foreign employees, warning them to avoid international travel as US visa re-entry processing times reach a critical breaking point. According to a report by Business Insider, the companys external immigration counsel, BAL Immigration Law, sent an internal memo on Thursday cautioning that workers who leave the country risk being stranded abroad for up to 12 months due to significant" appointment backlogs at American embassies and consulates worldwide. The 12-Month Wait: Why Travel is Now a Risk The advisory primarily affects highly skilled foreign professionals on H-1B, H-4, F, J, and M visas who require a new visa stamp to re-enter the United States. While these workers may have valid employment or student status, the physical visa stamp in their passport is the key" to crossing the border. The internal memo stated, Please be aware that some US Embassies and Consulates are experiencing significant visa stamping appointment delays, currently reported as up to 12 months." This extended stay outside the US" poses a dual threat: it disrupts Googles internal operations and puts the individuals job security at risk if they are unable to return to their desks for a year. The Cause: Enhanced Vetting and Social Media Screening The sudden spike in wait times is largely attributed to the rollout of rigorous new vetting protocols by the US Department of State earlier this month. Under new directives from the Donald Trump administration, consular offices are now required to conduct online presence reviews", which involve a deep-dive screening of an applicants social media accounts. A spokesperson for the State Department confirmed that the emphasis has shifted from processing cases quickly" to thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else". This prioritisation of national security over speed has resulted in mass cancellations of previously scheduled appointments in major tech-talent hubs like India, where some applicants have seen their interviews pushed as far back as summer 2026. Broader Context: The Changing H-1B Landscape The H-1B programme, which allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations, has become a political flashpoint. In addition to the vetting delays, the administration recently introduced a $100,000 annual fee for new H-1B applications, further tightening the belt on the tech sectors reliance on global talent. For companies like Google, which rely heavily on skilled professionals from India and China, these administrative hurdles are creating a climate of extreme uncertainty, effectively locking thousands of essential workers within US borders. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 17:46 IST News tech Stamped Out: Google Warns Staff With US Visas Against International Travel Amid Embassy Delays Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... More Dangerous Than Snake Bite: A Shocking Health Update For Lovers Of THIS Beverage How To Avoid Being Poisoned? Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 11:43 IST Milk tea does not become poisonous immediately, but turns unsafe when left in the temperature danger zone of 40140F (460C) where bacteria multiply quickly. Reheating milk tea does not always eliminate bacteria. A simple cup of tea has unexpectedly become the centre of a heated online discussion with questions pouring in about whether reheating tea, especially milk and ginger, is safe or harmful. It all started when a post on X warning people about the dangers of drinking leftover tea captured Internets attention, leaving netizens startled, questioning their daily habits. The post boldly claimed that tea should be consumed within 1520 minutes of brewing and that drinking old tea could pose serious health risks. It read, Tea is best consumed within 1520 minutes of brewing. After that, it should be discarded rather than drunk as it transforms into a breeding ground for bacteria." What about homemade ginger tea? I often cut up ginger, brew a batch and reheat it over several days SillyPutty (@David86793504) December 19, 2025 Explaining the harmful effects of old tea, the post further read, It primarily targets the gastrointestinal system, especially the liver. In Japan, tea left for 24 hours is considered more dangerous than a snake bite, while in China, its likened to poison." The strong wording immediately grabbed attention and the discussion took an interesting turn when a user replied with a practical question. They asked, What about homemade ginger tea? I often cut up ginger, brew a batch and reheat it over several days?" As viral claims circulate, here we give you simplified, easy-to-read guide that brings together all the key information. What Makes Milk Tea Unsafe and How Long Can It Be Stored Milk tea does not become poisonous immediately but turns unsafe when left in the temperature danger zone of 40140F (460C), where bacteria multiply quickly. Milk is highly perishable so its tea left at room temperature should be discarded after two hours or four hours if consumed gradually. When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator below 40F, it can last safely for one to three days. What Are the Risks of Reheating Milk Tea Regularly Reheating milk tea does not always eliminate bacteria or mould that may have developed during storage. Over-boiling can lead to the formation of inflammatory compounds such as AGEs. Regular consumption of reheated milk tea may also contribute to acidity, dehydration from caffeine, reduced iron absorption and weight gain. Is Ginger Tea Safer and How Long Can You Store It Ginger tea without milk is significantly safer than milk tea. When refrigerated promptly, it can be stored for three to five days and sometimes up to a week before quality drops. Reheating ginger tea over several days is generally safe if it is boiled fresh each time. Make sure to discard if it becomes cloudy, mouldy or foul-smelling. Ginger intake should be limited to about four to five grams per day to avoid heartburn. What Are the Health Benefits of Ginger Tea Homemade ginger tea offers anti-inflammatory benefits. It aids digestion and helps relieve nausea. The potency begins to fade after about 72 hours in the refrigerator. While it is generally safe, toddlers should only consume small amounts after the age of two. Medical advice is recommended due to sensitivity risks though. What Are the Best Practices for Storing and Reheating Tea Safely Tea is best brewed fresh daily to preserve antioxidants and avoid microbial risks. Milk tea should be consumed within three days when refrigerated while ginger tea can last up to five days in airtight containers. Always inspect tea for sour smells or cloudiness and bring it to a full boil before drinking. Black tea is generally safer than milk based alternatives. What Does Ayurveda Say According to Ayurveda, reheated or stored milk tea leads to the formation of toxins which weaken agni, the digestive fire. Repeated boiling concentrates tannins, denatures proteins and makes tea toxic, aggravating pitta and causing acidity and inflammation. Fresh ginger tea is considered better for balancing kapha and vata but even herbal teas should ideally be consumed within two to three days. What Are Ayurvedas Key Recommendations Ayurveda recommends brewing tea fresh daily. It suggests limiting boiling to two to five minutes and discarding leftovers. Milk should be avoided or replaced with plant alternatives while herbal infusions like ginger are preferred. Fresh brews support digestion and energy whereas stale tea disrupts overall well-being. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: December 20, 2025, 11:43 IST News viral More Dangerous Than Snake Bite: A Shocking Health Update For Lovers Of THIS Beverage How To Avoid Being Poisoned? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Delhi Startup Offers Job With People Dont Sleep Here Disclaimer: No Luxury Time, We Work Very Hard Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 17:58 IST He currently earns around Rs 11 lakh and he is confused if he should begin 2026 as an unemployed person or grab the Delhi opportunity, which has many 'red' flags. He felt that the offer was an effective pay cut. (Representative Image) An Indore-based professional has gone viral after sharing his dilemma about whether to accept a startup job offer in Delhi. The employee, who has around five years of experience across Indian Railways, solar manufacturing and vendor negotiations in China, said his last working day at his current company is Dec. 31. He currently earns around Rs 11 lakh and he is confused if he should begin 2026 as an unemployed person or grab the Delhi opportunity, which has many red" flags. I interviewed for a technical sales role at this startup in Delhi. The industry sounds exciting, and Im keen to switch into it. But man, the whole process has been full of red flags," the professional stated in a Reddit post. What Was The Actual Case? According to his account, the Delhi-based startup has offered him a technical sales role at the same salary of Rs 11 lakh per annum. It requires him to relocate from work-from-home in Indore. He claimed the companys founder openly stated that people dont sleep" at the organisation, indicating expectations of round-the-clock work. Then, even though Ive got solid field experience (locomotives, negotiating in China), he kept treating me like a complete fresher and that too for a sales role in machinery, come on. The contract stuff is shady too: Targets not fixed yet", probation not fixed yet". He wants me to join first and figure that out later," he said. What Did He Further State? With Delhis higher cost of living, he felt that the offer was an effective pay cut and requested a minimum of Rs 13 lakh fixed pay, which the company has not confirmed. He further stated his two options left: Option 1: Take it, move to Delhi, probably burn out in a few months (or get piped because targets arent clear), but at least have income coming in. Option 2: Say no, start 2026 unemployed and keep applying from home." How Did The Internet React? Reacting to the viral post, many people urged the professional to wait out a few months as he is likely to end up with a good offer. If you have the savings for at least for the next three months, please take your time and look for another job," a user said. Another user advised the professional: Dont join startups if you arent ready to break your integrity and indulge in politics and corrupt behaviour." One of the users explained that they were once in the same boat and now regret the decision to join the new toxic" company. So, if your instinct is telling you not to join this company and you have savings to survive at least 3 months. Keep looking for better opportunities. All the best," the user commented. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: December 20, 2025, 17:58 IST News viral Delhi Startup Offers Job With People Dont Sleep Here Disclaimer: No Luxury Time, We Work Very Hard Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Domestic Help Claims Employer Asks Her To Buy Own Coffee & Toiletries: They Pay Low Salary, I Lost 6 KG Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 11:45 IST Singapore worker explained that in the first few months, she bought all her groceries, snacks and toiletries using her own money. Even on days off, she continues to work to meet her employers high demands.(Photo Credit: Instagram) A domestic helper in Singapore has shared her struggles after nearly a year of working under an employer she says pays her the lowest basic salary while expecting her to cover food and household items herself. She claimed to receive a late salary, worked too long and has physical and mental exhaustion. She explained that in the first few months, she bought all her groceries, snacks and toiletries using her own money, even though she was allowed to use some household ingredients initially. On top of this, her salary often arrived more than a month late, making it harder to manage daily expenses. Her working hours are long, sometimes going beyond 11 pm and little opportunity to rest during the day. Even on days off, she continues to work to meet her employers high demands. Despite raising concerns politely, nothing changed and she has lost significant weight. Soon after the post circulated online, social media users encouraged her to protect herself, document everything and change jobs. Domestic Helper Shares Struggles In Singapore Taking to Facebook, the domestic helper wrote, Ive been working for my employer for almost a year. In less than 3 months, during which Ive been working here, Ive bought all my groceries COMPLETELY with my own money until today. Ive bought snacks, bread, tea & coffee, even toiletries myself since the beginning when I arrived, while I get the lowest basic salary. Previously, I took cooking ingredients with their permission, but they complained a lot because they were buying for Ahma, and my mistake was to give in and buy cooking ingredients for myself. They said Stop buying cooking ingredients for me. They paid my salary very slowly, more than a month." My work schedule is very busy, lasting until 11 PM or even later every day, even though I try to manage my time wisely, and its very difficult to take a break during the day, even just to sit and have a coffee. Im very tired, I lost more than 6kg of weight before the medical. First time medical, I lost 6kg. I still work until late at night even though its my day off. I work very hard to be perfect because all my employers are too fussy and it makes me mentally and physically exhausted. I also always buy things to clean the house, even though I tell them before they run out. My employer did not make any changes at all after I expressed my complaint nicely. I want to change employers, but I have a bad record because I couldnt finish the contract before," she added. Reacting to the post, a user wrote, Dont buy things to clean their house. If they dont want to buy clean without it. When they complain about the clean fight back. You would rather go back to your origin rather than work. With them, you work to earn money, not to buy things for a stupid employer. Go ask for a transfer to your agency. If they dont want it, go back to your country and apply again." Another shared, My suggestion, leave them. Life with this kind of employer will slowly kill you. By your mental health, physical health and more. You deserve to be happy. Find a job that treats you as a human being. All the best." Everything you buy, your own recipe paper for evidence," a comment read. An individual stated, We must hear the employers side of the story. You didnt complete even 1 contract is a red flag. If you are good. Employers wont change helpers as it costs them a lot of money. With your record, I wouldnt employ you either." One more advised her not to leave or switch jobs without first reporting the situation to Singapores Ministry of Manpower (MOM). This is important because any future employer will need to see the MOM records to understand that she had a valid reason for ending her contract. She was also told to keep records of everything at work, such as the dates her salary was delayed, cleaning items she bought without reimbursement and the food she had to buy herself when her employer was supposed to provide meals. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: December 20, 2025, 11:45 IST News viral Domestic Help Claims Employer Asks Her To Buy Own Coffee & Toiletries: They Pay Low Salary, I Lost 6 KG Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Kids Feared I Was Going To Die: Ex-Astronomer HR Head Kristin Cabot On Coldplay Scandal Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 19:24 IST Kristin Cabot faced severe harassment and threats after a viral kiss-cam moment with Andy Byron at a Coldplay concert, leading to career loss and trauma for her and her children. Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot's infamous 'kiss cam' moment at a Coldplay concert. Kristin Cabot, the human resources executive who went viral after being caught in a kiss-cam moment with her then-boss Andy Byron at a Coldplay concert, has finally addressed the backlash after the furore that happened in July. In an interview with The New York Times, Cabot, a 53-year-old mother of two and former Chief People Officer at US tech firm Astronomer, spoke about the profound emotional toll the incident took on her and, more painfully, on her children. She said that this period was marked by relentless online harassment, death threats, and public shaming that left her family fearful for their safety. Cabot, who was separated from her husband at the time, said that she had acted inappropriately after drinking a couple of High Noons" and acknowledged that the moment- captured during a kiss-cam segment at the concert- had lasting consequences. I made a bad decision," she said, adding that she had taken accountability" and given up" her career as a result. I screwed up," she said, adding that her decision to speak publicly now was driven by a desire to show her children that while people make mistakes, they should never be subjected to threats of violence for them. According to Cabot, the fallout was swift and severe. Her personal information was allegedly exposed online, triggering a wave of harassment. She said she began receiving threatening messages soon after the clip circulated, including one chilling warning from someone who claimed to know where she shopped and told her, Im coming for you." At the height of the controversy, Cabot reported receiving as many as 600 phone calls a day and between 50 and 60 death threats. Paparazzi, she said, camped outside her home in what she described as a constant parade." The impact on her childrena 14-year-old daughter and a teenage sonwas devastating. Cabot said they became terrified for their lives after overhearing a threatening voicemail played on speakerphone for her mother. They were already in really bad shape and thats when the wheels fell off the cart," she told the news outlet. Because my kids were afraid that I was going to die and they were going to die," she said. Beyond the threats, Cabot said her children were subjected to public scrutiny and humiliation. She recalled an incident at a local pool where a woman photographed her and her daughter, prompting the girl to beg through tears to leave. Her children, she said, grew so embarrassed and fearful that they temporarily refused to let her pick them up from school or attend their sporting events. Theyre mad at me," Cabot said. And they can be mad at me for the rest of their livesI have to take that." In another encounter, Cabot said a group of women approached her after she picked up her son from work, referring to her dismissively as that girl" and attempting to shame her. I didnt know what to do to support my kids correctly," she admitted. To cope with what Cabot described as severe trauma," both children began seeing therapists and only recently started returning to school as the harassment gradually subsided. The Coldplay Concert Controversy The controversy erupted on July 16 this year, when Kristin, then the Chief People Officer at Astronomer, was caught on a jumbotron at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, in an embrace with her boss, then-CEO Andy Byron, during a Coldplay concert. During the concert, frontman Chris Martin decided to spice up the crowd with the classic kiss cam game. As the camera panned across the thousands of fans in attendance, it suddenly landed on Byron and Cabot. The pair, seen with their arms around each other, quickly reacted as frontman Chris Martin commented, Oh, look at these two." As the camera lingered, Byron abruptly pulled away and ducked behind a barrier while Cabot covered her face with her hands, visibly embarrassed. The clip quickly went viral, turning both executives into internet memes and triggering intense scrutiny of their professional conduct. She confirmed that she has not spoken to her former boss for months, apart from brief contact to exchange crisis-management advice. Kristin Cabot formally filed for divorce roughly a month after the video went viral. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: December 20, 2025, 19:24 IST News viral Kids Feared I Was Going To Die: Ex-Astronomer HR Head Kristin Cabot On Coldplay Scandal Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... UP Man Changed Pinkys Name To Afreen, Married Her Despite Having Two Wives. Their Age Difference Is... Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 16:25 IST The incident took place in Sonbhadra districts Dudhi area, Uttar Pradesh. The man has been identified Azam. (Representative Image) A case from Uttar Pradesh has come into focus after allegations surfaced that a young tribal woman was taken away, her identity changed and she was married despite objections from her family. The incident has been reported from Sonbhadra districts Dudhi area. The womans father recently approached the media and claimed that his daughter was forcibly taken from her home and married even though she was already married earlier. According to a report in Amar Ujala, the case dates back to 2022 but has resurfaced after the family renewed its demand for action and further details came to light. UP Marriage Alleged Despite Two Existing Wives The main allegation is against a man named Azam, who is accused of marrying a young tribal woman despite already having two wives. The woman, earlier known as Pinky, is now identified as Afreen. Her family claims she is around 12 years younger than Azam. Pinkys father, Ashrafeelal, a resident of Baghadu village in Sonbhadra, alleged that Azam misled his daughter and gradually trapped her. He claimed that despite clear opposition from the family, Azam went ahead and married her. The family also alleges that her name and religious identity were changed after the marriage. Fathers Complaint And Police Closure According to Ashrafeelal, he had married his daughter on May 10, 2022, in Kataundhi village under Dudhi tehsil. He alleged that on July 3, 2022, Azam forcibly took her away from their home. An FIR was lodged on July 8, 2022, at Dudhi police station against Azam, his brother Alam and his uncle Basheer. But the police, as per the report, declared the woman an adult and closed the case within 42 days. The file was closed on August 20, 2022, a decision the family has questioned since then. Change Of Identity And Current Location Amar Ujala mentioned that Pinky, now known as Aafreen, is living in the Anpara area. Her father told the media that she was the fifth among six siblings and that the family had no clarity about her whereabouts for a long time after she was taken away. Following the renewed attention, police and other agencies have begun collecting information again. Claims Of Previous Marriages The report stated that Azam had married two women before marrying Pinky. One marriage is said to have been with a woman named Ishrat from Nagar Untari in Jharkhands Garhwa district. Another woman named Rehunnisa from the Mahuli area is also mentioned. These claims are part of the information currently being examined. Displacement Benefits And Kanhar Project Link The report further mentioned that Azam received displacement benefits related to the Kanhar irrigation project. During this process, the name of a woman named Razia also appeared in official records connected to the benefits. This detail has linked Azams case to a separate line of inquiry involving land and compensation linked to the Kanhar project. Authorities are now examining how Razias name was used in these records and under what circumstances. Land Records And Razias Statement As per court records, land in Baghadu village registered in the name of Razia was acquired earlier for the Kanhar project. Razia later appeared before the tehsil administration and denied selling the land and stated that she had donated it to her nephews. She told officials that her original name was Dulariya and she belongs to the Hindu community Panika. She also claimed to be around 70 years old and said she had married to a man named Bahadur Ali through a court marriage in Garhwa several decades ago. Sale Of Declared Non-Agricultural Land Further records show that land purchased under Scheduled Tribe provisions was later declared non-agricultural under Section 80. This land was subsequently sold to individuals from outside the area including a Delhi resident in May this year. A similar sale was recorded in September to another individual. The revenue court approved the change of names in official land records, as per report. Official And Political Responses BJP district president Nandlal Gupta said party workers have been asked to monitor such cases across the district and prepare a list for submission to the Chief Minister. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Dudhi Nikhil Yadav told the outlet inquiries are underway into land-related documents and any use of fake records will invite action. Circle Officer Rajesh Kumar Rai stated that the earlier case is under review and that any new complaint received will be examined as per procedure. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: December 20, 2025, 16:24 IST News viral UP Man Changed Pinkys Name To Afreen, Married Her Despite Having Two Wives. Their Age Difference Is... Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Without N95 Mask AQI Monitor Shows 200 In Mumbai But With Mask On This Happens | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 23:50 IST The video, captioned N95 masks do work, has quickly gone viral, garnering over 41,000 views within a day and triggering a flurry of reactions online. The video, captioned N95 masks do work, took social media by storm, garnering over 41,000 views within a day. (Instagram) Amid a worsening pollution crisis in parts of northern India, a viral social media video has reignited debate over the effectiveness of N95 masks in protecting against air pollution. The video, shared on Instagram by user Aneesh Bhasin, showed a Mumbai resident conducting an experiment to demonstrate the importance of wearing an N95 mask. In the now viral video, the man first showed the air quality index (AQI) reading reportedly at Juhu Beach using a portable air quality monitor, which showed the air quality levels between 191 and 192 categorised as poor. He then covered the air inlet at the back of the air quality monitor with an N95 mask. Within seconds, the AQI reading dropped sharply, eventually settling at 37. When the mask was removed, the AQI spiked again, climbing to 201. The video, captioned N95 masks do work," took social media by storm, garnering over 41,000 views within a day and triggering a flurry of reactions online. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aneesh Bhasin (@aneeshb) However, News18 do not verify the authenticity of the video or confirm the accuracy of the experiment demonstrated in the viral video. Netizens React Netizens responded with a mix of concern, humour and scepticism. I wont be surprised if the Delhi government decides to cover AQI monitors across the city with giant N95 masks instead of spraying water," one user joked. Another asked where the AQI monitor used in the video was purchased. Some users flagged practical challenges. The challenge is to feel comfortable in the mask. For most, its suffocating," a user commented. A medical professional weighed in, saying, As a Respiratory Medicine resident, I wish I could play this video on a loop in my OPD. The difference between 192 and 37 is exactly what saves your lungs from long-term damage." Others took a more critical view, questioning systemic responses to air pollution. Then why should the government solve pollution? They are giving new business opportunities to entrepreneurs AQI monitors, N95 masks, air filters," another comment read. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 23:50 IST News viral Without N95 Mask AQI Monitor Shows 200 In Mumbai But With Mask On This Happens | Watch Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS) is included among the 11 Best Utility Stocks to Invest in According to Hedge Funds. CMS Energy (CMS) Price Target Cut by $5 by Analyst CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS) is an energy company primarily operating in Michigan. The company operates through three segments: Electric Utility, Gas Utility, and NorthStar Clean Energy. CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS) saw a modest revision on December 16 when Morgan Stanley lowered its price target on the stock from $76 to $71, but maintained an Equal Weight rating on the shares. According to the analyst, the performance of the utilities sector will be heavily driven by data centers and growth upside next year. Earlier on December 11, JPMorgan analyst Jeremy Tonet also trimmed the firms price target on CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS) from $85 to $80, while keeping an Overweight rating on the shares. The adjusted target, which still indicates an upside potential of over 14% from the current share price, comes as the analyst firm revised models in the North American utilities sector. That said, CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS) reported better-than-expected results in its third-quarter results last month. The company also slightly raised its 2025 adjusted earnings guidance to $3.56-$3.60 per share, up from $3.54-$3.60 previously. Moreover, the utility introduced its 2026 adjusted earnings guidance of $3.80-$3.87 per share and reaffirmed its long-term adjusted EPS growth of 6%-8%. While we acknowledge the potential of CMS 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: Retirement Stock Portfolio: 11 Energy Stocks to Buy and 14 Best Utility Dividend Stocks to Buy Now. Disclosure: None. Amnesty International Condemns Bangladesh Violence, Lynching Of Hindu Man; Calls For Probe Curated By : Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 11:24 IST Bangladesh witnessed unprecedented mob violence when protesters attacked media houses and Indian diplomatic offices after the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Prominent media houses in Bangladesh were vandalised amid violent protests. (AFP) As Bangladesh grapples with unprecedented violent protests, Amnesty International has condemned the lynching of a Hindu man and mob violence, while calling on the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus to ensure an immediate and independent investigation into the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi and the subsequent mob violence. Hadi, the leader of Inquilab Mancha, was a student leader who emerged from the student uprising that reshaped the countrys political landscape last year and ousted ex-PM Sheikh Hasina from office. He died after being shot in the head in Dhaka last week, triggering nationwide protests and mob violence. FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES HERE Media houses and cultural centres were vandalised and set ablaze while Indian diplomatic offices also came under attack as thousands of people in Dhaka took to the streets in the wake of Hadis death in the worst bout of violence in Bangladesh as it gears up for national elections in February 2026. A Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched and burnt to death in Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy. Amnesty International calls on the interim government of Bangladesh to ensure prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial investigations into the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, and the subsequent mob violence which led to the burning of the offices Prothom Alo and Daily Star and Chhayanaut, and the harassment of New Age editor, Nurul Kabir," the organisation said in a statement. Furthermore, we are alarmed by the lynching of Hindu garment worker Dipu Chandra Das following allegations of blasphemy. Amnesty International condemns the mob violence which has resulted in injuries, destruction of property, and even death," it added. ALSO READ: Who Will Light A Candle For Dipu Chandra Das In Todays Bangladesh? Dipu Chandra Das, a factory worker, was attacked by a mob in Bangladeshs Mymensingh district on Thursday night. It has been learnt that the mob, after killing Das, hung his body from a tree and set it on fire. Amnesty International also called on the interim government to take immediate steps to hold perpetrators of acts of violence and killings accountable in a fair trial without recourse to the death penalty. Failure Of Interim Govt As an angry mob attacked media houses in Bangladesh, several journalists were trapped in the buildings. The latest violence has rattled the interim government, which has faced criticism for failing to restore order since taking office last year. This is a reflection of the interim governments failure to control the rise of mobocracy," Asif Shahan, a professor at the University of Dhaka, told Reuters. The monster has been unleashed and the key challenge for the next government is to tame this leviathan." Meanwhile, the interim government urged all citizens to exercise restraint and resist all forms of mob violence, blaming the unrest on a few fringe elements." We strongly and unequivocally condemn all acts of violence, intimidation, arson, and destruction of properties. This is a critical moment in our nations history when we are making a historic democratic transition. We cannot and must not allow it to be derailed by those few who thrive on chaos and reject peace," said the government in a statement. The Bangladesh interim government also apologised to the journalists of Prothom Alo, The Daily Star and New Age, and condemned the lynching of the Hindu man over allegations of blasphemy. There is no space for such violence in new Bangladesh. The perpetrators of this heinous crime will not be spared," it said. Chief Adviser Yunus on Friday condemned mob violence by fringe elements, calling on citizens to resist violence, hatred and incitement at a critical moment of democratic transition. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: December 20, 2025, 11:24 IST News world Amnesty International Condemns Bangladesh Violence, Lynching Of Hindu Man; Calls For Probe Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Balochistan Train Traffic Goes Off The Rails After Twin Bombings; Jaffar Express & Bolan Mail Targeted Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 21:25 IST Over the past two months alone, Baloch insurgents have targeted the two trains at least three times As security forces intensify their presence along the rugged mountain passes, the recurring nature of these attacks highlights the immense challenge the Pakistani state faces in securing its vast, mountainous frontier against deeply entrenched separatist factions. Representational image/Reuters Suspected insurgents triggered two separate bomb blasts on the main railway line in Pakistans restive Balochistan province on Friday, targeting two passenger trains in a coordinated attempt to sabotage the regions critical transport infrastructure. The explosions, which damaged sections of the track in the Mushkaf and Dasht areas, were aimed at the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express and the Karachi-bound Bolan Mail. While both trains narrowly escaped a direct hit, the blasts resulted in the suspension of rail traffic between Balochistan and the countrys other three provinces, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded as security forces and repair crews scrambled to the sites. According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Quetta Shahid Nawaz, the first blast damaged approximately three feet of track in Mushkaf, while a subsequent explosion in the Dasht area of Mastung district caused additional destruction to the main line. Following the incidents, railway authorities implemented a strict security protocol, announcing that outbound train schedules from Quetta would henceforth only be confirmed after rigorous security clearance. Despite the high alert, a special service of the Jaffar Express was permitted to depart for Peshawar on Saturday to manage the significant passenger rush, while regular operations remained pending further safety approvals. The Jaffar Express, in particular, has become a frequent and high-profile target for ethnic Baloch separatist groups who claim to be fighting for the provinces secession. This latest attempt follows a harrowing year for the railway service; in March 2025, the same train was the target of an unprecedented hijacking in the Bolan Pass, where terrorists took nearly 400 passengers hostage, resulting in a deadly standoff that left over 20 people dead. Over the past two months alone, insurgents have targeted the Jaffar Express and Bolan Mail at least three times. While these recent blasts caused no fatalities, they underscore the persistent volatility of the region and the precarious nature of civilian travel. The ongoing insurgency in Balochistan often targets state infrastructure, including gas pipelines and railway links, which militants view as symbols of federal exploitation of the provinces natural resources. The frequent targeting of the Quetta-Peshawar route serves as a strategic move to isolate the province and disrupt the civil-military balance. As security forces intensify their presence along the rugged mountain passes, the recurring nature of these attacks highlights the immense challenge the Pakistani state faces in securing its vast, mountainous frontier against deeply entrenched separatist factions. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 20:52 IST News world Balochistan Train Traffic Goes Off The Rails After Twin Bombings; Jaffar Express & Bolan Mail Targeted Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Bangladesh Chaos: Over 150 Computers, Cash Looted As Mobs Ransack Prothom Alo, Daily Star Offices Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 11:44 IST Calling the incident one of the darkest moments for independent journalism in Bangladesh, The Daily Star warned that the attacks on the press must not be taken lightly. Bangladesh Turmoil: Media Offices Attacked, Computers and Cash Looted Bangladeshs media fraternity was shaken this week after violent mobs attacked and looted the offices of leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in Dhaka, forcing an unprecedented shutdown of operations. For the first time in its 27-year history, Prothom Alo was forced to close, with its online edition remaining offline for nearly 17 hours. The attacks followed renewed protests in the capital after the death of 32-year-old youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi on Thursday night. According to Prothom Alo, a group of 30 to 35 attackers marched from Shahbagh to its Karwan Bazar office around 11.15 pm on Thursday. Police initially stopped them, but the group regrouped outside the building, raising slogans and issuing threats to burn the office and attack staff. What the mob did? Over the next hour, the attackers searched people in the area, checked mobile phones, and assaulted traders and hawkers nearby. Prothom Alo alleged that social media posts from people in foreign countries encouraged more attackers to join. At around 12.15 am, the mob began throwing bricks, smashing glass windows and breaking open the main gate. The attackers entered the four-storey building, destroyed furniture, equipment and documents, and piled them together before setting them on fire. The media house said its firefighting system was completely destroyed and CCTV cameras were smashed. More than 150 computers and laptops were looted, along with cash, lockers, books and personal belongings. Entire floors were left empty after the attack. As the fire spread around 1 am, nearby buildings and power connections were also affected. Fire service vehicles were unable to reach the site due to roadblocks and attacks by the mob. Firefighting operations could only begin around 2.30 a.m., by which time the Prothom Alo office had been completely burnt down. Daily Star also targeted After attacking Prothom Alo, the mob moved towards The Daily Star office. Staff received warning calls and tried to evacuate, but attackers entered the building, smashing glass and furniture. Around 28 journalists and staff members ran to the rooftop and locked themselves in. Thick smoke made it difficult to breathe, and the group kept moving in search of fresh air. They refused rescue by crane as the mob remained active below until 4.30 am. An army officer later helped evacuate them. The Daily Star office was also looted, with computers, cameras and canteen supplies taken. Photographs displayed on the building were torn down. It was the first time in its 33-year history that the papers publication was suspended without a holiday. Prothom Alo offices in Kushtia, Khulna and Sylhet were vandalised, while attempts were made to attack branches in Chittagong, Bogra and Barisal. Calling the incident one of the darkest moments for independent journalism in Bangladesh, The Daily Star warned that the attacks on the press must not be taken lightly. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: December 20, 2025, 11:44 IST News world Bangladesh Chaos: Over 150 Computers, Cash Looted As Mobs Ransack Prothom Alo, Daily Star Offices Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 23:39 IST Bangladesh Violence News Highlights: Student leader Sharif Osman Hadis funeral prayers were held on Saturday at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka, after which he was buried beside the grave of Bangladeshs national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam near the Dhaka University Central Mosque. Hadi was shot in broad daylight in the capital last week by masked attackers on motorcycles. He later died in a hospital in Singapore, a development that triggered widespread unrest across Bangladesh, including incidents of arson and mob violence. Following his death, several media houses, cultural centres and political offices were attacked in different parts of the country. The violence also claimed the life of Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old Hindu man who was lynched and set on fire in Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy. On Saturday, the interim government said 10 people had been arrested in connection with Dass killing. Das was beaten to death by a mob in Mymensingh city on Thursday before his body was set ablaze, according to officials. Bangladesh is now witnessing its worst wave of violence in months, unfolding just weeks ahead of crucial national elections scheduled for February 2026. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Friday strongly condemned the mob violence carried out by fringe elements and urged citizens to reject violence, hatred and incitement at what he described as a critical moment in the countrys democratic transition. 7 Arrested For Hindu Man's Lynching In Bangladesh's Mymensingh Amid Unrest Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 12:05 IST Dipu Chandra Das, a young garment factory worker, was lynched and his body was set on fire by an enraged mob in Mymensingh over allegations of blasphemy. Dipu Chandra Das was brutally lynched in Bangladesh's Mymensingh over allegations of blasphemy. Bangladesh Violence: At least seven people have been arrested in connection with the mob lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladeshs Mymensingh area over allegations of blasphemy, as violent protests erupted across the country following the death of a student political leader. Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said the Rapid Action Battalion had arrested seven suspects over the lynching of Das after conducting operations at various locations. They were identified as Md Limon Sarkar, Md Tarek Hossain, Md Manik Mia, Ershad Ali, Nijum Uddin, Alomgir Hossain and Md Miraj Hossain Akon. , : () () Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) December 20, 2025 Dipu Chandra Das, a young garment factory worker, was lynched to death by an enraged mob in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, over allegations of blasphemy. He was tied up, killed and then his body was set afire while thousands of people watched, in a glaring display of lawlessness and mobocracy in Bangladesh under Yunus regime. On Thursday, at around 9 pm, an enraged crowd caught him and beat him to death, accusing him of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet. They then set the body on fire," Bhaluka Police duty officer Ripon Mia told an international news channel. The incident sparked widespread outrage among minorities in Bangladesh and political circles in neighbouring India, underscoring the danger facing Hindus in Bangladesh following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in last years student uprising. Since Yunus came to power as a caretaker head of government, several attacks have targeted the minority Hindu community. In a statement, the interim government on Friday condemned the lynching of the Hindu man in Mymensingh city, saying there is no space for such violence in the new Bangladesh. The perpetrators of this heinous crime will not be spared," it added. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has strongly condemned the brutal murder of Das, calling for the immediate arrest of those responsible and the assurance of exemplary punishment. The incident came against the backdrop of escalating unrest following the death of Inqilab Mancha leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Violent protests broke out across the country as the mob targeted the offices of media houses, including The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, while protesters also vented their anger at the partially demolished residence of Bangladeshs founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: December 20, 2025, 11:52 IST News world 7 Arrested For Hindu Man's Lynching In Bangladesh's Mymensingh Amid Unrest Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Bill Clinton 'Chilling' In Hot Tub, Scant Reference To Trump: What We Know About New Epstein Files Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 11:35 IST The US Justice Department released nearly 300,000 pages of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after mounting pressure from both Democrats and Republicans. Rapid Read Former US President Bill Clinton was seen alongside Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell and another woman in the new Epstein files. (DOJ) The US Department of Justice began releasing long-awaited documents related to the politically explosive investigation into the illegal activities of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with very little mention of President Donald Trump and much of the focus on former president Bill Clinton. The first cache of documents contains about 120 photos, mostly depicting FBI evidence boxes and envelopes. They revealed numerous photographs of Clinton, along with musicians Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson, in Epsteins social circle. However, much of the material remained heavily redacted, causing doubts on whether the latest disclosure will silence conspiracy theories of a high-level cover up. What Is In The Files? The department released four groups of documents: court records, disclosures from the DOJ, freedom of information requests and disclosures from a US House oversight committee. The release features numerous photographs not previously made public, and politicians and celebrities are among those pictured. The files are expected to shed light on the disgraced financiers connections with high-profile business executives, celebrities, academics and politicians, including Donald Trump. However, the Justice Department has acknowledged that it was still reviewing hundreds of thousands of additional pages for possible release. What Led To The Disclosure? The Justice Department released nearly 300,000 pages of documents as it faced a legal deadline on Friday following months of pressure on US President Donald Trump from both outside and within his party, prompting him to sign the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law on November 19 that was overwhelmingly approved by Congress. The Epstein files had become a sore point for Trump since his return to power, after he had promised during campaigning that he would release the full documents related to the disgraced financier. After taking office, Trump had downplayed the issue as a Democrat hoax" and delayed the release of the documents, sparking outrage among his core MAGA base. Many Trump voters had accused his administration of covering up Epsteins ties to powerful figures and obscuring details surrounding his death in a Manhattan jail, where he was awaiting trial on charges of trafficking and abusing underage girls. The issue has damaged Trumps political standing ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, when control of Congress is at stake. High-Profile Figures In Epstein Files Thousands of images released by the DOJ included those of former President Bill Clinton, along with comedian Chris Tucker and musicians Diana Ross, Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson. Other high-profile figures include former UK Prince Andrew, his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, actor Kevin Spacey and British tycoon Richard Branson. In another photo, Michael Jackson was seen standing next to Epstein in front of a painting of what appears to be a naked woman. However, these images have failed to uncover evidence that shows Epstein had blackmailed prominent figures. Featuring in the images that are related to Jeffrey Epstein are not an indication of wrongdoing. Many of those who have been identified in other images or documents have denied wrongdoing or involvement in Epsteins illegal activities. Heavy Redactions In Documents One of the most talked-about points about the new Epstein files was that many files were heavily redacted. Several documents with over 100 pages were entirely blacked out. Many of these documents may not be made public if they relates to an active criminal probe or contain images of abuse. At least seven pages listing the names of 254 masseuses were blacked out, while another file contained dozens of censored images showing naked or scantily-dressed figures. The US Justice Department acknowledged the redactions in a federal court on Friday, saying they were taking extreme caution to protect Epsteins victims. Jay Clayton, US attorney for the Southern District of New York, acknowledged this approach could be called an over-redaction", arguing that the Justice Department wanted to err on the side of redacting to protect victims", CNN reported. However, the redactions appear to be inconsistent, as the faces of those blacked out in some images were shown in others. Extensive Focus On Bill Clinton The images in the new Epstein documents extensively feature Bill Clinton, after Trump ordered the Justice Department in November to investigate Clintons ties to Epstein. In one image, Clinton can be seen in a swimming pool with Epsteins associate Ghislaine Maxwell and another person whose face is blacked out. A photo released shows former President Bill Clinton with his arm around Jackson, and another showed him with his former top adviser Doug Band and actor Kevin Spacey inside the Cabinet Room of the Churchill War Rooms in London. In another image, a shirtless Clinton can be seen in a hot tub with what appears to be another person whose face is blacked out. White House officials have been highlighting these images to focus on Clintons extensive relationship with Epstein. Slick Willy! @BillClinton just chillin, without a care in the world. Little did he know," said White House communications director Steven Cheung on X. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, Oh my!" Per the Epstein Files Transparency Act, DOJ was specifically instructed only to redact the faces of victims and/or minors.Here is a picture of Bill Clinton, Ghislaine Maxwell, and a redacted individual. pic.twitter.com/pPa1HWCJUG Abigail Jackson (@ATJackson47) December 19, 2025 Slick Willy! @BillClinton just chillin, without a care in the world. Little did he know https://t.co/F39reSrNnN Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) December 19, 2025 A Justice Department spokesperson said the redacted person in one of the widely circulated photos of former President Bill Clinton in a hot tub is a victim" of Epsteins sexual abuse. However, Clinton has never been accused by law enforcement of any wrongdoing related to Epstein. Clintons deputy chief of staff, Angel Urena, said the White House was attempting to shield themselves" from scrutiny by focusing on the Democratic ex-president. They can release as many grainy 20-plus-year old photos as they want, but this isnt about Bill Clinton," he wrote. Little Mention Of Trump The material released by the Justice Department lacked references to Trump despite their close relationship in the 1990s and 2000s. Trumps name appeared in flight manifests listing passengers on Epsteins private plane that were part of a first batch of Epstein material the Justice Department released in February. There was a single photo of Epstein appearing to hold a check with Trumps name on it, and a separate photo taken inside Epsteins Manhattan townhouse where a copy of Trumps 1997 book, Trump: The Art of the Comeback, was tucked inside a bookshelf. Notably, Trump was a friend of Epstein, although he severed ties years before the financiers 2019 arrest. Trump and several of his family members were also listed in an Epstein contact book, which was made public during the 2021 trial of Ghislaine Maxwell. (with inputs from agencies) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: December 20, 2025, 10:19 IST News world Bill Clinton 'Chilling' In Hot Tub, Scant Reference To Trump: What We Know About New Epstein Files Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... BNP Leader's House Torched in Bangladesh, 7-Year-Old Daughter Killed: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 18:47 IST Ayesha Akhtar, age 7, died and three family members were injured after Belal Hossain's house in Lakshmipur Sadar was set ablaze amid Bangladesh unrest and protests. Bilal is being treated at Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital and both girls have been referred to Dhaka in a serious condition. (X) Amid widespread violence in Bangladesh, a 7-year-old girl was killed, and three members of her family were injured after the house of a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader was locked from outside and set on fire by agitated protesters. The incident took place on Saturday at the residence of Belal Hossain, a businessman and assistant organising secretary of Bhabaniganj Union BNP in Lakshmipur Sadar upazila, The Daily Star reported, citing the police. According to police, miscreants allegedly poured petrol on the tin-roofed house in Paschim Char Mansa area and set it ablaze while the family was asleep. Bilals 7-year-old daughter, Ayesha Akhtar, died on the spot, while Bilal and his daughters, Salma Akhtar (16) and Samiya Akhtar (14), sustained severe burn injuries. Belal is being treated at Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital, while his daughters have been transferred to Dhaka for advanced medical treatment, the report added. We are investigating who committed this act and the motive behind it," the news outlet quoted Officer-in-Charge of Lakshmipur Sadar Model Thana, Md Wahid Parvez, as saying. Arup Pal, residential medical officer (RMO) of Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital, said, Two teenage girls and their father were brought to the emergency department with burn injuries around 2 am. Belal Hossain has been admitted here, but the two girls were referred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, as their condition is critical. About 50-60 per cent of their bodies have been burnt." Belals mother, Hazera Begum, claimed that the family had gone to sleep after dinner when, around 2 am, protesters locked the door from outside and set the house on fire. Petrol was poured to accelerate the flames, which quickly spread throughout the house. She said that she was unable to identify the perpetrators. I went to sleep after dinner. Around 1 am, I woke up and saw through the window that my sons tin-shed house was on fire. I ran out screaming, but found both doors of the house locked from the outside. I couldnt enter. Eventually, my son managed to break down the door and escape. His wife, Nazma, also managed to get out with their four-month-old infant, Abir Hossain, and six-year-old son, Habib," she said as quoted by The Daily Star. My granddaughters, Salma, Samia, and Ayesha, were sleeping in one of the rooms. Two of them were rescued with severe burns, but the youngest girl (Ayesha) was burnt to death inside. Belal was also badly burned," she added. Bangladesh Unrest Massive protests broke out in several parts of Bangladesh, including Dhaka and Chattogram, following the death of July uprising organiser Sharif Osman Hadi in Singapore. Hadi, the convener of Inquilab Mancha, died while undergoing treatment after he was shot in the head in Dhaka on December 12. Media houses, cultural centres and political offices were attacked. A Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched and burnt to death in Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy. Bangladesh now faces its worst bout of violence in months, just weeks before crucial elections scheduled for February 2026. Bangladeshs Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Friday condemned mob violence by fringe elements, calling on citizens to resist violence, hatred and incitement at a critical moment of democratic transition. (With inputs from agencies) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: December 20, 2025, 18:47 IST News world BNP Leader's House Torched in Bangladesh, 7-Year-Old Daughter Killed: Report Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Controlled Chaos: How Bangladeshs Unrest Is Being Engineered Into Anti-India Pivot | Exclusive Reported By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 16:26 IST While the interim Bangladesh administration frames the unrest as a spontaneous eruption of grief, ground intelligence suggests a far more calculated design The relations between India and Bangladesh came under strain after the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus came to power in Dhaka. (File pic/PTI) The escalating turmoil in Bangladesh following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi is being viewed by top intelligence sources as a meticulously timed and premeditated pivot towards a hardline anti-India stance. While the interim administration frames the unrest as a spontaneous eruption of grief, ground intelligence suggests a far more calculated design. The violence is not merely a byproduct of a power vacuum but a deliberate use of controlled chaos" to reshape the countrys foundational identity and its relationship with New Delhi. The systemic failure to protect diplomatic missionsincluding the targeted stone-pelting at the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chattogram and the siege of the High Commission in Dhakastems from a lack of political will rather than a lack of security capacity. Reports indicate that Jamaat-e-Islami-aligned student and street networks were mobilised with precision immediately following the incident. Despite having the resources to intervene, local police stations in several Dhaka zones were effectively immobilised by political fear. Officers were reportedly ordered to avoid immediate arrests to prevent escalation", a hesitation that granted attackers the necessary window to disperse and escape. Crucially, this administrative paralysis serves an underlying narrative: any robust police action risked being branded as pro-India suppression", which would feed the radical claim that the unrest was an Indian-backed plot. This premeditated blame shift onto India serves to delegitimise the entire Awami League ecosystem and sideline any remaining pro-Hasina institutions. By allowing radical elements to dominate the streets and fan anti-Hindu sentiment, the interim government is successfully reorienting the domestic political discourse towards a revolutionary" legitimacy that is inherently hostile to India. For Muhammad Yunus, this managed instability appears to serve a calculated dual purpose. Domestically, it clears the field of traditional political rivals ahead of the February elections. Internationally, it allows him to present himself to Western capitals as a neutral, indispensable stabiliser who is the only barrier against total radical takeover. This strategy, however, relies on the constant amplification of anti-India rhetoric, turning a tragic internal shooting into a regional crisis that threatens to unravel decades of bilateral security cooperation. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 16:26 IST News world Controlled Chaos: How Bangladeshs Unrest Is Being Engineered Into Anti-India Pivot | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Grey SUV, Suspicious Encounter': How A Reddit Post Led Police To Brown University Shooter Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 19:17 IST Claudio Neves Valente killed Ella Cook, Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, and MIT professor Nuno Loureiro before dying while on the run. Reddit tips helped connect the cases.. Rapid Read Valente (L) and MIT Professor were classmates at Lisbons IST institution. (Photo: New Hampshire AG/AP) Claudio Neves Valente arrived in the United States as a promising physics student at Brown University, but his life ended while he was on the run from police after killing two Brown students and an Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor, an investigation has revealed. A 48-year-old Portuguese national, Valente is accused of fatally shooting Brown students Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov on December 13 and wounding several others. Two days later, investigators say, he went to the home of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro and killed him. No motive has been made public, and officials said it appeared Valente did not know the Brown students. Portuguese outlet Expresso reported that Valente and Loureiro were classmates at Lisbons IST institution. Most classmates have no memory of the student Claudio Valente, other than the fact that he was the best in the class that year," IST president Rogerio Colaco told the outlet, noting that Loureiro maintained close ties with the institute. As the manhunt unfolded, investigators struggled amid widespread misinformation. While President Donald Trump criticised Brown University over campus security, social media speculation wrongly linked multiple individuals to the shootings. Rhode Island officials said the false claims hindered the investigation. Colonel Darnell Weaver, superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, said the endless barrage of misinformation, disinformation, rumors, leaks and clickbait were not helpful in this investigation," AFP reported. A key breakthrough came from Reddit. Detectives received an input pointing to a grey Nissan SUV, followed by information from a tipster referred to as John," who described a suspicious encounter with a man at Brown before the shootings. The Reddit-linked tip-off proved crucial in connecting the Brown attacks to the killing of the MIT professor. Authorities later revealed that Valente used false licence plates and a phone that was hard to trace. The search ended on the sixth day, when Valente was found dead in a Massachusetts storage facility. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said, in terms of why Brown? I think thats a mystery." News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: December 20, 2025, 19:17 IST News world 'Grey SUV, Suspicious Encounter': How A Reddit Post Led Police To Brown University Shooter Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Indian Assets Safe, Dhaka Assures New Delhi As Army Chiefs Speak Amid Bangladesh Unrest | Exclusive Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 13:48 IST Nationwide unrest and arson by protesters seeking justice for the assassination of anti-India radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi have worsened the situation in Bangladesh Rapid Read Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure of the July uprising, died at a hospital in Singapore on Thursday, a week after he was shot at by masked gunmen in Dhaka. (AFP) The army chiefs of India and Bangladesh are in direct communication to ensure stability on the ground amid the latest flare-up in the neighbouring country, CNN-News18 has learnt. Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has assured his Indian counterpart that all Indian assets in Bangladesh remain safe, underscoring Dhakas commitment to maintaining security despite heightened tensions. Nationwide unrest and arson by protesters seeking justice for the assassination of anti-India radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi have worsened the situation in Bangladesh, which has been in the throes of instability since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. Hadi, a prominent figure of the July uprising, died at a hospital in Singapore on Thursday, a week after he was shot at by masked gunmen in Dhaka. Since his death, the country has been swept by widespread violence. The offices of two leading dailies, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, were set on fire by radical groups, while the office of the left-leaning Udichi Shilpigoshthi in Dhaka was also vandalised. The relations between India and Bangladesh too have come under strain after the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus came to power. India has been expressing concerns over attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in that country. The development comes after India summoned Bangladeshs High Commissioner in New Delhi, Muhammad Riaz Hamidullah, to issue a formal diplomatic protest over recent threats to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and inflammatory anti-India statements by Bangladeshi political leaders. The foreign ministry earlier said India expects the interim government in Bangladesh to ensure the safety of its missions and posts in that country in keeping with its diplomatic obligations. It also noted that New Delhi is in favour of peace and stability in Bangladesh. Earlier, the Bangladesh foreign ministry had summoned Indian envoy to Dhaka, Pranay Verma, and conveyed its concern over former prime minister Sheikh Hasinas incendiary" statements from Indian soil. In its reaction, New Delhi asserted that it has never allowed its territory to be used for activities inimical to the interests of Bangladesh. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: December 20, 2025, 12:00 IST News world Indian Assets Safe, Dhaka Assures New Delhi As Army Chiefs Speak Amid Bangladesh Unrest | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... March ICE NY cocoa (CCH26) on Friday closed down -89 (-1.50%), and March ICE London cocoa #7 (CAH26) closed down -43 (-0.99%). Cocoa prices extended this week's losses on Friday, with NY cocoa falling to a 1.5-week low. Favorable weather in West Africa is expected to boost yields and supply, which is undercutting prices. Cocoa farmers in the Ivory Coast are reporting that a mix of rain and sunshine is helping cocoa trees bloom, and farmers in Ghana said rains have been regular and helpful to cocoa tree and pod development ahead of the harmattan season. More News from Barchart Chocolate maker Mondelez recently said that the latest cocoa pod count in West Africa is 7% above the five-year average and "materially higher" than last year's crop. Harvest of the Ivory Coast's main crop has begun, and farmers are optimistic about its quality. The outlook for ample global cocoa supplies is bearish for prices. Last month, cocoa prices tumbled to 1.75-year nearest-future lows on expectations of a bumper cocoa crop in West Africa. Reports from cocoa farmers in the Ivory Coast stated that cocoa trees are doing well, and recent dry weather helped the harvested beans dry. Also, cocoa farmers in Ghana said favorable weather is allowing cocoa pods to develop quickly. Increased cocoa arrivals at ports in the Ivory Coast are bearish for cocoa prices. Monday's government data showed that Ivory Coast farmers shipped 895,544 MT of cocoa to ports this new marketing year, from October 1 through December 14, up +0.2% from 894,009 MT in the same period a year ago. The Ivory Coast is the world's largest cocoa producer. Shrinking ICE cocoa inventories are supportive of cocoa prices. ICE-monitored cocoa inventories held in US ports fell to a 9-month low of 1,641,641 bags on Friday. Cocoa prices found some support on Tuesday, when Citigroup cut its 2025/26 global cocoa surplus estimate to 79,000 MT from a September estimate of 134,000 MT. Cocoa futures also have support, as NY cocoa will be included in the Bloomberg Commodity Index (BCOM) starting in January, which could spark buying by passive commodity funds that track the index. According to Citigroup, the inclusion of NY cocoa futures in the BCOM may lure as much as $2 billion of buying of NY cocoa futures into the first week of January. It Was Horrible: Father Of Hindu Man Lynched In Bangladesh Recounts Horror Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 16:03 IST Dipu Chandra Das was lynched and burned by a mob in Bhaluka, Mymensingh over blasphemy allegations. Seven suspects have been arrested by RAB-14. The lynching is part of an ongoing pattern in Bangladesh. (Image: PTI) Bangladesh mob lynching: Dipu Chandra Das, a young garment factory worker, was brutally lynched by a mob in Bangladeshs Mymensingh earlier this week over allegations of blasphemy. After thrashing and killing Das, the mob hung his body from a tree and set it on fire. Meanwhile, the mob that encircled him in Bhaluka, many of whom he knew, took out their smartphones to record the spectacle. The lynching occurred amid the widespread unrest that followed the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure of last years student-led uprising, which led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. Meanwhile, Dipus father, Ravilal Das, recounted the horror of events leading up to his sons death. He said the family first learned about the incident through social media. We saw it on Facebook. From Facebook we started hearing things, then more people were saying it and then we found out when someone said to me , my brothermy brother, he was beaten, beaten badly. Then my uncle came after half an hour later and told me they took my sonand they tied him to a tree," Ravilal told NDTV. The grieving father said the mob then poured kerosene on Dipu and set him on fire. His burned body was left outside. They tied the burned torso and head outside together. It was horrible," he added. What Happened On Thursday? The incident took place in the Dubalia Para area of Square Master Bari in Bhaluka upazila. The 25-year-old man was employed at the Pioneer Knit Composite Factory in the Square Master Bari. As per eyewitnesses, the allegations of blasphemy spread rapidly within the factory premises and surrounding areas, triggering tension. An angry mob later assaulted Das, beating him severely. A group of agitated people caught him and beat him up around 9 pm on Thursday for insulting the Prophet. Then they set his body on fire," Ripon Mia, duty officer of Bhaluka police station, told BBC Bangla. He said the attackers tied the body to a tree before setting it ablaze. Police reached the spot after receiving information and brought the situation under control. 7 People Arrested So Far Meanwhile, seven people have been arrested in connection with the lynching case. In a statement on X, the Bangladesh government said that the arrests followed a series of operations conducted by RAB-14 across various locations. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested seven individuals as suspects in the beating murder of Dipu Chandra Das (27), a Sanatan Hindu youth, in Baluka, Mymensingh." According to the statement, those arrested are Md. Limon Sarkar (19), Md. Tarek Hossain (19), Md. Manik Mia (20), Ershad Ali (39), Nijum Uddin (20), Alomgir Hossain (38) and Md. Miraj Hossain Akon (46). News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Bangladesh First Published: December 20, 2025, 16:03 IST News world It Was Horrible: Father Of Hindu Man Lynched In Bangladesh Recounts Horror Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'March 5 Polls Or Protest March On Streets': Nepal's Prachanda Issues Warning Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 22:48 IST The coordinator of the recently formed Nepali Communist Party (NCP) accused 'regressive forces' of attempting to sabotage the electoral process Protesters celebrate standing at the top of the Singha Durbar, the seat of Nepal's government's various ministries and offices, after it was set on fire during a protest against social media ban and corruption in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (Pic/AP) In a direct challenge to the current political transition, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, popularly known as Prachanda", warned on Saturday that his newly unified party would launch a nationwide street agitation if the scheduled March 5 Nepal general election is delayed. Addressing a gathering in Kathmandu, the coordinator of the recently formed Nepali Communist Party (NCP)now the largest Communist grouping in the countryaccused regressive forces" of attempting to sabotage the electoral process to maintain the status quo. The warning comes at a time of extreme volatility for Nepal. Following the Gen Z Revolution" in September 2025, which saw the torrid resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and the burning of several government buildings, including Parliament, the country has been under the stewardship of a caretaker government led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki. The interim administrations primary mandate is to conduct the midterm polls on March 5, 2026, to restore constitutional order. Prachandas aggressive stance is underpinned by the recent consolidation of the left. In November 2025, nine leftist factions, including the CPN (Maoist Centre) and the CPN (Unified Socialist), merged to form the NCP. This merger was a strategic response to the youth-led protests that had successfully branded the traditional political elite as failed" and corrupt". By uniting under a single banner, Prachanda and co-coordinator Madhav Kumar Nepal hope to regain the trust of a disillusioned electorate, specifically targeting the influential Gen Z demographic. The former Prime Minister emphasised that any pretextwhether related to security concerns, the ongoing pro-monarchy demonstrations, or administrative hurdleswould not be accepted as a valid reason for postponement. He argued that the achievements of the republic" are under threat from an alliance of right-wing elements and failed status-quoists" who fear a left-wing resurgence. Prachandas rhetoric reflects the high stakes of the upcoming ballot; for his party, the March 5 election is not just a quest for power but a battle for political survival in a landscape increasingly dominated by independent youth voices and calls for a directly elected executive. As the Election Commission races against time to register nearly 150 political parties and finalise voter lists, the threat of renewed street violence looms large. Prachandas ultimatum signals that the honeymoon period" of the caretaker government is over, and the path to the March polls will be marked by intense pressure from a re-energised, unified Communist front. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: December 20, 2025, 22:48 IST News world 'March 5 Polls Or Protest March On Streets': Nepal's Prachanda Issues Warning Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Netanyahu May Brief Trump On Possible Strikes On Iran Nukes: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 21:28 IST Trump and Netanyahu are expected to meet later this month in Florida at the US Presidents Mar a Lago estate in Florida. US President Donald Trump with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. (Image: AFP/File) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to brief US President Donald Trump about possible attacks on Iran during his upcoming visit to the United States, NBC News reported. Trump and Netanyahu are expected to meet later this month in Florida at the US Presidents Mar a Lago estate in Florida. As per the report citing sources, Netanyahu is expected to make the case to Trump that Irans expansion of its ballistic missile program poses a threat that could necessitate swift action during this meeting. Earlier this week Trump said that Netanyahu would likely visit him in Florida during the Christmas holidays, as he pushes for progress on the next phase of Gaza peace talks. Yeah, hell probably come to see me in Florida," Trump told reporters. He would like to see me. We havent set it up formally, but hed like to see me," he added. Israel is growing increasingly concerned that Iran is rebuilding, and even expanding, its ballistic missile production and the former is preparing to bring this to Trumps attention with a bid to attack Iran again, the report said citing a person with direct knowledge of the plans and four former US officials briefed about the plans. Israeli officials are concerned that Iran is reconstructing its nuclear sites which were destroyed when the US bombed them in June during the Israel-Iran war, the report added. While Israel has publicly called Irans nuclear program an existential threat, sources familiar with the matter said that ballistic missiles are seen by Jerusalem as a more pressing concern. The nuclear weapons program is very concerning. Theres an attempt to reconstitute. Its not that immediate," a source told the news outlet. But the threat of the missiles is very real, and we werent able to prevent them all last time," another source stated. Sources also said that part of Netanyahus argument to Trump would be that Irans actions pose a threat to not just Israel but also the wider region which includes US interests. Responding to NBC News, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said that the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iranian government corroborated the United States governments assessment that Operation Midnight Hammer totally obliterated Irans nuclear capabilities". As President Trump has said, if Iran pursued a nuclear weapon, that site would be attacked and would be wiped out before they even got close," she added. In June this year, long-standing tensions between Israel and Iran escalated into direct military engagement after Israel launched a large-scale offensive targeting Irans nuclear, missile and military infrastructure in what it described as a pre-emptive effort to thwart Tehrans nuclear ambitions. Iran responded with hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones, striking Israeli cities including Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem and triggering extensive air-raid alerts. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Israel First Published: December 20, 2025, 21:28 IST News world Netanyahu May Brief Trump On Possible Strikes On Iran Nukes: Report Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Not War, But Declaration Of Vengeance': US Launches Airstrikes Against ISIS In Syria Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 09:02 IST US said the strikes were carried out in direct response to an ISIS attack on December 13 in Palmyra, Syria, in which three American personnel were killed. US Forces Target ISIS Fighters, Weapons Sites in Syria Following Palmyra Attack The United States has launched a major military operation in Syria aimed at targeting the Islamic State (ISIS), following a deadly attack on American forces earlier this month. The operation, named Operation Hawkeye Strike, began on Friday and focuses on eliminating ISIS terrorists, weapons depots and operational bases. US officials said the strikes were carried out in direct response to an ISIS attack on December 13 in Palmyra, Syria, in which three American personnel were killed. This is not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people," said Secretary Of War This is not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under @POTUS Trumps leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people." @SecWar Pete Hegseth https://t.co/kxEE9Qa7sz U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) December 19, 2025 The December attack on US forces marked one of the deadliest assaults on American troops in the region this year. The victims were later brought back to the United States, where a formal ceremony was held in their honour. President Donald Trump had earlier warned that those responsible would face serious consequences. Following the launch of the operation, the White House described the strikes as a firm response meant to deter future attacks on American forces stationed overseas. Trump says ISIS will be hit harder President Trump also addressed the strikes in a message on Truth Social. He said the action was promised retaliation for the killing of American personnel and that the US was striking ISIS strongholds across Syria. Trump stated that Syria, despite years of conflict, could have a better future if ISIS was fully eliminated. He added that the Syrian government was aware of the action and supported efforts to remove the terror group from the region. Defence Secretary issues strong warning US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a strongly worded statement after the operation began. In a post on social media platform X, he said the strikes were not the start of a wider war but a direct act of retaliation. He said the United States would not hesitate to defend its citizens and warned that any group targeting Americans would be hunted down. According to Hegseth, US forces had already killed several ISIS fighters during the initial phase of the operation and would continue targeting the group. US focus on counter-terrorism The United States has maintained a military presence in parts of Syria as part of its long-running campaign against ISIS. Although the group lost much of its territory in previous years, US officials say it continues to operate through sleeper cells and sporadic attacks. With Operation Hawkeye Strike now underway, American leaders have made it clear that attacks on US forces will be met with swift and forceful action. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: December 20, 2025, 06:59 IST News world 'Not War, But Declaration Of Vengeance': US Launches Airstrikes Against ISIS In Syria Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Pakistan's Ex-PM Imran Khan, Wife Bushra Bibi Get 17 Years In Jail In Toshakhana Case Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 12:17 IST The court imposed a fine of Rs 16.4 million on each of the convicts, warning that failure to pay would result in further imprisonment. Rapid Read Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, right, and Bushra Bibi, his wife, speak to the media. (AP file photo) A special court of Pakistans Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years of rigorous imprisonment each in the Toshakhana-2 case, adding to the former premiers mounting legal challenges. The verdict was delivered by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand during proceedings conducted inside Adiala Jail, where Imran Khan is currently lodged. The court held both accused guilty of misusing authority and committing criminal breach of trust in connection with state gifts. Under the ruling, Imran Khan was awarded 10 years imprisonment under Sections 34 and 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deal with common intention and criminal breach of trust, and an additional seven years under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Bushra Bibi received an identical sentence under the same legal provisions. In addition to the prison terms, the court imposed a fine of Rs 16.4 million on each of the convicts, warning that failure to pay would result in further imprisonment. The case revolves around allegations that a luxury Bulgari jewellery set, gifted to Imran Khan by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit in May 2021, was later purchased at a significantly undervalued price, in violation of Toshakhana rules that govern the retention and disposal of gifts received by public office holders. The latest conviction is expected to further complicate Imran Khans legal battle, as he continues to face multiple cases linked to corruption and misuse of authority. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Islamabad, Pakistan First Published: December 20, 2025, 12:17 IST News world Pakistan's Ex-PM Imran Khan, Wife Bushra Bibi Get 17 Years In Jail In Toshakhana Case Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Thailand Strikes Civilian Locations Along Cambodian Border As Clashes Reignite Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 17:57 IST The latest round of widespread fighting began on December 8, a day after a border skirmish wounded two Thai soldiers. Thailand-Cambodia conflict Tensions along the ThailandCambodia border escalated on Saturday after Thai forces struck several civilian locations, including schools, in fresh clashes. According to Cambodian authorities, Thai forces fired heavy artillery and deployed F-16 fighter jets to carry out bombing missions in border areas. Cambodia accused Thailand of continued armed aggression targeting civilian infrastructure. It said that the Thai military destroyed the OChik bridge, located along the border between Siem Reap province and Oddar Meanchey province, on Friday night, The Phnom Penh Post reported. Thai forces strike multiple civilian locations in past 24 hours https://t.co/l7SilePlr8 PMs Office of Cambodia (@Peace_Palace_KH) December 20, 2025 Thai forces further escalated the attack and carried out airstrikes on commercial buildings and a primary school in the Thma Da area of Pursat province, as per the report. Meanwhile, Thai media reported that its Marines have stormed and reclaimed the Ban Tha Sen area and the nearby Tomoda Casino during operations along the border. According to reports, Marines found mostly Chinese nationals in the area rather than Cambodians, with shop and house signboards reportedly written largely in Chinese. Cambodias Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra condemned the attack, saying that the actions amounted to serious violations of international norms. These actions constitute serious violations of the UN Charter, international law and international humanitarian law. Cambodia strongly condemns this armed aggression and calls upon the international community to take immediate and necessary measures to halt the Thai militarys attacks on Cambodia," he said as quoted by the news outlet. Earlier this week, Cambodias defence ministry accused Thailands military of bombing the casino hub of Poipet, a major land crossing between the two nations. The ministry said in a statement on Thursday that Thai forces had dropped 2 bombs" in the municipality of Poipet, located in the northwestern province of Banteay Meanchey, at about 11am (04:00 GMT) that morning. The interior ministry said this week that Thai strikes have damaged at least four casinos in Cambodia. Renewed fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours this month has killed at least 21 people in Thailand and 17 in Cambodia, while displacing about 800,000, officials said. Thailand said on Tuesday that between 5,000 and 6,000 Thai nationals remained stranded in Poipet after Cambodia closed its land border crossings with its neighbour. Thailand-Cambodia Clashes The latest round of widespread fighting began on December 8, a day after a border skirmish wounded two Thai soldiers. Since then combat has broken out on several fronts, with Thailand carrying out airstrikes in Cambodia with F-16 fighter jets and Cambodia firing thousands of medium-range BM-21 rockets from truck-mounted launchers that can shoot up to 40 at a time. The two nations have been fighting over patches of territory along the border that both claim. Several disputed areas contain the remains of centuries-old temples that have been damaged by the fighting, with Thailand claiming Cambodian forces had used them as bases. In July, five days of fighting ended with a ceasefire promoted by US President Donald Trump. It had been brokered by Malaysia and pushed through by pressure from Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges unless Thailand and Cambodia agreed. It was formalised in more detail in October at a regional meeting in Malaysia that Trump attended. (With inputs from agencies) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Cambodia First Published: December 20, 2025, 17:55 IST News world Thailand Strikes Civilian Locations Along Cambodian Border As Clashes Reignite Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Things Wouldn't Function Well Without Him: Trump Praises Indian-Origin AI Adviser Sriram Krishnan Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 20:32 IST In December last year, Trump named Krishnan as Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence. US President Donald Trump expressed high praise for Sriram Krishnan. (File) US President Donald Trump has praised Indian American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author Sriram Krishnan, for his role in shaping the USs artificial intelligence (AI) strategy and strengthening Washington against Beijing. The endorsement occurred during a brief exchange at the White House Christmas Party. In the now viral video, Trump can be heard saying, Without him, things on AI would not function well". He highlighted Krishnan as a pivotal figure behind the executive action. In response, Krishnan attributed the success of the new AI order to Trumps leadership and emphasised the strong backing it has received from the tech industry. He explained that the order is designed to fortify the United States position in the global AI competition. Krishnan explained that the order currently operates through executive authority. The administration is seeking congressional approval to make its provisions permanent. He told Trump that support on Capitol Hill has grown in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Trump signed an Executive Order to protect American AI innovation from an inconsistent and costly compliance regime resulting from varying state laws. The order directs the Attorney General to establish an AI Litigation Task Force to challenge unconstitutional, preempted, or otherwise unlawful State AI laws that harm innovation. The order directs the Secretary of Commerce to publish an evaluation of State AI laws that conflict with national AI policy priorities and withhold non-deployment Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding from any state with such AI laws, a statement from the White House said. Who Is Sriram Krishnan? In December last year, Trump named Krishnan as Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence. Krishnan, who has previously led product teams at Microsoft, Twitter, Yahoo!, Facebook and Snap, works along with David O. Sacks who is the White House AI & Crypto Czar. He is not new to Silicon Valley, he has emerged as a pivotal figure in the tech landscape, particularly after billionaire Elon Musk bought Twitter and asked the Indian-American software engineer to run the platform temporarily in 2022. Krishnan, originally from Chennai, has built a reputation as a strategic thinker and builder in Silicon Valley. His career trajectory includes influential roles at tech giants such as Facebook, X, and Snapchat. At Facebook, Krishnan played a pivotal role in developing the Facebook Audience Network, which competes with Googles ad technologies. During his first stint at Twitter (now X), he oversaw product initiatives aimed at enhancing user engagement. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: December 20, 2025, 20:32 IST News world Things Wouldn't Function Well Without Him: Trump Praises Indian-Origin AI Adviser Sriram Krishnan Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Trump Administration Releases First Batch Of Epstein Files Featuring Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 07:32 IST The newly released Epstein files feature former US president Bill Clinton, along with musicians Mike Jagger and Michael Jackson. Trump is hardly mentioned in the files. The Epstein files released by the US Justice Department include images of Bill Clinton and Michael Jackson. (Reuters) The US Department of Justice on Friday released the first cache of long-awaited documents related to its investigations into the illegal activities of disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The department released nearly 300,000 pages of documents as it faced a legal deadline on Friday following months of pressure on US President Donald Trump from both outside and within his party, prompting him to sign the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law on November 19 that was overwhelmingly approved by Congress. The newly released files make scant reference to Donald Trump, but extensively feature former US president Bill Clinton, along with musicians Diana Ross, Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson. Other high-profile figures include former UK Prince Andrew, his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, actor Kevin Spacey and British tycoon Richard Branson. The documents also contain redactions, many of which may not be made public if they relate to an active criminal probe or contain images of abuse. At least seven pages listing the names of 254 masseuses were blacked out, while another file contained dozens of censored images showing naked or scantily-dressed figures. Featuring in the images that are related to Jeffrey Epstein are not an indication of wrongdoing. Many of those who have been identified in other images or documents have denied wrongdoing or involvement in Epsteins illegal activities. Extensive Focus On Bill Clinton The US Department of Justice sought to draw attention to Clinton after Trump said he would direct authorities to probe the former presidents connections with Epstein. Clintons deputy chief of staff, Angel Urena, said the White House was attempting to shield themselves" from scrutiny by focusing on the Democratic ex-president. In the new images, Clinton can be seen in a swimming pool with Epsteins associate Ghislaine Maxwell and another person whose face is blacked out. In another image, he can be seen in a hot tub with what appears to be another person whose face is blacked out. Clinton has previously expressed regret for socialising with Epstein and said he was not aware of any criminal activity. Clinton was photographed with Epstein several times over the 1990s and early 2000s, before the disgraced financier was first arrested. In 2019, a spokesperson said the former president knows nothing about the terrible crimes" Epstein pleaded guilty to. Many of the files were heavily redacted, and the Justice Department acknowledged that it was still reviewing hundreds of thousands of additional pages for possible release. There were more than 1,200 victims or their relatives whose names must be redacted from the files, said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in a letter to Congress. Scarce Mention Of Trump One of the biggest talking points of the Epstein probe was how prominently Trump would feature in the files, given his close relationship with the disgraced financier in the 1990s and early 2000s before a fallout between them. The newly released files attracted attention for hardly mentioning the Republican president. There was a single photo of Epstein appearing to hold a check with Trumps name on it, and a separate photo taken inside Epsteins Manhattan townhouse where a copy of Trumps 1997 book, Trump: The Art of the Comeback, was tucked inside a bookshelf. Trumps name appeared in flight manifests listing passengers on Epsteins private plane that were also included in a first batch of material the Justice Department released in February. The White House said the release demonstrated its transparency and commitment to justice for Epsteins victims, criticising previous Democratic administrations for not doing the same. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson says the Trump administration is the most transparent in history". Many Trump voters had accused his administration of covering up Epsteins ties to powerful figures and obscuring details surrounding his death in a Manhattan jail, where he was awaiting trial on charges of trafficking and abusing underage girls. Lawmakers Cry Foul Several Democratic lawmakers criticised the Trump administration for failing to release all the files. This set of heavily redacted documents released by the Department of Justice today is just a fraction of the whole body of evidence," said Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, saying 119 pages of one document were completely redacted. Republican US Representative Thomas Massie, a driving force behind the legislation to release the Epstein files, said on X that Fridays release grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law." Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna also said the DOJs document dump of hundreds of thousands of pages failed to comply with the law", adding that he and Massie are exploring legal options. Now the coverup is out in the open. This is far from over. Everyone involved will have to answer for this. Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, whole admin. Protecting a bunch of rapists and pedophiles because they have money, power, and connections. Bondi should resign tonight," said US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. (with inputs from agencies) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: December 20, 2025, 07:07 IST News world Trump Administration Releases First Batch Of Epstein Files Featuring Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Trump Says He Is Not Ruling Out War With Venezuela: 'Maduro Knows What I Want' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 08:39 IST Trump's admission of not ruling out a war with Venezuela is significant, as the 79-year-old Republican president had campaigned in 2024 to keep the US out of foreign conflicts. US President Donald Trump. (IMAGE: AP PHOTO) US President Donald Trump said he was leaving the possibility of a full-fledged war with Venezuela on the table as tensions skyrocketed following his decision to impose a blockade of what he described as sanctioned oil vessels" travelling to and from Venezuela. I dont rule it out, no," he told NBC News in a phone interview. Trump also said there would be additional seizures of oil tankers near Venezuelan waters. If theyre foolish enough to be sailing along, theyll be sailing along back into one of our harbours," he told the outlet. This came after Trump ordered a blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela in Washingtons latest move to increase pressure on Nicolas Maduros government. Trumps admission of not ruling out a war with Venezuela is significant, as the 79-year-old Republican president had campaigned in 2024 to keep the US out of foreign conflicts and promised to stop wars". Trump also declined to say whether ousting Maduro was his ultimate goal. He knows exactly what I want. He knows better than anybody," he said. Earlier, Trump announced that the Maduro-led government would be designated a foreign terrorist organisation. He also warned that Venezuela was completely surrounded by the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America," referring to US Navy and Marine deployments in the region, including an aircraft carrier. Venezuela responded by accusing Washington of breaching international law. READ MORE: Venezuela Completely Surrounded: Donald Trump Orders Total Blockade To Pressurise Maduro Current Status Quo Intolerable For US Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Trumps policies at a news conference at the Department of State, while declining to answer explicitly if the United States was aiming to overthrow Maduro. It is clear that the current status quo with the Venezuelan regime is intolerable for the United States," he said. So yes, our goal is to change that dynamic, and thats why the president is doing what hes doing." He also said nothing will stop the US from enforcing its law to impose sanctions on Venezuelas shipments of oil, after the Trump administration imposed the duties on more associates of Maduros family. However, the administration has stopped short of seeking formal approval by Congress, which constitutionally is in charge of declarations of war. I can tell you that to this point, nothing has happened that requires us to notify Congress or get congressional approval or cross the threshold in the war," he said. Tensions have been rising in recent weeks, with Trump repeatedly signalling the possibility of military action. He has declared Venezuelas airspace effectively closed" and suggested that expanded operations to curb drug trafficking on land could begin soon. This came amid the administrations campaign of launching strikes on at least 28 boats accused of facilitating drugs in the United States, which have killed more than 100 people. The administration previously argued that its military deployment was in response to drug trafficking. Some lawmakers have alleged a war crime on September 2 when the United States carried out a second strike to kill survivors of an initial hit on a boat. (with agency inputs) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: December 20, 2025, 08:38 IST News world Trump Says He Is Not Ruling Out War With Venezuela: 'Maduro Knows What I Want' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Very Grateful To Pakistan: US On Pakistans Offer To Send Troops To Gaza For Peacekeeping Force Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 08:19 IST Marco Rubio thanked Pakistan for considering joining a Gaza stabilisation force, noting no commitments yet. Talks involve Asim Munir, Ishaq Dar, and Trump. Marco Rubio thanked Pakistan for considering joining a Gaza stabilisation force, noting no commitments yet. Talks involve Asim Munir, Ishaq Dar, and Trump. (IMAGE: AFP) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the United States is grateful to Pakistan for offering to consider participation in a proposed international stabilisation force for Gaza, while stressing that no formal commitments have been requested or secured so far. Responding to questions on whether Washington had received Pakistans consent to deploy troops for peacebuilding in Gaza, Rubio said, Were very grateful to Pakistan for their offer to be a part of it or at least their offer to consider being a part of it." #WATCH | When asked if the US has received consent from Pakistan that they will be sending their troops to Gaza for peacebuilding, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says, were very grateful to Pakistan for their offer to be a part of it, or at least their offer to consider pic.twitter.com/PUb14owLSR ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2025 He added that the US remains confident of broader international support, noting that a number of nation-states acceptable to all sides in this conflict" have expressed willingness to contribute to a stabilisation force. Rubio made the remarks during an extended end-of-year news conference at the State Department, where he acknowledged the political and logistical hurdles facing the Trump administration in advancing its Israel-Hamas peace efforts, according to the Associated Press. Pakistan draws red lines Rubios comments come amid reports that Washington has been pressing Islamabad to contribute troops. A Reuters report earlier this week said Pakistans army chief Asim Munir is facing an early test of his expanded authority as the US seeks Pakistans participation in the proposed mission. However, Pakistan has publicly underlined its limits. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said last month that while Pakistan could consider peacekeeping roles, disarming Hamas is not our job." Reuters noted that several countries remain cautious about joining the force, particularly if the mandate includes disarming Hamas, citing concerns over deeper military entanglement and potential domestic backlash. Munir is expected to travel to Washington in the coming weeks for a possible meeting with Donald Trump, his third engagement with Trump in six months, with discussions likely to include the Gaza stabilisation plan, according to sources cited by Reuters. Board of Peace plan Progress on Trumps Gaza ceasefire proposal has been slow since it was unveiled in October. US officials are now pushing to operationalise the plan through the creation of a Board of Peace" that would oversee Gaza following two years of war, AP reported. While expressing cautious optimism, Rubio said major challenges remain. I think we owe them a few more answers before we get there," he said, referring to final decisions on troop contributions. Under the proposal, once the Board of Peace and a Palestinian technocratic governing body are in place, the US would finalise details of the stabilisation force including funding, rules of engagement and its role in demilitarisation, according to AP. Diplomatic push in Miami Rubios remarks coincided with high-level discussions on Gaza and the Russia-Ukraine war reportedly being held in Miami on Friday and Saturday. A White House official told AP that senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are meeting Egyptian, Turkish and Qatari officials to explore next steps in Trumps plan to end the Gaza conflict. Meanwhile, Rubio has also taken on the additional role of national security adviser and has emerged as a key proponent of Trumps America First" agenda, including stricter visa policies and internal reforms at the State Department. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: December 20, 2025, 08:19 IST News world Very Grateful To Pakistan: US On Pakistans Offer To Send Troops To Gaza For Peacekeeping Force Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... PARIS Coty Inc. continues deleveraging and divesting noncore assets, and has sold its remaining 25.8 percent stake in hair care giant Wella to KKR. Under terms of the deal, Coty is to receive an upfront cash consideration of $750 million and 45 percent of any proceeds from a further sale of or an initial public offering of the activity once KKRs preferred return has been met. More from WWD The upfront cash proceeds from the transaction, net of tax, will be used to pay down Cotys short- and long-term debt. Coty said in a statement released early Friday morning that it sees strong potential for additional cash proceeds, to bring the total proceeds nearer to the carrying value of its investment in Wella. The transaction is part of Cotys program begun five years ago to simplify its portfolio and operations. Wella proceeds and Cotys free cash flow generation, which was more than $350 million in the first half of its fiscal year 2025-2026, is expected to lower the groups net leverage to about three times by the end of the 2025 calendar year. Wella Ultimate Smooth The transaction comes as Coty carries out a strategic review of its mass color cosmetics business, as well as its operations in Brazil, as announced in September. That will focus on Cotys $1.2 billion revenue mass color cosmetics business, including brands such as CoverGirl, Rimmel, Sally Hansen and Max Factor, and its $400 million revenue Brazil business, composed of local brands. This transaction marks a pivotal milestone for Coty both in our transformation and our long-running deleveraging commitment, said Laurent Mercier, Cotys chief financial officer, regarding Wella, in the statement. Our strategic partnership with KKR has proven highly value-accretive, he continued. We have benefited from Wellas strong growth by progressively monetizing our stake, allowing us to strengthen Cotys financial foundations year-after-year. Completing this transaction exactly in line with our original target to fully divest Wella by the end of CY25 underscores our focus on delivering on our financial commitments and crystallizing value from non-core assets, all while sharpening our strategic focus. In July 2023, Coty announced it had agreed to sell a 3.6 percent stake in Wella, equivalent to $150 million, to investment firm IGF Wealth Management with the cash proceeds to be used to pay down debt. Who Will Light A Candle For Dipu Chandra Das In Today's Bangladesh? Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: December 20, 2025, 10:54 IST An enraged crowd beat the young factory worker to death, accusing him of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet, and then set the body on fire Rapid Read The lynching is part of an ongoing pattern in Bangladeshnot isolated, not random, but symptomatic of growing insecurity for religious minorities. A young garment factory worker. A son whose mother was waiting for him to return home. A local in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, for whom it was just another day. But in New Bangladesh, his surname was all that mattered to a frenzied mob which was convinced that Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu man, had committed blasphemy and hence must be killed in accordance with Sharia law. Das was tied up, killed and then his body was set afire. Meanwhile, the mob that encircled him in Bhaluka, many of whom he knew, took out their smartphones to record the spectaclemuch like a mediaeval Europe when the crowds cheered as the gladiators fought and one had to eventually die, unless it was spared if the crowd and sponsor approved. But the crowd in Bhaluka was bloodthirsty. The parallel of blood lust in 2025s Bangladesh under a Nobel laureate is unmistakable. On Thursday, at around 9pm, an enraged crowd caught him and beat him to death, accusing him of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet. They then set the body on fire," Bhaluka Police duty officer Ripon Mia told an international news channel. Back home, Das mother was uncontrollable as she thumped her chest. His father could barely talk but just mumbled: He was an educated boy". A relative recounted the horror: They did not give him a chance to explain. They beat him up, hung him to the tree, and set him on fire We could listen (to his pain). Even if he made a mistake, they could have slapped him and handed him over to the police and let the law take its course." The lynching of Das is part of an ongoing pattern in Bangladeshnot isolated, not random, but symptomatic of growing insecurity for religious minorities. In recent months, Hindu communities have faced multiple violent incidents. In late July this year, violent unrest broke out in Gangachara Upazila of Rangpur district, triggered by a Facebook post that was widely (and controversially) alleged to have hurt religious sentiment. After the post went viral, an angry crowd targeted nearby Hindu homes and properties. Hindu families fled in fear, and hundreds were affected by the damage. In Rangpur district, two Hindu minority men were lynched in an Islamist mob attack in August. Rupalal Das (40) and Pradip Das (35) were lynched by a mob on suspicion of being van thieves, even though they were simply travelling to arrange a family marriage. They were surrounded, brutally beaten, and later died of their injuries. Families alleged their religion played a role in the attack. Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu community leader (Vice-President of the Biral unit of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad) in Dinajpurs Biral Upazila was kidnapped by unidentified assailants and fatally beaten in April this year. It was seen to be a message to the community in general in Bangladesh where Hindus dropped from 13.5 per cent of the population in 1974 to 7.96 per cent of Bangladeshs population in 2022. These episodes, while differing in scale, share a common thread: vigilante violence fueled by accusations of blasphemy or religious offense that rapidly devolve into collective punishment without due process of law. This October, when journalist Mehdi Hasan asked Bangladeshs interim leader Muhammad Yunus about widespread reports of violence against Hindus in the country, he called it fake news". First of all, these are fake news. You cant go by those. Fake news," Yunus said. In his pursuit to hide the truth, Yunus reduced the crimes to land disputes. There is a normal kind of relationship that goes on. Theres some conflict sometimes You happen to be my neighbour. You are a Hindu neighbour, Im a Muslim neighbour. We have problem with our land demarcation, just like two neighbours. So, you said this is Hindu, Muslim. Thats not it." However, the Narendra Modi government, in its reply in Parliament this February, said 23 Hindus have died and 152 incidents of attacks on Hindu temples have been recorded since August 2024. Yunus, meanwhile, has contradicted his own government. On December 10, 2024, the government of Bangladesh announced in a press briefing that 70 people had been arrested in 88 cases related to attacks against minorities in Bangladesh. Police investigations subsequently verified 1,254 incidents, the government said. Hindus in Bangladesh have been treated as second-class citizens since Sheikh Hasinas fall. But the brazenness with which Das was lynched and set on fire in public shows Bangladeshs radical backsliding has hit the bottom. Behind every statistic is a life cut short, a family shattered, a community left in fear. The lynching of Das is more than a news eventit is a moral indictment of how far down the path of intolerance Bangladesh has travelled. The only question that remains is whether Bangladeshs secular, centrist, and liberal voicesunderstandably fearful and silent for nowwill eventually rise, reclaim the streets and outnumber the loud and violent radicals. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: December 20, 2025, 10:54 IST News world Who Will Light A Candle For Dipu Chandra Das In Today's Bangladesh? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Homes damaged in Israel's strikes on Gaza are now giving way under winter storms, killing people who had fled to them after their tents were destroyed. Torrential rain and cold linked to last week's Storm Byron have triggered a new wave of disaster, with Gaza's government media office reporting at least 11 people killed and one missing in collapses of bomb-damaged structures. Authorities say more than a dozen buildings have fallen and over 27,000 tents have been washed away or flooded, leaving displaced residents to choose between unsafe ruins and open-air exposure, reports the CBC . Al-Jazeera breaks down the situation: Thousands of residential buildings experienced "cracks in columns and foundations, separation of load-bearing walls and partial roof collapses." Heavy rain only makes things worse, with water entering those cracks and weakening those columns and foundations, while also eroding the ground they stand on. The risk is compounded by the fact that multiple families often end up crowding into one structure, further stressing it. On Tuesday, the top floor of a two-story house in northwest Gaza City, previously hit by Israeli strikes, partially collapsed, killing a man and badly injuring five relatives, according to local authorities. One father, Mohammad Nassar, returned from buying supplies to find the six-story building where his family had taken shelter reduced to rubble; his 15-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter were among the dead. Palestinian Civil Defence officials warn many war-damaged structures remain at risk and say their teams are working with "very basic" rescue equipment. The UN and Palestinian authorities estimate roughly 300,000 new tents are urgently needed for some 1.5 million displaced people, while Gaza's Civil Defence is urging the delivery of sturdier mobile homes instead. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini says needed supplies have been stuck outside Gaza for months and that people are "freezing to death" in collapsing shelters. Israel's COGAT office, a military arm that oversees humanitarian issues, disputes UN claims, saying about 310,000 tents and tarps have "lately" entered Gaza. Volunteers gripping flashlights waved them high above their heads when the clock struck 8pm, shining beams through the frigid night skyand into the hospital's windows. Exactly 10 minutes later, the enthusiastic crowd, still holding their flashlights aloft, in unison hollered "sweet dreams" toward children in the hospital several stories above them. The nightly Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams tradition is again lighting up the night outside Corewell Health Children's hospital in Royal Oak in suburban Detroit, the AP reports. For 10 minutes each evening, volunteers standing outside the hospital shine flashlights toward the pediatric rooms above, delivering a message of hope and joy. The kids return the sentiment with their own lights, which they shine toward those below. "To be stuck in the hospital and feel like the world is moving on without you outside feels a little bit isolating, a little lonely, feels like maybe you've been forgotten in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season," said Amanda Lefkof, a child life specialist at Corewell. Among the children in the hospital is 4-year-old Zoe Hostetter, who is undergoing chemotherapy treatments. On a recent night, she shone her own flashlight toward the bundled-up well-wishers below with her grandfather, Tim Schuele, by her side. "It's just a big group of people that they don't know, but they see the love being sent by the lights," he said. "They're here kind of by themselves or with just close family and that's it for days." On these nights, though, the children are far from alone. Kevin Barringer was among those flashing lights toward the windows one night last week. Barringer's son, Connor, spent two months at the hospital in 2020 recovering from a spinal injury, and they were on the receiving end of the lights. "It gets pretty dark up there for the kids and for parents as well," Kevin Barringer said. "Having people down here letting them up there know that there are people with them and sending all their light up that way, it means a lot." The hospital also hosts holiday parties, blanket-making and storytime events for families. Plus, a volunteer dresses as Santa and visits patients in their rooms and at the parties. This year's Moonbeams event started Dec. 9, and runs through Hanukkah and every night until two days before Christmas. You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters. Creative Planning has signed an agreement to acquire a United Kingdom-based financial advisory firm with $4.8 billion in assets under management, according to sources with knowledge of the deal. Maseco Private Wealth, based in London, has clients in the U.K. and U.S., and specializes in working with expatriates from both countries. The U.K. firm worked with investment bank Houlihan Lokey on the sale process among U.S.-based RIAs. A handful showed interest, with Creative Planning ultimately signing a purchase agreement, according to sources. Neither Creative Planning nor Maseco responded to a request for comment. Houlihan Lokey declined to comment. If an acquisition goes ahead, it will give Creative Planning a footprint in the U.K. market with a firm that also has experience in the wealth sector in the U.S. The Overland Park, Kan.-based Creative Planning has an international division that serves U.S. citizens living abroad in over 90 countries. Maseco Private Wealth was founded in 2008 by Josh Matthews and James Sellon, who left roles in the private client division of Citi Salomon Smith Barney, according to Matthews' LinkedIn profile. The firm works with affluent global and American families living in the U.K., U.S. and other countries, with their cross-border financial needs. In 2013, the duo lobbied the Financial Conduct Authority, the U.K.s financial regulatory body, to allow U.S. families to continue investing in U.S. mutual funds while living in the country, according to the firms website. U.S.-based RIAs owning financial advisory firms abroad is still relatively rare. In September, Miami-based Corient, the RIA arm of Toronto-based CI Financial, announced it had agreed to acquire Stonehage Fleming, a multi-family office based in Jersey, U.K., with some $175 billion in assets, and Stanhope Capital Group, a London-based wealth manager with $40 billion in client assets. Focus Financial Partners acquired an Australian firm in 2019, which is now integrated into the U.S.-based company's Focus Partners Australia. Creative Planning made one of the biggest deal announcements of the year when it agreed to purchase SageView Advisory Group, a retirement plan-focused RIA with $250 billion in client assets. A onetime star witness in a shaken-baby trial now says the crime may never have happenedbut the man he helped put away is still serving life. Former Tennessee chief medical examiner Dr. Bruce Levy tells NBC News he has reversed his decades-old finding that Alex Maze, who died at 19 months, was fatally harmed by violent shaking that occurred at his father's hands when he was just five weeks old. When his wife ran to the store to buy formula one day in May 1999, Russell Maze says his son stopped breathing, prompting him to call 911. The child was found to have irreversible brain damage. Levy's original autopsy and courtroom testimony underpinned Maze's 2004 murder conviction; he has always denied harming his son. After reviewing medical records Levy says he never saw at the timeincluding the fact that Alex was born prematurely and experienced heart problems and anemiahe now classifies the cause of death as undetermined and the manner of death as natural. "I was wrong," he said, adding he believes Maze is innocent. Levy's about-face comes amid a broader reassessment of shaken baby syndrome, or abusive head trauma. For years, brain swelling, brain bleeding, and retinal hemorrhages were treated as near-certain proof of abuse; newer research has shown similar patterns can stem from other medical issues. Nashville's conviction review unit, led by prosecutor Sunny Eaton, spent nearly two years re-examining the case. More than half a dozen outside experts, Eaton says, concluded Alex's death was most likely due to an undiagnosed condition rather than abuse. The Nashville district attorney's office has joined the push to overturn Maze's conviction. Courts have not followed. A trial judge rejected the request to vacate the conviction last year, dismissing the new testimony as just another "battle of the experts." In October, the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals upheld Maze's life sentence in a 2-1 decision, calling Levy's reversal "bare" and characterizing it as witness recantation, not new scientific evidence. Levy's view is simple: "I would like Russell to come home. I think he has paid a horrible price for mistakes that I and others have made. (Read the full story here.) UPDATE Jan 6, 2026 7:07 AM CST Savannah Guthrie is talking to fans againjust not out loud. The 54-year-old Today co-anchor shared on Instagram that she's recovering well after vocal cord surgery in the new year, posing with a whiteboard announcing, "All good! Thanks for prayers and love!" Guthrie is temporarily "speaking" via marker and dry-erase board while her voice rests, reports People. No word yet on when she'll be back on the air, but she wrote, "See you soon!" Dec 20, 2025 8:19 AM CST Savannah Guthrie's 2026 will begin as an exceptionally quiet one. The Today co-anchor announced on air Friday that she'll undergo surgery early next year to remove vocal cord nodules and a polyp, People reports. "Some of you have noticed that my voice has been very scratchy and started to crack a little bit," she told viewers. And while it may have seemed like she had "the world's longest head cold," she's "really excited" to finally have a solution to a problem that has been "going on for years." Bowen Yang is wrapping up his Saturday Night Live run with a show that doubles as a full-circle moment, USA Today reports. The 35-year-old performer will depart the cast of SNL midSeason 51, with his final episode scheduled for Saturday, according to reports from Today and People . NBC has not publicly commented on the move. Yang, the first Chinese-American cast member as well as one of the first to be openly gay, joined the comedy show as a writer in 2018 before being promoted to on-air cast member, quickly becoming one of the show's most recognizable faces. He had just, in September, spoken publicly about his decision to return for the new season, saying show creator Lorne Michaels told him, "You have more to do." His exit follows a series of recent departures that have reshaped the long-running sketch institution. Veteran cast members Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner both announced before the October season premiere that they would not return, and newer players Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, and Emil Wakim also left, as did writer John Higgins. Yang may be following the trajectory of SNL alums like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Maya Rudolph, who have gone on to even bigger gigs. He has a prominent role in the two-part film adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked, and co-hosts the culture podcast Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers. Yang's last night at Studio 8H will pair him with a familiar colleague: his Wicked co-star and good friend Ariana Grande, who is set to host Saturday's episode, with Cher as musical guest. Speaking to USA Today earlier this year at the Writers Guild of America Awards, Yang named Cher as his dream SNL host, saying simply: "Cher. It's always Cher." The Justice Department isn't letting two failed Trump administration prosecutions go quietly. Officials said Friday they will ask a federal appeals court to reinstate criminal cases against former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both favorite targets of President Trump, the New York Times reports. The move comes after a federal judge threw out their indictments, ruling that the Trump-selected interim US attorney who obtained them, Lindsey Halligan, had been installed in violation of the Constitution's appointments clause. Any appeal will go to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., and legal observers note the dispute could eventually reach the Supreme Court because it touches on the balance of power between the president and Congress, as well as the process for naming top federal prosecutors. Judge Cameron McGowan Currie found that Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi had improperly bypassed the required nomination-and-Senate-confirmation process by inserting Halligan as interim US attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia after her predecessor declined to pursue charges against Comey. Halligan, acting as the sole prosecutor before the grand juries, secured a 2020-related indictment of Comey on accusations that he lied to Congress and obstructed a congressional inquiry, and a separate indictment of James alleging she misled lenders to secure favorable mortgage terms on a Norfolk, Va., property. (NBC News reports James is alleged to have saved herself $50 a month.) Judge Currie later tossed both cases, saying Halligan's appointment was unconstitutional and that allowing such a workaround would render the constitution's Senate confirmation requirement "meaningless," as the Times puts it. Before turning to the appeals court, the Justice Department tried and failed to resurrect the prosecutions through new grand jury efforts, but two grand juries declined to indict James again, and a federal judge ruled that prosecutorial evidence in the Comey case can't be used without a warrant, USA Today reports. As CBS News reports, the statute of limitations in Comey's case has since run out, which Currie noted in her November ruling. The federal government is weighing a redesign of its childhood vaccine playbook that would move it closer to Denmark's leaner schedule and step back from strongly recommending many shots, the Washington Post reports. According to two people familiar with internal talks, Trump administration officials are considering moving most routine childhood vaccines into a "shared clinical decision-making" category, in which parents are urged to consult medical professionals rather than follow blanket federal recommendations. Sources also spoke to outlets including CNN and the New York Times about the move. The potential change follows President Trump's recent directive to study whether the United States, which recommends vaccines against 18 diseases in childhood, should cut back to be more in line with countries like Denmark, which targets about 10. Denmark does not routinely recommend childhood shots for flu, RSV, chickenpox, meningitis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, or rotavirus. Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon called reports of the new guidance "pure speculation," and sources say key detailsincluding which vaccines might be downgradedremain unsettled. Public health experts warn that importing Denmark's approach is not straightforward. They note that Denmark's small, universal health system and strong prenatal care differ sharply from the United States, where access to care is uneven and one in four pregnant patients lack adequate prenatal services. Not to mention the fact that in all of Denmark there are just 6 million peoplefewer than in New York City. "You don't just superimpose policies from other countries without context onto the United States," said former CDC official Demetre Daskalakis, calling the comparison poor science. Even a Danish health official said he doesn't understand the move, noting the US seems to be getting "crazier and crazier in public health from month to month." Critics say expanding "talk-to-your-doctor" recommendations to vaccines long considered standard could wrongly signal that experts are divided and confuse both parents and physicians; many clinicians also do not realize that insurers must still cover vaccines under this model. The debate is unfolding as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of what he has called an "exploding vaccine schedule," oversees vaccine policy and as prominent skeptics of current recommendations, including HHS science officer Martin Kulldorff and FDA official Tracy Beth Hoeg, advise the administration. Vaccine advocates worry that dialing back firm federal endorsements could erode protection against diseases like influenza, which killed 280 US children in last year's flu season alone, and RSV, the leading cause of hospitalizations in infants. American rapper Wiz Khalifa has been sentenced by a court in Romania to nine months in jail for drug possession, more than a year after he took part in a music festival in the Eastern European country. Khalifa was stopped by Romanian police in July 2024 after reportedly smoking cannabis onstage at the Beach, Please! Festival in Costinesti, a coastal resort in Constanta County, the AP reports. Prosecutors said that the rapper, whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz, was found in possession of more than 18 grams of cannabis, and that he consumed some onstage. The Constanta Court of Appeal imposed the sentence Thursday after Khalifa was convicted of "possession of dangerous drugs, without right, for personal consumption," according to Romania's national news agency, Agerpres. The decision is final. Romania has some of the harsher drugs laws in Europe. Possession of cannabis for personal use is criminalized and can result in a prison sentence of between three months and two years, or a fine. It isn't clear whether Romanian authorities will seek to file an extradition request, since Khalifa is a US citizen and doesn't reside in Romania. The 38-year-old Pittsburgh rapper rose to prominence with his breakout mixtape Kush + Orange Juice. He smoked a large, hand-rolled cigarette onstage last summer while singing his hit "Young, Wild & Free." Wiz Khalifa once owned a YouTube record for most-viewed video: "See You Again," featuring Charlie Puth. Gisele Bundchen has quietly tied the knot again, according to marriage records viewed by People and other outlets. The Brazilian supermodel married jiu-jitsu instructor Joaquim Valente on Dec. 3 in Surfside, Florida; sources tell TMZ the ceremony was small and held at the couple's home, and sources tell Page Six close family and friends were in attendance. Bundchen, 45, and Valente welcomed a son in early 2025, her third child and their first together. She also shares son Benjamin, 15, and daughter Vivian, 12, with former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, whom she divorced in October 2022 after 13 years of marriage. A source previously told People the pair were "happy for this new chapter" and focused on creating "a peaceful and loving environment for the whole family," and a source now tells Page Six Valente is "thrilled they finally tied the knot after having a kid together." The two first met through jiu-jitsu and were spotted together in Costa Rica with her children in November 2022, sparking early speculation, which she initially denied, that the supermodel was dating her trainer. By February 2024, sources confirmed their relationship, describing it as a friendship that gradually became romantic and saying Valente had been a key support to Bundchen during and after her divorce. Elon Musk, already the world's richest man, scored another huge windfall Friday when the Delaware Supreme Court reversed a decision that deprived him of a $55 billion pay package that Tesla doled out in 2018 as an incentive for its CEO to steer the automaker to new heights, the AP reports. Besides padding Musk's current fortune of $679 billion, the restoration of the 2018 pay package vindicates his long-held belief that the Delaware legal system had overstepped its bounds in January 2024 when Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick rescinded the compensation in a case brought by a disgruntled Tesla shareholder. Tesla didn't immediately respond to a request for comment late Friday. McCormick's ruling so incensed Musk that it spurred him to spurn Delaware and reincorporate Tesla in Texas. That decision also caused Tesla's board to scramble for ways to keep its CEO happy, including a successful effort to persuade the company's shareholders to reaffirm the pay package, which was valued at $44.9 billion at the time of the second vote 18 months ago. With Musk still signaling discontent, Tesla upped the ante again this year by crafting another pay package that could pay him $1 trillion if he can lead the automaker down a road during the next decade that lifts the company's market value from its current $1.6 trillion to $8.5 trillion. Shareholders approved that pay package last month, to Musk's delight. That may sound like a difficult task, but it also appeared like a long shot for Musk to hit all the targets to qualify for the payout that was dangled in the 2018 package. At that time, Tesla was still struggling to expand its production of electric vehicles and burning through cash. At the time the 2018 pay package was drawn up, Tesla's market value was hovering in the $50 billion to $75 billion range. But then the company's manufacturing problems eased, enabling it to start meeting hot demand for its vehicles, which in turn pumped up its sales and stock price to a level that qualified Musk for the big payout that had been promised him. But based on evidence that included Musk's testimony during a 2022 trial, McCormick ruled the pay package had been crafted by a board that was too cozy and beholden to the hard-charging Musk. In its 49-page ruling, the Delaware Supreme Court cited a variety of errors in McCormick's 2024 decision and declared the 2018 pay package should be restored. It also awarded Tesla $1 in nominal damages. Lawyers for Luigi Mangione contend that Attorney General Pam Bondi's decision to seek the death penalty against him in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was tainted by her prior work as a lobbyist at a firm that represented the insurer's parent company, per the AP . Bondi was a partner at Ballard Partners before leading the Justice Department's charge to turn Mangione's federal prosecution into a capital case, creating a "profound conflict of interest" that violated his due process rights, his lawyers wrote in a court filing late Friday. They want prosecutors barred from seeking the death penalty and some charges thrown out. A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 9. By involving herself in the death penalty decision and making public statements suggesting that Mangione deserves execution, Bondi broke a vow she made before taking office in February that she would follow ethical regulations and bow out of matters pertaining to Ballard clients for a year, Mangione's lawyers said. They argued Bondi has continued to profit from her work for Ballardand, indirectly, from its work for UnitedHealth Groupthrough a profit-sharing arrangement with the lobbying firm and a defined contribution plan it administers. The "very person" empowered to seek Mangione's death "has a financial stake in the case she is prosecuting," his lawyers wrote. Her conflict of interest "should have caused her to recuse herself from making any decisions on this case," they added. Messages seeking comment were left for the Justice Department and Ballard Partners. Bondi announced in April that she was directing Manhattan federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty, declaring even before Mangione was formally indicted that capital punishment was warranted for a "premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America." Journalists have been poring over thousands of Jeffrey Epstein files newly released by the Justice Department, a mix of documents, photos, phone recordings, and videos. It's only the first part of a release mandated by Congress, but it will still take quite a bit of time for outlets to sift through even this much. Some early takeaways: No bombshells: A New York Times assessment sees "no major revelations" so far. The files "added little to the public's understanding" of Epstein's conduct, writes Alan Feuer. "The materials also did not provide much additional insight into Mr. Epstein's connections to wealthy and powerful businessmen and politicians who associated with him." Over the past 52 weeks, FuelCells stock has dropped by 10.6%. However, over the past six months, it has gained 37.17%. The stock had reached a 52-week high of $13.98 in January, but is down 40% from that level. It reached a 52-week low of $3.58 in May and is up 133% from that level. The stock has been volatile on Wall Street amid broader market volatility. Adding to the pressure is the new tax legislation, also called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The new tax regime significantly curbs the clean hydrogen production credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), requiring facilities to begin construction by January 1, 2028, to remain eligible. These versatile platforms enable carbon capture and sequestration, hydrogen and water production, plus long-duration energy storage solutions customized for utilities, industries, and municipalities. Founded in 1969, FuelCell Energy advances reliable fuel cell innovations to support global clean energy needs and environmental goals. The company has a market capitalization of $269.34 million. Danbury, Connecticut-based FuelCell is a leader in developing stationary fuel cell platforms for sustainable, efficient power production. The company designs, manufactures, installs, operates, and services megawatt-scale systems powered by molten carbonate technology, generating ultra-clean electricity with minimal emissions. As AI demand accelerates, the company expects to increase production, creating a clear path to profitability. Believing that once it reaches an annualized production rate of 100 megawatts, it will translate into positive adjusted EBITDA. Notably, the company reported solid prospects from data centers, which drive higher energy demand. FCEL says its sales and marketing focus is centered around data center operations and engaging with data center operators and infrastructure finance providers to make it clear that FuelCell is equipped to power their energy-intensive applications. Clean energy company FuelCell Energy (FCEL) reported its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings on Dec. 18. As the results topped expectations, the stock gained 22% intraday on the same day. Story Continues www.barchart.com FuelCells stock is trading at a lower valuation than its peers. Its price-to-sales ratio of 1.36x is lower than the industry average of 1.81x. FuelCells Q4 Results Were Better Than Expected On Dec. 18, FuelCell reported its fourth-quarter and fiscal year 2025 (the period that ended on Oct. 31). The companys quarterly revenue increased 12% year-over-year (YOY) to $55.02 million, which is higher than the $43.96 million that Wall Street analysts had expected. The top line growth was driven by product revenue increasing 18% from the prior years period to $30.03 million. This was based on the company recording $30 million in revenue from its extended service contract with Gyeonggi Green Energy Co., Ltd. (GGE), covering the supply and activation of 10 fuel cell units for GGEs 58.8 MW power facility in Hwaseong-si, South Korea. FuelCell reported that it has streamlined its product lineup, increased efficiency, and incorporated absorption chilling to manage thermal loads, which is essential for high-compute environments. The company has also become seemingly more cost-efficient, as its bottom line losses are declining. Its adjusted EBITDA loss was $17.68 million, down by 30% YOY. FuelCells adjusted net loss per share for Q4 was $0.83, down 55% from the prior-year periods per-share loss of $1.85, and lower than the $1.03 per-share loss that Street analysts had expected. The company announced that it took proactive measures to strengthen its balance sheet and bolster its liquidity. As of Oct. 31, FuelCell had $278.10 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents. It also had a total backlog of $1.19 billion, $30.41 million higher than it was a year ago. What Do Analysts Think About FuelCell Stock? Wall Street analysts have a mixed view about FuelCell Energys bottom-line trajectory. For the current fiscal year (fiscal 2026), analysts expect the companys loss per share to reduce by 29.3% YOY to $3.12, followed by losses deepening by 42.6% to $4.45 per share in the following fiscal year. After the Q4 earnings report, Street analysts have not noticeably changed their stance on FuelCells stock. Experts at Canaccord Genuity recently reiterated their Hold rating and $12 price target. Despite acknowledging FuelCell's upside potential, Canaccord Genuity analysts noted that the company must demonstrate that its data center initiatives will deliver tangible outcomes. Meanwhile, TD Cowen analysts reaffirmed their Hold rating but raised the price target from $7 to $9. This indicates that while sentiment remains tepid, it may be improving in the near future. Wall Street analysts are taking a cautious stance on FuelCells stock now, with a consensus Hold rating overall. Of the nine analysts rating the stock, one analyst gave a Strong Buy rating, while six analysts are playing it safe with a Hold rating, and two analysts gave a Strong Sell rating. The consensus price target of $7.84 represents an 6% downside from current levels. However, the Street-high Canaccord Genuity-given price target of $12 indicates a 43.9% upside from current levels. www.barchart.com www.barchart.com Key Takeaways Data center demand is expected to keep FuelCells operations robustly buoyed. However, the company continues to report losses and needs to scale its operations to achieve profitability. Therefore, it might be wise to observe the stock for now. On the date of publication, Anushka Dutta did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com The man suspected in the fatal shootings at Brown University and MIT killed himself days before police discovered his body in a New Hampshire storage unit, authorities said. An autopsy determined that 48-year-old Claudio Neves Valente died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella announced Friday. The autopsy and other evidence indicate he died on Tuesday, Fox News reports; his body was found two days later when officers breached the storage unit where he was hiding. Neves Valente had been identified by police as the gunman in the Dec. 13 attack at Brown's Barus & Holley Engineering Building during finals week, which killed students Ella Cook of Alabama and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov of Virginia and injured nine others. Authorities later tied him to the Dec. 15 killing in Massachusetts of MIT nuclear science professor Nuno Loureiro, who was found shot at his home in Brookline. Federal agents recovered two 9mm handguns near Neves Valente's body; forensic testing linked one to the Brown shooting and the other to Loureiro's death, according to the ATF. So far, authorities say they have found no writings or other material that explain a motive. Officials said Friday that forensic teams were still processing evidence, including firearms, recovered in New Hampshire, per ABC News. They intend to compare it with ballistic and DNA evidence from the Providence shootings. Several survivors of the Brown shooting remain hospitalized. US forces moved Saturday against another ship near Venezuela, days after President Trump ordered a " complete blockade " of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the country, American officials said. The operation is being carried out by the Coast Guard with support from at least 11 warships deployed in the region, the Washington Post reports, among them the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford. Last week, the US seized a sanctioned oil tanker that had departed Venezuela. Saturday's stop occurred in international waters, per Reuters. The officials did not specify the cargo or other details, but one characterized the action as "consented boarding," per the AP, with the tanker stopping voluntarily and allowing US personnel to board. The vessel is sailing under a Panamanian flag. Despite Trump's announcement, the tanker boarded on Saturday, called the Centuries, does not appear on the administration's list of tankers under US sanctions, per the New York Times. Industry information is that the cargo belongs to an oil trader based in China that takes Venezuelan crude oil to Chinese refineries. China is the biggest customer for Venezuelan crude, per France 24. The Trump administration's expanded campaign to pressure President Nicolas Maduro's government targets more than 30 tankers in the Caribbean that the Treasury Department has designated as sanctioned, ship-tracking firm TankerTrackers.com and intelligence company Kpler estimate. At least 12 of those vessels, including the Skipper, seized last week, are said by Kpler to be carrying Venezuelan crude. Since September, American forces have also conducted 27 strikes on small boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, killing more than 100 people on vessels that US authorities said were transporting narcotics. The Pentagon and White House did not immediately comment about Saturday's operation. Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming has announced that she's leaving the Senate after one term, opening a rare GOP primary fight in one of the nation's most reliably Republican states. Lummis, 69, said Friday that she will not run in 2026, timing the decision with the Senate's adjournment for the holiday recess, the Hill reports. In a statement, the senator said that "in the difficult, exhausting session weeks this fall I've come to accept that I do not have six more years in me." She added that the energy required for another term "doesn't match up." There's evidence to support Lummis' view of the workload beyond the energy drink she was often seen carrying in the Capitol. The year included the government's longest government shutdown ever and many all-night sessions, per the New York Times. There were also more roll call votes in the Senate than ever, more than 600, a Republican aide said. Several other GOP senators are looking to move on: Tommy Tuberville and Marsha Blackburn have entered governor's races, and Joni Ernst and Thom Tillis aren't running for reelection. Lummis said she'll continue to back President Trump in her final year in office. The chair of a Senate Banking subcommittee overseeing digital assets, Luumis is a leading advocate of cryptocurrency, a stance Trump has praised. "Cynthia is a straight shooter and a trailblazer," Wyoming's other senator, John Barrasso, said. "We're going to miss her infectious energy and iconic laugh in the halls of the US Senate." No Democrat has won a Senate seat in Wyoming since 1976. Fairbanks, AK (99701) Today A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 12F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low 6F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe While her business has been a success so far thanks to this hard work, Detroit's real estate boom helped fuel this success. The median price plummeted to $58,900 in 2009 and the city filed for bankruptcy in 2013. Now, with prices soaring to $250,000, according to Realtor.com, investors like Hunter find it much easier to profit in this rapidly appreciating market. Barely a decade after it declared bankruptcy, The Wall Street Journal stated Detroit is emerging as Americas most unlikely real-estate boomtown. Historically, Arrived Private Credit Fund has paid 8.1% annualized dividends to investors, distributed on a monthly basis. Dividend returns on stocks dont even come close the long-term average dividend yield of S&P 500 companies is 1.83%. All of the loans are secured by residential housing as collateral meaning you dont have to worry about the safety of your investment. But you dont need to get your hands dirty to profit from a fixer-upper. With the Arriveds Private Credit Fund , you can invest in short-term loans that are used to fund real estate projects, such as renovations, property rehabs, or even new home construction projects. She had to invest $85,000 in renovations for the house she bought for $2,000 to ready it for renters. On the second house, purchased for $1,800, she spent $130,000 to convert it into her office because of unexpected water line problems. While Hunter paid very little for the two homes she purchased, that was far from the end of the story. Hunter's journey was a successful one, thanks to a lot of effort and a little luck, but it wasn't easy. Both properties came with significant issues. She paid $2,000 for one and $1,800 for the other, renovated them, found renters, and began her career as a landlord. She has since repeated this process for eight homes. 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 I closed on my first two properties the same day in June of 2021, she told Realtor.com in an article published in August 2024 (1). The day I closed was my very first time in Detroit. Chase C. Hunter became a real estate investor after a Google search and a $3,800 initial investment. At the time, while living in Houston, she searched for places she could buy cheap property and found ample opportunities in Detroit, with homes selling for as little as $1,000. Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Story Continues If you dont have $130,000 to renovate a fixer-upper, there are other profitable ways to invest in real estate, like the rental market, for example. If you prefer passive income to dealing with tenants or large down payments, you could look into crowdfunding platforms. In addition to their Private Credit Fund, Arrived also allows you to invest in shares of rental homes and vacation rentals for as little as $100, without taking on the responsibilities of property management. Getting started is simple: browse a curated selection of homes, (each vetted for their appreciation and income potential), and choose the number of shares you want to buy. However, for accredited investors looking to invest larger sums, you arent limited to residential properties. First National Realty Partners (FNRP) allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties, without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord. With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to Triple Net (NNN) leases, accredited investors are able to invest in these properties without worrying about tenant costs cutting into their potential returns. Simply answer a few questions including how much you would like to invest to start browsing their full list of available properties. 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) Real estate ETFs and REITs For those who want to invest in real estate without turning it into a full-time job, there are plenty of convenient alternatives. Investing in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can offer a more accessible and diversified way to participate in the real estate market without the direct ownership and management responsibilities of individual properties. REITs are publicly traded companies that own properties and distribute profits as dividends. ETFs, on the other hand, pool money to invest in REITs or real estate-related businesses. Both options provide a way to benefit from real estate without the responsibilities of individual property ownership. Want to tap into the expertise of former hedge fund analysts for top real estate stock and ETF picks? Try Moby. The team of former hedge fund analysts and experts at Moby spend hundreds of hours each week sifting through financial news and data to provide top-tier stock and crypto reports to keep you up-to-date on whats moving the markets. If youre serious about investing in real estate for passive income, Mobys superior research can help you reduce the guesswork when selecting REITs or ETFs. In four years, across almost 400 stock picks, Moby's recommendations have beaten the S&P 500 by almost 12% on average. With their easy-to-understand formats, you can become a wiser investor in just five minutes, backed by a 30-day money back guarantee. Become a real estate mogul Mogul is a real estate investment platform offering fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits without the need for a hefty down payment or 3 A.M. tenant calls. Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team hand-picks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide for you. Simply put, you can invest in institutional quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost. Each property undergoes a vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Their cash-on-cash yields, meanwhile, average between 10 to 12% annually. Offerings often sell out in under three hours, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property. Every investment is secured by real assets, not dependent on the platforms viability. Each property is held in a standalone Propco LLC, so investors own the property not the platform. Blockchain-based fractionalization adds a layer of safety, ensuring a permanent, verifiable record of each stake. Getting started is a quick and easy process. You can sign up for an account and then browse available properties. Once you verify your information with their team, you can invest like a mogul in just a few clicks. You May Also Like Article sources At Moneywise, we consider it our responsibility to produce accurate and trustworthy content people can rely on to inform their financial decisions. We rely on vetted sources such as government data, financial records and expert interviews and highlight credible third-party reporting when appropriate. We are committed to transparency and accountability, correcting errors openly and adhering to the best practices of the journalism industry. For more details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines. Realtor.com (1) This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. What do workers paid overtime and tips, senior citizens, homeowners and car buyers have in common? They all need to stay under certain income limits to reap the full benefit of new tax breaks. The upcoming tax season will be the first test of the real benefits of the Trump administrations massive tax law. Heres a year-end cheat sheet for making the most of it. Year-end tax planning is an annual rite at accounting and advisory firms like CBIZ, said Mark Baran, a managing director in the firms national tax office. This year is busier and presents more opportunities than usual, given the arrival of the One Big Beautiful Bill, he said. In the final weeks of 2025, people still have time to make year-end tax moves to take advantage of the changing tax laws and reduce their tax bills and increase their refunds even more. The imminent windfall comes from the heap of changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will cost between $3 and $4 trillion over the next decade. There are new, temporary deductions for workers who receive tips and overtime pay, as well as a new bonus deduction for seniors. The new tax breaks create new planning opportunities for homeowners, the parents of young children and those donating to charity. Income-tax refunds will likely be much higher, according to projections from investment analysts, economists and mass market tax preparation experts. Households could rake in an extra $1,000 in their 2026 refunds, some estimates say. The average refund this year was $3,052 , according to Internal Revenue Service figures. Next spring is projected to be the largest tax refund season of all time, Trump said, touting the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which he signed into law this past summer. As President Donald Trump tried to allay Americans affordability concerns on Wednesday, he said the payoffs are approaching fast from his multitrillion-dollar tax law. Story Continues For instance, theres a $75,000 income limit for a person at least 65 whos eyeing the $6,000 senior bonus deduction. Its $150,000 for a married couple seeking the combined $12,000 deduction. A household that wants the full $40,000 state and local tax deduction has to stay beneath a household income of $500,000. The limits vary depending on the tax break, but in all cases, the income limits refer to your modified adjusted gross income. For just about everybody, their modified adjusted gross income is the same as their adjusted gross income. Heres how to find your modified adjusted gross income, so you can see if you qualify for those new tax breaks. You can still trim your income level enough to qualify for tax breaks, but it may be a challenge Self-employed workers and retirees have the most control over when income reaches their bank accounts, experts say. Delaying invoices or portfolio withdrawals until early January 2026 could keep them just under certain income levels and help them qualify for certain tax breaks. But W-2 workers cant slow their paychecks to strategically stay under certain income levels. They may also have limited options for lowering taxable income. For example, increasing 401(k) contributions will accomplish that goal. But theres usually an administrative lag before a payroll change takes effect. This late into 2025, there may not be enough time to make the change. Bunching SALT write-off and charitable contributions can help lower your tax bill Anywhere from 5 million to 7 million extra households will be itemizing their 2025 and 2026 taxes due to a much more generous deduction on state and local taxes (often referred to as the SALT deduction). The write-off is quadrupling to at least $40,000 through 2029, but you can only claim it if you itemize. Itemizing to get a higher deduction may be more tempting, but the widely used standard deduction is also growing. When choosing whether to take the standard deduction or itemize, the key is to go the route that will reduce your taxable income the most. To claim the SALT deduction for 2025, some taxpayers may have to bunch their charitable contributions meaning, make many contributions in the same year so that they can itemize them on their 2025 taxes. One reason to do this in 2025: Starting in 2026, the amount of charity thats eligible for an itemized deduction will shrink. Donating to charity will come with more tax perks for most people starting in 2026, when households taking the standard deduction will be able to get a charitable deduction thats worth up to $1,000 individually or $2,000 for married couples. Yes, 2025 refunds could be bigger but is that a good thing? What to know about 2026 withholdings. The new law makes tax breaks like the tip deduction, the $6,000 senior bonus and the higher SALT deduction apply to 2025 taxes. The statute also sweetened the child tax credit, increased the standard deduction and kept tax rates from rising. In other words, peoples taxes are being cut, but very few people adjust their paycheck withholdings once they are set. That means they might end up overpaying when taxes are taken out of their paychecks throughout the year. And voila: a larger 2025 tax refund. A refund is nothing to celebrate, some critics say, because it is a taxpayers repayment of overpaid taxes. One strategy to avoid a refund is to change your paycheck withholding amounts to pay less tax over the year and have more money in your paycheck upfront. Payroll experts say withholding changes are not so simple, especially with the new laws nuances. Its better not to rush into changing your withholdings. Consider consulting a professional first. The potential downside of a miscalculation on withholdings could be underpaying your taxes, leading to stiff tax liabilities and possibly a penalty. Waiting could pay off for people who want more in their paychecks instead of big refunds but who dont want to tinker with their withholdings. The 2026 withholding tables will change so that people potentially see the tax cuts through higher take-home pay, according to Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation. The senior bonus can cut taxes for now, but also presents a planning opportunity for the future The senior bonus is the new tax laws answer to Trumps campaign promise of no tax on Social Security. The provision doesnt exempt Social Security payments from taxes. Its an extra deduction that helps reduce a seniors overall taxable income. Some financial planners say this presents a chance to convert more pretax retirement savings to an after-tax nest egg. These Roth conversions require some planning and educated guesses on how much a person will be taxed now versus in the future. Like other new tax deductions, the senior bonus is only available through 2028. People considering turbocharging their Roth conversions with the deduction need to start researching whether its the right move for them, advisers say. People with tips and overtime pay should gather their records and pay attention to their states tax laws Big changes are coming to federal income taxes, but that doesnt necessarily mean each state will make the same changes to its own state income tax rules. Many state legislatures finalized their budgets and recent income-tax rules before the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed, said Brian Myers, who chairs the American Institute of CPAs state- and local-tax committee. Theres a patchwork of laws guiding when and if state income tax rules follow the federal lead, he explained. Some states, like Michigan, have already passed laws mirroring the new federal tax breaks, he said. But Myers said its still an open question what many other states will do with their tax rules now, particularly whether they will also offer breaks on tips and overtime. A good move for workers who qualify for the tip and overtime deductions might be waiting a little bit before filing, he said. If lawmakers in their state change the rules impacting tip and overtime pay, the worker might avoid having to file an amended state return. Get ready for Trump Accounts and see what your boss will do with them Parents and legal guardians can start opening tax-deferred Trump Accounts for their children in July. The accounts can be opened for any child under 18, but U.S. citizen babies born between 2025 and 2028 will get a free $1,000 put into their accounts under the new law. Philanthropists and employers are allowed to donate as well. Parents cant claim a tax deduction for their contribution. But they might get some tax help, depending on what their employers do and what the IRS says. Workers may be able to pour pretax money into these accounts, according to proposed regulations. Employers will be busy in 2026 trying to understand the accounts fine print and whether they are worth contributing to, said Amber Salotto, managing director in RSM US Washington National Tax practice. Families also need to learn more specifics, she said. There are all sorts of tax-advantaged investment accounts parents can use for their kids, and Trump Account contributions may raise certain tax headaches, she said. The seed money, though, is a big sell. People are curious to understand what these Trump accounts are all about and whether they really could offer a savings strategy for their minor children. Most Read from MarketWatch LONDON Esi Eggleston Bracey is leaving as Unilevers chief growth and marketing officer as part of a wider restructuring at the consumer products giant. Unilever, parent of brands including Dove, Vaseline and Liquid I.V., said Leandro Barreto, currently chief marketing officer for Unilevers beauty and well-being business group, will extend his remit to take accountability for Unilevers marketing agenda. More from WWD He will become chief marketing officer, Unilever and beauty and well-being, beginning Jan. 1, while Eggleston Bracey will leave at the end of January, following a handover period. Unilever said the changes are part of a wider transformation in the way it markets its brands and engages with consumers at a time of remarkable industry change, and in an era of digital revolution. The company said its transformation has reached a stage where even greater ownership, and proximity to Unilevers business groups, will drive increased impact. Chief executive officer Fernando Fernandez said Eggleston Bracey made a significant contribution to Unilever in her eight successful years there. With strong groundwork now in place, I know Leandro will make a big impact in his expanded role as we accelerate desire at scale and turn Unilever into a true marketing and sales machine. Eggleston Bracey joined Unilever in 2018 to lead beauty and personal care for North America. Unilever said she delivered a step-change in performance, and helped lay the foundations for breakthrough growth momentum in the U.S. business. The company added that during her tenure she redefined how Unilever builds demand globally. Barreto has more than 20 years of marketing experience and Unilever said he is recognized internally and externally for his disruptive creativity and ability to build culturally relevant brands. He is perfectly positioned to lead the next stage of Unilevers marketing transformation and connect business group level execution with Unilevers long-term capability ambitions. Over the past five years, Unilever has undergone an organizational overhaul, restructuring the portfolio, shedding and acquiring businesses, and putting an accent on beauty and wellness as twin engines for growth. Earlier this year Fernandez said he expects two-thirds of sales to come from beauty and personal care in the medium term. Those divisions currently generate around 51 percent of sales. A man and woman were convicted of murdering a pair of 18-year-olds in Newark in 2022, authorities announced Friday. Matthew Colon, 24, and Tashauna Hairston, both from Newark, were found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, according to a statement from the Essex County Prosecutors Office. Colon was also convicted of two weapons-related offenses. On May 19, 2022, Hairston drove Colon to the 400 block of Mt. Prospect Avenue in Newark, the office said. Colon got out of the car with two other masked individuals and fatally shot Angel Vargas and Saeed Jan, both of Newark. Colon later fled New Jersey and was apprehended in Tampa, Florida with the assistance of federal authorities, officials said. Officials did not release details about Hairstons arrest. A spokeswoman for the office could not immediately be reached for comment. Angel and Saeeds families have endured the unthinkable, and we hope they find some comfort and closure with this result, Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Austin Edwards said in a statement. Colon and Hairston are scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 25, and they both face 30 years to life in prison, the office said. A Burlington County municipal court judge on Thursday found a Trenton police sergeant guilty of lewdness for exposing himself in a gym inside police headquarters last year. Two female Trenton officers filed the case against Sgt. Noel Santiago by signing lewdness and harassment complaints in Trenton Municipal Court. The case was later transferred to Evesham Township. The judge acquitted Santiago on the harassment charges, court records show. However, he was fined $408 for each lewdness count, a disorderly persons offense. NJ Advance Media is not naming the two female officers because they are victims of lewdness. Santiagos lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson said in a statement the department was informed of the cases outcome. This incident is being taken seriously. It remains an active Internal Affairs investigation, he said. The statement said the department would have no further comment due to ongoing litigation. The officers also filed a civil lawsuit against Santiago alleging sexual harassment and other allegations, including that the department botched the internal affairs investigation. The suit, filed in Mercer County Superior Court, alleges several violations of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and remains pending. According to the lawsuit, Santiago initially changed his shirt in front of the two officers, who each had more than 10 years on the job. Two days after Santiago began supervising one of the officers, he undressed completely, exposing himself to the officer under his command, then nonchalantly changed his clothes, the lawsuit alleges. The next day, he exposed himself to both female officers. Six days after that, in April 2024, Santiago fully exposed himself again in the middle of the gym directly in front of both officers, the suit says. Both officers reported the incidents to internal affairs and gave statements. The Mercer County Prosecutors Office investigated Santiago around early May 2024, and he was suspended, the suit says. However, in early June, Santiago returned to work without any disciplinary action, the suit claims. Replacing Pete Alonsos power production wont be easy for the Mets this offseason. Signing veteran infielder Jorge Polanco was a stride in the right direction. Hes coming off one of the best offensive seasons of his career and the Mets have plans to use him at first base in addition to designated hitter. It doesnt sound like Polancos presence will preclude the Mets from targeting other first base options, though, especially those who would bring power from the right side of the plate. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on Thursday that the Mets have shown interest in Cardinals slugger Willson Contreras. New York recently continued evaluating how hed fit their team, Goold wrote. This echoes a report from John Denton of MLB.com from earlier this month that linked the Mets to Contreras, a connection that stems from Alonso leaving for the Orioles in free agency. Contreras has a no-trade clause, so hell have the final say if hes willing to leave St. Louis in a trade. According to Goold, the 33-year-old told the Cardinals that hed prefer to remain with them but would consider a move to a team or city that is agreeable to his family. Importing Contreras would give the Mets another weapon to protect Juan Soto from the right side of the plate in the middle of their order. Contreras is not Alonso offensively by any means, but he swats 20-plus homers every year (when healthy) and has produced eye-catching metrics when it comes to bat speed and quality of contact. Last season, Contreras slashed .257/.344/.447 over 135 games with 20 home runs and a career-best 31 doubles. In his decade-long career, including his first seven big-league seasons with the Cubs, Contreras is a .258 hitter with a .811 OPS. Contreras defense is another reason hed be a good fit in a Mets uniform. While Polanco has no first base experience and is considered a weak defender across the infield, Contreras is coming off his first full season at first base. Statcast measured Contreras as a plus defender as well with their outs above average metric. Von Maur, a 152-year-old department store chain, plans to open its first New Jersey location at the Freehold Raceway Mall. Von Maur Department Stores announced it will occupy the space formerly held by Nordstrom at the mall, located at the intersection of Route 9 and Business Route 33. The opening is planned for fall 2027 and will bring approximately 150 jobs to Monmouth County. The three-level store will span approximately 164,000 square feet and serve as an anchor tenant at the Macerich-owned shopping center. Von Maur, which is based in Iowa, has been recognized as Americas Best Department Store by Newsweek for four consecutive years. The company currently operates 39 stores nationwide. We are thrilled to bring the Von Maur experience to Central New Jersey, Jim von Maur, president and fourth-generation leader of Von Maur Department Stores said in a statement. Freehold Raceway Mall is the areas premier shopping destination, and we look forward to joining its vibrant retail community. The store will carry brands including Dagne Dover, Marine Layer, Bobbi Brown, Rhone, Vuori, Peter Millar, TravisMathew, Marc Jacobs, Free People, and Liverpool Los Angeles. Von Maur will offer complimentary gift wrapping and shipping, along with an interest-free charge card and rewards program. Store features will include plush furnishings, an open floor plan, and live music from a grand piano. Von Maur will open a store in Freehold in 2027. The store features plush furnishings, an open-floor plan, and live music from a grand piano. Von Maur Jack Hsieh, president and CEO of Macerich, said the addition supports the companys strategy to attract anchor tenants that drive traffic and sales. Von Maur was founded in 1872 in Davenport, Iowa. The company also operates a 120,000-square-foot e-commerce facility and owns Dry Goods, a young womens apparel and accessories retailer. The chain is investing $100 million over five years to renovate existing stores. According to a company spokesperson, at this time there are no plans for additional New Jersey locations. The mayor of Toms River publicly called for the resignation of the district superintendent this week, escalating a long-smoldering and increasingly bizarre feud involving threats of lawsuits, personal insults, and even an accusation that one school board member was peeping into the home window of the schools chief. Mayor Daniel Rodricks statement demanding that Superintendent Michael Citta resign citing what he called Cittas indefensible push for a hefty pay raise prompted a defiant response from the schools chief. It also spurred an unusually sharp rebuke from the Board of Education, which accused the mayor of meddling in school matters beyond his authority. Go get your own house in order, Board President Ashley Lamb told Rodrick at a Wednesday board meeting, to applause. If youre going to come after Mike Citta, who is actually a man and a gentleman and an educational leader all things you are not you will have to come through me and the rest of this board," she said. The showdown threatens to upend governance in New Jerseys sixth-largest school system, a district already embattled by years of financial and administrative strain. Rodrick was present at the meeting, according to Lamb. He did not speak, but his behavior at the meeting prompted her spontaneous reprimand. He was clowning around in row two, putting on a show, she told NJ Advance Media. We have kindergarteners who behave better in meetings than this man was behaving. Rodrick, for his part, characterized the meeting as a complete stunt by the board. He said he didnt speak because of the presence of several dozen members of the teachers union, who he felt were applauding too often. I knew it would be a hostile crowd, he said in an interview. Toms River Regional School District Board President Ashley Lamb criticizes Mayor Daniel Rodrick, sitting in the audience. Toms River Regional School District Rodrick frames his opposition to Citta as a matter of personal freedom. I have a constitutional right to not approve of your raise and to say so, he said. I dont lose my First Amendment rights just because Im mayor. A request for comment to Citta was redirected to his lawyer, Patrick Toscano, who alleged in an emailed statement that Rodricks interference was the result of personal animus and an insatiable thirst for power. Butting heads The mayors demand follows weeks of tension over a proposed contract extension that would see Cittas salary rise at least $33,000 over the next five years, a hike Rodrick criticized as outrageous given what he described as financial woes and poor student performance within the district. Citta, in turn, alleged in a Tuesday statement to the community that Rodrick has repeatedly overstepped his authority. I understand criticism. It comes with this role. It will not deter me, he said. What I will not accept is the distortion of facts or the injection of politics into our classrooms, our schools, or this Board of Education. Citta claimed that Rodrick has repeatedly muscled in on district business since 2021, when he turned Cittas hiring into a public spectacle. After the previous superintendents retirement, the Board of Education spent more than a year struggling to agree on a successor, with multiple failed votes as board members accused each other of manipulation and bias. At least one board member, Kathy Eagan, alleged Rodrick then a member of the township council attempted to interfere in the selection process. The stalemate prompted the board to start from scratch, eventually landing on Citta, whose appointment was approved in February 2022. It was hell, Ashley Lamb, who was then a board member, said of the process. Rodrick denied that hed worked against Cittas appointment while he was on the township council. A longtime educator, he has worked in his current position, as a assistant principal at Irvington High School in Essex County, since August. He was elected mayor in 2023, notching an 18-point margin of victory over his closest opponent. Under New Jersey law, school districts are separate legal entities from municipal governments, with independently elected boards that control hiring, contracts and budgets. Mayors and township councils have no formal authority over the vast majority of district operations. Ashley Lambs husband, Justin Lamb, who is also the townships outgoing council president, emphasized in an interview that Rodrick did not speak for him or the rest of the council. School boards should be free to do and carry on their affairs without interference from the council or the mayor, he added. That stupid letter School officials in Toms River have spent years grappling with shrinking aid and repeated intervention from the state. Since changes to New Jerseys school funding formula starting in 2018, the district has lost roughly $175 million in aid, prompting the layoffs of 250 staff members, program cuts and the sale of district property to close budget gaps. In July, the board attempted to file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy to avoid what Citta called the end of Toms River regional schools. The state blocked the move, forcing the district to impose a 12.9% property tax increase on residents instead. Two or the younger Toms River students present for a Statehouse rally in Trenton on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019, protesting state aid cuts to the district. Steve Strunsky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com The current flare-up stretches back to October, when the Board of Education began discussing a new five-year contract for Citta. Its terms included an increase in his $219,300 salary for the 2024-2025 school year to $275,000, retroactive to July 1. If approved, the contract would see his salary eventually climb to $308,012 by the 2029-2030 school year. Citta defended the contract in his Tuesday statement, saying that it was a market place adjustment for a district of Toms Rivers size. He also pointed out that hed opted to freeze his salary for the last four years in response to the districts financial woes. The first salary bump in his proposed contract would make him the 32nd highest-paid superintendent in New Jersey, he said. Rodrick had put out his call for Citta to resign earlier on Tuesday, circulating a 400-word statement in which he called his proposed salary an indefensible attempt to fleece the taxpayers. (He was hired at Irvington at a $112,000 salary, according to the Asbury Park Press, and earns $70,000 as the mayor, he said.) He issued it, he told NJ Advance Media, in response to an Asbury Park Press report on Monday detailing a legal threat hed received from Toscano, the lawyer representing Citta and the school board. I was going to ignore that stupid letter until the Asbury Park Press called me about it, Rodrick said. That letter, dated Dec. 5, warned that Toscanos firm had been retained over certain improper, real and questionable political interference with BOE business, as well as curious law enforcement improprieties. Details of the alleged improprieties were not specified in the letter, but both Rodrick and the Lambs said it referred to the same incident: an allegation involving someone peering through Cittas windows. On Nov. 13, according to a police report obtained by NJ Advance Media, Toms River police responded to the superintendents home after he reported that someone had snuck onto his property and looked through his windows 10 days prior. Cittas son and his friend had seen the alleged peeper, who scuttled off as soon as they realized theyd been spotted, according to the police report. Citta identified the alleged peeper as Marisa Matarazzo, a school board member, the report said. Matarazzo is one of two board members, along with Paola Pascarella, who have ties to the township government. Matarazzo works for the Toms River building department, while Pascarellas stepson is the assistant township attorney. Both women have also backed Rodrick in his clashes with the district in recent weeks, but the mayor said they were doing so of their own volition. Marisa, shes got guts. And Paola Pascarella has guts, you know? Rodrick said. But I dont control them. Matarazzo, who did not respond to a request for comment, denied Cittas incredible and defamatory claim in a letter she and Pascarella sent to the State Ethics Commission on Nov. 25. You, sir, are a disgrace The Dec. 5 letter to Rodrick, which was also addressed to Toms River Police Chief Guy Maire, stated that Toscanos firm would be filing a notice of tort claim the precursor to a lawsuit and a litigation-hold demand, which is a formal instruction to preserve all potential evidence. The litigation-hold demand was issued Wednesday, according to Toscano. A notice of tort claim had yet to be filed as of Friday. Two words hard stop, Toscano said in his statement to NJ Advance Media, adding that Citta had grown tired of Rodricks bizarre political interference. The board continued that line of attack in its Wednesday meeting, the last of the year, in which outstanding students receive awards. As a result, the room was packed with kids and parents, according to Justin Lamb. It worked against the mayor, he said. I think (Citta) showed hes the better man in the room. Hes not afraid. Hes not going to cower down... I think the community is going to stick with (Citta). Toms River Regional Superintendent Michael Citta speaks at a Dec. 17 school board meeting. Toms River Regional School District At the end of the meeting, a disgusted Ashley Lamb grew remarkably candid as she excoriated Rodrick, mocking him for thinking of himself as some sort of dragon that needs slaying. She alleged that Rodrick had called her last January, days after her election as board president, to tell her that if she wanted the position, she should have called him and asked him for it. I have no idea why I would have to call you and ask you for anything that has to do with this district, she said, because you dont work here and you dont run it and you dont own it. She made reference to Rodricks troubles with his previous employer, Middletown Township Public School district, which placed him on leave last December as it pursued tenure charges against him. District officials later said that an internal investigation had found Rodrick left students unattended to take personal calls and conducted Toms River business during school hours. Rodrick called the charges a political witch-hunt at the time, and filed a lawsuit against the Middletown school district last month. You, sir, are a disgrace, Lamb said. Thats why Middletown didnt want you. Lamb told Rodrick he was no more welcome in Toms River. What are you even doing here? she asked. Because nobody wants you here. Rodrick told NJ Advance Media that all of Lambs claims at the meeting were completely false, jabbing at the board as dishonest, greedy people. An formal effort to recall Rodrick was approved for signature gathering by the township in August. The organizers will need 25% of registered voters in Toms River just over 18,400 people to join the petition by Jan. 25 and force a special election. The board is set to assemble again around that time for its annual reorganization meeting. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson hailed President Donald Trumps administration as the most transparent in history as the Justice Department released thousands of files related to Jeffrey Epstein Friday evening. The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law on Nov. 19, required the DOJ to release all of its documents on the convicted sex offender and disgraced financier by Friday, Dec. 19. The Trump Administration has done more for the victims than Democrats ever have, Jackson said, per The Associated Press. But many of the documents now available on the DOJs website were heavily or entirely redacted, and the Epstein Library search function appeared to be malfunctioning. The DOJ also acknowledged that it would be releasing additional documents in the coming weeks, an apparent violation of the bills legal deadline. As journalists and legislators sifted through thousands of files Friday, congressional Democrats raised concerns with how Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and the DOJ handled the release. Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) said that a selective or partial release is an explicit violation of the law. Were examining all legal options, she added. During an appearance on MS NOW following the DOJ file dump, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said that the Trump administration had clearly not complied with the law requiring all unclassified information to be released today. They have known about this for months, they should have been preparing that, Khanna said on MS NOW. At the very least, what we need is for the Attorney General to have a press conference and say, Here is the timeline of what were going to release to be in full compliance of the law. During a video call with reporters later, Khanna called the release disappointing, according to NBC News. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) echoed Khannas calls for Bondi to deliver answers about why the DOJ is not releasing the full Epstein files by todays deadline. My fears have become all too realized today with this completely unlawful withholding of information from the Justice Department, Schiff said during an appearance on MS NOW. And I think we better bring Pam Bondi before the Senate Judiciary Committee, demand answers as to why the department has violated the law. DOJ Epstein Files Links The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Department of Justice released thousands of files related to its investigation into late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday. The records, which include photographs and call logs, are available on the DOJs website. They are divided into four data sets under the section labeled Epstein Files Transparency Act, or available here: The batch prominently features images of former President Bill Clinton without any context or background information. It also includes some pictures of Trump. All reasonable efforts have been made to review and redact personal information pertaining to victims, other private individuals, and protect sensitive materials from disclosure, the websites privacy notice reads. That said, because of the volume of information involved, this website may nevertheless contain information that inadvertently includes non-public personally identifiable information or other sensitive content, to include matters of a sexual nature. The release comes as the DOJ hit a 30-day deadline Friday to make its trove of files and communications tied to the disgraced financier public, including information regarding the federal investigation into his death while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in New York in 2019. Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law on Nov. 19, days after Congress advanced a bipartisan effort for the DOJ to make the documents public. It passed unanimously in the Senate, and by a 427-1 vote in the House. The measure, co-written by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), required the DOJ to make all unclassified records available with limited exceptions, such as protecting the identity of Epsteins victims. A number of Democrats quickly accused the DOJ of failing to comply with the law through its redactions. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said during an earlier appearance on Fox News that he expected several hundred thousand documents to be released, though he acknowledged that another batch of records could be published over the coming weeks. Blanche later said that around 200 attorneys in the DOJ reviewed and prepared the records, in which they learned of more than 1,200 victims or relatives, according to a letter sent to Congress that was obtained by several outlets. In the lead up to adding his signature on the legislation, Trump had flip-flopped on releasing the files until ultimately bending the knee to political pressure and urging Republicans to support the effort. While on the 2024 campaign trail, Trump said he would make the records public if elected to a second term. But since his return to the Oval Office, the president repeatedly called the issue a hoax pushed by Democrats, even lashing out at his own MAGA base over its uproar against his administrations handling of the files. The drop culminated after a discharge petition, introduced in September, reached enough signatures to force a House vote on releasing the files. It followed the Justice Department and FBI concluding in a joint memo in July that Epstein committed suicide and did not keep a client list of public figures. The revelations propelled the case back into the national spotlight months after Attorney General Pam Bondi circulated a small batch of documents that included little new information. In February, she went on to tell Fox News that Epsteins list was sitting on my desk right now to review under Trumps directive. For years, a chorus of conservatives has demanded more transparency on the case from the federal government. Conspiracy theories have also swirled about Epsteins connections to the rich and powerful and the cause of his death. Some documents related to Epstein have already been publicized in recent weeks by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee following a subpoena on Epsteins estate. Several mention high-profile figures, including Trump, who has denied knowledge of Epsteins crimes. The new records may offer the most detailed look yet into nearly two decades of federal investigations into Epsteins sexual abuse of young women and underage girls. Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill wants the state to provide every school-aged child with a check-up and the vaccine that prevents measles, mumps and rubella, as hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans face soaring health insurance premiums that could price them out of the state-run marketplace. There is no solution yet in Washington that would renew the enhanced tax credits for middle-income people who qualified for help paying their premiums during the pandemic. This assistance expires on Dec. 31. Sherrill said she is worried about what this will mean for children. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for a child at 12 to 15 months and a booster for a child from 4 to 6 years old. We are facing down the real fear that so many families will be going back to the bad-old days of emergency room care, which is more expensive and worse health care, Sherrill told reporters after a policy summit with her transition team in East Brunswick on Friday. We are seeing real concerns that some of the plans that will end up being put out wont really cover a lot of basic care for families. Her team is discussing strategies that would provide some level of preventive care after she is sworn as governor on Jan. 20. I dont think this is enough, Sherrill said of the idea of offering children kindergarten through high school a check up and a shot. We are going to have to ensure that every single kid gets some level of support, because the idea that one of the richest states in the richest nation in the world that we are going to face down families who dont have enough food with the SNAP cuts, that we are going to face families who dont have basic health care is unacceptable," the former congresswoman said. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) serves 800,000 lower-income people in New Jersey, nearly half of whom are children, one in three are disabled and 20% are more than 60 years old, according to the state Department of Human Services. Under one provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill that took effect this month, 18- to 64-year-olds that dont qualify for exemptions must prove they have worked, attended school or a training program at least 80 hours a month in order to receive SNAP benefits. New Jersey also will lose $200 million in federal assistance, including $100 million more to administer the program, beginning in 2028. Improving mental health services for children is also a priority, Sherrill said. Some of the work thats been done is working very well, and well continue to support that. But we also have a real hole in even the number of mental health professionals that we see across the state, Sherrill said. If you talk to pediatricians, as I have, they will tell you that not only is there a mental health crisis going on, but too many families dont have access to the kind of professionals that are needed, she said. And too often, insurance companies wont pay for the care, she added. Sherrill did not specify which mental health programs she had heard were effective. In 2023, Gov. Phil Murphys administration launched the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services, or NJ4S. The program provides in-classroom lessons and group sessions for elementary, middle school and high school students, and short-term therapy sessions for the most impaired children until they can be connected to more comprehensive treatment. An NJ Advance Media review of the NJ4S program found that some educators and mental health professionals strongly criticized it, calling the initiative superficial, inconsistent in quality, and lacking enough therapists to help students in crisis. Sherrill acknowledged there is a therapist shortage, and said she would explore telehealth services to address the issue. Social media contributes to poor mental health among youth, Sherrill said, referencing research from social media companies, such as Meta, Facebooks parent company, which has been accused in a lawsuit of burying one such studys findings. We are going to stand up the ability to do those reports... and make better choices for our kids here on the state level, she said. An antique barn from Lancaster County was reconstructed on this New Jersey property and made into a more than 13,000-square-foot mansion complete with a 35-foot silo. The three-story, 2,000-square-foot, 1800s barn is the centerpiece of the six-bedroom home with six full bathrooms and two half bathrooms. And the silo houses a curved staircase that goes to the second story and lower level of the home. The rustic estate, set on more than 62 acres in Lebanon, is listed for sale for $7.25 million. Its creative, its clever, its comfortable. Its not overwhelming, said Jeff Fellers, who listed the home along with his wife Louise Ann Fellers of Kienlen Lattmann Sothebys International Realty. The seller bought the property in 1982 to use as a hunting lodge and then in 2009 built the spacious home as a place for his family to gather for Thanksgiving, Fellers said. The property has seven structures in addition to the main house. These include an event barn, a horse barn with four stalls, and a pump house that supplies water to two ponds. There is also a tractor barn, a detached garage with space for 12 cars, and a tool barn, which is the only original building on the site. A guest house completes the property, offering four bedrooms, two full baths, and one half bath. The main entrance to the home leads the antique barn. Youre first taken by the structure of the barn, Fellers said. Then its the modern functionality. The foyer has a 7-foot-by-8-foot coat room. Beyond that is an expansive living room with a large stone fireplace and three-story tall ceilings. The first floor also has a billiards room, a dining room that can seat at least 14 people, a kitchen and breakfast nook that share a double-sided fireplace with the dining room, a porch and a cigar room. There are also two ensuite bedrooms, including the primary which has a dressing room, his and hers walk-in closets and more. The second floor features four additional bedrooms and a sitting room that can serve as a fifth. One bedroom has an en suite bath, two share a Jack-and-Jill bathroom and there is another full bathroom as well. The lower level features a massive 40-by-41-foot recreation room and a saltwater indoor pool. Nano doors open an entire wall of glass, seamlessly connecting the pool area to the outdoor kitchen. Additional amenities include a wine cellar, an 11-seat wet bar, a chefs kitchen, two half bathrooms, a game room, storage, laundry and mechanical rooms, a dog grooming room with its own entrance from outside and an attached three-car garage. Theres also a smokehouse and bocce court on the property. The home has radiant heating, an air system for the cigar room, an elevator, smart home automation, security cameras and both the main and guest houses have their own generators. The property is surrounded by preserved farms and is about 15 minutes from shopping or dining. Routes 78 and 24 are nearby and New York City and Philadelphia are each about an hour and a half away. Of the 62.75 acres, about 60 acres are assessed as farmland and leased to a hay farmer, Fellers said. Its a special place that offers everything you could want and every opportunity you can imagine, Fellers said. Its one of those places where you have to see it to believe it. You enter the home into the antique barn portion which has the living room. Brian Murawski, Porchlight Media The staircases housed in the silo goes up to the second level and down to the lower level. Brian Murawski, Porchlight Media The dining room shares a double-sided fireplace with the kitchen. Brian Murawski, Porchlight Media The kitchen has two islands, one of which is on wheels. Brian Murawski, Porchlight Media The primary bedroom is one of six in the home. Brian Murawski, Porchlight Media The primary bathroom, one of six full and two half bathrooms, has a copper tub. Brian Murawski, Porchlight Media The lower level has a large recreation room, an 11-seat wet bar, a game room, a chef's kitchen and more. Brian Murawski, Porchlight Media The indoor pool on the lower level has Nano doors that open to the outdoor kitchen. Brian Murawski, Porchlight Media A second home has four bedrooms, two full and one half bathroom. Brian Murawski, Porchlight Media By Echo Wang, Miho Uranaka and Krystal Hu NEW YORK/TOKYO/SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - SoftBank Group (SFTBY) is racing to close a $22.5 billion funding commitment to OpenAI (OPAI.PVT) by year-end through an array of cash-raising schemes, including a sale of some investments, and could tap its undrawn margin loans borrowed against its valuable ownership in chip firm Arm Holdings (ARM), sources said. More from Yahoo Scout How is SoftBank raising $22.5 billion for OpenAI? Why does OpenAI need this massive funding injection? What assets has SoftBank sold to fund OpenAI? What are SoftBank's remaining funding options for OpenAI? The "all-in" bet on OpenAI is among the biggest yet by SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, as the Japanese billionaire seeks to improve his firm's position in the race for artificial intelligence. To come up with the money, Son has already sold SoftBank's entire $5.8 billion stake in AI chip leader Nvidia (NVDA), offloaded $4.8 billion of its T-Mobile (TMUS) US stake, and slashed staff. Son has slowed most other dealmaking at SoftBank's Vision Fund to a crawl, and any deal above $50 million now requires his explicit approval, two of the sources told Reuters. Son's firm is working to take public its payments app operator, PayPay. The initial public offering, originally expected this month, was pushed back due to the 43-day-long U.S. government shutdown, which ended in November. PayPay's market debut, likely to raise more than $20 billion, is now expected in the first quarter of next year, according to one direct source and another person familiar with the efforts. The Japanese conglomerate is also looking to cash out some of its holdings in Didi Global (DIDIY), the operator of Chinas dominant ride-hailing platform, which is looking to list its shares in Hong Kong after a regulatory crackdown forced it to delist in the U.S. in 2021, a source with direct knowledge said. Investment managers at SoftBank's Vision Fund are being directed toward the OpenAI deal, two of the above sources said. SoftBank's scramble to marshal funds offers a window into the strain faced even by the world's biggest dealmakers as they scramble to finance ambitious AI data center projects worth hundreds of billions of dollars. SoftBank declined to comment. SoftBank has options OpenAI has not yet received the remaining funding, but expects the money to come in by the end of 2025, as stipulated in the contract, sources said. SoftBank has multiple sources of capital it could tap, including margin loans, cash on its balance sheet, stakes in listed companies, and corporate bonds or bridge loans, sources said. SoftBank group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son (L) and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shake hands after a talk session in Tokyo on February 3, 2025. (Photo by YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images) YUICHI YAMAZAKI via Getty Images Son has strong reasons to draw on a range of funding mechanisms to fulfill those obligations. SoftBank secured a deal to invest in OpenAI at a $300 billion valuation in April. Since then, the valuation of OpenAI has risen dramatically and the company is in talks to raise additional funding from investors, including Amazon, tripling its valuation to close to $900 billion, one of the sources added, which would give SoftBank a significant paper gain once the transaction is completed. However, critics, as well as one of the reports own authors, pushed back on that assertion, saying this preliminary report does not indicate rampant fraud especially when viewed in the context of the wider health care system. The GAO report was requested by three Congressional Republicans who released a statement (2) saying that it demonstrates rampant waste, fraud, and abuse, with Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan stating, that, under Obamacare, hardworking Americans saw their premiums skyrocket and their health care choices shrink, all while fraud benefitted insurance companies. The findings also showed that brokers or insurance agents likely changed, without authorization, 30,000 or more coverage applications in 2023 and 160,000 in 2024, which can result in consumer harm, including loss of access to medications. Im almost 50 years old and have nothing saved for retirement. What do I do? Dont panic. Here are 6 easy ways to 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 In addition, the report found that a total of 29,000 SSNs received more than one year's worth of insurance coverage with APTC in a single plan year in 2023, with another roughly 66,000 doing the same in 2024, meaning the same SSNs were used multiple times to receive benefits. They found that, in 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) paid subsidies for all four of their fake applicants, totaling roughly $2,350 a month despite some of those applicants failing to provide citizenship documentation or Social Security numbers (SSNs). In 2025 the GAO enrolled 20 fake applicants with the CMS 18 of which still receive APTCs that combine for more than $10,000 a month. The nonpartisan watchdogs report (1), which dropped in early December, is based in part on findings from 2024 and 2025 during which time the Government Accountability Office (GAO) employed fictitious applicants to apply for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) advance premium tax credit (APTC) a federal subsidy program that pays directly to insurance companies to help lower individual premiums on Marketplace plans. Bombshell, or bust? Thats the question hanging over a recent preliminary report from the Government Accountability Office about Affordable Care Act subsidy fraud. Story Continues Taking the pulse of health care fraud in the U.S. In an interview with KFF Health News (3), Seto J. Bagdoyan, one of the GAO reports authors, cautioned that the findings only focus on indicators of potential fraud rather than conclusive evidence. And the report itself offers some important context to the big numbers that made headlines. For example, the full 26-page preliminary report (4) specifies that the 30,000 applications affected by unauthorized changes in 2023, and the 160,000 in 2024, represent only 0.4% and 1.5% of all applications in those respective years. And as for the duplicate SSNs, the roughly 29,000 from 2023 account for only 0.21% of all SSNs that received subsidies that year. The 66,000 duplicate SSNs in 2024 only accounted for 0.37%. Beyond representing less than 1% of all SSNs inputted, the report notes that the duplicates could also be a result of data entry errors and that further investigation is required. It really is trivial, the scope of fraud, Lehigh University professor of health policy Michael Gusmano told CNBC about the report (5). Its just a scare tactic to justify the reduction of the federal governments role in subsidizing health insurance. And Kaye Pestaina, director of KFFs program on patient and consumer protection, noted in an email to CNBC that the GAO report does not indicate that this is an outlier when compared to fraud in other federal programs. The report also says that the fraud risks it investigated were first examined between 2014 and 2016, with further assessments in 2018. Which means that this is an issue thats potentially been known by multiple administrations, including President Barack Obamas last term, President Donald Trumps first term and President Joe Bidens single term. To that end, Bagdoyan told KFF (3) that the evidence shows any anti-fraud measures taken in the interim havent worked, because we encountered the same issues as 12 years ago, having to do with identity verification. And one Democrat Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas responded to the report with a letter (6) that noted CMS suspended 850 agents and brokers for suspected fraudulent or abusive conduct related to unauthorized enrollments or plan switches last year. In May of this year, however, under President Trump, CMS reinstated the suspended agents, with Doggett adding that, Yelling fraud while empowering criminals solves nothing and will harm many. Overall, its believed that health care spending will total more than $5 trillion in 2025 (7), while the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA) estimates that fraud costs taxpayers between 3% and 10% of the health care budget in any given year (8). As such, even though many experts feel that the GAO report isnt the fraud smoking gun some politicians made it out to be, they agree that changes to the system are necessary. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health professor Gerard Anderson told CNBC that while fraud attempts are inevitable, you should always tweak the parameters of the system to try and prevent it. Health policy expert Nick Fabrizio told the news outlet that extending ACA subsidies while implementing tools to prevent fraud is the best way forward. Were in one of those situations where we have to extend the subsidies, Fabrizio said. But we have to stabilize the system. ... We have to meet somewhere in the middle. Read More: Vanguard reveals what could be coming for U.S. stocks, and its raising alarm bells for retirees. Heres why and how to protect yourself How to protect yourself from health care fraud Even though the scale of health care fraud in the GAO report is comparatively minimal, it wont feel so insignificant if you fall victim to unscrupulous actors who steal your personal information. There are simple ways, however, to protect yourself. To start, never share your SSN or any medical health account or password information with anyone unless you are certain they are your provider. Healthcare.gov (9) specifically recommends only getting your health coverage information from official government sources or websites, remaining vigilant for red flags, like health care contest giveaways, that could be scams, and always verifying the identity of anyone who claims to be a health coverage rep. The NHCAA, meanwhile, urges people to remain informed about their policies and entitlements, while also regularly reviewing statements from their provider to ensure that they, in fact, did receive the benefits theyre billed for (and question those that look suspicious!). And insurance provider Network Health (10) warns that you should never sign any blank insurance forms, and that you should always monitor financial statements for any improper billing activity or fraudulent withdrawals. As well, they recommend keeping your own records of all your appointments and services received in the event that any discrepancies arise. If you do suspect that youve been a victim of health care fraud, reach out to your provider, the Federal Trade Commissions fraud reporting portal, local authorities or, for Medicare-related matters, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). You May Also Like Article sources We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines. Government Accountability Office (1), (4); United States House Committee on Ways and Means (2); KFF Health News (3), (7); CNBC (5); Doggett.gov (6); National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (8); Healthcare.gov (9); Network Health (10) This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Bookworms, wine lovers and cheese enthusiasts were delighted when new venture Tipsy Books opened its doors on Grenville Street in Bideford. The brainchild of Heidi and Andrew Wickham, the combined bookshop and wine bar was packed to the rafters on opening day, December 3, with curious locals piling in to enjoy a glass or two while they browsed the shelves. The Gazette stopped by to learn more about the unique concept. According to the experts, independent bookshops are on the up. With many people rediscovering the joys of reading during the pandemic, the lifting of restrictions has seen them return to browsing in droves. READ NEXT: Rip-roaring rags to riches fun with the Christmas Queens Theatre Pantomime While larger chains still dominate the high street, a growing appetite for supporting small, local businesses has fuelled a nationwide rise in indie bookshops. Above: Tipsy Books offers a multi-purpose space. Pictured are Andrew and Heidi Wickham with Willow, who has joined them to help with the venture. Tipsy Books is a great example of this new wave of bookshops: an eclectic, multi-purpose space that puts just as much focus on community as it does on the volumes that line its shelves. We wanted to create a community hub, Heidi told Gazette reporter Susan Marsh. Somewhere that people can come together and connect over a shared passion. Above: Plenty to browse at Tipsy Books. Looking at the venues upcoming events, its clear that Heidi and Andrew are committed to this vision. In the months to come, the venue will be hosting several workshops, a book club, and sessions for home educated children, with plans for an under 16s comic club, an LGBTQIA+ book club, and even a singles night for nerds in the works. Like many bookshops of this new era, Tipsy Books has broadened its appeal, becoming far more than just a place to buy novels. Alongside a lively programme of events, it offers an impressive selection of wines to enjoy - ideally with a good book in hand - whether tucked into the cosy fireside nooks downstairs or perched in the more sociable, bar-style space above. READ NEXT: North Devon singer songwriter sees standout debut single picked up by BBC If visitors work up an appetite after all that reading, they can fill up on snack plates of nuts and cheese - or really push the boat out with an impressive cheese wreath for two. Before starting up Tipsy Books, Heidi and Andrew lived very different lives as a dog groomer and solicitor respectively. But when health reasons forced Heidi to change career, she seized the opportunity to combine three things that she loves: books, wine and cheese. Above: Maybe there is a book on the shelves that will take your fancy? After coming up with the idea nine months ago, the pair have worked hard to bring it to life, spending an intense four weeks before opening transforming the space and curating the right selection of books to fill it. For now, the collection focuses on fantasy, but there are plans to expand into scifi and other related genres in the future. According to Heidi, book bars have really taken off in the USA in recent years, and she hopes that Tipsy Books will bring some of that magic to Bideford. TWO women were fined a total of 1,700 for motoring offences committed near Geashill. Ru Yi Wong (39) and Andrine Chng Chai Yoong, both of McCormack's Complex, Dublin Road, Athlone, pleaded guilty when they appeared before Tullamore District Court. Garda Pat McGee said Ru Yi Wong was the driver of a vehicle stopped at 12.20pm on August 13 last at Urney, Geashill. Ms Wong had an international permit but no valid licence for this country. Andrine Chng Chai Yoong was the owner of the vehicle. Counsel for the accused said an insurance policy was in place and Ms Wong was a named driver on it. A native of Malaysia, she had a Malaysian licence and worked as a hairdresser. She now understood she must have a driving licence for this country because she is a resident here. READ NEXT: Offaly speeding summonses adjourned after judge raises legal issue Judge Andrew Cody was told the other woman was the policy holder and she worked as a chef. Both defendants had got married this year and Judge Cody was asked not to disqualify them from driving. The women were fined 700 each for the insurance offences, one as the user and the other as the owner, and Ms Wong was also fined 300 for having no driving licence. A PLANNING permission to extend a sand pit and extract 800,000 tonnes of sand and gravel in the Slieve Bloom Mountains has been appealed to An Coimisiun Pleanala by locals living very close to the site. Anne and Michael Carroll have appealed Laois County Councils decision to grant a ten year approval for the quarry to operate in the townlands of Mounthall and Cummer near Camross in the Slieve Blooms. The proposal will see the quarry's size extend from 1.2 hectares to about eight hectares. The existing 1.2 hectares has been out of use for many years. The site owner is Breedon Materials Ltd, a major company whose headquarters is in the UK. The planning permission was granted in August despite being opposed by a number of local groups including the Slieve Bloom Association, Camross Tidy Towns, Paddock National School, Mountrath Scout Group and Ballyfin CDA. In all, the planning application with Laois County Council attracted 67 submissions. The drone photo below shows the existing sandpit in the surrounding pastoral landscape. In their submission to Laois County Council, Anne and Michael Carroll said their home is one of six residential properties located within 250 metres of the proposed development. They said the proposed development was of massive concern to them. They expressed concerns about their water supply, which comes from a private well, and about the dust and noise which the development would produce. They worried too about the damage which the daily traffic of many Heavy Goods Vehicles HGVs) would cause to the narrow mountain roads (see below). The Carrolls pointed out that there are no footpaths and no cycle lanes along the roads and they would be unsafe for either pedestrians or cyclists. It is very obvious these roads are not able for the level and size of vehicles that are already travelling on them so how are they expected to deal with a further minimum amount of 24 HGVs per day? Kathy Phelan Bracken of the Save Glendine campaign also lives within 250 metres of the proposed development. Breedon will transform this sandpit into a huge commercial quarry, she said. The proposed area is located in the foothills of the Slieve Blooms in the beautiful Glendine valley. The Slieve Blooms are a beauty spot and this proposal is totally unsuitable. The site also borders a nature reserve, home to the Hen Harrier conservation project, home to migratory birds. What the proposal means is the destruction of biodiversity, roads and residents' welfare; potential waterways pollution; a disregard of Health & Safety on narrow roads; the destruction of narrow, single lane heritage bridges. We are also concerned that the Council has agreed to replace a single lane bridge that was damaged years ago by boy racers. This bridge is beyond the quarry, further into Glendine, and we are worried that it could mean HGVs going over Glendine Gap (a mountain pass) on a completely unsuitable road with the aim of travelling across three counties to the company's Kinnegad depot where over 50% of the material will be exported abroad. It is not certain when An Coimisiun Pleanala will reach its decision on the appeal. READ NEXT: Dismay as company granted permission for large quarry in Slieve Blooms Rescue crews in Clackamas County had a busy morning Friday as flood waters trapped a man in a park and a family of six in a car and a fire broke out at a home whose residents had evacuated. Molalla Fire Chief Vince Stafford said the first emergency call came in around 7:45 a.m., when a man at Wagon Wheel Park became stranded after the waters of the Molalla River jumped their banks. A Clackamas Fire crew in a boat rescued the man,who was clinging to a tree. Wagon Wheel Park is located in Liberal, a small, unincorporated community north of Molalla. [READ MORE: Flooding, landslides, high water inundate Portland area roads Friday: See this list of closed routes] About 15 minutes later, crews responded for a second water rescue, also in Liberal, when two adults and four children in a car became trapped on South Holmes Road, not far from Oregon Route 213 and South Macksburg Road. Around the same time, an electrical fire broke out in a home in Shady Dell, east of Molalla, Stafford said. Firefighters encountered several feet of flood waters inside the home but quickly extinguished the flames. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The water is receding pretty fast, which is a good thing, Stafford told The Oregonian/OregonLive Friday morning. Now we can go out and assess and see what peoples needs are. In total, evacuation orders were imposed on 300 homes, according to the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office. Empty cots were set up at Clackamas Community College on Dec. 19, 2025. Zane Sparling/The Oregonian Volunteers with the American Red Cross established a 90-bed emergency shelter at the Clackamas Community College campus in Oregon City. No one showed up late Thursday on Friday morning in need of a place to stay, but volunteers are ready with sandwiches, coffee, hot cocoa, water, snacks, charging stations or plenty of cots if flooding resumes, shelter site supervisor Kim Falk said. If their electricity is out, theyre welcome to come here, said Falk. Until the [Clackamas County] emergency management says that we can close, our shelters are open. A 47-year-old Portland woman Friday was sentenced to time served, just under four months, for intimidating a federal officer outside Portland U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in June and resisting arrest after she had violated her release conditions. Julie M. Winters approached the gate of the ICE building in South Portland on the night of June 24 with a bike lock and chain, intending to lock the gate shut. When officers emerged from the property, she backed away but later pulled out a knife, waved it at officers and then threw it, according to court records, prosecutors and her lawyer. Prosecutor Lewis Burkhart said Winters threw the knife toward a federal officer but defense attorney Benjamin Andersen said she tossed it away behind a fence and not at anyone. Winters pleaded guilty to intimidating an officer and resisting arrest. I made a mistake, she told U.S. District Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai in U.S. District Court in Portland. Winters, who lived across the street from the ICE office, admitted she tried to chain the vehicle gate shut to temporarily prevent ICE from hurting people in my neighborhood. She also admitted to pulling the knife and throwing it but said she didnt intend to hurt anyone. I dont deny that was the wrong answer, she said. Winters was living in a nearby housing complex at the time but a judge ordered her to keep away from the blocks around the ICE building after her arrest. She was allowed to return to her apartment for a few hours only to feed her cat. But she subsequently returned to the apartment in violation of her release conditions and then struggled with deputy U.S. marshals when they moved to arrest her later. She also has taken to social media to criticize federal law enforcement, prosecutors and decry her case and sentencing. Burkhart suggested that Winters has untreated mental health needs that are manifesting in these kind of outbursts. She really needs help to try to treat those. Right now, shes kind of running wild. Winters disputed Burkharts characterization. She said she has been in counseling for seven years but has never a mental health diagnosis. She said she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder from a prior physical confrontation with Portland police that led to other charges pending against her in state court. Im not some crazy anarchist and I dont have mental health issues to the point where a prosecutor should decide for me where my mental health stands, she said. The judge accepted the time-served sentence negotiated under a plea agreement. Shell be on supervised release for three years and ordered not to return to a specified geographic area near the ICE building. Winters is one of 41 people arrested on federal felony or misdemeanor allegations stemming from protests outside the ICE building since June. Amid taking a $19.5 billion hit, primarily tied to its sinking electric-vehicle (EV) business, on Dec. 15, auto giant Ford (F:NYSE), in addition to refocusing on manufacturing gas-powered and hybrid vehicles, announced a new venture into the energy storage business. (1) Part of the new strategy involves repurposing an EV battery plant in Glendale, Kentucky, resulting in sweeping layoffs. According to local media, approximately 1,600 workers will lose their jobs during the transition although they will have an opportunity to claim one of the 2,100 jobs the company has committed to bringing to the plant. (2) Must Read Ford says its investing $2 billion in the venture, which includes retooling the plant to create battery energy storage systems for utilities and data centers that train artificial intelligence (AI). It hopes to have the plant back up and running in 18 months. Instead of plowing billions into the future knowing these large EVs will never make money, we are pivoting, Ford CEO Jim Farley told The Wall Street Journal. (3) So, how might a shift like this affect household energy bills? Big bet on battery storage After the federal $7,500 EV credit was eliminated under President Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill, demand for EVs cratered across the country. U.S. sales fell more than 41% in November, according to Reuters, following the credits expiration at the end of September. (4) But the market for batteries isnt dying out completely. Theres a booming demand for energy solutions as AI data centers have created an insatiable demand for electricity. As AI usage grows, the demand for electricity is expected to grow alongside it. As of 2023, data centers consumed around 4.4% of total U.S. electricity. The Department of Energy expects this demand to grow, projecting that data centers will consume 6.7% to 12% of total U.S. electricity by 2028. Fords decision to invest billions of dollars into the battery storage industry follows signs of potential growth in the energy sector. Data centers and utility companies may soon find themselves in need of more battery storage systems, and Ford is trying to fill some of that demand. A national nonprofit that works to root out what it calls liberal indoctrination at schools and colleges has accused Portland Public Schools of flagrant racial preferencing in its drive to create a Center for Black Student Excellence. The nonprofit, Defending Education, asked the U.S. Department of Educations civil rights division this week to investigate the school districts decision to buy a $16 million building and spend up to $25 million to convert it into a space where nonprofit organizations can provide enrichment programming aimed at improving outcomes for Black students. The complaint, first reported by Willamette Week, details the districts push to center Black students and families and tailor programming at the center to match their cultural, social and educational needs. District officials counter that the centers services will be available to children of all racial backgrounds. As of today, Portland Public Schools has not received any communication from the U.S. Department of Education concerning the complaint, communications director Candice Grose wrote in a statement. Should we receive any correspondence, we will review it thoroughly and respond in accordance with our commitment to equity and compliance with federal guidelines. The center, she added, represents our ongoing commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all students, not just Black students, to feel seen, valued and heard. While it was born from a need to address long-standing inequities that have impacted Black learners, its purpose is part of our larger mission to ensure equity and excellence for every student in the district. Its unclear how long it will take the U.S Department of Education to review the complaint. The agencys press office didnt immediately return a request for comment Friday. The department opened a separate civil rights investigation into Oregons largest school district in March based on the districts decision to allow a transgender girl to participate on her high schools track team. No decisions have been announced in that case. The district submitted a response to the federal agency last spring but has not heard anything in return, districty communications chief Candice Grose said. The Center for Black Student Excellence, which is projected to open in two to three years in the section of North Portland that was once home to Oregons thriving Black community, is designed to offer after-school tutoring, summer camps and other enriching experiences beyond the school day. District officials have said they plan to invite Black-led nonprofits to offer such services. District voters approved creation of the center as part of a $1.2 billion 2020 school construction bond that set aside $60 million to cover its capital costs. The federal department is providing Portland Public Schools about $70 million of the districts roughly $2 billion budget this school year. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Education again signaled its strong stance against programs that aim to address historic underperformance by student groups that have faced discrimination in U.S. schools and colleges. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon hailed her agencys moves to discontinue grants designated for Hispanic serving colleges as well as other higher education grants geared toward improving the performance of students of color. Such programs are often referred to as promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI. This is another concrete step from the Trump Administration to put a stop to DEI in government and ensure taxpayer dollars support programs that advance merit and fairness in all aspects of Americans lives, McMahon said in a statement. The West Linn-Wilsonville school board voted unanimously Thursday to close two small West Linn schools at the end of this school year, a painful and politically unpopular step that other Oregon districts are likely to face amid sinking enrollments. Due largely to falling birth rates but also a surge of interest in private and online schools, brick and mortar public schools in Oregon have seen their enrollment fall by more than 50,000 students, or about 10%, since 2018. Beaverton and Portland are actively looking for schools they might close to balance their budgets in coming years, and the Corvallis school board voted last month to shutter two of its schools in June. In somber tones, West Linn-Wilsonville leaders acknowledged the school board voted in January not to close any schools in 2026. But they said enrollments at Bolton and Stafford primary schools, both of which are beloved by families, plunged further than the districts consultant predicted, extra state funding for special education did not materialize and employee pension expenses skyrocketed, forcing them to reconsider. Closing the two schools will save about $1.5 million a year, Superintendent Kathy Ludwig said. The school board also voted to close the districts preschool program at least temporarily. Board members said they want to focus available funds on kindergarten through high school offerings, which the district is mandated to offer. The district has shed students, particularly in West Linn, a predominantly high income community, and currently serves about 8,600. Wilsonville, which has more affordable housing, has continued to grow, and the district will open a new primary school, Frog Pond, in the city next fall. Both Bolton and Stafford schools were projected to have fewer than 240 students next year, putting economies of scale out of reach. The districts other primary schools have 350 to 500 students each. The district has yet to decide on new school attendance boundaries and where current Bolton and Stafford teachers and other employees will go, Ludwig said. West Linn-Wilsonville families are allowed to request transfers to a school other than the one designated for their neighborhood. A spokesperson for the district didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. Beaverton school district leaders have said the superintendent could bring the school board recommendations about school closures or consolidations as soon as February. Discussions about potential closures in spring 2024 generated significant pushback. But leaders there and elsewhere have acknowledged that operating small schools is increasingly challenging in Oregon, given school funding and enrollment trends. Stand in awe before a towering Douglas fir in an Oregon forest, and you might believe youre experiencing the majesty of old growth. But according to environmental educator Ross Reid, what most of us consider impressive forest landscapes are merely shadows of what once existed. In an archived episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, Reid, who is known for his presence on social media as Nerdy About Nature, explains why our perception of forests has been fundamentally altered by what weve lost. Its this concept known as shifting baseline syndrome where were limited in what we think is normal based on our experiences, Reid said on the podcast. The people who are living in this part of the world a hundred years ago had a radically different perception of the forest around them versus the one we have now. Generative AI was used to summarize a recent episode of the Peak Northwest podcast. This story was reviewed and edited by The Oregonian/OregonLive. This psychological phenomenon, where each generation accepts a more diminished version of nature as normal, has profound implications for conservation efforts, Reid said. If we cant recognize what weve lost, how can we work to protect or restore it? Bushwhacking through the rain forest of the Devil's Staircase Wilderness, one of Oregon's last true old-growth forests, in the Coast Range. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian Reid offered tangible examples of the differences between second-growth and old-growth forests that go beyond just tree size. Pit mound topography is a concept in an old growth forest where you have bigger, older trees falling over naturally ... and you end up with a really undulating bit of terrain, Reid said. A lot of the forests we have in the Pacific Northwest, especially the second growth ones, you walk around, its fairly easy to walk off trail because its all kind of flat. Throughout the episode, Reid explained how old-growth forests create unique habitats that are impossible to replicate in younger stands. For instance, bears in British Columbia rely on hollowed-out cavities in old Western red cedar trees for denning structures that take centuries to form. A towering western redcedar tree is the highlight of the Rockaway Beach Old Growth Cedar Preserve on the north Oregon coast. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian The conversation reveals how industrial forestry has not just changed how forests look, but fundamentally altered their ecological function. Second-growth forests managed for timber production lack the structural complexity, genetic diversity, and ecological relationships that develop in forests allowed to mature naturally over centuries, Reid said. For anyone who loves hiking through Pacific Northwest forests, the interview offers a new lens through which to view familiar landscapes. Reid challenges listeners to look beyond their initial impressions of big trees and green canopies to recognize the subtler signs of ecological complexity that distinguish truly ancient forests from their younger counterparts. 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. One of Portlands most innovative coffee shops is abandoning Old Town after a decade. >> Business opening or closing in your neighborhood? Email the reporter at vnocera@oregonian.com. Former Nike shoe developer Ian Williams opened Deadstock Coffee the citys first sneaker culture-inspired coffee shop 10 years ago. The concept began as a small stand inside nearby streetwear boutique Compound Gallery, before expanding in 2016 to a 500-square-foot space of its own at 408 N.W. Couch St. But Old Town has changed over the years. Compound Gallery closed in 2023 after 21 years as a prime sneakerhead destination. In January, sneaker consignment store Index will follow suit. Come next year, Deadstock Coffee will have joined that list. I know that weve been in Old Town holding the block down for a long time, but its time to move on, Williams said in a Friday Instagram video. Sometimes real good things come to an end. Dec. 31 will be the last day to visit Deadstock Coffee at its Northwest Couch Street location. Deadstock Coffee, a sneaker-themed coffee shop in downtown Portland owned by Ian Williams. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian Ian Williams, owner of Deadstock Coffee, a sneaker-themed coffee shop in downtown Portland, creates signed, dated and limited edition coffee bags for the shop. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian Instead, Williams will be shifting focus to Deadstocks Beaverton location, which opened at 12305 S.W. Broadway St. in fall 2024. That space is nearly five times the size of the original Portland store. Deadstock combines caffeine and kicks into a beloved Portland destination, its Old Town shop adorned with vintage Nike posters and shelves of sneaker displays. The shop has roasted all its own coffee beans since 2017, according to the website. To commemorate 10 years in Northwest Portland, Williams is planning a Decade of Dope celebration to take place at Deadstock sometime this month. He also said returning to the neighborhood later down the line isnt out of the question. I know it might sound sad, it might sound somber, but were gonna be back, Williams said. Were just gonna take a little break for a bit. Bill Fuller didnt just make great wines. He was also a devoted family man, world traveler and a mentor who went out of his way to help people. Fuller died Dec. 14 in Vancouver, less than a month before he would have turned 89. The co-founder of Tualatin Vineyards in Forest Grove, Oregon, Fuller was part of the first wave of winemakers to set up shop in the Willamette Valleys post-prohibition era, and the first to arrive with significant commercial winemaking experience. Born Jan. 12, 1937, in Tulare, California, William Lee Fuller grew up in nearby Visalia. With an aptitude for the sciences, Fuller graduated from San Francisco State University in 1958 with a bachelors degree in chemistry, as well as a minor in mathematics. After college, Fuller moved to Cloverdale, California. There he taught chemistry at the high school while working part-time in the lab at Italian Swiss Colony, a large winery based in Asti, California. Wine proved more appealing to Fuller than riding herd over teenagers, so at age 22, he abandoned his teaching career to take over quality control for Italian Swiss Colonys massive bottling lines. Fullers next move was to San Francisco, where he oversaw quality control at a can manufacturing plant. In 1962, Fuller enrolled at the University of California, Davis to learn how to make wine. Bill Fuller's first ever pinot noir release made with estate fruit came from the 1975 vintage. Michael Alberty/For The Oregonian Bill Fuller poses in 2021 with grape clusters growing on one of Tualatin Estate Vineyards' oldest vines. Michael Alberty/For The Oregonian One of Fullers assignments at UC Davis was to complete a harvest with a local winery. Fuller completed his assignment in the fall of 1963 at Louis M. Martini Winery in St. Helena, California. Fuller must have made a good impression, because after graduating from UC Davis, the Martini family hired him as a winemaker, a role he held for nine years. While working at Louis M. Martini Winery, Fuller met William Bill Malkmus, an investment banker based in San Francisco. Malkmus was an avid amateur winemaker seeking advice on starting a commercial winery. The two Bills hit it off, leading them to join forces to find a spot for their new winery. Thanks to an advertisement in a wine trade magazine, that spot turned out to be a hillside spot with excellent drainage and a southwest exposure seven miles from downtown Forest Grove, Oregon. Malkmus and Fuller named their winery Tualatin Vineyards and planted their first vines early in the early summer of 1973. That first planting of vines that Malkmus and Fuller brought from California included 30 acres of white riesling, pinot noir, chardonnay, gewurztraminer, muscat, Muller-Thurgau and flora. An additional 40 acres of vines were planted the following year. Eager to make wine and create a cash flow, Fuller purchased fruit from Washington vineyards to make his debut wines at Tualatin Vineyards. Fullers first wine made with estate fruit was the 1975 Tualatin Vineyards Pinot Noir. Bill Malkmus and Bill Fuller at Tualatin Estate Vineyard with the first young vines. Photo courtesy of Willamette Valley Vineyards This 1949 Studebaker is a fixture at Tualatin Estate Vineyard in Forest Grove, Oregon. Michael Alberty/For The Oregonian Blue highway signs pointing the way to Oregon wineries were a part of Bill Fuller's legacy. Michael Alberty/For The Oregonian The world soon realized that Fuller knew what he was doing. At the 1984 International Wine & Spirits Competition in London, the 1981 Tualatin Vineyards Willamette Valley Chardonnay and the 1980 Estate Pinot Noir beat out over 1,000 entries from around the world to take two of the 15 trophies awarded. In 1989, a Tualatin Vineyards chardonnay became the first ever Oregon wine to earn a spot on Wine Spectator Magazines Top 100 list. Making great wines was one thing, but Fuller knew that he also needed to attract visitors to his winery so they could buy those wines. He wanted to put up a road sign, but he soon learned you needed permission from the federal government to put a blue gas, food and lodging sign on any road receiving federal funding. While his former wife, Virginia, launched a letter-writing campaign, Fuller worked with Bill Blosser of Sokol Blosser Winery and other colleagues in the Oregon wine industry to push the necessary regulations through Congress so that wineries could deploy the blue signs to attract visitors. In a 2020 interview with David Adelsheim for Adelsheim Vineyards Founders Stories series, Fuller called the blue signs program for wineries one of his top achievements in Oregon. Another important part of Fullers legacy is his advocacy for the industry he loved. Fuller co-founded the Oregon Wine Growers Association and served multiple terms as its president. Fuller also served on the Board of Directors for the American Society for Enology and Viticulture, helping to promote technical and educational improvements in winemaking. In 1997, Tualatin Vineyards merged with Willamette Valley Vineyards, and Fuller retired from winemaking. After the merger, the winerys name changed to Tualatin Estate Vineyard. Today the estates vines cover approximately 170 acres. We lost a great one a great partner to his wife, Connie, a great friend, business partner, winemaker and Oregon wine industry pioneer, Jim Bernau, founder and president of Willamette Valley Vineyards, said in a press release. Bill Fuller celebrated the 50th anniversary of his first vintage of estate wine this past August at Tualatin Estate Vineyard. Lauren Druse In 2013, Bernau persuaded Fuller to come out of retirement to craft limited-edition wines and mentor a new generation of winemakers at Willamette Valley Vineyards. Last August, Fuller celebrated his 50th vintage of winemaking in Oregon with a party at Tualatin Estate Vineyard. While Fuller was known to be persnickety when it came to making wine and growing grapes, he also possessed a winning sense of humor. Bill did not know any strangers; he could talk to anyone. His winning smile and pleasant nature drew people to him, said Connie Fuller, Bills wife. Bernau affirmed Fullers sense of humor. In 1996, while working on the merger, Bernau gave Fuller a vintage Studebaker pickup truck as a symbol of Tualatin Vineyards heritage. Bill liked to say that the truck was a 49, which he regarded as fairly new, Bernau said. Fullers daughter Joanne said she is proud of the fact that her father mentored so many people in the wine community, including helping many undocumented workers take advantage of amnesty windows to obtain green cards. I like to think that I inherited his work ethic, smarts and the ability to have fun, Joanne Fuller said. And what fun Bill Fuller had, especially when traveling the world with his wife, Connie. I think we went to Paris over 30 times, she said. He once quit his job so we could visit Alsace during harvest. I recently asked him if he knew anyone who had more fun than we did, and he said nobody, and gave me a kiss. In addition to his wife, Connie, Fuller is survived by his children, Bill Fuller Jr., Joanne Fuller and Suzanne Fuller; granddaughter, Caitlin; and former wife, Virginia. He was preceded in death by daughter Denise Fuller Arellano. A celebration of Bill Fullers life will take place at Tualatin Estate Vineyard in August 2026. -- Michael Alberty writes about wine for The Oregonian/OregonLive and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. He can be reached at malberty0@gmail.com. To read more of his coverage, go to oregonlive.com/wine not to realitya membrane that transposes the things that Caravaggio painted into a separate universe.but Production crews came for the regions ample sunshine and shooting locations and grew thanks to the virulently anti-union conditi INTERVIEWERIs it important that the viewer knows the boy is your son?DOIGPerhaps for people who know himSomeone prodded her to go look at my grandfather because she had r and followed by a plate of small cubes that felt like what eating (delicious) Alice Kaplan is the Sterling Professor of French and Director of the Whitney Humanities Center at Yale Un the Review commissioned the artist Jameson Green to paint a series of writers portraits for our new Summer issuean idea Green c What if Im walking down the street and one of my johns sees me and says hello? How funny would that be? How weird would that be? What if someone whos only ever seen me na that such a singular and original book was commissioned by no less a public bo From Jesse Balls The History of the Dolls and What They Did (Hanuman Editions):Lucy is my enemy.We see that in future will not be better than now and we think about the f MY WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN MAYONNAISEThere was a perverse ancillary reason that I This was a critical move that removed cyclical residential risk from the company's portfolio, allowing it to focus entirely on high-growth commercial opportunities. In July 2025, JCI finalized the sale of its residential and light commercial HVAC business to Bosch for $5.6 billion. Johnson Controls International (NYSE: JCI) stands out as a defensive cornerstone in this volatile market. While the broader technology sector dipped in mid-December, JCI shares showed remarkable resilience, rising approximately 1.7% during the sell-off. This stability stems from the company's successful strategic transformation into a pure-play commercial building solutions provider. As capital rotates from the volatile chip sector to the industrial body of the AI revolution, a new investment opportunity has emerged. Industrial giants providing the essential utilities that keep the digital economy running are now trading at attractive valuations. Unlike chipmakers, whose valuations often rely on speculative adoption curves, these infrastructure companies rely on signed contracts and physical engineering constraints. However, while the market debates which chip architecture will dominate the future of computing, the physical requirements of AI remain unchanged. Data centers are physical factories that convert electricity into intelligence. They cannot function without regulated power, massive cooling capacity, and water management. In mid-December 2025, the stock market experienced a significant psychological shift. High-flying semiconductor stocks, which had led the market for months, faced heavy selling pressure following earnings reports from major tech players like Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) and Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO). Investors began to question the immediate return on investment from massive capital expenditures in artificial intelligence (AI), leading to a sharp rotation away from chipmakersthe so-called brains of AI systems. Global water technology leaders are securing higher earnings by providing the essential liquid cooling and management systems required for modern computing. Industrial infrastructure companies are seeing surging demand for cooling and power systems needed to support high-density artificial intelligence data centers. Story Continues The Application-Layer Rotation: 3 AI Pure Plays Poised to Win in 2026 The company is now aggressively targeting the thermal management needs of data centers. The companys financial foundation provides a safety net for investors. JCI reported a record backlog of $16.6 billion, a figure that effectively guarantees revenue visibility well into 2026. This backlog acts as a buffer, insulating the stock from short-term fluctuations in chip demand because these orders represent committed infrastructure projects that must be completed regardless of daily stock market sentiment. Technologically, JCI is positioning itself at the forefront of the heat management revolution. In September 2025, the company launched its Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU). This hardware is essential for liquid cooling systems required to keep high-density AI servers from overheating. Furthermore, management has committed to a $5 billion accelerated share repurchase program, which provides a strong floor for the stock price during broader market volatility. The Power & Thermal Giant: Eaton Corporation Eaton Corporation (NYSE: ETN) is capitalizing on two major secular trends simultaneously: the modernization of the electrical grid and the rapid rise of liquid cooling. After a period of rapid appreciation, Eatons stock price recently pulled back to around $328, down roughly 18% from its highs. For investors looking for a long-term entry point into a market leader, this consolidation offers a rare opportunity. The most significant catalyst for Eaton is its $9.5 billion acquisition of Boyd Thermal, announced in November 2025. This deal fundamentally transforms Eaton from a company focused primarily on switchgear and power management into a dual-threat provider. By adding Boyds cold plate and liquid cooling technology to its portfolio, Eaton effectively doubles its addressable revenue for every data center rack it services. It can now power the rack and cool the chips inside it. Demand for these solutions is accelerating rapidly. In the third quarter of 2025, orders for Eatons Electrical Americas sector rose approximately 70%, driven almost entirely by data center projects. This metric shows that demand is not slowing. To meet this surging volume, the company announced a $50 million investment in its Virginia facility to ramp up the production of grid-to-chip power distribution systems. This capital expenditure confirms that management is putting money behind its bullish outlook, securing capacity for the next leg of growth. The Essential Resource: Xylem Inc. Water is often the overlooked constraint in AI computing. High-performance data centers consume massive amounts of water for their cooling loops, and moving that liquid requires specialized pumps and smart metering systems to ensure efficiency and sustainability. Xylem Inc. (NYSE: XYL) is the dominant player ensuring this flow continues uninterrupted. While water utilities are often viewed as slow-growth businesses, Xylem is posting growth numbers that rival technology companies. In the third quarter of 2025, the company reported revenue growth of 7.8% and a 23% increase in adjusted earnings per share. This performance is driven by the urgent need for efficient water management in industrial applications, including the data center sector. Strategically, Xylem is refining its portfolio to focus on high-margin opportunities. The company recently divested its international metering business for $125 million, with the expected closing in early 2026. This move is designed to concentrate resources on the more profitable North American market. Additionally, management has successfully navigated tariff risks by utilizing pricing power to protect profit margins. This demonstrates that the companys growth story remains intact despite global trade headwinds, making it a resilient addition to an infrastructure portfolio. The Future of Baseload: NuScale Power As data centers expand, the limitations of renewable energy are becoming apparent. Solar and wind power are intermittent, but AI training models require 24/7 uptime. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) offer a carbon-free solution that fits this specific need for constant, reliable baseload power. NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR) is at the forefront of this energy transition. The company achieved a commercial milestone in September 2025 by signing a historic agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and ENTRA1 to deploy up to 6 gigawatts of SMR capacity. This deal moves SMR technology from a theoretical concept to a commercial pipeline with tangible scale, validating the technology for future customers. Financially, NuScale has addressed investor concerns regarding liquidity. The company holds $753.8 million in cash and investments with no debt. This war chest ensures that NuScale has the runway it needs to execute its manufacturing phase without the immediate threat of equity dilution. For investors willing to tolerate higher volatility, NuScale represents the high-growth component of the infrastructure trade, offering exposure to the future of energy generation. Infrastructure Over Hype: Buying the Builders The current market recalibration surrounding semiconductor stocks is creating a mispricing of essential assets. While the valuation of chipmakers relies on speculative software adoption curves and margin sustainability, the companies building the industrial backbone rely on signed contracts, physical engineering constraints, and massive order backlogs. By investing in the landlords and utility providers of the AI revolution, investors can gain exposure to secular growth trends while anchoring their portfolios with industrial stability. The article "Forget the Chips: 4 Industrial Plays for the AI Rebound" was originally published by MarketBeat. as Grandpaever the nervous driverwould intermittently and suddenly press his right foot on the brake.There are eighty feet of frontage with generous window displays; they a poet of adamantine failure who while hes experiencing the heft of his own declaration teases himself and us with vows of love.Monterrosos memoir is also characteristically My downstairs neighbor and I discussed buying a thermometer to document how far below the legal residential temperature we were living.One evening I noticed a slice of a moo Its clear from the ecstatic production and obsessive insistence that Robyn herself is already in love.And to really wring the throat of absurdityhaving found publishers a ra Ive decided not to write any poems while Im looking because if I do write poems then I dont feel guilty f Kafkas characters are often hungrythe performer from A Hunger Artist has made starving himself into an art; Gregor Samsa from T like the people who memorize digits of pi or the order of cards in a deckso much as a disability.how does it feel to collaborate when youre setting text to music?ADAMSI onc His efforts at illuminating the rock books moved away from painting and toward photography in his final years.Bishop corrects the sunny image by drawing a line on the photo a Since launching out of Denver in 1998, budget carrier Frontier Airlines eventually expanded to serve over 100 destinations in the U.S. as well as a number of international cities in the tropics. While it grew its network by flying between smaller cities often not lucrative enough for mainstream airlines, Frontier has in recent years made a major push to expand internationally across Mexico and the Caribbean. At the start of the week, the airline announced five new flights to tropical destinations like Nassau, St. Maarten, and San Jose Del Cabo from Atlanta. A few days later, it followed with new plans to start flying Guatemala City and San Salvador from Houston, all before the end of the year. But even amid such expansion, Frontier has also been exiting markets it deems unprofitable. As first reported by local outlet HeraldNet, the carrier is canceling all three of its routes out of Paine Field Airport (PAE) in northwestern Washington State just seven months after launching. Frontier says demand in Paine Field "not sufficient enough to maintain the service" The three affected routes into the city of Everett, 30 miles north of Seattle, had been running twice a week each from Denver International (DEN), Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, since Frontier entered this new market in June 2025, to much fanfare about flying directly into the suburb. At the time, Frontier Senior Manager of Network Planning Stephen Shaw spoke of "strong unmet demand for low fares in this region [...] and for most people in this area." Related: Key travel brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy "It is fair to say the passenger demand wasn't sufficient to maintain the service," Frontier spokesperson Jennifer De La Cruz told HeraldNet in a statement. "[...] We greatly value our partnership with Paine Field and, as with any market departure, we will continue to evaluate a potential return at some point in the future." Locals were the first to notice that tickets for the route were no longer available for sale on Frontier's website. The last flights are scheduled to run on January 5, 2026, and the market exit leaves Alaska Airlines as the only commercial airline to serve Paine Field. Paine Field is a smaller regional airport north of SeaTac.Shutterstock Shutterstock Frontier flight out of Everett already booked? Here is what you need to do For affected travelers, Frontier has a policy in which any ticket within seven days of the travel date can be automatically returned for a full refund to the original form of payment. This applies to travelers with the lowest fare who cancel for personal reasons, as well as planned cancellations that are part of network changes or otherwise within the airline's control. The United States imposed sweeping sanctions on December 11, 2024, targeting three nephews of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's wife and six oil tankers in a major escalation of pressure on the regime over corruption and drug trafficking allegations. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control announced the measures against Franqui Flores, Efrain Antonio Campo Flores, and Carlos Erik Malpica Flores, all nephews of First Lady Cilia Flores. The action also sanctioned Panamanian businessman Ramon Carretero Napolitano and six shipping companies accused of moving Venezuelan oil through deceptive practices. Sanctions on Nicolas Maduro's Family Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the sanctions reverse the Biden administration's diplomatic approach toward Venezuela. "Nicolas Maduro and his criminal associates in Venezuela are flooding the United States with drugs that are poisoning the American people," Bessent stated. "Under President Trump's leadership, Treasury is holding the regime and its circle of cronies and companies accountable for its continued crimes." Two of the sanctioned nephews, Campo and Flores, earned the nickname "narco-nephews" after their 2015 arrest in Haiti during a Drug Enforcement Administration sting operation, according to Reuters. They were convicted in 2016 on charges of attempting a multimillion-dollar cocaine deal and sentenced to 18 years in prison. President Joe Biden released them in a 2022 prisoner exchange with Venezuela, but Treasury officials allege they resumed drug trafficking activities upon returning to Venezuela. The third nephew, Malpica Flores, previously served as national treasurer and vice president of Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA. He was initially sanctioned in 2017 for alleged corruption at the oil company but was removed from the sanctions list in 2022 as part of the Biden administration's diplomatic efforts. The Treasury redesignated him, citing his continued ties to government corruption. The sanctions freeze any US-based assets belonging to the designated individuals and prohibit American companies and citizens from conducting business with them. Financial institutions that violate these restrictions face penalties or enforcement actions. The action came one day after President Donald Trump announced the seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast. The designated tankers include four Panama-flagged vessels, one from Hong Kong, and one from the Cook Islands, all accused of manipulating location transmissions to hide their loading of Venezuelan oil, CNN reported. Ongoing Corruption Crackdown Six shipping companies face sanctions for operating in Venezuela's oil sector and using deceptive practices. The vessels recently loaded crude oil in Venezuela and were transporting it to Asia, according to PDVSA internal documents. The sanctions expand pressure on what US officials call Maduro's "narco-terrorist regime" and target the familial networks sustaining his government. Malpica, Campo, and Flores join Maduro himself, Cilia Flores, and several other family members already on the Treasury's sanctions list. Venezuelan officials have not immediately responded to requests for comment. Maduro and his government have consistently denied links to criminal activities, asserting that US sanctions aim to achieve regime change and seize control of Venezuela's oil reserves, as per Aljazeera. A Lancaster County man accused last month of attacking a pregnant woman and taking her 6-month-old daughter has been arrested in Ohio, according to local news reports. Pedro Vega-Rivera, 31, of Columbia, has been on the run since Nov. 12, when he took the baby after fleeing a tattoo shop in the first block of Carlisle Avenue around 4:30 p.m. The incident kicked off a large-scale search for Vega-Rivera and the girl, Amiyah Rivera. By 7:15 p.m. the next day, the 6-month-old girl was safely located, but Vega-Rivera remained at large. An affidavit of probable cause filed against Vega-Rivera said he threatened the mothers life while squeezing her neck with his hands and pinning her to the wall. Youre going to [expletive] die, [expletive]! he told her, according to the affidavit. York police charged Vega-Rivera with strangulation, a felony, as well as three misdemeanors: making terroristic threats, simple assault and unlawful restraint. He is also charged with a summary count of harassment. Vega-Rivera was arrested in Columbus, Ohio, according to CBS21 and WGAL. By Vinny Vella, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) A West Philadelphia man who set a fatal fire in the midst of a tumultuous breakup, killing his ex-girlfriends disabled sister, was convicted Friday of first-degree murder. A Delaware County jury ruled that Aaron Clark, 20, set the the December 2022 blaze in Darby Township that killed Olivia Drasher, sister of his ex-girlfriend, Amira Rogers. Drasher used a wheelchair. Clark also was found guilty of four counts of attempted murder, one each for the other occupants in the home. The fire was set on the homes porch, directly below Drashers bedroom, just after midnight. At the time, Drasher, her sister, their mother and Drashers full-time nurse were sleeping inside. Hours before the fire, Rogers ended her relationship with Clark after he choked her during an argument over his alleged infidelity, according to testimony during the five-day trial before Delaware County Court Judge Deborah Krull. In his closing argument, Clarks attorney, Michael Dugan, accused prosecutors of having tunnel vision and building the case against Clark at the insistence of Rogers and her family. This investigation began with a conclusion right from the jump, Dugan said. There was never any suspect, there was no investigation of anyone else, other than looking at this man. Dugan urged jurors to acquit Clark of all charges, saying a lack of eyewitness evidence and inconsistent scientific rulings on whether the fire was set intentionally introduced too much reasonable doubt. But jurors were not swayed. Assistant District Attorney Danielle Gallaher challenged Dugans assessment, telling jurors not to let the veteran defense attorney mischaracterize the evidence. This crime fits this defendant, she said. Arson is a very intimate crime, and its something a man who has been scorned would do. Gallaher said Rogers ended her 10-month relationship with Clark out of fear that he would harm her further. She reported his abuse to her local police department, and even filed a complaint with the United States Postal Service, where the two worked together in Southwest Philadelphia. But Clark, Gallaher said, could not stand to lose Rogers. He tried to kill her and everyone she loved, a family who loved each other unconditionally, Gallaher said. The defendant wanted to take it all away because he cant comprehend that. He doesnt have an ounce of compassion in him. Dugan told jurors that prosecutors had falsely painted Clark as homicidal and vindictive and noted that while the couple had a nasty argument two days before the fire, they had reconciled, posing for pictures in front of a Christmas tree hours later. Thats not someone whos in fear of her life, Dugan said of Rogers. Thats just someone whos in a bad relationship. Dugan characterized the prosecutions case as full of holes. One of Rogers neighbors, touted as an eyewitness, could not pick Clark out of a police lineup, he said. Arson experts said there was no evidence of any accelerant found at the crime scene. But Gallaher said there was more than enough evidence to connect Clark to the crime. The pants he was wearing when he was arrested tested positive for a petroleum-based accelerant, and cell-phone tower data showed he was near Rogers home at the time the fire was set. The most damning evidence, she said, were the text messages Clark sent Rogers in the hours before the fire, including telling her: hope you dont miss the show. Hes telling her hes going to create a spectacle, she said. He wants her to know that whatever happens, hes responsible. Believe him when he says that. A conviction for first-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Clark will be sentenced next month. By Kenrick Cai SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Alphabet's (GOOG) cloud computing unit and cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks (PANW) on Friday announced an expanded partnership that one source told Reuters was by far Google Cloud's largest security services deal. The contract comprises a commitment by Palo Alto to pay a sum "approaching $10 billion" to Google Cloud over several years, according to the person with direct knowledge of the matter. Executives at both companies declined to comment on the specific figures of the contract. Some of the spending will go into migrating Palo Alto's existing offerings to Google's platform, but a sizable portion will go into adding new services that involve artificial intelligence, Palo Alto president BJ Jenkins told Reuters. More from Yahoo Scout How are both companies investing in AI-driven security solutions? What strategic advantages does this deal provide Google Cloud? What is the value of Google Cloud's partnership with Palo Alto Networks? How will AI drive new cybersecurity services in this partnership? "AI has spawned a tremendous amount of demand for security," said Matt Renner, chief revenue officer for Google Cloud. But while some business functions like software development have been fundamentally altered by AI, cybersecurity remains in its nascency. "This is the same as when the cloud began to emerge and there were new security threats that no one had ever imagined," Jenkins said. Cyberattacks are increasingly being perpetrated by the same generative AI tools that security providers are using to strengthen defenses. Both Google and Palo Alto have invested heavily into security software as enterprises seek to adopt AI. Google's $32 billion acquisition of security firm Wiz is pending regulatory approval. Palo Alto launched AI-driven offerings in October and announced plans to buy software company Chronosphere for $3.35 billion last month. Renner said the new deal is the latest showcase of Google Cloud's advantageous positioning as AI reshapes the competitive landscape against hyperscaler rivals Amazon and Microsoft. The two companies have been strategic partners since 2018. Palo Alto CEO Nikesh Arora was a longtime Google executive, serving as its chief business officer until 2014. (Reporting by Kenrick Cai in San Francisco; Editing by Stephen Coates) An Allentown-area man is accused of stealing more than $600,000 in checks and 40+ debit and credit cards from various victims, police said. Cesar Eduardo Martes-Cedano, 24, is charged with one count of felony unauthorized use of an access device and two counts of misdemeanor unauthorized use of an access device. South Whitehall Township police announced the charges against Martes-Cedano Thursday on the departments Facebook page. Court records did not immediately list an attorney representing Martes-Cedano Police said the investigation began after detectives received a report involving a local business, and then authorities identified several other potential victims. Investigators obtained a search warrant and raided Martes-Cedanos property. They seized stolen checks, debit and credit cards, and numerous fraudulent documents and electronic devices that contained evidence of fraudulent activity, police said of the search. While in possession of a stolen corporate credit card from the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley, Martes-Cedano bought $900 worth of items in April at Dicks Sporting Goods and Walmart, both in Whitehall, the Morning Call reported, citing court records. He tried to use the card at a Best Buy store, but it was declined, the report stated. The investigation into the case remains ongoing by South Whitehall Township Police Department and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Martes-Cedano was arraigned Nov. 25 before District Judge Daniel C. Trexler, who initially set bail at 10% of $150,000. On Dec. 2, a judge decreased Martes-Cedanos bail to $75,000. Unable to post bail, Martes-Cedano remained Friday at the Lehigh County jail. Court records show Martes-Cedano gave up his right to a preliminary hearing on Dec. 2 before Trexler. The judge sent all the charges to the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas, where Martes-Cedano could stand trial. Martes-Cedano is due to appear in county court for a formal arraignment tentatively scheduled for Jan. 16 before Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Judge Robert L. Steinberg. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call South Whitehall Police Detective Tyler Doherty at 610-398-0337. A Pennsylvania woman has been sentenced to time served since June and will not face a longer jail stay after killing her elderly mother with a punch to the chest. Krystal Slepski, a 43-year-old resident of Reserve Township, in Allegheny County, punched her 73-year-old mother Patricia Kachinko during an argument on June 2 at Kachinkos home on Pittsburghs North Side, reported the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The punch broke Kachinkos sternum. Police said Kachinko suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and used an oxygen tank. Kachinko was taken to a hospital where she died 22 days later. Police initially charged Slepski with homicide, but she pleaded down to involuntary manslaughter. A robbery charge was withdrawn in September, according to online court records. An Allegheny County judge on Wednesday sentenced her to between four and eight months in prison, or time served since June. Slepski will also serve four years on probation. Citing a criminal complaint, the Trib reported that police were called to Kachinkos address after Slepski punched her boyfriend in the face. Police left, though, and Slepski began harassing her mother for calling them. A witness called Kachinko, who told the person to call 911. Slepski then hung up the phone, and the witness could no longer reach Kachinko. Police said the confrontation became physical and Slepski punched her mother in the chest. After more than a week of accusations and even a comment from the Church of Satan, country music star Zac Brown has finally broken his silence regarding the social media buzz that his residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas has created. For folks that missed it, the imagery used in the show prompted some on social media to accuse Brown of performing a satanic ritual. Video from Browns Dec. 12 performance in Las Vegas shows him addressing the issue with crowd at the end of the night,per Taste of Country. Thank yall for such an incredible, incredible night tonight, Brown told the crowd. I want to say a little something about this show because theres a lot of people that picked it up online saying that we are doing some kind of satanic ritual or something like that. I dont think we can put any more love and light into a show than what we put into this one. Fans cheered as Brown continued. And I think there are forces out there that dont want this message to get out, so if you get a minute drop somebody a comment or something online thats trying to say that we are trying to worship the devil which is horseshit, he added. The band began its Love & Fear residency on Dec. 5, and as Whiskey Riff noted, videos from the opening of the show appeared to be a descent into Hell. TikTok videos shared from the concert show Brown playing while wearing a crown that looked a whole heck of a lot like horns while being surrounded by skeletal, Devil-like images. Some fans took it and ran with it. So, with all the noise around the show, TMZ took it a step further and actually reached out to the Church of Satanabout the accusations and asked if what folks saw was actually a Satanic ritual. Satanic Rev. Jared Mammon told TMZ that the imagery was, in fact, not part of any such ritual. The outlet said that Mammon told them the uproar was part of decades-old hysteria where folks identify everything that amounts to glorified Halloween decorations as Satanic. TMZ said Mammon encouraged folks who are frightened by theatrical skeletons wearing crows to pause for a moment to reflect on their knee-jerk reaction and consider the implications before jumping to lengths worthy of an Olympic gold medal. It remains to be seen how this take from the Church of Satan or Browns declaration will land with the fans who lashed out at the band about its show because things were not pretty on social media. Very popular American country rock band The Zac Brown Band performed at the Las Vegas Sphere, Isaacs Army wrote on X. As you can see here he is performing a Satanic Ritual over his unsuspecting fans during the show. This is a classic case of Loosh harvesting. Zac Brown Band performed a demonic ritual at the sphere, Truth Seeker posted on X. Most of these concerts are energy harvesting rituals. PROVIDENCE, R.I. Thirty years ago, Claudio Neves Valente and Nuno F.G. Loureiro were classmates with bright futures. Both excelled in physics and made their way from their home country of Portugal to the U.S., settling on the campuses of prestigious East Coast universities. But Neves Valentes path took a darker turn than his former peer. Investigators say the 48-year-old fatally shot two students last week at Brown University in Providence, where he was a graduate student in the early 2000s, and later killed Loureiro, who led one of the largest laboratories at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Authorities have offered no motive for the shootings or elaborated on what, if any, history was between the two men. Neves Valentes was found dead Thursday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a New Hampshire storage facility, ending a search that started with last Saturdays shooting in a Brown lecture hall, where nine other people were also wounded. Authorities believe that on Monday, two days after the Brown shooting, Neves Valente shot Loureiro at the professors home in the Boston suburbs, about 50 miles from Providence. An autopsy found Neves Valente died Tuesday. In high school, Neves Valente had been a promising physics student, but he was let go from Portugals premier engineering school, Instituto Superior Tecnico, in 2000 and withdrew from a Brown University graduate program three years later without a degree. Before his death, he was renting a room in a home in a working class Miami neighborhood, the past two decades of his life a mystery. What he was doing for a job was unclear. One witness to the Brown shooting noted he was wearing the kinds of pants and shoes that are typical of restaurant workers. Neves Valente and Valente were in the same academic program in Portugal Neves Valente was born in Torres Novas, Portugal, about 75 miles north of Lisbon. As a high school student, he competed in a national physics competition in 1994, coming in third place, according to a Portuguese physics magazine. Five of the top finishers got to compete in an international competition the following year in Australia. From 1995 to 2000, he was in the same physics program in Lisbon with Loureiro, federal prosecutor Leah B. Foley said. Loureiro graduated from Instituto Superior Tecnico in 2000, according to his MIT faculty page. A termination notice from the Lisbon universitys then president shows that Neves Valente was let go from a position at Instituto Superior Tecnico that same year. Neves Valente was a graduate student at Brown Neves Valente came to Brown that fall as a graduate student on a student visa. Brown University President Christina Paxson said he took a leave in 2001 and formally withdrew effective July 31, 2003. Around that time, he posted on the Brown physics website that he was back home in Portugal and had dropped out of the program permanently, according to a webpage saved by the Internet Archive. Then in Portuguese, he added: And the moral of the story is: The best liar is the one who manages to deceive himself. These exist everywhere, but at times they proliferate in more unexpected places. During his time at Brown, he enrolled only in physics classes. Paxson said it is likely that he would have taken courses and spent time at the building where the shooting occurred because thats where the vast majority of physics courses take place. However, detailed records indicating where classes were held dont extend back to 2001. Paxson said Brown found no indication of any public safety interactions or other concerns while Neves Valente was a student. As of yet, we have not identified any employee who recalls Neves Valente nor is there any Brown record of recent contact between this individual and Brown, Paxson said. Renting a room in Miami In September 2017, Neves Valente obtained legal permanent residence status in the U.S., Foley said. It was not immediately clear where he was between taking a leave of absence from the school in 2001 and getting the visa in 2017. His last known address was about 10 miles north of Miami. The yellow house with a red roof is in a working-class neighborhood that features large houses, mostly with fenced backyards and basements. Some neighbors who talked with The Associated Press on Friday said they had never seen Neves Valente. Edward Pol, a race car mechanic who lives across the street from the home, said the owner rents some rooms to people. He said he never talked to Neves Valente but had seen him several times, most recently two or three months ago. He said the Portuguese man was always busy, standing outside and on phone calls. He realized the man was the suspect when he saw his pictures on the news Friday morning. A man who answered the door through an intercom at the home said he was the homeowner but declined to identify himself or make any comment. Loureiro was excelling While Neves Valentes life remained a mystery, his former classmate Loureiro was excelling. Loureiro joined MIT in 2016 and was named last year to lead the schools Plasma Science and Fusion Center, one of its largest laboratories. The 47-year-old scientist from Viseu, Portugal, had been working to explain the physics behind astronomical phenomena such as solar flares. Portugals top diplomat said Friday that the government was taken aback by revelations that a Portuguese man is the main suspect. There are still a lot of unknowns in regard to motive, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said. We dont know why now, why Brown, why these students and why this classroom. WASHINGTON The Trump administration launched military strikes Friday in Syria to eliminate Islamic State group fighters and weapons sites in retaliation for an ambush attack that killed two U.S. troops and an American civilian interpreter almost a week ago. A U.S. official described it as a large-scale strike that hit 70 targets in areas across central Syria that had IS infrastructure and weapons. Another U.S. official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operations, said more strikes should be expected. This is not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trumps leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on social media. The new military operation in Syria comes even as the Trump administration has said its looking to focus closer to home in the Western Hemisphere, building up an armada in the Caribbean Sea as it targets alleged drug-smuggling boats and vowing to keep seizing sanctioned oil tankers as part of a pressure campaign on Venezuelas leader. The U.S. has shifted significant resources away from the Middle East to further those goals: Its most advanced aircraft carrier arrived in South American waters last month from the Mediterranean Sea. Trump vowed retaliation President Donald Trump pledged very serious retaliation after the shooting in the Syrian desert, for which he blamed IS. Those killed were among hundreds of U.S. troops deployed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition fighting the militant group. Trump in a social media post said the strikes were targeting IS strongholds. He reiterated his backing for Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who Trump said was fully in support of the U.S. effort. Trump also offered an all-caps threat, warning IS against attacking American personnel again. All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A., the president added. The attack was conducted using F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters, the U.S. officials said. F-16 fighter jets from Jordan and HIMARS rocket artillery also were used, one official added. U.S. Central Command, which oversees the region, said in a social media post that American jets, helicopters and artillery employed more than 100 precision munitions on Syrian targets. How Syria has responded The attack was a major test for the warming ties between the United States and Syria since the ouster of autocratic leader Bashar Assad a year ago. Trump has stressed that Syria was fighting alongside U.S. troops and said al-Sharaa was extremely angry and disturbed by this attack, which came as the U.S. military is expanding its cooperation with Syrian security forces. Syrias foreign ministry in a statement on X following the launch of U.S. strikes said that last weeks attack underscores the urgent necessity of strengthening international cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms and that Syria is committed to fighting ISIS and ensuring that it has no safe havens on Syrian territory and will continue to intensify military operations against it wherever it poses a threat. Syrian state television reported that the U.S. strikes hit targets in rural areas of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces and in the Jabal al-Amour area near the historic city of Palmyra. It said they targeted weapons storage sites and headquarters used by ISIS as launching points for its operations in the region. IS has not said it carried out the attack on the U.S. service members, but the group has claimed responsibility for two attacks on Syrian security forces since, one of which killed four Syrian soldiers in Idlib province. The group in its statements described al-Sharaas government and army as apostates. While al-Sharaa once led a group affiliated with al-Qaida, he has had a long-running enmity with IS. The Americans who were killed Trump this week met privately with the families of the slain Americans at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware before he joined top military officials and other dignitaries on the tarmac for the dignified transfer, a solemn and largely silent ritual honoring U.S. service members killed in action. The guardsmen killed in Syria last Saturday were Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown. Ayad Mansoor Sakat, of Macomb, Michigan, a U.S. civilian working as an interpreter, also was killed. The shooting near Palmyra also wounded three other U.S. troops as well as members of Syrias security forces, and the gunman was killed. The assailant had joined Syrias internal security forces as a base security guard two months ago and recently was reassigned because of suspicions that he might be affiliated with IS, Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba has said. The man stormed a meeting between U.S. and Syrian security officials who were having lunch together and opened fire after clashing with Syrian guards. By Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News (TNS) A 48-year-old Florida woman is accused of killing both of her ex-husbands in separate incidents on the same day. Manatee County authorities claim Susan Erica Avalon shot one of her victims two times shortly before 3 p.m. on Wednesday in Bradenton. Detectives tracked Avalon down and found her at home cleaning her minivan with bleach and rags, according to Florida station WWSB. When authorities told her they had questions about her ex-husband, she reportedly asked, Which one? That led investigators to her other alleged victim, whom they found fatally wounded by multiple gunshot wounds in Tampa. The back door to his home showed signs of forced entry. Police said they located the suspect by reviewing video of her stealing food from the pickup window of a Panera Bread restaurant, which she took to her first victims home. When he opened the door, she opened fire, police said. The 54-year-old man later died in a hospital. Avalon and the unidentified victim had reportedly been divorced for 11 years. She was said to have been $4,000 behind in child support payments, which she was required to pay in part this month. Authorities said the suspect had been involved in custody battles with both of her alleged victims. Avalon was reportedly arrested on a child abuse charge in 2004, but other abuse cases against her were dropped. Avalons issues are believed to involve five children from her two marriages. She was living with a boyfriend at the time of Wednesdays murders. Cops said Avalon told that man on Tuesday that she wanted him to know she loves him in case something happens to her. Winds gusting as high as 68 miles-per-hour in central Pennsylvania knocked down trees throughout the region on Friday, including the official city Christmas tree in downtown Harrisburg. Late Friday, the fully-decorated tree, located outside the Martin Luther King Jr. Government Center on North 2nd Street, was spotted on its side surrounded by plastic jersey barriers. Many trees and power lines throughout Dauphin, Cumberland, Lancaster and York counties were downed during the strong winds. It is unclear when the tree will be reinstalled. An immigrant from Africa has become the second person since August to die in ICE custody at a Pennsylvania detention center. Fouad Saeed Abdulkadir, a 46-year-old from Eritrea in northeast Africa, experienced medical distress on Dec. 14 and died at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Clearfield County, according to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) statement. Abdulkadir had been held for 215 days awaiting an immigration hearing. Abdulkadirs death comes after Chinese immigrant Chaofeng Ge was found Aug. 5 hanging by his neck in a shower stall with his hands and legs tied behind his back. Ge had been arrested in July in Dauphin County. In November, Ges family filed a lawsuit seeking information on his case. ICEs statement said that Abdulkadir complained about chest pain and was taken to the medical department where CPR was given. Emergency medical personnel were called but pronounced Abdulkadir dead. Abdulkadir had been a permanent resident since April 2018. Six years later, he was convicted of wire fraud and theft of public money in Ohio and sentenced to 21 months in prison. An immigration detainer and arrest warrant for Abdulkadir was issued in the summer of 2024 while he was held in a low-security federal prison in Union County. He was then transferred to Moshannon Valley, said ICE. A Pennsylvania teenager was killed Friday when a sliding car struck a pole and then her. Pittsburgh police said the accident occurred at about 2:50 p.m. on Brownsville Road in the citys Carrick neighborhood. A statement from Pittsburgh Public Schools identified the girl as high school senior Ishara Kami, reported WPXI-TV. A student in the Health Tech program, she was known for her kind spirit, helpful nature, and the genuine care she showed to others, the districts statement said. She was well-loved by her peers, an all-around good students and a true joy to have in class. Police said a car traveling on Brownsville Road began sliding on slick roads and collided with a pole. It continued sliding and struck Kami, 17, who was standing on the sidewalk. Paramedics performed CPR on Kami and took her to a hospital where she later died. Police said the driver of the car remained at the scene. After temperatures in the 50s on Thursday, cold, windy weather and snow squalls hit the Pittsburgh area on Friday. A dry cold front will move through central Pennsylvania tonight, bringing gusty winds on Sunday with temperatures dropping throughout the day. No significant precipitation is expected. Wind will be the primary weather concern Sunday, with gusts increasing behind the cold front. Thousands are already without power in Pennsylvania after Fridays high winds. On Saturday, temperatures will reach the lower 40s in southern parts of the state, with 30s elsewhere, before falling Sunday. The northwest corner of the state, particularly Warren County, could see light snow showers, but accumulations over an inch are expected only in the far northwestern portions, with little to no snow elsewhere. Looking ahead, two potential mixed precipitation events are on the horizon. The first arrives Monday night into Tuesday, starting as snow before transitioning to rain in the southwestern half of Pennsylvania. The Harrisburg area is expecting rain on Tuesday. A second system could affect the state Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, again bringing rain. Temperatures will be marginal for freezing rain from University Park northward and eastward, with highs potentially reaching above 50 degrees in southwestern areas and 40s elsewhere. The National Weather Service notes that chances for a white Christmas look poor for central Pennsylvania. Winter begins tomorrow, Dec. 21. Current weather radar A senior promoter behind the collapsed crypto platform IcomTech has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for his role in a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme that targeted working-class, Spanish-speaking investors across the United States. Key Takeaways: An IcomTech promoter was sentenced to nearly six years for running a crypto Ponzi scheme. The platform used fake guaranteed returns to recycle investor funds. Mendoza must repay victims and forfeit assets. Magdaleno Mendoza was sentenced on Thursday to 71 months in prison, according to the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York. Prosecutors said Mendoza played a central role in promoting IcomTech, a purported crypto mining and trading company that launched in mid-2018 and unraveled by the end of 2019. IcomTechs Guaranteed Returns Masked Classic MLM-Style Crypto Ponzi IcomTech promised investors guaranteed daily returns from cryptocurrency mining and trading. In reality, the operation functioned as a classic multi-level marketing Ponzi scheme, using funds from new investors to pay earlier participants while senior promoters diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars for personal use. In addition to prison time, Mendoza was ordered to pay $789,218.94 in restitution and forfeit $1.5 million, along with his home in Downey, California, which prosecutors said was purchased using proceeds from the scheme. Court filings show Mendoza was one of IcomTechs most senior promoters and maintained close contact with founder David Carmona. He hosted recruitment events at his own restaurant in the Los Angeles area, collecting large amounts of cash from attendees. Promoters traveled nationwide hosting flashy expos, arriving in luxury vehicles and designer clothing, while investors were shown dashboards displaying profits they could not withdraw. By August 2018, investors began encountering delays and excuses when attempting to cash out. IcomTech responded by introducing a proprietary token called Icoms, which promoters claimed would eventually be used for payments. The token ultimately proved worthless, further compounding investor losses. The sentencing also covered Mendozas illegal reentry into the United States after deportation. Prosecutors said he had been removed from the country four times, once under a false identity, and continued promoting crypto Ponzi schemes even after IcomTech collapsed. IcomTech Mastermind Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison Several other figures connected to IcomTech, including founder David Carmona and multiple senior promoters, have already been convicted and sentenced. China's emphasis on education vital to its AI push: Turing Award winner Xinhua) 09:49, December 20, 2025 HONG KONG, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The resources China funnels into college education, along with its vast talent pool, will help foster the development of artificial intelligence (AI), said 1986 Turing Award winner John Edward Hopcroft on Friday on the sidelines of the inaugural Hong Kong AI Art Festival. "Chinese students have an advantage because they live in a country which really believes that education in AI is important," Hopcroft told Xinhua. He devoted much of his life to AI education and has taught at multiple Chinese universities. Hopcroft said Chinese universities gave him the leeway to hire capable faculty and supported his vision of improving the quality of education. "I find it very enjoyable because I can have an impact," said Hopcroft. Hopcroft is a proposer of Project 101, a nationwide pilot project spearheaded by China's Ministry of Education to enhance undergraduate education. First rolled out in computer science in 2021, it has since expanded to eight fundamental disciplines including mathematics and chemistry. The AI arm of the project was launched in 2024. The project resulted in the creation of the "best content for courses in AI in Mandarin," said Hopcroft. He said that China is making a difference in AI education because the textbooks are available online for students, teachers and anyone interested in the subject. Noting that Chinese universities have many of the best students in the world who are very good at solving problems, Hopcroft encouraged them to look beyond technical skills and cultivate creativity and personal goals. "You only get one life to live. You should figure out what you enjoy and then develop a career that you enjoy," he said. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Kou Jie) Shareholders appeared unconcerned with Future plc's (LON:FUTR) lackluster earnings report last week. Our analysis suggests that while the profits are soft, the foundations of the business are strong. AI is about to change healthcare. These 20 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10bn in marketcap - there is still time to get in early. LSE:FUTR Earnings and Revenue History December 20th 2025 How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit? To properly understand Future's profit results, we need to consider the UK25m expense attributed to unusual items. It's never great to see unusual items costing the company profits, but on the upside, things might improve sooner rather than later. We looked at thousands of listed companies and found that unusual items are very often one-off in nature. And that's hardly a surprise given these line items are considered unusual. Assuming those unusual expenses don't come up again, we'd therefore expect Future to produce a higher profit next year, all else being equal. That might leave you wondering what analysts are forecasting in terms of future profitability. Luckily, you can click here to see an interactive graph depicting future profitability, based on their estimates. Our Take On Future's Profit Performance Unusual items (expenses) detracted from Future's earnings over the last year, but we might see an improvement next year. Based on this observation, we consider it likely that Future's statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! Unfortunately, though, its earnings per share actually fell back over the last year. The goal of this article has been to assess how well we can rely on the statutory earnings to reflect the company's potential, but there is plenty more to consider. If you want to do dive deeper into Future, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. For example - Future has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of. Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of Future's profit. But there are plenty of other ways to inform your opinion of a company. Some people consider a high return on equity to be a good sign of a quality business. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks with high insider ownership. 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. Key Points Kohl's has outperformed the S&P 500 this year, but is still woefully behind over the past five years. A low quick ratio puts a lot of pressure on declining inventory sales to cover current liabilities. Interest eats up all of Kohl's operating income, so it's no surprise the retailer had to significantly cut its dividend. 10 stocks we like better than Kohl's Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) stock surprised the naysayers with a 64% surge this year, but its five-year chart shows what more people would expect from a declining clothing retail stock. Its 42% drop during that time doesn't come close to the S&P 500's (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) 83% gain over the same time frame, but the index is only up by 16% this year. The company offers a 2.18% yield at current levels, but narrow profit margins limit future dividend growth. It's also not a good sign that Kohl's cut its dividend by 75% earlier this year. The stock has shown signs of life this year, largely due to its status as a meme stock. It joins Krispy Kreme, Opendoor Technologies, and Rocket Companies as the DORK stocks, an acronym that refers to the four hottest meme stocks in 2025. Is Kohl's nothing more than a meme play, or is there some value behind the name? Here's what investors should know. It's hard to compete against the retail giants Image source: Getty Images. Walmart, Costco, and Target are the three retail giants, and the former two have been pulling away from the latter. This context is important for Kohl's stock, since those three retailers offer almost every possible item, including clothing. Why shop at Kohl's when you can buy affordable clothing and groceries at one of the retail giants? These retail giants let you get everything done in one trip, and Kohl's doesn't give people that luxury. That may be part of the reason Kohl's had yet another quarter that featured year-over-year decreases in net sales and comparable sales. Fewer people are buying from Kohl's locations, and when they show up, they are spending less than they did one year ago. Walmart and Costco don't have that problem and continue to gain market share. Not only is competition intense, but Kohl's also has low profit margins, which normally hover below 1%. That doesn't give Kohl's any leeway if costs go up or additional tariffs are enforced. It won't even get better for the rest of the year, with Kohl's anticipating net sales dropping by 3.5% to 4% for the full year. Analysts expect full-year comparable sales to drop by 2.5% to 3% year over year. Out-of-pocket medical expenses often get overlooked because theyre only deductible if they exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) . But if youve had a high-cost medical year, prepaying January appointments or procedures could push you over that threshold. Dental work, vision care, and prescription costs all count. Timing your charitable donations can help you maximize your tax deduction. If you're close to the itemization threshold, try bunching several years of donations into the current year (e.g., donating $6,000 this year instead of $3,000 annually). This strategy helps you clear the itemization limit. Just make sure the donation is completed by December 31. For credit card donations, the charge date counts, even if you pay the bill in January. If your lender allows it, consider prepaying your January mortgage payment. This allows you to deduct the interest portion on your 2025 tax return, rather than waiting until 2026. The same rule applies to property taxes , but be sure to check your state's regulations on when payments are officially counted. The standard deduction amounts for 2025 have increased for all filing statuses. Its now $15,750 for single filers, $31,500 for married filing jointly, and $23,625 for head of household. If your itemizable expenses exceed these amounts, itemizing makes sense. If youre close to the threshold, consider prepaying expenses that could push you over the line. For example: One of the easiest ways to increase your refund is to pull next years deductible expenses into this year. If you itemize deductions , prepaying certain bills before December 31 could push you over the standard deduction threshold . Or, it could simply add to what youre already claiming. Dont worry, you dont need to make a financial overhaul. And were not talking about organize your receipts or find your W-2. These are actionable steps that directly affect your refund size, and you can take care of most of them within days, not weeks. What is tax-loss harvesting and how does it work? The end of the year is your last window to make smart tax moves that could fatten your tax refund (or shrink your bill) come filing season. Many credits and deductions come with a December 31 deadline, so timing matters. Correct any withholding errors before the final paycheck of the year. Investment losses can offset gains, but watch out for the 30-day wash-sale window. Story Continues Turn Unused Accounts Into Refund Boosters Putting money into retirement accounts cuts your tax bill now and builds your future. Contributions to a traditional IRA or 401(k) lower your taxable income directly, which means you keep more money when you file. 401(k) A 401(k) allows you to contribute money pre-tax, thus lowering your current taxable income. The funds then grow tax-deferred until retirement. Plus, most employers offer a matching contribution. The 2025 contribution limit is $23,500 if youre under 50. Once you hit 50, you can add catch-up contributions: Ages 50 to 59: An extra $7,500 (total of $31,000) Ages 60 to 63: An extra $11,250 (total of $34,750) Contributions count for the year you make them. If youre trying to increase yours before year's end, ask your employer when payroll changes take effect. Traditional and Roth IRAs Traditional IRA contributions may cut your taxes now, depending on your income. Roth contributions dont help this year, but your withdrawals will be tax-free in retirement. Choose the IRA contribution based on when you want the tax break. You can put in $7,000 for 2025, or $8,000 if youre 50 or older. You have until April 15, 2026, to fund your IRA for the 2025 tax year. Note that Roth contribution limits begin to phase out once your modified AGI hits $150,000. HSAs and FSAs If you have a high-deductible health plan, a health savings account (HSA) is valuable. Money goes in, grows, and comes out tax-free for medical costs. Unlike a flexible savings account (FSA), HSA funds never expire. For 2025, the limit is $4,300 for individuals and $8,550 for families. While you have until April to contribute, payroll contributions often end in December. Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are stricter: you typically forfeit any unused funds. If you have FSA funds remaining, use them by December 31 to cover eligible expenses, such as glasses, dental work, or prescriptions. Balance Gains and Losses in Your Portfolio If youve sold investments at a profit this year, you face a capital gains tax bill. You can reduce or eliminate this bill through tax-loss harvesting, by using losing positions to offset those gains. How Tax-Loss Harvesting Works Offsetting gains: Sell investments that have dropped in value before year-end. These realized losses cancel out your capital gains dollar-for-dollar. Offsetting income: If your losses exceed your gains, you can use up to $3,000 of the excess to offset ordinary income. Any remaining losses roll forward to future tax years. The Wash-Sale Rule To claim the loss, you must avoid the wash-sale rule. This rule disallows the loss if you purchase the same or a "substantially identical" security within 30 days before or after the sale date. To avoid the wash-sale rule while remaining in the market, immediately reinvest the proceeds into a similar but not identical security (e.g., selling one S&P 500 fund and buying another). You must wait at least 31 days before repurchasing the original security. Tax-loss harvesting is most effective when you have large gains or have experienced significant market volatility. Its not necessary for investments held in tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs, where annual gains and losses dont affect your tax bill. Revisit Withholding and Estimated Payments The final weeks of the year are the last opportunity to adjust your tax payments and avoid an interest-free loan to the government or a surprise bill. Withholding (for Employees) Your withholding determines how much tax comes out of each paycheck. If your income changed due to a raise, a side gig, or a change in your spouse's employment, your current W-4 form may be outdated. To avoid having too little withheld and owing a lot of tax, CPA Caroline Hartmann said, Revisit your tax withholding once a year or when you experience a major life change or change jobs. The general rule is if you owe more than $1,000 in taxes, or are receiving a large refund, its a sign your withholding amount is off and you should adjust it up or down. Submit a new W-4 to your employer before the final payroll of the year. Even one adjusted paycheck can significantly close the gap between taxes paid and taxes owed. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator or 2025 Form W-4 Step 4(b)Deductions Worksheet can help you calculate the correct amount. Plug in your year-to-date income, withheld taxes, and expected deductions to see if you are on track. Estimated Payments (for Self-Employed) If youre self-employed or have significant income that doesnt come from a paycheck, withholding doesnt apply. Instead, youre supposed to make quarterly estimated tax payments. Miss those and you might face underpayment penalties, even if you pay everything you owe when you file. The fourth-quarter deadline for the 2025 tax year is January 15, 2026, but you can make a payment in December if it helps you sleep better. There is no penalty for paying early, and it could increase your refund if you underestimated what you owe. Combining Strategies If youre an employee who also has self-employment income, you can use your W-4 withholding to cover your quarterly tax liability. Instead of making separate estimated payments, you can increase your W-4 withholding. The IRS treats withholding as if it were paid evenly throughout the year, even if the bulk came out in December. This strategy can help you avoid underpayment penalties if you neglect quarterly payments. Tip Run the numbers nowwaiting until January means you lose the chance to adjust your 2025 tax liability. Make Smart Moves if Youre Self-Employed Self-employment lets you control your tax bill, but you need to act before the year runs out. Business expenses paid this year reduce your taxable income this year. Wait until January, and they dont help until 2027. Buy Equipment or Pay Business Expenses Before December 31 If you need a new laptop, camera, or other equipment, buy it now to maximize your deduction. Section 179 lets you deduct the full cost of qualifying business expenses in the purchase year, up to $1,220,000 for 2025. Defer Income Until Next Year CPA Hector Castaneda said, If youre expecting a significant payment from a client or year-end bonus, it can be smart to hold off until January to bill it or collect it (depending on whether youre cash basis or accrual basis). He also noted, Youre not avoiding income; youre simply managing when it appears on your return. Bonus depreciation adds more savings. For 2025, you can immediately deduct 60% of equipment costs beyond the Section 179 limit. Prepay January software subscriptions, stock up on supplies, or pay contractor invoices before year-end. If the business expense is ordinary and necessary, its deductible. Set up or Contribute to a Solo 401(k) or SEP IRA For self-employed workers, the two key savings vehicles are the Solo 401(k) and the SEP IRA, both of which offer high contribution limits: Solo 401(k): You can contribute as both the employee (up to $23,500 or $31,000 if you're 50 or older) and as the employer (up to 25% of your net self-employment income). The combined total caps at $70,000 for 2025 ($77,500 with the catch-up contribution). Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRAs: Only the employer (you) contributes, up to 25% of your net self-employment earnings. This plan does not allow catch-up contributions, but you can establish and fund it until your tax filing deadline, offering greater flexibility. Given the extra time allowed for retirement contributions, many tax and financial planners, including Castaneda, recommend clients hold off on their contributions until after calculating their taxes. He said, In one case, we had a client who had sold some property prior to the end of the year, and they were facing a tax bill of over $26K beyond their withholdings. By applying their entire proceeds from the sale to their already established 401(k) plan (as an employer contribution), we were able to get them a small refund. Log Any Mileage and Calculate Home Office Expenses Its generally better to track expenses as you go: record your mileage and home office expenses while the details are fresh. The standard mileage rate for 2025 is 70 cents per mile driven for business, medical, or charitable purposes. To qualify for home office deductions, you need a dedicated space used exclusively for businessa combined office space/guest bedroom wont do. Most taxpayers use the simplified method of $5 per square foot (up to 300 square feet). Alternatively, if you maintain accurate records, you can track and deduct actual expenses. Take Advantage of Time-Sensitive Credits Tax credits reduce your bill dollar for dollar. Several of them require action before the year runs out. Energy Efficiency Credits The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit covers windows, doors, insulation, and HVAC upgrades. You can claim up to 30% of costs, up to $1,200 per year. Heat pumps and similar equipment have a separate $2,000 limit. The Residential Clean Energy Credit covers solar panels, geothermal systems, and wind turbines at 30%. Warning Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit and Residential Clean Energy Credit apply only to improvements made by Dec. 31, 2025. Electric Vehicle Credits New Electric Vehicles (EVs) acquired on or before Sept. 30, 2025, qualify for a credit of up to $7,500, but face strict requirements on assembly, price, and battery capacity. Income limits for the credit are $300,000 (joint), $225,000 (head of household), $150,000 (single). Used EVs under $25,000 and at least two years old qualify for up to $4,000 if purchased by Sept. 30, 2025. Income limits are $150,000 (joint), $112,500 (head of household), $75,000 (single). Education Credits The American Opportunity Tax Credit offers up to $2,500 per student for the first four years of college. The Lifetime Learning Credit provides up to $2,000 per return for any post-secondary education. Both phase out if your MAGI is between $80,000-$90,000 (single filers) or $160,000-$180,000 (joint filers). Pay tuition or fees before the year ends to claim them for the 2025 tax year. The Bottom Line December provides a crucial, final window to boost your 2025 tax refund. To lower your taxable income, focus on accelerating deductions and maxing out contributions to tax-advantaged accounts. Review your investments to harvest losses. And make sure you claim time-sensitive credits for items like electric vehicles or home energy upgrades before the deadline. A few well-timed moves now can substantially increase your refund or help you avoid a tax surprise. Read the original article on Investopedia PR-Inside.com: 2025-12-20 02:30:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 422 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Brookside Cartersville Senior Living is Home for the HolidaysCARTERSVILLE, GEORGIA / ACCESS Newswire / December 19, 2025 / Cedar Communities is proud to announce the winner of its annual Model Room Contest, Home for the Holidays: a beautifully designed senior living suite at Brookside Cartersville.Located just minutes from downtown Cartersville, Brookside Cartersville is a modern personal care home that truly feels like home. "When we design a space, we think about the people who will live here - their routines, their memories, and the feeling we want them to have when they walk through the door," said Lacy Green, Administrator of Brookside Cartersville. "This room was created to feel comfortable, festive, and personal, so future residents can picture their own day-to-day lives here." From the moment you walk through the front doors of Brookside Cartersville, it's clear this is a special place. With soaring cathedral ceilings and a cozy central fireplace welcoming you in, the community offers warmth, comfort, and a sense of belonging right away.That feeling of "home" is what Brookside Cartersville is all about - and it's what makes this community so meaningful for the residents who live there every day.Many of Brookside's senior living suites feature fully enclosed porches, along with new wood laminate flooring and convenient kitchenettes in every suite. These thoughtful details allow residents to feel settled, comfortable, and independent in a space that is truly their own.Brookside Cartersville was selected for this honor in recognition of the care, creativity, and attention to detail shown in the winning suite. The community's administrator thoughtfully designed the room to feel warm, inviting, and festive, while still allowing future residents to picture their own furniture, memories, and traditions in the space. In the words of one of our happy resident's "I like how this room feels. It's cozy, it's familiar, and it reminds me of home during the holidays. So pretty." One look at the suite, and the Christmas spirit could be felt throughout the community - a reminder of how meaningful a thoughtfully designed space can be.Cedar Communities is proud to share this special room not only with those who tour, live, and visit Brookside Cartersville, but with the greater Cartersville community as well.For anyone exploring senior living options for themselves or a loved one, Brookside Cartersville continues to be a place where comfort, care, and a true sense of home come together.For more information about Brookside Cartersville: Website: www.brooksidecartersville.com Phone number: (770) 382-5683SOURCE: Cedar Communities PR-Inside.com: 2025-12-20 01:26:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 636 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / December 19, 2025 /WHY: New York, N.Y., December 19, 2025. Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) between February 15, 2022 and September 24, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important January 12, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm.SO WHAT: If you purchased Freeport-McMoRan securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Freeport class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=45553 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 12, 2026. 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 has 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 made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Freeport-McMoRan did not adequately ensure safety at the Grasberg Block Cave mine in Indonesia; (2) the lack of proper safety precautions constituted a heightened risk that could foreseeably lead to the death of Freeport's workers; (3) this constituted an undisclosed heightened risk of regulatory, litigation, and reputational risk; and (4) as a result, defendants' statements about Freeport-McMoRan's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Freeport class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=45553or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An 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 or 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 FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. PR-Inside.com: 2025-12-20 17:00:58 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 337 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / December 20, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. ("Alexandria" or the "Company") (NYSE:ARE). 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 Alexandria and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until January 26, 2026, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Alexandria 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 October 27, 2025, Alexandria reported below-expectation financial results for the third quarter of its fiscal year 2025 and, in particular, cut its full-year 2025 funds from operations, or FFO, guidance. The Company attributed the setback to lower occupancy rates, slower leasing activity and, most notably, a real estate impairment charge of $323.9 million with $206 million attributed to its Long Island City property.On this news, Alexandria's stock price fell $14.93 per share, or 19.17%, to close at $62.94 per share on October 28, 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 PR-Inside.com: 2025-12-20 17:01:01 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 420 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / December 20, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against StubHub Holdings, Inc. ("StubHub" or the "Company") (NYSE:STUB). 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 StubHub and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until January 23, 2026, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired StubHub 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 or around September 17, 2025, StubHub conducted its initial public offering ("IPO") of 34,042,553 shares of Class A common stock priced at $23.50 per share. Then, on November 13, 2025, StubHub issued a press release announcing its financial results for the third quarter of 2025. The press release revealed that free cash flow was negative $4.6 million in the quarter, a 143% decrease from the Company's free cash flow in the year ago period, which was positive $10.6 million. The press release further revealed that StubHub's net cash provided by operating activities was only $3.8 million, a 69.3% decrease from the year ago period, when the Company reported $12.4 million in net cash provided by operating activities. The same day, StubHub filed its quarterly report for the third quarter of 2025, which revealed that the quarter's year-over-year decrease in free cash flow "primarily reflects changes in the timing of payments to vendors." On this news, StubHub's stock price fell $3.95 per share, or 20.9%, to close at $14.87 per share on November 14, 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 PR-Inside.com: 2025-12-20 17:00:55 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 408 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / December 20, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Freeport-McMoran Inc. ("Freeport" or the "Company") (NYSE:FCX). 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 Freeport 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 Freeport 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 September 9, 2025, Freeport issued a press release announcing the suspension of mining activities at its Grasberg Block Cave operation in Indonesia, after "a large flow of wet material from a production drawpoint . . . blocked access to certain areas within the mine," trapping seven workers. The press release further stated that mining operations in the area "have been temporarily suspended to prioritize the safe evacuation of the . . . workers." On this news, Freeport's stock price fell $2.80 per share, or 5.99%, to close at $43.87 per share on September 9, 2025.Then, on September 24, 2025, Freeport provided an update on the incident, reporting that two of the seven workers were "fatally injured" and that the remaining five workers "remain missing." The press release further stated that mining operations in the area remained suspended.On this news, Freeport's stock price fell $7.69 per share, or 16.95%, to close at $37.67 per share on September 24, 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 PR-Inside.com: 2025-12-20 17:00:45 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 550 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / December 20, 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 PR-Inside.com: 2025-12-20 17:00:51 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 494 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / December 20, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Perrigo Company plc ("Perrigo" or the "Company") (NYSE:PRGO). 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 Perrigo and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until January 16, 2026 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Perrigo 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 February 27, 2024, Perrigo reported fiscal year 2023 earnings, revealing significant acquisition and integration-related charges, including a purported one-time cash cost of an additional $35 million to $45 million for remediations to address production and facility issues in its infant formula business. The Company also disclosed a 50% decline in earnings per share compared to the prior year due to infant formula remediation actions.On this news, Perrigo's stock price fell $4.87 per share, or 15.14%, to close at $27.30 per share on February 27, 2024.Then, on May 7, 2024, Perrigo released earnings for the first quarter ended March 30, 2024, revealing the significant negative impact of Perrigo's costly actions to augment and strengthen its infant formula business.On this news, Perrigo's stock price fell $3.28 per share, or 9.8%, to close at $30.15 on May 7, 2024.Then, on August 6, 2025, Perrigo issued a press release announcing earnings for the second quarter ended June 28, 2025, revealing the Company's adjusted gross profit decreased $30 million, or 6.9%, due in part to "production variability in infant formula, leading to an increase in product scrap in the quarter." Finally, on November 5, 2025, Perrigo issued a press release, announcing the Company "is initiating a strategic review of its infant formula business" including a "a full range of alternatives." The press release revealed Perrigo is "reassessing the Company's previously announced investment in this business of $240 million." On this news, Perrigo's stock price fell $5.09 per share, or 25.2%, to close at $15.10 per share on November 5, 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 PR-Inside.com: 2025-12-20 00:00:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 491 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / December 19, 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 TikTok has finalized a deal with new US owners including Oracle, MGX, and Silver Lake. However, these investors will not have significant control over key business areas, according to an internal memo. What Happened: TikTok has reached an agreement with Oracle, Abu Dhabi investment firm MGX, and private-equity firm Silver Lake for a joint-venture agreement. These new investors will focus on national security-related tasks, such as data management and algorithm training. However, TikToks current owner, ByteDance, will retain control over key business lines, including e-commerce and advertising. TikTok CEO Shou Chew has stated that the new investors will not be in control of core business lines like TikTok Shop or ad sales, but they may still participate in the profits of the business. The US joint venture, built on the foundation of the current TikTok US Data Security (USDS) organization, will operate as an independent entity with authority over US data protection, algorithm security, content moderation and software assurance, while TikTok globals US entities will manage global product interoperability and certain commercial activities, including e-commerce, advertising, and marketing, as quoted by Business Insider Chew wrote in the memo. Also Read: One in Five Americans Gets News From TikTok Up From Just 3% In 2020 The deal, expected to close in late January, will give Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX a combined 45% stake in the US joint venture. ByteDance will maintain ownership of just under 20% of the US business, but retain oversight of the rest of the world and manage TikTok USs e-commerce, advertising, and marketing strategies. Why It Matters: This deal signifies a significant shift in the ownership structure of TikToks US operations. While the new investors will have a substantial stake in the company, their control over key business areas will be limited. This arrangement ensures that ByteDance, the original owner, retains control over crucial business lines, thereby maintaining its influence over the companys strategic direction. The focus of the new investors on national security-related tasks aligns with the US governments concerns about data privacy and security on the platform. This deal could potentially pave the way for similar arrangements in other tech companies where national security concerns are paramount. Read Next Trump Amplifies TikTok Demanding Ban on Dishonest' Media Following Charlie Kirk Assassination PR-Inside.com: 2025-12-20 00:24:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 642 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / December 19, 2025 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Integer Holdings Corporation (NYSE:ITGR) between July 25, 2024 and October 22, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important February 9, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Integer 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 Integer class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=49170 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 9, 2026. 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 has 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 made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Integer materially overstated its competitive position within the growing electrophysiology ("EP") manufacturing market; (2) despite Integer's claims of strong visibility into customer demand, Integer was experiencing a sustained deterioration in sales relating to two of its EP devices; (3) in turn, Integer mischaracterized its EP devices as a long-term growth driver for its cardio and vascular ("C&V") segment; (4) as a result of the above, defendants' positive statements about Integer's business, and operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Integer class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=49170 call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An 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 FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. PR-Inside.com: 2025-12-20 12:30:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 466 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TechBullion spotlights the best remote staffing partners driving efficiency and success for modern distributed businesses.AUSTIN, TX / ACCESS Newswire / December 20, 2025 / Somewhere is honored to be named the #1 best remote staffing agency of 2025 by TechBullion, which has released its definitive list of the Best Remote Staffing Agencies in 2025. This annual ranking recognizes the companies driving innovation in remote hiring, distributed operations, and cross-border team management-and we are proud to be recognized for our leadership in delivering async-ready, cost-efficient global teams and advancing the future of distributed work.The report draws from client interviews and operational case studies, evaluating agencies on factors like async fluency, communication clarity, compliance capabilities, and long-term placement success. The research underscores how remote staffing has shifted from a convenience to a core operational strategy for modern businesses.Somewhere Ranked #1 Best Remote Staffing AgencySomewhere earned the top position for its consistent performance in helping companies hire pre-vetted, globally distributed talent across 18+ countries. With transparent headhunting fees and a six-month Perfect Hire Guarantee that includes a free replacement for any reason within the first six months, the company offers a level of confidence and protection uncommon in the industry. Supported by a rigorous vetting process, including async workflow testing and advanced communication screening, they filter for the top 1% of talent, ensuring every candidate is prepared to excel and to seamlessly integrate into distributed team environments.TechBullion's analysis found that companies working with specialized remote staffing agencies like Somewhere are seeing significantly faster hiring times and better retention compared to traditional recruiting firms. The publication emphasized that workflow compatibility and async discipline are now just as critical as technical skills when hiring remotely.The 7 Best Remote Staffing Agencies in 2025In addition to Somewhere, TechBullion recognized six other firms for their excellence in specific categories:Somewhere - Best remote staffing agency overallRemoteFirstRecruiting - Best for async-first startupsCrossover - Best for enterprise-scale operationsTuring - Best for pre-vetted tech talentDistantJob - Best for senior technical hiresSupportNinja - Best for CX and back-office supportAndela - Best for engineering in emerging marketsRemote Hiring RedefinedTechBullion's research reinforces that global hiring now depends on more than talent access - it requires operational alignment. The best remote staffing agencies combine recruitment expertise with a deep understanding of async communication, timezone strategy, and compliance infrastructure.About SomewhereWith a global team of 180+ professionals spanning 12+ countries, Somewhere connects over 4,000 businesses-from startups to enterprises-with world-class remote talent across South Africa, Latin America, the Philippines, and beyond. By delivering exceptional professionals across every function-from Virtual Assistants and SDRs to Full-Stack Developers and Heads of Finance, Somewhere helps businesses to build high-performing global teams at a fraction of traditional hiring costs.Read the full 2025 report at TechBullion.com Media contact: Thomas Graham - +1 512 333 2407 / Thomas@ BlackElkDigital.com SOURCE: Black Elk Digital. Agri-food entrepreneurs, policymakers, financiers and development partners on Thursday met in Abuja to discuss the state of Africas agri-food sector and outline strategies for growth, financing and regional expansion ahead of 2026. The gathering was organised by African Food Changemakers (AFC) as its 2025 End-of-Year Agri-Food Entrepreneurs Mixer and attracted over 500 participants across Nigeria and other African countries, both in-person and virtually. AFC is a female-founded, pan-African non-profit organisation with a community of over 8,500 agri-food entrepreneurs across 49 African countries. According to the organisers, the hybrid event was deliberately structured as a strategy-setting platform, aimed at positioning agri-food entrepreneurs at the centre of conversations on food security, climate resilience, financing and trade across the continent. Speaking at the event, the Executive Chair of African Food Changemakers, Temi Adegoroye, said the mixer reflected the growing strength of Africas agri-food ecosystem and the importance of collaboration. This gathering is more than an end-of-year celebration. It reflects the strength of Africas agri-food community and the power of collaboration in shaping the continents food future, Mr Adegoroye said. He emphasised that across different regions and value chains, African agri-food entrepreneurs have increasingly demonstrated that community-driven solutions were critical to building resilient and inclusive food systems. Financing gaps, policy challenges Discussions at the event highlighted persistent challenges facing agri-food small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly limited access to finance, climate risks and market barriers, despite the sectors central role in employment and food security. A board member of African Food Changemakers and Senior Policy Specialist at the FAO Subregional Office for Eastern Africa, Jerome Afeikhena, said agri-food SMEs remained the backbone of African economies. Agri-food SMEs are the backbone of African economies, accounting for about 90 percent of businesses and over 80 percent of jobs across the continent, Mr Afeikhena said. He warned, however, that access to finance remained the biggest constraint to growth. Despite their importance, agri-food SMEs face a financing gap of nearly 180 billion dollars, making access to finance the single biggest constraint to growth, he said. Mr Afeikhena added that Africas agri-food transformation would depend largely on how quickly SMEs adopted technology, strengthened climate resilience and accessed innovative financing models. Role of financial institutions Also speaking at the event, the Group Head, Finance Facilitation at the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Michael Adeoye, stressed the need to scale agribusinesses across the continent. Scaling African agribusinesses is not optionalit is critical for food security, job creation, poverty reduction, and sustainable economic growth, Mr Adeoye said. He explained that NIRSAL was established to address structural weaknesses in agricultural value chains and facilitate sustainable finance for the sector. Through risk-sharing mechanisms, agricultural lending can be de-risked, making finance more accessible to agribusinesses, he said. Looking ahead to 2026 The Operations Manager of African Food Changemakers, Ruth Egbe, said the focus for the coming year must shift from survival to preparedness. As we look ahead to 2026, our focus must shift from resilience to readinessensuring African agri-food entrepreneurs are prepared to scale, compete, and collaborate across borders, Ms Egbe said. She reaffirmed AFCs commitment to promoting African-led solutions and strengthening linkages between entrepreneurs, policymakers and capital providers. Key themes from the event included the role of agri-food SMEs in Africas economic transformation, closing financing gaps, technology adoption, climate resilience, and opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Awards of excellence were presented to vibrant Agri-Food entrepreneurs impacting the ecosystem through sustainable innovations, trade and market excellence, storytelling, capacity building, and community engagement. TikToker Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, has apologised to his followers and Nigerians, following his arrest and detention by Lagos State Police Command for an alleged suicide attempt. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Lagos State Police Command arrested and detained Peller after a deliberate car crash on the LekkiEpe Expressway in Lagos. The 20-year-old TikToker was taken into custody following an incident during an emotional livestream that occurred after a reported breakup with his girlfriend and fellow TikToker Amadou Aminata, popularly known as Jarvis. However, in a video shared online on Friday evening, Peller lamented that he was overwhelmed by his emotions, saying he would avoid such actions in the future. I am sorry for everything I do. I allowed my emotions to get the better of me; thats why I behave that way. You can abuse me, I didnt behave that way intentionally, please, forgive me. The TikTok celebrity further pleaded with Nigerians to desist from bullying his supposed girlfriend, Jarvis, saying she knows nothing about his actions. Jarvis Following Pellers car crash, Jarvis reportedly faced backlash and cyberbullying, prompting her to visit Pellers mother, where she claimed to discuss his well-being and the end of their relationship. Please, dont bully Jarvis, its not on her. It does not concern her; its on me. I am really sorry, Peller added. Peller proposed to Jarvis in December 2024. However, in September, Jarvis disclosed that she has yet to marry despite their engagement, citing issues linked to Peller. Since then, their relationship has been rocked with online disagreements and social outbursts on different occasions. 2025 has been a strong year for Nollywood. From hard-hitting crime thrillers like To Kill a Monkey and Herd, to feel-good romantic comedies such as Love in Every Word, and epic spectacles like Lisabi, the industry has delivered back-to-back films that respect viewers time and attention. And just when it feels like the pace might slow down, The Covenant arrives. Directed by the late Dimeji Ajibola and produced by Vincent Okonkwo, The Covenant is an emotionally charged crime thriller that offers no easy comfort. It dives into the grim realities of kidnapping, armed violence, family loyalty, and institutional failure, issues that dominate Nigerian headlines but are often quickly forgotten. This is not the familiar, soft-edged Nollywood covenant story one might hurriedly suggest. Instead, it is a tale of survival in a country where danger has become routine, and staying alive is sometimes the only promise left to keep. Plot The film opens at a military bivouac, where a notorious militia group suddenly ambushes soldiers. In the chaos, some of the men escape, led by Dagogo. But safety turns to shock when he realises his younger brother, Celestine, is missing. Dagogo turns back to rescue him, only to watch helplessly as Celestine is captured right before his eyes. Two years later, Dagogo receives an unexpected call from a trusted and respected Reverend, claiming that Celestine has been sighted somewhere in the community. Confused and unsure whether to hope or fear, Dagogo returns home to confront a reality he has tried to bury. Waiting for him is unresolved family tension, especially with his mother, Stella. Dagogo harbours deep resentment toward her, believing she abandoned him and his brother. Celestine, however, sees their mother differently and insists there is more to the story than Dagogo knows. As Dagogo returns to the creeks in search of his brother, his relationship with Stella begins to shift, slowly and painfully. He discovers she is seriously ill and close to death, forcing him to confront emotions he has long avoided. But his search for Celestine leads him into something far darker: a hidden history and an old mystery that predates his own birth. Performance Like in every movie, the cast carries much of the films weight, and they do so convincingly. Leading the charge is Sola Sobowale, who delivers a phenomenal performance steeped in quiet rage and deep emotional resolve, the kind of restrained power she has perfected over decades. As Stella, a character around whom the film subtly revolves, Sobowale fully inhabits the role. Her use of pidgin English feels natural and lived-in, as expected from an actress who has done this terrain before. What makes this performance different, however, is its stillness. This is a role that demands actions louder than words, and Sobowale rises to the challenge. Gideon Okeke anchors the story as Dagogo, playing the character with emotional restraint and simmering intensity. He brings a believable physicality to the role of a military man, and his energy fits the Niger Delta setting well. While there are moments where the authenticity slightly wavers, his performance remains largely compelling and grounded. Zubby Michaels turn as Celestine is familiar territory, yet still effective. Roles like this helped launch his career, and he slips back into it with ease. His hot-and-cold performance aligns neatly with his gang name, Sting, giving the character an unpredictable edge. Segun Arinze adds veteran gravitas as Kalu, the Priest of the Sword. He plays the role with calm authority and restraint, proving once again that experience does not need excess. His presence is central to the films atmosphere, lending it the mystery and depth it requires. Uzee Usman contributes menace and weight where needed, ensuring his character leaves an impression. That said, the ethnic identity of his role remains unclear, whether he is meant to be a Niger Delta militant or an outsider who rose within the ranks. This ambiguity highlights a familiar issue with typecasting, which can limit how far an actor is allowed to stretch, even when the story calls for it. Overall, there are no wasted performances in The Covenant. Even amid chaos, the characters feel human, grounded, and emotionally believable. Technical Execution From a technical standpoint, The Covenant reflects Nollywoods steady growth. The production quality is solid, the action sequences feel sharp and believable, and the fight scenes carry a raw authenticity. The sound design is especially effective; it pulls the viewer into danger instead of loudly announcing it. Dimeji Ajibolas direction, already admired in Juju Stories, shows confidence and restraint. He understands when to press forward and when to slow things down. Sadly, the film also stands as a reminder of a talent lost too soon. Watching it, one cannot help but notice the weight of his absence. The Covenant feels like a quiet tribute to a filmmaker who was still finding new depths. Ajibola died on 3rd November 2024. He is also the director of the 2023 Shanty Town. What makes the film particularly unsettling is how closely it mirrors life in the creeks and slums of the Niger Delta. Realism and themes The opening scene, which shows a military hideout being attacked and overrun, feels disturbingly real. One of the films most painful moments comes when a commander desperately calls for backup, air support, and reinforcements, only to be met with silence. It is a scene Nigerians know too well. They have heard real recordings of soldiers pleading for help that never came, watched videos of abandoned troops and read about officers like Brigadier General Uba, captured and executed, before moving on to the following headline. The Covenant refuses that emotional distance. It forces confrontation. The film quietly indicts a system that often fails the very people standing between the nation and collapse. It raises uncomfortable questions about preparedness, communication, intelligence, and the value placed on the lives of men in uniform. It reminds us that soldiers are not just names in press releases; they are sons, brothers, and fathers with families waiting at home. Beyond insecurity, the film also explores financial hardship, family survival, and the quiet violence of poverty. It illustrates how desperation can bend morals, strain relationships, and force people into impossible choices. These moments are handled with restraint, using simple dialogue and familiar situations that feel uncomfortably close to home. The menace of kidnapping is another central theme, but unlike Herd, the story is told mainly from the perspective of Niger Delta militants, shedding light on both their motivations and the grim fate of victims in a country where abduction has become routine. The film also explores the hunger for power, vengeance, and the complex bonds of family. Its use of suspense is practical and necessary, keeping the tension alive throughout the narrative. Weaknesses If the Covenant falters, it is in its ambition. The story sometimes feels dense and overwhelming, juggling crime, family drama, political failure, and spiritual undertones all at once. Some viewers may struggle to fully immerse themselves in the story, especially in the early moments. Still, this messiness feels honest; Nigerias reality is rarely neat. There are also moments where the storytelling feels superficial. A character is shot dead in one scene and later reappears alive, saved by a mysterious woman, with only vague explanations offered. The film introduces multiple subplots but struggles to harmonise them. This becomes most obvious in the ending, which feels rushed and haphazard, as though it is setting up future episodes or a possible sequel for redemption. Verdict Despite its flaws, The Covenant remains a gripping and thought-provoking crime thriller. Rating: 6/10 The Covenant is now available to stream on Netflix. Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, attended the grand finale of the 40th National Quranic Recitation Competition, Borno 2025, where he announced a 20 million donation to support Quranic reciters and the promotion of Islamic education in Nigeria. The week-long competition, hosted by the Borno State Government, featured 296 contestants from 30 states of the federation, who competed across eight categories designed to test different levels of Quranic memorisation and recitation. The categories included: 5th Category (Male and Female) 10 Hizbs with Tangim; 4th Category (Male and Female) 30 Hizbs; 3rd Category (Male and Female) 60 Hizbs; and 1st Category (Male and Female) Qiraat. At the end of the competition, Borno State emerged overall winner in the male category, with Musa Ahmed Musa taking first place, while Hafsat Muhammad Sada of Kano State emerged overall female winner. Speaking after the announcement of results, Governor Radda congratulated the organisers and participating states, commending the Borno State Government under the leadership of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for successfully hosting the national event. The successful organisation of this competition is a clear testament to Borno States resilience, growing stability, and effective leadership, Governor Radda said. He noted that the smooth conduct of the competition and the wide participation of states reflected Borno States steady return to normalcy and renewed commitment to education, spirituality, and national unity. Events like this strengthen our shared values, promote unity, and reaffirm the central role of faith in building disciplined and responsible citizens, he added. Governor Radda reaffirmed Katsina States commitment to the promotion of Quranic education and moral development, stressing that sustained investment in religious education remains vital to building peaceful and God-fearing communities. Announcing his 20 million donation to Quranic reciters nationwide, the Governor described the gesture as a long-term investment in the future. This support is an investment in knowledge, faith, and the future of our young people, whose grounding in the Quran will help shape a more peaceful and morally upright society, he said. He also commended Islamic scholars, teachers, and traditional institutions for their consistent role in promoting discipline, unity, and moral values through religious education. Earlier, Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, described the hosting of the 40th edition of the competition as a strong indication of the return of peace and stability to the state. Hosting this landmark edition affirms our commitment to peace, education, and the noble pursuit of knowledge rooted in the Holy Quran, Governor Zulum said. He congratulated the winners and participants, noting that every contestant was a winner for standing to recite the Holy Quran with dedication and courage. The event attracted dignitaries from across the country, including the Wife of the Vice President, Mrs Nana Kashim Shettima; The Minister of Transportation Saidu Ahmed Alkali; Deputy Governor of Sokoto State; and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, among others. Governor Radda was accompanied by the Member representing Musawa/Matazu Federal Constituency, Hon Abdullah Aliyu; the Chief Judge of Katsina State, Justice Musa Abubakar Danladi; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Shehu Dabai and an APC stalwart Baba Jinjiri. Recently, the Abia State Government announced the acquisition of Star Paper Mill Ltd from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). This was after several years since the company went moribund, throwing thousands of direct and indirect staff into the labour market. The Star Paper Mill was a notable Aba-based Indigenous company that was outstandingly reputable for producing high quality paper materials, especially tissue papers and exercise books. At a point in Aba, if you didnt have Star exercise book as a primary or secondary school student, you were seen as a mugu. In line with his campaign promise to bring back to life all moribund industries that once impacted the economy of Aba in particular and the state in general positively, Governor Otti swung into action and began the process of recovering the company and others. While Governor Otti was making efforts to acquire the company, news filtered in that some other investors from outside the state were also making serious effort. In fact, a particular company had made an audacious offer, far bigger than the amount the state finally paid to acquire the company. Governor Otti swiftly deployed his contacts and influence, bringing his negotiation skills to bear and paving the way for the successful acquisition of the company. Governor Otti didnt just acquire the company on behalf of Abia State; he did so at a cost that shocked everyone N2.5billion. If youre a businessman or come from a family that has a business background in Aba, you will appreciate that this is more than a masterstroke. In acquiring the company, Governor Otti took a few things into consideration. First, the job opportunities it would create when revitalised. Two, the insecurity it would help fight through job creation. Three, the popular brand thats about to be restored. Four, the pride of Aba that is being regained. Five, the encouragement and inspiration it would drive in the minds of other willing local investors, especially Abians. As expected, some people, especially members of the opposition have criticised the acquisition, describing it as a bad investment. The criticisms have largely been anchored on two grounds. One, that the companys assets, especially production equipment, have become obsolete and useless. Secondly, that printing press is no longer a lucrative business, therefore there would be no return on investment. These views, including those made in bad faith and aired without decorum are all respected. Thats part of democracy. However, as a Bende man with some business understanding, I would like to narrow it down to buying and selling, backed by some empirical data. Sometime in 2021, my boss, the present Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, had asked me to look for a location in Aba for the establishment of the branch of the about-to-be-opened Signature Bank. I got a six plot of land belonging to a well-known senior citizen. They were only disposed to selling the entire six plots at N600 million. I suggested to Dr Otti that part of the land could be used to build a shopping mall since we didnt need up to six plots for the bank. He asked me to go ahead and tidy up the discussion for the purchase. Midway into my discussion with the representatives of the sellers, I discovered that the children of the man were at war with each other over the property, so I called off the transaction. Fast forward to 2025, my kinsman, a businessman, purchased five plots of land in the same location for N1.5 billion. Thats N300 million per plot. Of course, this development is predicated on the transformational leadership of Governor Otti, which has impacted positively on the value of properties in Aba. I do not know the exact number of plots of land on which the Star Paper Mill Aba sits on, but anyone who has the smallest idea about the value of properties in the city presently will agree that the empty plot of the company located along Aba Owerri Road cannot go for anything less than N1billion, excluding the buildings. Additionally, the Star Paper Mill at Owerrinta occupies 10 hectares of land. If youre to measure by 500 square meters per plot, this would give you 200 plots. If a plot goes for N10 million, this would give you N2billion. This my laymans arithmetic did not consider the material assets of the company, especially in Aba. Simply put, Governor Otti has already generated a substantial profit for the state, even before production commences. Profitability Some of the items/services that are still being produced and rendered in large quantities today by a Paper Mill include, but are not limited to, paper bags, cartons for packaging, books of all kinds, Tissue papers, serviettes, souvenirs, etc. Demands for all these come in millions. The argument that the printing press is no longer profitable is baseless. Honestly, thats obviously an argument made in bad faith. In siting an industry, one of the most critical factors for consideration is population. Given the population of Aba in particular and Nigeria in general, and the high volume of demand for most of the aforementioned products, its safe to say that this is one of the most sensible and profitable investments a state government has made in Nigeria in recent times. The real challenge that was not mentioned Star Paper Mill didnt disappear because of lack of patronage, but because of government-induced failure. Because the Star Paper Mill was synonymous with quality, the cost of production was high. Sadly, when power generation became a serious issue, the company was unable to compete with goods being imported from China, which were cheaper due to the low cost of production. Solution With Governor Ottis intentional and patriotic involvement and investment in the power sector in Abia State, he is carefully laying the foundation for the re-industrialisation of Aba. This development would enable the Star Paper Mill to return to profitability following revitalisation. Conclusion I commend those who have genuinely asked questions and expressed concerns about the acquisition and governments intentions, and wish to restate Governor Ottis assurances that beyond de-risking the company by the government for the expected turnaround, the government is sincerely committed to ensuring that it takes off in the hands of private investors, employs Abia youths, returns to profitability and impact the Abia economy positively. *Ferdinand Ekeoma is a special adviser on media and publicity to Governor Alex Otti of Abia State. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of 12 persons with two others injured in an auto crash that occurred on Friday along the Ejule-Enugu highway in Kogi State. Tenimu Etuku, The FRSC Sector Commander in Kogi State, disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja, the state capital, on Saturday. Mr Etuku described the accident as fatal and very unfortunate, adding that one child was among 12 persons that died. According to him, the crash occurred at about 11.30 p.m. in the Iboko community, Idah Local Government Area, involving an 18-seater Toyota Hiace Bus belonging to Romchi Mass Transit. The ill fated bus, Mr Etuku said, was travelling from Abuja to the eastern part of the country but rammed into a parked faulty articulated vehicle due to over speeding. The sector commander said that his personnel, who carried out the rescue, have rushed the injured to Mercy of Jesus Hospital Ejule for medical attention, while the dead bodies were deposited in the morgue. Mr Etuku, who expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased, reiterated the dangers of excessive speed and reckless overtaking by motorists. At this yuletide, motorists must be careful and adhere strictly to traffic rules and regulations to avoid such accidents and wastage of precious lives. I believe this is one way to help the FRSC and the federal government reduce the alarming rate of road traffic crashes and fatalities in the country. I hereby urge drivers to exercise patience and maintain safe driving practices, especially during long-distance journeys in this yuletide, he advised. (NAN) The Nigerian soldiers detained in Burkina Faso have arrived in Ghana following their release by the Burkinabe government on Wednesday. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, disclosed this in a statement issued on X on Saturday. Mr Tuggar confirmed that the eleven personnel of the Nigerian Air Force arrived safely in Accra, Republic of Ghana, from Burkina Faso, aboard a Nigerian Air Force C-130 (913) aircraft. The soldiers were released about 10 days after a high-level delegation from Nigeria, led by Mr Tuggar, met with Burkina Faso President Ibrahim Traore and other members of his administration. PREMIUM TIMES reported that Burkina Faso and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) had accused Nigeria of violating Burkina Fasos airspace following an emergency landing of the air force aircraft. The AES is made up of three West African countries, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, led by putschists. The three countries withdrew from the West African bloc, ECOWAS, and have maintained an adversarial relationship with the bloc despite the efforts of ECOWAS. In its response to the AESs claim, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) denied the allegation. It said that the aircraft was travelling to Portugal but landed in Burkina Faso for safety reasons and in accordance with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols. The air force said the NAF C-130 crew observed a technical concern which necessitated a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, the nearest airfield. In his Saturday post on X, Mr Tuggar said the soldiers arrived in Ghana on Friday and were set to leave for Portugal, their original destination, on Saturday. Upon arrival in Accra, the officers were received by a representative of the President of the Republic of Ghana, Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, Ghanas Special Envoy to the AES, alongside officials of the Nigerian High Commission in Accra and senior officers of the Ghana Air Force, Mr Tuggar said. The personnel were accorded a warm reception and hosted by their Ghanaian counterparts. The Police Command in Delta State has arrested a female suspect over the alleged sale of her two-month-old baby in the state. Bright Edafe, the police spokesperson in Delta, disclosed this to reporters on Friday in Warri, Delta State. Mr Edafe, a superintendent of police, said that the suspect, who was the mother of the infant, allegedly staged the abduction of the baby. He said that the incident occurred on Monday within the Ekpan Link Road in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state. Mr Edafe explained that shortly after the incident, the suspect reported the matter at the Ekpan Police Division. The suspect, Rita Ughale, reported at the Ekpan Police Division that her two-month-old baby was snatched from her during a robbery incident while transiting in a tricycle. Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer, Ekpan Division, CSP Labe Joseph, immediately mobilised operatives of the division and coordinated a swift search and rescue operation, he said. Mr Edafe said that the inconsistencies and suspicious conduct observed about the woman during the investigation prompted further interrogation. According to Edafe, upon further interrogation, the suspect subsequently confessed that the incident was stage-managed. The police spokesperson said that the suspect disclosed that she sold her baby to a couple for N1.5 million. He said that the buyers were arrested and the infant rescued. Mr Edafe added that the suspects were currently in the police custody while the investigation continues. He also said that the command had intensified efforts to arrest other accomplices for prosecution. In May, the police busted a 16-year-old SS2 student at a private secondary school in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, who faked her own kidnapping. The girl allegedly contacted a family member claiming she had been kidnapped and demanded a ransom of N2 million for her release. READ ALSO: 24 women graduate from Women in Global Health Nigeria fellowship In August, the police arrested Moses Amarks, an 18-year-old student at the College of Health in Kwamba, Suleja, Niger State, for allegedly faking his own kidnapping to extort money from his parents. Mr Amarks and his accomplices reportedly used a hidden number to call his mother, demanding a ransom of N50 million for his release. (NAN) Hong Kong-based apparel manufacturer Lever Style Corporation is once again expanding its operation with the acquisition of Australia- and California-based Active Apparel Group (AAG). This will be Lever Styles seventh acquisition since its initial public offering in 2019. Lever Style manufactures apparel across a number of categories, including activewear and performance apparel. In that category, the company works with brands such as Arcteryx, Columbia Sportswear, Helly Hansen, Spanx, Skims, and J.Lindeberg. Lever Style also works with a broad portfolio of premium and contemporary brands including Alexander Wang, Theory, Todd Snyder and others, as well as digitally native brands such as Bonobos and Ministry of Supply. More from Sourcing Journal AAG manufactures activewear for more than 20 brands, including Johnny Was, Philip Lim, Peloton and Summersalt. The company also has 32,700 square meters of factory capacity in China, according to its website. AAG has offered additional production services such as pattern-making, sampling and digital printing. Active Apparel Groups activewear segment is the fastest-growing one in the apparel industry, and it complements our existing strength in the fashion segment, said Stanley Szeto, executive chairman, Lever Style Corporation, in the announcement. AAGs product sophistication and customer tier are also on par with Lever Styles premium positioning, enabling cross-selling opportunities in other product categories and enhancing operating leverage. According to the acquisition filing, Lever Style agreed to pay $13 million for AAGs assets. The pickup comes two years after Lever Style acquired Elegant Team Developmentwhich primarily manufactures outdoor apparelfor $4.8 million. In its acquisition announcement, Lever Style admitted that 2025 has been its most challenging year, due to tariffs enacted by the Trump administration and war in Europe. The company said that given the increasing risk of tariff-induced U.S. recession in 2026, we have further tightened credit controls, significantly reducing business volumes with two of our largest customers from 2024 due to credit concerns. With that in mind, Lever Style said it has put more focus on pursuing inorganic growth. Bad times are the best times to buy, Szeto said. This acquisition strengthens our activewear expertise and enables us to deliver greater value to our clients across an even broader range of product categories. Lever Style said that after this acquisition and recently paid interim dividends, the company still has a significant net cash position that could facilitate additional acquisitions going forward. Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that anyone daring to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election would be either hell-bent on a suicidal path or an outright imposter. Mr Shettima stated this during the 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja on Friday. According to the vice president, modern elections are not won on social media platforms such as X, formerly known as Twitter, or by relying on nostalgia and empty rhetoric. Only a fool, hell-bent on a suicidal path, or an outright imposter can dare to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. But we are in a democracy, and people are free to contest elections, Mr Shettima said. He emphasised that electoral victories are secured through coalitions, credibility, and conviction. With the experience of our president as our shield, and the lessons of the past as our guide, I believe 2027 is not a gamble; it is a responsibility. By the grace of God, we shall have a renewable blessing, he added. Mr Shettimas remarks come against the backdrop of the 2023 presidential election, in which Mr Tinubu, representing the APC, defeated a field of prominent contenders. Key challengers included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). Despite vigorous campaigns and significant regional support for his opponents, Mr Tinubu secured victory through a combination of party structure, broad coalitions, and nationwide mobilisation. The vice presidents comments underline the APC leaderships confidence in Mr Tinubus prospects for 2027, while highlighting the partys focus on strategic alliances, disciplined campaign planning, and lessons drawn from the 2023 election experience. The ruling party has since adopted the president as its sole candidate in the coming election. A biography has detailed how close associates of former President Muhammadu Buhari manipulated governance processes by issuing instructions to government officials, including security chiefs and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), without his approval. The book, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, was authored by Charles Omole and launched in Abuja on Monday. Written at the prompting of Mr Buharis wife, Aisha Buhari, it featured contributions and interviews from Mr Buharis family, Mrs Buhari and his children, Hadiza, Safina, Zahra, Halima, Hanan, and Amina and some senior officials in his administration. Their testimonies lent credence to the long-held notion that certain individuals control access to Mr Buhari, shielding him from some of his appointees and creating a bureaucratic gridlock while he was president. The Buhari years and Cabal whispers The insinuations that a cabal controlled Mr Buharis government characterised his years in office. His wife, Aisha Buhari, repeatedly made the same claims public. Those routinely fingered as members of the cabal include the presidents relative, Mamman Daura; his associate, Isa Funtua; and his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. While Messrs Daura and Funtua held no official appointments in Mr Buharis government, they wielded enormous influence on the president. Mr Kyari, on the other hand, served as Mr Buharis chief of staff until his death in April 2020. But the presidency under Mr Buhari would always dismiss the claims of a cabal as fictitious. One time, the presidency replied that the 200 million Nigerians are the cabal controlling the president. Forged signatures In this book, Mr Buharis daughter, Fatima, said she found her fathers forged signature on official documents during his presidency, but she did not identify who she believed was forging the presidents signature. She warns that such a crime of forgery was not unique to this presidency; previous administrations experienced it too. However, the combination of a trusted gate, a culture of deference, and high stakes created the ideal environment for abuse during Buharis tenure, the author wrote. The cabal was so powerful, they routinely changed his speeches, for him to realise only when its time to deliver the speech, Fatima said. She narrated an episode where Mr Buhari gave a speech in the United States in a room where she was. After the speech, she told him, you were stopping, to which he responded that the text in his hand was not the one he approved. Someone had altered it. It was not a rare occurrence, he was quoted as saying. Drawing from the interviews and contributions, the author explained that in a few cases where Mr Buhari was aware of the misconduct, he failed to take decisive actions that would send a clear signal and deter others. This, the author wrote, undermined the daily integrity of governance and the presidents reputation by portraying him as either complicit in dubious directives or too weak to notice what was happening in his name. Unapproved instructions The book quoted an unnamed former police chief as confirming the pattern of instructions said to be from the president, but which are actually not. Over time, he and his colleagues learned to verify, he wrote. What started as a mere deference to kin and longstanding associates gradually passed in his name to security chiefs; promises made regarding appointments and projects; and, in one particularly irritating case, manoeuvres around foreign exchange involving the central bank that were incorrectly linked back to presidential approval. The book described the late former president as one who trusts the words of old friends and relatives, assumes good faith and one to look away from humiliation when discipline was required. Gratitude for past loyalties, an aversion to public humiliation, and a lifetime habit of patience combined to dull the edge of discipline, the author wrote. During interviews with senior government officials and Mr Buharis family, the author said Messrs Daura and Funtuas names regularly came up as those who exploited Mr Buharis trusting nature. According to the author, Mr Buharis children became the line of defence, often presenting the facts to their father in some cases where he has been misled. They would cross-check claims, carry facts from outside the bubble, and gently but firmly present the truth to their father, the author added. When NSA angered the cabal As National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno said he drew the ire of Mr Buharis Chief of Staff, Mr Kyari and Mr Daura, one of Mr Buharis close associates who wields immense influence in his government. Mr Daura heldno official position. Mr Monguno told the author that both officials temporarily blocked the release of funds for the NSA even when the president had approved them. He explained how it happened. The Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, who reports directly to the NSA, had brought to him a procedural worry that the company supplying fuel for the fleet posed risks if indicted by a previous inquiry Mr Monguno had been a part of. The former NSA said he wrote to the president, attached the fleet commanders memo and recommended changing the supplier. The president approved, and two days later, the Chief of Staff, Mr Kyari, became furious. Why did you do this? he recalled Mr Kyari asking. Soon after, he added, Mr Daura visited his residence, telling him the move was an injustice to the fuel supplier and speculating about hidden motives. Although Mr Monguno explained the rationale for the decision, it did not end the rift, he said. From that point onwards, the NSA became persona non grata to Mamman Daura, the author wrote. The Minister of Finance, who owed loyalty to Mamman Daura, was co-opted to withhold funds from the NSA office even after Mr Buharis approval. Buhari and Nigerians were both victims of the cabal that enriched itself beyond measure, the author added. If the presidents first line in matters of security is the NSA, then starving the office is a way to blind the state. That, in Mongunos telling, is what happened. The Ekiti State Government on Friday announced the dismissal of the surgeon, who led the surgical operation on a patient whose kidneys were removed, from the service of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) with immediate effect. The government also suspended other members of the surgical team for one month, pending further administrative review. This followed the submission of the reports of the seven-member panel to the state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Oyebanji Filani. The panel, chaired by Francis Faduyile, a professor, was constituted 11 days ago to investigate the claim made by a patient, Joshua Afolayan, regarding a surgical procedure he underwent at EKSUTH. Mr Filani said in a statement that the government approved the recommendation of the panel to dismiss the surgeon, whose name he did not disclose. He said, Upon careful review of the report and its recommendations, the Ekiti State Government has approved the following actions: That the surgeon who had primary responsibility for the surgery is to be dismissed from the service of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) with immediate effect. All members of the surgical team present in the theatre on the day of the operation are to be suspended from duty for a period of one month, pending further administrative review. The Ekiti State Government will bear the full cost of a new kidney transplant for Mr. Joshua Afolayan and will also take responsibility for his post-transplant care and transplant-related medical maintenance for a period of two years. In line with the recommendations of the Panel, a comprehensive reorganisation of relevant departments within EKSUTH will be undertaken to strengthen clinical governance, accountability, and patient safety. The commissioner said that while the government continues to stand firmly behind the many dedicated and hardworking health professionals at EKSUTH and acknowledges their sacrifices and commitment to service, it would not hesitate to take decisive action where professional standards are breached. The government remains resolute in its commitment to protecting patients, upholding ethical and professional standards in healthcare delivery, and restoring and sustaining public confidence in the Ekiti State health system. Necessary reforms will be pursued to ensure that incidents of this nature do not recur and that EKSUTH continues to serve as a centre of excellence in patient care. We thank the people of Ekiti State for their patience, and trust, and we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to continued improvement in quality health care, compassion, and responsible governance, he said. Organ harvesting is a growing menace in Nigeria and across the world. Perpetrators have been found to target the organs of the dead and the living, prompting many countries to strengthen their laws to address gaps in their legal framework. The Niger State Police Command said one officer killed himself amid an investigation into missing ammunition. The officer, Isah Abdullahi, a deputy superintendent of police, was attached to the 12 Police Mobile Force (PMF) unit in Minna, the state capital. Wasiu Abiodun, the commands spokesperson, in a statement on Friday, said Mr Isah was arrested on 15 December for suspected involvement in illegal dealings of ammunition. A day after his arrest, Mr Abiodun said the deceased was taken to his office for a routine arms audit, but killed himself in the process. Unfortunately, while the audit process was ongoing, the officer picked up a pistol within the office, shot himself in the head and died on the spot, said Mr Abiodun. The police spokesperson said police officers deployed to accompany the audit team were arrested for negligence in the line of duty. Mr Abiodun noted that the police will conduct further investigation into the matter. President Bola Tinubu on Saturday arrived in Maiduguri, Borno, to inaugurate key development projects and attend the wedding of the son of the former Governor of the state, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidents aircraft touched down at the General Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Maiduguri, at about 12:55 p.m. He was received by Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State, Amadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, and other senior government officials. Shortly after arrival, Mr Tinubu inaugurated the newly constructed airports extension and VIP wing. The facilities are aimed at strengthening air transport operations and improving passenger handling in the state. The president is also expected to inaugurate other landmark projects executed by the Borno Government in the transport and education sectors. READ ALSO: PANDEF urges Tinubu to boost modular refineries in Niger Delta Mr Tinubu will later attend the Nikkah and marriage ceremony of Sadeeq Sheriff, son of former Borno Governor, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, and his bride, Hadiza Kam Salem. The president is scheduled to depart Maiduguri for Bauchi State, where he will condole with the state government and the family of the late Islamic scholar, Dahiru Bauchi. (NAN) When Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), barely 24 hours after visiting President Bola Tinubu, allies described the move as a bold political calculation a final break from the grip of his estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike. But in Rivers, where power has never been settled by party labels alone, the deeper question remains whether crossing to the ruling party can truly end a crisis driven by control of political institutions and demand for loyalty. Over the past year, the oil-rich state has been more about power than governance a contest between a sitting governor and the former governor turned Federal Capital Territory minister who helped install him. A crisis that refused to end The fallout between Messrs Fubara and Wike pushed Rivers into one of Nigerias most complex political crises in recent history. It defied two presidential interventions, split the state legislature into rival factions, led to the burning of local government secretariats, resulted in deaths, including that of a police officer, and a six-month-long emergency rule in the state. At different times, Mr Fubara appeared to have the upper hand. He conducted local elections, swore in council chairpersons who were loyal to him, and governed with a minority faction of the lawmakers. But the tide turned sharply after the Supreme Court invalidated the councils poll, voided the state budget, and restored the 27 lawmakers loyal to Mr Wike as the legitimate assembly. After their restoration, the lawmakers issued impeachment notices against Mr Fubara and his deputy. Had that effort succeeded, Martin Amaewhule, the Speaker of the Assembly, another Ikwerre man from Mr Wikes constituency, would have been inaugurated as acting governor, potentially setting up friction with the people of the riverine communities. Emergency rule and a pause, not peace President Tinubus declaration of a state of emergency citing the political crises and a major oil pipeline explosion marked a rare federal intervention. Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the legislature were suspended, while Ibok-Ette Ibas, a retired chief of naval staff, was appointed as the sole administrator. But the six-month emergency rule did not resolve the conflict. It merely paused it. New local elections were held under the administrator, allegedly favouring Mr Wikes loyalists, while boards and commissions were reconstituted. When the emergency rule was lifted, following reports of a truce between Messrs Fubara and Wike, the underlying distrust remained. Nearly three months after returning to office, Mr Fubara dissolved the state executive council and has yet to reconstitute it, aside from appointing a Secretary to the State Government. Soon after, the speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly openly criticised the governor, accusing him of allowing public schools to deteriorate an unusual public rebuke that signalled how fragile the truce had become. The crisis deepened when the speaker and 15 lawmakers defected to the APC after earlier denials in court. The lawmakers also resolved to conduct legislative business from a temporary facility, the assembly quarters, until 2027, effectively blocking Mr Fubara from presenting the 2026 budget in the reconstructed assembly complex. Within days, Mr Fubara himself defected to the APC at an event in the Government House, Port Harcourt. Mr Wike was conspicuously absent and has yet to comment on Mr Fubaras defection. The governor, who was later presented with an APC membership card, declared that he was not an ordinary party member, boasting that his card carried the number 001 an indication that he is the partys leader in the state. APC: shield, solution or illusion? Mr Fubaras defection appears to rest on two assumptions: that President Tinubu will protect him from Mr Wikes influence or onslaught and that joining the ruling party guarantees political survival and a second-term ticket. Whether both assumptions will hold remains unclear. A former senator and now ambassadorial nominee, Ita Enang, had earlier told this newspaper that the national leadership of the party had guaranteed all defecting governors automatic return tickets in 2027. Yet, doubts persist. Asked whether Mr Fubaras defection would bring peace, Beatrice Itubo, the 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate in Rivers and former chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, said party politics was not the real issue. I wouldnt know what their mind is, and dont know why hes moving in the direction hes moving, she said. I dont think the (political) party was their problem. Theres something they are fighting, and I believe that until that issue is sorted out, there may not be peace. Her view reflects a broader concern that elite rivalry, not party affiliation, is at the heart of Rivers instability. Optimism from within the establishment Others see the defection as a path to stability. Chris Finebone, a former commissioner for information under Mr Wike, described the move as overdue political realism. A lot of people came out to say that the governor is not playing politics and that he has no reason to be in politics, so now hes telling the people that he can play politics, having been put to an unjust state of emergency, insults, abuses, and everything, he said. Mr Finebone is confident a lasting peace in Rivers is now possible. I can assure you that it will bring peace to Rivers. Going to APC will possibly add to the peace we are experiencing, he told our reporter. A similar view was expressed by Austin Tam-George, a communication and public policy consultant and the executive director of the Institute of Communication and Corporate Studies, Lagos. We believe that the governors defection to the APC will bring the much-needed stability to governance in Rivers State, Mr Tam-George, a former commissioner for information in Rivers, said. He urged the lawmakers and other politicians to de-escalate tensions. We urge the state assembly members and all stakeholders to embrace Governor Fubaras doctrine of placing the interest of the people at the centre of all they do, he added. Mr Tam-Georges position reflects the thinking among some political insiders who see alignment with the centre as a necessary condition for calm, even as it raises deeper concerns for Nigerias democracy. Civil societys warning Civil society groups remain unconvinced. The chairperson of civil society organisations in Rivers, Enefaa Georgewill, argues that the crisis is not about parties or development. For us (civil societies), we must make it very clear that the crisis between the executive and the legislature in the state is about who controls what. By that, I mean who controls politics and the economy. It has nothing to do with Rivers people or progress for Rivers, he said. He warned that collapsing all actors into the APC could concentrate power. We dont agree that the defection will bring peace, rather it will only bring everybody to one container, and the container will eventually explode, he said. If it doesnt, what will happen is that President Bola Tinubu will control the state through the back door. At the end of the day, it is the Rivers people who will suffer. Second term: protection or trap? Does joining the APC secure Mr Fubaras second term? Incumbency advantage helps, but without control of party structures and a supportive legislature, a governor can remain politically exposed even inside the ruling party. From the submissions by analysts, it appears defection alone may not guarantee peace. Stability may only be achieved if power struggles are resolved internally or if President Tinubu enforces a binding political agreement. For now, peace in Rivers remains fragile, tactical, and uncertain. What remains unclear is whether President Tinubu can truly shield Mr Fubara from Wike-backed lawmakers who have twice attempted to remove him from office and whether the APC is a long-term home for the governor or merely a temporary shelter. The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to intensify support for the development of modular refineries in the Niger Delta, as part of efforts to expand domestic refining capacity and deliver tangible benefits to host communities. It urged the federal government to review and activate the proposed Modular Refinery Development Fund to accelerate local refining and promote inclusive growth across oil-producing areas. Chairperson of the forum, Godknows Igali, made the call during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday. PANDEF is the apex socio-political body of Nigerias South-South geopolitical zone, Mr Igali said recent policy shifts in the oil and gas sector provide an opportunity for the government to establish a robust programme that encourages modular refinery investments in the Niger Delta. These changes present another opportunity to call on the federal government to put in place a robust programme to promote the building of modular refineries in the Niger Delta. In 2018, the government had committed itself to setting up a Modular Refinery Development Fund, similar to the Solid Minerals Development Fund. This must be urgently looked into and encouraged as a way of carrying more host communities along in implementing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), creating more economic activities in the Niger Delta and ensuring that the sector has greater stability for the overall good of the country, he said. The Modular Refinery Development Fund (MRDF) was conceived by the federal government as a financing mechanism to encourage private-sector investment in small- to medium-scale refineries, particularly in crude oilproducing areas such as the Niger Delta. Announced around 2018, the fund was designed to mirror the Solid Minerals Development Fund by providing low-interest, long-term loans and technical support to indigenous investors seeking to establish modular refineries. Its core objective was to expand domestic refining capacity, reduce dependence on imported petroleum products, and integrate host communities into the formal oil and gas value chain. Historically, Nigerias refining capacity has been constrained despite being Africas largest crude oil producer. For decades, state-owned refineries operated far below installed capacity, resulting in chronic fuel shortages and heavy reliance on imports. In the Niger Delta, this gap contributed to the proliferation of illegal artisanal refineries, which, while meeting some local fuel demand, caused severe environmental degradation and revenue losses. The introduction of modular refineries was therefore also a strategic response to formalise refining activities, curb illegal operations, and provide alternative livelihoods. In recent years, reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act and downstream sector deregulation have renewed interest in domestic refining. Several modular refineries in the Niger Delta have received licences from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, with a handful already operational and others at various stages of construction. However, progress has been uneven, largely due to financing constraints, infrastructure deficits, and uncertainty around crude supply arrangements. Tinubus reforms Mr Igali commended President Tinubus reforms in the oil and gas sector and urged sustained implementation. He said consistent reforms are essential to maintaining the industrys contribution to national economic growth and positioning Nigeria as a major player in the global energy landscape. We, the people of the Niger Delta, are greatly impressed with these changes and hope that the holistic reforms will be sustained. This is the only way to ensure that the oil and gas industry continues to play the paramount role which it has been doing for the common economic interest of all Nigerians and places Nigeria as a dominant player in the global energy architecture, he said. Mr Igali also expressed the hope that, as reforms deepen, more qualified professionals from the Niger Delta would be appointed to senior roles within the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and across the petroleum industry, noting the regions wealth of experienced manpower. PANDEF again take this opportunity to express the hope that, as Mr President will continue to follow through with these reforms in the sector, more sons and daughters of the Niger Delta from where the country has the highest number of experienced professionals in the sector, would be brought into other top positions within the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation {NNPC} and the industry at large, he stated. The group welcomed the appointments of Saidu Mohammed as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), describing the choices as positive steps for effective sector governance. Beyond industry reforms, Mr Igali urged the federal government to sustain and expand environmental remediation efforts in the Niger Delta. He stressed the need for annual budgetary provisions to clean up degraded environments across the region, going beyond the Ogoni clean-up to ensure comprehensive and lasting restoration. Furthermore, we look forward to sustained efforts of the federal government in putting in place a robust programme for the environmental remediation of the Niger Delta. The federal government must go beyond Ogoni Clean-up to ensure that there is a budgetary provision on an annual basis to clean up the damaged environments of the Niger Delta in a sustained manner, he stated. Reaffirming PANDEFs commitment, Mr Igali said the organisation would continue to work closely with federal and state governments to mobilise host communities and foster an enabling environment for the oil and gas sector to play its critical role in national development. Finally, as the apex body representing host communities, PANDEF reaffirms its commitment to working closely with federal and state governments in mobilising our people to ensure that the right enabling environment exists for this important sector to continue to play its deserved role, he said. A former contract worker with Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited has been killed during a fight inside a beer parlour in Eket, Akwa Ibom State. The victim, identified as Essien James, had an argument which resulted in a fight with one Lawrence Alfred inside a beer parlour in Eket on 6 December, according to a source close to the family of the deceased. While they were drinking in a beer parlour, an argument ensued, which led to a fight. The suspect pushed the deceased down and hit his head with a stone. He was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead by a doctor, said the source, who did not want his name mentioned in the story because he was not authorised to speak on the incident. He fled to Onna Local Government Area of the state after the incident and hid there before the police arrested him, he added. The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Baba Azare, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria in Eket on Sunday. He stated that the police have arrested the suspect and that the incident is being investigated. Mr Azare said the deceased died during a fight with Alfred. He said the family of the deceased reported the incident to the police on 8 December. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last 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 generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. Does the December share price for CPI Property Group ( ETR:O5G ) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow. Story Continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond 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 (1.6%) 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 10.0%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2035 (1 + g) (r g) = 665m (1 + 1.6%) (10.0% 1.6%) = 8.0b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 8.0b ( 1 + 10.0%)10= 3.1b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is 7.0b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of 0.8, the company appears about fair value at a 5.8% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. XTRA:O5G Discounted Cash Flow December 20th 2025 The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own 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 CPI Property 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 10.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 2.000. 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 CPI Property Group SWOT Analysis for CPI Property Group Strength No major strengths identified for O5G. Weakness Interest payments on debt are not well covered. Opportunity Has sufficient cash runway for more than 3 years based on current free cash flows. Current share price is below our estimate of fair value. Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine O5G's earnings prospects. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For CPI Property Group, there are three important aspects you should look at: Risks: You should be aware of the 2 warning signs for CPI Property Group we've uncovered before considering an investment in the company. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! Other Environmentally-Friendly Companies: Concerned about the environment and think consumers will buy eco-friendly products more and more? Browse through our interactive list of companies that are thinking about a greener future to discover some stocks you may not have thought of! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every German 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. Workers Unionize After Staging Midnight Walkout at Key Amazon Warehouse RIVERSIDE, Calif., Dec. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Amazon warehouse workers at the DJT6 facility in Riverside, one of the company's largest delivery stations nationwide, have successfully organized with Teamsters Local 1932 and are demanding Amazon recognize their union. DJT6 is now the fifth Amazon facility in Southern California to join the Teamsters, along with the KSBD Air Hub in San Bernadino, DFX4 in Victorville, DAX5 in City of Industry, and DAX8 in Palmdale. Workers at the facility began their unionization efforts with the Teamsters earlier this week by staging a midnight walkout during the holiday peak season, when Amazon workers experience increased workloads and more dangerous working conditions. The newest members of Local 1932 are fighting to win better pay and respect from management for making Amazon one of the richest companies on the planet. "Workers at DJT6, one of Amazon's most important facilities, have been on the front end of Amazon's abuse for years," said Randy Korgan, Director of the Teamsters Amazon Division and Secretary-Treasurer of Local 1932. "It is a crime that Amazon makes billions off their backs while they can't even afford to buy a home near the warehouse. DJT6 workers showed tremendous courage in walking off the job to join the fight and demand their fair share." DJT6 warehouse workers are specifically demanding that Amazon provide an industry-standard minimum salary, health care, and safer working conditions. Workers at the facility report Amazon ignoring workplace injuries and threatening injured workers' jobs if they take time off. "For too long, Amazon has profited off our labor yet denied our rights as workers," said Samuel Padilla, an Amazon DJT6 warehouse worker. "Now, we are coming to take what we have rightfully earned. Amazon may not listen to any one individual worker, but we will force them to listen to us together as Teamsters." DJT6 is the latest Amazon facility to organize with the Teamsters, joining over 200 drivers in Queens, New York and Amazon CDL drivers in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. To date, nearly 10,000 Amazon workers nationwide are demanding Amazon end its illegal union-busting and recognize the Teamsters Union. Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents over 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters. Contact: Matt McQuaid, (771) 241-0015 [email protected] SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters BALDWIN CITY, Kan., Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Baker University is in the process of notifying its stakeholders about its findings following a December 2024 data security event that may affect the security of their personal information. Baker was one of many educational institutions nationwide targeted in the data security incident. "The confidentiality, privacy, and security of our Baker community's personal information is one of our university's highest priorities," said Jody Fournier, Baker University President. "Our team has been working alongside an external team of experts at a cyber security firm since the incident and has rebuilt one of our primary platforms that was compromised during the cyber incident. All of us at Baker are fiercely dedicated not only to restoring and enhancing our systems, but also rebuilding the trust our community has placed in us." In December 2024, Baker discovered suspicious activity related to certain systems which resulted in a network outage. Baker took immediate steps to secure its environment and launched an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the activity. The investigation determined there was unauthorized access and/or acquisition of certain files and folders within Baker's network between December 2, 2024, and December 19, 2024. As a result, Baker initiated an extensive review of these files and folders to determine whether sensitive information had been compromised and to whom it was related. Through this review, Baker determined that information that may have been involved included data related to those affiliated with the university. Although the information varied by individual, it includes name, date of birth, driver's license number, financial account information, health insurance information, medical information, passport information, Social Security number, student identification number, and tax identification number. Baker is providing notice of this event to individuals directly whose information was involved, for whom the University has address information. Although Baker does not have evidence to indicate that any of the compromised information was subject to actual or attempted identity theft or fraud, the university is providing individuals with complimentary credit monitoring services and is notifying state and federal regulators. Baker also reviewed existing security policies and implemented additional measures to further protect against similar incidents moving forward. Individuals who have questions related to this incident can contact 1-844-948-2042 for more information Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Individuals may also write to Baker at P.O. Box 65, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Baker encourages potentially impacted individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud, to review account statements, and to monitor their credit reports and explanation of benefits forms for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report. Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended "fraud alert" on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer's credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer's credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer's identity before extending new credit. If consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below. As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a "credit freeze" on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer's express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in a consumer's name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information: Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.); Social Security number; Date of birth; Addresses for the prior two to five years; Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill; A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver's license or ID card, etc.); and A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft. Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below: Equifax Experian TransUnion https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/ https://www.transunion.com/data-breach-help 1-888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 1-833-799-5355 Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016 Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094 Additional Information Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect your personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20580; www.identitytheft.gov ; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state Attorney General. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement. For District of Columbia residents, the District of Columbia Attorney General may be contacted at: 400 6th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001; (202) 442-9828; and oag.dc.gov. For Maryland residents, the Maryland Attorney General may be contacted at: 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023; and https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/. For New Mexico residents, consumers have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in their credit file has been used against them, the right to know what is in their credit file, the right to ask for their credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting bureaus must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to consumers' files is limited; consumers must give consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; consumers may limit "prescreened" offers of credit and insurance based on information in their credit report; and consumers may seek damages from violators. Consumers may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active-duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage consumers to review their rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. For New York residents, the New York Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; or https://ag.ny.gov. For North Carolina residents, the North Carolina Attorney General may be contacted at: 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6000; and www.ncdoj.gov. For Rhode Island residents, the Rhode Island Attorney General may be reached at: 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903; www.riag.ri.gov; and 1-401-274-4400. Under Rhode Island law, individuals have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this event. There are a number of Rhode Island residents that may be impacted by this event. About Baker University Founded in 1858 as the first university in Kansas, Baker University is a private institution that educates traditional and nontraditional students through small classes, innovative instructors, and rigorous coursework. Fortune 500 CEOs, New York Times best-selling authors, and Super Bowl champions all proudly claim Baker as their alma mater. Baker has the highest return on investment among private universities in Kansas, a 99 percent career and graduate school placement rate, and Baker graduates earn the highest average salaries among those from Kansas universities. SOURCE Baker University The United States is attending FITUR 2026 with one of its strongest representations to date. MADRID, Dec. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FITUR 2026 , to be held from 21 to 25 January at IFEMA MADRID , will demonstrate the growing importance of the US market for Spain and will boost business opportunities between the two countries. The United States is once again gaining weight at the International Tourism Trade Fair, reflecting the dynamism of bilateral tourism flows and the growing interest of its companies in consolidating alliances in the international sphere. The United States is to have one of its most prominent presences to date at FITUR 2026. MADRID, Espana, Dec. 19, 2025, /PRNewswire/ -- The United States is to have one of its most prominent presences to date at FITUR 2026 . It will include major official representations such as Visit USA Spain , Visit Florida , Visit Lauderdale , Explore Louisiana and Visit Orlando , as well as the attendance of more than 40 companies, including major hotel groups like Hilton , Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy . It will also be bringing together travel technology leaders, including Cloudbeds, ESCALABEDS and RateHawk, showcasing the advanced digitalisation of the industry. According to Turespana 4.3 million tourists from the United States visited Spain in 2024, an increase of 11.2%. The figure represented 4.6% of the total number of international visitors and a recorded expenditure of 9,014 million, 7.1% of the total. In the first nine months of 2025, the US market maintained its momentum, with more than 3.4 million, up 3.1% year-on-year according to the Office for National Statistics (INE) . On the other hand, around 900,000 Spaniards visited the United States in 2024 and, between January and August 2025, the number has already exceeded 611,000, an increase of 2.4%, according to the Spanish Confederation of Travel Agencies and the United States National Travel and Tourism Office . Air connectivity contributes to strengthening this link: between October 2025 and March 2026, almost 1.3 million seats are scheduled for direct flights between the two countries (+8.6%) and more than 5,000 operations, with a 13% increase in frequencies (OAG). FITUR will also have a strong presence of companies from Mexico , the 2026 Partner Country and the second most important market for the United States, reinforcing the Trade Fair as a strategic platform for connection between both countries and the international market. In this context, US tourists represent a key opportunity for Spain due to their high average expenditure and their positive impact on the destination. Media Contact: Helena Valera, International Press, Tel.: 629 64 42 08, [email protected] Alejandra Elorza, Tel.: 629 64 49 68, [email protected] A new edition of FITUR, the International Tourism Fair held at the IFEMA Madrid exhibition centre, which has established itself as one of the benchmarks for the tourism sector with the presence of 156 countries and an attendance of more than 250,000 people, including professionals and visitors. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2849782/FITUR_Madrid.jpg SOURCE IFEMA Madrid NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Nidec Corporation (OTC: NJDCY) resulting from allegations that Nidec Corporation may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. So What: If you purchased Nidec Corporation securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. What to do next: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=47559 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. What is this about: On September 3, 2025, after market close, CNBC published an article entitled "Nidec shares plunge 22% as China unit probe finds accounting issues tied to management." The article further stated that shares of Nidec fell "after the company announced a probe into allegations of improper accounting in its group. This marks the largest one-day drop in the Japanese electronics components manufacturer's shares." On this news, Nidec American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") fell 22.7% on September 4, 2025. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A. NEW YORK and NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors with substantial losses that they have until January 12, 2026 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Stride, Inc. ("Stride" or the "Company") (NYSE: LRN), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between October 22, 2024 and October 28, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. What You May Do If you purchased securities of Stride and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-lrn/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by January 12, 2026 . About the Lawsuit Stride and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On September 14, 2025, it was reported that the Gallup-McKinley County Schools Board of Education had filed a complaint against the Company, alleging fraud, deceptive trade practices, systemic violations of law, and intentional and tortious misconduct, including inflating enrollment numbers by retaining "ghost students" on rolls to secure state funding per student and ignoring compliance requirements, including background checks and licensure laws for its employees. On this news, the price of Stride's shares fell $18.60 per share, or 11.7%, to close at $139.76 per share on September 15, 2025. Then, on October 28, 2025, the Company disclosed that "poor customer experience" had resulted in "higher withdrawal rates," "lower conversion rates," and had driven students away, and that the Company estimated the impact caused approximately 10,000-15,000 fewer enrollments and that, because of this, its outlook is "muted" compared to prior years. On this news, the price of Stride's shares fell $83.48 per share, or more than 54%, to close at $70.05 per share on October 29, 2025. The case is MacMahon v. Stride, Inc., et al., Case No. 25-cv-02019. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, and a representative office in Luxembourg. TOP 10 Plaintiff Law Firms - According to ISS Securities Class Action Services To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Contact: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner [email protected] 1-877-515-1850 1100 Poydras St., Suite 960 New Orleans, LA 70163 CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedIn SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Pinnacle Silver & Gold Corp (TSX-V:PINN, OTCQB:PSGCF) CEO Robert Archer talked with Proactive about the company's first drill program at the El Potrero project in Mexico, a unique initiative starting with underground drilling rather than surface work. Archer explained that the underground access available at El Potrero, due to historic mining that ceased 35 years ago, gives the company immediate access to mineralized zones. However, he pointed out the current workings are limited in extent, and only sampling what's visible on the walls and ceilings leaves uncertainty about the broader potential. Proactive: You're about to start Pinnacle's first drill program at El Potrero. And it's underground rather than surface drilling. Why is that significant? And what does it tell investors about the stage of this project? Robert Archer: Yeah. Hi. Great to be back on the show. It is quite unusual for a first program on a project to be underground. Many projects don't have underground access like we do, so thats been quite significant. Because of previous activity there it was in production 35 years ago we have underground workings that provide access right into the mineralized zone. However, those workings are somewhat limited in extent. You can only sample what's exposed on the walls and maybe the ceiling, so we don't know what lies beyond. Thats where the drilling comes into play to understand size, grade distribution, and the shape of the mineralized zones. Sampling so far has returned very high gold and silver grades. Whats the key question this drilling is designed to answer that sampling cant? Its really about the extent of the mineralization. Weve seen some grade variability. I dont want to use the word nugget effect were not seeing coarse gold but the mineralization is within a breccia zone, which tends to be inconsistent in texture and content. So, were trying to understand the grade distribution better. That helps with future mining because you want to blend high and low grades for a consistent feed to the plant. So its all about grade distribution and understanding the size and shape of the mineralized zones things the existing workings cant tell us. Youve described this as more delineation than exploration drilling. What would a successful outcome from the 12-hole program look like in practical terms? It should delineate the three zones that we know of within the three mines. That said, we dont know what lies between those mines theres about 120 metres between two of them, and another 150 metres left unexplored on the other side. Those gaps will need to be drilled from surface. But the underground drilling should give us enough of an understanding to start putting together a preliminary mine plan including head grade and our technical and mining approach. And once the program's complete, what are the next technical and corporate milestones investors should be watching as we head into 2026? The surface drill program will follow the underground one. That will focus more on exploration, targeting new zones between existing workings and veins like El Capulin and La Estrella, which have never been drilled before. Neither has Dos de Mayo. These are new veins that we know have mineralization we've sampled them at surface but we need to determine extent, continuity, and grade. Quotes have been lightly edited for style and clarity C3 Metals Inc (TSX-V:CCCM, OTC:CUAUF) CEO Dan Symons talked with Proactive about the companys encouraging results from its first-ever drill hole at the Khaleesi target in southern Peru. The Khaleesi project lies around eight kilometres west of the companys existing Montana de Cobre resource, which hosts 52.0 million tonnes at 0.5% copper and 0.2g/t gold. Symons explained that this first hole intercepted 269 metres at 0.3% copper with by-product credits of gold, molybdenum, and silver. The hole also passed through a magnetite skarn zone, increasing the grade by 37% to 0.41% copper over a 60-metre interval. Proactive: Really exciting results out of the first ever drill hole at Khaleesi. We'll talk about some of the results in just a second, but maybe remind everyone a little bit about Khaleesi and what this drill program is doing. Dan Symons: Absolutely. Khaleesi is a brand new discovery about eight kilometres west of our existing Montana de Cobre resource, where we have 52 million tonnes at 0.5% copper and 0.2g/t gold. That equates to 570 million pounds of copper and 326,000 ounces of gold in a pit-constrained resource. We discovered Khaleesi while expanding our land position to the west. We now hold 310km. We're a junior among the giants on this belt we're less than 45km from MMGs Las Bambas and Hudbays Constancia mines. Further southeast, theres Glencores Antapaccay and Freeports Cerro Verde, their second-largest producer. Its a world-class, copper-producing belt, and we have one of the largest junior positions. You had a geological model of what you wanted to look at. What are you most happy about in this particular hole the identification, the grades, the widths? If this hole had been drilled at any of the other producing mines on the belt, it would be in the mine plan. These are big tonnage targets over a billion tonnes in many cases. We intercepted 269m at 0.3% copper, with by-product credits of gold, molybdenum, and silver. Downhole, we hit a magnetite skarn zone, and the grade increased by 37% to 0.41% over 60m. That was deeper, but important. On the western side, we have a skarn, and on the eastern side a batholith with porphyry-style mineralisation. In the middle, theres glacial till its blind. We used geophysics to drill under that till, and our first hole extended mineralisation by at least 100m under it. That means its wide open and the target and tonnage potential are significantly increased at Khaleesi. Youre doing 6,000 metres in this program. Are you changing the plan or sticking to a direction? As you get visual information and with copper you can often see mineralisation you make tweaks. For example, this hole passed through a garnet skarn, then barren diorite, then back into garnet skarn, and finally into magnetite skarn, which is a very receptive host. Thats where we saw the highest grades. Now we know that the magnetite skarn sits under the glacial till, we can drill a shallow hole across it and potentially extend the mineralisation 200m closer to surface. That could reduce strip ratios and capex in future mine planning. So, yes, we adjust as we go. Lastly, when youre at this early stage just one hole are you thinking about potential already? Yes. Before we drill a single hole, I always ask the geologists what our tonnage target is. You need to know what grades will make it economic. Tonnage can change quickly with drilling, but if the target holds together, you then ask what grade is needed. We think about economics from day one. Our target is based on mapping, surface alteration, soil and rock geochemistry, and geophysics. Its a very large target. Were pleased with this first hole. We have eight holes completed now, so more news is coming. Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and style If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Washington, Dec 20 : US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Venezuela's government of cooperating with criminal and terrorist organizations, describing it as a destabilizing force in the Western Hemisphere. "There's one place that doesn't cooperate, and it's the illegitimate regime in Venezuela," Rubio said. He alleged that the Venezuelan authorities work with armed groups. "They not only do not cooperate with us, they openly cooperate with terrorists and criminal elements," Rubio said. Rubio said the regime allows foreign militant groups to operate from its territory. "They invite Hezbollah and Iran to operate from their territory," he said, adding that Venezuela also permits ELN and FARC dissidents to operate "unencumbered." He said Venezuela serves as a hub for narcotics trafficking. "They cooperate with drug trafficking organizations," Rubio said. By contrast, he praised cooperation from other regional partners. "So the good news is we have a lot of countries in the region that openly cooperate and work with us," he said, citing Mexico and Central American nations. Rubio said US-Mexico cooperation is at a historic high. "Mexico, their level of cooperation with us is the highest it's ever been in their history," he said. He also pointed to regional security initiatives. "We've already had pledges of up to 7,500 forces from a variety of countries," Rubio said, referring to a multinational effort to stabilise Haiti. Venezuela has been under US sanctions for years amid allegations of democratic backsliding, corruption and human rights abuses. The country has experienced economic collapse, mass migration and political repression. Washington has accused Caracas of undermining regional stability while seeking cooperation with neighbouring governments to counter organized crime and migration flows. We came across a bullish thesis on McDonalds Corporation on wallstreetbets subreddit by nskidder. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on MCD. McDonalds Corporation's share was trading at $318.73 as of December 15th. MCDs trailing and forward P/E were 27.02 and 23.92 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. People Love McDonalds Corporation (MCD) Because Of Value, Says Jim Cramer McDonald's Corporation owns, operates, and franchises restaurants under the McDonald's brand in the United States and internationally. MCD is far more than a fast-food chain; it is a dominant real estate and technology powerhouse that leverages its restaurants as cash-generating assets. With over 43,000 locations in 115 markets, the company owns roughly 45% of the land and 70% of the buildings, generating $42 billion in real estate assets. Nearly 93% of restaurants are franchised, enabling MCD to collect rent and royalties4% of sales in royalties plus 815% in rentresulting in an exceptional 82% operating margin on franchise revenue. This model positions McDonalds as a low-risk, high-margin landlord simulator, rather than a traditional food business, while maintaining a 2.24% dividend yield and producing substantial free cash flow. The companys ongoing digital transformation adds a significant growth catalyst. Partnerships with Google Cloud have introduced AI-powered systems across operations, including predictive scheduling, order verification, virtual management, and faster drive-thrus, which are already driving measurable revenue gains. McDonalds loyalty platform, with 185 million active users, has boosted consumer engagement, and the company targets 250 million users by 2027, further monetizing its vast data ecosystem. Expansion plans accelerate growth, with approximately 2,200 new restaurants opening in 2025 and a target of 50,000 locations by 2027, including 1,000 new stores in China alone. Each new unit increases rent, royalties, and data collection, compounding the companys core profitability. With a low beta of 0.52, high institutional ownership, and the combination of real estate, technology, and franchising strength, McDonalds presents a compelling investment opportunity. Near-term stock price weakness is limited, while long-term catalystsincluding digital initiatives, loyalty growth, and aggressive expansioncould drive shares toward $400+ by the end of 2026, offering an exceptional risk/reward profile. Previously we covered a bullish thesis on McDonalds Corporation by David in October 2024, which highlighted the companys strong free cash flow, disciplined share repurchases, steady dividends, and long-term shareholder value creation. The company's stock price has appreciated approximately by 6.75% since our coverage. This is because the thesis played out through resilient capital returns. The thesis still stands as MCD continues to generate substantial free cash flow. nskidder shares a similar but emphasizes the companys real estate dominance, AI-driven digital initiatives, and aggressive restaurant expansion. Washington, Dec 20 : US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday said any lasting peace in Gaza would require preventing Hamas from retaining the capacity to threaten Israel. "You cannot have a Hamas that can threaten Israel in the future," Rubio said. He said peace efforts must focus on disarmament. "So that's why disarmament is so critical," Rubio tod reporters during his year-end news conferene. Rubio declined to detail negotiation specifics but stressed the principle. "I'm not going to get into the details of those types of negotiations," he said. He warned against rebuilding Gaza without security guarantees. "You're not going to convince anyone to invest money in Gaza if they believe another war is going to happen in two or three years," Rubio said. He described the consequences of renewed conflict. "If two years from now Hamas is launching rockets or killing Israelis or carrying out another Oct. 7 type terrorist attack, you're not going to have peace," he said. Rubio said disarmament would require agreement from multiple sides. "It would have to be something obviously that they're willing to agree to," he said, referring to Hamas, adding that "Israel agrees to in order for that to work." He said the focus should remain on preventing future violence. "No one wants a return to a war," Rubio said. The Gaza war followed Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and led to Israel's military campaign in the territory. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, and Gaza has suffered widespread destruction. The US has sought to balance support for Israel with humanitarian access and post-conflict planning, arguing that Gaza's future hinges on removing militant control while establishing viable governance. Washington has accused Caracas of undermining regional stability while seeking cooperation with neighbouring governments to counter organized crime and migration flows. United Nations, Dec 20 : The UN Security Council on Friday condemned last week's drone attacks against a UN logistics base in Sudan, which killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and injured nine others. In a press statement, members of the Security Council expressed deep condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and to the government and people of Bangladesh, and wished a swift and full recovery to those injured. The drone attacks occurred in Kadugli, South Kordofan state of Sudan, on Saturday. The council members expressed grave concern that this deliberate assault on a UN logistics base and UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) peacekeepers represents an egregious disregard for international law, and poses serious threats to international peace and security. They denounced in the strongest terms the targeting of UN peacekeepers and all attacks and provocations against UNISFA, and called for those responsible for such attacks to be held accountable without delay. The council members reiterated that attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law and reminded all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law. They called on the United Nations to swiftly investigate these attacks with the support of UNISFA, and keep the relevant troop-contributing country informed of the progress. They called on host authorities to take all appropriate steps to support the safety and security of all UN premises, personnel and peacekeepers, and urged Sudan and South Sudan to provide full support to UNISFA and its operations. They underscored the need for further cooperation between Sudan and South Sudan for peace, security and stability in Abyei, which is a territory contested by the two countries, Xinhua news agency reported. Sudan has been gripped by war since April 15, 2023, when fighting erupted between the SAF and the RSF, killing tens of thousands and forcing millions to flee within the country and across its borders. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Dec 20 : Actor Sparsh Shrivastava is having what he calls an "absolute treat" working on his upcoming South Indian film with star Naga Chaitanya. Sharing his experience, the actor said he has been warmly embraced by the industry, describing it as vibrant, welcoming and full of warmth. New Delhi, Dec 20 (IANS) Actor Sparsh Shrivastava is having what he calls an "absolute treat" working on his upcoming South Indian film with star Naga Chaitanya. Sharing his experience, the actor said he has been warmly embraced by the industry, describing it as vibrant, welcoming and full of warmth. Talking to IANS, Sparsh praised his collaboration with Chaitanya, the film's cast and director Karthik Dandu, calling the experience a dream. "I'm having an absolute treat working on this South Indian film with Naga Chaitanya. It's such a warm, vibrant industry, and they've welcomed me with open arms and obviously delicious food!" Sparsh told IANS. He described Dandu as a creative genius who gives actors the freedom to explore their craft, making every day on set creatively fulfilling. "Collaborating with him, the wonderful cast, and director Karthik Dandu has been a dream. They're all such kind souls, and the director is a creative genius who gives me the freedom to explore my craft." Addressing the language barrier, Sparsh admitted that while he is still learning Telugu, it has not come in the way of storytelling. "Despite the language challenge (I'm still learning Telugu), we find ways to connect, discuss, and vibe on the nuances of each take. I can't say much about my role yet, but the journey so far is pure magic," said the actor. Sparsh gained recognition for his role in the television soap opera Balika Vadhu. He has since starred in the Netflix crime drama series Jamtara Sabka Number Ayega, the comedy-drama film Laapataa Ladies and the series Dupahiya. Speaking about Laapataa Ladies, which also stars Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Chhaya Kadam and Ravi Kishan, tells the story of two young newly-wed brides who get exchanged during a train ride to their husband's homes. The film was screened at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival and was selected as the Indian entry for the Best International Feature Film for the 97th Academy Awards, but was not nominated. Chennai, Dec 20 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will reach Tirunelveli on Saturday for a two-day programme, during which he will participate in multiple public events, inaugurations, and review meetings. The administration and DMK cadre have geared up for major development announcements and welfare initiatives. The Chief Minister is scheduled to leave Chennai this morning and arrive in Thoothukudi by air before travelling by road to Tirunelveli, where grand welcome arrangements have been made. As part of the reception, the Nellai East DMK unit has made arrangements near Sharada College, under district secretary Graham Bell. Additionally, another reception point is planned near the KTC Nagar bridge under the central district secretary and MLA Abdul Wahab. Upon arrival, Stalin will proceed to the government guest house in Vannarapettai. Following lunch, he is expected to hold a review meeting with senior officials on ongoing development projects in the district. In the evening, around 4 p.m., he will travel via the Southern Bypass to Tharammalpuram to participate in a Christmas celebration. A major highlight of Saturday's engagements will be the inauguration of the Porunai Museum, established at a cost of Rs 62 crore near the Reddiarpatti hill road. The museum aims to showcase Tamil civilisation and display archaeological artefacts and heritage findings. The Chief Minister will tour the illuminated campus in a specially arranged electric vehicle. On Sunday, Stalin will leave the guest house at 9:30 a.m. and head to the Tirunelveli Government Medical College campus, where a large public function has been organised. He will lay foundation stones for new projects, including the Quaid-e-Millat Memorial Library, and inaugurate completed schemes, notably an additional block at the Government Hospital constructed at a cost of Rs 639 crore. One of the biggest highlights will be the distribution of welfare benefits to 45,000 beneficiaries. He will also flag off 50 new government bus services, aimed at enhancing public transport facilities. A pavilion with a seating capacity of around 30,000 people has been set up for the government function, along with necessary public amenities. The city has been decked up for the Chief Minister's visit, with DMK flags lining routes between Vannarapettai and Tharammalpuram, and welcome banners placed across areas including Palayamkottai, Ariyakulam, KTC Nagar, and Reddiarpatti. Roads along the convoy route have been refurbished and illuminated. After wrapping up the scheduled programmes on Sunday, Stalin will depart for Thoothukudi airport and return to Chennai. Chennai, Dec 20 : More than 1,03,812 voters have been removed from Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's Kolathur constituency, marking one of the biggest single reductions in the state-wide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Tamil Nadu. The draft voter list released following the revision exercise indicates a sweeping purge of invalid, duplicated or outdated entries, signalling one of the most extensive clean-ups ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Prior to the SIR verification, Tamil Nadu had 6,41,14,587 voters on record as of October 27. Following the verification, the number now stands at 5,43,76,755, reflecting a substantial reduction of 97,37,831 names from the rolls. Election authorities attribute the drop to the identification of deceased individuals, migrated voters, and duplicate registrations. According to the draft roll, the state now has 2,77,06,332 women, 2,66,63,233 men, 7,191 transgender voters and 4,19,355 voters with disabilities on the register. The SIR breakdown reveals that 26,94,672 entries were removed due to deaths, 66,44,881 due to migration, and 3,39,278 were classified as duplicate registrations. Officials claim that stricter verification procedures, including digital cross-checking and field verification, contributed to the scale of the deletions. Kolathur, long regarded as a stronghold for the Chief Minister, witnessed a reduction of 35.71 per cent of its earlier voter count. The constituency now has 1,86,841 registered voters in the newly published draft list. The revisions also significantly impacted key political figures' constituencies. In Edappadi constituency, represented by AIADMK general secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami, 26,375 voters were removed, leaving a revised total of 2,67,374 voters. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's Chepauk-Triplicane constituency recorded 89,241 deletions, reducing the tally from 2,40,087 to 1,50,846. BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran's Tirunelveli constituency witnessed 42,119 deletions, resulting in a total of 2,63,685 voters in the draft roll. The scale of the deletions is expected to trigger political scrutiny and public claims and objections in the coming weeks. With the draft roll now in the public domain, political parties are likely to assess constituency-level impacts and recalibrate strategies as Tamil Nadu heads into an intense election cycle. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Washington, Dec 20 : The United States carried out airstrikes against dozens of Islamic State (IS) targets across central Syria, officials said, in retaliation for a deadly attack on US personnel last week. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the strikes targeted "ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites" under an operation dubbed Operation Hawkeye Strike, adding that additional action could follow. Hegseth said in a statement that it was not the beginning of a war but a "declaration of vengeance", adding that they had hunted and killed their enemies, many of them, and would continue to do so. Hegseth also detailed the operation in a post on X (formerly Twitter): "Earlier today, US forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on US forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria. This is not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump's leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people." "As we said directly following the savage attack, if you target Americans anywhere in the world you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you. Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue, he added. The airstrikes come in response to an attack last weekend near Palmyra, in which two US Army soldiers and a US civilian interpreter were killed, and three other US soldiers were wounded. The attacker targeted a convoy of American and Syrian forces before being shot dead by military personnel. US President Donald Trump had vowed "very serious retaliation" following the incident. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said the strikes fulfilled that promise: "President Trump told the world that the United States would retaliate for the killing of our heroes by ISIS in Syria, and he is delivering on that promise." Dhaka, Dec 20 : Exiled Bangladeshi author and human rights activist Taslima Nasreen on Saturday claimed that Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das, who was brutally killed in a mob lynching in Bangladesh, had been falsely accused of blasphemy by a Muslim coworker at his factory in Mymensingh district. She said the horrific incident unfolded despite Dipu being under police protection. Sharing a video of Dipu while he was under police protection on her social platform X, Nasreen said, "Dipu Chandra Das worked at a factory in Bhaluka, Mymensingh. He was a poor labourer. One day, a Muslim coworker wanted to punish him over some trivial matter, so in the middle of a crowd, he announced that Dipu had made derogatory remarks about the Prophet. That was enough." "Frenzied followers of the Prophet pounced on Dipu like hyenas and began to tear him apart. Eventually, the police rescued him and took him into custody -- meaning Dipu was under police protection," she added. She stated Dipu told the police what had happened, maintained his innocence and insisted he had made no comment whatsoever about the Prophet, alleging the incident was all a conspiracy by the coworker. "The police did not go after the coworker. Many among the police harbour a fondness for jihad. Was it in the excess of this jihadist zeal that they threw Dipu back to those fanatics? Or did jihadist militants shove the police aside and take Dipu out of the station? They held a full-blown celebration -- beating Dipu, hanging him, burning him -- a jihadist festival," Nasreen stated. Emphasising that Dipu was the sole breadwinner of his family, she said his income supported his disabled father, mother, wife, and child and raised questions about the future of his family and accountability for his killing. "Dipu Chandra Das was the sole breadwinner of his family. With his earnings, his disabled father, mother, wife, and child survived. What will happen to them now? Who will help the relatives? Who will bring the mad murderers to justice? Dipu's family doesn't even have the money to flee to India to escape the jihadists' hands. The poor have no one. They have no country left, not even a religion left," Nasreen mentioned. New Delhi, Dec 20 : In a booster for the 'Make in India' and production-linked incentive (PLI) initiatives, electronics exports rose about 38 per cent (year-on-year) in the April-November period this fiscal (FY26), led by smartphones, according to official figures. New Delhi, Dec 20 (IANS) In a booster for the aMake in Indiaa and production-linked incentive (PLI) initiatives, electronics exports rose about 38 per cent (year-on-year) in the April-November period this fiscal (FY26), led by smartphones, according to official figures. The electronics exports reached $31 billion in eight months this financial years. Apple alone exported iPhones worth nearly $14 billion a" more than 45 per cent of the total exports value of electronic items. Last month, a company filing showed that Apple India posted a record high domestic sales of $9 billion in FY25, and one in every five iPhones made globally in FY25 was manufactured/assembled in India. The company's manufacturing in India contributed 12 per cent of Appleas global production value. Electronics production has increased sharply from about Rs 1.9 lakh crore in 2014-15 to around Rs 11.3 lakh crore in 2024a"25. Electronics exports have also risen from Rs 38,000 crore to more than Rs 3.27 lakh crore during the same period, as per the government data. India had only two mobile phone manufacturing units in 2014-15, which has now increased to around 300 units. Mobile phone production has grown from Rs 18,000 crore to Rs 5.45 lakh crore, while exports have surged from Rs 1,500 crore to nearly Rs 2 lakh crore. Meanwhile, the Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC 2.0), located in 10 states with projected investments of Rs 1,46,846 crore, have estimated to generate about 1.80 lakh jobs. Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT Jitin Prasada said in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha this week that so far, 11 EMC and 2 CFC (common facility centre) projects have been approved. These cover an area of 4,399.68 acres with project cost of Rs 5,226.49 crore, including Central financial assistance of Rs 2,492.74 crore, the minister informed. An investment commitment of Rs 1,13,000 crore has already been received from 123 land allottees (manufacturers) in the approved EMCs. Out of this, nine units have started production and grounded an investment of Rs 12,569.69 crore with employment generation of 13,680 jobs, said the minister. a"IANS na/ New Delhi, Dec 20 : The Delaware Supreme Court in the US has restored Elon Musk's 2018 pay package from Tesla, overturning a loweracourt decision that had struck it down as "unfathomable". New Delhi, Dec 20 (IANS) The Delaware Supreme Court in the US has restored Elon Musk's 2018 pay package from Tesla, overturning a lowercourt decision that had struck it down as "unfathomable". The ruling reverses a 2024 decision that rescinded the package and found that total rescission "leaves Musk uncompensated for his time and efforts over a period of six years," the 49page ruling said, according to multiple media reports. The erstwhile ruling had reportedly damaged Delaware's business-friendly reputation, and the new ruling assured Musk greater control over the company, alleviating his main concern, even after shareholders recently approved a new pay package that could be worth $878 billion if Tesla meets certain targets. The 2018 package is now worth about $139 billion based on Tesla's closing stock price on Friday, and if Musk exercises all stock options from the pay package, his stake would rise from about 12.4 per cent to 18.1 per cent of an expanded share base. Musk posted on social media platform X that he was "vindicated," while lawyers who challenged the pay package were cited as saying they were considering next steps and were proud "calling to account the Tesla board and its largest stockholder for their breaches of fiduciary duty." The 2018 pay deal provided Musk options to buy about 304 million shares at a discounted price if Tesla met specific milestones. Tesla's board had warned that Musk, the world's richest person, leading the SpaceX rocket venture, could leave the electric car company if his pay was disrupted. He had recently defended the H-1B visa programme, saying that the US economy has benefited immensely from Indian immigrants. Musk said that America needs high-skill workers from India now more than ever, while also calling out the misuse of the visa system by some outsourcing firms. Musk said America has been an immense beneficiary of talent from India, adding that his companies constantly struggle to fill specialised roles because there is always a scarcity of talented people. Mumbai, Dec 20 : The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Saturday led a scathing attack on the MahaYuti government, questioning whether Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has become the "Pablo Escobar" of Maharashtra following massive drug seizures in his home district of Satara. The Thackeray camp in the party mouthpiece Saamana editorial has alleged that there is a growing menace of drug mafias, land mafias, and gang wars in Pune and Satara -- districts neighbouring each other and associated with Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, respectively. The editorial cited recent major drug busts wherein the police seized cocaine worth Rs 150 crore from a shed in Savri village, Satara. Shortly after, another haul of cocaine worth Rs 75 crore was seized in Panchgani. These incidents suggest Satara is turning into a "capital of cocaine", the editorial alleged. The editorial also alleged a direct link between the contraband and Eknath Shinde's family, saying that the shed in Savri village where the Rs 150 crore cocaine haul was found reportedly belongs to Prakash Shinde, the brother of Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. "The 'Tejayash' resort, also owned by Prakash Shinde, is located adjacent to this shed. DCM Eknath Shinde's helicopter lands in the nearby Dare village 5-10 times a month, purportedly for farming," it added. However, the editorial sarcastically questioned the nature of this "farming," asking why ordinary farmers are forced to commit suicide while the Shinde family's "farming" seemingly yields immense wealth, alleging a "cocaine factory" was found in their backyard. It has accused the administration of shielding the high-profile suspects. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena further alleged that the Deputy Chief Minister's office made repeated calls to Satara Superintendent of Police (SP) Tushar Doshi to prevent Prakash Shinde's name from appearing in the FIR. While the Mumbai Crime Branch initiated the raid, the Satara police attempted to create obstacles, the editorial alleged. It claimed that Doshi was "rewarded" with the Satara post for his role in the lathi-charge against Maratha protesters in Antarwali. The editorial has drawn a parallel to the Mundhwa land scam, alleging that just as Ajit Pawar's son Parth was shielded from the law, Prakash Shinde is now being protected by the Home Ministry. The Thackeray camp strongly criticised the silence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the issue. It mentioned that Vishal More, an office-bearer of Ajit Pawar's party in Pune, has been arrested in connection with the racket. It further claimed that suspicious workers from West Bengal, possibly Bangladeshi infiltrators, were brought in to work at the Satara drug factory. Echoing a statement by Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal, the editorial asked, "Is Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde the state's Pablo Escobar?" referring to the infamous drug lord who used narco-terrorism to fund political power in Colombia. The Thackeray camp warned that the state is spiralling into an "Udta Punjab" situation due to the unchecked spread of narcotics. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text KEY TAKEAWAYS Millions of borrowers on the Saving for a Valuable Education plan will soon need to move to another repayment plan and resume making payments for the first time in over a year. Depending on a borrower's situation, their new monthly payments could be anywhere from $10 to $500 more than what they were under the SAVE plan. The Saving for a Valuable Education repayment plan for federal student loans is coming to an end, which means millions of borrowers need to choose a new, and likely more expensive, plan. More from Yahoo Scout When will the new RAP plan become available? How much will monthly payments increase under IBR? Which repayment plan should borrowers choose instead? What happens to SAVE plan borrowers now? Borrowers on the SAVE plan have been in administrative forbearance since July 2024. During that time, they did not have to make payments, and interest didn't accrue until August 2025. However, the Department of Education recently announced an agreement with the states that filed a lawsuit last year to end the SAVE plan. The Education Department said 7.7 million borrowers will soon be required to leave the SAVE plan, an income-driven repayment plan introduced by the Biden administration. There's no date set yet for when borrowers will be forced out of SAVE, but the department suggested all SAVE borrowers to transfer to another repayment plan now. Earlier this year, the Department of Education encouraged all SAVE borrowers to transition into the Income-Based Repayment plan. The IBR plan is likely the most stable option for SAVE borrowers right now, as the other two active income-driven repayment plans, Income-Contingent Repayment and Pay as You Earn, will be eliminated after July 1, 2028. The Repayment Assistance Plan, a new income-driven repayment plan introduced by the "One Big, Beautiful Bill," will provide monthly payments that are cheaper than those under the IBR plan for some borrowers. However, this repayment plan will not be available until at least July 1, 2026. Why This Matters Payments on Federal student loans are ramping back up quickly for millions of Americans, most of whom are already struggling under the weight of high prices. That can hurt the broader U.S. economy, as these households cut back on other spending and expenses to make up the difference. Payments For The Median Borrower Most borrowers' payments are based on their income and family size. The median yearly income for a worker with a bachelor's degree is $80,132, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A single borrower with the median income would pay about $100 more a month on IBR and PAYE compared to SAVE. Their payments on ICR would be about $200 more per month, and RAP would cost about $160 more per month. December 20 : Gorakhpur: Without naming the previous Samajwadi Party government or its leaders, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a sharp attack on those who, he said, nurtured the mafia and pushed Uttar Pradesh into an identity crisis. The public knows very well who patronised the mafia that threatened the state's very identity. Today, visuals of those making accusations are seen on television alongside mafia elements, even accepting gifts from them. These are the same people who tarnished Uttar Pradesh's image and promoted a One District, One Mafia' system, the Chief Minister said. CM Yogi was addressing a public gathering after inaugurating the Gorakhnath Overbridge in Gorakhpur, constructed at a cost of 137.83 crore. He highlighted the achievements of the BJP's double-engine government in the areas of heritage, development, and public welfare, while criticising previous regimes for prioritising mafia patronage over progress. The previous governments lacked the right intent. Development funds were misused, the state treasury was drained to fill family coffers. Development cannot be expected from those whose politics revolves only around their families. This was the reality of Uttar Pradesh before 2017, he said. Speaking about the transformation of the state, CM Yogi said that when intentions are honest, even destiny supports progress. Uttar Pradesh is no longer a BIMARU' state. Today, it is a revenue-surplus state. Earlier, the treasury was emptied for one family; now it is being used for public welfare and development. He said the state's resources are now reaching the people through infrastructure development, medical and engineering colleges, pension schemes, Kanya Sumangala Yojana, mass marriage programmes, PM Matru Vandana Yojana, free ration distribution, and LPG connections. Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister said that India has acquired a new global identity under his leadership. Today, we proudly say Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'. What India says, the world listens to. Under PM Modi's leadership, the country is witnessing all-round development, and the double-engine government is ensuring that the poor receive housing, food, cooking gas, and healthcare without discrimination. CM Yogi said that eight and a half years ago, Uttar Pradesh, including Gorakhpur, faced an identity crisis marked by disease, filth, lawlessness, mafia dominance, electricity shortages, and lack of basic amenities. People looked at Gorakhpur and Uttar Pradesh with disdain. That perception has completely changed. Highlighting Gorakhpur's transformation, he said the fertiliser factory that remained closed for years is now operational. The city's illuminated streets reflect a new Gorakhpur and a new Uttar Pradesh. AIIMS now welcomes visitors near the airport, and BRD Medical College has been transformed into a modern treatment centre with advanced facilities. Ramgarh Tal, once associated with crime and filth during the SP regime, has now emerged as a major tourist destination. Gorakhpur is now free from mafia, mosquitoes, and disease. Encephalitis has been effectively controlled. A strong road network is visible today. Travel to Lucknow and Varanasi has become faster and easier with expressways and four-lane highways, he said. The Chief Minister said similar development is visible across the state. Ayodhya has been rejuvenated, reflecting the spirit of Treta Yuga. Kashi has emerged as the country's spiritual capital, fulfilling PM Modi's vision. Prayagraj has gained a new identity through large-scale infrastructure development, with over 66 crore devotees visiting during the Mahakumbh. Earlier it was One District, One Mafia'. Today it is One District, One Medical College', CM Yogi said, listing medical colleges established across eastern Uttar Pradesh and announcing that Ballia will also get one soon. Addressing citizens like a guardian, the Chief Minister urged people to take precautions during the severe cold wave. He said the government has arranged bonfires, blankets, and night shelters, and advised people to avoid unnecessary travel, wear warm clothing, and seek timely medical help if unwell. Speaking on the occasion, MP Ravi Kishan said CM Yogi's development-oriented vision is being discussed globally. He said Uttar Pradesh has attracted investments worth 45 lakh crore under the Chief Minister's leadership, with 15 lakh crore more in the pipeline, and over nine lakh government jobs provided transparently. Mayor Dr Manglesh Srivastava, while welcoming the Chief Minister, said continuous efforts are being made to expand civic facilities in Gorakhpur. District Panchayat President Sadhna Singh, MLAs Vipin Singh and Pradeep Shukla, MLC Dr Dharmendra Singh, BJP District President Janardan Tiwari, and Metropolitan Coordinator Rajesh Gupta were also present. Kolkata, Dec 20 : In a tragic accident in West Bengal's Nadia district, four people died after being hit by a train, while two others were injured as they were on their way to Taherpur, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a public meeting on Saturday, police said. Police said the deceased and injured were among a group of people who were on their way to attend the Prime Minister's rally. It is learned that all the deceased and injured are from Murshidabad district. Upon receiving news of the incident, senior railway and police officials rushed to the spot. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident. The incident occurred near Taherpur station. It is learned that 40 people had arrived from Murshidabad on Friday night to attend PM Modi's rally. All of them are reportedly from Sabaldah village in the Burwan area. Some of them went to the railway tracks to relieve themselves in the early morning. At that time, they were hit by an approaching train, and four of them were thrown onto the tracks. The injuries were so severe that they died on the spot. Two persons were admitted to the local Shaktinagar Hospital in a critical condition. According to hospital sources, one person's condition is serious. Prima facie, it appears that the accident occurred due to significantly reduced visibility caused by dense fog this morning. The train was not visible, leading to the accident. However, other aspects are also being investigated. "Four persons who were hit by a train died on the spot, while two others who were near the railway tracks were injured. They are being treated at a hospital. The incident took place early morning. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination," a senior officer of Nadia district police said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already reached Nadia's Taherpur to address a public meeting against the backdrop of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Mumbai, Dec 20 : Actress Deepika Singh, who was shooting in Georgia for a "Mangal Lakshmi", spoke about her experience in sub zero temperature and said that it gave her a chance to explore and adapt. Mumbai, Dec 20 (IANS) Actress Deepika Singh, who was shooting in Georgia for a "Mangal Lakshmi", spoke about her experience in sub zero temperature and said that it gave her a chance to explore and adapt. Talking about her thoughts on shooting abroad, Deepika said: "Mangal Lakshmi has been a journey built on love, patience, and resilience, and the audience has stood by us through every phase. We have cried together, healed together, and celebrated every small victory. Shooting in Georgia feels like a reward for that shared journey. " For the first time, Mangal's journey unfolds on foreign soil as she wins a prestigious Pehla Swaad competition that takes her to Georgia. What begins as a celebratory milestone soon spirals into a tense turn of events that no one sees coming. Mangal heads to Georgia with Kusum by her side, while Adit tags along as Bhabhi ji's trusted personal assistant. The scenic trip, meant to mark a proud moment for Mangal, suddenly turns perilous when a shocking case of mistaken identity puts Adit in grave danger. Amid chaos and uncertainty, Mangal is forced to make a life altering choice that could change equations forever. Deepika added: "Very few shows get the opportunity to go international, and I feel incredibly grateful that our story has earned that trust and scale. This track is special for me because it pushes not just Mangal, but me as an actor as well into completely unfamiliar territory." Talking about shooting in an uncomfortable environment: "We were shooting in minus degree temperatures, facing conditions we are not used to, and while it was physically demanding, it was also incredibly exciting to get out of the comfort of the set." "It gave me the chance to explore, adapt, and push my own boundaries as an actor. We have genuinely given our all to bring this chapter alive on screen, and I hope the audience feels that effort, and enjoys this new chapter of Mangal's journey." 'Mangal Lakshmi' airs on Colors. Kolkata, Dec 20 : A total of 3,000 micro-observers will be conducting on-ground supervision of the hearing sessions on the claims and objections on the draft voters' list in West Bengal, due to start from next week. In all probability, the hearing sessions in the second stage of the three-state Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise will start from December 27. The draft votersa list was published on December 16. A source in the office of the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said that the decision to appoint 3,000 micro-observers was taken with the idea of deputing one such micro-observer for each of the hearing tables. "The idea is that each of the hearing tables will have one electoral registration officer, one assistant electoral registration officer, and one micro-observer. The decision is aimed at excluding the possibilities of any irregularity in the hearing process so that neither the name of a single genuine voter is deleted nor the name of a single bogus voter remains included," the source said. As already decided by the Election Commission of India (ECI), Central government employees or employees of Central public sector undertakings or public sector banks at Group-B level or above will be appointed as the micro-observers. These micro-observers will again work under the direct supervision of the special roll observers to review the ongoing revision exercise in the state. The hearing session on claims and objections will be conducted only at the offices of the District Magistrates, who are also the district electoral officers. The ECI has entrusted the District Magistrates with the responsibility of ensuring the safety and security of the special roll observers and micro-observers in the course of the hearing session. It has also sent a request to the Union Home Ministry for the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to secure the CEOas office in central Kolkata immediately. It is learnt that, as per the ECIas proposal, the CAPF deployment will continue till the time the model code of conduct is enforced in the state after the dates for the Assembly elections in the state are announced. The SIR exercise in West Bengal started on November 4. The process will end with the publication of the final votersa list on February 14 next year. After that, the ECI will announce the polling and counting dates for the crucial Assembly elections. Mount Maunganui, Dec 20 : Kavem Hodge's unbeaten century has led the West Indies' fightback in response to New Zealand's mammoth first-innings score, as the visitors finished Day 3 of the final Test at 381/6 at Bay Oval on Saturday. Hodge brought up his second Test hundred and remained unbeaten on 109 as West Indies avoided the follow-on late on Day 3, giving them a chance to save this Test match. The West Indies are still 194 runs behind New Zealand's 575 for 8. Resuming from their overnight score of 110 for no loss, the Windies carried on from their good start, but Jacob Duffy dismissed John Campbell, who failed to add to his overnight score. New Zealand continued to apply early pressure on the visitors, but Hodge broke the shackles with three boundaries in nine deliveries. Soon, Duffy struck again in the first hour, removing Brandon King for 63. Then, Hodge and Tevin Imlach brought up the 50-run stand, and soon after, the former moved to 50 as the visitors reached 206/2 at the stroke of lunch. After lunch, New Zealand broke the 66-run stand between Hodge and Imlach when Michael Rae removed the latter for 27. Alick Athanaze then joined Hodge, and the duo put together 81 for the fourth wicket before Athanaze was dismissed by Ajaz Patel, his first Test wicket at home after 22 Tests, falling five short of a half-century. Hodge and Justin Greaves struck a few timely boundaries as the West Indies crossed the 300-run mark approaching tea. New Zealand took the second new ball as soon as it was available, with Duffy getting some movement, but the Windies duo saw their side through to tea at 310 for 4. After the tea break, the pair continued to time the ball superbly, picking up boundaries in quick succession. However, Greaves missed a nip-backer from Daryl Mitchell that struck him on the pads, resulting in an LBW decision, which he reviewed. Soon after, Patel removed West Indies captain Roston Chase for two, while Hodge chipped a shot into the air that fell just short of the mid-off fielder. Anderson Phillip and Hodge then took a few blows to the body from Michael Rae before Hodge brought up his second Test hundred on the stroke of stumps. Hodge and Phillip took the visitors to 381 for 6, still trailing by 194 runs, at stumps. Brief Scores: New Zealand 575/8d (Devon Conway 227, Tom Latham 137; Justin Greaves 2-83) lead West Indies 381/6 (Kavem Hodge 109*, Brandon King 63; Jacob Duffy 2-79, Ajaz Patel 2-94) by 194 runs Phnom Penh, Dec 20 : Cambodia said on Saturday that the Thai military had used an F-16 fighter jet to bomb a concrete bridge inside Cambodian territory. "At 10:58 p.m. (on December 19), the Thai military deployed an F-16 fighter jet to drop two bombs, destroying the civilian O' Jik Bridge at the border area between Chong Kal district of Oddar Meanchey province and Srei Snam district of Siem Reap province," Cambodian Defence Ministry's Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata said in a press briefing. She added that the Thai military forces have continued to fire artillery shells at several positions in Cambodia as of Saturday morning. According to the latest figures released by Cambodia's Ministry of Interior, the conflict has killed 18 Cambodian civilians and injured 79 others so far. It has also forced over 510,000 people to flee their homes for safe shelters, Xinhua news agency reported. Cambodia said on Wednesday that the Thai military forces have continued airstrikes and artillery shelling into Cambodian territory, as the civilian death toll in Cambodia has risen to 17. Cambodian Defence Ministry's Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata said since early Wednesday, the Thai forces had used tank-mounted machine guns, bombing drones, artillery and a F-16 fighter jet to attack several positions in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey and Pursat provinces. Socheata said that the total number of Cambodian civilians killed in the conflict reached 17, as the injured rose to 77. The conflict has also forced over 130,000 Cambodian families with about 438,000 individuals to flee their homes for safe shelters, according to official figures. The Cambodia-Thailand border conflict has reignited since December 7, and both sides accused the other of initiating the attack. Earlier on Tuesday, Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) had reaffirmed the country's stance regarding the Thailand-Cambodia border situation, saying that Cambodia is required to be the first to declare a ceasefire, ensure the ceasefire is genuine and sustainable and cooperate in mine clearance seriously and sincerely. Maratee Nalita Andamo, deputy spokesperson for the MFA had emphasised at a press conference that Thailand's position has been consistent and clear, and it has been publicly expressed multiple times by the prime minister, foreign minister and spokesperson of the MFA. She also revealed that Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow will attend the ASEAN foreign ministers' special meeting concerning the Thailand-Cambodia situation on December 22, while attendance details for other ASEAN member states are being coordinated. According to data released at the press conference, this round of Thailand-Cambodia conflict has killed 17 Thai soldiers and 16 Thai civilians, with more than 260,000 people displaced, as of Tuesday morning. Bengaluru, Dec 20 : The BJP's Karnataka unit on Saturday alleged that the menace of illegal immigrants has crossed all limits in the state and urged the Congress-led government to implement the Centre's directives and initiate stringent action strictly. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka claimed that instead of deporting nearly 20 lakh illegal immigrants allegedly residing in Karnataka, the Congress government was "systematically nurturing them as a vote bank". "The menace of illegal immigrants has crossed all limits across the state. Illegal immigrants pose a serious threat to national security," Ashoka said, accusing Congress of adopting a soft stance whenever action is initiated against them. Referring to the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise to weed out illegal immigrants from voters' lists, Ashoka alleged that the Congress had taken to the streets under the pretext of "vote theft" to oppose the move. He further claimed that the number of illegal immigrants involved in crimes such as murder, assault, extortion, robbery, rape and riots had increased in recent years. "Due to the Congress government's excessive appeasement politics, illegal immigrants are obtaining Aadhaar cards and other documents and availing government benefits," he alleged. Quoting a report, Ashoka said police officers had estimated the presence of 15 to 20 lakh illegal immigrants in Karnataka and alleged the existence of an "ecosystem" facilitating the procurement of identity documents. He claimed they were also involved in cybercrime, prostitution, drug peddling and other serious offences. Ashoka urged the state government to strictly comply with the Centre's orders and take firm action, including the deportation of illegal immigrants. Responding to the allegations, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said earlier that more than 200 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants had been deported from the state over the past few months. He acknowledged complaints of such immigrants working as construction labourers and said the process of identification and deportation was ongoing. "The State Government will take steps to deport illegal immigrants immediately. This is a continuous process," Parameshwara told reporters, adding that officials of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office would identify such individuals and inform the police. He asserted that the government would not be soft on illegal immigrants and rejected the BJP's allegation that the Congress uses them as a vote bank, stating that the party had never been in a position where it needed votes from illegal immigrants to win elections. Kolkata, Dec 20 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's chopper was unable to land at the helipad at Taherpur, where he was slated to address a rally, in West Bengal's Nadia district on Saturday due to low visibility. After reaching the area, the chopper pilot found the situation not suitable for landing at the helipad because of the low visibility and decided to fly back to the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. The Prime Ministeras chopper had returned to Kolkata and landed at the airport. While state BJP leaders had hinted at the possibility that he might reach Taherpur by road and attend his twin programmes there, one administrative and the other political, the distance - over 100 kms - did not make it feasible, and PM Modi is scheduled to address the rally virtually from Kolkata. Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, confirmed that the chopper could not land at Taherpur. For the Prime Ministeras two programmes, two separate platforms were raised. From one dais, the Prime Minister was supposed to first inaugurate some Central government projects in West Bengal virtually. Thereafter, he was supposed to go to the second dais from where he was supposed to address a political rally. Meanwhile, the ground on which the Prime Minister was supposed to address the political rally was already packed by BJP supporters hours before the scheduled arrival of the Prime Minister there. The situation became such at a time that the security personnel had to close the entry gates with thousands of BJP supporters still waiting outside the rally ground. As the news of the failure of the Prime Ministeras chopper to land at the helipad reached there, several BJP supporters expressed frustration. At the Taherpur rally, the Prime Minister was supposed to kick off the BJPas sustained campaign to counter the Trinamool Congress on the contentious citizenship issue of the Matua community. Mangaluru : , Dec 20 (IANS) Chinnaiah, known as the "mask man" and the complainant in a sensational alleged mass murder case, has filed a police complaint claiming that he is facing threats to his life and has sought police protection, officials said on Saturday. Mangaluru (Karnataka), Dec 20 (IANS) Chinnaiah, known as the "mask man" and the complainant in a sensational alleged mass murder case, has filed a police complaint claiming that he is facing threats to his life and has sought police protection, officials said on Saturday. Chinnaiah was earlier arrested for allegedly misleading the police in the mass murder case and was released on bail recently. He has filed a complaint against five persons -- activists Mahesh Shetty Thimarody, Girish Mattennanavar, Vittal Gowda, Jayanth, and YouTuber M.D. Sameer. In his complaint, Chinnaiah has sought protection for himself and his wife. The complaint was filed at the Belthangady police station in Mangaluru district. More details are awaited regarding the development. It can be recalled that the SIT arrested Chinnaiah -- referred to as the mask man -- in connection with the alleged Dharmasthala murders case on August 23. He was arrested for providing false information regarding the case. Special Investigation Team (SIT) sleuths, who interrogated him for a long period of time, concluded that he had been misleading the authorities. In a major development on July 11, Chinnaiah -- then known as an unidentified complainant -- appeared before a court in Mangaluru district and recorded his statement. He claimed that he had been forced to bury the bodies of women and girls who were raped and murdered in Dharmasthala. He requested that the bodies be exhumed in his presence and alleged that the victims bore clear signs of sexual assault. According to him, the bodies were found without clothing or undergarments and had injuries consistent with violent sexual abuse. These revelations sent shockwaves across Karnataka. Following his claims, a retired Supreme Court judge and several activists demanded a Supreme Court or High Court - monitored SIT probe into the alleged Dharmasthala murders. In addition, Chinnaiah, then known as the whistleblower, reportedly submitted a skull -- allegedly recovered from one of the burial sites -- to the SIT. He was protected under the Witness Protection Act and given the necessary facilities. However, police sources have now confirmed that the protection granted to him under the Act has been revoked. Kolkata, Dec 20 : Just as the River Ganges flows to West Bengal through Bihar, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) victory in Bihar this year will be replicated after the Assembly elections in West Bengal next year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while virtually addressing a public rally at Taherpur under Ranaghat sub-division in Nadia district. He was supposed to be physically present at the dais at Taherpur on Saturday. However, his chopper was unable to land at the helipad near Taherpur due to low visibility and returned to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, from where he addressed the Taherpur rally virtually. He also said that just in Bihar, the rule of the jungle had ended during the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rule; similarly, the current reign of terror in West Bengal will end if the BJP comes to power. Speaking on the occasion, he also claimed that if the BJP is given a chance to rule in West Bengal, the state will be flooded with development activities. "Trinamool Congress is free to oppose me and the BJP as much as it desires. But they are blocking the development in the state through rampant administrative corruption?" the Prime Minister questioned. He also attacked the state government and the ruling Trinamool Congress on the infiltration issue. "When they are supposed to say 'go back, infiltrators,' they are saying 'go back, Modi'. This is because the infiltrators are the dedicated supporters of the ruling dispensation. That is why the state government and the ruling party are pampering the infiltrators," the Prime Minister said. Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi also drew a comparison between Bengal and Tripura. "After 30 years of Communist misrule in Tripura, the real development activities there started after the BJP came to power. After the end of Communist rule in West Bengal, everyone thought that the state would experience development. But in reality, all the evils of the Left forces were adopted, and the corruption increased manifold during the current regime," the Prime Minister added. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text By Tom Hals, Jan Wolfe and Abhirup Roy WILMINGTON, Delaware, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Elon Musk's 2018 pay package from Tesla, once worth $56 billion, was restored by the Delaware Supreme Court on Friday, nearly two years after a lower court struck down the compensation deal as "unfathomable." More from Yahoo Scout Why did Tesla move incorporation from Delaware to Texas? What was the Delaware Supreme Court's ruling on Musk's pay package? What are the key differences between Musk's 2018 and 2024 packages? How does restored pay package affect Musk's Tesla control? The ruling overturns a decision that had prompted a furious backlash from Musk and damaged Delaware's business-friendly reputation. It assures Musk greater control over the company, which he has said is his main concern, even after shareholders recently approved a new pay package that could be worth $878 billion if Tesla meets certain targets. The Supreme Court said a 2024 ruling that rescinded the pay package had been improper and inequitable to Musk. The remedy of total rescission "leaves Musk uncompensated for his time and efforts over a period of six years," the 49-page ruling issued on Friday stated. The 2018 pay package is now worth about $139 billion based on the price of Tesla's stock at the close of trading on Friday. "For Elon, this is a win because he gets control faster," said Gene Munster, managing partner at Tesla investor Deepwater Asset Management. If Musk exercises all the stock options from the 2018 package, his stake in Tesla would grow from about 12.4% to 18.1% of an expanded share base. The company is issuing shares tied to his new pay package, although he must earn them by hitting performance goals. Tesla shares were up less than 1% in after-hours trading following the ruling. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Musk posted on X that he was "vindicated." Lawyers who challenged the pay package said in a statement that they were considering their next steps and were "proud to have participated in the historic verdict below, calling to account the Tesla board and its largest stockholder for their breaches of fiduciary duty." The pay package was by far the largest ever until Tesla shareholders approved the new pay plan in November. If Teslas appeal had failed, it could have triggered a $26 billion hit to profit over two years to account for the replacement stock-compensation package it had promised Musk at todays much higher stock price. The 2018 pay deal provided Musk options to acquire about 304 million Tesla shares at a deeply discounted price if the company hit various milestones, which it did. The options represent around 9% of Tesla's outstanding stock. Musk never collected his stock options because soon after shareholders approved the 2018 compensation, the board was sued by Richard Tornetta, an investor with nine Tesla shares. Kochi, Dec 20 : The demise of veteran actor, screenwriter and filmmaker Sreenivasan has drawn heartfelt tributes from across the political and cultural spectrum, with Kerala's top leadership describing his passing as an irreparable loss to Malayalam cinema and to society at large. Kochi, Dec 20 (IANS) The demise of veteran actor, screenwriter and filmmaker Sreenivasan has drawn heartfelt tributes from across the political and cultural spectrum, with Keralaas top leadership describing his passing as an irreparable loss to Malayalam cinema and to society at large. The 69-year-old multifaceted film personality breathed his last at a government hospital on Saturday morning. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in his condolence message, said Sreenivasan was a rare filmmaker who left his imprint across every sphere of cinema by breaking long-standing conventions. He noted that very few artistes had succeeded like Sreenivasan in portraying the life of the common man on screen and in leading audiences, through humour and reflection, to deeper levels of social awareness. Even while fully aware that his ideas would invite sharp criticism, Sreenivasan presented them with wit and grace, earning the respect of admirers and critics alike, he noted. The Chief Minister also recalled his personal interactions with the filmmaker, describing him as a symbol of affection and friendship, and said Sreenivasanas life was a lesson in perseverance for generations. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan described Sreenivasan as an unparalleled talent who captured, in an extraordinary style, the lives of ordinary people in a vast world and great individuals in small, intimate settings. He said Sreenivasan rewrote the very idea of the conventional hero in Malayalam cinema, creating characters rooted deeply in Malayali society. Through biting satire, sharp criticism and unvarnished truths, his works delivered powerful messages to Kerala society, Satheesan said, adding that there would hardly be a Malayali who does not recall, at least once a day, something Sreenivasan wrote, said or portrayed on screen. Cultural Affairs and Films Minister Saji Cherian hailed Sreenivasan as a multifaceted genius who astonished the Malayalam film world for nearly five decades. He said films penned and directed by Sreenivasan elevated the artistic stature of Malayalam cinema, while his characters became beloved presences in Malayali households. By using humour not merely for laughter but as a tool for thought, Sreenivasan profoundly influenced the social consciousness of the people, the Minister noted. Assembly Speaker A.N. Shamseer said Sreenivasanas passing had created a void that even time could not fill. He described the filmmaker as a rare talent who presented socially conscious themes through simple yet deeply touching narratives, portraying the struggles and aspirations of ordinary people with great sensitivity. Leaders across party lines joined the bereaved family, colleagues and countless admirers in mourning the loss of a creative giant whose legacy will continue to shape Malayalam cinema and society for years to come. New Delhi, Dec 20 : Jamaat-ul-Muminat (JuM) is the female brigade of the Jaish-e-Mohammad that was launched after Operation Sindoor, and while this is not the first time that the terror outfit has tried launching such a formation, officials say this time, its focus is not just on the women from Pakistan, but from Jammu and Kashmir as well In the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, the Indian security agencies launched an all-out hit back against Pakistan. It was not just the terror infrastructure that was destroyed, but a considerable number of overground workers (OWGs) were arrested. The Jaish, thus, has been looking to rebuild its terror infrastructure. While there is a recruitment drive that is on in Pakistan, it is also scouting for women in Jammu and Kashmir. An official said that it wants to create a female OWG network in the Valley. The women who have been recruited into the JuM in Pakistan have been instructed during their online classes to scout for females in J&K, with the outfit saying that it was important to rebuild their OWG network in Jammu and Kashmir, and preferably, most of them should be women. The JeM has instructed the women cadre to reach out to women in Jammu and Kashmir and also train them. An Intelligence Bureau official said that this strategy of having a majority of women as OWGs helps the outfit avoid detection. Women generally come less under the radar of the agencies. Further, it has also been found that they are more loyal to the cause when compared to men. Officials say that in the Valley, the target audience would be the wives, sisters, and relatives of slain terrorists. The strategy is similar to what the outfit adopted in Pakistan while starting the JuM. The JuM is being led by Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azharas sister Sadiya Azhar, the widow of Yusuf Azhar, who was killed in Bahawalpur during Operation Sindoor. Several other women who lost their husbands during the operation are also part of the outfit. Recruitments are underway in Bahawalpur, Karachi, Kotli, Haripur, Mansehra, and Muzaffarabad. Asked whether the recruitment drive of women from the Valley is underway, an official said that the plan has been set in motion by the Jaish. The focus is currently more on the Pakistan cadres, but it is just a matter of time before the drive in the Valley begins. During online classes, the recruitment of women in Jammu and Kashmir is an often-discussed subject. It has also been made the responsibility of the recruits to scout for women in the Valley, the officer also added. The role of the women OWGs would be multi-fold. They would have to arrange logistics as well as ensure the safety of the terrorists who are involved in an operation. Further, they will be tasked with getting information and for this, honey-trapping tactics would also be used. With the Jaish currently facing such a cash crunch, the women OWGs could also be tasked with the responsibility of raising funds. They would also be used to transfer weapons, money, SIM cards, and other necessary items for a terror attack. Intelligence Bureau officials say that the Jaish may just find the desired traction in the Valley, and this is because of past experiences. Earlier, the JeM cadres who would enter the Valley would stay with Kashmiri families. They were known to be very respectful of the women in the family. The women also tend to be attracted to the outfit due to its commitment to the religion. A similar recruitment drive for women had taken place post the abrogation of Article 370. Post this, the security officials launched an offensive during which the OWG network of many terror groups collapsed. At that time, the Jaish had attempted to recruit women and teenage boys as OWGs. However, this drive was not entirely successful, but an Intelligence Bureau official said that this time the Jaish-e-Mohammad and the JuM would make a much harder push. New Delhi, Dec 20 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Shimla, has filed two more supplementary prosecution complaints (SPCs) before the Special Court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the multi-crore Himachal Pradesh Scholarship Scam, intensifying action against private educational institutions accused of siphoning off government funds meant for marginalised students. According to a press release issued on Saturday by the agency, the third supplementary prosecution complaint was filed on August 22, 2025, against ICL Hitech Educational Society, Sanjiv Kumar Prabhakar and other co-accused. The society operates the ICL Group of Colleges in Haryana and was found to be involved in the offence of money laundering. The fourth supplementary prosecution complaint was filed on December 17, 2025, against Dev Bhumy Educational Trust, Bhupinder Kumar Sharma, and other co-accused. The trust was running the Dev Bhumy Group of Institutes in the Una district of Himachal Pradesh. The ED initiated its investigation based on an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Shimla, which had flagged large-scale irregularities in the disbursement of scholarships by the Directorate of Higher Education (DoHE), Shimla. The alleged fraud occurred under the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) meant for SC, ST and OBC students of Himachal Pradesh. Investigations revealed that several private institutes fraudulently claimed scholarship amounts by uploading details of students who were either not enrolled or had discontinued their courses. To inflate scholarship claims, institutes allegedly manipulated data on the HP-e Pass portal by changing studentsa courses, altering caste categories in subsequent years, and falsely declaring day scholars as hostellers. The ED further found that the proceeds of crime generated through the scam were diverted to acquire movable and immovable properties in the names of the accused and their family members. Earlier, searches under the PMLA resulted in the seizure of incriminating documents, recovery of around Rs 80 lakh in cash, and freezing of bank balances and fixed deposits worth approximately Rs 3.30 crore. So far, provisional attachment orders have been issued for assets worth about Rs 30.5 crore, and six persons have been arrested in the case. The ED said further investigation into the scholarship scam is ongoing. New Delhi, Dec 20 : Secretary of the National Commission for Minorities Alka Upadhyaya has reiterated that government actions are guided by the vision of ensuring that no one is left behind and that all communities have equal opportunities for progress and prosperity, an official said on Saturday. At an event to mark the Minorities Day on December 18, Upadhyaya interacted with representatives from six minority communities Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, and Zoroastrian (Parsi), underscoring the importance of continuous dialogue among different communities. The Secretary elaborated on the government schemes aimed at uplifting minority communities and said that minority communities have made invaluable contributions to the nation's rich social, cultural, and economic fabric. "The National Commission for Minorities has been working tirelessly to build an inclusive and equitable society," she said. A sizeable gathering from minority communities participated in the event. During the open session, several queries were raised, covering issues ranging from Minority Certificates to the implementation of various government schemes, said the statement. The interaction reflected strong engagement and a shared commitment to addressing concerns through dialogue, it said. During the programme, Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok and Indu Jain spoke about the challenges faced by Buddhist and Jain communities, seeking responsive redressal from the National Commission for Minorities. Parsi leader Marazban Nariman Zaiwalla detailed minority-focused programmes and the NCM's role as a bridge bringing India's many communities onto a shared civic platform. Guest Speaker Michael V. Williams of Mount Carmel School reminded the gathering why Minority Day matters, underlining the Christian community's long and quiet contribution to nation-building through education and healthcare institutions that serve far beyond denominational boundaries. Md. Tauhid Alam of Jamia Hamdard set minority welfare within the broader framework of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Vikas, and emphasised that governance today is all about inclusion. Harbans Singh of Khalsa College drew a message from Gurubani to explain how coexistence and collective prosperity are not slogans but lived traditions. Chennai, Dec 20 : Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Saturday strongly defended the DMK government's handling of nursing appointments and labour issues, placing the blame for long-standing unrest squarely on the former AIADMK regime. Talking to reporters after inaugurating a special medical camp at the Karaneeswarar Temple in Saidapet, the Minister said the DMK government had inherited a flawed contractual nursing structure introduced during the tenure of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. This, he argued, formed the foundation of the grievances seen today. "The root cause of the nursing crisis can be traced to the contractual system brought in by the previous AIADMK government," Subramanian remarked. "It is ironic that the very leaders who introduced it are now criticising the state and claiming concern for nurses. The issue is entirely their creation." The minister dismissed opposition claims regarding ongoing nursing protests, stating that the strike had been withdrawn after extensive talks between representatives and officials on Friday. According to him, some of the demands put forward by nurses were deemed reasonable and are being addressed, while a few others were not feasible for implementation. Subramanian emphasised that the situation within the Stateas healthcare system has improved significantly since the DMK assumed office. He noted that, at present, only 169 nursing vacancies remain, and the government has already initiated measures to fill them within the next 48 hours. Backing this claim with data, the minister said the government has regularised 3,783 contractual nurses, issued appointment orders to 3,614 more, and created 1,200 additional posts to strengthen staffing at government hospitals. He stressed that demands to reinstate posts that have ceased to exist under the old contractual framework cannot be met. Highlighting wider public healthcare efforts, Subramanian pointed to the aNalam Kaakkum Stalina outreach programme, which includes medical camps held across various zones in Chennai and beyond. The camps, he said, provide comprehensive check-ups and medicines, helping expand access to healthcare. "As of today, more than 11.42 lakh people have benefited from the camps, with around 45 held across the state," he added. The minister reiterated the governmentas commitment to resolving the issue through dialogue and policy reforms, while criticising attempts by the opposition to politicise the situation. Los Angeles, Dec 20 : Actor Hollywood star Timothee Chalamet has said that he is proud of his billionaire girlfriend Kylie Jenner. This comes amidst the media reports of their alleged break-up. Los Angeles, Dec 20 (IANS) Actor Hollywood star Timothee Chalamet has said that he is proud of his billionaire girlfriend Kylie Jenner. This comes amidst the media reports of their alleged break-up. The actor, 29, appeared in a verse on a new EsDeeKid track, seemingly addressing rumors that the U.K. rapper is secretly the Oscar-nominated actor's alter ego, reports 'People' magazine. On the track, the Marty Supreme star raps "my girl got a billion", in reference to the Kylie Cosmetics founder's billionaire status. As per 'People', Kylie Jenner, 28, launched Kylie Cosmetics in 2015 with a collection of lip liners and liquid lipsticks. She was 22 years old when she sold a majority stake in Kylie Cosmetics to Coty, which valued the company at almost $1.2 billion. The couple were first linked in 2023. "Girl got a billion, what the f***? with a wonderful feeling head to the ceiling, hit to the, since 2017, I'm living a dream getting the cream, I'm living on, I'm doing my thing, Marty Supreme, Marty Supreme, Marty Supreme", Chalamet raps on the track, which was shared in a joint Instagram post with EsDeeKid on Friday, December 19. In early 2025, rumors began swirling that Timothee Chalamet was secretly EsDeeKid, primarily based on the similarities in their eyes, which have only been seen through the rapper's balaclava, and the actor's known love of hip-hop and rap music. The actor further fueled these rumors in August 2025, when he showed up to a show in London hosted by Fakemink, who appears on EsDeeKid's track 'LV Sandals'. Leading up to Chalamet's collaboration with EsDeeKid, he was asked plainly if the Liverpool-based rapper is his alter-ego in an appearance on Heart Breakfast on December 11. He replied, "I got no comment on that. No, I mean, I got no comment". Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman interacts with students during the launch of Cyient AI Labs (CyAILS) under the 'VijAIpatha' initiative, in government schools of Hosapete Taluka, Karnataka, on Saturday, December 20, 2025.. Image Source: IANS/X/@nsitharamanoffc New Delhi, Dec 20 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday launched a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project to develop five Artificial Intelligence, STEM, and robotics labs in government schools in Karnataka. The Minister launched Cyient AI Labs (CyAILS) -- 'VijAIpatha', a CSR-led national initiative to democratise access to Artificial Intelligence, STEM, and robotics education in government schools of Hosapete Taluka in Hampi, Karnataka. "Under the pilot, five world-class AI, STEM, and robotics labs are being established in government schools," Nirmala Sitharaman's Office shared in a post on the social media platform X. "Each lab will be equipped with high-performance computers, AI-ready software, robotics kits, IoT devices, sensors, and secure broadband connectivity," the post added. The VijAIpatha programme is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Digital India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mission of Viksit Bharat 2047. It integrates CBSE's AI curriculum and also aims to strengthen technology-enabled learning in public education. Focused on rural and semi-urban India, the initiative introduces future technologies at the school level, building early digital fluency, computational thinking, and innovation capacity among students. The project also fosters clarity in early digital knowledge among students, as well as the ability to think and innovate in solving complex problems. VijAIpatha will benefit more than 2,000 students and provide training to more than 200 teachers, "Benefiting over 2,000 students and training 200+ teachers, VijAIpatha is a scalable CSR model fostering innovation, career readiness, and digital empowerment at the grassroots level," said the post by Nirmala Sitharaman's Office. VijAIpatha can also be implemented in various districts and states in collaboration with the Education Department, and it will be recognised as a model CSR project for the national-level expansion of artificial intelligence education. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Islamabad, Dec 20 : A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight en route from Jeddah to Lahore made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a technical alert was received mid-air, triggering the deployment of oxygen masks and causing panic among passengers, including dozens of Umrah pilgrims, local media reported on Saturday. "According to the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesperson, flight PK-860 was scheduled to land at Lahore airport at 8 pm, however, it diverted to Dammamas King Fahd International Airport due to a technical issue. Officials say the plane was carrying 381 passengers," leading Pakistani daily The Express Tribune reported on Saturday. It mentioned further that a similar incident took place last month when PIA flight PK-859 from Lahore to Jeddah was forced to divert mid-flight and land at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport because the first officer's windshield cracked. "The incident caused panic among passengers, and PIA officials said the windshield would be replaced before passengers continued their journey to Jeddah on the same or alternative aircraft," the daily reported. Earlier this year, a PIA domestic flight landed in Lahore without one of its rear wheels, leaving authorities shocked on what seemed like a major blunder on part of the flight management. PIA flight PK-306 left from Karachi enroute to Lahore on March 13. Upon landing at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, it was discovered that one of the wheels of the landing gear was missing. aThe issue was discovered during an inspection following the flight's landing at the airport," a PIA spokesperson said. The interesting part was that despite extensive search, no trace of the missing tyre was found. Authorities at the Karachi International Airport had confirmed that the missing wheel was present when the plane took off from Karachi. It was also maintained that the plane made a normal landing at the Lahore airport. New Delhi, Dec 20 : The government spends Rs 30-35 lakh for every MBBS student, said Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Saturday, while urging new doctors to work towards society. Addressing the 21st annual convocation ceremony of King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, the Minister highlighted the remarkable progress achieved in India's healthcare and medical education sector over the past decade. "The government spends between 30-35 lakh for every MBBS student, said Nadda while urging "the graduating students to actively contribute to academics and research...and shoulder more responsibilities towards society". "From just one AIIMS at the end of the past century, today there are 23 AIIMS institutions across India, reflecting the government's commitment to expanding quality healthcare and medical training to every region," the Health Minister said. He further informed that in the last 11 years, the number of medical colleges in the country has increased from 387 to 819. Similarly, undergraduate medical seats have risen from 51,000 to 1,19,000, and postgraduate seats from 31,000 to 80,000. Nadda added that till 2029, under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an additional 75,000 seats will be added across both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, of which more than 23,000 seats have already been added in one year. Nadda highlighted that currently, there are more than 1.82 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs operational in the country, which are providing comprehensive primary care services to the people. He also informed that more than 62 crore people, accounting for over 40 per cent of India's population, are being provided with health coverage up to Rs 5 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat- PMJAY scheme, the largest health coverage scheme in the world. The Union Minister also congratulated the graduating students and commended KGMU for its contribution towards advancing medical science education and patient care in India. "KGMU is ranked 8th in the 2025 NIRF rankings, and 12 of its faculties have been listed in the top 2 per cent scientists by Stanford University, which is a remarkable achievement," he stated. The Minister also encouraged the students to remain lifelong learners and innovators, committed to advancing medical science and serving society with compassion. New Delhi, Dec 20 : Amid the ongoing violence in Bangladesh, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) National Spokesperson Vinod Bansal said on Saturday that the country has become a hub for Islamic jihadist extremists, adding that the inhumane atrocities being committed against Hindus and other non-Muslims are shameful for all of humanity. Speaking to IANS, Bansal said, "Bangladesh has become a hub for Islamic jihadist extremists. The inhumane atrocities being committed against Hindus and other non-Muslims are shameful for the entire world. On Thursday, the brutal murder of Deepu Chandra Das, who was allegedly beaten, hanged from a tree, and then burned, has emerged as a grave challenge for global humanity." He also alleged that extremists in Bangladesh have not only damaged top media houses but have also attacked Indian embassies. "This extremist Islamic mindset is not only suppressing people but is also trying to burn and destroy everything. The government and administration of Bangladesh are remaining silent spectators. Even the United Nations and the United Nations Humasn Rights Commission have not spoken out or condemned these incidents, which is deeply disappointing," he told IANS. Bansal also expressed concern over the alleged lack of response within India. "It is deeply distressing when Hindus are attacked by Islamic jihadists, whether globally or in our neighbourhood. In such situations, many opposition leaders in India remain silent, as if their voices are muted. These incidents are extremely alarming, shameful, and pose a serious threat to humanity," he added. Earlier on Saturday, Bangladesh interim government's Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus announced that at least seven people were arrested in connection with the lynching and brutal killing of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das over blasphemy charges. "In the incident of beating to death Sanatan Dharma adherent youth Dipu Chandra Das in Bhaluka upazila in Mymensingh district, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested seven individuals as suspects," Yunus said in a post on X. The arrested individuals have been identified as Limon Sarkar, Tarek Hossain, Manik Mia, Ershad Ali, Nijum Uddin, Alomgir Hossain and Miraj Hossain Akon. According to the statement, RAB-14 conducted operations at various locations and arrested the aforementioned suspects. The horrific incident occurred on Thursday night at the Pioneer Knit Composite Factory in the Square Masterbari area of the Bhaluka upazila. The deceased, 30-year-old Dipu Chandra Das, was a worker at a factory and a resident of Tarakanda Upazila of Mymensingh. Citing local and eyewitness sources, Bangladeshi Bengali media outlet Barta Bazar reported that Dipu was accused of making derogatory comments about Islam and Prophet Muhammad during an event at the factory marking World Arabic Language Day. The allegations rapidly spread within the factory and surrounding areas, sparking tension. He was later beaten by an angry mob and reportedly died on the spot. Reports suggest that the situation took a gruesome turn after his death, with the crowd taking the body to the Square Masterbari bus stand area, tying it to a tree with a rope, beating it while shouting various slogans and later setting it ablaze. Confirming the incident, Bhaluka Upazila Executive Officer, Md. Firoz Hossain said a person was killed over allegations of insulting the Prophet, adding that the body of the deceased is in police custody. Former Bangladesh Minister and Awami League leader Mohammad Ali Arafat strongly condemned the incident, asserting that Bangladesh is steadily heading toward full-scale radicalism under the leadership of the interim government led by Yunus. Bangladesh has witnessed escalating violence against minorities, including Hindus under the Yunus-led interim government, sparking outrage among people and several human rights organisations across the globe. December 20 : Shahjahanpur: State Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna, while speaking to reporters on Saturday regarding the codeine-laced cough syrup case, mentioned the action taken. Khanna clearly stated, "action has been taken against influential people under the Yogi government's zero-tolerance policy. Strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty". Suresh Khanna also targeted the Samajwadi Party. He said that a photo of the Samajwadi Party's national president with the codeine mafia has surfaced, therefore, instead of giving vague answers, he should reveal the truth behind the photo with the codeine mafia. The entire country wants to know the truth behind this photo. Khanna said, "the SP did not say anything about the deaths of children in the country due to the cough syrup. Large-scale drug trafficking took place and resulted in deaths, but nothing was said about it. Those arrested have some connection or the other with people from the Samajwadi Party". He also added by saying, "the UP government has already clarified that not a single death has occurred in Uttar Pradesh due to this. Despite this, the Yogi government took prompt action in this matter". The Cabinet Minister said, "our government's objective is to have a drug-free Uttar Pradesh (Nasha Mukt UP), just like a drug-free India (Nasha Mukt Bharat). Extensive action has been taken under this objective. Codeine-laced syrup is meant for the treatment of patients with severe cough. This medicine is given to patients only when prescribed by a doctor. Medical stores are required to maintain a register of who received how much of the medication". Khanna stated it was being smuggled on a large scale. It was being sent to Nepal and Bangladesh for use as a narcotic. Khanna also added by saying, "the Uttar Pradesh government has taken large-scale action against this crime. An SIT (Special Investigation Team) was formed with the cooperation of the FSDA (Food Safety and Drug Administration) and the police department". A three-member committee, headed by Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) LR Kumar, was formed. The SIT is conducting a large-scale investigation. Currently, FIRs have been registered against 140 firms in 33 districts under the BNS (Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act) and NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act). The medicine, which was meant for patients with severe coughs, was not available to them, but was being smuggled for drug abuse. Taking cognizance of this, an investigation was conducted, which revealed that many people were involved, and action has been taken against all of them. So far, 75 people have been arrested. Cough syrup worth Rs 9.42 crore has been seized. 12,65,455 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered. Khanna assured that as the SIT's investigation progresses, action will be taken against everyone found to be involved. The strictest possible action will be taken against anyone found guilty. Imphal, Dec 20 : Manipur, with its exceptional biodiversity and unique ecological conditions, serves as a living laboratory for scientific research, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla said on Saturday. The Governor emphasised that focused studies are particularly needed in critical areas such as climate change, biotechnology, sustainable agriculture, and environmental sciences, noting that research in these fields would not only advance scientific understanding but also contribute to the stateas sustainable development and environmental conservation efforts. Inaugurating the Manipur Science Congress 2025, Bhalla emphasised that science is not merely the pursuit of knowledge, but a vital instrument for addressing pressing global challenges such as climate change, resource depletion and environmental stress, which are increasingly evident through erratic monsoons, floods and heat waves. Highlighting Indiaas strong legacy of scientific innovation and recent national achievements in space science and digital public infrastructure, he noted that these successes are driven by a clear policy vision of the Centre to strengthen science, technology, and innovation ecosystems. He underscored the need to promote applied, problem-oriented research relevant to local and regional realities, particularly in the northeastern region, and called upon scientists and researchers to guide society in the intelligent use, conservation, and regeneration of resources. The Governor further observed that platforms such as the Manipur Science Congress play a crucial role in fostering collaboration, encouraging quality research, and enabling wider dissemination of findings through national and international publications. The Manipur Science Congress 2025, organised by Manipur University in collaboration with the Manipur Science and Technology Council (MASTEC), is being held under the theme aScience, Innovation and Climate Changea and serves as a vital platform for scientists, researchers, academicians, and students to deliberate on contemporary scientific issues and promote innovation-driven solutions, particularly in the context of climate change. Manipur University Vice Chancellor, Prof. N. Lokendra Singh and Science & Technology Secretary and MASTEC Member Secretary, Kengoo Zuringla, also attended the inaugural function. --IANS sc/vd Mumbai, Dec 20 : Congress party in charge of Maharashtra, Ramesh Chennithala, on Saturday announced that the party will contest the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections on its own strength. Speaking to the press, Chennithala made it clear that the party is prepared to challenge both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its state-level ally, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). The primary reason for this split in Mumbai is the potential alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray's MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena). Congress has strongly objected to Shiv Sena (UBT) joining hands with the MNS. Congress leaders have stated they cannot align with MNS due to its aggressive stance against North Indian migrants, which conflicts with Congress's ideology and voter base in Mumbai. Chennithala and Mumbai Congress President Varsha Gaikwad have made it clear that if Shiv Sena (UBT) insists on bringing MNS into the fold, Congress will fight the BMC polls alone to protect its own values and vote bank. Chennithala, who chaired the meeting to review the Congress party's preparations for the elections to BMC and 28 other civic bodies, launched a scathing attack on the governance of the municipal corporation over the last four years. He highlighted that the common Mumbaikar continues to face severe hardships due to rising pollution, the dilapidated condition of civic hospitals, and rampant corruption. He alleged that despite these crises, the poor have received no relief from the administration. The Congress leader held the state government directly responsible for the failure to hold civic elections for the past four years. He accused the government of deliberately avoiding the electoral process while maintaining direct interference in the corporation's daily affairs. "The government had no intention of accepting the election process," Chennithala stated. He expressed gratitude to the Supreme Court, remarking that the elections are only taking place due to the Court's intervention. "Without the Supreme Court, another five years would have passed in the same manner," he added. Looking ahead to the campaign, the Congress has appealed to "true patriots and secular citizens" to unite. Chennithala announced that the party will soon release a manifesto for the city, alongside a 'chargesheet' exposing the failures of the current regime. He announced that the Congress would ensure the BMC is run efficiently and effectively for the people of Mumbai. Lucknow, Dec : The Chief Minister 'Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan', which aims to create self-employment opportunities for 1 lakh youth every year in Uttar Pradesh, is yielding encouraging results, promising enough to nudge others to take note. The jobless and unemployed youth are taking advantage of the scheme and setting themselves on an entrepreneurial journey with financial help from the state government. Mujahid Sheikh, a native of Lakhimpur Kheri, is one such example of a self-made entrepreneur who once battled depression, financial hardship, and social neglect, but today is running a fledgling yet active enterprise with help from UP govt's "CM Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan". Mujahid, coming from an agricultural background, whose family was entirely dependent on farming, worried about raising and educating his children. The constant stress pushed him into a state of depression; however, with timely counselling and government assistance, he not only won that mental battle but also went on to create his own enterprise. The 'Chief Minister's Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan' proved to be a turning point in his life. He got a collateral-free and interest-free loan and opened a digital marketing agency, and helped those who were only conducting business offline. Gradually, small shopkeepers and service providers started joining online platforms. A new hub of digital services was created in the village. This marked a tangible manifestation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Digital India' vision. He then took a franchise of Thyrocare and completed a phlebotomy course. Through this course, he learned the entire process of blood sample collection. He then started collecting blood samples from his village and sending them to Lucknow for testing. This provided villagers with access to testing facilities close to home. Today, Mujahid's business is thriving. By providing more than 400 services, he has become a trusted name in the village. He has also started giving franchises through his firm, MSO Enterprises, which has increased his income. He has also started a YouTube channel through which he educates people about digital services and government schemes. Mujahid gives full credit for his success to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He believes that if the government had not trusted his abilities, he would still be struggling. He also expresses his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose Digital India initiative has brought new opportunities to the villages. Today, he is also working to raise awareness about the "Chief Minister's Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan" so that needy young people can benefit from it. Bengaluru, Dec 20 : The Karnataka Congress unit on Saturday staged a protest titled "Satyameva Jayate" at Freedom Park in Bengaluru, condemning what it described as false Enforcement Directorate (ED) cases filed against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in connection with the National Herald case. The protesters also condemned the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name while renaming the MNREGA scheme, which the party termed an insult to the Father of the Nation. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, addressed the gathering. Shivakumar alleged that forces aligned with Nathuram Godse's ideology were attempting to erase the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, who sacrificed his life for the country's unity and freedom, and asserted that the Congress would not allow Gandhi's India to be turned into Godse's India. "In Mahatma Gandhi's name, our government implemented the rural employment guarantee scheme. Under this scheme, the government pays wages for land levelling, cattle shed construction and house construction in rural areas," he said. "Under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took this historic decision. Now, the BJP government is removing Mahatma Gandhi's name from this scheme. If the BJP has the courage, let them remove Gandhi's image from currency notes as well. Mahatma Gandhi's name is immortal," Shivakumar said. He challenged BJP leaders and legislators, stating that they had lost the moral right to protest in front of Gandhi statues and should refrain from doing so in the future. "If you remove Mahatma Gandhi's name from a scheme that provides employment to the poor, you are betraying the nation. When foreign leaders visit India, they first pay respects at Gandhi's memorial. By removing his name, you are killing Gandhi once again," he alleged. "A major agitation will begin in the state against this. We and the country need Gandhi. Removing his name is an insult. No previous government did this; this government has. The people of the country will respond," he said. Referring to the National Herald case, Shivakumar said, "The National Herald is a national asset, while hatred is the BJP's asset. Truth never dies; false cases do not last. Today, we are fighting under the slogan 'Satyameva Jayate'." "Congress is the strength of the nation, and Congress history is the nation's history. Whenever Congress came to power, it framed programmes rooted in the Constitution to shape the country's future," he added. He recalled major Congress-led initiatives, stating that Indira Gandhi nationalised banks and implemented land reforms, while Manmohan Singh introduced the Food Security Act. In Karnataka, under the leadership of senior leader Motamma, the Congress-led government launched the Stree Shakti programme. "No government has been able to dismantle these schemes, nor can they remove our five guarantees. These are Congress government programmes," Shivakumar said. On criticism by Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the invocation of Dr B.R. Ambedkar's name, Shivakumar said the Congress responded by organising the Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Constitution convention. Highlighting the sacrifices of the Nehru-Gandhi family, Shivakumar said Motilal Nehru belonged to one of the wealthiest families and donated his property to the nation. "If anyone sacrificed property, power and life for this country, it is the Gandhi family," he said. "Jawaharlal Nehru gave up wealth, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives, and Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi sacrificed power. We are proud to belong to such a party. Thousands of people participated in the recent Delhi protest at their own expense. We will continue this struggle and will not allow the BJP to distort our history," he said, congratulating the participants. AICC secretaries Abhishek Dutt, Mayur Jaikumar and B.V. Srinivas, MLAs Pradeep Eshwar and Hariprasad, State Mahila Congress president Soumya Reddy, State Youth Congress president Manjunath Gowda, and senior leaders H.M. Revanna, Motamma, Rani Satish, B.L. Shankar, Chandrappa and others participated in the protest. Manila, Dec 20 : Two soldiers were killed while three others were wounded after landmines allegedly planted by rebels exploded during military operations in Camarines Sur province on Luzon island, the Philippine military said on Saturday. According to a Facebook reel by the Philippine Army's 9th Infantry Division, the incident occurred on Friday in a mountainous village of Balatan municipality. The army said the soldiers were hit by explosions from anti-personnel landmines, Xinhua news agency reported. Following the incident, the military said it has intensified pursuit operations against the New People's Army (NPA) rebels. Earlier this month, two soldiers were killed in a clash with members of the left-wing NPA rebels in Samar province in the central Philippines, the Philippine military had said. Lieutenant General Antonio Nafarrete, Commanding General of the Philippine Army, said the encounter happened at around 1 am local time on December 3 in a village in San Jose De Buan, a municipality in the province. Last week, the Philippine military said that a suspected NPA member was killed in a firefight with government troops in Silvino Lobos town, Northern Samar province in the central Philippines, where the insurgents were allegedly extorting from residents. A spokesperson for the Army's 8th Infantry Division said soldiers launched an operation early on December 11 in the hinterlands of Gusaran village following reports that rebels had been forcing farmers to surrender portions of their harvest. As troops approached an NPA encampment, they came under fire from an undetermined number of insurgents, sparking a 15-minute clash. The rebels later withdrew, leaving behind a slain comrade, an M16 rifle, and other personal belongings, the spokesperson said. The NPA has waged a decades-long insurgency since 1969, seeking to overthrow the government. The group continues to operate mainly in rural areas across Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, though security officials say its ranks have sharply declined in recent years. While NPA continues to operate in rural areas across the archipelagic country, the military said that its strength has dwindled to about 1,000 fighters, down from a peak of some 25,000 in the mid-1980s. Bhopal, Dec 20 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Saturday that India's traditional change of year (New Year) follows 'Vikram Samvat' calendar, which is not connected with "birth or death" of any particular person. "We follow the 'Vikram Samvat' to shift from one year to another, which has nothing to do with death or birth of any individual. 'Vikram Samvat' represents prosperity, growth and good governance system," CM Yadav said while addressing an event organised by "Young Entrepreneurs Forum (YEF) Bharat" in Indore. According to Hindu traditions, the day of Chaitra Pratipada, which falls between March and April is regarded as renewal, hope, and celebrations, as people across India come together to mark the start of a fresh year. Addressing the large gathering of young entrepreneurs from across the country at the Brilliant Convention Centre in Indore, the Chief Minister said that Madhya Pradesh has witnessed all- round growth in the past two years of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government and the 'bhoomi-pujan' of new industrial setups worth more than two lakh crore will be done between December 25 and 31. Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the event organised at the Brilliant Convention Centre in Indore. The week-long event will focus on building a community of like-minded, values-driven entrepreneurs while promoting ethical, responsible, and nation-centric business practices which will accelerate India's economic growth. Founded by entrepreneurs from Madhya Pradesh, YEF Bharat is a collective platform of disciplined, organised, and responsible entrepreneurs inspired by the spirit of national service. More than a business forum, YEF Bharat represents a growing movement of young Indians who believe that entrepreneurship must contribute to national unity, community development, and the progress of the country. Chandigarh, Dec 20 : The BJP on Saturday expressed grave concern over the extraordinary delay in the declaration of results of the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections in rural Punjab. Even after 33 hours of counting, results for barely 40 per cent of the seats have been declared, exposing severe administrative failure and raising serious doubts over the transparency and credibility of the electoral process. Reacting to the situation, Pritpal Singh Baliawal, state spokesperson, BJP Punjab, said that this disgraceful delay clearly demonstrates why electronic voting machines (EVMs) are essential for free, fair, transparent, and time-bound elections. He said that ballot paper-based elections have once again proven to be inefficient and vulnerable to manipulation. Baliawal pointed out that ballot-paper voting inevitably leads to endless counting delays, large-scale rejection of valid votes, and open scope for manipulation, including fake ballot printing. Reports of lakhs of votes being rejected and results taking days to be announced have seriously compromised public faith in the democratic process. He further stated that even Punjab Congress leaders have publicly accused the AAP government of vote manipulation and fake ballot printing during these elections, which made the situation even more alarming. Baliawal questioned the silence of the Congress high command and urged its leader, Rahul Gandhi, to seek answers from his alliance partner, the Aam Aadmi Party, on why the counting process in Punjab has collapsed so badly. "When results are delayed endlessly, and votes are rejected on a massive scale, the integrity of the entire electoral exercise stands compromised. Voters deserve transparency, efficiency, and trust, not confusion, delays, and political games," Baliawal said. He concluded by asserting that those who thrive on manipulation and chaos fear EVMs because EVMs ensure rejection-free voting, faster counting, and complete transparency. The BJP reiterated its demand for electoral reforms that strengthen democracy and restore the confidence of voters in the system. --IANS vg/dan Bamako : , Dec 20 (IANS) Mali has established a new rapid intervention unit within its armed forces to strengthen the fight against terrorism, the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs said during a flag presentation ceremony held in the capital here. The unit, known as the Rapid Intervention Battalion, is tasked with enhancing the operational capabilities of the Malian Armed Forces, improving their responsiveness to security threats, and contributing to the defence of territorial integrity as well as the protection of civilians and property. Its exact strength has not been disclosed. Malian Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs Sadio Camara said that the establishment of the Rapid Intervention Battalion reflects the need for a continuous adaptation of the armed forces in response to a changing security environment, Xinhua news agency reported. The unit is equipped with mobile assets, including motorcycles, which allow it to operate in areas difficult for armoured vehicles to access. Chief of the General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces Oumar Diarra said that recent months have seen an increase in attacks targeting fuel tankers, passenger transport and civilian vehicles along key routes linking the capital to other regions, prompting the need for more agile and adaptable units. Since a military coup in March 2012, Mali has grappled with instability and insurgency. Although the government signed a peace and reconciliation agreement with some northern armed groups in 2015, violence has persisted in the north and spread toward central and southern regions in recent years. The West African nation was also recently in the grip of a severe fuel shortage. Gasoline and diesel supplies dried up across the country, disrupting transportation, slowing business activities, and further straining daily life. Fuel sales in Bamako and nearby areas were rationed last month, capping each vehicle at 10,000 CFA francs (about 17.75 US dollars) of fuel daily. Observers saw the shortage closely linked to Mali's fragile security situation. Since September, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM/JNIM) has repeatedly ambushed fuel convoys on major routes leading to Bamako from Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire. These attacks have targetted economic lifelines to weaken the government and disrupt regional trade. According to Mali's security authorities, dozens of tanker trucks have been destroyed in such assaults. New Delhi, Dec 20 : The 107 Regular Course of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) on Saturday marked its Silver Jubilee with a deeply emotional visit to its alma mater in Dehradun, commemorating 25 years of service to the nation. Officers of the course, accompanied by their families, returned to the hallowed precincts of the Academy that shaped them from young cadets into professional soldiers and leaders of the Indian Army. Commissioned on June 24, 2000, the 107 Regular Course comprised 416 Gentlemen Cadets. Of them, 255 officers revisited the Academy to relive memories, renew bonds of camaraderie and pay tribute to the institution, instructors and traditions that laid the foundation of their military ethos. The occasion was marked by a strong sense of nostalgia, pride and gratitude, reflecting the enduring connection between the officers and the Academy. Over the past two and a half decades, officers of the course have served across diverse terrains and operational environments, demonstrating exceptional leadership, professional competence and operational acumen. Their collective contribution is reflected in the honours earned, with the course producing 47 gallantry award winners and 176 recipients of distinguished service awards, underscoring its significant impact on the Indian Army. The celebrations also carried a solemn note of remembrance. In the line of duty, the course has lost 10 brave officers who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation. As part of the Silver Jubilee commemorations, the course members honoured the memory of their fallen comrades by felicitating their Next of Kin, reaffirming the unbreakable bond of the military fraternity. Two Next of Kin attended the event, making the tribute particularly poignant. The Silver Jubilee celebrations served as a powerful reminder of the core values of honour, courage and sacrifice instilled at the Indian Military Academy. They also reaffirmed the continued commitment of the officers of the 107 Regular Course to uphold the finest traditions of the Indian Army in the service of the nation. Shares of Nike Inc. dipped over 4 percent in after-market trading on Thursday despite the company beating earnings estimates and seeing improvement in North America in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. Net income at the Beaverton, Ore.-based company fell 32 percent to $792 million from $1.16 billion in the year-ago period. Diluted earnings per share dropped to 53 cents from 78 cents. Net sales in the period tallied $12.43 billion, up 1 percent from $12.35 billion on a reported basis and flat on a currency-neutral basis. More from WWD The companys second-quarter results beat Wall Streets best guess. Analysts, on average, were expecting net sales of $12.22 billion and earnings per share of 38 cents, according to LSEG. By business segment, the company said Nike brands second-quarter revenues were $12.1 billion, up 1 percent, primarily due to growth in North America, partially offset by declines in Greater China and APLA. Nike Direct revenues were $4.6 billion, a decline of 8 percent, due to a 14 percent decrease in Nike Brand Digital and a 3 percent decrease in Nike-owned stores. As for Nikes wholesale channel, which the company has steadily worked on rebuilding, revenues in the quarter were $7.5 billion, up 8 percent. And revenues for Converse were $300 million, down 30 percent on a reported basis, due to declines across all territories. Nike said footwear revenues remained flat in the period at $7.7 billion. Apparel sales in the second quarter increased 4 percent to $3.9 billion. Elliott Hill, president and chief executive officer at Nike Inc, said in a statement the company is in the middle innings of its comeback. We are making progress in the areas we prioritized first and remain confident in the actions were taking to drive the long-term growth and profitability of our brands, Hill said. Fiscal 26 continues to be a year of taking action through Win Now, including realigning our teams, strengthening partner relationships, rebalancing our portfolio, and winning on the ground. Were finding our rhythm in our new sport offense, and setting ourselves up for the next phase of athlete-centered innovation in an elevated and integrated marketplace. Matthew Friend, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Nike Inc, added that the company demonstrated the resilience of its portfolio in the second quarter by delivering modest top-line reported growth while managing headwinds. Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 20 : The Thiruvananthapuram Seventh Additional Sessions Court on Saturday granted anticipatory bail to filmmaker P.T. Kunju Muhammed in connection with a sexual assault complaint filed by a woman film professional, imposing stringent conditions while allowing the plea. Kunju Muhammed is a two-time former legislator who was elected with the support of the CPI(M)-led Left Front. The court passed the order after concluding detailed arguments from both sides earlier this week. The case was registered by the police on December 8, based on a complaint submitted by the woman to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on November 27. The complainant has alleged that Kunju Muhammed sexually assaulted her while he was serving as the chairman of the jury responsible for selecting films for the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), a position considered prestigious within the Malayalam film industry. According to the prosecution, the accused, a well-known public figure, abused his position and subjected the complainant to sexual assault. The prosecution strongly opposed the grant of anticipatory bail, arguing that the gravity of the allegations and the social standing of the accused warranted a strict approach by the court. Police informed the court that their investigation revealed that Kunju Muhammed had called the complainant to a room, forcibly restrained her and committed sexual assault. A detailed police report along with the case diary was produced before the district sessions court in support of these claims. The defence, however, questioned the credibility of the complaint, pointing to an alleged delay in reporting the incident. The defence counsel submitted that the incident was alleged to have occurred on November 6, while the complaint was filed on November 27, raising doubts over the veracity of the allegations. The prosecution countered this by stating that the delay was due to health-related issues faced by the complainant and that such delays are not uncommon in cases of sexual assault. After considering the submissions and materials placed before it, the court granted anticipatory bail with strict conditions, while clarifying that the investigation would continue. The case has drawn considerable attention within film and political circles, given the stature of the accused and the broader debate on accountability and safety within the cultural sector. Berlin, Dec 20 : A majority of Germans support the federal government's plans to curb asylum immigration, according to an opinion poll published on Saturday. A survey conducted by YouGov for the German news agency DPA found that 53 per cent of respondents fully support Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt's goal of reducing the number of asylum seekers entering the country, while a further 23 per cent said they would rather support the policy. Only 15 per cent said they oppose the approach, while the remaining respondents said they had not decided, Xinhua news agency reported. Since taking office in May, Dobrindt has ordered stricter border controls and authorised the rejection of asylum seekers at Germany's borders, with exceptions for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and the seriously ill. At the EU level, he is also advocating stricter asylum rules that would permit the establishment of so-called return centers, which can accommodate asylum seekers who are required to leave Germany before being deported to their home countries. Despite these steps, only eight per cent of respondents said they had noticed a clear change in migration policy, while 42 per cent said they saw no shift at all. The YouGov survey was conducted among more than 2,100 eligible voters between December 12 and 15. Earlier this week, authorities of Germany's eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt said that they had detained a 21-year-old man suspected of planning an attack on large crowds, according to public broadcaster ARD. The suspect, whose specific nationality was not disclosed but who was described as being from "Central Asia," was taken into police custody last Friday. He has since been placed in detention pending deportation, according to the interior ministry of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. Tamara Zieschang, the state's interior minister, said on Tuesday the suspect entered Germany in 2024 and had recently been training as a nursing specialist. Authorities began monitoring him after detecting signs of increasing radicalization, including a strong interest in weapons. In a separate incident, five other people were detained earlier this month in the southern state of Bavaria on suspicion of planning a vehicle attack on a Christmas market. Yangon, Dec 20 : Reaffirming its support for Myanmar's development, India handed over three Quick Impact Projects (QIP) on Saturday dedicated to the socio-economic benefit of the people of Mandalay Region in the Southeast Asian nation. The handing-over ceremony for the QIP of the Weaving and Vocational sector Development Project was held in the presence of Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Abhay Thakur, Chief Minister of Mandalay Region U Myo Aung and Deputy Minister for Cooperatives and Rural Development U Thaik Soe in Mandalay. "Under this project, a flexible rapier loom, a modern high-tech weaving machine made in India, has been installed at the Saunder Weaving and Vocational Institute in Amarapura, Mandalay Region. The project aims to support vocational education development in weaving, 10 traditional Myanmar arts (handicrafts) supported by deployment of modern machinery and technology," read a statement issued by the Embassy of India in Yangon Additionally, another QIP, for a one-story building for the Girls Training School in Mandalay Region, was inaugurated by the Indian Ambassador, Chief Minister U Myo Aung and Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Than Soe in Mandalay on Saturday. The new school building aims to provide a spacious, safe and comfortable learning environment for young students from the Mandalay region. Furthermore, a third QIP for Investigation into tar-free and dry type gasification process with slow pyrolysis products of agriculture waste was inaugurated in the presence of Ambassador Abhay Thakur and Htay Thwin, Director General of the Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Myanmar's Ministry of Science and Technology. The initiative supports rural electrification, clean energy development and environmental conservation while promoting local capacity-building. "These projects under the QIP initiative of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) framework underscores India's continued commitment to support Myanmar's socio-economic development through targeted, people-centric initiatives, spanning skill development, child welfare, and clean energy research, etc. The successful completion and handover of these projects further reaffirm the strong and enduring partnership between the two countries," the Indian Embassy mentioned. Bhopal, Dec 20 : Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, on Saturday instructed that funds allocated by the Central government for urban development must be fully and timely utilised. Addressing a Regional Conference of Urban Development Ministers from Northern and Central States in Bhopal, the Union Minister stated that better coordination between the state governments and the Centre will ensure the timely completion of every key project. "The vision of a developed and self-reliant India by 2047, as envisaged by PM Narendra Modi, can be realised only through close coordination between the Central and state governments," he said. The regional meeting was attended by urban development ministers, Ministers of State, and senior officials from Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Khattar stated that by 2047, nearly 50 per cent of India's population is expected to shift into urban areas and therefore, the states need to start working on it. "Urban development schemes should be planned and implemented in line with this projection to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat," he said. Addressing the event, he informed that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has decided to hold region-wise review meetings with states to ensure effective implementation of schemes. Highlighting the diversity of geographical conditions and challenges across States, he said that while the Central government provides support, the primary responsibility for implementation rests with State governments. Madhya Pradesh Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya stated that urban local bodies in the State are being strengthened to become economically and technically self-reliant. He informed that sewerage works are being prioritised in cities situated along the Narmada River and that the state government has resolved to ensure that no untreated wastewater is discharged into the river. He stated that GIS-based property mapping in urban areas has led to an increase of up to 150 per cent in property tax collection. Vijayvargiya requested Central assistance for the completion of pending works under the AMRUT scheme. Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, Uttar Pradesh Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma, Rajasthan Minister Jhabar Singh Kharra, Uttar Pradesh Ministers of State Rakesh Rathore and Pratima Bagri, along with senior officials of the Central and state governments, also attended the event. New Delhi, Dec 20 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday discussed simplification of procedures, regulatory predictability, coordinated inter-departmental functioning, efficient fund flows, future-ready tax administration, financing pathways for sustained growth, and leveraging digital tools for transparency, efficiency, and accountability. Sitharaman, along with Minister of State for Corporate Affairs, Harsh Malhotra, chaired the Chintan Shivir of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, at Hampi in Vijayanagara district, Karnataka. All Secretaries of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Chairmen of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), and the Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India were also present, besides senior officers from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, and associated departments. In a session on "AI, Ease of Doing Business & Financing for Viksit Bharat", the discussions focused on strengthening institutional capacity and policymaking through the use of artificial intelligence, technology-enabled systems, and process reforms to improve Ease of Doing Business. Sitharaman also reflected on the historical significance of the Vijayanagara region, noting that it represents one of the closest examples of an Indian empire at its peak barely 500 years ago, with its imprint visible across large parts of the subcontinent. She also drew attention to the contrast within the same district where magnificent monuments coexist with drought-prone areas facing low agricultural productivity and humananimal conflict underscoring the need to remain grounded in present-day developmental realities. Earlier in the day, Sitharaman launched a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project to develop five Artificial Intelligence, STEM, and robotics labs in government schools in Karnataka. The Minister launched Cyient AI Labs (CyAILS) -- 'VijAIpatha', a CSR-led national initiative to democratise access to Artificial Intelligence, STEM, and robotics education in government schools of Hosapete Taluka in Hampi, Karnataka. IANS na/ Patna, Dec 20 : Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday criticised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the hijab-related controversy, saying the incident was inappropriate and stressing that women must be treated with respect. Interacting with mediapersons at Patna Airport, Tharoor referred to a viral video involving the Chief Minister and said: "A video has surfaced in which Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is accused of trying to pull a woman's hijab. I want to say that all women should be respected, and this incident was not right." Meanwhile, Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan sought to play down the controversy, terming it unfortunate. "This is not a controversy at all. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is like a father figure, and this controversy is unfortunate," the Governor said. The issue surfaced after a video from an appointment letter distribution ceremony for AYUSH doctors held on December 15 went viral on social media. The video allegedly shows the Chief Minister asking a woman doctor, Dr. Nusrat Parveen, to remove her hijab before receiving her appointment letter and then pulling it off himself. The footage was widely circulated by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and soon turned into a political flashpoint. Opposition parties raised objections, and the controversy triggered debates not only in Bihar but also in Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and even across the border in Pakistan. Clarifying his remarks, Governor Arif Mohammad Khan said he was not defending the Chief Minister but emphasised that Nitish Kumar considers everyone as his daughter. The Governor also appealed to Dr. Nusrat Parveen to report for duty and urged political parties not to politicise the issue. Meanwhile, Dr. Nusrat Parveen did not report for duty on Saturday. Dr. Vijay Kumar, in-charge of Sabalpur Primary Health Centre (PHC), Patna Sadar, said that five to six doctors joined duty in the morning. "The appointment letters of those who joined had already arrived from the Civil Surgeon's office. Dr. Nusrat Parveen's name is on the list, but her appointment letter has not arrived yet. I do not know whether she will join or not," Dr. Kumar said. Jaipur, Dec 20 : The Special Operations Group (SOG) has carried out a major crackdown against examination fraud in Rajasthan, arresting two prime accused for allegedly securing selection in the Senior Teacher (Secondary Education) Recruitment Examination-2022 by using dummy candidates. The arrested accused have been identified as Dinesh Kumar, son of Babu Lal, and Dinesh Kumar, son of Asuram Bishnoi. Additional Director General of Police (SOG) Vishal Bansal said both accused had been absconding for nearly two years. Permanent arrest warrants had been issued against them by the court, and the SOG had announced a reward of Rs 5,000 each for information leading to their arrest. According to the investigation, dummy candidates appeared on behalf of the accused on January 29, 2023, in the General Knowledge and Educational Psychology papers of the recruitment examination. Based on this alleged impersonation, the accused were later selected for the post of Senior Teacher (Science). Following the initiation of the probe, both went underground. A special team constituted under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General Paris Deshmukh traced and apprehended them from different locations. Dinesh Kumar, son of Babu Lal, was arrested from Pune in Maharashtra, while Dinesh Kumar, son of Asuram Bishnoi, was arrested from Jaipur. Police Inspector Rajbir Singh, along with constables Mahesh Kumar, Madho Singh and Gangasahai, played a key role in the operation. Additional Superintendent of Police (SOG) Prakash Kumar Sharma is supervising the ongoing investigation, which is now focused on identifying and arresting the dummy candidates who appeared in the examination on behalf of the accused. The SOG is also probing large financial transactions linked to the fraud and working to uncover the entire network involved in the racket. According to experts, the use of dummy candidates continues to undermine the integrity of competitive examinations, posing a serious challenge to fairness and transparency. Such impersonation erodes public trust, disadvantages genuine candidates and exposes systemic gaps, prompting authorities to strengthen surveillance, verification mechanisms and legal deterrents. Mumbai, Dec 20 : Actress Rashmika Mandanna has taken to her social media account to share a candid sneak peek into her everyday life and described how her current days have been filled with long hours, leading to tired eyes. But she has also mentioned that she has been enjoying good food despite too many tasks on her plate. Taking to social media, the actress wrote, "These days are looking like long hours, too many tasks, good food, tired eyes and yellow saving the day again." Further, Rashmika also posted a series of pictures that reflected both her hectic schedule and the little joys that have been keeping her going. One picture shared by her shows her posing casually outdoors at night in a yellow T-shirt, while another photo captures her wrapped up warmly, peeking out with tired eyes. Rashmika also shared pictures of comforting meals; from a hearty rice and curry bowl with curd to a wholesome salad meal, the 'Animal' actress highlighted how good food has been setting her mood right. In another picture, Rashmika has shared a picture of her bag that has the famous Labooboo doll and a crocheted sunflower tagged as a keychain. Recently, the actress was on a two-day girls' trip to Sri Lanka with her besties. Rashmika had dropped some glimpses of her fun getaway on social media. and wrote, "I recently got 2 days off and I got this opportunity to get away with my girls and we went to this BEAUTIFUL property in Sri Lanka..GIRL TRIPS - doesn't matter how short are THE BEST!! MY GIRLS are THE BEST! Some are missing but THEY ARE THE BEST!! (sic)" Talking about the trip, it comes amidst rumours of Rashmika to be tying the knot with her 'Dear Comrade' co-star Vijay Deverakonda next year, further hinting that her Sri Lankan vacation might actually be a bachelorette trip. But for the uninitiated, neither Rashmika nor Vijay have confirmed the speculations going around about their wedding plans till now. Itanagar, Dec 20 : Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt. General K.T. Parnaik (Retd.) on Saturday stressed that research and academic engagement should play a transformative role in bridging the urban-rural divide, empowering MSMEs, modernising agriculture, and strengthening border and rural economies, officials said. In-depth study, the Governor said, will also ensure that the benefits of technology reach the last person in even the most remote corners of Arunachal Pradesh. Addressing the 8th Convocation of the Himalayan University, the Governor described the students as the pride of Arunachal Pradesh and of the nation. Noting that India is steadily transforming from a consumer of technology into a global creator of advanced solutions driven by initiatives such as Digital India, Startup India, and Make in India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Governor emphasised research and academic engagement. He encouraged students to immerse themselves in research and innovation, describing these as the twin engines that will propel the nationas technological leadership. The Governor lauded the Chairman, Vice Chancellor, faculty, officers, and staff of the varsity for its NEP-2020-aligned curriculum and emphasised research, skills, employability, and experiential learning. Advising the University to place greater emphasis on discipline, punctuality, character, and a truly conducive academic environment that nurtures both excellence and values, He also called upon the institution to actively engage with society. The Governor also encouraged initiatives such as village adoption, cleanliness drives, anti-drug campaigns, and programmes focused on the health and well-being of women and children. Highlighting rapid global transformations in fields such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, space technology, biotechnology, and geospatial technologies, the Governor urged students and faculty to pursue innovation guided by ethics, responsibility, and compassion. Lt. General Parnaik (Retd.) underscored the role of education in realising the national vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, with Arunachal Pradesh playing a crucial role through research, innovation, and India-centric problem-solving. The Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University, Prof. S. K. Nayak, delivered an inspiring convocation address, encouraging the graduating students as they step into a new phase of life. Vice-Chancellor of Himalayan University, Prof. Prakash Divakaran, presented the Universityas annual report, highlighting its academic progress, achievements, and future vision. The Governor conferred gold, silver, and bronze medals on meritorious students of various courses. A total of 621 graduates, including PhD scholars, were awarded their degrees, marking a proud milestone in their academic journey. Chennai, Dec 20 : The makers of director S K Jeeva's upcoming crime drama 'Kuttram Kadithal 2', featuring producer and actor J S K Sathish Kumar in the lead, on Saturday announced that shooting for the film had been completed and that dubbing for the film had begun. Chennai, Dec 20 (IANS) The makers of director S K Jeeva's upcoming crime drama 'Kuttram Kadithal 2', featuring producer and actor J S K Sathish Kumar in the lead, on Saturday announced that shooting for the film had been completed and that dubbing for the film had begun. Sources close to the unit said that the team was now fully focused on post-production, ensuring that every technical and creative element was shaped with precision. They added that director Jeeva was personally supervising the dubbing process to preserve the intensity and realism of the performances captured on screen. Kuttram Kadithal 2, a thriller-drama, has been filmed across various locations in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, including Theni, Sirumalai, and surrounding locales. It may be recalled that the makers had some time ago released a glimpse video to give audiences an idea of the plot of the film. The glimpse video that was released showed JSK Sathish Kumar, who plays a retired school teacher, arriving in town by bus. He alights from the bus and orders a sherbeth at a roadside shop. As he starts to sip on the cool drink, he witnesses a man being chased and hacked to death.... The plot of the film revolves around the government school teacher played by JSK Sathish Kumar. The dedicated government school teacher, we learn, has been honoured with the prestigious 'Best Teacher Award' by the Central Government. What should have been a peaceful farewell to his career turns into an unexpected journey filled with challenges, revelations, and emotional reckonings. As he navigates through this turbulent phase, the story unfolds into a heartwarming tale of resilience, integrity, and redemption, culminating in a poignant and powerful climax. Along with JSK Satish Kumar, the film will also feature Pandiarajan, Appu Kutty, Balaji Murugadoss, Deepak, Paval, Padman, PL Thenappan, Chandini Tamilarasan, Keerthi Chawla, Viji Chandrasekar, Lovelyn, Jovita Livingston and Roshan among others. On the technical front, the film has music by D K and cinematography by Sathish G. Stunts for the film have been choreographed by Mahesh Mathew while dances have been choreographed by Manas. Raja Gurusamy is the lyricist of the film, which has VFX and DI by Varna digital studio. 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 use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. 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. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. Does the December share price for Coles Group Limited ( ASX:COL ) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! Story Continues We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.3%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.1%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2035 (1 + g) (r g) = AU$2.4b (1 + 3.3%) (7.1% 3.3%) = AU$65b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$65b ( 1 + 7.1%)10= AU$33b 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 AU$46b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of AU$21.5, the company appears quite undervalued at a 38% 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. ASX:COL Discounted Cash Flow December 20th 2025 Important Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own 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 Coles 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 7.1%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.892. 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 Coles Group SWOT Analysis for Coles Group Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Consumer Retailing market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years. Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Australian market. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. 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. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Coles Group, there are three relevant factors you should consider: Financial Health: Does COL have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does COL'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. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the ASX every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks 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. Patna, Dec 20 : A tense situation prevailed on Saturday outside the District Magistrate's office in Bihar's Sheohar district when students from Project Girls' Senior Secondary School held a sit-in protest, alleging inappropriate behaviour by a teacher and demanding strict action against him. According to the protesting students, the incident occurred on Friday within the school premises. The students alleged that a teacher behaved inappropriately with a girl student, leading to outrage among the students. The students claimed that the girl was charging her mobile phone when the teacher approached her and questioned her about whom she was talking to. When the student denied speaking to anyone, the teacher allegedly threatened to inform her family, accusing her of talking to her boyfriend. The students alleged that the teacher then blackmailed and and behaved inappropriately with the girl, causing her distress. The incident reportedly angered the students, who gathered at the District Magistrate's office on Saturday and demanded the immediate arrest of the accused teacher. During the protest, the students also raised questions about the school's functioning and management, alleging that when a student falls ill, a male teacher is sent instead of a female teacher. The sudden protest led to chaos at the District Magistrate's office premises for some time. Responding to the allegations, Deepak Kumar, Principal of Project Girls' Senior Secondary School, said he was not present at the school on the day of the alleged incident. "I was on leave. I received information about the matter only today. We are speaking to the parents of the protesting students. An investigation will be conducted, and further action will be taken as per the directions of senior school officials," Kumar added. Meanwhile, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Avinash Kunal, who was present at the District Magistrate's office, intervened and attempted to pacify the protesting students. Despite repeated efforts, the students continued demanding a meeting with the District Magistrate. The protest subsided after the SDM assured the students that formal action would be initiated. "The victim student and her family are submitting a written application. After receiving it, a case will be registered, a detailed investigation will be conducted, and appropriate action will be taken," SDM Kunal said. District administration officials said that the matter would be handled with seriousness and sensitivity, and action would be taken strictly in accordance with the law once the investigation begins. New Delhi, Dec 20 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday arrested a serving Army officer and a private individual in connection with a bribery case involving alleged corruption in the defence production and export sector, the agency said in its statement. The arrested officer has been identified as Lt Col Deepak Kumar Sharma, Deputy Planning Officer (International Cooperation and Exports) in the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence. A private person, Vinod Kumar, was also taken into custody for allegedly acting as a conduit for the bribe. According to the CBI, the case was registered on December 19 based on reliable source information. The agency has alleged that Lt Col Sharma was habitually indulging in corrupt and illegal activities in criminal conspiracy with representatives of private companies dealing in defence manufacturing and exports. In exchange for undue favours from various government departments and ministries, he allegedly accepted illegal gratification. The FIR also names Lt Col Sharmaas wife, Col Kajal Bali, who is currently serving as Commanding Officer of the 16 Infantry Division Ordnance Unit in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, along with other accused, including a Dubai-based company. The agency alleged that Rajiv Yadav and Ravjit Singh were managing the Indian operations of the said company from Bengaluru and were in regular contact with Lt Col Sharma to secure favours through illegal means. Investigators claim that Vinod Kumar delivered a bribe of Rs 3 lakh to Lt Col Sharma on December 18 on behalf of the company. During searches conducted at multiple locations, including Delhi, Sri Ganganagar, Bengaluru and Jammu, the CBI recovered the alleged bribe amount of Rs 3 lakh from Lt Col Sharmaas Delhi residence. "During searches at the house of Lt. Col. Deepak Kumar Sharma in Delhi, the bribe amount of Rs. 3 Lakh as well as cash amount of Rs 2,23,000,00/- and a cash amount of Rs 10,00,000/- from the house of accused at Sri Ganganagar, in addition to other incriminating material, has been seized," the CBI said in its press note. "Search in the office premises of Lt. Col. Deepak Kumar Sharma in New Delhi is also continuing," it added. Both accused were produced before a court on Saturday and have been remanded to police custody till December 23. Further investigation is underway, the CBI said. Kolkata, Dec 20 : The West Bengal Police on Saturday cautioned people against falling for rumours and misinformation, saying certain quarters were attempting to draw misleading parallels between the recent murder of a Hindu man in Bangladesh and an unrelated incident in West Bengal's Murshidabad that occurred about eight months ago. Using its official X handle, the police said such comparisons were inciteful, factually incorrect and intended to disrupt public order. "Malicious efforts are being made from certain quarters to draw parallels between the recent murder of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh and the tragic death of the father-son duo, Haragobindo Das and Chandan Das, in Murshidabad about eight months back. Such comparisons are highly inciteful, factually misleading and intended to disturb public order," the police said. Clarifying the Murshidabad case, the police said 13 accused were promptly arrested and a strong charge sheet was filed, adding that a judgment in the case is expected soon. "Drawing parallels with the events in Bangladesh is nothing but a disingenuous attempt to spread communal mistrust where the law is already taking its course," the police added. Violence has erupted in Bangladesh over the past two days following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a youth leader associated with the countryas 2024 pro-democracy movement, who died at a hospital in Singapore. Following the announcement of his death, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Dhaka on Friday, demanding the arrest of those responsible. Several buildings in the capital, including premises housing two leading newspapers, were set on fire, according to authorities, with staff reportedly trapped inside. A Hindu youth was also lynched, and his body was tied to a tree and set ablaze. Cautioning against the spread of misinformation related to the developments, the West Bengal Police said it remains committed to maintaining the stateas tradition of communal harmony and has zero tolerance for attempts to disrupt public peace. "We are monitoring social media handles spreading provocative misinformation. Legal action will be initiated against those attempting to communalise criminal incidents. Citizens are requested not to fall for rumours," the police said. Jaipur, Dec 20 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said that Army Day represents India's glorious history, honour, and national pride. Jaipur, Dec 20 (IANS) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said that Army Day represents Indiaas glorious history, honour, and national pride. He said that the Army provides an opportunity to salute the unparalleled valour, strict discipline, supreme sacrifice, and unwavering patriotism of the Indian Army. He expressed pride that Jaipur will host the 78th Army Day Parade 2026 The Chief Minister was addressing the Joint Curtain-Raiser Program for the 78th Army Day Parade at JECRC University on Saturday. He said that for the first time, the Army Day Parade 2026 will be organised outside a military cantonment on Mahal Road, Jagatpura, in the presence of the general public. He said that this initiative will further strengthen trust, connection, and mutual respect between the Indian Army and citizens. The Chief Minister said that the parade will feature spectacular fly-past formations of fighter jets and helicopters, a march past by troops, and demonstrations of drone technology and modern warfare capabilities. The Chief Minister said that during Shaurya Sandhya 2026 at SMS Stadium, a First Day Cover will be released, families of martyrs will be honoured, traditional martial arts wi be showcased, and a grand Light and Sound Show on aOperation Sindoora will be presented. A special 1000-drone show using modern technology will also be organised. He further stated that the Know Your Army Exhibition, to be held from January 8 to 12, 2026, will allow the general public to closely experience the Indian Armyas modern weapon systems and defence technologies The Chief Minister said that from the Indo-Pak wars of 1947a"48, 1965, and 1971, to the Kargil War of 1999 and recent military operations, the Indian Army has faced every challenge with courage and determination. Operations such as Operation Parakram, Operation Rakshak, and Operation Sindoor have demonstrated to the world that the Indian Army not only responds decisively to aggression but also stands as the strongest guardian of peace, stability, and national unity. He emphasised that Rajasthan is a land of bravery, where every particle of soil carries stories of valour and sacrifice. Addressing the gathering, Army Commander, Sapta Shakti Command, Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh, said that the Indian Army has safeguarded the nationas borders from mountains to deserts with unmatched courage. He added that the Army has also ensured internal security by combating terrorism and Naxalism and has consistently assisted citizens during natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and storms. During the programme, the Chief Minister honoured the widows of Naik Megh Raj Singh (posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra), Havildar Ram Singh Shekhawat (posthumously awarded the Sena Medal), and Lance Naik Banshidhar Yadav (posthumously awarded the Sena Medal). He also felicitated Retired Brigadier Jeevan Rajpurohit, Subedar Arjun Singh Rathore and Havildar Madan Singh Kajla. A short film on the Army Day Parade 2026 was also screened. Senior Army officers, administrative officials, ex-servicemen, widows of martyrs, NCC cadets, and other distinguished guests were present on the occasion. New Delhi, Dec 20 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Saturday, launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of deliberately trying to provoke riots between Hindu and Muslim communities through communal politics, as she senses an impending defeat for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the 2026 state Assembly elections. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia questioned Banerjee's silence over controversial remarks allegedly made by TMC MLA Madan Mitra, who reportedly claimed that "Lord Ram was a Muslim, not Hindu". "Crores of Hindus have been deeply hurt by these objectionable comments, yet Mamata Banerjee has remained completely silent," Bhatia said. He demanded to know whether the Chief Minister had expelled Mitra from the TMC or initiated any legal action, such as registering an FIR against him. "Her silence and inaction clearly show that she (Mamata Banerjee) is indulging in communal politics and wants to incite Hindu-Muslim riots," the Spokesperson alleged. Bhatia went further, claiming that CM Banerjee has been instructing TMC leaders to make such inflammatory statements to appease a particular community and consolidate votes ahead of the state polls. "She (CM Banerjee) realises her party is heading towards defeat next year, so she is resorting to divisive tactics," he charged. As the head of the state's Home department, Bhatia emphasised that it is CM Banerjee's constitutional duty to maintain law and order and ensure peace. "It is her responsibility to take strict action against anyone making communal remarks, regardless of party affiliation," he added. The BJP leader cited past instances to underline what he called Banerjee's pattern of appeasement politics. He recalled a 2019 incident where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee allegedly threatened someone greeting her with 'Jai Shri Ram', and her reported reference to the Maha Kumbh as 'Mrityu Kumbh'. "Why does Mamata Banerjee and her party leaders show no respect for Hindu beliefs and deities? Do they have the courage to make similar objectionable statements about any other religion?" Bhatia asked. Accusing the TMC supremo of treating Hindus as "second-grade citizens", he asserted that the people of West Bengal would deliver a fitting response to such politics in the upcoming Assembly elections. The fresh allegations escalate the ongoing political confrontation between the BJP and TMC as both parties gear up for the crucial 2026 state polls. Agartala, Dec 21 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday asserting that the BJP government will not compromise on law and order, said that the state has witnessed a sharp decline in overall crime rates till November 2025 compared to 2023. After chairing a high-level law and order review meeting at Pragna Bhawan here with senior Police officials, the Chief Minister emphasised the role of police stations in effective governance. Saha, who holds the home portfolio,said that the service delivery system begins at the police station level. "We have 90 police stations and nine women police stations. There was a time when political interference affected discipline in policing. We have to break that practice. I have never called any OC (Officer-in-Charge), nor do I interfere in police functioning," he said. The Chief Minister said that the police personnel should be respected, adding that the uniform is an ornament and symbol of responsibility. "Earlier, police officers were often identified by political colour. Such practices must end. Officers will be identified based on their performance. I hold fortnightly review meetings with the SPs and DMs based on reports and feedback," he added. The Chief Minister directed OCs to monitor FIR registrations daily and ensure they are properly drafted. He also stressed the importance of counselling, timely filing of charge sheets to avoid delays in justice, and maintaining physical fitness among police personnel. Saha said crime figures in all categories have shown a significant decline. Crimes against human dropped from 1,385 cases in 2023 to 753 cases in 2025 till November. Property-related crimes decreased from 412 to 275 cases during the same period, while crimes against women fell from 791 cases in 2023 to 627 cases in 2025 till November. Referring to drugs related NDPS (Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985) cases, Saha reiterated the government's zero-tolerance policy. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have clearly stated zero tolerance towards drug-related offences. Overall crime cases declined from 5,002 in 2023 to 3,386 in 2025 till November," he claimed. He added that the government remains vigilant over Bangladesh-related issues, communal elements and touts, asserting that there would be no compromise on law and order. "If everyone works together, we can build a new India and a new Tripura," he said and directed police officers to act firmly, independently and strictly as per law.. Director General of Police Anurag, Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha and other senior officials were present at the meeting. After conducting a national study of the condition of public library buildings, the Government Accountability Office released its findings on December 18. The GAO, a nonpartisan federal agency, undertook the study at the request of Congress, with strong encouragement from organizations including the American Library Association. Investments in library facilities should be proportionate to the central role they play in learning, connection and opportunity for so many people, ALA president Sam Helmick said in response to the report. Unfortunately, in many parts of America today, the local public library building falls short of what the community needs. The GAO surveyed approximately 16,400 public and tribal library buildings across the U.S. and four territories, with attention to exterior features including roofs, walls, and windows, as well as interior features such as elevators, ventilation, and flooring. The findings pertained to accessibility, safety, and energy efficiency. Maintenance has been deferred in about 70% of library buildings, the study determined, but the cost of labor and materials is a barrier. On the basis of our nationally representative survey of libraries, we estimate 38 percent, or about 6,000 libraries, have at least one building system or feature in poor condition, the GAO reported, compared to only 20 percent of libraries have all their systems in good or very good condition. In addition, an estimated 61 percent of libraries, or about 9,800, identified at least one building system or facility issue that poses a potential health or safety concern. The GAO consulted research on public library infrastructure begun by the Institute of Museum and Library Services in February 2024. IMLS supplies federal grants for library programs and services, but libraries are prohibited from using these funds for construction, including facility repair, and modifying buildings for conservation issues can be complicated. Urban Libraries Council members contributed their insights to the GAO report. Given public libraries outsized impact on the fabric of our communities, its unacceptable that, as a nation, were allowing them to deteriorate, ULC president and CEO Brooks Rainwater said in a press statement. We applaud the GAO for shedding light on this important issue, and we hope Congress, armed with this data, will act to include libraries in future infrastructure funding. Rainwater added, Our nations public libraries are essential infrastructure, just like roads or bridges, and this report confirms we need to start treating them that way. Chris Conran / Instagram By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 12/19/2025 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. couple Chris Conran and Alana Milne have announced they secretly got married.This past summer, many fans speculated that Chris and Alana secretly tied the knot after an Instagram post had appeared to show the pair wearing wedding bands.On December 16, Chris and Alana confirmed that fans were correct and they actually wed in July.Chris and Alana posted beautiful photos of their intimate beach wedding in Laguna Beach, CA, and captioned the carousel, "Mr & Mrs Conran 7.18.2025."The photos showed Alana wearing a backless gown with a train and Chris sporting a white dress shirt with khaki pants.The couple apparently exchanged vows with their adorable dog Whiskey in attendance.Chris commented on the joint post, "7.18.2025 to forever."Several Bachelor Nation stars took to the comments to gush about Chris and Alana's big day.Mari Pepin said, "Beautiful."i Thomas Jacobs wrote, "Beautiful!" Ivan Hall commented, "Amazing." Chelsea Vaughn gushed, "Wow these are some of the most stunning wedding photos ever!! Congrats."And Alayah Benavidez chimed in, "This is my favorite post I've seen. Congratulations. I can't hardly believe I was there the day yall met wow."Alana and Chris, who dated on Season 7 of , got engaged in March 2024 during a trip to Bali, Indonesia.Nearly a year-and-a-half later, Chris sparked the marriage rumors by posting Instagram photos of the couple drinking champagne -- with rings noticeably on their hands -- on a boat in Laguna Beach.Chris wrote in the caption at the time, "Honestly, when I have you, there's not a single thing I need. Four years of you, and I still get butterflies."Alana commented on the post, "I love you so much," along with a red heart emoji.One Instagram user commented, "Do I see wedding bands??"Another person wrote, "I was wondering the same thing -- you totally eloped??"Chris and Alana, however, didn't confirm or deny that they had exchanged vows at the time. Some fans wondered if they had simply found a special way to celebrate their fourth anniversary.Chris and Alana got engaged well over two years after the pair had moved in together in Salt Lake City, UT, in Fall 2021.Chris and Alana both left 's seventh season in 2021 single.Following the October 2021 finale of 7, Alana and Chris went Instagram official Alana posted a photo of herself kissing Chris on her Instagram Stories at a party and wrote, "Paradise is wherever I'm with you."Chris shared Alana's post on his own Instagram Stories and proudly revealed at the time, "3 months of no cameras or producers," before noting how the couple was "waiting for a double date" with their co-stars Noah Erb and Abigail Heringer On how the couple got together after leaving Mexico separately, Chris previously told BachelorNation.com, "After Paradise, I was completely mind f'ed. I have this great connection with someone and watched it slip away in the same day.""I downplay it all the time," he noted, "but it ate away at my heart.""What we have is real, and I've never felt anything stronger," Chris insisted of Alana. "I had to talk to her and see her, but right after the show I felt like she didn't want to talk to me."Chris, however, apparently reached out to Alana anyway and "sent her flowers and booked a flight" to visit her."[The] rest is history," Chris said.Alana added how "things have a way of working themselves out" and things happened the way they were supposed to."Had I never gone on the show, Chris and I never would have had that first date. Had we stayed on the show, something or someone may have come between us," Alana reasoned."The show brought us together and then we were able to create a relationship on our own."But was a very rocky and dramatic experience for the lovebirds.During a September 2021 episode of , Chris and Jessenia Cruz had become one of the strongest couples on the beach in Mexico, but once Alana showed up to an invite-only VIP party, Chris kissed her right away and proceeded to make out with her on the dance floor right in front of Jessenia.After Jessenia left the VIP party early and brokenhearted, Alana joined the Paradise cast the next day and asked Chris out on a date, and he said "yes" without hesitation.From there on out, Chris and Alana were inseparable and all about each other, and so the couple was accused of having had a pre-show relationship and strategy for the Paradise process, similar to how Brendan Morais had dated Natasha Parker until his genuine romantic interest, Pieper James , arrived.Jessenia told the cameras Alana had once "thrown herself" on Chris at a friendly gathering in San Diego, CA, which "wasn't a good look" and it appeared Chris had been waiting for her to enter Paradise the entire time.Once Chris and Alana coupled up in Paradise, Joe Amabile and Riley Christian rushed to Jessenia's defense and led an attack on Chris in which they scolded him for wanting "clout" and being "dishonorable."Chris was essentially forced out of Paradise, with Jessenia telling Chris to follow his heart and "get the f-ck out of Paradise." And Riley and Joe agreed that Chris leaving would be the right decision to make.When Alana asked the group if anyone wanted to know what she thought of the situation, Jessenia, Joe and Riley clapped back, "No!"Alana therefore left the show on her on accord since the environment had become a toxic place for her as well.Chris apologized for hurting Jessenia in a lengthy Instagram apology after the unflattering footage aired, but he also felt wronged by his Season 7 co-stars."I take complete accountability for my blatant disrespect towards Jessenia, and handling the situation poorly," Chris wrote that same month, adding, "My past behavior is not a reflection of who I am or who I want to be, and it was never my intention to maliciously or purposefully hurt anyone on the show."Chris also confirmed he was "by no means in a relationship" with Alana prior to filming the show."I hung out with both Alana and Jessenia in a group setting," Chris explained at the time. "I met both of them, and had the same preshow relationship prior to Paradise. Flirty, and excited to potentially see them on Paradise."Chris asked people to stop attacking and harassing Alana, and despite having made some mistakes, he went on to stand up for himself."The hateful messages I'm receiving aren't fun, and the way I was attacked and pushed out of Paradise sucked. It reminded me of getting ganged up on in high school by the 'cook kids,'" Chris wrote."I understand I was low hanging fruit since I'm not a fan favorite, but it also takes a huge level of disrespect for grown men to shut a woman down when she's trying to use her voice. You two know she deserves an apology. We cannot have a culture where we silence women on this show.""All in all, I was not in a relationship prior to the show," he continued. "I arrived single, and left single. Don't compare me to Brendan and Pieper, because it is not the same. I was disrespectful to Jessenia, and should have carried myself better."Chris said "sorry" again for his actions but admitted, "I do not regret following my heart" on -- and his heart clearly led him to Alana once he returned home.Prior to their time on , Alana had competed on Season 25 of The Bachelor starring Matt James , which aired in 2021, and Chris had appeared on Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams ' season of The Bachelorette in 2020.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group Key Points BJ stock is relatively flat over the past 12 months. TJX is up nearly 30% year to date. TJX's off-price business model should continue to do well amid economic uncertainty. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires Let's start by saying there's nothing inherently wrong with BJ's Wholesale Club (NYSE: BJ), but there are more exciting options for investors in the retail space heading into 2026. One stock to keep on your radar is TJX Companies (NYSE: TJX). The parent company of brands such as T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods is on a tear this year and has more flexibility to navigate economic uncertainty than BJ's. BJ's has a competition problem BJ's is a membership warehouse that competes with behemoths Costco Wholesale and Walmart's Sam's Club in the bulk retailer category. BJ's stock is up 5% year to date and trades at a reasonable price-to-earnings ratio of about 21.65 as of Dec. 16. However, the company could face headwinds in the near term as consumer sentiment and disposable income slip nationwide. These factors that could potentially hold BJ stock back could also be the reason TJX soars. It may not seem like an obvious play, but considering which retailers will do well in the face of economic headwinds, TJX appears to be a winner. Image source: Getty Images. In BJ's latest earnings report, the club's sales increased by just 1.1% and 0.8% in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal year 2025 compared to the same periods last year. Comparing third-quarter results from this year and last, BJ's saw slight declines in operating income, net income, earnings per share, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). BJ's also doesn't have the advantage of scale like its competitors, Costco and Walmart. It doesn't have an international footprint and is truly more of a regional operation than a national one. BJ's currently operates fewer than 300 stores, mostly concentrated on the East Coast. As competition heats up for fewer discretionary dollars, BJ's is going to feel the pinch. TJX is performing well this year TJX, on the other hand, has had a big year. The company is up almost 30% year to date. It also exceeded sales and margin expectations in the most recent quarter. TJX raised its guidance for the upcoming year and expects to have a strong holiday season. TJX is a compelling stock to own in uncertain economic times. The business operates under an off-price retail model, attracting customers seeking deep discounts. As shoppers are increasingly price aware and sensitive, discount retailers stand to profit the most. 'It will increase the contribution to gratuity, which is something the employer has to give.' Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff Days after the Centre notified the long-pending four labour Codes, the labour ministry is busy with preparatory work in finalising the rules. In an interview at her office in New Delhi, Labour Secretary Vandana Gurnani tells Shiva Rajora and Asit Ranjan Mishra/Business Standard how the ministry plans to enforce worker protections without bureaucratic drags and how states are aligning their rules with the national framework. Labour is a concurrent subject and states too need to notify the Labour Code rules. How are the states gearing up? What kind of interaction are you having with the states? Interaction is a continuous process. It is not that it is happening only now. We've had six regional consultations with the states and their rules are in sync with the national framework. States have the flexibility to adapt the rules to their local context. We will continue to have this engagement and in areas where they need support. Since states have the flexibility in rulemaking, don't you think rules may diverge drastically and in turn may create problems for both employees as well as employers? The rules that states have made are in sync with whatever the national framework is. In the Codes, there are sections in which only the states have to make rules, so they will be making those rules. So it's not as if there will be a huge divergence because the overall framework has been set by the Codes. We have not seen any such divergence [yet]. How do you ensure that worker-friendly provisions such as the minimum wage and universal social security are executed? On minimum wage, there is no confusion regarding its application. It is universal now. Many a time legislation is not enforced easily because of grey areas [in interpretation]. Soon floor wage will also be declared, meaning that no state can set its minimum wage below the floor rate. We want to make the inspection system web-based, using artificial intelligence and big data. We would make sure that the energy of the labour machinery is focused on defaulting organisations and that it has better oversight over such organisations. Human interface is going to be reduced. On safeguards for workers, grievance-redressing committees with tripartite representation are proposed in workplaces, apart from having trade unions. In fact, trade unions get legal recognition under the Codes. Tribunals, which are the legal recourse for workers, are also being broadbased. Each tribunal will have an administrative member, along with a judicial member. This is being done with the expectation that a two-member tribunal will be able to dispose of cases faster. So these are the legal safeguards. For social security to unorganised workers a tripartite national board will be set up, which will be able to oversee the rollout of the social security for the unorganised sector. Similarly, a separate board has been proposed for gig and platform workers. All these will be tripartite in nature. Due to change in the definition of wage, companies also have to change the wage structure. Don't you think it will be unpopular with the employees because the take-home salary may come down? This formula needs to be understood. It says that if the allowances are more than 50 per cent (of the total) -- in the past there was a tendency to depress the wage and to increase the allowances -- the difference gets added to the basic wage. Now, what does it do? It will increase the contribution to gratuity, which is something the employer has to give. It will increase the maternity benefit, which is linked to the wage and is, again, the employer's responsibility. When it comes to provident fund [remember that] contribution is mandatory up to basic wage of Rs 15,000. It's a very small amount or a small proportion. The vast majority is voluntary and is between employer and employee. Hence, the impact of this in terms on the number of people affected, as well as the amount of deduction, is going to be minuscule. Therefore saying the take-home salary will drastically reduce is [not right]. The International Monetary Fund on November 26 said AI might disrupt the labour market in India significantly. How do you see this in the context of the Codes? How prepared are we? Most assessments have shown while AI will disrupt some jobs, it will also create jobs. We in the labour ministry are trying our best to make sure that our national career service (NCS) portal, which we offer as a job-matching kind of a service, is upgraded. It has been significantly upgraded. We are working on a pilot where we want to see how we can take NCS towards our digital public infrastructure, which can be used by various people in the ecosystem. *** Govt to release compliance handbook for new labour codes: Labour secy The Centre is set to release a compliance handbook to help businesses comply with the four new labour codes, Labour Secretary Vandana Gurnani said on Friday. Speaking at an event organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gurnani said the government will work with the industry for smooth implementation of the codes and better understanding of the new system of compliances. "We are also working on a compliance handbook, which will tell what the simplified compliances now are. We will disseminate it physically as well as electronically," Gurnani said. The labour secretary further added that the government and the industry need to collaborate so they can together carry this message to the last mile where businesses also know what is now required from them. Gurnani said both the Centre and state governments will help labour inspectors understand their new role of inspector-cum-facilitator and provide them with training. She stated that both the central and state labour commissioners organise forums and meetings regularly to give clarifications on any concerns that businesses may have. "We would be happy to deploy our machinery so that they can explain what is in the codes. This effort of taking the message of the codes down should be a joint effort between the government and the industry," she added. Under the new codes, the inspector-cum-facilitator has to provide a 30-day notice to businesses before taking any action when an instance of non-compliance is found. The draft rules of the new codes, which will be up for a 45-day public consultation with stakeholders, are yet to be notified by the labour ministry. The central government notified the four labour codes last month, five years after they were passed by Parliament, reforming and consolidating the 29 existing labour laws. The four labour codes -- the Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Code on Social Security (2020), and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020) -- are intended to modernise labour regulations, enhancing workers' welfare and aligning the labour ecosystem with the evolving world of work. -- Auhona Mukherjee Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff Officials said the government is keen to conform to the convention of the Union Budget for 2026-2027 being presented on February 1 despite it falling on a Sunday in 2026. IMAGE: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chairs a pre-Budget onsultation with experts and stakeholders from the education, health, human development and women empowerment sectors for the Union Budget 2026-2027 in New Delhi, November 26, 2025. Photograph: @FinMinIndia X/ANI Photo Will the 80th Union Budget be a Sunday Budget? That's a question yet to find an answer even as the countdown has begun to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's eighth Budget. Ever since February 1 became the Budget date in 2017, Sundays have never come in the way of the annual financial statement. But 2026 is going to be different and power corridors are as engaged with the date of the Budget as with its theme, perhaps. On top of February 1, 2026, being a Sunday, Guru Ravidas Jayanti -- a government holiday in some north Indian states including Delhi -- will also fall on the same day. Even so, officials indicated on Friday that the Union Budget could be presented on Sunday, February 1. When asked, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "These decisions are taken by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs at an appropriate time." Sources, however, pointed out that the Guru Ravidas Jayanti is neither a central government 'public holiday' nor it is so in most of the country. It is a 'public holiday' in some north Indian states, such as Delhi and Haryana. It is a 'restricted holiday', and not a public holiday, for the central government. However, in 2025, Ravidas Jayanti fell on Wednesday, February 12, in the midst of the Budget session of Parliament, and the two Houses did not have a sitting on account of it. The Union Budget was tabled on February 1 in 2017, and 2026 will be the first occasion since then that it falls on a Sunday. Officials said the government is keen to conform to the convention of the Union Budget for 2026-2027 being presented on February 1 despite it falling on a Sunday in 2026. In 2020 and 2025, Sitharaman presented the Budgets on February 1, which in these years fell on Saturdays. According to sources, the Budget will not be tabled on Saturday, January 31, while an optional day would be February 2, which is a Monday. There are precedents of Parliament having its sittings on Sunday under special circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and on May 13, 2012, to mark the 60th anniversary of the first sitting of Parliament. Similarly, there have been instances when the two Houses sat on the occasion of a public holiday. On May 13, 1957, which was a holiday on account of Buddha Purnima, the President addressed both the Houses and separate sittings of the two Houses were held on that day. 'In fixing the sittings, restricted holidays in the Government of India offices are, however, not taken into account and sittings may be fixed on those days,' according to the Rajya Sabha web site. But, there are also certain other holidays which are observed by the House irrespective of the fact that any of them may not be a public holiday for the government offices, such as Raksha Bandhan. On February 18, 1981, when the Rajya Sabha met, a point was raised regarding observance of a holiday on account of the birthday of Guru Ravidas on that day. After some discussion, the House was adjourned at 11.06 am. A sitting of the Rajya Sabha was originally fixed for February 24, 1986 (birthday of Guru Ravidas), in the Provisional Calendar of sittings. In view of the precedent of 1981 and Chairman's direction, the sitting fixed for that day was cancelled and members were informed through a parliamentary bulletin, according to the Rajya Sabha web site. Prior to 2017, the Union Budget was presented on the last working day of February. The convention then was that if February 28 or 29 fell on a Sunday, the previous day (Saturday) would be chosen for presenting the Budget. The February 1 date was selected to ensure implementation of the Budget at the start of the new financial year on April 1. There have been only two exceptions in the last 79 Union Budgets since 1947, when the last day of February fell on a Sunday, but the finance minister concerned decided to advance the presentation of the Budget to Friday. On all other occasions, when the last day of February fell on a Sunday, the Budget was presented on the previous day, Saturday. The Union Budget for 2026-2027 will be the 80th since 1947, and eighth successive Budget that Sitharaman will be presenting, on a par with Morarji Desai, who till now holds the record of presenting as many full Budgets. Desai presented his eight Budgets in two different stints, one under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the other under Indira Gandhi. Sitharaman will present her eighth successive Budget under one prime minister, Narendra Modi, and under two consecutive governments. Winter session comes to end. Key Bills passed The Winter Session of Parliament was held from December 1 to 19, 2025, with both Houses functioning for 15 days * Number of bills introduced: 9 * Number of Bills passed: 7 These included Bills related to the revamp of the nuclear energy regulator, the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee For Rozgar And Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G BILL, and insurance laws -- all passed within a week of their respective introduction * Bills referred to House panel: 2 Bills to revamp the higher education regulation, and integrate three securities laws into one Code 11 of the 42 Bills introduced in the 18th Lok Sabha have been referred to committees. These include two Bills on simultaneous elections, and three on the removal of ministers on detention. Only one Bill -- Securities Markets Code -- has been referred to Standing Committee. * No. of sittings: 15 The Lok Sabha worked for 103% of its scheduled time and the Rajya Sabha for 104%. Lok Sabha Secretariat said the House sat for 92.25 hours, including 28.17 hours where it sat beyond its scheduled time to complete listed business. Lok Sabha Secretariat said almost 19 hours were lost due to interruptions and forced adjournments. Each House spent over 40% of its time on debates, mainly due to special discussions on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram and electoral reforms. Lok Sabha spent 36%, and Rajya Sabha 30%, of their time on legislative business. During the session, 41 reports of department related parliamentary standing committees and 10 of other parliamentary committees were tabled. While three days were allocated for Private Members' business, it was taken up in both Houses on two days. 137 Private Member Bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha and 59 in the Rajya Sabha. In the Lok Sabha, this was the first introduction of Private Member Bills since August 2024. The Lok Sabha utilised 67% of Question Hour and Rajya Sabha utilised 80%. 23% of starred questions were answered orally in th Lok Sabha, and 26% in the Rajya Sabha. Sources: PRS Legislative Research and LS Secretariat Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff This has been our history of good governance: Things that were difficult to do and required planning and implementation were first taken up and then abandoned, notes Aakar Patel. IMAGE: Trinamool Congress MPs protest over the MGNREGA issue outside Parliament on the last day of the Winter session, December 19, 2025. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo Governance is hard and good governance, meaning efficient and effective governance, is harder. Optics is a poor substitute for outcomes, but when outcomes are hard to come by through governance, then optics can be relied upon rather than admitting failure. When the airline business grinds to a halt and airports across India are an angry mess, the solution is to circulate photographs of an airline CEO folding his hands in supplication before the minister. Problem solved. When dozens die in a fire in a structure that shouldn't have existed, the solution is to bulldoze the remains of the structure. Of course, thousands of such structures remain. Another satisfactory solution is renaming. In New India, MNREGA will now be called Pujya Bapu Rural Employment Guarantee Act and expanded. Ten years ago, a few months after taking office, Prime Minister Modi said in the Lok Sabha that MNREGA would be continued only because it would show how poorly Manmohan Singh's government had performed: 'My political instincts tell me that MNREGA should not be discontinued,' he said, mocking the Opposition benches, 'because it is a living memorial to your failures.' 'After so many years in power, all you were able to deliver is for a poor man to dig ditches a few days a month.' Modi would instead let the scheme die naturally as his government would create better jobs and MNREGA would not be required. After the government had taken office, Nitin Gadkari indicated that MNREGA would be limited to less than a third of India's districts and that wages would be lowered and delayed for beneficiaries to make the scheme unattractive. The assumption was that job creation under Modi would make the scheme redundant. By December 2014, except for five states, all others had received significantly lower funds from the Union government in 2014, compared to 2013. As India's economy began to weaken and unemployment rose, Modi began to invest more and more in the scheme he had called a failure. In 2014-2015, MNREGA got Rs 32,000 crore; in 2015-2016, Rs 37,000 crore; in 2016-2017, 48,000 crore; in 2017-2018, Rs 55,000 crore; in 2018-2019, Rs 61,000 crore; in 2019-2020, Rs 71,000 crore and in 2020-2021, Rs 111,000 crore. The allocation under Modi was almost three times the size it had been under Manmohan Singh. Since then sleight of hand, including keeping the MNREGA budget opaque and denying states access to funding, has ensured there is no transparency on demand. The renamed scheme now will solve all of this no doubt. That has been our history of good governance: Things that were difficult to do and required planning and implementation were first taken up and then abandoned. This was true even when the project was as hallowed as the Namami Gange, taken up in June 2014 immediately after the election victory. It was given an outlay of Rs 20,000 crore -- 'to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga'. The Ganga required not so much cleaning -- because it flowed continually into the sea -- as ensuring that further pollutants did not enter it. This was a granular problem that had to do with hundreds of places where effluent was being discharged into the river. Once it was learned that cleaning up required substantial effort, enthusiasm for the project waned. In February 2017, the National Green Tribunal observed that 'not a single drop of river Ganga has been cleaned so far', and that government efforts were 'only wasting public money'. The next year, the 86-year-old environmentalist G D Agarwal, who had been on a fast unto death for 111 days, died, having given up even water. A professor at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur who had served on the Central Pollution Control Board, he had been demanding a law to protect the Ganga. A day before Professor Agarwal died, Gadkari (then Union minister for water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation) said almost all of his demands had been met. Allocations to Namami Gange fell from Rs 2,500 crore in 2016-2017 to Rs 2,300 crore in 2017-2018 and then to Rs 687 crore in 2018-2019. In 2019-2020, about Rs 375 crore was spent. That year, the project was folded into a larger one now called Jal Shakti. When the lockdown in March 2020 led to the temporary shutting down of polluting units, the Modi government claimed that the Ganga had been cleaned. The government web site for the National Mission for Clean Ganga lists the minutes of the meeting of the council running it. Just two meetings were held over 10 years it seems, one on December 14, 2019 and the second on December 30, 2022. After 10 years and a thick stream of publicity, is the Ganga clean? The Opposition says no. 'Why has Ganga river gotten dirtier despite spending 20,000 crore: Congress asks PM Modi' is a headline from the Press Trust of India from May 14, 2024. That is the problem of talking about good governance after being in office for more than two terms. The record is before us, and continues to unfold daily. How many Indians are still convinced by optics? Most likely it is those people who want to be convinced that good governance abounds in New India. Kerala Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar on Saturday said that 24,08,503 voters remain untraced after the enumeration stage of the SIR of the electoral rolls in the state. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo He was speaking at an all-party meeting convened to review the SIR procedures. Kelkar presented the SIR figures after the completion of the enumeration process. According to the data, 24,08,503 enumeration forms remain uncollected out of 2.78 crore existing voters in the state, accounting for 8.65 percent. Of these, 6,49,885 pertain to deceased persons, 6,45,548 voters were found untraceable, and 8,16,221 voters were identified as having permanently shifted from their registered addresses. In addition, 1,36,029 duplicate voters and 1,60,830 voters falling under other categories were identified. Kelkar said the draft electoral roll will be published on December 23. He said issues related to the voters' list can be addressed during the grievance redressal period from December 23 to January 22, 2026. Also, there will be provisions for enrolling new voters that will be available later, he said. However, political parties raised concerns over the genuineness of the revised list, alleging that several genuine voters were removed during the enumeration stage. CPI leader Rajaji Mathew Thomas, who attended the meeting, said that his name and that of his wife had been deleted from the voters' list despite submitting the enumeration forms. Election Commission officials later clarified that the names of Thomas and his wife exist in the voters' list of the 43rd booth of the Ollur constituency. A senior Communist Party of India-Marxist leader MV Jayarajan alleged that several voters, particularly senior citizens who remain at home, were marked as untraceable. He also expressed apprehension over the number of voters shown as deceased and removed from the list. Congress leader MK Rahman said around 710 voters from a booth in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency had been removed from the list. He alleged that the enumeration process was not conducted properly due to excessive pressure on Booth Level Officers. Except for the BJP, representatives of other political parties demanded that the SIR schedule be extended, citing that many voters living abroad would be returning to Kerala during the Christmas vacation period. A three-member team from Botswana on Saturday visited Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh where a few more cheetahs are set to be translocated from the African country. IMAGE: A male cheetah named Pawan, brought from Namibia last year, was released in the open forest, in Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh, July 3, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo "A team from Botswana visited Gandhi Sagar with senior officials of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India experts," divisional forest officer Sanjay Raikhare told PTI Videos. The delegation reviewed the preparations including quarantine bomas (enclosures), control rooms and hospitals, and expressed satisfaction, he said. "Currently, we have six normal quarantine bomas and two treatment bomas. They examined every detail inside; mounts, water bodies, sheds, and arrangements made for the cheetahs' protection," said Raikhare. It was not yet clear how many cheetahs would be brought to India and when, the DFO said. Earlier in April 2025, two male cheetahs, Prabhash and Pavak, were shifted from Kuno National Park in the state to Gandhi Sagar, while female cheetah Dheera was shifted to Gandhi Sagar in September. Gandhi Sagar is being developed as India's second major cheetah sanctuary after Kuno. The cheetah, fastest land animal species, was declared extinct in the country in 1952. Project Cheetah aims at reviving their population in the wild in India. 'It is clear they have accepted that the next two elections belong to the BJP.' IMAGE: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Photograph: ANI Photo Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that the Congress has effectively written off the 2026 and 2031 assembly elections in the state and is instead planning for the 2036 polls. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme in Guwahati, Sarma said the Congress was not making any serious attempt to prepare for the 2026 elections. "From the way the Congress is functioning, it is clear they are preparing with 2036 in mind and have already accepted that the next two elections belong to the BJP," he said. "I do not see the Congress making any real preparations for 2026, though it is true that they have a fixed vote bank in some pockets of the state," Sarma said. "In these seats, even if the Congress were to bring in a candidate from outside the state, they would still win," Sarma said, adding that beyond these assured seats, the party was making little effort for the 2026 elections. On the Bharatiya Janata Party's electoral strategy, Sarma said the BJP was not focused on achieving a specific number of seats. "Our objective is not a particular seat count, but to secure more than 50 per cent of the total votes in Assam," he said, adding that the BJP would concentrate on strengthening its overall position. "There is no doubt that the NDA, with the BJP leading it, will form the next government in the state," he added. IMAGE: Himanta Biswa Sarma with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Photograph: @himantabiswa X/ANI Photo Sarma took a swipe at Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi, saying his political activity was largely confined to social media. "He seems active mainly on Facebook these days and not much on the ground. His live sessions are quite entertaining, and I often watch them after finishing my work -- they have good recreational value," the chief minister quipped. Assembly elections in Assam are scheduled for early next year. Sarma said the BJP's working committee and state council would hold a two-day meeting in Guwahati from December 26, which is expected to be attended by newly appointed national BJP Working President Nitin Nabin. At present, the BJP holds 64 seats in the 126-member Assam Assembly, while its allies -- the Asom Gana Parishad has nine MLAs, the United People's Party Liberal seven and the Bodo Peoples' Front, which recently rejoined the NDA, has three MLAs. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff Dense fog disrupted operations at the Delhi airport, with at least 177 flights getting cancelled and over 500 flights getting delayed on Friday. IMAGE: Kindly note that the image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo An official said that a total of 177 flights, including some international services, were cancelled. The figure includes departures and arrivals. Nearly 500 flights were delayed at the airport on Friday, as per data from flight tracking website Flightradar24.com. In a post on X on Friday afternoon, the civil aviation ministry said it is closely coordinating with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and decisions are being taken based on real-time weather forecasts. Some flights are being cancelled by airlines, with passengers being informed in advance to avoid unnecessary travel to airports. Full refunds and free rescheduling by the airlines operators are being offered. Airport directors have been instructed to ensure all necessary support to passengers at airports, it said. "Operations at Delhi Airport are running normal without disruption," Delhi airport operator DIAL said in a post on X at 7.10 pm. On Friday, Air India Express said it cancelled flights from Delhi to various destinations, including Pune, Ranchi, Bagdogra, Indore, Patna, Goa, Varanasi and Jodhpur, as well as a few other services. These cancellations were caused by fog conditions, the airline said in a post on X. IndiGo, in a post on X at around noon on Friday, said Delhi NCR, Amritsar, Jabalpur and Jalandhar continue to remain wrapped in chilly winter air and lingering fog this morning. "The fluctuating visibility has led to changes in flight schedules, and operations may be slower than usual as conditions evolve. Our teams on-ground are prioritising safety and compliance with visibility requirements," it added. In a post on X in the morning, DIAL said flight operations continue to be in CAT III conditions due to dense fog. "Both arrivals and departures are taking place, though some flights may experience delays or disruptions". Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) operates the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), the country's largest airport that generally handles around 1,300 flights daily. The Goa police have started the process to secure a Blue Corner Notice against British national Surinder Kumar Khosla, an accused in the December 6 nightclub fire that killed 25 people, through Central agencies, a senior officer said on Saturday. IMAGE: Charred remains of the Birch by Romeo Lane restaurant, in Arpora, Goa, December 8, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo He said Khosla was in Goa when the incident occurred and fled to the UK, probably the next day. "We have started the process to issue him a blue corner notice to bring him from the UK. Formalities required to be completed with Central agencies are being initiated, the officer added. Khosla is believed to be one of the owners of the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub in Arpora where a massive fire broke out on the night of December 6. The land, where the nightclub was built, had been leased to Khosla, who is locked in a protracted legal battle with the original landowner, Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar. "Khosla was in Goa when the fire occurred. However, he later fled to the UK, probably on the next day (December 7)," the police officer said. The police have so far arrested eight people, including the nightclub owners Saurabh Luthra, Gaurav Luthra, and Ajay Gupta, and five others. Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Saturday said he was "disappointed" to witness the row after the naqab (veil) of a doctor was removed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. IMAGE: Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan speaks during the 9th convocation of Aryabhatta Knowledge University at Bapu Sabhagar Auditorium, in Patna, November 24, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Khan was referring to a video clip which sparked a major political row, which took place on Monday at the chief minister's secretariat in Patna when Ayush doctors had gathered to receive their letters of appointment. When the woman came up for her letter, Kumar saw her naqab, said 'what is this' and then removed the veil. "It pains me to hear the word 'dispute' in this case. Can there be any row between a father and a daughter?" Khan asked. Talking to reporters, the governor said, "What have you people made out of it? This man considers female students as his daughters. Meanwhile, Principal of the Government Tibbi College and Hospital, Mahfoozur Rahman said, "Nusrat's family said that they want to escape media coverage, and that the female doctor will rethink whether to join or not." Though Saturday is the last date of joining, the principal said that the government and the department will consider extending the date in this "special case". "It is up to Nusrat, eventually. She can also consider the option to pursue higher education over the posting, which will improve her chances in the future," the principal said. He said, as per her family, if Nusrat joins, she will do it with her privacy intact. "Nusrat Parveen's husband said that the family is disappointed by the row peddled by the media," he said. "They have also denounced the news of their travel to Kolkata as false," he said, adding that there is "no anger among the family members with Nitish Kumar or the government." He claimed that Nusrat last attended the college on December 17 or 18, and did not express any sort of anger or resentment. The principal claimed to have talked to Nusrat's family over the telephone on Friday evening. "They said that wrong news is being disseminated in the media, and want to escape any sort of coverage," he said. The dynamics are well understood in an industry where a handful of blockbusters can underwrite years of costly research and where patents may run 20 years on paper, but far less in practice once years of development are taken into account. Pfizer is not alone. Biopharma multinational Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) chief executive Chris Boerner also warned of a "stacking effect" as multiple drugs lose protection in quick succession. "There is clearly a loss of exclusivity wave coming," Bourla said. "This will cost us between US$17 billion and US$18 billion and it's coming in gradually in 2026, 2027 and 2028." Countdown anxiety was on display in San Francisco earlier this year at the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference, where pharmaceutical giant Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla warned investors and analysts of an approaching "loss of exclusivity" wave. Morgan Stanley estimates US$171 billion of 2025 revenue at large-cap biopharma companies will go off-patent by the end of 2030, forcing the industry into a race to replace ageing blockbusters. For US drug makers, all of these shifts are approaching like icebergs shearing off a glacier: slowly at first, then all at once. The Biosecure Act, awaiting final passage in the US Senate and US President Donald Trump's signature to become law, has added uncertainty to an industry that is simultaneously trying to refill pipelines at speed. And the patent cliff is not the only headwind. US drug makers are also operating in a tougher political environment as Washington takes a harder line on Chinese life sciences and supply chains. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge , our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Gone will be the exclusivity that underpinned years of research budgets, dividends and acquisitions, replaced by a market in which hungry rivals arrive at a discount and pricing power drains fast. At the bottom of the hourglass awaits an unforgiving world of generic and biosimilar competition. Between 2025 and 2030, the patent cliff is set to be one of the biggest since 2010 by revenue at risk, according to analysts. If pharmaceutical drug patents are an hourglass turned over on the day of approval - with the approaching loss of exclusivity known in the industry as the "patent cliff" - then Big Pharma is currently watching the final grains of sand slipping through the neck of the glass. Story continues "Upon patent expiration, generics or biosimilars enter the market at a significant discount to capture share," said Bruce Liu, a senior partner at consulting firm Simon-Kucher. For Chinese biotechs, however, the same deadlines are looking less like a cliff and more like an opportunity, as the looming crisis pushes big drug makers to hunt for Chinese biotech assets to refill their pipeline. The opportunity has not been lost on Beijing either. Even as Washington tightens its stance, Chinese policymakers have signalled that biotech and biomanufacturing should be pillars of the next growth cycle, identifying biomanufacturing as a new economic growth engine in its push for tech self-reliance. Chinese biotech firms - many of them operating with lower costs and faster clinical execution - are increasingly well placed to supply the "new molecules" global companies need through licensing deals that can be cheaper and quicker than building replacements in-house. According to Cui Cui, head of healthcare research for Asia at US investment bank Jefferies, Chinese biotech companies "are reshaping the US biopharma sector". "In-licensing assets from China could offer global pharmaceutical companies a remedy to alleviate pressure affordably and within a manageable time frame," she said. That shift is also changing what global drug makers are willing to buy. In the past, many preferred late-stage assets - medicines already in Phase III trials or nearing regulatory submission - because there is more human data, less scientific risk and a clearer path to commercialisation. But as timelines tighten, drug makers are increasingly willing to license earlier-stage candidates and use their capital and development infrastructure to push them through the pipeline. Ultimately, the debate comes back to the same fear: what happens the moment exclusivity ends. Once generics or biosimilars arrive, price erosion can be swift and brutal, leaving even the most dominant franchise exposed. For industry players, the fear is as real as the stakes are high. Drug prices decreased by 30 to 82 per cent over eight years after patent expiration in eight developed markets, with the US experiencing the steepest decline, according to figures from the JAMA Health Forum. US blockbuster drugs from Merck & Co, Regeneron, BMS and Pfizer were among the most exposed to this pricing squeeze over the next six years, according to a report from Jefferies. Keytruda, Merck's flagship lung cancer drug that generated US$29.48 billion last year - 46 per cent of the company's total sales - faces expiration in 2028 in both US and Chinese markets. BMS, meanwhile, relies on blood thinner Eliquis for US$13.33 billion of sales, with patent expirations approaching in Japan in 2026 and the US in 2028. Other franchises face similar cliffs in the years ahead, adding to the industry's urgency to rebuild pipelines before pricing power drains away. In anticipation of post-patent price falls, Merck has over the past five years channelled US$40 billion into acquisitions, collaborations and licensing agreements including multiple deals with Chinese biotech firms such as LaNova Medicines, Hansoh Pharma and Kelun Biotech, all of which specialise in cancer therapies. The shift is visible across the market. Chinese companies accounted for 32 per cent of out-licensing deals to multinational corporations by value in the first half of 2025, up from 21 per cent in 2024 and 2023, and from single digits in the years following 2011. Cui also pointed to a structural advantage. "Cost advantages extend to labour, the supply chain, and clinical trials - China biotech assets also trade at a notable discount to their global peers," she said. Jefferies estimated that upfront payments to Chinese companies were 60 to 70 per cent lower, while Chinese biotech could deliver a 30 to 50 per cent acceleration in timelines from molecule validation to proof of clinical concept, aided by faster patient enrolment and cost efficiency. Drug prices decreased by 30 to 82 per cent over eight years after patent expiration in eight developed markets. Photo: Shutterstock alt=Drug prices decreased by 30 to 82 per cent over eight years after patent expiration in eight developed markets. Photo: Shutterstock> Those advantages would be compelling even in calm political waters - but they are arriving amid heightened US-China tensions and growing scrutiny in Washington of Chinese life sciences. Cui, however, argued the commercial logic was proving hard to resist. "Geopolitics should not be a concern," she noted. In the latest sign of this trend, Changchun High-Tech's unit Shanghai Scizeng Medical licensed out its clinical-stage thyroid drug GenSci098 to Yarrow Bioscience in a deal worth up to about US$1.5 billion, granting the US biotech exclusive rights to develop and commercialise the injectable antibody outside mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, according to its exchange filing on December 16. Pfizer has also agreed to pay up to US$2.1 billion to Fosun Pharma's subsidiary Yao Pharma for an experimental oral obesity drug, under a deal that grants Pfizer exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise the GLP-1 receptor agonist. That momentum has continued despite growing political tensions. US Congress has targeted Chinese biotech firms it considers national security risks through the Biosecure Act, part of the National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA) released earlier this month. Employees pack medicines at a pharmaceutical company in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Photo: Xinhua alt=Employees pack medicines at a pharmaceutical company in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Photo: Xinhua> Earlier versions that explicitly named WuXi AppTec and WuXi Biologics failed to make it into the 2025 NDAA after opposition from senior lawmakers and the biopharma industry, according to a Macquarie Capital report. "Uncertainty remains, but we believe the NDAA and Biosecure impact [on Chinese drug developers and manufacturers] will be limited," said Tony Ren, head of Asia healthcare research at Macquarie Capital. The watered-down outcome "demonstrated that the underlying current is that global innovation and collaboration in healthcare will drive better patient care and also lower costs," said George Lin, executive vice-president of Shanghai-headquartered Hua Medicine. "If American pharmaceutical are not allowed to in-license these kinds of [Chinese] drugs, will that really help innovation in San Francisco and Boston?" Lin said. "American pharmaceutical can't just suddenly develop these [drug] compounds themselves. It would just take so long to do that." Even where Washington has pushed to reconfigure supply chains back to the US through tariffs and other policies, the pharmaceutical industry remains conservative. Clients typically place commercial manufacturing orders only after production capacity had secured regulatory approval, Ren said, a process that could take 18 months to almost three years. Abrupt decoupling, he added, could raise costs and extend approval timelines. "The US biopharma industry has been unwilling to decouple from CDMOs (contract development and manufacturing organisations) despite the urging of China hawks," Ren said. Chinese biotech firms - many of them operating with lower costs and faster clinical execution - are increasingly well placed to supply the 'new molecules'. Photo: Xinhua alt=Chinese biotech firms - many of them operating with lower costs and faster clinical execution - are increasingly well placed to supply the 'new molecules'. Photo: Xinhua> WuXi AppTec and WuXi Biologics also maintain a significant footprint in the US, including laboratories and manufacturing sites totalling nearly 344,000 sq ft across Massachusetts and New Jersey, according to the company. For Cui, the direction of travel is clear. "Demand from multinational corporations in China will continue," she said, adding that potential bestsellers were likely to emerge in oncology, autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular medicine. Jefferies pointed to candidates including PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates in oncology, as well as oral GLP-1 drugs and orexin-based therapies in other disease areas. For Big Pharma, the logic is increasingly hard to escape. Patents do not negotiate; they expire on schedule, and once they do, pricing power rarely returns. In the scramble to replace ageing blockbusters, Chinese biotech has become an ever more practical source of new molecules - cheaper, faster and, in some cases, genuinely competitive. Washington may try to redraw the boundaries of cooperation, but the hourglass is still running. 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 National Human Rights Commission on Friday said it has issued notices to all states and Union territories in the wake of six children testing HIV positive after blood transfusion at the Satna district hospital in Madhya Pradesh earlier this year. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo "Such incidents occurring in different parts of the country have also come to its notice. Therefore, the Commission has issued notices to the chief secretaries of all the states and Union territories, calling for detailed reports on the matter within four weeks," the National Human Rights Commission said in a statement. The reports are expected to include action taken or proposed to be taken by them to deal with the issue, it said. The Madhya Pradesh government on Thursday suspended a blood bank in-charge and two lab technicians in connection with the six children testing HIV positive at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Government Hospital in Satna district, a senior official said. The action was taken based on the preliminary report of a committee formed to investigate the case. The NHRC said it has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that after blood transfusion, at least six children tested HIV positive in Satna district hospital. Reportedly, it said, they were being treated at a hospital for thalassemia, which requires blood transfusion periodically. The children were found to be HIV positive between January and May this year and the matter has come to light now, the statement said. According to the December 16 media report, the state authorities are making efforts to determine whether the blood transfusion took place in other hospitals also. The hospital has initiated an internal investigation into the matter, it said. Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 17 years in jail each by a court on Saturday in the Toshakhana 2 corruption case. IMAGE: Imran Khan with his wife Bushra Bibi (in black veil). Photograph: ANI Photo/Reuters Khan, 73, who has been in jail since August 2023, faces multiple cases launched against him since his ouster from power in April 2022. The Toshakhana 2 case involves alleged fraud in state gifts that the former first couple received from the Saudi government in 2021. Special court judge Shahrukh Arjumand announced the judgment in the case at Rawalpindi's high-security Adiala Jail, where the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder is currently being held. Khan and Bushra were awarded 10 years' rigorous imprisonment under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Pakistan Penal Code and seven years under different sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The court also imposed a fine of PKR 16.4 million on each of them. "This court, while passing sentences, has considered the old age of Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, as well as the fact that Bushra Imran Khan is a female. It is in consideration of both said factors that a lenient view has been taken in awarding lesser punishment," according to the judgment. It added that the benefit of Section 382-B (period of detention to be considered while awarding sentence of imprisonment) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was 'hereby given to the convicts'. A total of 21 witnesses appeared before the court during the trial. Khan and Bushra were present in the court when the judgment was announced. Khan, in his recorded statement under Section 342 of the CrPC in the case, had rejected the allegations. He alleged that the case was 'malicious, fabricated, and politically engineered.' The case was filed in July 2024 and was based on allegations that valuable items, including expensive watches, as well as diamond and gold jewellery sets, were sold by the former couple without being deposited in the Toshakhana - the state gift repository. Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani told Geo News that the gifts were not deposited, which they were legally bound to do. Terming the incident 'unfortunate', he said, 'according to facts that came to light during the legal proceedings, the set's actual value was Rs 70 million; however, its valuation was done at Rs 5.8-5.9 million'. 'Unfortunately, Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan attempted to buy the set at throwaway rates,' he said. The Toshakhana is a department under the Cabinet Division that stores gifts given to rulers and government officials by heads of other governments and foreign dignitaries. Once deposited, the gifts can be bought back following proper rules and procedures. In October 2024, Bushra was granted bail by the Islamabad High Court in this case, and a month later, Khan was also granted bail in the same case. They were indicted in December last year. Meanwhile, the prosecution process went on in the Adiala Jail, where both Khan and his wife have already been incarcerated after conviction earlier this year in the Al-Qadir Trust case. Both convicts can file appeals in the High Court against their convictions. An unannounced ban has been placed on meeting Khan, who has been in prison since August 2023 in multiple cases, for more than a month. The last meeting with Khan was held on December 2, when his sister Uzma Khan was allowed to see him. Adiala Jail authorities, however, claimed that the former cricketer-turned politician is in "good health". Last week, UN Special Rapporteur on torture Alice Jill Edwards called on the Pakistan government to take immediate and effective action to address reports of 'inhumane and undignified detention conditions' of Khan in jail. "Khan's solitary confinement should be lifted without delay. Not only is it an unlawful measure, extended isolation can bring about very harmful consequences for his physical and mental health," she said. According to reports, Khan is not permitted outdoor activity or interaction with other detainees and is unable to join communal prayers. Visits from lawyers, family members and others authorised by the courts are frequently interrupted or ended prematurely. Khan served as the 19th prime minister of Pakistan from August 2018 until April 2022. The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday alleged that Rahul Gandhi had a meeting with "enemies of India" during his visit to Germany and asked the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha as to what kind of "conspiracy" he is hatching against the country by joining hands with such forces. IMAGE: Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi during a dialogue with German Think Tanks in Munich, Germany, December 19, 2025. Photograph: AICC/ANI Photo Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, party national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia showed a purported picture of Gandhi with Berlin-based Hertie school president and professor Cornellia Woll and called it "proof" of the Congress leader meeting "anti-India forces in Germany". Bhatia claimed that Woll is one of the trustees of the Central European University, which is funded by US-based billionaire investor George Soros's Open Society Foundation. There was no immediate reaction from Rahul Gandhi or the Congress. Last year too, the BJP had alleged that top Congress leaders had links with Soros-funded organisations that were involved in "anti-India" activities. "If anyone meets anti-India forces and insults Bharat from foreign soil, it's none other than Rahul," Bhatia charged on Saturday, adding, "George Soros and Rahul Gandhi are two bodies but one soul." The BJP spokesperson asked why Gandhi goes abroad during or ahead of almost every session of Parliament and "meets enemies of India, who are jealous of India and attack its integrity". "What kind of anti-India agenda is it that the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is hatching a conspiracy against Bharat by joining hands with such anti-India forces," he asked. Bhatia alleged that Gandhi met "anti-India" forces during his previous foreign visits also, and "defamed and insulted India" with his remarks. "This is not the first time Rahul Gandhi is indulging in such anti-national activities," he said, adding, "Rahul Gandhi has become Mir Zafar". Bhatia alleged that Soros makes anti-India statements and also provides funds to create unrest in India and attack the country's integrity and sovereignty. "George Soros is not an Indian; he is a foreigner. But, Rahul Gandhi has taken the oath of protecting the Constitution," he said. "These snakelets within India need to be treated. People of the country are demanding it," Bhatia added. A court in Patiala on Saturday declared Aam Aadmi Party MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra a proclaimed offender after he failed to appear in a rape case. IMAGE: Aam Aadmi Party MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra. Photograph: Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra/X The court also directed that a notice be issued to the investigating officer for January 31, 2026, with instructions to place on record the list of properties belonging to Pathanmajra. The police had registered the case against Pathanmajra, a first-time MLA, at the Civil Lines police station here on September 1 on the charges of rape, cheating and criminal intimidation based on a complaint by a Zirakpur-based woman. He has been on the run since September 2. In November, Pathanmajra appeared in a video interview with an Australia-based web Punjabi channel in which he claimed that he would "return home only after securing bail." Denying all allegations, he termed the case a "political conspiracy", aimed at silencing voices that speak for Punjab's people. In its order, the court said that the 30-day period for a proclamation warrant had already expired and declared Pathanmajra a proclaimed person. Pathanmajra had escaped on September 2 when the Punjab police went to arrest him in Dabri village in Haryana's Karnal district, where he was at the residence of one of his relatives. The police had then claimed that gunshots were fired and stones were pelted by the legislator's supporters However, Pathanmajra had denied the police claims of being involved in firing at cops and had said he fled after learning that he would be killed in a "fake encounter". The Patiala court later initiated proclaimed offender proceedings against the Sanaur MLA after he failed to appear in connection with a rape case. The local court had already rejected his anticipatory bail plea. The MLA had remained elusive despite police conducting raids at his possible hideouts. Patiala police had issued a look-out notice against the Aam Aadmi Party MLA. The complainant woman alleged that the MLA misrepresented himself as divorced, entered into a relationship with her and later married in 2021 while already being married. She accused him of continued sexual exploitation, threats and sending "obscene" material to her. New York-based Corvex said the Premier Inn owner should review its five year capital plan - Lee Smith/Reuters The owner of Premier Inn is facing pressure from a US activist investor to curb its spending after suffering a 50m blow from Rachel Reevess Budget. New York-headquartered Corvex has amassed a 6.05pc stake in London-listed Whitbread and called for the company to reconsider its strategy in light of changes introduced in the Chancellors Autumn Statement. The asset manager called for a strategic review at Whitbread to assess its capital allocation priorities and overall strategic direction in light of the recently announced UK Budget and changes to rateable values and business rates. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, unveiled an overhaul of business rates a property tax in the Budget, which triggered higher tax bills for many larger commercial buildings. Whitbread subsequently said it expected to face up to 50m in extra costs. Dominic Paul, Whitbreads chief executive, said he was extremely disappointed with the Budget. Corvex said the Premier Inn-owner should should review the companys current five-year capital plan, which contemplates approximately 3.5bn of investment an amount approaching the companys current market capitalisation. While the investor said it had not predetermined any particular outcome and believe a rigorous and unbiased, fact-based review, Corvexs decision to highlight the scale of investment planned suggests it believes the figure should be reined in. Shares in Whitbread rose 6pc following the intervention, valuing the company at about 4.06bn. Corvex has argued that Whitbreads current share price undervalues the business, including its UK operations, its German hotels, and properties under construction and not yet trading. As well as Premier Inn, the company owns restaurant brands including steakhouse Beefeater. Shares in the company have fallen close to 11pc in the past year. Multiple analysts have downgraded Whitbreads stocks rating in the past year from buy to hold. Corvex said it would work constructively and collaboratively with Whitbreads directors and management team to conduct this review. The asset management firm was founded by activist investor Keith Meister in 2010. He previously served as chief executive of Icahn Enterprises, billionaire activist investor Carl Icahns corporate vehicle. A spokesman for Whitbread said: Whitbread has a clear strategy and business model, and our five-year plan is designed to deliver strong returns for shareholders through growth in both the UK and Germany. We run our business for the long-term but remain flexible, and as stated in our announcement on Nov 28, we are exploring various options to further drive profits, margins and returns in light of the impact of measures in the UK budget. Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays. Twenty-two wagons of gasoline arrived in Armenia from Azerbaijan via Georgia on December 19, marking the first known commercial trade between the two longtime adversaries in about 30 years - a move both sides have framed as a sign of progress toward peace. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan welcomed the shipment, saying the trade was made possible by an improved political climate between the two countries: The trade is taking place between private companies, but, of course, it is the peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan that has created the political conditions for this trade, Pashinyan said. The shipment was agreed last month during talks between the deputy prime ministers of the two South Caucasus countries as part of efforts to expand economic cooperation, according to Hikmet Hajiyev, a foreign policy aide to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Armenia imported about 65 percent of its gasoline from Russia last year, making supply diversification a sensitive issue in Yerevan. Decreasing Dependency On Russia I do believe that it would be good in decreasing Armenias dependency on, particularly, Russia, Emily Babakanian Frazier, a research fellow at the Regional Studies Center, a Yerevan-based think tank, told RFE/RLs Azerbaijani Service, commenting on the recent trade. However, she cautioned that the move is still seen as fragile in Armenia. I think there could be a lot of fear that if there are renewed tensions, Azerbaijan could cut the supply and leave Armenia stranded, she said. So I do see it as a potential, but maybe more for the medium and long term rather than the short term. Armenias Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan described the transaction as commercial: The process has gone - lets fix that instead of war. War is loss, trade is prosperity, Papoyan told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. Earlier this year, Azerbaijan reopened its territory for the transit of goods to Armenia, ending restrictions that had been in place since 1997. Since October, two shipments of grain from Kazakhstan and Russia have passed through Azerbaijan en route to Armenia. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in conflict since the late 1980s over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but long controlled by ethnic Armenian separatists. Both Azerbaijan and its ally Turkey have closed their borders with Armenia since the beginning of the conflict. In September 2023, Azerbaijan retook full control of Karabakh following a military offensive. This summer, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on a major deal aimed at ending decades of conflict and potentially unlocking regional trade, though the treaty has yet to be formally signed or ratified. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Washington has proposed direct talks involving US, Russian, and Ukrainian negotiators, a move that could mark a new phase in negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy was speaking at a news conference in Kyiv on December 20, as the Kremlins senior negotiator, Kirill Dmitriev, arrived in Florida for fresh meetings with his US counterparts. Up until now, US officials have largely met with their Russian and Ukrainian counterparts separately, rather than having all three sides in the room at once. Three rounds of direct talks in Turkey, in May, June, and July resulted in agreements on prisoner exchanges but no substantive progress towards a resolution to the conflict. The United States told us they will have a separate meeting with Russias representatives. They have proposed a Ukraine - United States - Russia format, and since there are also representatives from Europe, possibly Europe as well, Zelenskyy said. "If now there can be a meeting that would unblock an exchange, or if the result of a trilateral meeting of advisers could be an agreement on a leaders meeting -- I cannot be against it. We will support the US proposal," he added. There was no immediate confirmation from the United States, Russia, or European countries about a change in negotiating format. Zelenskyys comments follow another week of intense diplomatic and military activity as Russias full-scale invasion approaches the end of its fourth year. US envoys held talks with European and Ukrainian officials, a European Union summit approved a $106 billion loan to Kyiv, and Russian President Vladimir Putin gave an uncompromising 4 -hour news conference at which he repeated previously stated demands along with debatable claims of battlefield advances. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on December 19 that he may join the talks in Florida, adding that Washington would force neither side into a deal. We cant force Ukraine to make a deal. We cant force Russia to make a deal. They have to want to make a deal, he said. Details of the plans being hammered out remain sketchy, but the broad outlines envisage Ukraine making territorial concessions in return for security guarantees. Dmitriev, who as head of Russias sovereign wealth fund has been under US sanctions since February 2022, claimed that warmongers were seeking to undermine Washingtons peace efforts. His words followed a Russian missile attack on Odesa and its suburbs the previous evening that killed seven people and injured 25. Ukrainian emergency services shared photos of a bus that they said was the epicenter of the strike. Russian forces have been attacking the Odesa region almost daily since the beginning of December. Tens of thousands of people have been left without electricity amid cold winter weather. Water supplies have also been affected. Russia has denied targeting civilians since launching its full-scale assault in February 2022 but has repeatedly struck non-military infrastructure including schools, hospitals, power facilities, and residential buildings. Putin again indicated on December 19 that Russia would achieve its aims militarily if Ukraine did not agree to its demands. Zelenskyy has underlined security guarantees as the main sticking point in peace talks. "What will the United States of America do if Russia comes again with aggression? What will these security guarantees do? How will they work?" he asked on December 18. Meanwhile, Ukraine has claimed two attacks that stretch the battlefield beyond its usual theaters. On December 19, it claimed to have hit a Russian shadow fleet tanker off the coast of Libya, which would be the first such strike in the Mediterranean. On December 20, it claimed to have hit a Russian oil rig and naval vessel in the Caspian Sea an area Ukraine has said that it has hit in the past. The drone's onboard camera recorded a successful hit in the area of the platform's gas turbine installation. Previously, SBU drones had already hit ice-resistant oil production platforms at the Filanovsky and Korchagin fields in the Caspian Sea, which led to the suspension of production processes, a Ukrainian security source told RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service. The December 19-20 strikes could not be independently confirmed. They follow two other recent strikes on shadow fleet tankers in the Black Sea. We're watching the birth of a new Tanker War. Like the 1980s Iran-Iraq conflict, merchant vessels are now economic weapons, wrote maritime intelligence agency Windward in a social media post. The message to Russia's 1,300 dark fleet vessels: There is no sanctuary. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. A Ukrainian woman convicted for collaborating with Russian forces is serving an 11-year prison sentence after passing on information about Ukrainian military positions during the 2022 occupation of Kherson. Photo Courtesy of: The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia BELGRADE, Serbia, Dec. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the second consecutive year, Serbia participated in Web Summit 2025, one of the worlds largest technology events, to be held in Lisbon, Portugal. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) led the national delegation, featuring 25 innovative startups that represent the strength and diversity of Serbias growing digital ecosystem. The Serbian national stand at Web Summit highlighted the countrys progress as an emerging innovation and technology hub in Southeast Europe. Participating companies presented solutions across key industries such as artificial intelligence, fintech, green energy, gaming, and creative technologies. The initiative aims to enhance Serbias visibility on the global stage and build strong connections between local innovators and international investors, partners, and technology leaders. Serbias participation in Web Summit for the second year in a row demonstrates the maturity and ambition of our innovation ecosystem, said Marko Cadez, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. Our startups are not only developing world-class solutions but are also ready to compete, collaborate, and scale globally. Through its presence at Web Summit 2025, Serbia seeks to strengthen its position as a regional scale-up hub, connecting the countrys talent and entrepreneurship with Europes leading innovation networks. The national delegation will also take part in B2B meetings, investor sessions, and panel discussions designed to promote Serbias business environment and attract foreign partnerships. We are committed to helping Serbian startups access international markets and resources, added Cadez. Web Summit provides the ideal platform for our entrepreneurs to showcase their creativity and technical expertise to a global audience. The initiative builds on Serbias broader efforts to expand its technology sector, which now includes over 4,000 IT companies and continues to be one of the countrys fastest-growing export industries. With IT service exports surpassing 3.5 billion in 2023 and maintaining strong growth through 2024, the sector has become a cornerstone of Serbias economic development and international competitiveness. The participation of the Serbian delegation is organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, in cooperation with national and international partners. It reflects Serbias commitment to supporting entrepreneurship, innovation, and digital transformation as drivers of sustainable economic growth. US-based Talon Metals has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement with Lundin Mining to acquire 100% of Lundin Mining US, the subsidiary that indirectly owns the Eagle Mine and Humboldt Mill. The deal will see Lundin Mining receive 275.2 million Talon shares, representing 18.4% of Talons issued and outstanding shares upon completion. The share consideration is valued at approximately $83.7m (C$115.43m). Upon closing, Lundin Minings total holding in Talon will increase to 19.99% of Talons issued and outstanding common shares on a non-diluted basis. The agreement contemplates a transaction that will merge Lundin Minings operating Eagle Mine and its associated Humboldt Mill with Talons stake in the Tamarack nickel-copper-cobalt project. The deal also covers Talons prospective exploration land package of more than 400,000 acres in Michigan, US, which covers the Boulderdash nickel/copper discovery located eight miles from the Eagle Mine. Additionally, Talons planned Beulah minerals processing facility in North Dakota will be included in the combined arrangement. The transaction will result in a newly formed Talon board made up of ten directors, with Lundin Mining nominating its president and CEO Jack Lundin, and Juan Andres Morel. Lundin said: The combination of Talon and Eagle will create a pure-play US nickel company anchored by the Eagle Mine, the only primary nickel mine currently operating in the US. This transaction unlocks meaningful synergies, including the opportunity to leverage the Humboldt Mill as a shared, centralised processing facility. We are pleased to see this consolidation come to fruition and believe that the combination of our complementary capabilities will drive long-term value for shareholders while supporting sustained economic growth in the local community. Furthermore, Lundin Mining will account for its interest in Talon using the equity method. Lundin Mining, along with its subsidiary, will also sign a production payment agreement covering ore processed at the Humboldt Mill that does not come from the Eagle Mine. Under this arrangement, Lundin Mining US will pay Lundin Mining $1 per tonne (t) of non-Eagle ore processed at the Humboldt Mill, up to a cumulative maximum of $20m. The parties will further execute an investor rights agreement, granting Lundin Mining certain rights regarding director nominations, anti-dilution and the ability to participate on a pro-rata basis in any future Talon equity financings. Lundin Mining will also sign a lock-up agreement under which its ability to acquire, sell, or otherwise dispose of Talon shares will be limited, with certain standard exceptions, for a period of up to 24 months. By Fiona Magennis A man who was jailed for eight years for raping a woman as she slept in bed beside her boyfriend and her newborn baby has failed in a bid to have his conviction overturned. Shaun O'Donnell (35) was found guilty by a jury of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault at a home in Donegal on March 26th, 2021, following a Central Criminal Court trial. The defendant, who had denied the charge, was jailed for eight years by Mr Justice David Keane in August 2024. O'Donnell's sentencing hearing was told that he had been staying over with the woman and her partner for drinks the night before. The following morning, he climbed into bed where the couple was sleeping beside their newborn baby and raped the woman. The woman initially thought it was her partner, before she turned around and realised it was O'Donnell. She fled the room and got into the shower before she told her relatives and partner. When confronted, O'Donnell said he did not remember anything happening. He denied the allegation when interviewed by gardai. O'Donnell, last of Woodlands Way, Whinmore, Leeds, UK, has several previous convictions, including those for assault and dangerous driving. He had previously worked in construction in the UK. ODonnell appealed his conviction, arguing that the trial judge was wrong not to direct an acquittal or stay the proceedings because two items worn by the victim at the time of the offences were not available to be tested for DNA evidence. The two items in question were the womans bra, which she washed after the offence and which was not exhibited in evidence, and a sanitary pad she was wearing for postpartum bleeding. The latter was provided for DNA testing, but during her cross-examination, the woman said she wasnt sure if she had given the right sanitary pad the one she was wearing during the offence to the gardai. ODonnell argued this had negated the possibility that he could have established that his DNA was not on the bra or the second sanitary pad, rendering his trial unfair. Dismissing his appeal on Friday, Ms Justice Nuala Butler said in reality, it was difficult to see what additional benefit ODonnell might have expected to have gained from the analysis of these items. She said the DNA testing was negative, as none of ODonnells DNA was found on the items tested. Ms Justice Butler said ODonnells counsel in the trial relied on this fact in their closing speech. In our view, this appeal is an attempt to argue a new point which was not raised on behalf of the defence at trial, in circumstances where the jury did not accept the defence which was run at trial, she said. No explanation has been offered as to why the point which is now sought to be argued was not argued at trial. She said that even in the absence of DNA evidence linking ODonnell to the incident, there was ample evidence that a crime had been committed by him to allow the matter to go to the jury. Ms Justice Butler said the law does not impose an obligation to preserve evidence on the victim of a crime. The non-availability of forensic evidence because the person in question has washed themselves, their clothing or their bedding may give rise to difficulties for the prosecution in proving the case, but the absence of such evidence does not automatically render a trial unfair, she said. Imposing sentence, Mr Justice Keane noted that ODonnell has not accepted the verdicts nor expressed remorse. He said O'Donnell's offending was a fundamental, almost indescribable breach of trust which took place in the victim's home, in the presence of her partner and young baby. The judge said this should have been a place of ultimate comfort and security for the woman, but became one of degradation. In her victim impact statement, the woman said it was incredibly difficult to put into words the emotional, physical pain, hurt and trauma she has endured since O'Donnell entered her home and raped her. She said her body had not fully recovered from having her baby when O'Donnell raped her and she outlined the horror of discovering it was him in her bed before getting into the shower and "scrubbing herself raw". There is no easy way to tell your loved ones you were raped in between your boyfriend and newborn baby, the woman told the court, adding it was the worst experience of her life. She said the attack had caused widespread upset among her extended family and described how she couldn't even bring her baby for walks for fear of seeing O'Donnell's relatives. The woman told the court she wanted O'Donnell named, but did not want her own name published. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. Tributes have been paid following the sad passing of Sergeant Patrick Cullen, Aghawerriny, Curraghroe on Sunday, November 16th at Galway University Hospital, following a period of illness, bravely borne. Born 59 years ago to Ruth and Paddy Cullen in Sydney, Australia, it was clear from a young age that Patrick showed great leadership qualities. Indeed it has been said that Pat was a soldier long before he ever put on a uniform. By the early 1970s, the family was moving homewards to Ireland, and following periods in both Warwickshire and Dublin, Pat went on to join the school community in the Vocational School in Lanesboro, completing his second level education in 1984. In the intervening years, his time in the Reserve Defence Forces really gave him a taste for army life, and it was no surprise when he expressed a very strong interest in joining the Defence Forces. At a stage, following the completion of his Leaving Certificate, he went to England to pursue employment, but he was delighted to get the opportunity to enter into military life in Ireland, starting recruit training with the Defence Forces in Columb Barracks, Mullingar. Moving on, he was happy to take up post in Connolly Barracks in Longford, where he started his long army career by honing his administrative skills in the orderly room. It was during this period, in the late eighties and early nineties, that he completed a number of tours of duty as a UNIFIL Peacekeeper in the Lebanon, based at Camp Shamrock in Southern Lebanon. During this time, he seized the opportunity to travel extensively, visiting the Holy Land, Israel, Egypt, and Cyprus, among others, always grabbing any opportunity to meet new people, make new friends and experience other cultures and traditions. Following on from his period of service in Connolly Barracks, he served as acting quartermaster in the Reserve Defence Forces in D Coy, Roscommon for an extended period of time. During a career with the Defence Forces, which spanned over 40 years, he rose to the rank of Sergeant with the A Coy, 6th Battalion, Custume Barracks Athlone. He was a man with an inquisitive nature and an enquiring mind, who loved to travel and learn the history of the places he visited. History and politics were firm favourites of his and he loved to read all manner of books, particularly those on the Roman Empire. As a child of the 1960s, music was naturally in his blood and as a country lad, he had a great love of animals and country life. Pat was a religious and spiritual man, and on the occasion of his marriage to Josephine, they enjoyed the distinct honour of meeting with Pope John Paul II in the Vatican. His passing leaves all with heavy hearts but with treasured memories that will always be cherished. His remains reposed at Smyths Funeral Home, Roscommon on Tuesday, November 18th. On Wednesday, his remains were removed from his home to St. Marys Church, Ballagh for Mass of the Resurrection, with burial taking place afterwards in Kilgefin Cemetery. Sergeant Patrick Cullen was buried with full military honours with the GOC 2 Brigade and the Director of Reserve in attendance. Mass of the Resurrection was concelebrated by Bishop Paul Connell, Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Fr. Daniel Udofia, P.P, St. Marys Church, Ballagh, Fr. Michael McGrath C.C, St. Mels Cathedral, Longford and Fr. Declan Shannon, Chaplain, Custume Barracks, Athlone, with the beautiful music in the church performed by Derek Mahady, accompanied on flute by Cpl. Jack Brennan, Band 2 Brigade, Custume Barracks, Athlone. The Cullen family acknowledge the compassion and care shown to Patrick during his illness and conveyed their appreciation to everyone for their kindness and support at this difficult time. To his wife Josephine, sons Paul, Patrick and John, his daughter Maria, his mother Ruth, his brother Craig, his sister Siobhan, his granddaughter Esme, his extended family, many friends and his Defence Forces colleagues, sincere sympathy is extended. Months Mind Mass for Patrick will be celebrated in St. Marys Church, Ballagh on Saturday, December 20th at 7.30 p.m... Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal. By Rebecca Black, Press Association Taoiseach Micheal Martin has visited peacekeepers in Lebanon and expressed pride in their service. The Taoiseach met Irish troops who will be serving at Camp Shamrock close to the border with Israel over Christmas during a visit to the country. He also met with Lebanons Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Beirut, and pressed him over justice for the killing of Private Sean Rooney. The 24-year-old from Newtowncunningham in Co Donegal, was killed when a convoy of Irish troops serving with a UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon was ambushed and fired upon on December 14th, 2022. The main person convicted for his killing is still at large, and the Government has described some of the sentences imposed on others over the matter as unduly lenient. Mr Martin urged accountability. Accountability means that the people responsible for the death of Sean Rooney are brought to justice, proper justice, the sentencing was extremely lenient and the people are at large, he said. Hundreds of Irish soldiers are serving with the Unifil (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) mission in south Lebanon, which is due to come to an end next December when the UN mandate ends after almost 50 years. Mr Martin told troops gathered at Camp Shamrock that it was an honour to stand before them, and to personally acknowledge the dedication, professionalism and sacrifice that each of you demonstrates in the service of peace, and your country. He also paid tribute to the work they are doing in Lebanon during this particularly challenging time, and in spending Christmas away from their loved ones. Those involved in ongoing efforts for peace are doing critically important work. It is work that we in Ireland and people all over the world hope and pray is successful Micheal Martin In terms of the UN mandate ending at the end of 2026, Mr Martin said Ireland remains committed to Unifil, and to supporting Lebanon, but recognises that the mission was always intended to be an interim force. He added: I met the Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam this morning, and emphasised the important role of the Lebanese Government in respecting and protecting the role of peacekeepers, as Unifil works towards bringing peace and stability. I also continued to highlight the need for accountability in regard to the person wanted in connection to the horrific killing of Private Sean Rooney. I made it very clear to the prime minister the absolute determination of the Irish Government to continue to pursue justice for this terrible crime. He finished his address by telling the soldiers he is immensely proud of the long tradition of Irish peacekeeping. Those involved in ongoing efforts for peace are doing critically important work. It is work that we in Ireland and people all over the world hope and pray is successful, he said. The tradition of UN peacekeeping, in which we have participated for just short of 70 years, is about saving lives and ensuring others can enjoy the gift of peace. The work you are doing here in south Lebanon encapsulates all that is good and positive about that tradition. Know that the government and the people of Ireland are very appreciative of your service and dedication to the cause of peace. He added that by democratising access to advanced skills, the initiative aims to empower youth and students to build, innovate and accelerate India's growth. File Photo. IBM said the initiative will work across multiple levels of the education and training ecosystem. IBM to Train 5 Million Indian Youth in AI, Cybersecurity & Quantum by 2030 On Friday, American technology major IBM announced a skilling initiative in India. Under the initiative, it is set to train 5 million learners in frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and quantum computing by the year 2030, the company said in a statement. Advertisement According to IBM, the programme will be delivered under the companys established IBM SkillsBuild platform and is focused on building a future-ready workforce by broadening access to advanced digital skills and improving employability for both students and adult learners across the country. IBM said the initiative will work across multiple levels of the education and training ecosystem. It will expand AI and emerging technology education not just in urban centres but also across schools, universities and vocational training environments. The company plans to collaborate with key educational bodies, including the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), to promote hands-on learning pathways. These partnerships are expected to support faculty enablement programmes, curriculum integration, hackathons and internship opportunities. Arvind Krishna, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of IBM, said that India possesses the talent and ambition to lead the world in AI & Quantum, and that fluency in such frontier technologies will be critical to shaping future economic competitiveness, scientific progress and broader societal transformation. He added that by democratising access to advanced skills, the initiative aims to empower youth and students to build, innovate and accelerate Indias growth. Advertisement According to IBM, the company highlighted that this India-specific target is part of a wider global mission to equip 30 million people worldwide with new digital and tech-based skills by 2030. IBMs SkillsBuild platform offers a range of industry-relevant courses. It is designed to provide learners with access to courses spanning AI, cybersecurity, quantum computing and other advanced technologies, along with soft skills and workplace readiness skills that enhance overall job prospects, IBM said. This initiative reflects increasing corporate participation in addressing Indias skill gap in high-growth tech fields and aligns with national priorities to prepare the workforce for rapid digital transformation. Advertisement Source: Hindustan Times This revision is essential to uphold the integrity of elections and protect Assam's social and political fabric. File Photo. Modi said his government is reversing that legacy and focusing on both security and development across the region. PM Modi Highlights SIR in Assam, Claims Congress Shields Infiltrators On Saturday, while addressing a public rally in Guwahati, Assam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and criticised the Congress party for allegedly shielding infiltrators and undermining national security. Advertisement According to the PM, the Election Commission of India launched the SIR exercise to ensure that unlawful entrants, whom he referred to as infiltrators, are identified and excluded from the electoral process. This revision is essential to uphold the integrity of elections and protect Assams social and political fabric. Modi accused political opponents of opposing SIR and said that some actors are acting as deshdrohis (traitors) by trying to protect these alleged infiltrators within the democratic system. He used sharp rhetoric to frame these efforts as threats to Assams identity and security, asserting that the governments work seeks to rectify past lapses. Directly aiming at the Congress, the Prime Minister argued that the party had neglected Assam and the Northeast for many decades. He implied that it provided protection to those undermining Assams demographic balance. Modi said his government is reversing that legacy and focusing on both security and development across the region. Advertisement The rally emphasised Modis broader narrative that national security and illegal immigration are main concerns for voters in Assam, especially ahead of upcoming elections. He linked SIR to efforts to protect indigenous populations and stressed that his administration is committed to safeguarding citizens rights. Modis address also reiterated his governments focus on the Northeasts development, positioning the BJPs policies as corrective to what he described as decades of neglect under previous administrations. The Prime Ministers statements at the Guwahati rally were part of the BJPs wider political strategy to address voter concerns on security, illegal immigration, and regional development. Advertisement Source: Hindustan Times Despite the travel disruption, officials indicated that Modi's participation ensured continuity in the day's agenda. File Photo. The rally was part of broader engagements in West Bengal, including the inauguration of multiple national highway projects. PM Modis Helicopter Turns Back From Bengal Due to Fog, Rally Addressed Remotely On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modis scheduled visit to West Bengals Nadia district faced an unexpected disruption when his helicopter was unable to land at the Taherpur helipad due to dense fog and low visibility in the region. Advertisement On the afternoon of Saturday,December 20, 2025,weather conditions in and around Taherpur deteriorated sharply and reduced visibility drastically. It prevented the chopper from completing its descent. After hovering over the intended landing site for a period, the pilot had to abort the landing and return to the Kolkata airport as a safety measure. An official told news agency PTI that the chopper made a U-turn after unsuccessful attempts to land because of the fog. Despite being in the vicinity of their destination, weather conditions did not improve enough to permit a safe landing. PM Modi had arrived earlier that morning in Kolkata at 10:40 am and set out for Taherpur with plans to address a large crowd assembled for the Parivartan Sankalpa Sabha, a high-profile political rally. Advertisement When the direct arrival at the venue was not possible, the Prime Minister addressed the gathering remotely via telephone and apologised that adverse weather prevented him from physically reaching the event site. The rally was part of broader engagements in West Bengal, including the inauguration of multiple national highway projects. Despite the travel disruption, officials indicated that Modis participation ensured continuity in the days agenda. The incident highlights the impact of weather challenges on high-level travel logistics and the adaptability of political mobilisations in the run-up to important state elections. Advertisement Source: Hindustan Times The Chief Minister emphasised that the move will end the monopoly of big players in the transport sector and asserted that under previous regimes, permits were issued only to those related to the ruling leaders. File Photo. He added that the previous system had allowed a few entities to dominate the business. Punjab CM Mann Hands Over 505 Bus Permits to Youth, Promises End of Big Player Monopoly in Transport Under the state governments flagship Rozgar Kranti Scheme, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann handed over 505 minibus permits to unemployed youth on Friday. He said that the initiative will break the monopoly held by politically connected big players in the transport sector. Advertisement Mann addressed beneficiaries at a function held at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA) and said that the transport department had approved 1,165 Small Stage Carriage Permits since March 2022, and the 505 permits distributed today were given in a free and transparent manner to young people from ordinary families without corruption, nepotism, or recommendations. The Chief Minister emphasised that the move will end the monopoly of big players in the transport sector and asserted that under previous regimes, permits were issued only to those related to the ruling leaders. He added that the previous system had allowed a few entities to dominate the business, leading to centralisation and collapse of fair competition. Mann congratulated the young people and said the self-employment initiative would improve the economy, benefiting petrol pump operators, bus operators, and other allied sectors. He also said that earlier a lack of buses had caused problems for students, but the state government had now started dedicated school buses for girls. Advertisement The CM also announced that the government has allotted work to recarpet 43,000 km of roads, including 19,000 km of rural roads with a five-year maintenance condition. Officials said he also revealed plans for 1,311 new buses to strengthen public transport, modern facilities at major bus stations in Patiala, Jalandhar, Sangrur, Ludhiana, and Bathinda, and a new mobile app for bus ticket booking. Mann said the state cabinet had amended rules to make it easier for new players to get permits and other facilities, reinforcing his governments commitment to turning Punjabs youth into job givers rather than job seekers. Source: Hindustan Times The minister also emphasised how globalisation has fundamentally changed how nations think and work, urging that larger economies like India's must build modern and meaningful manufacturing capabilities to stay technologically relevant. File Photo. According to the minister, three interconnected forces are reshaping global affairs: globalisation, rebalancing, and multipolarity. Global Power Shifts: Jaishankar Says Old World Order Clearly Unravelling External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, about the current international landscape, has said that the global order established about 80 years ago is clearly unravelling; it reflects profound shifts in geopolitical and economic influence since the aftermath of World War II. On December 20, 2025, while addressing the convocation of Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, Jaishankar made these remarks. Advertisement The minister described todays world as being in a state of transition and stressed that it is increasingly difficult to draw a definitive picture of global realities because so much of it is in transition. He said that the traditional global order, which emerged at the end of the Second World War and was shaped by institutions and dominant powers of that era, is no longer holding in the same way it once did. He added that this unravelling is driven by changing politics and policies among individual nations, especially influential ones, and by broader structural shifts. According to the minister, three interconnected forces are reshaping global affairs: globalisation, rebalancing, and multipolarity, all of which have been accelerated by technological advancement. He explained that the outcome is an international system in which multiple centres of power and influence have emerged, rather than one in which a small set of states can dictate outcomes on all global issues. No country, however powerful, can impose its will on all issues, he said, highlighting the rise of natural competition between nations and a more complex equilibrium of interests. The minister also emphasised how globalisation has fundamentally changed how nations think and work, urging that larger economies like Indias must build modern and meaningful manufacturing capabilities to stay technologically relevant. According to officials, his comments reflect Indias broader strategic messaging on multipolarity and strategic autonomy at a time of shifting global alignments. Advertisement Jaishankars address encapsulates a narrative of a world moving beyond a unipolar or Western-led paradigm toward more distributed power and influence, with India positioning itself firmly within that evolving matrix of global forces. Source: Hindustan Times The Bucharest of Yesterday in Postcards "Journey through the Bucharest of yesterday" is the title of an album signed by historian Cezar-Petre Buiumaci, based on the author's personal collection of postcards RRI Encyclopedia Daniel Bilt, 20.12.2025, 14:00 The transformations we see in todays Bucharest are effects of the communist regime, of the bulldozers and cranes that tried to legitimize an illegitimate and criminal power. Journey through the Bucharest of yesterday is the title of an album signed by historian Cezar-Petre Buiumaci, based on the authors personal collection of postcards. He proposes a Bucharest of today with the help of small fragile objects through which people send each other a sign of affection Cezar-Petre Buiumaci: I started this process from the saying that a picture is worth one thousand words. I tried something the other way around, to say one word, , in a thousand images. Obviously I had to halve the number because it was a matter of saving the album. But this collection stands on pillars. They are pillars of urban memory during the communist regime, seen from the perspective of people who lived then, who worked then, whose houses were demolished, who suffered this drama. But it is also from the perspective of architects who worked in the undergrounds of Bucharest at that time, who built the Bucharest metro and a series of apartment buildings and other administrative buildings in the last communist decade. However, the attractive and innocent postcard at first glance, can also become an instrument of propaganda in the hands of a tyrannical regime. Cezar-Petre Buiumaci: This type of object, the illustrated postcard, was a vehicle of propaganda for the communist regime. They were printed and issued, mainly, the new buildings of power, cultural-political and administrative buildings, as well as the new housing complexes that were recently built and which, through the postcard, were transformed into vehicles of correspondence. It was a self-censored correspondence because a postcard is free, the lines on the back can be read by anyone. And then, it was a self-censored correspondence. So it was also about the principle of censorship, of the most drastic censorship because self-censorship is the most drastic manifestation of this phenomenon of censorship. Bucharests buildings built during the years of socialist power were also privileged in postcards. Cezar-Petre Buiumaci: We have a series of objectives such as Casa Scanteii, which is, practically, the true House of the People. All Romanian citizens participated in its building, all made a donation, donated days of work or money, physically worked directly there or participated through various activities in the construction of this main objective. It is, practically, a demonstration of the maximum obedience of the communist regime towards Moscow, being a copy of the emblematic buildings in Moscow that Stalin ordered. Not only what is immortalized on postcards represents an evolution of the city, the postcards themselves have an evolution of their own. Cezar-Petre Buiumaci: The first illustrations are of very poor quality because everything that meant printing equipment went, as spoils of war, to Russia. With the construction of Casa Scanteii, new equipment from Moscow appeared that allowed for a high-quality multiplication of all propaganda materials. They formed the basis that had the greatest impact. First, cultural-administrative and political objectives such as Casa Scanteii, the Circus, and then the Television, the Radio House, and so on are depicted. Then, we have the photographs, the photo postcard appears in which the image is very clear. We have two types of images: we have the static image, in which there is only the objective, with nothing around it, and then we have the animated image of characters who are around an objective doing different activities. Until the late 1970s, when the tragedy of massive demolitions began in Bucharest, the authorities urban planning interventions were rather limited, but with a massive impact. Cezar-Petre Buiumaci: There is an evolution of the city, mainly, and this is what is tried to be reproduced in the postcards. We have the communist city that surrounds the old city, communist Bucharest is all around the old city and these objectives are shown: the neighborhoods, the theaters, like we have in Bucurestii Noi or in Drumul Taberei, commercial complexes like the Favorit Complex and then some objectives in the city center, which in the first part of the communist regime were called plombari (fillings). They are those buildings that were built on empty places, on the free places that remained after the earthquake of 1940 or the bombings of 1944. In the first part of the communist regime, there are extremely few areas that are demolished in order to build a certain area. The best example is the Square of the Congress Palace, or, as it is known, the Palace Hall Square. There is an aggression against the urban space, but it is somehow an attempt by the communists to move the city center from the Royal Palace Square behind the Royal Palace, where the new Palace of Power, the Palace of Congresses is located. The Palace Hall is practically linked to the Royal Palace, which was now the Palace of the Republic. Journey through the Bucharest of yesterday is an invitation to contemplate the past. It is also the journey of change, from what was lost to what remains today. (bill) Traffic, Romanias Oscar Proposal Inspired by real events, the robbery committed in 2012 by a group of Romanians at a Dutch museum, the film Traffic talks about the inequality of opportunities, exploitation, complexes and difficulties of adaptation that many migrants face. Poster 'Traffic' (Photo: tiff.ro) Corina Sabau, 20.12.2025, 14:00 Directed by Teodora Ana Mihai and written by Cristian Mungiu, the film Traffic(Jaful Secolului) has continued its international journey, recently reaching cinemas in the USA, the UK and Canada. Traffic has already been noted in numerous international festivals. It won the Grand Prix in Warsaw in 2024, the Best Film Award at Tertio Millennio in Rome, and the Audience Award in Shanghai. In Sofia, the film received the Balkan Film Award, and in Tokyo, actress Anamaria Vartolomei was rewarded with the award for best female performance. Traffic, Romanias proposal for the 2026 American Academy Awards (Oscar Awards, Best International Film category), dresses a story about Romanian migrants in Europe in a mix of thriller, heist movie and black comedy. Inspired by real events, the robbery committed in 2012 by a group of Romanians at a Dutch museum, the film talks about the inequality of opportunities, exploitation, complexes and difficulties of adaptation that many migrants face. The cast includes Anamaria Vartolomei (in her first role in Romanian), Rares Andrici, Ionut Niculae, Robert Iovan, Macrina Barladeanu, Lucian Ifrim, Mirela Nicolau and many other Romanian and foreign actors. Rares Andrici and Ionut Niculae, in the leading roles, embody two different types of criminals: one is a bad boy, without scruples and remorse, while the other ends up breaking the law mainly because of the context and his weak character. We spoke with the two actors about the process through which they gave life to the characters they play, Ita and Ginel. Rares Andrici: Regarding the role, I think that what mattered first was the chemistry between us and it is the merit of those who organized the casting and made these choices. Because a role doesnt work out if you dont have colleagues who help you or who are generous. My colleagues were very generous and a chemistry was immediately created between us, something due to those who did the casting. Then, of course, its our work. Documentation, the way you relate to the character and how you intend to approach it, the way you approach the script and how precise and well it is written. There are numerous factors underlying the success of a project. Regarding my colleagues, I interacted the most with Ionut and Robert Iovan. We got along very well from the beginning. As I was saying, they are very generous, otherwise I dont think my role would have turned out the way it did, especially since my role implied a position of superiority. And to show my superiority, my partners had to accept an inferior position. Ionut Niculae: For me too, the role of Ginel was a challenge, but maybe not as big as the character Ita was in the case of Rares. I say this because my character is not a compositional one, as the one played by Rares, in the sense that I did not need to look outside for traits or experiences that are not found in me. Like Ginel, I am also a balanced and common-sensical guy, so the biggest challenge was to find the exact dosage that could preserve the differences between the characters, that is, between Ginel, Adrian and Ita. We had to avoid the characters being too similar to each other, and this is the merit of Teodora Ana Mihai, the films director. There were a lot of discussions on the set with both Teodora and Cristian Mungiu, during the rehearsal phase. We discussed a lot of details with him, such as the accent, the pauses between words, the importance of facial expressions. As Rares said, the chemistry between us also helped a lot. Rares and I were faculty classmates, so we knew each other very well. I didnt know Anamaria Vartolomei, but I was surprised to meet an extremely generous actress, who, although internationally famous, showed a lot of openness and generosity on the set. The communication was very good and I think that helped the project a lot. In the context of todays Romania and our ambiguous and deceptive relationship with the West, in light of the conflict between sovereignty and progressivism, I believe that Traffic is a good starting point for a deeper and more honest discussion about the society we are part of, says screenwriter Cristian Mungiu. The second feature film by director Teodora Ana Mihai (who made her debut with the acclaimed La Civil) is a Romania-Belgium-Netherlands co-production, with the participation of several well-known producers from Romania (Cristian Mungiu, Tudor Reu, Vlad Radulescu) and from abroad (Jean Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, Annemie Degryse, Jan De Clerq, Delphine Tomson, Jeroen Beker, Linda Van Der Herberg, Sean Wheelan, Kristina Borjeson). (LS) TasFoods has received two proposals for its Nichols poultry business as the Australian group continues to reassess the business unit. In a statement yesterday (18 December), the Launceston, Tasmania-based company said the proposals are indicative non-binding in nature. The parties behind the approaches were not named. TasFoods said it is pro-actively engaging with the parties and is considering all options, including divestment while stressing the approaches are not at an advanced stage. At the time of announcing its first-half results in August, TasFoods said it was reviewing poultry operations. The company also recorded a non-cash impairment in the poultry division of A$1.2m (today $792,732) following a review of the value of the cash generating units and assets across the company. TasFoods reported a first-half net loss after tax of A$3.6m, a 29% improvement on the net loss after tax of A$5m a year ago. Sales revenue for continued operations poultry and cheese fell 21% year-on-year to A$19.9m, driven by the continuation of poultry oversupply and heavily discounted wholesale pricing across market channels. Gross margin for the poultry division slipped to 22% from 23% in the year-ago half. The indicative offers come during a period of portfolio reshaping by the ASX-listed group. In September, TasFoods agreed to sell its Pyengana Dairy operation to Research Corporation Pty Ltd. and Associates for A$2m (then $1.3m). Acquired in 2017 to diversify TasFoods portfolio, Pyengana Dairy struggled to meet performance targets. At the time of the Pyengana sale announcement, TasFoods indicated part of the proceeds would be used to strengthen its poultry supply chain. The planned disposal followed a push into poultry with the A$1.3m acquisition of Redbank Poultry in December 2023. TasFoods had sold its Shima Wasabi spices business to Hillwood Berries in 2023 as part of a brand streamlining exercise. In October 2023, TasFoods also announced its entry to the pet-food category with the Australia launch of the Isle & Sky brand catering to cats and dogs. "TasFoods gets offers for Nichols Poultry" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. December 20, 2025 A roundup of local and world news Newsflash Newsroom, 20.12.2025, 14:24 ECONOMY Romania has submitted in Brussels the fourth payment request under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, totaling over EUR 2.62 billion, the minister of investments and European projects Dragos Pislaru announced. The set contains 62 targets and milestones exclusively in the non-reimbursable funding component. According to the minister, the implementation of the Plan is one of Romanias most important projects, critical to the development of the national economy in several respects, including infrastructure, healthcare, education, environment, digitisation, culture, energy and energy efficiency. Some of the institutions that will receive money are the environment, energy, justice, finance, healthcare and labour ministries. The projects included in the fourth payment request include the revamping of 13 dams and improving flood protection, the listing of up to 15% of the shares of Hidroelectrica, the main electricity producer in Romania, the digitisation of the judicial system and a comprehensive fiscal reform. The European Commission is to provide a response within 60 days. REVOLUTION The sirens of freedom rang out in Timisoara on Saturday to mark 36 years since the declaration of the first city free from communism in Romania on December 20, 1989. At that time, workers from all industrial platforms went on an all-out strike and occupied the city centre, which they did not leave until the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu fled. In the days that followed, the anti-communist Revolution spread to Bucharest and throughout the country, and culminated on December 22 with the flight from power of Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu. Three days later, the two were executed, following a summary trial by a military court. In total, over 1,000 people died and about 3,000 were wounded in the clashes that took place in the only country in Eastern Europe where the regime change was violent. WAGES The Romanian ministry of labour has posted for public review a draft resolution on a 6.8% increase in the gross minimum wages, from about EUR 800 to roughly EUR 865 per month, as of July 1 next year. The ministry expects the increase to have positive effects at a social level, by encouraging employment, increasing peoples spending power and reducing undeclared work. Over 1.7 million employees will benefit from this measure. The minimum wage increase as of mid-2026 is however criticized by both employees and employers. Trade unionists want the measure taken in January, and emphasise that prices and taxes have increased, while working conditions are getting worse. Thousands of trade unionists from four confederations picketed the Presidency offices the past few days, asking president Nicusor Dan to mediate between the unions and the government. In turn, employers argue that the increase is not at all appropriate in the current economic context. AMBASSADOR Darryl Nirenberg, officially nominated seven months ago by the US president Donald Trump for ambassador to Romania, was confirmed on Friday by a vote of the US Senate. At the Senate hearing last month, he said that Romania is a key ally within NATO, has a strategic position on the Black Sea and offers great opportunities for American companies, especially in the energy sector. Darryl Nirenberg also told the US Senators that relationships with Bucharest have never been more important. He pledged to work to deepen the military and security partnership and to strengthen trade and investment relations with Romania. The US Ambassador to Bucharest Kathleen Kavalec retired in May, and the deputy chief of mission, Michael Dickerson, acted as interim charge daffaires within the Embassy. UKRAINE US and Russian negotiators meet in Miami, Florida on Saturday as part of continued diplomatic efforts to end Moscows war in Ukraine. According to the BBC, the US team met with their Ukrainian counterparts on Friday. Ukraines chief negotiator said he was still pushing for long-term security guarantees. Meanwhile, the BBC notes, the US secretary of state has dismissed claims that Washington is trying to force Ukraine into a peace deal. The meetings come after talks in Berlin on Sunday and Monday, in which the US 28-point peace plan put forward last month was revised. (AMP) December 20, 2025 UPDATE A roundup of local and world news December 20, 2025 UPDATE Newsroom, 20.12.2025, 20:00 ECONOMY Romania has submitted in Brussels the fourth payment request under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, totaling over EUR 2.62 billion, the minister of investments and European projects Dragos Pislaru announced. The set contains 62 targets and milestones exclusively in the non-reimbursable funding component. According to the minister, the implementation of the Plan is one of Romanias most important projects, critical to the development of the national economy in several respects, including infrastructure, healthcare, education, environment, digitisation, culture, energy and energy efficiency. Some of the institutions that will receive money are the environment, energy, justice, finance, healthcare and labour ministries. The projects included in the fourth payment request include the revamping of 13 dams and improving flood protection, the listing of up to 15% of the shares of Hidroelectrica, the main electricity producer in Romania, the digitisation of the judicial system and a comprehensive fiscal reform. The European Commission is to provide a response within 60 days. REVOLUTION The sirens of freedom rang out in Timisoara on Saturday to mark 36 years since the declaration of the first city free from communism in Romania on December 20, 1989. At that time, workers from all industrial platforms went on an all-out strike and occupied the city centre, which they did not leave until the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu fled. In the days that followed, the anti-communist Revolution spread to Bucharest and throughout the country, and culminated on December 22 with the flight from power of Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu. Three days later, the two were executed, following a summary trial by a military court. In total, over 1,000 people died and about 3,000 were wounded in the clashes that took place in the only country in Eastern Europe where the regime change was violent. PARLIAMENT Two simple motions tabled by AUR party against the ministers of justice and the interior will be discussed and voted on Monday in Romanias Parliament. The signatories complain about abuse in the two fields, interference with in the electoral process and imbalances in the judiciary. The simple motion against the interior minister Catalin Predoiu is intended to assess his political and moral responsibility. The motion authors claim that Catalin Predoius ministry is politicised, that it breaches its international obligations, and that there are redundancies in terms of powers and jurisdictions. The second motion, against the justice minister Radu Marinescu, demands his resignation because, the document claims, he has failed to restore citizens trust in the judiciary. AUR party MPs also criticise the minister for his failure to ensure an efficient, predictable and fair administration of justice, for the excessive duration of trials and the lack of firm response to problems in the system. Also on Monday, Radu Marinescu takes part in the Government Hour in Parliament, at the request of USR MPs, to address topics of major interest for Romanias political, economic and social life. JUDICIARY We have received hundreds of pages of relevant documents from magistrates about problems in the justice system, the president of Romania, Nicusor Dan announced in a social media post on Saturday. The message comes ahead of Mondays meetings, when the head of state invited all magistrates who want to complain about problems in the system, to a discussion without a time limit. When 200 magistrates say that there is an integrity problem in the judiciary, things are very serious, the head of state said. The invitation came after several hundred prosecutors and judges signed a message of support for the magistrates who speak in a report by the online media outlet Recorder about problems in the Romanian judicial system. On the day of the talks initiated by Nicusor Dan, Declic community announces a caroling protest in front of the presidency offices, in solidarity with the magistrates who stand up for the independence of the system. WAGES The Romanian ministry of labour has posted for public review a draft resolution on a 6.8% increase in the gross minimum wages, from about EUR 800 to roughly EUR 865 per month, as of July 1 next year. The ministry expects the increase to have positive effects at a social level, by encouraging employment, increasing peoples spending power and reducing undeclared work. Over 1.7 million employees will benefit from this measure. The minimum wage increase as of mid-2026 is however criticized by both employees and employers. Trade unionists want the measure taken in January, and emphasise that prices and taxes have increased, while working conditions are getting worse. Thousands of trade unionists from four confederations picketed the Presidency offices the past few days, asking president Nicusor Dan to mediate between the unions and the government. In turn, employers argue that the increase is not at all appropriate in the current economic context. (AMP) The Week in Review 15-19.12.2025 The headline-grabbing events of the past week in Romania The Week in Review Leyla Cheamil, 20.12.2025, 14:00 Romanias President, Nicusor Dan, present at European meetings The most important topic for Romania at the European Council is the discussion on the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, that is, the European Union budget, said the Romanian head of state, Nicusor Dan. Present in Brussels, he specified that Thursday was the first discussion on this topic and that it will continue throughout 2026. Strategic debates on Ukraine were also scheduled on the meetings agenda. In fact, the leaders of the European Union agreed to help this country with 90 billion Euros through a loan with interest paid from the European budget, to finance its war effort against Russia. Ukraine will return the money when Moscow pays war reparations. It was the Europeans compromise solution for Kyivs urgent financial needs, in the absence of an agreement on the use of Russian assets frozen in Europe in support of Ukraine. On Wednesday, also in Brussels, President Nicusor Dan participated in the meeting of leaders from EU states and the Western Balkans, which marked the importance of their political and economic relationship, especially in the current geopolitical context. Previously, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Romanian president paid a visit to London, where he was received at Buckingham Palace by King Charles III of Great Britain and met with Romanians from the United Kingdom and with representatives of the Romanian and British business environment. Nicusor Dan stated that he would encourage investments that bring state-of-the-art technology to Romania, new well-paid jobs that, by increasing domestic production, will help reduce the trade deficit. Before London, the Romanian president was in Helsinki, where he participated in the Summit of the European Union Eastern Flank States. The discussions focused on practical ways to increase the level of defense preparedness, how to protect the population and deter any aggressive intentions from Russia. Financial decision of the governing coalition The ruling coalition (PSD-PNL-USR-UDMR) in Romania agreed on Wednesday to increase the minimum wage from July 1 next year. It is expected to reach 4,325 lei (approximately 865 Euros). However, the decision to increase the minimum wage displeases both unions and employers. While employee representatives demand that the increase be applied from January 1, voices from the business environment claim, on the other hand, that the measure is not at all appropriate in 2026, due to the economic situation. Several thousand members of the four major national union confederations protested in Bucharest on Thursday and asked the countrys president, Nicusor Dan, to mediate the conflict with the Government. The dissatisfactions are not only related to the minimum wage level, but also to other decisions made recently or announced for next year. The governing coalition also established a 10% reduction in central administration expenditures, without affecting the level of basic salaries, a 10% reduction in the lump sum received by senators and deputies, as well as the level of subsidies received by political parties. Motion of censure against the government, rejected The government of liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan survived a new motion of censure in Parliament on Monday, as the populist opposition failed to gather the 232 votes needed to dismiss the Executive. The opposition criticized the government for not properly managing areas such as justice, health, education or public administration. Prime Minister Bolojan rejected all the accusations, stating that reform measures were necessary, otherwise Romania would have lost the trust of the financial markets. On the other hand, the simple motion against the Minister of Environment, Diana Buzoianu, from Save Romanian Union (USR), was adopted by the Senate, including with the support of the Social Democratic (PSD) parliamentarians, although they are part of the ruling coalition. The signatories demanded the resignation of Diana Buzoianu, due to the interruption of water supply in several localities in the south of the country, amid the emptying of a dam in the area. She rejected the accusations. On Wednesday, populists from the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) submitted a simple motion to the Senate targeting the activity of Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu. The signatories criticize the prolonged maintenance of interim leaderships of police inspectorates and what they consider to be interference in competitions for leadership positions. At the Chamber of Deputies, AUR also filed a simple motion against the Justice Minister, Radu Marinescu, in which the signatories denounce what they call a major managerial failure in ensuring an efficient, predictable and fair act of justice. The two motions will be put to the vote on Monday. In the streets of Bucharest, protests continued against ministers Catalin Predoiu and Radu Marinescu, the head of the National Anticorruption Directorate, Marius Voineag, and the head of the Supreme Court, Lia Savonea. The protestors are demanding the amendment of the justice laws, citing malfunctions recently presented in a journalistic documentary. They are also criticizing the solution proposed by the prime minister to form a working group within the government to discuss the problems in the justice system, considering that this only postpones a real solution. The 1989 Anti-Communist Revolution Began in Timisoara In Timisoara (west), demonstrations began on Tuesday in memory of the victims of the 1989 Anti-Communist Revolution and in honor of those who fought for freedom 36 years ago. For five days, actions were scheduled to commemorate the events that began in the city, which led to the fall of the communist regime. Local and county councilors gathered in festive meetings to which representatives of the revolutionary associations were also invited to participate. The Timisoara Opera House hosted exhibitions, book launches, concerts and the screening of a thematic film, moments of silence and a march under the already established slogan, Heroes Never Die. Wednesday was a day of mourning in memory of the martyred heroes of the Revolution. (LS) Canadian stocks climbed sharply on Friday as increases in the price of precious metals and oil pushed up commodity-linked stocks that aided the rise in the index. After opening above yesterday's close, the benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index traded firmly positive to reach a new record intra-day high of 31,865.79, and then gave ground before settling at 31,755.82, up by 314.97 points (or 1.00%). Seven of the 11 sectors posted gains today, with the IT sector leading the pack. Data released by Statistics Canada today revealed that on a month-on-month basis, new housing prices in Canada were unchanged in November. Preliminary estimates showed that retail sales jumped 1.2% month-over-month in November (the biggest gain in five months) rebounding from a 0.2% fall in October. On an year-on-year basis, retail sales rose by 2% in October. Prime Minister Mark Carney had stated that formal discussions with the U.S. to review the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement will begin in January. Under CUSMA, Canada is able to export a majority of goods to the U.S. without suffering any tariffs. The PM stated that Internal Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc will be meeting U.S. counterparts to hear the demands from their side. Since August, Canadian exports to the U.S. undergo a 35% tariff imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump when he assumed office this year for the second time. In October, Trump halted all trade talks with Canada, irked by an anti-tariff advertisement created by the Ontario government. On Wednesday, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer outlined that the U.S. wants Canada to open the dairy market to U.S. farmers and amend the online streaming law. The U.S. also wants Canadian provinces to revoke the ban on selling American liquor. Canada buys around $1.1 billion worth of U.S. dairy products. Despite Canada and Mexico needing the CUSMA pact, Trump's recent remarks hinting that the U.S. may walk out of the deal has increased economic uncertainty. Recently, the Bank of Canada held its benchmark policy rate steady at 2.25%, following cuts at the last two meetings. Analysts predict that the central bank may not lower the rates any further and some even state that the next move would be a hike in rates during the second half of 2026. Major sectors that gained in today's trading were IT (2.65%), Materials (2.42%), Energy (1.01%), Financials (0.70%), and Consumer Discretionary (0.63%). Among the individual stocks, Bitfarms Ltd (11.86%), Celestica Inc (9.21%), Energy Fuels Inc (8.10%), Nexgen Energy Ltd (7.51%), New Gold Inc (6.80%), Ivanhoe Mines Ltd (5.98%), Kelt Exploration Ltd (4.26%), and Tamarack Valley Energy Ltd (2.69%) were the notable gainers. Major sectors that lost in today's trading were Utilities (0.37%), Real Estate (0.52%), Consumer Staples (0.90%), and Healthcare (1.31%). Among the individual stocks, Curaleaf Holdings Inc (6.12%), Metro Inc (1.77%), Boardwalk Real Estate Investment Trust (1.87%), Algonquin Power and Utilities Corp (1.27%), and Superior Plus Corp (1.12%) were the notable losers. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis A court in Paris has denied the French government's request to temporarily shut down Shein's website after allegations surfaced that the fast-fashion retailer sold childlike sex dolls. The court decided that a three-month suspension would be too much, but it did mandate that Shein put age verification measures in place for adult products. This legal action was prompted by France's consumer watchdog, which reported Shein for selling "sex dolls with a childlike appearance" and other concerning items last month. While the court recognized the seriousness of the allegations, it emphasized that these instances were rare and affected only a small fraction of the hundreds of thousands of products on Shein's site. The judges also pointed out that Shein took down the problematic listings as soon as they were flagged. In light of the uproar, the retailer, which was founded in China, declared it would stop selling all sex dolls globally. The court also turned down a government request to suspend third-party sales on Shein's platform, where the disputed products were found. Nonetheless, Shein is now required to implement age checks for adult items, facing fines of up to 10,000 euros for any violations. This ruling came just as Shein launched its first physical store in Paris, which attracted both shoppers and some protesters. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Around mid-2025, the 3rd Gen Audi Q3 SUV debuted with a completely new design language to replace the 2nd Gen model. It went on sale in Europe and other markets and was expected to launch in India in 2026. Ahead of a formal announcement, two different variants of 3rd Gen Audi Q3 have been spotted in India on flat bed trucks. They were spotted in Mumbai city by Team-BHPian nightwing_66. These vehicles seemed to be on the verge of being transported to someplace and they didnt bear any sort of camouflage to hide their identity. Is this a signal of an imminent launch in India? Lets take a closer look. 2026 Audi Q3 Spotted In India In a rather interesting turn of events, two 2026 Audi Q3 SUVs of different trim levels have been spotted getting transported on flat bed trucks in Mumbai city. These SUVs did not have any camouflage on them. One variant looked like it was a base trim with single-tone alloy wheels and Continental tyres. While the 2nd variant was of a higher trim with dual-tone alloy wheels, wrapped with Nexen tyres. In Europe, prices for this Basic Model starts from EUR 44,600 (Rs 44.2 lakh). Tech, Tech Plus and Tech Pro packages can be specced with 2026 Audi Q3 for better features and equipment as per customers needs. It has to be noted that the Basic Model does not get illuminated Audi rings at the rear, as seen in one of the variants spotted in India and this feature can be had with Tech Plus and Tech Pro packages. Tech Pro also brings damper controls on suspension, trained parking, surround cameras, memory function for driver with ORVM and other features. Autonomous driving features start from Tech package while Tech Plus and Tech Pro offering more comprehensive safety technologies. Apart from the Tech Packages, Audi also offers styling kits in Europe in the form of Dynamic Package, Exterior Package Black and Exterior S Line for buyers to suit their needs. What to expect? Wheel size goes till 20-inches and the new interiors of 2026 Audi Q3 follow a driver-focussed and understated appeal. Theres a 12.8-inch infotainment screen and an 11.9-inch instrument cluster, 15W wireless charging pad, gear selector on steering column, ambient lighting, premium 12-speaker Sonos audio system, acoustic glazed glass and others are notable features. The new 2026 Audi Q3 SUV can be specced with a 1.5L 150 PS Turbo Petrol engine, a 2.0L 150 PS Turbo Diesel engine and a 2.0L Turbo Petrol engine with up to 265 PS and Quattro AWD. Q3 can be had in a PHEV powertrain as well, with a 25.7 kWh battery pack and 119 km of pure electric range. Audi India is yet to confirm the launch of 2026 Q3 SUV. Calendar year 2026 might be the right time for the launch of new 3rd Gen Q3 in India. The company is likely to locally assemble Q3 SUV at their Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar facility in Maharashtra, similar to current model. Source More Chinese artificial intelligence firms and chipmakers are turning to Hong Kong for fundraising, testing the appetite of global investors following stellar onshore debuts of graphics processing unit (GPU) developers Moore Threads Technology and MetaX Integrated Circuits. GigaDevice Semiconductor is a step closer to its Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) after passing a listing hearing, according to bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX). The company is expected to reactivate its IPO application on the bourse's website before Saturday after its previous filing, dated December 17, lapsed. Joining the rush are some of China's most prominent AI and semiconductor hopefuls, including MiniMax and Zhipu AI - dubbed the "new AI tigers of China" - Montage Technology, OmniVision Integrated Circuits, as well as GPU developers Biren Technology and Iluvatar CoreX Semiconductor. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. They are using Hong Kong as "a step towards broadening their investor base and expanding capital-raising channels for research and development", said Gary Ng Cheuk-yan, senior economist at Natixis Corporate and Investment Bank. "It is a good prerequisite for any future overseas expansion plan, especially given the higher valuation of tech in Hong Kong now." Moore Threads saw its shares soar 425 per cent on their Shanghai debut on December 5. Photo: DigiTimes alt=Moore Threads saw its shares soar 425 per cent on their Shanghai debut on December 5. Photo: DigiTimes> GigaDevice, which listed in Shanghai in 2016, and Montage, which joined Shanghai's Star Market in 2019, are each aiming to raise as much as US$1 billion from Hong Kong listings as early as January, according to a Bloomberg report citing unnamed sources. Biren is also seeking to raise about US$600 million through an IPO, the report said. Montage plans to issue up to 130.2 million ordinary overseas shares for its secondary Hong Kong listing. The company has been undergoing the listing hearing process since December 15, according to its filings with the Shanghai Stock Exchange. OmniVision, which listed in Shanghai in 2017, plans to use its Hong Kong proceeds to recruit and retain research and development (R&D) talent, build R&D facilities and expand in global markets, its filing with HKEX said. The administrators winding down what is left of Do Kwons Terraform Labs have turned on one of cryptos biggest trading shops, alleging Jump Trading profited from Terras surge and helped lay the groundwork for its collapse. Todd Snyder, the court-appointed plan administrator for the Terraform bankruptcy, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Illinois seeking $4B in damages from Jump Trading, co-founder William DiSomma, and former Jump Crypto president Kanav Kariya, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. Jump Trading actively exploited the Terraform Labs ecosystem through manipulation, concealment, and self-dealing that enriched Jump while financially devastating thousands of unsuspecting investors, Snyder said in a statement. This action is a necessary step to hold Jump Trading accountable for illegal conduct that directly caused the largest crypto collapse in history. Terras Death Spiral And The Contagion That Followed Terraforms collapse still hangs over the market. TerraUSD, known as UST, was billed as a stablecoin that would hold $1 through an algorithm tied to its sister token, Luna, known as LUNA. When UST broke its peg in May 2022, the mechanism unraveled and both tokens spiraled toward near zero in days. The wipeout erased about $40B in value and rippled across the industry, squeezing lenders, funds, and exchanges that had treated UST yields and Luna liquidity as deep and durable. Three Arrows Capital was among the first major casualties, with later failures piling up as confidence and collateral evaporated. Terraform filed for bankruptcy in Jan. 2024, and public filings show the estate has recovered about $300M so far for creditors as it unwinds what remains. Claims Of Peg Support And Profits From Terras Fall Snyders complaint says Jump entered a secret arrangement to support TerraUSDs peg before the final break and later walked away from the wreckage with outsized gains. Regulators have previously pointed to Jumps trading in Luna, with the SEC saying in court filings that Jump made about $1B in profit by selling the token. The suit lands after a bruising year for Terraforms former leadership. The company and Kwon agreed to a roughly $4.5B settlement with the SEC in 2024 following a jury verdict on securities fraud claims. Kwon, once a celebrity founder who mocked critics as UST scaled, pleaded guilty in August 2025 and a New York federal judge sentenced him to 15 years in prison last week. Read original story Terraform Liquidators Allege Jump Trading Helped Fuel Cryptos Biggest Crash: Report by Shalini Nagarajan at Cryptonews.com Investing.com -- Deutsche Bank analyst Edison Yu expects Teslas fourth-quarter 2025 vehicle deliveries to come in below both consensus expectations and the banks prior forecast, driven by weaker volumes in the U.S. and, to a lesser extent, China, even as optimism around robotaxi development continues to support a bullish longer-term view. Yu forecasts fourth-quarter deliveries of about 405,000 vehicles, which would imply a 14% decline from a year earlier and a 19% drop from the prior quarter. He said the shortfall is largely concentrated in Teslas core Western markets, with Europe and North America expected to see delivery declines of 34% and 33%, respectively. . China volumes are also projected to fall, though by a smaller margin. Yu expects deliveries in China to be down by roughly 10%. Registration data through November tracked close to 100,000 units, compared with Deutsche Banks estimate of 178,000 deliveries for the full quarter. Yu noted that December has historically been Teslas strongest month in China and expects a similar pattern this year, particularly as a higher NEV consumption tax in 2026 could encourage a pull-forward of demand. The rest of the world stands out as a relative bright spot. Deutsche Bank expects deliveries outside Teslas major regions to grow more than 60% year over year, partially offsetting weakness elsewhere. Lower volumes are also expected to weigh on profitability. Yu forecasts automotive gross margin excluding credits to decline sequentially to 14.4%, down 100 basis points from the third quarter, primarily due to weaker fixed-cost absorption tied to lower production and deliveries. Looking beyond the quarter, Yu believes full-year delivery expectations remain too high. While consensus is centered around 1.66 million vehicles for 2025, Deutsche Bank models 1.62 million units, implying a 9% year-over-year decline based on its fourth-quarter assumptions. Despite near-term delivery and margin pressure, Yu said the robotaxi narrative remains a key support for Teslas valuation. Elon Musk has previously suggested a fleet of about 1,000 robotaxis in the Bay Area and more than 500 in Austin, though Deutsche Banks tracking indicates those levels are unlikely to be achieved in the near term. Still, Tesla recently removed the safety driver in Austin for internal validation testing, which Yu views as a sign that a broader rollout could be approaching. Deutsche Bank raised its price target on Buy-rated Tesla stock by $30 to $500, reflecting higher valuation multiples for robotaxi and humanoid initiatives, partially offset by lower assumptions for the core automotive business. In the 4th century BCE, at least four wooden plank boats the island of Als off the coast of Denmark. The unknown attackers were defeated, with the defenders sinking the weapons of their foes into the bog in one of these boats, known as the Hjortspring boat, most likely to give thanks for their victory. Archaeologists have now carbon-dated and analyzed caulking and cord materials found with the boat and also discovered a partial human fingerprint found on a fragment of caulking material. This remarkable fingerprint provides a direct link to the ancient seafarers who used the Hjortspring boat. The Hjortspring boat was discovered in 1880s during peat digging in the Hjortspring bog on the island of Als off the southeastern corner of Jutland, Denmark. Formal investigations of the bog and boat find started in 1920 following the reunification of southern Jutland with Denmark. The boat was excavated by Gustav Rosenberg between 1921 and 1922 and about 40% of the original boat was recovered from the bog, allowing for a full reconstruction of the boats form. Enough iron spearpoints and shields to outfit a military band of around 80 warriors were deposited together with the boat far more individuals than could have fit inside the boat itself. Based on these finds it has been suggested that a band from an unknown location traveling in up to four Hjortspring style boats attacked the island of Als and was defeated, with the victors depositing the weapons of their vanquished foes together with one of their boats into the bog to give thanks for the victory. After excavation the boat was conserved and has been on display in the National Museum of Denmark since 1937. In the new study, Lund University archaeologist Mikael Fauvelle and his colleagues carbon-dated and analyzed some previously unstudied caulking and cord materials found with the boat. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, they determined that the caulk was likely made up of animal fat and pine pitch. At this point in history, Denmark itself had few pine forests. It is possible that pine pitch somehow reached Denmark via trade, the researchers said. However, other coastal areas along the Baltic Sea, east of Denmark, did have pine forests, leading us to believe that the boat may have been built in these regions, and it and its warriors may have come from this direction. If true, the boat would likely have traveled a long distance over the open ocean to reach Als, potentially indicating a notably organized and premeditated attack. Carbon-dating of the cords and caulk found that the boat was likely built somewhere in the 4th or 3rd century BCE, which lines up with previous datings of wood from the Hjortspring site. In addition, the scientists found a partial human fingerprint in part of the caulking material during the study. While they were unable to determine exactly where this fingerprint may have come from, it could have been left by one of the crew members during a repair of the boat, providing a direct link to the seafarers of the ancient vessel. New analysis of Scandinavias oldest plank boat brings us a step closer to solving the 100-year-old mystery of the ancient boats origins, they said. Using cutting-edge scientific methods, we have zeroed in on the Baltic Sea Region as the most likely source for the circa 2,400-year-old boat, while also discovering a fingerprint left by an ancient seafarer in the tar used to waterproof the vessel. Finding a fingerprint on the tar fragments from the boat was a big surprise for us. Fingerprints like this one are extremely unusual for this time period. It is great to have found a direct connection with one of the people who used this ancient boat. The boat was used by a small army of invaders who attacked the island of Als in southern Denmark over 2,000 years ago. The invaders were defeated and the local defenders sunk the boat into a bog as an offering to give thanks for their victory. Ever since the boat was excavated from the bog in the early 1920s, the question of where the invaders came from has been an open mystery. The weapons they used which were found in the boat were quite common for the time and were used throughout Northern Europe, giving us few instructions as to their origins. Several different theories for the boats origins have been proposed over the past 100 years, with some scholars suggesting the boats crew came from somewhere in northern Germany or perhaps a different part of modern-day Denmark. Now our scientific analysis of the boats caulking material gives us the first major new clue in over a century. The boat was waterproofed with pitch from pine trees, which were rare in both Denmark and northern Germany during the first millennium BCE. We argue that this means the boat and its crew most likely came from further east along the shores of the Baltic Sea where pine forests were more abundant. The boat was excavated before modern dating methods were available and most of the material from the boat was immediately conserved using chemicals that make radiocarbon dating impossible. Going through the archives, however, we were able to find some original cordage that had not been conserved. We obtained a radiocarbon date from the cordage that returned a date range of between 381 and 161 BCE, confirming the pre-Roman Iron Age date of the boat. The study was published online in the journal PLoS ONE. _____ M. Fauvelle et al. 2025. New investigations of the Hjortspring boat: Dating and analysis of the cordage and caulking materials used in a pre-Roman Iron Age plank boat. PLoS One 20 (12): e0336965; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0336965 By David Shepardson WASHINGTON/HONG KONG, Dec 19 (Reuters) - TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, on Thursday signed binding agreements to hand control of the short video app's U.S. operations to a group of investors, including Oracle, in a big step toward avoiding a U.S. ban and ending years of uncertainty. The deal is a milestone for the short video app used regularly by more than 170 million Americans after years of battles that began in August 2020, when President Donald Trump first tried unsuccessfully to ban the app over U.S. national security concerns. Financial terms of the deal, announced in an internal memo by TikTok (U.S.) seen by Reuters, were not disclosed. Other details of the deal are in line with those outlined in September, when Trump delayed until January 20 enforcement of the law that bans the app unless its Chinese owners sell it amid efforts to extract TikTok's U.S. assets from the global platform. He also declared the deal met the terms of the divestiture requirements under a 2024 law. The new U.S. company will be valued at around $14 billion, Vice President JD Vance said in September. That was below analysts' estimates and the final figure was not made public on Thursday. Under the agreement, American and global investors including cloud computing giant Oracle, private equity group Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based MGX will hold an 80.1% stake in the new TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, while ByteDance will retain 19.9%. Oracle shares rose nearly 6% in premarket trading on Friday. QUESTIONS OVER ONGOING CHINESE ROLE The White House said in September the new joint venture would operate TikTok's U.S. app, but questions remain about the deal, including the business relationships between the new joint venture and ByteDance. The White House on Thursday referred questions about the deal to TikTok. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew told employees the joint venture would "operate as an independent entity with authority over U.S. data protection, algorithm security, content moderation and software assurance," according to the memo seen by Reuters. Chew added that U.S. entities of ByteDance-controlled TikTok "will manage global product interoperability and certain commercial activities, including e-commerce, advertising, and marketing" separately from the joint venture. Rush Doshi, who served at the National Security Council under President Joe Biden, said it was unclear whether the algorithm had been transferred, licensed or was still owned and controlled by Beijing, with Oracle merely providing "monitoring". By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, signed binding agreements with three major investors to sell just over 80% of the company's U.S. assets to American and global investors to avoid a U.S. government ban, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew told employees on Thursday. The deal is a major step toward resolving years of uncertainty about the short video app's future in the United States since August 2020, when then President Donald Trump first tried unsuccessfully to ban the app that is now used regularly by more than 170 million Americans. The details of the deal are in line with one unveiled in September, when Trump delayed until January 20 enforcement of the law that bans the app unless its Chinese owners sell it amid efforts to extract TikTok's U.S. assets from the global platform. He also declared that the deal met the terms of the divestiture requirements. The company told employees on Thursday that ByteDance and TikTok signed binding agreements with three managing investors: Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX, to form a new TikTok U.S. joint venture named TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC. Oracle declined to comment. The White House referred questions to TikTok. TikTok said in the memo that the deal will enable "over 170 million Americans to continue discovering a world of endless possibilities as part of a vital global community. " The deal, set to close on January 22, would end years of efforts to force ByteDance to divest its U.S. business over national security concerns. Oracle, Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based MGX will collectively own 45% of the new entity, according to the memo, which confirms what Reuters and other outlets reported in September. The U.S. joint venture will be 50% held by a consortium of new investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX with 15% each; 30.1% held by affiliates of certain existing investors of ByteDance; and 19.9% will be retained by ByteDance, the memo said. ByteDance did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Kritika Lamba in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona and Matthew Lewis) The tax benefits that come with the new Trump Account investment initiative are so skimpy that many are already predicting the program could be a bust. But as the administration gears to up to create the savings accounts for tens of millions of children, it has a not-so-secret weapon: President Donald Trump. At a time when many are eager to curry favor with the president, or avoid his wrath, the administration is imploring corporate chieftains, philanthropists and governors to give generously to Trumps eponymous accounts, which are designed to create investment nest eggs for kids. The president is calling on our nations business leaders and philanthropic organizations to help us make America great again by securing the financial future of Americas children, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday. And the administration is already racking up wins. Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell has pledged to spend $6.25 billion doling out $250 each to the accounts of millions of children. Hedge fund manager Ray Dalio followed that up with a promise to give $75 million to accounts for children in Connecticut, where he lives. At the same time, the White House is pressing companies to contribute to their employees kids accounts, and a small but growing number have pledged to participate. Among them: Visa, Mastercard, Uber, Charter Communications and Blackrock. Governors too are being pressed into action, and Bessent said almost two dozen states are now considering various ways to contribute. The campaign is something of a wild card that could at least partly compensate for shortcomings with the program, one of Trumps signature initiatives in Republicans' domestic policy megabill signed into law this summer. Many experts have been skeptical about how many families will participate because the tax breaks are not particularly generous, especially compared to other savings vehicles like 529 accounts. Trump and congressional Republicans have a lot riding on the program, which is set to formally launch in July just months before the midterm elections and has already become a talking point in their bid to convince voters they are addressing concerns about affordability. The program will set up accounts to which people can set aside money for children, generally up to $5,000 annually, that will be invested in index funds. When the child turns 18, they can withdraw money for specified purposes, including going to college or buying a home. Babies born in the next four years will also get $1,000 from the government in seed money under a pilot program. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The NYPD is asking for the publics help to locate a 79-year-old man who has been reported missing from New Springville. Wie Jun Zeng was last seen at his residence on the 100 block of Monahan Avenue at around 2 p.m. on Friday, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. Police described the man as standing about 5-feet, 2-inches tall and weighing about 130 pounds. He was last seen wearing a yellow beanie hat, blue jacket and blue pants. Police provided a photo of the man to the media. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of this individual is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential. NEW YORK, N.Y. Nearly 80 years after its founding, the Georgian National Ballet Sukhishvili will step onto one of the worlds most prestigious stages for the first time. The internationally acclaimed dance company will make its Carnegie Hall debut on Jan. 17, 2026, with a one-night performance at Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage. The appearance marks a long-awaited milestone for the ensemble, which has toured extensively across five continents but had never before performed at Carnegie Hall. The New York engagement will be part of a two-day cultural program highlighting Georgian heritage. Events begin Jan. 16 with a diplomatic and artistic reception at Rockefeller Center bringing together Georgian and American cultural communities, followed by the landmark performance the next evening. Founded in 1945 by Iliko Sukhishvili and Nino Ramishvili, Sukhishvili became Georgias first professional state dance company and played a pivotal role in introducing Georgian national dance to global audiences. Today, the company remains under family leadership, guided by the founders grandchildren, Nino Sukhishvili, general director and CEO, and Iliko Sukhishvili Jr., artistic director and chief choreographer. Scene from Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet, performing at Carnegie Hall on Jan. 17, 2026. (Courtesy Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet) Courtesy Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet MORE ABOUT GEORGIAN NATIONAL BALLET Over nearly eight decades, the Georgian National Ballet has performed more than 10,000 concerts in over 90 countries, reaching an estimated 50 million people. Its international resume includes appearances at major venues such as La Scala, the Bolshoi Theatre, Royal Albert Hall and the Metropolitan Opera. Known for its powerful physicality and theatrical precision, Sukhishvili blends centuries-old folk traditions with refined stagecraft. Male dancers perform demanding choreography featuring acrobatic jumps, rapid footwork and sword-based routines, while female dancers are recognized for a floating style that creates the illusion of gliding across the stage a signature element rooted in Georgian court traditions. The company performs with a live orchestra, combining traditional polyphonic music, percussion and strings. Costumes and staging draw from regional Georgian histories, incorporating ceremonial silhouettes, rich textiles and design elements spanning multiple eras. Scene from Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet, performing at Carnegie Hall on Jan. 17, 2026. (Courtesy Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet) Courtesy Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet The Carnegie Hall program will present a curated selection of the ensembles most iconic works, reflecting the companys evolution across three generations of artistic leadership. The repertoire will include warrior dances, romantic and ceremonial pieces, and group choreography marked by complex formations and precise unison. Georgian dance developed over centuries across mountain regions, rural villages and noble courts, with each region contributing distinct movement styles. That diversity will be reflected in the New York performance, offering audiences a cross-section of Georgias cultural traditions in a single evening. The Carnegie Hall debut is produced by New York-based Salome Liluashvili-Parks, whose firm Emolas Corporation helped bring the magnificent, long-anticipated performance to fruition. To get tickets to the Georgian National Ballet performance on Jan. 17 both a culmination of decades of global touring and the opening of a new chapter in its international legacy please click here. Uber Technologies (UBER) is in a tricky spotlight right now, with regulators turning up the heat on its Uber One subscription practices just as the company pushes ahead with high profile robotaxi trials in Dubai. See our latest analysis for Uber Technologies. Those crosscurrents are showing up in the chart, with the latest $79.31 share price coming after a sharp pullback, including a 30 day share price return of minus 11.42 percent. At the same time, the 1 year total shareholder return of around 31 percent and 3 year total shareholder return above 220 percent still signal strong long term momentum. If Ubers mix of regulatory risk and innovation has your attention, it may be worth scanning other transport and mobility names through auto manufacturers to see what else fits your playbook. With shares now trading at a steep discount to analysts targets despite solid growth and splashy robotaxi launches, investors face a key question: Is Uber genuinely undervalued here, or is the market simply pricing in all that future upside? Most Popular Narrative Narrative: 29.2% Undervalued With Uber Technologies trading at $79.31 against an implied fair value near $112, the dominant narrative sees sizeable upside anchored in future platform economics. Significant investments and accelerating partnerships in autonomous vehicles (AVs) and electrification (with Waymo, Lucid, Nuro, etc.) position Uber to benefit from secular industry shifts; successful AV commercialization could transform long term cost structures and profitability, boosting future earnings potential. Read the complete narrative. Curious how steadily rising revenues, shifting profit margins, and a richer earnings multiple all combine into that higher fair value target? The full narrative unpacks the exact growth runway, margin reset, and valuation bridge behind this call, including how long term AV ambitions and cross platform engagement are built into those future earnings assumptions. Result: Fair Value of $112.06 (UNDERVALUED) Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what's behind the forecasts. However, persistent regulatory scrutiny and uncertain autonomous vehicle economics could squeeze margins and delay the profitability inflection that underpins that underappreciated upside. Find out about the key risks to this Uber Technologies narrative. Build Your Own Uber Technologies Narrative If this outlook does not fully match your own view, or you would rather dig into the numbers yourself, you can build a personalized narrative in just a few minutes: Do it your way STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. On Dec. 15, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of Advance/SILive.com hosted its 11th panel discussion, Conversation with Community Giants: History, Humanity and Hope: A Holocaust Survivors Story, at the Advance/SILive.com headquarters in Bloomfield. The hour-long event was viewed by thousands on the Advance Facebook Live platform. Featured panelists were Arthur Spielman, a Holocaust survivor who grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family in Krakow, Poland; James Merlino, a Wagner College student and Holocaust Center intern; and Dr. Lori R. Weintrob, founding director of the Wagner College Holocaust Center and professor of history. The discussion was co-moderated by Brian Laline, executive editor of the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com, and columnist Dr. Gracelyn Santos. The program opened with remarks from Caroline Harrison, CEO of Advance Local and publisher of the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com. Thank you, Gracelyn, thank you, Brian, and thank you to our Advance DEI committee for, once again, putting together an excellent panel and discussion for us, Harrison said. And a special welcome to our panelists on this day, the first full day of Hanukkah, which is very meaningful. But as we celebrate today, we also face a backdrop of harsh realities not just of our past, but also of our present as we reflect on the events of this past weekend. Chilling, shocking, and making this discussion today even more relevant. "Conversation with Community Giants: History, Humanity and Hope: A Holocaust Survivor's Story" featured Holocaust survivor Arthur Spielman, 97, who holds up a photo of his younger self during the Holocaust. (Advance/SILive.com | Dr. Gracelyn Santos) History, Humanity and Hope: A Holocaust Survivor's Story" Spielman, a former Staten Islander who now calls New Jersey home, had turned 97 just five days earlier on Dec. 10. During the discussion, he shared reflections shaped by both history and current events. As the panel discussion unfolded, Spielman shared his lived Holocaust experience, while Weintrob shared her personal and professional challenges and triumphs leading the Holocaust Center. Merlino shared insights from his perspective as a student pursuing a masters degree in the medical field and volunteering within the Staten Island community. In his opening question to Spielman, Laline referenced the Dec. 14 mass murder in which two gunmen opened fire on families celebrating the first night of Hanukkah at Sydneys Bondi Beach. Fifteen people were murdered in a mass shooting in Australia, Laline said. How do you feel today, 80 years later after all the work that has been done to erase and dispel the horrors of the Holocaust when we still see antisemitism? Does it bring you back? To view the panel discussion, click here. "Conversation with Community Giants: History, Humanity and Hope: A Holocaust Survivor's Story" was held at Advance headquarters, Bloomfield, on Dec. 15, 2025. Pictured are, from left, Dr. Lori Weintrob, Exec. Director of the Wagner College Holocaust Center; Holocaust survivor Arthur Spielman, 97; James Merlino, intern at Holocaust Center. (Advance/SILive.com | Jason Paderon) Spielman responded candidly, drawing connections between his past and the present. I have a niece who lives in Sydney. She was here a few weeks ago. I fear for them, because I experienced years ago what I experienced in Krakow, Poland, Spielman said. I see whats going on the demonstrations, whats happening here in New York, in California, Memphis, Tennessee. Its scary. Im not an optimist. I lived through the Holocaust. I went into hiding. I was smuggled across borders. Whats happening now is very scary. Laline then posed the same question to Merlino, asking for the perspective of a young person involved in Holocaust education. It is very painful to see, Merlino said. And the mentality I take is to be open to all, because even when becoming part of a Holocaust Center, I myself am not Jewish. Merlino explained that he joined the Holocaust Center through a history teacher and often encounters surprise from others. "Conversation with Community Giants: History, Humanity and Hope: A Holocaust Survivor's Story" was held at Advance headquarters, Bloofield, on Dec. 15, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Dr. Gracelyn Santos) (Advance/SILive.com | Dr. Gracelyn Santos) They ask, Are you Jewish? If youre not Jewish, why are you working there? Merlino said. Even though Im Catholic, my faith teaches love for your neighbor. In the end, everyone should feel safe practicing whatever religious beliefs they choose. Everyone should feel safe in their home, in their community, and on their campus. Seeing acts of hate like these whether against members of the Jewish community, Catholic, Muslim it should all be condemned as hateful violence. Its very painful. Weintrob emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in the face of hate. It was the first night of Hanukkah, with families trying to light candles in a public place, Weintrob said. When theres an attack like that, not only the Jewish community has to come together, but communities of all faiths must stand together and say this is not acceptable. "Conversation with Community Giants: History, Humanity and Hope: A Holocaust Survivor's Story" was held at Advance headquarters, Bloomfield, on Dec. 15, 2025. Pictured are co-moderators, Dr. Gracelyn Santos and Brian Laline, Advance executive editor. (Advance/SILive.com | Jason Paderon) (Advance/SILive.com | Jason Paderon) She added, We wont allow it to happen. Were going to make sure that wherever we are including on Staten Island we continue to celebrate, and that we count on our neighbors to help keep us safe. And we continue to promote dialogue so that young people growing up dont feel compelled to act out hate in this way. The event was produced by the Advances Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, comprised of Kelli DeSantis, Shane DiMaio, Jason Paderon, Dr. Gracelyn Santos (chairwoman), and Felicia Torres, and was attended by newsroom staff both in person and remotely. To view the panel discussion, click here. - The DEI Committee of the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com will host a panel discussion, Conversation with Community Giants History, Humanity, and Hope: A Holocaust Survivor's Story, on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, from 23 p.m. Panelists are James Merlino, left, Arthur Spielman, James Merlino and Dr. Lori R. Weintrob. Advance CHECK OUT PAST PANELS The event follows on the success of the DEI committees past discussions:Conversation with Community Giants: Celebrating Black History(March 2024);Womens Heart Health,(May 2024);Celebrating Pride(July 2024);Celebrating Women in Leadership(Sept. 2024);Building Strong Foundations and Inclusive Boards,(Oct. 2024). Also: Women, Work and Wealth (Jan. 2025); Celebrating Diverse Abilities (March 26); Breaking the Silence of Staten Island Food Insecurity (June 2025); Bridging Critical Stroke Care Disparities (Aug. 2025); Women Leaders Driving Equity and Impact (Sept. 25, 2025). STATEN ISLAND, NY The JCC of Staten Island will host its Annual Sunshine Sunday fundraiser on Feb. 1, 2026, to support a local day camp for children battling cancer. The event will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Historic Old Bermuda Inn, located at 301 Veterans Road West. The afternoon will include food and beverages, music and raffle prizes, according to event organizers. The fundraiser benefits the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island, which serves more than 150 children annually at Staten Island Academy. The camp provides programs for children struggling with cancer from Staten Island, New Jersey, Manhattan, and Brooklyn on a non-sectarian basis. All camp services are provided free of charge to families, recognizing the financial strain that childhood chronic illness can create. In addition to summer camp, the program operates year-round in-hospital programs called Sunrise Sundays and Sunrise on Wheels. Event chairs Dr. Andrew Olsen and Gabriella DeLuca Garrone will honor four recipients for their community contributions: Enza Bocuzzi, Roosevelt Board, The Ritz-Carlton New York, and Carol Doodian-Russo. Those unable to attend can support the camp through sponsorships, journal ads, or auction item donations. STATEN ISLAND, NY -- Santa Claus and The Grinch came early this year, making a stop at Arianas Cucina in Pleasant Plains before Christmas Day. Local families gathered at the new restaurant, which opened in November, for hot chocolate, croissants and a picture with the two iconic holiday characters on Saturday. We love the community. We want it to be like a local place where its a friendly and family atmosphere, shared Frank DiMattina, one of the establishments owners. I believe its good karma. It helps the community out and it makes people come together. Ariana's Cucina, owned by social media chef Frank DiMattina, recently welcomed Santa and The Grinch as part of community-building efforts. (Advance/SILive.com) | Nicolette Cavallaro Located at 6451 Amboy Road, Arianas Cucina is the latest venture from DiMattina, a chef and social media star known as the Food Boss. With more than 3 million Instagram followers and solid TikTok fame, he has built a brand rooted in bold flavors, family values and viral cooking content. Raised in Brooklyn and immersed in the restaurant industry from a young age, DiMattina learned to cook from his father and worked in family-run kitchens like Mark Franks in Manhattan. He also operates Arianas South, a catering venue also named after his daughter, where the family hosts private events and large-scale meals. Ariana's Cucina, owned by social media chef Frank DiMattina, recently welcomed Santa and The Grinch as part of community-building efforts. (Advance/SILive.com) | Nicolette Cavallaro In addition to a social media empire, DiMattina has built a great relationship with Staten Island families, with the goal of providing a place that always feels like home. We want our family to meet the community and the community to meet us. Just making everybody happy and get together and come in no stress, just take your shoes off and make yourself at home, he shared after the character event, which came from a partnership with Costume Pals. According to DiMattina, the local party business donated the character visits as an investment for the community. Local families enjoyed hot chocolate and photos with the iconic characters at the Pleasant Plains restaurant owned by social media star Frank DiMattina. Advance/SILive | Nicolette Cavallaro They like to give a little back to the kids. Its a good feeling to watch the kids run in and see them, shared Marie-Elaina DiMattina, a co-owner. As the eatery which blends modern and traditional elements with exposed rafters, brick walls and antique fixtures continues to grow, the couple hopes to maintain their focus on celebrating the feeling of home with their guests. On top of having more holiday events and fundraisers, they even plan to host a Christmas Eve dinner, featuring their own family and a home-cooked meal. When we were younger, there had to be over 50 people in the house. And then people pass away, and who moves away, and dynamics change. So it just becomes less and less, she said. So this year, we said, You know what? Were gonna be together anyway. Lets do here. Now we have all these families joining us. Those interested in joining the DiMattina family for their homey and cozy Christmas Eve Dinner Party can call the restaurant at 718-966-4522 or visit their Instagram page at @arianascucinacafe. Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation that establishes new protocols for handling sexual assault evidence. This new law requires hospitals and law enforcement to follow specific timelines for collection and processing sexual assault kits, which are often used to collect evidence from assault survivors. It incorporates hospitals into the states existing sexual offense evidence kit tracking process. It also sets timeframes for police departments to retrieve kits from hospitals and deliver them to forensic laboratories for testing. The legislation builds on a 2023 law that established a statewide rape kit tracking system to give survivors the ability to track the location and status of their kits. This measure aims to reduce the chances kits are mishandled or misplaced by establishing clear responsibilities for all parties involved and holding individuals accountable for errors. Survivors of sexual assault who make the decision to report the crime should do so with the knowledge that hospitals and law enforcement agencies are working together to ensure timely processing of evidence that could hold their attacker accountable, Hochul said in a press release. This new law is yet another example of the significant progress we are making in New York to advance survivor-centered and trauma-informed policies and practices. Once the amendments are approved, law enforcement will have 10 days to retrieve kits and other items collected by hospital personnel, provided the survivor has consented to release the evidence. Hospital personnel collecting evidence will be required to record the collection in the electronic tracking system and notify the appropriate law enforcement agency within 48 hours. If survivors choose not to consent to release the kits, they are stored at a facility operated by the state Office of Victims Services for 20 years, as required by state law. This will give survivors time to decide whether to report the crime. State Senator Andrew Gounardes praised the new law for establishing clear timelines and protocols. It builds on the crucial work weve done to create a statewide rape kit tracking system and enables stronger oversight to preserve the integrity of evidence collected during a sexual assault examination, he said. Ilse Knecht, the director of policy and advocacy for the Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization that supports survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, called the bill a victory. A1970A/S5225A guarantees survivors the ability to track the status of their rape kits through the entire process, from collection at the hospital to testing at the crime lab, Knecht stated. This is a victory for accountability and a vital step in ensuring a more transparent and survivor-centered process for all New Yorkers. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that applications are now open for New Yorks Excelsior Scholarship, which offers tuition coverage to qualifying SUNY and CUNY students as part of the states effort to expand college affordability. The Excelsior Scholarship application for the Spring 2026 semester is now open. Eligible New York students from families earning up to $125,000 who plan to enroll full time at a SUNY or CUNY college can apply for tuition coverage. The program helps fill tuition gaps that remain after federal and state financial aid is applied, allowing eligible New York residents to attend college without paying tuition out of pocket. Each year, the Excelsior Scholarship helps transform the lives of tens of thousands of New York students by making tuition-free college a reality and strengthening affordability across the State, Hochul said. This program cements our commitment to ensuring every eligible student can earn a degree without the weight of debt. When we invest in our students, we invest in the families, communities and future of New York State. Students must complete the FAFSA and New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) applications and meet the following criteria to qualify for the Excelsior Scholarship, according to the state: Have a combined federal household income of $125,000 or less Pursue a full-time undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college or university Complete at least 30 credits per year in an approved program of study (12 credits per term) Live and work in New York State for the same number of years they receive the scholarship Applications for the Spring 2026 semester will be accepted through Feb. 3. The Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) is New York States student financial aid agency and a national leader in providing need-based grants and scholarships. Each year, it helps nearly 300,000 students by distributing more than $935 million in grants, scholarships and loan forgiveness programs. HESC oversees more than 30 programs, including the New York State Tuition Assistance Program and the Excelsior Scholarship, and offers guidance to students, families and counselors to make college more accessible for New Yorkers. Since 2017, the Excelsior Scholarship program has allowed New York students to attend SUNY and CUNY colleges tuition-free. By helping remove financial barriers, it has made higher education more accessible to middle-class families and supported the states workforce. I went to Silver Lake Park on Thursday afternoon to jog. I figured that four days after Sundays snowfall, it would be completely safe to get my exercise in there. Not so much. The path I usually use from Forest Avenue into the park looked like it hadnt been shoveled or salted. The path was snowy and icy and was additionally slippery and treacherous because there had been some melt due to higher temperatures. A gentleman walking his dog called out to me that I should walk on the snowier areas next to the asphalt pathway. The footing there was noticeably more secure. The short staircase down to the actual park was still crusty with ice, however, much as it had been when Id visited the park a day or two after the storm. But at least some work had been done in the park by Thursday, with the path at the bottom of the staircase, running parallel to Forest Avenue, cleared and salted. So I began to run but quickly gave up when I made the turn toward Silver Lake Park Road and saw that the path there was still snowy and icy. I discovered that the path running along the other side of the Silver Lake Park Reservoir was clear, however, so I made use of that to get my exercise in. But, honestly, four days after the storm, all the paths in the park should have been clear, especially with slightly higher temperatures to help things along. At the very least, all the paths in and out of the park as well as the oval around the Silver Lake reservoir waters should have been cleared and safely usable. Few things focus our attention more intently on City Hall more than snowfall. Its one of the true tests of mayoral leadership: will the city be prepared? Will roads be pre-salted? Will they be plowed? By that measure, outgoing Mayor Eric Adams administration frankly failed. In addition to Silver Lake Park, Von Briesen Park was also an icy mess. And some roads in my neighborhood were still sloppy days after the storm (people shoveling their walkway snow into the street likely didnt help). And remember, this wasnt a particularly big snowstorm. Just a couple of inches. Sure, the plummeting temperatures that immediately followed the storm, ensuring that the snow would stick around and that whatever had melted would quickly freeze, added to the difficulty. But still. The city simply looked like it wasnt on top of things. A case of end-of-term mayoral blues combined with holiday distractions, perhaps. And the city wasnt alone. The National Park Service got hit for not clearing parking lots and paths at Great Kills Park in a timely fashion. Not that the city wasnt paying attention to the snowy conditions out there. The Advance/SILive.com reported that 4,000 summonses were handed out to homeowners citywide who didnt clear their sidewalks in a timely fashion. A reported 150 of those violations were issued on Staten Island. Well, the city never misses an opportunity to grab some easy money from New Yorkers for one transgression or another. But my blood truly boiled when I read what a Sanitation Department spokesman told the Advance/SILive.com: Its easy to focus on the property owner getting the summons but remember, there are 8.5 million people in the city who want to be able to walk to work or school safely. Every single one of us deserve to be able to do so, and clearing snow and ice from sidewalks is one of the responsibilities of anyone who owns property in New York City. Yeah, including the City of New York. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Long before the pews were filled, Nilsa Cruz was already at work. She moved quietly through Faith United Methodist Church in Port Richmond, preparing the altar and making sure everything was ready before the first worshipper arrived. She did not rush, and she did not ask for recognition. For Cruz, service was not something to be noticed it was simply something that needed to be done. That quiet devotion defined Cruzs life, friends and church members said, and it is how many will remember her. Cruz, 66, of Mariners Harbor, died Thursday evening after being struck by a pickup truck while crossing Castleton Avenue in West Brighton, police said. Her death has left a deep void in a church and community that relied on her presence and generous spirit. She was my right hand, said an emotional Lorna Wilson, the food pantry coordinator at Faith United Methodist Church. My go-to. She was everything. Nilsa Cruz, 66, is remembered for many roles including her tireless volunteer work with the Faith United Methodist Church food pantry in Port Richmond. (Courtesy of Lorna Wilson) Cruz joined the church around 2022 after Wilson invited her to attend a service. It did not take long for her to become part of the fabric of the congregation. She soon became a member, professing her faith and committing herself to a life of service. Week after week, Cruz prepared Holy Communion with care, understanding the sacredness of the ritual. She greeted worshippers at the door with warmth, often remembering names and faces. After services, she stayed behind, collecting hymnals and tidying the sanctuary, making sure the space was ready for the next gathering. She believed the small things mattered, Wilson said. And she did them with love. Much of Cruzs time was also spent at the churchs food pantry, where her impact reached far beyond the house of worship. Drawing on years of experience from her work with the West Brighton Pantry for Project Hospitality, Cruz helped organize shelves, stock supplies and prepare for the steady flow of residents seeking assistance. Volunteers and organizers of the food pantry, including Nilsa Cruz (third from right), took time to pose for a photo with Assemblyman Charles Fall and visitors from Washington D.C. who helped on Aug. 8, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com |Pamela Silvestri) Her bilingual skills were especially valuable. Cruz helped Spanish-speaking guests navigate the pantry, offering reassurance and dignity. Volunteers often said her calm presence made people feel safe and respected, Wilson explained. In May, Cruzs tireless efforts were recognized when she received the Staten Island Council of Churches Community Service Award. Those close to her said she accepted the honor humbly, as she did everything else. Cruzs service extended beyond the church. She also worked as a polling clerk with the Board of Elections; a role she took seriously as part of her responsibility to the community she loved. Cruz was known for her dependability and punctuality, Wilson said. Her goddaughter, Marissa Thompson, 29, whom she had raised following the loss of Thompsons mother, had been living with Cruz at the time of the crash and was also injured. If I said, Meet me at 10, theyd meet me at 9:30, Wilson said. That was her. Always ready. Always there. On Thursday evening, however, she and two other women were crossing Castleton Avenue near Barker Street at around 5:50 p.m., when they were struck by a westbound 2019 gray Ford F-250. Cruz initially complained of stomach pain and was rushed to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, where she later died from internal injuries. Thompson suffered five broken ribs and a punctured lung, Wilson noted. Cruz had lost her husband of 24 years, Gumercindo Mercado Cruz, just weeks earlier in late November; he was 81. For those who knew her, the loss is compounded by the silence she leaves behind an empty space where she once stood, always ready to help and always ready to serve. Yet, Wilson says Cruzs legacy is not found in tragedy, but in the countless acts of kindness she offered without hesitation. Nilsa lived her faith through action, Wilson said. She served quietly, faithfully and wholeheartedly. It was a blessing for all who worked alongside her and her memory will forever remain in our hearts. The U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Thailand issued a security alert warning tourists to avoid travel near the ThailandCambodia border because of active hostilities and an unpredictable security situation. The warning follows renewed fighting that broke out Dec. 7 along the ThailandCambodia border as tensions tied to longstanding territorial disputes intensified, the Associated Press reported. The disputes have killed more than a dozen people from both countries and displaced hundreds of thousands into temporary shelters. The U.S. Embassy in Thailand said both sides continue to report cross-border fire and conditions remain volatile, warning Americans to avoid travel within 50 kilometers of the ThailandCambodia border. The advisory also notes that the U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services in affected provinces. The U.S. Embassy in Thailand advised tourists traveling to Thailand to take precautions if near the affected border areas, including: Follow directions from Thai security services and local authorities, and exercise caution or shelter in place if unexpectedly in the vicinity of conflict. Prepare or update a personal emergency plan and review the Travelers Checklist Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and receive alerts from the Department of States Bureau of Consular Affairs via WhatsApp. According to the New York Post, the renewed clashes stem from longstanding territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia, including disagreements over the French colonial-era border maps that Thailand does not recognize. Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have persisted despite an October ceasefire mediated by President Donald Trump that ended five days of fighting in July, the New York Post noted. The agreement showed signs of strain last month when several Thai soldiers were injured by land mines in contested areas, prompting Thailand to suspend parts of the agreement. For more information on Thailand and the ongoing border disputes, individuals can visit the U.S. Department of States country page and the travel website. They can also follow the Department of State on Facebook and X for updates. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is a stranger to much of Staten Island. His election as New York Citys 111th mayor (or more likely its 112th) saw him take 51% of the citywide vote in November, but just 23% of Staten Islands electorate. The win sparked the latest farfetched calls for the Islands secession from the rest of the city, something thats failed in the past and the mayor-elect has said he opposes. On a Friday visit to the Island, Mamdani seemed to view that opposition through his constant lens of political optimism. NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani visits the critically acclaimed restaurant Shaw-naes House in Stapleton on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. Jason Paderon I think right now is an opportunity to introduce myself as I am, and the focus of what my administration will be, he said. Its very much in line with, I know, what many Staten Islanders care deeply about, which is their ability to not only afford to live in New York City, but also build a life in New York City. That comment and others from a 10-minute exclusive interview with the Advance/SILive.com offered a glimpse into how the mayor-elect views Staten Island and its future. NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani visits the critically acclaimed restaurant Shaw-naes House in Stapleton on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. Jason Paderon When asked Friday to name some of his favorite local restaurants, the 34-year-old mayor-elect bypassed the boroughs pizza scene, instead recalling a visit he had with friends some years ago sampling the boroughs renowned Sri Lankan cuisine. The lighthearted question and answer at another top-flight Island eatery, Shaw-Naes House in Stapleton, put Mamdani on a clear side of a political and cultural tug-of-war thats been ongoing in the borough since at least the construction of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bride. It pits a more-established, whiter old guard hoping to cling to a bucolic way of life against a younger, more diverse crowd that sees Staten Island as their only chance to seize a piece of the American Dream in New York City. Their dream and Mamdanis more affordable vision for the city can only be found with the construction of more housing across the five boroughs, none of which have less than Staten Island. NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani visits the critically acclaimed restaurant Shaw-naes House in Stapleton on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. Jason Paderon While no advocate for more housing, Mamdani included, will provide an exact number they hope to add to the Islands 500,000 residents, its clear the mayor-elect knows hes in for an uphill battle. I think that theres no doubt there will be difficult conversations to be had as we try and balance all the different things that are needed in our city, he said. I think the goal that we have, however, is that no New Yorker be priced out of living in this city because of a lack of that housing. NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani visits the critically acclaimed restaurant Shaw-naes House in Stapleton on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. Jason Paderon NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani visits the critically acclaimed restaurant Shaw-naes House in Stapleton on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. Jason Paderon Though the biggest tool in achieving that goal, more housing, is antithetical to Staten Islands suburban way of life, the mayor-elect does see a lot of opportunity for common ground with the locals. Hes a proponent of long-sought reform of a property tax system that sees Staten Islanders pay higher rates for their one- and two-family homes compared to multi-million dollar brownstones in more tony parts of the city. His advocacy for a free bus system would also be a benefit to Islanders that rely on public transit to get around. Mamdani hinted that the express bus system would also be included in that fast and free vision. The mayor-elect borrowed from his host Friday for perhaps his most endearing comments about the Island. Shaw-nae Dixon, the proprietor of the globally-acclaimed restaurant, shared her familys story that predates even most of the oldest guard on Staten Island. NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani visits the critically acclaimed restaurant Shaw-naes House in Stapleton on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. Jason Paderon Dixon is an eighth-generation Staten Islander and a descendant of John Jackson, the Islands first Black property owner who in 1799 purchased land that would become part of the Sandy Ground settlement near modern-day Rossville. For Dixon, that story represents the foundations of her own American Dream and that of the home she calls the borough of many memories, a play on the tired forgotten borough moniker. The mayor-elect said those many memories are what he hopes to take to City Hall when he assumes office Jan. 1. This isnt a forgotten borough, its a borough of many memories. Theres so much history right here on this Island, and I understand why there are Staten Islanders who would feel that that history is one that hasnt been recognized, he said. What I hope to show through my administration is that we are going to take seriously the concerns of Staten Islanders and deliver on those concerns. You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters. (Bloomberg) -- UBS Group AG is set to begin its latest wave of job cuts in mid-January, according to people familiar with the matter. That step will be followed by another round later in 2026 as UBS intends to switch off computer systems it acquired when it took over its former competitor in 2023, the people said, asking not to be named discussing internal matters. UBS is entering the final year of its historic integration of Credit Suisse, which it bought in an emergency government-brokered deal in 2023. The merger swelled the workforce to just under 120,000 overnight. The number has since shrunk by around 15,000, though thats less than half of an internal target of 35,000 reported by Bloomberg. UBS has never confirmed its broader reduction plans. UBS had previously said that it plans to cut about 3,000 jobs in Switzerland alone over the coming years, having taken the unusual step in 2023 of detailing planned reductions there. Read More: UBS Preparing to Cut Over Half of Credit Suisse Workforce A UBS spokesperson said in response to questions that many of the reductions in headcount will take place over the course of several years, with some coming through early retirement or by not filling vacancies when people decide to leave UBS. The bank will also seek to reassign staff whose current roles are eliminated, the spokesperson said. UBS shares gained after the story was published, up 1.12% as of 2:03 p.m. in Zurich. The stock has trailed regional peers this year amid ongoing uncertainty about regulation in Switzerland. The government has proposed new capital requirements up to $26 billion higher, though signs of a nascent compromise have recently begun to appear. Read More: UBS Hits 17-Year High as Lawmakers Float Capital Compromise The Zurich-based lender is currently in the middle of a major IT migration of Credit Suisse clients and aims to complete the overall integration by the end of 2026. A second wave of job cuts is expected after the IT migration has taken place mid-next year, the people said, adding that the bank will have to hold onto some of those IT and operations specialists even after the migration is completed to ensure a smooth transition. UBS job cuts have been rolling across the world over the past two years, with the investment bank bearing much of the burden. Wealth management employees have fared better, as UBS seeks to retain key Credit Suisse private bankers and the clients they served. Catholics are noted for their tendency to fill up the church from the back. Obscured behind other parishioners, its easier to lose oneself in the peace of ones own thoughts and prayers still part of the congregation but separate and relatively unobserved. Christmas Eve Mass is, however, a different story. The church will be crowded well before the advertised start time. Its a difficult judgement call as to when to get there; arrive too early and incur the wrath of ones children and possibly have them recruited to fill the role of a shepherd or angel who hasnt shown up to the rehearsal. Arrive too late and incur your own wrath as you search in vain for a piece of wall to lean against for the next hour because all the seating is filled. Theres no Mass like Midnight Mass: Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa leads a Christmas Midnight Mass in the Church of the Nativity in the Palestinian town of Bethlehem, 2021. AP Seating complications aside, Christmas Eve Mass is a celebration. Most attendees will dress festively and whole families will attend. Much loved Christmas carols, known far beyond the walls of churches, like Silent Night and The Little Drummer Boy, will be sung, and old friends living in the parish will reconnect. Catholics who may not be in the habit of attending weekly Mass will be there for Christmas. Mary is at the centre of my thoughts at Christmastime. She is particularly loved in Catholic culture, admired for her personal qualities, her faith in God, her care of Jesus and her strength in times of personal suffering. Her anguish at the foot of the Cross at the crucifixion brings a certain solace to Christians going through their own personal trials, as there is often a sense of Marys reassuring presence in such times. Advertisement NationalNSWBondi shooting At Bondis sea of flowers, tributes reveal a citys grief Julie Power December 20, 2025 4:45pm 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 A A The sea of flowers outside Bondi Pavilion in memory of the 15 people who died last Sunday couldnt be more Australian in its diversity. A bunch of Dame Edna Everages much loved red gladioli curl in the gaze. Proteas from South Africa, the country many Australian Jews fled for a better life, seem robust in the heat, along with crocheted red Anzac Day poppies. Flowers were still being added to the lake of flowers at Bondi on Saturday. Oscar Colman Many people have visited the shrine every day, including Neville Gafen from Dover Heights. It is a moment to stop and think, isnt it? Why did this happen? Why do bad things happen to good people, a whole spectrum of thoughts go through your mind, he said. Advertisement Why would someone take the life of a 10-year-old child? We cant answer those questions because we dont know what brings people to do what that father and son did last Sunday. Thousands of tributes to the victims of Sunday nights terror attack have been left at the Bondi Pavilion. Oscar Colman Like the people visiting the memorial, and those who died, the flowers come from everywhere, and every walk of life: bunches from the most expensive florists to those picked up from the local petrol station, with gum leaves tossed on top. Flowers are interspersed with soggy Australian flags, wet plush toys of kangaroos and koalas symbolising Waltzing Matilda, the song that gave 10-year-old Matilda her name. Stuffed toys are among the tributes left for 10-year-old Matilda, the attacks youngest victim. Oscar Colman Advertisement Bees, in memory of Matildas middle name, are also everywhere: on balloons, in toys, some wet and sad. They are surrounded by religious symbols; candles and menorahs, representing Hanukkah, the festival of light that ends on Monday. Related Article Bondi shooting Splash the water and scream: The Bondi Beach paddle-out ceremony marks healing of community A hand drawn card remembered her: Precious Matilda bee, forever in our hearts. A group representing migrants from Indias Kerala, Navodaya Australia, had travelled to Bondi from Gosford, Penrith and Parramatta on Saturday to pay their respects and say their hearts were with the victims. Group member Anand Antony from Old Toongabbie said they had moved to Australia for a better life. Advertisement This is very disheartening, he said. Australia has a reputation as a peaceful country. Rabbi Yossi Friedman has promised to recite the names of the dead every hour next to the flowers where they are being remembered. By the time he finished on Saturday, it was pouring. It was hard to tell where the rain ended and the tears began. Rabbi Yossi Friedman has prayed for the victims of the attack every hour at the memorial. Oscar Colman The rabbi said he didnt know when the flowers would be removed, but he would remain there reciting the names until the end. Advertisement Seven days on from last weekends senseless attack, the smell of the yellowing chrysanthemums and the stench of dying daisies, some a week old, now permeates the air. A bunch of blue hydrangeas, sagging in the heat and rain of the past few days, are accompanied by a note: The attack is proof that our government has allowed for a crack in our identity to grow. After a week in the heat, many of the flowers have begun to wilt. Oscar Colman By Saturday, even some of the mental health nurses and chaplains around the large pool of dead and dying flowers dotted with fresh had been worn out. A staff member said the messages to Matilda left by children were the hardest. A large bunch of yellow lilies included an apology to the Jewish people of Sydney for the atrocities that occurred last Sunday. Advertisement Other cards offered help. If you need help stopping antisemitism, email me, read one. Another simply said: We are standing with you. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement NationalNSWBondi shooting Hateful chants and flags to be banned as Islamic State claims it inspired Bondi attack Amber Schultz December 20, 2025 2:22pm 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 A A A protest chant, terrorist organisations flags and other hateful symbols and slogans will be criminalised in NSW under laws to be introduced to parliament this week, as Islamic State claims it inspired last weekends Bondi massacre. Announcing the legislation on Saturday, Premier Chris Minns said the legislation would outlaw the public display of symbols associated with banned terrorist organisations in the state. These include Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabab, Hamas, Boko Haram, Hezbollah, Islamic State and Nazi groups. Premier Chris Minns said the proposed laws would be introduced to parliament on Monday. Getty Images Things are going to change Theres a difference between before Sunday and after Sunday. This is a threat to every citizen of NSW, Minns said. An Islamic State flag was allegedly displayed on the car of the two men accused of killing 15 people in last weekends Bondi Beach terrorism attack. Advertisement The legislation will ban only the public display of these symbols. Possessing them will not be illegal. While Commonwealth legislation already prohibits terrorist symbol displays, Minns said the state legislation would be simpler to prosecute. The Islamic State flag was displayed on the windscreen of the car belonging to the gunmen during the Bondi massacre. Edwina Pickles Victoria University terrorism and security expert Dr Andrew Zammit said Islamic State had claimed in its weekly publication that it inspired the Bondi massacre as it continued to call for ongoing attacks on civilian and religious targets. Since October 7, weve had around 20 Islamic State-associated terrorist attacks in Europe and dozens of plots. This is much [higher] than the couple of years before that, and a larger proportion of those attacks have targeted Jewish communities, Zammit said. Advertisement Islamic State, and to a lesser extent al-Qaeda, ramped up its calls for attacks within Western countries, and with a particular focus on targeting Jewish communities [Publications] specifically mentioned synagogues and churches, he said. The Islamic States global terrorism campaign never quite went away. The pro-Palestine chant globalise the intifada would also be banned under NSWs new laws. The slogan refers to a Palestinian resistance against Israel. Intifada is an Arabic word for rebellion, uprising, resistance or shaking off. Horrific recent events have shown that [this chant] is hate speech, and it encourages violence in our community, Minns said. Weve got strong advice indicating that [it] is already in breach of hate speech laws in NSW; this legislation will put it beyond a shadow of a doubt. Advertisement In a statement, the Palestine Action Group, which organises weekly pro-Palestine protests in the Sydney CBD, said any labelling of the word intifada as hate speech was ridiculous, ignorant and offensive. [It] refers to the efforts of Palestinians through mass protests and uprisings to shake off the illegal occupation and apartheid racist policies that the state of Israel imposes on the Palestinian people, the statement read. There is absolutely nothing antisemitic about this word or associated chants. Attorney-General Michael Daley said NSW must tackle the scourge of hate. Were dealing with the offences that cause division, that cause hatred, that cause effrontery, Daley said. Advertisement The displaying of these symbols can only be done by someone whos either deranged or has an intention to insult, intimidate and scare. Related Article Updated Bondi shooting Gefen Bitton, who raced to help Bondi hero Ahmed al Ahmed, in ICU Police will also be given new powers to require someone suspected of committing an offence during a public assembly to remove their face covering. At present, police can require a person to remove their face covering only if they are arrested or suspected of committing an indictable offence. The legislation will be introduced to parliament on Monday, alongside gun law reform announced earlier this week. The offence will carry a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment, or a $22,000 fine, and up to $110,000 for organisations. Displays for academic or public interest purposes may be exempt. An investigation into hateful statements may recommend that further slogans be introduced into the bill when parliament resumes next year. Advertisement NSW Liberal leader Kellie Sloane said the opposition would consider the proposals and legislation once provided by the government. The opposition will continue to engage constructively and to put forward practical, proportionate policies to strengthen community safety, reinforce social cohesion and uphold confidence in the rule of law across NSW, she said. Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app. Advertisement Exclusive NationalNSWWater safety You cant remove swimming from water safety: New PE material to be reviewed Julie Power Updated December 22, 2025 3:37pm ,first published December 21, 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 A A A NSWs new Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) school syllabus has been criticised, following concerns that it would encourage schools to run school swimming and lifesaving lessons in the dry of a classroom, without children entering the water. Changes to support material for the kindergarten-to-year-10 syllabus will also be reviewed, after protests by Royal Life Saving Australia chief executive Dr Justin Scarr, teachers and swim schools over the removal of explicit instructions for children to learn basic skills, such as swimming 25 metres. You cant take the wet out of water safety and you cant remove swimming from water safety or lifesaving, Scarr said. Clotilde Doxaras, swim school manager at C&M Aquatic Centre, teaching children to swim. Edwina Pickles The removal of instructions caused several schools to cancel, curtail or postpone bookings for swim classes next year, when the new PDHPE syllabus will be introduced and teachers will use it for planning, he said. Advertisement Scarr said school swimming and lifesaving lessons had been a rite of passage for generations. It is how so many of us first learnt to swim, before moving to lifesaving lessons and the bronze medallion in high school diving for bricks, swimming in pyjamas and learning CPR. At briefings on the new syllabus, teachers asked whether the removal of explicit instructions meant they could cancel school swimming lessons. After meeting Scarr on Thursday the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), which develops the school syllabus, said it would work with Royal Life Saving Australia to ensure communications to teachers and school leaders make clear the benefits of swimming lessons as part of the NSW curriculum. Swimming skills and water safety are an important requirement of the new PDHPE syllabuses being taught from 2027, NESA said in a statement. Advertisement The new syllabus begins in 2027 but some schools will implement it from 2026. Related Article Water safety The charts that show how we died in the worst year on record for drowning NESA said school swimming was not compulsory but the authority would continue to support school swimming. Many schools have been dropping out of swimming programs because of costs related to buses, pool entry fees, logistics, access to pools, beaches and rivers, and a crowded curriculum. If the trend continued, Scarr said, generations of children, particularly those whose families could not afford private lessons or dropped out early, would not learn to swim or practise water safety, even though drownings in Australia are up 27 per cent on the 10-year average. Advertisement Royal Life Saving recognises that NESA has worked to strengthen a focus on safe behaviours around the water and has agreed to look more closely at the advice in relation to swimming and lifesaving skills, the organisation said in a statement. Half of all children who finished primary school this year cannot swim or float well enough to save their own lives. Clotilde Doxaras, swim school manager at C&M Aquatic Centre, teaching children to swim. Edwina Pickles Clotilde Doxaras, swim school manager at C&M Aquatic Centre, teaching children to swim. Edwina Pickles The former 2018 curriculum required children to perform water safety and rescue skills, such as freestyle and backstroke, practise swimming survival skills and participate in lifesaving activities, including clothed rescues. Advertisement In contrast, the new course asks children to demonstrate an awareness of safety behaviours, such as the need to swim between the flags. While the new syllabus contains explicit instructions on teaching children fundamental movement skills such as running, hopping, striking, catching and side galloping, teaching children to swim is omitted. How can a good side gallop be more essential than being able to swim? Scarr asked. In consultations on the draft syllabus, participants said it lacked content explicitly addressing engagement in the outdoors. Related Article Water safety School swimming carnivals are dying. Its putting a generation at risk Advertisement Clotilde Doxaras, swim school manager of C&M Aquatic Centre in Padstow, was alarmed when some schools cancelled or reduced lessons and postponed booking them. One said they may not be going swimming at all because it is no longer in the syllabus, Doxaras said. A lot of kids cant swim. We see kids coming in from year 6 and some can barely dog-paddle. Many parents couldnt afford private lessons, she said. The struggle is real for them and they are finding it hard to finance anything. Swimming lessons go to the bottom of their list of priorities. In a seminar held by the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) a participant who asked whether the requirement for school swimming lessons had been removed was praised for their good detective work. Advertisement The instructor replied: There isnt explicit mention of aquatics or swimming in any of the stages. Theres explicit mention of water safety. The syllabus was building in flexibility, the instructor said. Those schools who want to run aquatics and swimming programs can do but those who dont have the facilities or resources to run it, its no longer mandated. Kelly Bell, who runs The Learning Network, an organisation supporting PDHPE teachers, said there was a moral obligation to make teaching water safety skills a priority because so many children fatally drowned. That meant finding money and resources to help parents and schools fund lessons, buses and pool fees, she said. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here. CORRECTION An earlier version of this story said that NESA will review the new PDPHE syllabus. Its been corrected to say that NESA will review the syllabus support materials. Advertisement NationalQueenslandCross River Rail Inside Cross River Rails latest tunnel breakthrough Catherine Strohfeldt December 20, 2025 5:21pm 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 A A The Cross River Rails underground CBD stations are expected to complete their fit-out within a year alongside, alongside the above-ground Albert Street green spine, which will open within months. However, with the route requiring years of testing revealed by the state government late last year the completed stations are expected to sit empty for years. Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said on Saturday the project would stick firm to its revised 2029 delivery date, three years later than originally planned, and new price tag of $19.04 billion. The Albert Street Cross River Rail Station has a mezzanine level 25 metres below the surface, a platform 32 metres deep, and is rose-gold themed. Catherine Strohfeldt Works are really ramping up, and were getting on with the job of delivering this really important project, he said. Advertisement Mickelberg said he was confident the project would meet its new deadline because of productivity boosts at its worksites, which he credited to his governments hardline stance against the CFMEU. Related Article Updated Construction Worker shortfall threatens Queenslands infrastructure pipeline What we want to see is worksites that are safe and productive, Mickelberg said. He said the number of workers at the Albert Street site had more than doubled since late 2024, from about 150 workers to 350. Cross River Rail Delivery Authority chief executive Graeme Newton said the main difference in the site had been an increase in job security for his workers. Advertisement During budget hearings this year, Newton blamed the delays on a range of factors, including 148 days of industrial action taken by workers in 2024. On Saturday, Newton said the project was well past halfway complete as the year neared its end, and said the delivery authority had largely completed construction across the four CBD stations. Theres been a lot of work happening through effectively keyhole surgery at the ground level [and] below ground, Newton said. This next 12 months, well see a lot of the construction work and the architectural [works] done. Advertisement Meanwhile, were planning for the next phase which is the testing and commissioning, and its a very complex project, with a lot of moving parts. Newton said the above-ground elements included the Albert Street green spine, a pedestrian plaza spanning between Elizabeth and Mary streets in the inner city. Cross River Rail Delivery Authority chief executive Graeme Newton. Catherine Strohfeldt Significant progress has been made there are already sections of it have already been opened up, he said. In the early part of next year well see the first section open up down to Charlotte Street, and then the next section will open up progressively as it is made safe for pedestrians to move through. Advertisement Newton said parts of Brisbanes CBD near the green spine would be roped off in December and January to allow for more intensive works on the street level, and train travel would also be restricted. Related Article Queensland Rail Buses to replace trains with major Brisbane track closures over five weeks This is really the best time of year to do it were relocating tracks, signals, overhead lines that work just cant be done with trains moving across it, he said. CRRs general manager of communications Russell Vine said the spacious design of the tunnel and stations will create a giant underground boulevard and avoid the claustrophobia of a lot of underground infrastructure. It allows the stations [to be] really generous with space, so sometimes you go in underground stations and they feel quite enclosed, he said. Advertisement If you go to say the Elizabeth line in London, or if you go to the new metro line in Sydney, or if you go to Melbourne, [theyre] quite curvy, he said. Here were really angular ... thats because the architect who designed the stations wanted it to be an homage to the verandah of a Queenslander house. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement NationalBondi shooting Opinion Too timid, too late: Albanese dithered as Jewish Australians endured attacks Parnell Palme McGuinness Columnist and communications adviser December 20, 2025 7:30pm December 20, 2025 7:30pm 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 A A A fortnight ago, I wrote in these pages that there are two ways to discuss immigration. In good time, civilly and constructively. Or too late, angrily and hatefully. With Australia teetering on a millisecond, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dithered and left it too late. He missed the moment on October 9, 2023, the day after Hamas slaughtered 1200 civilians in Israel. That night, the NSW government lit up the Sydney Opera House sails in Israeli flag blue and white. But instead of Jewish mourners grieving the victims of the bloody assault, the forecourt was occupied by a few hundred pro-Palestine marchers. Their presence made it too dangerous for the Jewish community to attend. Anthony Albanese visits the memorial at Bondi Pavilion on Monday. AAP I went along to observe that evening and took video of the crowd chanting Allahu Akbar (God is greatest) and f--- the Jews. As I filmed, some participants hurled lit flares at the Opera House sails. The police caught the flares and extinguished them without further consequence. A tepid response from the government, framed against the backdrop of a national icon, which now reads like a metaphor for how the prime minister has handled the escalating violence ever since. Advertisement Advertisement Most recently, this past week, after Islamist terrorists attacked Jewish Australians celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people, including a child, the prime ministers first instinct was to deflect from the ideological motivation by announcing changes to gun laws. He barely mentioned the very clear allegiance behind the slaughter. It took him until Thursday to announce legislative changes to crack down on those who spread hate, division and radicalisation. It is too late. The terrorists in the Bondi massacre acted in the name of Islamic State. ISIS has celebrated its actions and taken credit for inspiring them. Naveed Akram, the younger of the two Bondi shooters, has a well-documented history of involvement with Haddads Dawah movement. Related Article Exclusive Antisemitism Home Affairs pushed for Iranian terror listing more than two years ago Haddad is a known quantity. Yet it was left to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry to take him to court, to try to curb his hateful preaching. As civilians, the ECAJ couldnt prevent the sermons or force the preacher to stop whipping up his congregation with racist and antisemitic lectures. In the end, he was required only to remove five lectures from social media, in which he had referred to Jews as shifty, treacherous and vile people, and descendants of apes and pigs (a quote from the Koran). Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke claims that Australias laws have been insufficient to act on this hate. Former home affairs boss Mike Pezzullo told Sky News that the changes Burke announced in response to the terrorism have been available to the government for a long time. They have been discussed in detail by the security community. Only the will to act was lacking. Advertisement Albanese is still avoiding references to radical Islamism wherever possible. And the National Imams Council has washed its hands of the matter, declaring that ISIS is an evil and dangerous terrorist organisation with NO connection to Islam. The motivating ideology of the terrorists which they believed in, even if moderate Muslims feel no kinship with them was hardly mentioned in the prime ministers plan of action press conference on Thursday. Where there is no accountability, there can be no effective action. It is as important to recognise the perpetrators as it is the victims of this attack. Albanese was sent an angel last Sunday, to guide him through this defining moment. Ahmed al Ahmed, one of the Bondi heroes, who tackled the gun out of one of the shooters hands at great risk to his own life, is a Muslim. He has furnished a vivid reminder that religion is not by itself the problem. We let down Muslims like al Ahmed when we fail to zero in on the values and actions that people choose to take as a result of their faith. Anthony Albanese meets Bondi hero Ahmed al Ahmed at St George Hospital on Tuesday. Prime Ministers Office via AP For two long and eventful years, Albanese has been political, cowardly and tardy in responding to the greatest challenge of his prime ministership. It is unearned luck that a hero has given him a way to make a constructive distinction between a religion and its perversion. He must take it before it slips away. Australians know in their hearts that an attack on a peaceful minority is an attack on us all. Parnell Palme McGuinness is an independent insights and advocacy strategist. She has done work for the Liberal Party and the German Greens. Advertisement NationalVictoriaCity life Backlash against phones at bars, clubs and gigs Cara Waters December 20, 2025 4:28pm 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 A A Venues in Melbourne are banning mobile phones or placing stickers over phone cameras in a bid to get patrons to switch off from technology and connect with each other. Bar Le Splendide in South Yarra issues customers with a red heart sticker to place over the lens on their phones as part of a growing backlash against phone use. Le Splendide bar manager Jimmy Pluet with co-owner Jean-Paul Prunetti at the bar which requires patrons to put a sticker over their mobile phone camera. Eddie Jim Venues including Sanctum private members club and Sense of Self bath house restrict mobile phone use, while some performers and musicians are also trying to make gigs phone free. Rock band Tool implemented a no phone policy at the Good Things Festival earlier this month and Ian Moss banned fans from taking photos and filming footage on his national tour this year. Advertisement Related Article Review South Yarra Glammed-up bordello appeal: Peek inside the southside bar where photos arent allowed Be present and enjoy the performance with your eyes, Moss said to fans before his tour. Le Splendide owner Jean-Paul Prunetti said the bars policy was a response to a feeling that phones were increasingly dominating restaurants and bars. A lot of people basically dont like to have their photo taken when they go to a venue for a private reason, he said. Most people are really actually happy not to have to worry about their phone. People are a bit more engaged to talk to each other. Prunetti also owns restaurant France-Soir, next door to Le Splendide, and said he was concerned about the impact of phones on conversation and connection. Advertisement Sometimes a couple or even two couples in a table of four, they are basically all on their phone, and they basically dont talk, he said. Theyre somewhere else, even though they are present at the restaurant. At private members club Sanctum, which opened in the ground floor of the Pullman Hotel in September, members are asked not to take photographs on their mobile phones and phone booths are provided for people to speak on their mobile phones so they do not disturb other members. Red heart stickers are placed on patrons phone cameras at Le Splendide. Eddie Jim Phones are banned entirely at Collingwood bathhouse Sense of Self and owner Freya Berwick said this was integral to the space being an antidote to peoples increasingly busy and over connected but disconnected lives. It was hard to enforce in the beginning, particularly when we opened, because everyone wanted to take pictures, she said. Our tendency of experiencing something that we are excited about is to get our phones out now and to capture it. Advertisement However, Berwick said strictly enforcing the phone ban made the bath house a calmer and more relaxing place for everyone. People being on their phones disrupts their own experience and ability to drop into their body and just be present, she said. Le Splendide patrons are talking more now that they are off their phones. Eddie Jim The backlash against phones is coming to nightlife as well, with clubs around the world trying to tackle the issue of dance floors filled with people taking selfies or filming rather than dancing. Berghain in Berlin, House of Yes in New York and Hi in Ibiza have all implemented a version of a no phone rule barring clubbers from filming and taking photos inside. Advertisement Related Article Film & TV production Our phone addiction is forcing producers to change the way they make TV Brad Marshall, a psychologist and director of the Internet Addiction Clinic, said restricting or banning phone use was a practical way for venues to embrace human experience. Oxytocin, the feel-good chemical and the love and connection chemical, can only really be elicited in big doses through face-to-face social interaction, not through online, he said. I think what were seeing more and more, is some novel ways of live venues trying to fight back for that. Marshall said this was likely to be a growing trend in the food and dining space. Are you at a bar or are you at a restaurant to be there and connect with your friends? he asked. Or are you there to walk into that restaurant and see all of your friends just on their phone? Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Key Points When it comes to making chips, all major computing companies turn to Taiwan Semiconductor. Its chip fabrication business provides the critical production capacity needed by the industry. Taiwan Semiconductor is launching a new technology that could solve the energy crisis. 10 stocks we like better than Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Finding the ultimate stock to buy for 2026 is no easy task. First, you have to address whether the stock will come from an AI-related field or not. There are growing fears of an AI bubble forming, but those fears are negated by real money being spent by the AI hyperscalers, who are racing to build out as much computing capacity as possible. I think one of the best stocks to buy for 2026 comes from this industry, and it's a key supplier. While I'll entertain an argument of whether Nvidia's dominance is slipping, what isn't up for debate is how much is being spent on AI infrastructure. After setting records in 2025, the AI hypercalers look to be setting a new record on data center capital expenditures again in 2026. There are several companies positioned to take advantage of that buildout, but none is in a better spot than Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM). Image source: Getty Images. Taiwan Semiconductor is a neutral party in the AI arms race Taiwan Semiconductor is a chip fabrication business and sells its production capacity to various companies in the chip realm. Taiwan Semiconductor is regarded as the top company in its industry, which is why nearly all of the major computing unit designers partner with Taiwan Semiconductor. It doesn't matter if the computing unit being purchased is from Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, or Broadcom; chances are, it has a chip from TSMC in it. This places Taiwan Semiconductor in a neutral position, as it benefits from increased spending regardless of which computing unit is the most popular. The trends are clearly in favor of increased data center spending, and that trend isn't expected to slow down anytime soon. Nvidia believes that the global data center capital expenditures will rise from $600 billion in 2025 to $3 trillion to $4 trillion by 2030. Not all of that money will flow toward computing, as there are also construction and land costs to consider. AMD offered a similar projection, as they believe the compute market will be worth $1 trillion by 2030. This bodes well for Taiwan Semiconductor, as it will be providing the chips to power most of these data centers. However, one issue that may hamper the growth of the industry is power capacity. It's no secret that we could be headed for an energy shortage in the near future, and doing everything possible to consume less energy to maximize computing performance is critical. Advertisement NationalWAWACE WAs ATAR results revealed for class of 2025 Holly Thompson December 20, 2025 11:01am 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 A A A Thousands of year 12 students have now received their West Australian Certificate of Education, marking the official end of 13 years at school. The Tertiary Institutions Service Centre has revealed 10,265 of those students achieved an ATAR, slightly more than in 2024. Students from Penrhos College celebrate the end of their schooling journey. For 18 students, their results contained an additional surprise the highest possible ATAR of 99.95. Of school leavers in large-enrolment courses, the highest median ATARs were achieved by students completing mathematics specialist (97.00), mathematics methods (92.55), chemistry (90.80), physics (90.60), and literature (88.95). Advertisement The results were released to students at 5pm on Friday evening and five minutes later over 250 people had logged on to check their results. Within 15 minutes that number soared to over 2000. School leaders across the state have congratulated the graduating class for their hard work and dedication over the year, and wished them the best for their futures. Methodist Ladies College principal Rebecca Clarke said she encouraged graduates to remember they are far more than a number and that a fulfilling life is one that is lived purposefully and gratefully. Penrhos College principal Kalea Haran acknowledged students resilience and courage. Advertisement This cohort reflects the very best of our College. They are young women who have approached learning with purpose, care and determination, she said. This years outcomes show far more than results. They tell stories of growth, perseverance and aspiration. Perth Modern School principal Robyn Verboon said student achievements reflected years of hard work, persistence and curiosity. Their success is also a testament to the unwavering support of our dedicated staff, families and friends, who have walked alongside them throughout this journey, she said. As our students move into the next chapter, whether university, training or other pathways, we know they will continue to learn, lead and make a positive impact in a rapidly changing world. Advertisement TISC chief executive Andrew Crevald said studying for an ATAR was widely considered one of the best preparations for thriving at university. Related Article WACE The 2025 honour roll: WA students with the highest ATARs revealed However, possessing an ATAR is only one of the attributes required to be a successful university student, he said. Thats why additional ways of establishing suitability for university study are often used alongside or sometimes instead of the ATAR. These include alternate qualifications, portfolios, auditions, or aptitude tests. Advertisement Edith Cowan University School of Education senior lecturer Dr Sarah Jefferson said while some students might be on a high after opening their ATAR results, others might be feeling deflated. It is a time of mixed emotions and opening those results could be a huge disappointment, she said. When you spend years building up to this moment, it can be hard to live up to expectations. Jefferson said it was important for students to remember there were so many different pathways to get where you want to go. It can be hard, particularly when you are getting messages from your friends who are really happy with their results, she said. Advertisement Equally, you may feel like you have to manage your excitment in the face of a friend who is upset. Just listen and respect how others are feeling. She also reminded parents to be patient. Give your kids the time to be disappointed and then remind them that if their results are lower than what the expected, it is a redirection not a diversion, she said. Try and remain as neutral as possible and let your children decide how they want to feel. Advertisement Like all storms, it will pass. Another perspective Exclusive Education WA students are turning their backs on ATAR. But theyre still going to university Crevald said students should seek advice if were unsure of what to do next. We know some students will be challenged by their results, but there are many pathways to get where you want to go and lots of people available to help you get there, he said. I encourage students to contact their preferred universities directly, or TISC, to explore their options. Advertisement The first major round of university offers will go out on Wednesday. Get alerts on breaking news as it happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert. Advertisement PoliticsFederalBondi shooting Anthony Albanese backs Chris Minns call for state-based inquiry into Bondi shooting Brittany Busch and Amber Schultz December 20, 2025 4:27pm 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 A A Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has lent his support to a state-based royal commission into the events that led to the deaths of 16 people in last Sundays Bondi terrorism attack after NSW Premier Chris Minns said that now was the time to use the powers of a wide-ranging inquiry to determine what went wrong. But the Coalition along with independent MP for Wentworth Allegra Spender are calling for a federal investigation into the shooting as the government is scrutinised over the proliferation of antisemitism in Australia and apparent gaps in intelligence before last weekends deadly attack. Loading Albanese said on Saturday that he had discussed the possibility of an inquiry into last weeks shooting with Minns and had offered his support. I will support whatever actions the NSW government take. We are working in lockstep, Albanese told reporters in Canberra. Advertisement Minns said an inquiry was needed to work out the full picture of the circumstances that led to last Sundays atrocity. Related Article Bondi shooting Hateful chants and flags to be banned as Islamic State claims it inspired Bondi attack Weve got bits and pieces of the jigsaw puzzle here, but we dont have a full picture. And until weve got a full and accurate picture of exactly how this happened, with a plan to ensure that it doesnt happen again, then I dont have answers to the people of NSW about what happened on Sunday, he told reporters in Sydney. Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley called on Albanese to immediately establish a Commonwealth royal commission the highest form of inquiry in Australia. I publicly invite the prime minister to sit down with me and Jewish community leaders as soon as Shabbat ends tonight so that we can draft the terms of reference on a bipartisan basis, Ley said in a statement. Advertisement A Commonwealth royal commission, guided by the input of Jewish community leaders and national security experts, will provide recommendations on how governments can address, respond and improve in the wake of this horrific event. Spender, whose electorate of Wentworth takes in Bondi, also added her voice to calls for an investigation that could accept public submissions and be developed in consultation with the Jewish community. Whatever we call this inquiry, we must act quickly, and it must be broad-ranging and independent, with investigatory powers akin to a royal commission and holding both state and federal governments to account, she said in a statement. The inquiry head should have a continuing role with responsibility for monitoring the progress by government at all levels against their recommendations, and report back regularly to ensure public accountability for implementation. The federal government has said its priority is on taking immediate action to crack down on hate speech and tighten gun laws. Albaneses ministers have opposed a royal commission, saying it would take too long and draw resources away from law enforcement. Advertisement Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Thursday: The last thing I want is the delays that happen on a royal commission ... we need to put everything right into making sure we are keeping people safe and doing everything to make sure this does not happen again. Related Article Updated Bondi shooting Gefen Bitton, who raced to help Bondi hero Ahmed al Ahmed, in ICU On Saturday, Albanese said that the national security committees daily meetings would continue over the weekend, and cabinet would reconvene on Monday. After attending a service at the Great Synagogue in Sydney on Friday night, Albanese confirmed that he would attend the Bondi memorial service on Sunday which has been declared a day of reflection and said he was consulting the Jewish community on establishing a permanent memorial at Bondi. Opposition home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam said a state-based investigation would not go far enough to investigate the national organisations charged with protecting Australians. Advertisement Unfortunately, the issues related to the massacre that occurred does involve Commonwealth agencies, does involve security and intelligence agencies that are not under NSW jurisdiction, he told reporters in Hobart. So a NSW royal commission is great, and we are pleased to see this leadership being shown by Chris Minns, but we do need a Commonwealth royal commission. Antisemitism and the rise of it in this country does not stop at the NSW border. Its everywhere. Former Liberal treasurer Josh Frydenberg accused Burke of hiding from accountability and said he needed to answer questions over the massacre because on his watch, we have seen the deadliest terrorist attack in Australias history. He doesnt want a royal commission because that would lead to delays in the response. Well, hes been delaying for 2 years, and now the question must be asked what does he have to hide from a royal commission and the special powers that it will bring? Frydenberg told Sky News. Burkes office was contacted for comment. Advertisement Spender also called for a cabinet-level minister for social cohesion to be established, which Duniam said the opposition would support if it could guarantee an end to the perpetration of antisemitism. Albanese said his government had prioritised social cohesion. Look at the work that we have done in areas like multicultural affairs, we prioritise that, but the first priority must be keeping people safe, and that is what we have done. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Advertisement PoliticsFederalAntisemitism Opinion Its time for politicians to return Bondi Beach to the people Jacqueline Maley Columnist and senior journalist December 21, 2025 5:00am December 21, 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 A A A There is an entire area of legal doctrine devoted to causation, as any recovering law graduate knows. This weeks orgy of blame and counter-blame, of attack and counter-attack, has felt like a highly politicised, and at times inappropriate, version of what jurists call the but for test. Bondi beach comes together as the mourning continues. Janie Barrett and Kate Geraghty This test asks: But for the action or inaction of Person A, would the harm to Person B have occurred? Trying to apply the test to the senseless tragedy of Bondi, as many have this week, is incredibly difficult, but still, the attempt has been made. Advertisement It reached its natural conclusion on Wednesday when former treasurer Josh Frydenberg said that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had to accept personal responsibility for the death of 15 innocent people, including a 10-year-old child. Related Article Bondi shooting Anthony Albanese backs Chris Minns call for state-based inquiry into Bondi shooting It was an extraordinary claim, a high-water mark of ad hominem rhetoric in Australian political life. For me, the most enduring image from the week was the smiling face of the 10-year-old victim Matilda, delight beaming from her as she was photographed minutes before her death. The nihilism of the people who killed her is almost too awful to stare down. But examining causation should be separate from the angry assignment of blame. Advertisement When the issue of gun control was raised soon after the attack, former prime minister John Howard, slavishly echoed by sections of the media, said any such talk was a distraction from the real issue, which was antisemitism. Howard, with all his stature, gave the cue for the partisan politicking that followed, a lot of it taking place on the site of the massacre. When the issue of gun control was raised soon after the attack, John Howard said any such talk was a distraction from the real issue, which was antisemitism. He is pictured here in Bondi on Tuesday. James Brickwood Gun control is just about the most basic and commonsense issue to raise in the immediate aftermath of such an atrocity. As this masthead reported on Thursday, in a story about ASIOs contact with the younger alleged shooter: all official sources across multiple agencies said there was consensus in the law enforcement community that Australias firearms monitoring systems are badly outdated and plagued by siloing and jurisdictional inconsistencies. Advertisement Such a polarised reaction if you are talking about X, then you are wilfully and maliciously ignoring Y is a large part of the problem we are now faced with. Related Article Bondi shooting Howard slams Albaneses leadership, calls changes to gun laws a diversion We cannot allow the politics of the internet, the zero-sum reasoning of the anonymous troll-hordes, to filter into our civic life. We can and should discuss all the causative factors of this event and they include gun control, national security, immigration screening, intelligence sharing and of course, the most decisive one antisemitism in all its forms. And it does have many forms. There is a huge gap between the protests of university students and the murderous actions of Islamic State-inspired radicals. Advertisement We have told ourselves a story about the pluralism and tolerance we like to think defines Australia. But can we cling to the narrative that we are the worlds most successful multicultural nation when Jewish children go to school under armed guard? John Howard gave the cue for the partisan politicking that followed including a visit to the flower memorial by Barnaby Joyce and Pauline Hanson. Janie Barrett Can we condemn Pauline Hanson for wearing the burqa in a horrible parliamentary stunt while ignoring the fact that there are parts of Sydney where a man might feel unsafe wearing a yarmulke? A lazy byproduct of Australias relative comfort we are one of the richest, best educated and most peaceful countries in the world is our complacency in that comfort. Advertisement Bondi shattered that. Related Article Opinion Bondi shooting Too timid, too late: Albanese dithered as Jewish Australians endured attacks Parnell Palme McGuinness Columnist and communications adviser Ever since the horror of October 7, we have debated the war in Gaza, and the public has become increasingly horrified by the death and suffering there. But we have undoubtedly allowed antisemitism to slip into the edges of our discourse. Certain communities and institutions (rightly) maintained the line that criticism of the Israeli governments actions cannot be conflated with antisemitism. Advertisement But those same communities, the ones that pride themselves on their progressivism, have become increasingly illiberal over the issue of Israel. Some have used their horror over the actions of the Israeli government as a pretext to attack Jewish people. Loading As a result, Jewish Australians have been doxxed and sidelined from cultural festivals. Jewish kids feel unwelcome at some of our best universities. Pro-Palestine rally organisers have failed to condemn, let alone cast out, the antisemitism and extremism that exists in their movement. Advertisement Many Jewish Australians say they feel unsafe and unwelcome in the same quarters of cultural life that their forebears helped build during the great wave of post-war middle-European migration. Related Article One Nation Inside the rise of One Nation and the politics of tragedy We can blame our government and the prime minister for all of it, but it is more pragmatic to focus on our own accountability where it applies. Anthony Albanese is no Jacinda Ardern; the former Kiwi prime minister who was remarkable in her response to the Christchurch mosque massacre in 2019, and whose displays of empathy led to a global conversation about the nature of true leadership. But perhaps the most tragic part of the eruption in anger over Bondi is that it fulfils the goals of terrorism. Advertisement Islamic terrorists, just like Nazis, hate Australian pluralism. They hate the spirit of mutual tolerance that has most usually defined Australian society. They want to rupture it. They want to sow division and foment bitter arguments between citizens who were previously co-existing peacefully. They dont want a Bondi Beach replete with laughing children and loping surfers. Advertisement Related Article Bondi shooting Government announces largest gun buyback scheme since Port Arthur They want Bondi Beach covered in blood, first, and next, a Bondi Beach populated by citizens and politicians blaming one another. Causation is a tortured area of law, and of life, and the but for test is not considered an optimal tool for harms which have multiple causes. Thats why jurists have overlaid it with something else, something that non-lawyers can understand just fine: the commonsense test. Common sense is what is needed from our leaders now. Advertisement That includes a duty to absorb the wild emotion and raw rage of people affected by the tragedy. And then, a duty to put aside bitter partisanship in moments of national crisis, and get to work, in Canberra. Bondi Beach is for the swimmers and the surfers and the people, for all the ones who paddled out and held hands in the water off our famous beach on Friday. Jacqueline Maley is a senior writer and columnist. Bondi Beach incident helplines: Bondi Beach Victim Services on 1800 411 822 Bondi Beach Public Information & Enquiry Centre on 1800 227 228 NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 or Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Lifeline on Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or chat online at kidshelpline.com.au Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter. Advertisement PoliticsVictoriaHealth Where you live could add five centimetres to your waistline but only for some Adam Carey December 21, 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 A A A On most of the days he goes riding, Ferdi Saliba has plenty of company. The lifetime resident of Deer Park leads the Brimbank bicycle users group, a gaggle of mostly retired cycling enthusiasts, aged from 50 to 92, who gather twice a week to ride the trails. Ferdi Saliba (front, third from left) and his riding companions in the Brimbank bicycle users group. Justin McManus But when Saliba cycles to Brimbank Centrals shops or the local medical clinic, he rarely sees another rider. You cant really ride much around Deer Park If you want to go to the main shops, youd have to negotiate some roads with heavy vehicles, he says. Advertisement Its not just main roads filled with container trucks, or bike trails with missing links, that put people off riding in Deer Park, Saliba says. They just havent got the time, he says. Theyre still busy working to support a family, paying off mortgages and that sort of stuff. Census data indicates Deer Park is an economically disadvantaged suburb. The median weekly household income is $1459, which is more than 20 per cent below the Victorian average. The low-rise suburb in Melbournes outer west is also car-dependent. Sixty-seven per cent of its working population commutes by car, compared with 54 per cent of Victorians overall. Advertisement The combination of car dependency and economic disadvantage is a potentially lethal one for residents of Deer Park. Census data also reveals that 6.6 per cent of residents have diabetes, compared with the statewide figure of 4.7 per cent. New research from Swinburne University has joined the dots between population density and obesity, revealing that in sprawling suburbs, disadvantaged people are far more likely to be overweight than their richer neighbours, even when they share the same postcode. According to the research, if you live in a low-density suburb and you are disadvantaged, your waistline will be on average five centimetres wider than your advantaged neighbour. In medium-density suburbs, the bulge is less pronounced waistlines are 2.61 centimetres wider on average for those on lower incomes. In high-density suburbs, the difference virtually disappears. Researchers found a statistically insignificant difference of just 0.54 centimetres in waistline girth between poor and affluent people who participated in the study and lived in high-density areas. Advertisement The study, released in academic journal Preventive Medicine Reports last month, analysed 12 years of longitudinal data on obesity from thousands of city dwellers who participated in the Australian diabetes obesity and lifestyle study, the largest Australian study of its kind. Lead researcher Sungkavi Selvakumaran, a PhD candidate at Swinburne Universitys School of Health Sciences, said the studys findings suggested that socioeconomically disadvantaged people might be more vulnerable to the constraints on movement associated with lower-density suburbs, such as poor access to local shops, services and public transport. A low-density suburb was defined in the study as having 15.3 people per hectare or fewer, and higher density as 21 people or more. Selvakumaran said density was not the only factor. Compact neighbourhoods characteristically enable access to everyday needs without resorting to car travel. Its not just about density but all the other built environment factors that go with it, so in a high-density neighbourhood youre also looking at more access to your destinations, green spaces, recreational facilities, your everyday amenities like shops and public transport, Selvakumaran said. Advertisement The findings of the study suggested that increasing population density could help address socioeconomic inequalities in waist circumference, and should spur government and urban planners to prioritise walkability and compact neighbourhoods in new urban areas, she said. Related Article Opinion Population Australia is a global outlier on one key indicator. Changing it will help fix the housing crisis Matt Wade Senior economics writer Our cities are growing because people are becoming more attracted to capital cities for a variety of reasons, so how we manage that growth is something we need to consider because it seems to have real implications for health and equity. Along with the US, Australia has the lowest-density cities in the world. A United Nations study, published last month, ranked Melbourne 490th of 510 cities for population density. Perth ranked 510th. Melbournes outer suburban growth corridors are projected to continue to absorb most of its population growth in the next decade, despite a government target to direct 70 per cent of growth to established suburbs. Advertisement Selvakumaran said increasing the population density of Australian cities could have a positive impact on peoples health, but only if extra housing was built around walkable neighbourhoods with accessible shops and services. In Brimbank, Saliba says the network of shared user paths is growing incrementally, though its not nearly as extensive as in inner Melbourne. The council has put in a reasonable amount of infrastructure. There are several large gaps or missing links that really need to be completed to join the new veloway. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Adelaide: Englands captain Ben Stokes stood there as the Australians wheeled away in delight and Adelaide Oval shook. Stokes had been beaten and bowled by an utterly perfect off-break from Nathan Lyon and, after a few seconds, offered a subtle nod as he looked at the pitch. Too good, mate, too good. Australia will retain the Ashes at some point on day five here their 11-day victory equal second only to a feat achieved 104 years ago (eight days). They will do so because in the fourth innings of the Test, the home sides bowling reinforcements, Lyon and captain Pat Cummins, delivered spells of a class well beyond this bedraggled England sides ability to withstand. Ben Stokes walks off after Nathan Lyons stunning delivery. Credit: Getty Images The night before, assistant coach Jeetan Patel had spoken about something magical being due in this series. The magic did indeed come, but it was from the fingers of Cummins, Lyon, Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey, who maintained the magnificent fielding standards that have also placed a chasm between the teams. Advertisement WorldAsiaWorld politics Imran Khan and wife handed 17-year jail terms in corruption case Mubasher Bukhari December 20, 2025 9:28pm 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 A A Lahore: A Pakistani court on Saturday sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison each in a corruption case involving the under-priced purchase of luxury state gifts, the court and Khans lawyers said. The latest conviction adds to a series of legal troubles for Khan, who has been behind bars since August 2023, and is currently serving a 14-year sentence in a separate land corruption case. Supporters of Pakistans imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan protest outside Islamabad High Court this month. AP He faces dozens of cases filed since he was ousted from office in 2022, ranging from corruption to anti-terrorism and state secrets charges. Khan has denied wrongdoing in all the cases, which his party says are politically motivated. The court announced the sentence without hearing the defence and sentenced 17 years imprisonment to Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi with heavy fines, Khans family lawyer Rana Mudassar Umer told Reuters. Advertisement They were handed 10 years rigorous imprisonment under Pakistans penal code for criminal breach of trust and a further seven years under anti-corruption laws, the special court of Pakistans Federal Investigation Agency said in its verdict. Khans jail term from Saturdays ruling would begin after he has served the 14 years from the land graft case, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said. Imran Khan with his wife Bushra Bibi, speaking to the media at the Lahore High Court in 2023. AP The case relates to luxury watches gifted to Khan by Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during official visits, which prosecutors said Khan and his wife then purchased from the state at a heavily discounted price in violation of Pakistans gift rules. Tarrar said the purchase resulted in losses of several million rupees for the state. Advertisement Zulfi Bukhari, a spokesperson for Khan, said the verdict ignores basic principles of justice and turns the process into a tool for selective prosecution. Khan has told his legal team to appeal the decision at the Islamabad High Court, Salman Safdar, another one of his lawyers, told reporters outside the jail where the trials were being held, Geo News reported. Related Article Imran Khan Imran Khan is in a Pakistan death cell and the cricketing world is silent Another State Gifts Conviction The case is separate from an earlier state gifts prosecution linked to Khans August 2023 arrest. Earlier sentences of 14 years for Khan and seven years for Bushra Bibi were later suspended on appeal. The couple denies wrongdoing. The cases are commonly known in Pakistan as the Toshakhana cases, referring to the state repository where gifts received by public officials are deposited. Advertisement Following the verdict, Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party announced plans for protests across Punjab on Sunday. Khans party also says routine family and legal visits have been blocked in recent weeks despite court orders. Authorities deny any mistreatment and say he is receiving all facilities available to prisoners. Khan, a former cricket star turned politician, remains one of Pakistans most polarising figures, with his legal battles unfolding as his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party remains sidelined from power. Reuters 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. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: World politics Imran Khan Pakistan Corruption Advertisement WorldAsiaBlood Oil The British expat tracking Russias shadow fleet from his Singapore deck Lisa Visentin December 21, 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 A A A What in the World, a free weekly newsletter from our foreign correspondents, is sent every Thursday. Below is an excerpt. Sign up to get the whole newsletter delivered to your inbox. Singapore: From the observation deck on the 47th floor of his apartment building, Remy Osman can peer out over Singapores southern skyline and into one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes. Its a captivating view by any means. But for more than three years, it has given the British expat a premium vantage point to monitor a shadow fleet of Russian oil tankers transiting through the Singapore Strait, often concealing their identity while they work to finance Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine. Remy Osman, a British expat in Singapore, spots sanctioned Russian oil tankers from his apartment building. Lisa Visentin Osman has scaled up his ship-spotting hobby with binoculars and a Nikon P950 camera to zoom in on the ghost tankers, which lurk low in the water when laden with sanctioned oil, making an amateur art out of what research institutes have finessed with more rigorous and detailed tracking. Advertisement The 32-year-old brings an added social media flair, exposing suspected Russian and Iranian shadow fleet on his sgshipspotting Instagram and TikTok accounts. In one video posted in November, he spotted four sanctioned vessels three Russian tankers, each operating under a false flag, and one Iranian tanker within 15 minutes. Many of these vessels have set sail from ports in the Baltic Sea or Black Sea en route via the straits of Malacca and Singapore (through which they are permitted to transit under international law) to China and India the largest buyers of Russian oil. As our Blood Oil series revealed, some of these tankers have carried Russian oil that, despite Western sanctions, has found its way to petrol bowsers in Australia, via refineries in India and Malaysia. By fuelling up, Australian motorists have unwittingly helped generate $2 billion in tax revenue for the Kremlin. Advertisement I come up here most days, and Im often looking for shadow fleet tankers, says 32-year-old Osman from the observation deck during a weekday lunch break from his day job in sales in Singapores food and beverage industry. Related Article Blood Oil Blood oil: How this Australia-bound ship is helping pay for Putins war I have noticed them becoming more frequent. Every month, more and more vessels are put onto sanctioned lists, so there are more to spot nowadays, and thats why some days I see multiple in one day. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), a Finland-based think tank that has been tracking the Kremlins sanctioned oil export revenues, estimates at least 163 shadow vessels transporting Russian oil have transited the Singapore Strait this year about 15 vessels a month. These vessels have transported about $US6.3 billion [$9.5 billion] of Russian oil through the Strait, and over two-thirds of them are sanctioned, analyst Vaibhav Raghunandan says. Advertisement In addition, weve also found that 19 of these vessels ran a false flag when going through the Strait, which has become a very popular and very common tactic used by Russian shadow vessels, especially ones that are sanctioned. The flag of Malawi, a landlocked country in south-eastern Africa, is one of the most commonly appropriated flags used by the shadow fleet to hide their intentions, Raghunandan says. The government of Malawi confirmed this year that it does not operate an international ship registry. Another giveaway is that shadow fleet vessels are typically rickety old tankers and often uninsured, making them a huge liability should an accident occur. More than 40 per cent of those transiting the Strait this year were over 20 years old, according to CREAs analysis. More than 100,000 vessels transit through the Singapore Strait every year, and even on a cloudy day, massive container ships carrying cargo destined for all over the world can be seen easily with the naked eye off the city-states coast. Advertisement An unusual flag is the first sign Osman looks for when tracking shadow vessels, which he does using open-source data, including a marine traffic app that provides ships locations in real time. Related Article Blood Oil Australia targets Putins shadow fleet in bid to starve Russian war machine He crosschecks this data against the Automatic Identification System (AIS), a radio broadcast tracking system that cargo ships are required to use to transmit the vessels name, its destination and origin, route, speed and registration details. Shadow ships are notorious for manipulating the AIS data, either by falsifying it, spoofing their location details or switching it off entirely. For example, they say they are coming from China, but theyre heading towards China, or they say that they have left a port six months ago, but you know it only takes about three or four days to get here, Osman says. Advertisement Using satellite imagery, he pinpoints when shadow vessels are likely to sail within view of his apartment, then films their passage, and posts it online to an audience of thousands of viewers, and growing. As for Australias role in buying Russian oil laundered through Asian refineries? Last month, Reliance Industries, the largest Indian supplier of fuel to Australia, said it would end the use of Russian oil at its export refinery in Jamnagar from December 1. The Reliance refinery at Jamnagar said it would end the use of Russian oil on December 1. Bloomberg But CREAs Raghunandan says there are still 15 shipments of Russian oil purchased before December 1 that are en route for delivery to Jamnagar, on Indias western coast. Another refinery in Brunei, which exports diesel to Australia, has also become heavily reliant on Russian crude oil this year, he says. This is something weve emphasised to Australian policymakers youre essentially working on trust that the third-country supplier is going to clean up their process to satisfy your needs, Raghunandan says. Advertisement The reality is that what you should be doing is cleaning up the supply chain at your end and doing due diligence at your end. 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. Advertisement WorldEuropeRoyal family Andrew took Ghislaine Maxwell to royal familys inner sanctum, Epstein files reveal Patrick Sawer , Janet Eastham and Victoria Ward December 21, 2025 5:30am 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 A A A Former prince Andrew took Ghislaine Maxwell to the inner sanctum of the Royal familys Sandringham retreat, the Epstein files have revealed. A photograph of Andrew shows him sprawled across the laps of five women as Jeffrey Epsteins girlfriend Maxwell looks on. Taken in the saloon room of the King and Queens country retreat in Norfolk, it is one of a series of images exposing the unparalleled access to British high society and power that the former prince granted the paedophile. This photograph was released on Saturday as part of the Epstein files. The Royal family traditionally meet in Sandringhams saloon room for afternoon tea on Christmas Eve, before gathering there again the next day to watch the monarchs pre-recorded Christmas message. Advertisement The photograph shows Maxwell smiling at Mountbatten-Windsor, who is wearing a black suit and bow tie and smiling with his face close to the bare legs of one of the women, whose identities have all been obscured. Related Article Analysis Epstein fallout Trump cannot shake Epstein cover-up saga and Saturdays release will not help Mountbatten-Windsor was photographed on Saturday morning riding at Royal Lodge at Windsor. He is set to move to Sandringham permanently next year after being forced out by the King over his friendship with Epstein. Sandringham was the scene of what Mountbatten-Windsor described as a straightforward shooting weekend during his catastrophic Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in 2019. A friend of the former prince tried to play down the reaction to the photograph, saying: We dont see what the problem is. Its just high jinks at a party. Hes fully clothed. Advertisement Another photograph from the Epstein files shows Maxwell, who is now serving 20 years in prison for sex trafficking, standing outside 10 Downing Street. One picture captures the pair with Mountbatten-Windsor in the Royal Box at Ascot, probably on a well-documented visit to Ladies Day in June 2000, when both Elizabeth II and the late Queen Mother were in attendance. This undated photo released by the US Department of Justice shows Ghislaine Maxwell in front of 10 Downing Street in London. AP Andrew has since described Epstein as his plus one, and in no way a guest of the royal family. The released files also include a photograph of Andrew with Epstein and Maxwell shooting on the heath lands of Balmoral. Advertisement Maxwell and actor Kevin Spacey were previously photographed sitting on the thrones in Buckingham Palace during a separate visit organised by Andrew. Andrew Lownie, the royal historian, said the ex-prince had allowed Epstein and Maxwell to treat royal residences as their private playground, mixing public and private with no sense of decorum. He said: These photographs will not look at all good in the eyes of the public. Epstein and Maxwell were given the opportunity to go anywhere and Andrew appears to have been too stupid to notice he was being taken advantage of in this way. This undated photo shows Ghislaine Maxwell, third from left, actor Kevin Spacey, second from right, and former President Bill Clinton, far right, with a group of unknown people. AP The latest release of photographs suggests Maxwell and Epstein enjoyed numerous visits to the UK to meet the late Queens son. Advertisement Other photos released from the Epstein files also show Sarah Ferguson, Andrews ex-wife, sitting with a woman on a sofa and standing with another in the street. Both womens identities have been redacted. In September 2025, it emerged Ferguson humbly apologised to Epstein in April 2011, calling him her dear friend, after publicly disowning him in March 2011. She said she had never called him a paedophile after he reacted furiously to comments she had made about him in an interview, according to emails obtained by the Mail on Sunday. Fresh revelations over the extent of Andrew and Epsteins friendship could prove a further embarrassment for the royal family. Details of the former dukes friendship with the paedophile, which continued after Epstein was convicted in 2008 of soliciting a child for prostitution, had threatened to plunge the monarchy into crisis earlier in 2025, prompting the King to strip him of his remaining titles. Advertisement The scandal effectively made Andrew a palace outcast. Earlier this week, he was pictured riding alone in the rain on the Sandringham estate. The former duke was ordered in October to leave Royal Lodge, his residence in Windsor, following weeks of scrutiny over his links to Epstein and Virginia Giuffre, his accuser. In a posthumous memoir published earlier that month, Giuffre repeated allegations that she was made to have sex with Andrew on three occasions. He has always denied the claims and any other wrongdoing. Prince Andrew with Virginia Roberts Giuffre (centre) in 2001 and Epsteins then personal assistant Ghislaine Maxwell. In an unprecedented statement stripping his brother of the Duke of York title in November, the King said that his utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse. Advertisement The move followed revelations in a drip-feed of documents, the latest tranche of which was published on Saturday AEDT that proved Andrew had lied to the public over claims that he had cut ties with Epstein. The former prince claimed in the 2019 Newsnight interview that he ended his friendship with the financier in 2010 following Epsteins conviction for procuring a child for prostitution. A recently surfaced email showed the former duke continued to pursue their friendship beyond this, writing to Epstein in 2011: We are in this together. Epstein died by suicide in a federal jail in Manhattan, New York, as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. He had previously pleaded guilty to child sex offences in 2008. Maxwell was convicted of child sex trafficking and sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2021. Maxwell found Epsteins friendship immediately rewarding Advertisement The first account of how he met Maxwell has resurfaced in the documents released by the US department of justice. A biography of the financier contained within the disclosures claims that he saved Maxwell from falling into a deep depression after her fathers death. The British socialite had moved to New York in 1991, months before Robert Maxwell fell to his death from his yacht, Lady Ghislaine, in an apparent suicide aged 68. She met Epstein shortly after her fathers death. The typed account (below), which is written in the third person, describes how Epstein and Maxwell met through mutual friends, and claims she found the friendship immediately rewarding. The account, which is recorded as being Epsteins personal history, appears to have been drafted as part of his defence after he was charged in Florida in 2006 with solicitation of a minor. Advertisement The profile claims that Epstein knew there were few bright spots for [Maxwell] during that period and that he took her regularly to comedy clubs, which she found enormously palliative in relieving her depression. It is claimed that he sought to lift her spirits by giving her books to read good novels, scientific studies containing issues to challenge her mind. The account states that Epstein arranged for Maxwell to secure a loan that would help her get a foothold in the business world , and that, [o]ver time, their relationship became intimate. According to the account, Epstein and Maxwells relationship ended amicably in 2000 as the nature of the demands of his work, i.e, the long hours and the frequent travel to maintain contacts around the world, precluded a good married life with children. Maxwell was reported to have wanted to start a family with Epstein. The text also excerpts passages of what appear to be a character witness of Epstein written by Maxwell. In it she said: My experience of Jeffrey, is of a thoughtful, kind, generous loving man, with a keen sense of humour and a ready smile a man of principles and values and a man of his word. Advertisement If he made a promise, he would always follow through. In fact, I never saw him break a promise. He is disciplined in business and conscientious. A man always quick to help someone who is down, or to offer an opportunity to someone to pursue a dream or a goal. Buckingham Palace declined to comment. The Telegraph, London Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Royal family Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Advertisement Analysis WorldNorth AmericaEpstein fallout Trump cannot shake Epstein cover-up saga and Saturdays release will not help Michael Koziol December 20, 2025 5:07pm 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 A A Phoenix: If the Epstein files were supposed to be a bombshell, it was a bomb that failed to detonate at least, not in the expected way. The US Department of Justice began on Saturday (AEDT) to release thousands of documents relating to its investigations into convicted sex offender and his girlfriend/accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Jeffrey Epstein contemplates a cake in the shape of womens breasts in a newly released photograph. US Department of Justice But rather than a smoking gun that would embarrass or incriminate Epsteins old friend Donald Trump, the day ended with Democrats threatening to impeach or prosecute Attorney-General Pam Bondi and her underlings for failing to deliver the expected goods. The trove of documents was light on new material. There were many photographs especially of former Democratic president Bill Clinton hanging out with Epstein back in the day but not a lot of the material that Epsteins victims and their allies were hoping for. Advertisement What people really wanted to see were grand jury transcripts, internal FBI memos and documents that might identify co-conspirators who aided or took part in the abuse of girls. Such documents were rare, and when they appeared, they were mostly or wholly redacted. One file consisted of 100 pages that were all fully blacked out. So were the faces of many women in the photographs, other than Maxwell. Pages from a totally redacted New York grand jury file into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, released on Friday. AP Yes, the Justice Department was protecting the identities of victims. And yes, it only had 30 days to make redactions on hundreds of thousands of pages. But the result feels wholly unsatisfactory. It also means the Epstein saga will continue to dog Trump. The DoJ might be trying to comply with the law in good faith. But rightly or wrongly, the notion that something is being covered up here will persist. Advertisement It was only in the hours before the deadline that the Trump administration admitted it was not going to release all the Epstein files on Saturday, the legal deadline. Deputy attorney-general Todd Blanche went on Fox News to say that while several hundred thousand files would be made public, there would be several hundred thousand more released over the next two weeks the Christmas and New Years break. Donald Trump leaves the White House on Friday for a rally in North Carolina, before heading to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. AP Pretty convenient timing. Trump headed to his Mar-a-Lago resort on Friday night, where he is expected to stay for two weeks, far away from the Washington press pack and any annoying Epstein questions. There was surprisingly (or perhaps unsurprisingly) very little of Trump in the files released on Saturday. That is despite the two men sharing a close friendship throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s, though they fell out at some point around the middle of that decade. Advertisement Instead, we got a stack of pictures of Clinton including one image of a shirtless Bill in a hot tub with a woman whose face was blacked out and some images showing Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger and other celebs hanging out with Epstein. Bill Clinton in a hot tub with an unknown person. AP Prince Andrew now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lies across several women in a newly released photograph. US Department of Justice In one photo, the then Prince Andrew now stripped of his royal titles thanks to his association with Epstein was lying across the laps of no less than five women, with Maxwell standing behind them. Titillating, but all things told, more of the same. Perhaps the most significant new document was a humble, one-page FBI note from September 1996. It was the log of a complaint by a woman who alleged Epstein had stolen nude photographs she had taken of her younger sisters, then aged 16 and 12, and threatened to burn her house down if she told anyone about it. Advertisement The name of the complainant was redacted, but we know it to be Maria Farmer, an artist who had worked for Epstein in the 90s. For a long time, she has said publicly that she told the FBI about Epstein way back in 1996, but her claims were never taken seriously. It would be another 10 years before the FBI properly investigated Epstein, leading to his conviction in a plea deal in 2008. Annie Farmer (left) and her sister Maria Farmer. Maria went to the police about Jeffrey Epstein in 1996. Netflix Related Article Epstein fallout Dramatic day as Democrats and Republicans threaten impeachment over Epstein files The 1996 memo finally proves Farmer was telling the truth. It also hammers home the uncomfortable truth of how long Epstein had been on the authorities radar. They were warned, but the warnings were not heeded. As Trump has said, Palm Beach in the 1990s was a different time. Thats also the impression you get from sifting through these hedonistic photographs. It was an era when men behaved badly with little compunction; they knew they could get away with it. Advertisement Given this administrations apparent allergy to transparency when it comes to the Epstein files, one wonders whether times have really changed. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 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. PHILIPSBURG:---The Government of Sint Maarten and the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) hosted a public consultation at the Belair Community Center to update the wider community on the upcoming activities of the Sint Maarten Wastewater Management Project (SWMP) and the work underway to improve wastewater services across the island. The session provided a clear overview of the anticipated challenges that will affect neighborhoods, together with mitigation measures. The session also covered the planned upgrades and long-term investments being developed to modernize the wastewater treatment system and protect public health. Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment & Infrastructure (VROMI), Hon. Patrice Gumbs, emphasized why this early engagement is important. This project needs to be seen as more than an infrastructure intervention. By addressing sewage, the Sint Maarten Wastewater Management Project should be seen as a tool to mitigate pollution, build healthy environments, support our tourism economy, and most importantly, ensure safe and enjoyable communities for our people. We're very proud to announce that, in tandem with the United Nations Office of Project Services, we will be finalizing private connections for homes in the Dutch Quarter at the same time that were doing this project in the Cul-de-Sac. So, there will be a lot of infrastructure projects in the next 18 months, starting in Q4 next year. We're very aware that we need to do extensive mitigation work to minimize the nuisance caused by infrastructure projects in these two densely populated areas of the country. The government has continuing momentum to ensure the product is completed successfully. The goal is one hundred percent safely managed sanitation by the mid-2030s. Under SWMP, the Government and NRPB aim to modernize the islands approach to wastewater treatment methods by upgrading and optimizing the existing wastewater treatment plant, expanding and rehabilitating the sewer network in the Cul de Sac basin, and strengthening the Ministry of VROMIs long-term capacity to regulate these systems. The project will also support the development of a national wastewater strategy, a financially sustainable management model, and develop a monitoring system to track coastal and inland water quality. Together, these efforts lay the foundation for more reliable, resilient, and healthier wastewater management for the communities within the project area. NRPB Director Claret Connor noted that this consultation reflects the Trust Funds wider shift from emergency recovery toward long-term sector strengthening. Improving how we manage wastewater is a public health priority. This consultation aims to bring the community into the process early, so their experiences, questions, and concerns can help shape the decisions that must be made before construction begins. Attendees then heard from SWMP Project Manager Alvaro Vadillo, who outlined the proposed interventions and explained what the expansion of the sewer network could mean for households in the Cul de Sac basin. This was followed by a presentation from Victoria DOrey and Susana Baptista of JV ENGIDRO/PROCESL, who walked through the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP). They described the current challenges, the expected benefits of the upgrades, and the measures that will be used to reduce dust, noise, traffic delays, and other temporary inconveniences once construction begins. During the open questions and answer session, residents asked how new household connections would work; they were told that connections will be possible based on the available financial resources and be determined once the bidding process is finalized. Participants also questioned whether lines would cut through private yards; the Ministry noted that designs will prioritize existing access roads and avoid yards wherever possible, with regulations for these areas still being developed. Several questions focused on how the system will be financed and maintained. The Minister outlined that a new financial framework is being prepared, including the possibility of different rates for residents and businesses and potential tourism-based contributions. There were also queries around timelines and contingencies; the Ministry advised that buffers are being built into both the budget and schedule. Questions about extending services into higher elevations and other neighborhoods were addressed by noting that hilltop areas may require different solutions, and that future phases will look toward areas like Cole Bay. Others stressed the importance of involving youth in wastewater education, which the Ministry strongly supported. While SWMP will not resolve every wastewater concern across the island, it represents a meaningful and necessary step for the communities in the Cul de Sac basin, where wastewater exposure has been a persistent challenge. The improvements, once completed, are expected to reduce pressure on aging septic systems and support better health and environmental outcomes. As the consultation concluded, Minister Gumbs reminded participants that this is just the beginning of the conversation. More information will be shared as designs are finalized, and additional sessions will be held to keep residents informed. Together, the Government, the NRPB, and the community are laying the groundwork for a wastewater system that is safer, stronger, and more resilient for generations to come. The Sint Maarten Wastewater Management Project (SWMP) is implemented by the NRPB on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten. It is co-funded by the Government of Sint Maarten and the Sint Maarten Trust Fund, which is financed by the Government of the Netherlands and managed by the World Bank. In what has to be one of the highest Vol/OI (volume-to-open-interest) ratios Ive seen in a very long time, Avantor (AVTR) had a put option yesterday that was nearly double the next highest, a C3.ai call. Even though Im not a big follower of health-sector stocks, I just had to write about the lab-supplies providers Jan. 16/2026 $9 put. Its not often you see a 437.51 Vol/OI ratio. More News from Barchart Of course, when I reviewed the latest news stories about Avantor, I immediately understood whythe calls to join a class action lawsuit against the company have increased dramatically. Yesterdays volume of 73,647 was more than 11 times the 30-day average, with the $9 put accounting for all but 1% of this volume. As investors know, there are two sides to every trade. Yesterdays unusual options activity on the $9 put expiring in 30 days suggests one side believes the stock wont fall below $9 by expiration, while the other is looking for downside protection should the stock continue to move lower, perhaps into the single digits. Theres a patsy here. The question is who it is. Ill try to answer that. The Put Option in Question As I said in the introduction, the put option in question is the Jan. 16/2026 $9 put. Breaking down the put trades, you had four (29,120, 26,120, 7,280, and 10,280), accounting for 99.6% of yesterday's volume. These werent punters. The trade prices ranged from $0.05 to $0.10 per contract. But for this article, Ill use the bid and ask prices at the close. Lets consider both sides of the trade: a long put and a short put. Is the Short Puts Return Worth It? In the case of the short put, the investor sells $9 put contracts for $0.05 in premium income. Thats an annualized return of 6.8% [$0.05 bid price / $9 strike price - $0.05 bid price * 365 / 30]. Im usually quite keen on investors selling Cash-Secured Puts to generate income while they wait for a better entry point to go long on a particular stock. In this case, should the stock fall by 19.4% to the $8.95 breakeven [$9 strike price - $0,05 bid price] by the Jan. 16, you may face assignment, forced to buy 100 shares at $9. The risk of this plan is that the stock continues to fall, perhaps into penny-stock territory below $5. The last time AVTR traded below $5? Never! It went public in May 2019 at $14 a share. On March 18, 2020, its low that day was $6.66. By the end of that March, it was back above $11, about where it is today. US strikes Islamic State group in Syria after deadly attack on troops Washington, United States, Dec 20 (AFP) Dec 20, 2025 US forces on Friday launched a major military operation against the Islamic State group in Syria that President Donald Trump described as "very serious retaliation" for an attack that killed three Americans -- two soldiers and a civilian. Washington said a lone gunman from the militant group carried out the December 13 attack in Palmyra -- home to UNESCO-listed ancient ruins and once controlled by jihadist fighters -- which also wounded three US service members. "US forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on US forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria," US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X, using an acronym for the jihadist group. "This is not the beginning of a war -- it is a declaration of vengeance," he wrote, adding: "Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue." Trump said in a post on his Truth Social network that US forces are "inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible," and that those who attack Americans "WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE." US Central Command announced that American forces had "commenced a large-scale strike against ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites in Syria," while a security source in the Middle Eastern country said air strikes had targeted Islamic State (IS) group positions in the Homs desert and rural areas of Deir Ezzor and Raqqa. - 'No safe havens' - Syria's foreign ministry, while not directly commenting on the US strikes, said in a post on X that is committed to fighting IS and "ensuring that it has no safe havens on Syrian territory." The Americans killed in the Palmyra attack last weekend were Iowa National Guard sergeants William Howard and Edgar Torres Tovar, and Ayad Mansoor Sakat, a civilian from Michigan who worked as an interpreter. Trump, Hegseth and top military officer General Dan Caine were among the US officials who attended a somber ceremony marking the return of the dead to the United States on Wednesday. The attack was the first such incident since the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December last year, and Syrian interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said the perpetrator was a security forces member who was due to be fired for his "extremist Islamist ideas." The US personnel who were targeted were supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the international effort to combat IS, which seized swaths of Syrian and Iraqi territory in 2014. The jihadists were ultimately defeated by local ground forces backed by international air strikes and other support, but IS still has a presence in Syria, especially in the country's vast desert. Trump has long been skeptical of Washington's presence in Syria, ordering the withdrawal of troops during his first term but ultimately leaving American forces in the country. The Pentagon announced in April that the United States would halve the number of US personnel in Syria in the following months, while US envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said in June that Washington would eventually reduce its bases in the country to one. US forces are currently deployed in Syria's Kurdish-controlled northeast as well as at Al-Tanf near the border with Jordan. Trump nominates new head of US forces in Latin America Washington, United States, Dec 20 (AFP) Dec 20, 2025 US President Donald Trump has nominated a new head of US forces in Latin America, according to a statement Friday, after an admiral stepped down from the role early. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced in the statement that Trump had appointed General Francis L Donovan to head the US Southern Command, a role that oversees the major US military buildup taking place in the Caribbean. The appointment of Donovan, currently the vice commander of the Pentagon's Special Operations Command, would need to be confirmed by the Senate before he can take up the position. The previous Southern Command head Admiral Alvin Holsey announced in mid-October that he would leave his position, and had reportedly expressed concerns about US strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats. Holsey officially stepped down from the role this month, only one year into his tenure, and neither he nor Hegseth have publicly provided a reason for his early departure. The United States has amassed a huge flotilla of warships in the Caribbean as part of what Washington bills as counter-narcotics efforts, and has since September carried out strikes targeting alleged drug-smuggling vessels that have left more than 100 dead. Trump's administration insists it is effectively at war with alleged drug traffickers, but experts say the strikes on the boats amount to extrajudicial killings even if they target known traffickers. Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro has accused Washington of using drug trafficking as a pretext for government change in Caracas. Trump in an interview on Thursday with NBC News left open the possibility of war with Venezuela, and his top diplomat Marco Rubio vowed Friday to enforce a blockade on the country's oil wealth. nr/ceg/rsc Syria monitor says US strikes killed at least five IS members Damascus, Dec 20 (AFP) Dec 20, 2025 A Syria monitor said Saturday that at least five Islamic State jihadist group members including a cell leader were killed in US strikes overnight after a deadly attack on American troops last weekend. US forces said they struck more than 70 IS targets in what President Donald Trump described as "very serious retaliation" for the December 13 attack that killed two US soldiers and a US civilian. Washington had said a lone gunman from the IS jihadist group carried out the attack in Palmyra, which is home to UNESCO-listed ancient ruins and was once controlled by jihadist fighters. It was the first such incident since the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December last year, and Syrian authorities said the perpetrator was a security forces member who was due to be fired for his "extremist Islamist ideas". Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP that "at least five members of the Islamic State group were killed" in eastern Syria's Deir Ezzor province, including the leader of a cell responsible for drones in the area. A Syrian security source told AFP that the US strikes targeted IS cells in Syria's vast Badia desert including in Homs, Deir Ezzor and Raqa provinces, and did not include ground operations. Most of the targets were in a mountainous area running north of Palmyra including towards Deir Ezzor, the source said, requesting anonymity. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement that the United States "struck more than 70 targets at multiple locations across central Syria with fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery". - 'Intense bombardment' - "The operation employed more than 100 precision munitions targeting known ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites," CENTCOM said, using an acronym for the Islamic State group. "The Jordanian Armed Forces also supported with fighter aircraft," it added. A Syrian security official, also requesting anonymity, told AFP that "the bombardment was intense" and lasted around five hours. "The targets were far from population centres," the official said, adding that no displacement of residents had been reported and government forces had not been ordered to deploy to the targeted areas. Syria's foreign ministry, while not directly commenting on the strikes, said on X that the country was committed to fighting IS and "ensuring that it has no safe havens on Syrian territory, and will continue to intensify military operations against it wherever it poses a threat". Trump said in a post on his Truth Social network that the United States was "inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible" for the Palmyra attack. CENTCOM said that since the attack, US and allied forces have "conducted 10 operations in Syria and Iraq resulting in the deaths or detention of 23 terrorist operatives", without specifying which groups the militants belonged to. The US personnel who were targeted were supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the international effort to combat IS, which seized swathes of Syrian and Iraqi territory in 2014. IS was territorially defeated in Syria in 2019 but still maintains a presence particularly in the country's vast desert. US forces are currently deployed in Syria's Kurdish-controlled northeast as well as at Al-Tanf near the border with Jordan. bur-str-lg/amj Iraq top judge says armed factions to cooperate on weapons Baghdad, Dec 20 (AFP) Dec 20, 2025 The head of Iraq's highest judicial body said Saturday that the leaders of armed factions have agreed to cooperate on the sensitive issue of the state's monopoly on weapons. However, the powerful Kataeb Hezbollah group said that it would only discuss giving up its arms when foreign troops leave the country. "The resistance is a right, and its weapons will remain in the hands of its fighters," the group said in a statement. The leaders of three other pro-Iran factions designated by Washington as terrorist groups said that it is time to restrict weapons to state control, although they too have stopped short of committing to disarm -- a long-standing US demand. Faiq Zidan, the head of Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council, in a statement thanked "faction leaders for heeding his advice to coordinate together to enforcing the rule of law, restrict weapons to state control, and transition to political action after the national need for military action has ceased". After Iraq's general elections in November, the United States demanded that the new government exclude six groups it designates as terrorists and instead move to dismantle them, Iraqi officials and diplomats told AFP. But some of the groups have increased their presence in the new parliament and are members of the Coordination Framework, a ruling alliance of Shiite parties with varying ties to Iran that holds the majority. The blacklisted groups are part of the Hashed al-Shaabi, a former paramilitary alliance that has integrated into the armed forces. But they have also developed a reputation for sometimes acting on their own. They are also part of the Tehran-backed so-called "axis of resistance", and have called for the withdrawal of US troops -- deployed in Iraq as part of an anti-jihadist coalition -- and launched attacks against them. These groups include the powerful Asaib Ahl al-Haq faction, which won 27 seats in the elections. Earlier this week, the group's leader, Qais al-Khazali, a key figure in the Coordination Framework, said "we believe" in "the slogan to restrict weapons to the state", and "we are now part of the state". Two other groups, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kataeb Imam Ali, said on Friday that it is time to "limit weapons to the state". US, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey urge restraint in Gaza after Miami talks Miami, Dec 20 (AFP) Dec 20, 2025 The United States was joined Saturday by Qatar, Egypt and Turkey in urging parties in the Gaza ceasefire to uphold their obligations and exercise restraint, the chief US envoy said after talks in Miami. Top officials from each nation met with Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's special envoy, to review the first stage of the ceasefire that came into effect on October 10. "We reaffirm our full commitment to the entirety of the President's 20-point peace plan and call on all parties to uphold their obligations, exercise restraint, and cooperate with monitoring arrangements," said a statement posted by Witkoff on X. Their meeting came amid continuing strains on the agreement. Gaza's civil defense said six people were killed Friday in Israeli shelling of a shelter. That brought to 400 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since the deal took effect. Israel has also repeatedly accused Hamas of violating the truce, with the military reporting of its three soldiers killed in the territory since October. Saturday's statement cited progress yielded in the first stage of the peace agreement, including expanded humanitarian assistance, return of hostage bodies, partial force withdrawals and a reduction in hostilities. It called for "the near-term establishment and operationalization" of a transitional administration which is due to happen in the second phase of the agreement, and said consultations would continue in the coming weeks over its implementation. Under the deal's terms, Israel is supposed to withdraw from its positions in Gaza, an interim authority is to govern the Palestinian territory instead of Hamas, and an international stabilization force is to be deployed. On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope that countries would contribute troops for the stabilization force, but also urged the disarmament of Hamas, warning the process would unravel unless that happened. Whether it was in the reception, bars or restaurant, the most enduring compliment I can give Hotel de la Ville is towards its generous staff. The professionalism and genuine kindness in my opinion was exceptional. Their attentiveness to your individual needs gives the spot an intimacy that is very rare to find in a hotel of its size there are 104 rooms, not including the suites. It is not juries that cause delays, says Riel Karmy-Jones KC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association. Rather it is all the consequences of the years of underfunding that look set to continue: the artificial cap on sitting days, the crumbling courts, the inadequate technology, the failure to deliver prisoners to court on time, the lack of interpreters, and issues with funding of expert witnesses. Allow Google Search To use the search feature, we need your consent to load Google Custom Search, which may use cookies or similar technologies. Please click 'Allow and Continue' below to enable search. See our privacy policy for more information. Allow and Continue After 232 years of production, the U.S. Mint stamped its final batch of pennies on November 12, 2025. In February, President Trump ordered the Treasury Department to stop minting pennies because the government was losing money on every coin since it cost 3.69 cents to produce every penny, the production process was nearly four times more expensive than the value of the coin itself (1). Must Read Since many consumers had come to see pennies as an annoyance, these coins were often discarded or thrown away. But when Trump made his penny announcement, people began collecting the freshly-minted coins on the assumption that they could be worth a lot of money. Online sellers rushed to list boxes of brand-new 2025 pennies for $1,000 or more, despite those boxes having a face value of just $25, according to The New York Post (2). A Louisiana radio station even encouraged listeners to buy 50-cent rolls of pennies at banks and flip them on eBay for as much as $50 (3). The pitch sounds compelling: get in early on a "collectible" before it disappears forever. But coin experts say anyone paying these inflated prices for pennies is likely wasting their money. Why collecting new pennies is a con "Whenever there are stories about coins, scammers come along and take advantage of the headlines," John Feigenbaum, executive director of the Professional Numismatists Guild and CEO of Whitman Publishing, told The Post. He estimates the U.S. Mint produced roughly a billion 2025 pennies before production ended, and that doesnt even include the three-billion pennies that were minted in 2024. As Feigenbaum warns, dealers simply won't buy a penny for more than its worth, so consumers probably shouldnt either. Furthermore, the inflated prices appearing on eBay and Etsy don't reflect genuine collector value just seller hype that seeks to exploit public confusion. The situation mirrors the 1976 bicentennial quarter craze, when Americans hoarded millions of redesigned 25 cent coins thinking they'd become valuable. "Today they're still worth around face value," Feigenbaum noted with The Post. "Scarcity is scarcity if you make a billion of something, its not rare." By David Jeans NEW YORK, Dec 18 (Reuters) - A New York investment manager has been indicted for allegedly defrauding millions of dollars from investors in a sham pre-IPO scheme tied to U.S. drone-maker Anduril Industries, highlighting the risk of fraud as private tech firms grow more prominent and valuable. Giovanni Pennetta, manager of Sestante Capital, was arrested on Sunday at JFK International Airport and later charged with securities fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, the Department of Justice said. Prosecutors say he falsely promised clients economic exposure to nonpublic shares in Anduril, raising millions of dollars despite having no access to the companys stock. An attorney for Pennetta declined to comment. Anduril, which makes drones and military AI software for the Pentagon, and was valued at $30 billion in a funding round in June, declined to comment on the case. Spokesperson Jackson Lingane directed Reuters to a memo on the company's website that stated: "Any offer to invest in Anduril that does not come from or through Anduril is very likely a scam." In an exchange on X this week, Anduril founder Palmer Luckey accused crypto firm AlphaTON of defrauding investors after the firm announced it had made a $30 million investment in Anduril. Soon after, AlphaTON said in a press release it had cancelled the investment. AlphaTON and its CEO Brittany Kaiser didn't respond to a comment request. The Pennetta case and the AlphaTON claims underscore the growing risk of scams targeting investors as private tech firms like OpenAI, SpaceX and Anduril gain prominence but restrict public share distribution. Victims are often approached with glossy presentations, fake documents and promises of exclusive access to private companies. In September 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged three people involved in an alleged scheme to fraudulently offer pre-IPO shares in private companies, generating $120 million from hundreds of investors. In a separate case, three sales executives were arrested in February on charges brought by the Eastern District of New York relating to an alleged pre-IPO fraud scheme. Companies like Anduril and SpaceX are staying private for longer than typical companies, said Daniel Taylor, director of the Wharton Forensic Analytics Lab at the University of Pennsylvania. "There's less ability for public scrutiny, corporate transparency, and public surveillance, and that makes fraud and manipulation more rampant in the private space," Taylor said. (Reporting by David Jeans and Joe Brock; Editing by Daniel Wallis) Assyrian Colonel Shot Dead in Kirkuk, Iraq Assyrian Colonel Zaid Adel Subaih Jirjis. The Assyrian people in Iraq mourns Colonel Zaid Adel Subaih Jirjis, a police official who was killed on Friday, 19 December, as a result of a shooting in Kerkheslokh (Kirkuk), Iraq, while carrying out his duties. The Iraqi Ministry of Interior said that the team assigned to investigate the circumstances surrounding the murder believes, based on its preliminary investigations, that the motives behind the killing are criminal in nature. According to the findings, two other police officers from Kerkheslokh, who are brothers, carried out the killing after a personal dispute. After shooting Zaid Adel Subaih Jirjis, father of three children, they fled the scene. A source within the Kerkheslokh police, speaking to the Rudaw Network on condition of anonymity, said that three individuals drove an Opel vehicle and opened fire on Zaid Adel Subaih Jirjis, hitting him with four bullets, one to the neck and three to the chest. The police investigation team succeeded in identifying the perpetrators after circulating the description of their vehicle. It was later determined that one of them committed suicide, while the second individual was arrested and confessed to their involvement in the murder. In addition, the ministry arrested a third brother, who was with one of the suspects at the time of his arrest. Worth to note that the two suspects had previously been convicted in a forgery case but were later released under a recent presidential amnesty decision. Key Points Tech ETFs can help you earn significantly higher than average returns over time. The Vanguard Information Technology ETF is more diversified, but with limited earning potential. While the Invesco Semiconductors ETF has earned more in recent years, it's also more volatile. 10 stocks we like better than Invesco Exchange-Traded Fund Trust - Invesco Semiconductors ETF Investing in tech ETFs can be a fantastic way to buy into this profitable sector of the market without having to invest in individual stocks, diversifying your portfolio and amplifying your earnings at the same time. The Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSEMKT: VGT) and the Invesco Semiconductors ETF (NYSEMKT: PSI) are both tech-focused funds with ties to the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, but which one is the better buy? Here's what you need to know. Image source: Getty Images. Diversification is the key difference to consider Both of these ETFs are strong performers in their own right, but the deciding differentiator for many investors will be their diversification. The Vanguard Information Technology ETF contains 322 tech stocks, and while its top sector allocation is semiconductors, it also includes stocks from nearly a dozen other subsectors as well -- from software and hardware to infrastructure to manufacturing services. That level of diversification can help limit risk, especially during periods of market volatility. However, it also increases the chances that lower-performing stocks will dilute the fund's overall returns. The Invesco Semiconductor ETF, on the other hand, is less diversified but offers greater earning potential. It contains only 30 holdings, all of which are semiconductor stocks. That narrow focus increases its risk substantially, but sometimes, a more targeted approach can lead to higher total returns. PSI data by YCharts Over the last 10 years, for example, the Vanguard Information Technology ETF has earned an average rate of return of 22.18% per year, compared to the Invesco Semiconductor ETF's 24.98% average annual return in that time. Both ETFs can be powerful investments, but the right one for you will depend on your risk tolerance, goals, and gaps you're looking to fill within your portfolio. Should you invest $1,000 in Invesco Exchange-Traded Fund Trust - Invesco Semiconductors ETF right now? Before you buy stock in Invesco Exchange-Traded Fund Trust - Invesco Semiconductors ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Invesco Exchange-Traded Fund Trust - Invesco Semiconductors ETF wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Key Points The stocks on this list are all in different sectors of the economy and can help diversify your portfolio. They have been reliable dividend stocks to own for years and offer investors attractive yields. 10 stocks we like better than Verizon Communications Who doesn't love some dividend income? It can be a great way to add cash flow that you can use to either pay bills, fund a trip, or just to add to your savings. Dividend stocks can be good investments for all types of investors to consider. If you want to generate around $2,500 in dividends per year, you can accomplish that by investing $13,000 into each of the following high-yielding stocks: Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS), and Enbridge (NYSE: ENB). Together, these stocks can diversify your portfolio and bring in plenty of dividend income for your portfolio for years to come. They all yield far more than the 1.1% that the S&P 500 averages. Image source: Getty Images. Verizon Communications' dividend yields 6.8% Verizon has been a dependable dividend stock to own for years. It yields 6.8%, and if you invest $13,000 into the stock today, you could expect to collect around $884 in dividends over the course of a full year. Plus, Verizon has been increasing its dividend for 19 consecutive years, which makes it probable that the dividend income will rise in the future. Although investors aren't thrilled with Verizon's stock price performance over the past five years -- the stock is down more than 30% over that time frame -- the company is in the midst of a restructuring under new CEO Dan Schulman, who recently announced Verizon would be laying off over 13,000 employees. It's a challenging time for the business as it looks to reenergize its operations and focus on winning over customers, but at its core, Verizon is still a solid dividend stock. If Schulman is successful in getting the business growing again, you could potentially profit from not only a ton of dividend income, but also gains from the stock rising in value. United Parcel Service's dividend yields 6.6% Another struggling stock that offers a high payout today is United Parcel Service. Its share price is down more than 40% in the past five years. But with slowing economic conditions and now tariffs weighing down global trade, it's not surprising that the stock hasn't exactly been a hot buy. Its payout ratio is a little over 100%, which can be concerning, but that should come down as it sheds costs. UPS is working on improving efficiency, and it recently announced it would be laying off 48,000 workers this year. The company prides itself on its dividend, saying that it's one of the company's "core principles" and it boasts that it has either maintained or increased its dividend every year since 1999 (when it went public). A car drives under a sign that states the purpose of the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot Parris Island in South Carolina, May 11, 2022. (Stephen B. Morton/AP) (Tribune News Service) A 26-year-old U.S. Marine has died at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in Port Royal, S.C., but few details were released about the circumstances. On Thursday Sgt. Cameron Thach was found dead at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, the Marines said Friday afternoon. Thach, of Elmore, Ala., was an operational contract support specialist assigned to the Regional Contracting Office (RCO), Headquarters and Service Battalion. RCOs are responsible for acquiring goods, services and construction to support military installations and operations. Thachs cause of death is under investigation, the Marines said. Its premature to speculate on the circumstances at this time, Chief Warrant Officer Bobby Yarbrough, a Marines spokesperson, said. Out of respect for the Marines family and loved ones, no additional details will be released at this time, the Marines said in a statement. The Marine Corps extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fellow Marines affected by this loss. Who was Marine Sgt. Cameron Thach? Thach joined the Marines in 2017. During his service, he earned the National Defense Service, Good Conduct and the Global War on Terrorism Service medals. He is survived by his wife. About 20,000 enlisted recruits train to be Marines each year at the 8,000-acre island base in Port Royal, one of two bases in the country where recruits train to become Marines. The other is Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Other Marines who died at Parris Island Thachs death brings the number of Marines who have died at Parris Island since 2021 to at least nine. Others have died by suicide or were killed in training-related incidents. In some cases the Marines did not release specific causes. A spate of deaths was reported at the base in 2023, according to Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet archives. At least three Marines died at Parris Island in 2021. 2025 The Island Packet (Hilton Head, S.C.). Visit www.islandpacket.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Space Force guardians march during a graduation ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. The event, hosted by the 737th Training Group, saw guardians wear the services new dress uniform amid the services growing identity. (Jonathan Mallard/U.S. Air Force ) WASHINGTON The U.S. Space Force on Saturday will not have a big birthday celebration like the Army or Navy had this year, but the service keeps moving forward. Over the last six years weve been in a sprint to build a world-class, modern, and combat-ready force. This was only possible because of you, our Guardians, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said in his birthday message. Each of you has had a pivotal role in forging a stronger, more resilient and more capable Space Force for the nation. Space Force was established on Dec. 20, 2019, by President Donald Trump as the sixth branch of the U.S. military. It became the first new branch of the armed services in more than seven decades. Saltzman added this has been a year of tremendous growth. The service saw the 100th space launch this year from the Eastern Range, the first time crossing the triple-digit threshold at Cape Canaveral in a single year. In July, more than 700 Guardians across 55 locations exercised with the Joint Force and U.S. allies during Resolute Space 25. The Space Force provided precision navigation, critical intelligence and life-saving missile warning as part of Operation Midnight Hammer, the U.S. militarys strikes conducted on Iranian nuclear sites in June. Im incredibly proud of our achievements, and Im honored to celebrate this birthday with you as one team, Saltzman said. Trump in September reversed a Biden administration decision and announced that Space Command headquarters would move to Alabama. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville this month for the relocation of U.S. Space Command Headquarters and a designation ceremony. Trump announced the establishment of Space Command toward the end of his first term, in 2019, but it actually was a reestablishment of the combatant command created in 1985. It was shuttered by the Pentagon in 2002 as part of the post-9/11 government restructuring. Redstone, an Army installation, was named one of six finalists for the headquarters in November 2020 after the Air Force conducted two searches for a permanent home for the Pentagons newest combatant command, which is charged with overseeing and controlling the U.S. militarys myriad space-based infrastructure and operations. The command was housed temporarily at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo., since it was reestablished in August 2019. Then-President Joe Biden in 2023 decided to keep Space Command in Colorado. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced that the U.S. Space Force flag will be flown at all Alabama rest areas and welcome centers through Dec. 23, honoring the Space Forces birthday with a weeklong, statewide show of support. The U.S. Space Force is a critical branch of our military with a serious mission, and it deserves to be recognized as such. Alabama understands the importance of defending our nation in every domain, leading in space development and setting the pace for innovation, Ivey said in a statement. We are honoring the men and women carrying out this great mission and marking the Space Forces birthday with the respect it has earned by displaying the Space Force flag statewide. Alabama is proud to fly it. While the Space Force does not have a main celebration, local celebrations have begun. Cake-cutting ceremonies were held at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. The Army and Air Force Exchange Service is celebrating the Space Forces birthday with a sweepstakes offering more than $15,000 in prizes, available to authorized military shoppers who enter at ShopMyExchange.com/sweepstakes from Dec. 19, 2025, through Jan. 19, 2026. The Exchange is honored to commemorate this occasion with a sweepstakes that recognizes the Guardians who serve with excellence, Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Rich Martinez, the Exchanges senior enlisted adviser, said in a statement. Winners will be selected and notified no later than Jan. 30. Lt. Gen. Francis L. Donovan, vice commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, speaks with a Naval special warfare operator and a Navy diver in San Diego, Feb. 11, 2025. President Donald Trump nominated Donovan to lead the U.S. Southern Command, the Pentagon announced on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (David Rowe/U.S. Navy) WASHINGTON Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Frank Donovan has been nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the U.S. Southern Command, the Pentagon announced Friday. Donovan has served as the vice commander of U.S. Special Operations Command since September 2022. He replaces Adm. Alvin Holsey, who retired this month with two years left in his tenure. The change comes amid rising tensions with Venezuela from seizing an oil tanker and more than 20 strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats. The U.S. has conducted at least 28 strikes since Sept. 2 and killed at least 104 people. Holsey announced his retirement in October. In a closed-door meeting with senior lawmakers on Tuesday, Holsey insisted his decision was personal and had nothing to do with the operations in his command, according to comments by Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, published in Politico. In his farewell remarks, Holsey did not address operations or reasons for his retirement. He did urge his successor to uphold longstanding partnerships in the region by standing firmly behind the shared values of democracy and support for the rule of law. I concluded my final commanders conference yesterday, and I was clear with my team to be a trusted partner. We must be credible, present and engaged, Holsey said. Reuters reported that Holsey was pushed out by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the secretary had grown frustrated with SOUTHCOM as he sought to flex U.S. military operations and planning in the region. Spokespeople for Hegseth previously have denied that there was tension between Holsey and Hegseth. The House on Wednesday rejected two measures aimed at stopping President Donald Trump from carrying out additional strikes on suspected drug boats or attacking Venezuela without congressional approval. Democrats continue to push for the public release of unedited videos showing the initial Sept. 2 strike and a controversial follow-up strike that killed two survivors. The Republican chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, however, said this week they are satisfied with the Pentagons explanation for the strike and will not pursue further congressional oversight of the episode. Trump this year designated several drug cartels as terrorist organizations, including Venezuelas Tren de Aragua. His administration has asserted that the U.S. is in an armed conflict with cartels and will treat their members as combatants. An official portrait of Timothy Dill, a former Green Beret recently confirmed by the U.S. Senate to the role of assistant secretary of defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. (Department of Defense) WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Timothy D. Dill to serve as assistant secretary of war for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, placing the former Green Beret in charge of personnel policies affecting millions of military service members and civilians in defense. Dill, originally from Akron, Ohio, will oversee nearly all of the departments policies affecting careers and quality of life for the military and civilian workforce. The position makes him a key advisor to Pentagon secretary Pete Hegseth on matters related to military and civilian personnel policies, reserve integration, military community and family policy, and total force manpower. Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, said that Dill will play a key role in ensuring the department fosters a culture rooted in merit, a culture that recognizes excellence, supports families, and remains competitive with the civilian sector. During his confirmation hearing before Wickers committee in November, Dill said his military career was inspired by his grandfathers military service in World War II, as well as that of an across-the-street neighbor in Akron, Sam McNeill, who earned a Silver Star in World War II. I was 16 when the World Trade Center towers fell, Dill told the committee. Like many of my generation, that defining event in our nations history called me to military service. He spent 10 years on active duty, first in the 82nd Airborne Division, where his neighbor had served, then as an elite Green Beret in 3rd Special Forces Group. During his military career, he was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Mauritania. My military service was transformational, giving me more than I could ever give back and deepening my love for our country, Dill told the committee. Serving alongside our nations finest paratroopers and green berets challenged me to give my all and shaped my future steps. Dill earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Central Florida, and then used the GI Bill to attend Duke University, where he earned both a law degree and an MBA. When I took off my uniform for the last time, the GI Bill covered my graduate degree at my dream school, which is where I met my wife, Andrea, giving me the best transition to civilian life that I couldve asked for, Dill said. The couple have two children. Dill practiced national security-related law at a Washington, D.C., law firm before serving as national security adviser to Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. Cruz introduced Dill at the hearing, praising his former staffers credentials and character. He is a warrior and a true patriot, Cruz said. From leading soldiers in combat to shaping legislation that strengthens our national defense and security, Tim understands the weight of responsibility that comes with leadership. The committees top Democrat, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, questioned Dill about maintaining the militarys apolitical tradition, asking him to commit to protecting service members and defense civilians regardless of their personal political preferences or demographics. If confirmed, you have my commitment that Ill certainly not politicize and will respect the status of all career officials, whether thats in uniform or out of uniform, in the department, Dill told him. In his opening statement, Dill emphasized his commitment to maintaining the militarys tradition of nonpartisan service. Our military has long fielded an all-volunteer force, and the Department must continue to inspire our finest young men and women to serve both in uniform and as members of our critical civilian workforce, Dill said. We must also persuade the best among them to stay and become senior leaders. Dill told senators he would serve on behalf of three groups: fallen service members who gave their lives for the country, the 3 million active duty and civilian defense personnel currently serving, and the next generation who may follow in their footsteps. That generation may include my own children, and I hope to ensure their opportunity to, like me, serve their country in a merit-based military that molds the next generation of leaders, he said. 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit cleveland.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. An A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft participates in a training exercise on the Nevada Test and Training Range July 19, 2017. (Kevin Tanenbaum/U.S. Air Force) (Tribune News Service) U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., is slamming House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., over his removal of a provision from Congress annual defense bill that would have extended key benefits to veterans previously stationed at the Nevada Test and Training Range. The Department of Energy automatically presumes that civilians who worked at the Nevada Test and Training Range, which previously housed nuclear weapons testing, were exposed to radiation. However, the Department of Defense does not do the same for veterans who worked there. And because of the secret nature of the militarys operations at the test site, theres no public record of people who worked there under the Department of Defense. Those hurdles make it impossible for veterans to prove their ailments are service-related in order to access additional benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Those benefits include free or subsidized VA health treatments for presumptions of toxic exposure from radiation and chemicals, and for tax-free monthly disability payments for service-connected conditions like cancers, lung issues and fatty tumors. Its really a tragedy that, because of the classified nature of our job, that were having to work so hard to try to get the benefits that are there for everybody else, said David Crete, whose organization, the Invisible Enemy, advocates for former test site personnel. U.S. Sens. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., wanted to insert language into the legislation that would have helped fix both of those issues. Their Fighting for the Overlooked Recognition of Groups Operating in Toxic Test Environments in Nevada (FORGOTTEN) Veterans Act would have established the presumption and required the Air Force to compile a list of everyone who served at the base since 1951. It also would have designated the test site as contaminated. In the House of Representatives, Reps. Susie Lee, D-Nev., and Mark Amodei, R-Nev., crafted language with a similar purpose but the legislation went nowhere. Johnson removed much of the FORGOTTEN Veterans Acts language from the defense bill because, according to Rosens office, it had a $115 million price tag over 10 years. Congressional Republicans used every creative accounting trick in the book to jam additional billionaire tax breaks through Congress, Rosen said. But when it came time to finally right a wrong that has kept Nevada veterans who were exposed to toxic radiation from accessing the health care and disability benefits they deserve, the speaker axed the provision. The Senate on Wednesday, in a bipartisan 77-20 vote, passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which provides about $900 billion and advances the bulk of President Donald Trumps national security agenda. The House similarly passed the legislation Dec. 10 in a 312-112 vote. All of the members of the Nevada congressional delegation ultimately voted in favor the defense package. The bill was signed by Trump on Thursday. What was left in the legislation, however, could be a first step in addressing the issue for those who served at the test site: requiring the secretary of defense to submit a report by January 2027 on how the department will identify veterans who served at contaminated locations. The bill also requires the defense secretary to relay how the department could help armed forces personnel and veterans who worked at those locations prove their service to make a claim for benefits with Veterans Affairs. After more than two decades, our law finally recognizes those forgotten veterans who served at NTTR and who have been excluded from the care they earned and need, Lee said in a statement to the Sun. I am hopeful that the Department of Defense will quickly establish a process for these veterans to receive their benefits. Rosen added in her statement that, while extremely frustrated with what was taken out, she was glad the mandated report was included in the National Defense Authorization Act. She added that she would keep pushing for veterans to have the access to the same benefits as their civilian counterparts. Crete said he was thankful for Rosens work but added that he wasnt getting his hopes up about the required report. Similar reports have been required of the Department of Defense in previous defense authorization bills, he said, but nothing ever came of them. His confidence about that changing is very low, Crete said. And, he noted, with the life-and-death nature of whats facing veterans who worked at the test site, January 2027 feels far away. Since 2023, when Crete started collecting information on people who had died since working at the site, at least 150 names have been added to his list. What that tells me is between now and Jan. 1, (2027) were probably going to lose another 75 to 100 people, Crete said. Its going to create a scenario where many of those widows ... are going to be left behind without the benefit of the VA benefits that were promised to surviving family members. Lee, like Rosen, said the Nevada delegation would continue to seek ways to get the extra assistance for veterans who worked at the test site. Crete compared their strategy going forward to a shotgun blast: (Were) seeking every strategy that we can come up with that Congress will work with us on ... and see what hits, he said. 2025 the Las Vegas Sun (Las Vegas, Nev.). Visit www.lasvegassun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Alejandro Trujillo Malaga Saturday, 20 December 2025, 09:16 | Updated 09:56h. Share An easyJet flight operating the route between Malaga Airport and London Gatwick was the scene of a surreal incident that has shocked travellers. Several passengers have accused a British family of trying to board the plane with the dead body of their grandmother, an 89-year-old woman, passing her off as a sleeping person. According to the Daily Mail, the elderly woman was taken onto the aircraft in a wheelchair by five of her relatives. When questioned about the woman's condition at the time of boarding, the relatives reportedly assured the ground staff that she was unwell and had simply fallen asleep. The British tabloid newspaper revealed that some witnesses claim to have heard the relatives justify the situation to the employees by saying: "It's OK, she's just tired," and even added: "It's OK, we are doctors". The plan seemed to work initially, as the group managed to get the woman into a seat at the back of the plane. However, as the aircraft was about to take off just after 11am, the cabin crew realised that the passenger had died, forcing the aircraft to be brought to a dramatic halt before leaving the runway. Outrage among passengers Petra Boddington, one of the passengers on the flight, has told the Daily Mail of her disbelief at what happened: "What were the easyJet ground staff thinking today? They asked the family five times if the woman was all right? and clearly she wasn't!" Boddington described that, to the naked eye, the woman looked "already deceased, slumped and unconscious in a wheelchair". The passenger has suggested that the family's motivation may have been financial: "Why would she be allowed to board the flight and disrupt everyone's plans... purely to save the family from repatriation costs? If I was drunk they wouldn't let me board, but apparently, being dead is fine". Another passenger, Tracy-Ann Kitching, has expressed her unease on social media, also pointing out the responsibility of the special assistance service for passengers with reduced mobility. "I saw her being wheeled onto the plane; someone was holding her head as they passed me! A doctor on board confirmed that was already dead when they sat her down," she said. The official version and the delay In response to the passengers' accusations, an easyJet spokesperson has denied that a deceased person was allowed to board. The airline has assured that the passenger had a certificate of fitness to fly (fit to fly) and that she was alive when she boarded the plane. "The flight returned to the stand prior to take-off due to a customer on board requiring urgent medical assistance. The flight was met by the emergency services, but sadly the customer passed away," the airline said. The Guardia Civil in Malaga has confirmed that its officers went to the aircraft and that the woman was declared dead inside the plane, which was scheduled to depart shortly after 11am on Thursday. The incident caused a delay of around 12 hours, and the flight did not finally take off until 11.47pm. No arrests have been made among the family members. It should be remembered that the transport of mortal remains across borders is a complex and costly procedure, usually carried out on cargo flights and which requires official death certificates and special coffins. Ignacio Lillo Malaga Saturday, 20 December 2025, 09:57 Share The lifting of a trough at high altitude is causing a front to cross the Andalucia region. It arrived in Malaga last night, when Spain's state weather agency (Aemet) put part of the province under a yellow warning. It rained in many areas, mainly along the Costa del Sol, in Malaga city, Guadalhorce valley and in the area Axarquia, and in some of them significant numbers were recorded. The data for the accumulated rainfall in 12 hours left significant amounts such as more than 36.2mm in Ojen, 28.9mm in Marbella and 28.8mm. Also outstanding were the 24.8 mm in 12 hours recorded in Coin (15.8 in just one hour); or the 19.9 in the Atabal area, in Malaga city; or the 18.7mm, according to the 6am update this Saturday from the Junta de Andalucia's Hidrosur network. But, in addition to rain, temperatures are expected to drop sharply this weekend. Although the meteorological winter began on 1 December, the so-called astronomical winter will begin this Sunday, 21 December. And it will arrive, for a change in these latitudes in the far south of Europe, with conditions typical of this time of year, with rain, even snow and cold. Zoom La Maroma, in Malaga's Axarquia area, covered in snow this Saturday morning. Eugenio Cabezas Today will be a day of transition. No rain is expected, but there will be a drop in the thermometers. Therefore, in the capital of the Costa del Sol the maximum temperature will not exceed 16C (10 degrees minimum), while in Antequera it will be around 10C during the day and 5 degrees at night. Sunday will see the arrival of a new high trough and generate showers in the province, which may be heavy. In addition, snow will fall at the highest altitudes in the eastern mountains. No weather warnings have yet been issued for the day. Temperatures will continue to fall slightly, with highs of 15C in Malaga city and 9-10C inland. For the time being, although it is still too early to say for sure, there is not a high risk of rain on Christmas Eve on the Costa del Sol, although the mercury will remain quite low (15-17C). Inland there could be some showers. Update 1:00 p.m.: The suspect who was killed has been identified as Eric Davis, 38, of Rochester. At the time, Davis had an active warrant for second-degree aggravated harassment, according to Chief David Smith said during a news briefing Monday. He was accused of calling the female victim and threatening to hurt her back in October. He also allegedly threatened to put a bullet in her head in July, which resulted in an order of protection. One of the police officers has been released from the hospital while the other two have undergone multiple surgeries and are still receiving care at Strong Memorial Hospital, Smith said. The boyfriend and victim who was shot is in serious but stable condition at Strong Memorial Hospital. Rochester Police said a fourth officer was involved in firing shots at the suspect. She has been temporarily placed on administrative assignment. Original story: Rochester, N.Y. Three Rochester police officers were shot and a suspect was killed during a violent domestic-related incident late Friday night, police said. Around 10:15 p.m., officers went to the 600 block of Chili Avenue for a domestic situation, Rochester Police Chief David Smith said during a news briefing Saturday. The caller told 911 that his girlfriends ex-boyfriend was attempting to break into her home and may have been armed. The new boyfriend also informed dispatchers that he had a permit to carry a firearm and had a gun. When officers arrived, they quickly located the suspect along the side of the house, Smith said. The suspect immediately pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots at close range toward the officers and the boyfriend, striking two officers. Additional shots were fired, including an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and the boyfriend, Smith said. During that exchange, the boyfriend was shot multiple times. The suspect then fled the scene. Within minutes, an officer located him near the intersection of Arnett Boulevard and Thurston Road, Smith said. When the officer ordered the suspect to stop, the suspect again pulled out a handgun and shot the officer. That officer and additional officers returned fire, striking the suspect multiple times and killing him, Smith said. As a result of the shootings, three officers were injured. One officer was shot multiple times in the upper body on Charlie Avenue. He was wearing a ballistic vest, so his injuries were not life-threatening. He is in stable condition, Smith said. A second officer was shot in the upper body on Charlie Avenue and was rushed into surgery at Strong Memorial Hospital. That officer remains in critical but stable condition, Smith said. A third officer was shot in the upper body near Arnett Boulevard and Thurston Road. He suffered serious injuries but is currently in stable condition, police said. The boyfriend was shot multiple times and is listed in serious but non-life-threatening condition, Smith said. Both the suspect and the boyfriend were armed with handguns. Smith said the Rochester Police Departments Major Crimes Unit and technicians are investigating the incident. The Monroe County District Attorneys Office, the New York State Attorney Generals Office and the departments Professional Standards Section are also conducting parallel investigations. This does remain an active investigation, Smith said. Body-worn camera footage and additional information will be released when the investigation allows. Smith said all three officers have been with the department for less than 10 years and are assigned to the Genesee Section. He declined to release additional identifying information at this time. Key Points Investors have looked to top investor Warren Buffett for advice for nearly six decades. The billionaires success has seemed unstoppable, as hes driven Berkshire Hathaway to market-beating returns over time. 10 stocks we like better than S&P 500 Index Warren Buffett has spent almost 60 years delivering market-beating returns to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders -- and inspiring other investors around the world. But all good things must come to an end, and during the holding company's annual meeting in May, the billionaire announced he would retire as chief executive officer at the end of this year. Though investors surely will miss Buffett and his wisdom-filled shareholder letters, I have some good news for you. First of all, Buffett is handing the reins over to Greg Abel, currently the vice-chairman of non-insurance operations at Berkshire. Buffett hand-picked Abel for the job and has expressed strong confidence in this successor, so there's reason for the rest of us to be excited about this new chapter, too. And second, we also aren't truly bidding adieu to Buffett as he will remain chairman of Berkshire. In fact, with Buffett days away from retirement, let's consider three ways to continue seeking inspiration from the billionaire -- in 2026 and beyond. Image source: The Motley Fool. 1. Put Buffett's investment strategy to work for you Buffett's investment strategy consists of many parts, but there are a few elements that stand out -- and these, all of us can easily apply to our own portfolios in any investing environment. The first is his focus on buying quality companies for reasonable, or ideally, bargain prices. The famous investor looks for players with a strong moat, or competitive advantage -- this could be a brand that's impossible to unseat, such as Coca-Cola, for example, or a logistics advantage. Here, I'm thinking of Amazon with its vast fulfillment network and Prime membership program -- imagine how tough and costly it would be for a competitor to build out a similar operation and gain the loyalty of customers. Buffett identifies such companies, but he won't buy them for ridiculously high prices. Instead, as a value investor, he goes for them when valuation reaches low or at least reasonable levels. Regardless of the market environment in 2026, consider adding a few such stocks to your portfolio if the opportunity arises and then follow the ultimate Buffett rule: Hold on for the long term, meaning at least five to 10 years. With long-term performance as your focus, and Buffett-style stocks in your portfolio, you may set yourself up for significant investing success. Manlius, N.Y. - The owner of a dog daycare and shelter accused of neglecting animals and allowing one to die in her care was arrested Friday afternoon, Manlius police said. The owner of the Dog Gone Inn, Leah Pekarsky, was charged with multiple violations of the state Agricultural and Markets Law, according to a Manlius police news release. The charges are: Four counts of animal cruelty, a misdemeanor Abandonment of an animal, a misdemeanor Failure to provide food and water to an impounded animal, a misdemeanor Pekarsky has been issued a ticket to appear in court at a later date and is not being held, her lawyer, Michael Allen said. He did not yet know the date and location. Police started investigating the Dog Gone Inn at 315 Fayette St. in the village of Manlius on Oct. 14 when Jeremy Allen reported his 9-year-old German shepherd Kylo died at the kennel. Kylo the 9-year-old German Shepherd was found dead inside the Dog Gone Inn, which is in a shopping plaza at 315 Fayette St. in the village of Manlius, on Oct. 14, 2025. The building was found unfit for occupancy due to unsanitary conditions by Manlius Town Codes on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Jeremy Allen Jeremy Allen told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard and Manlius police that there were multiple suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, including that it appeared that his dog had been dead long before Pekarsky alerted him. In the investigation, Manlius police Investigator Brianna Sparks reviewed surveillance video that showed Pekarsky had spent only 46 minutes a day in the facility, according to police reports. Dogs were left unattended for the other 23 hours of the day. On Oct. 27, Manlius police conducted a welfare check on seven animals listed in Pekarskys care, according to police reports. Pekarsky would only show authorities four animals, and would not let them inside without a warrant, according to police reports. The four dogs she did show were dirty, foul-smelling and noticeably scared. Pekarsky also told investigators that the animals were rarely washed or let out to relieve themselves, according to a police report. On Nov. 4, Manlius police and the Village of Manlius Codes Office got the search warrant Pekarsky requested and entered the location, police said. Later that day, the village codes office closed the kennel because it was deemed not fit for human or animal occupancy due to unsanitary and unclean conditions, according to Manlius police and the villages code enforcement officer, Michael Decker. Four dogs staying at the shelter portion of the business were taken by the SPCA, officers said. Another ten staying at the daycare were returned to their owners. On Dec. 3, Pekarskys lawyer, told syracuse.com that Pekarsky would be moving out and closing the business for good. Manlius police reports dating back to 2020 show that they had visited the property at least six times after receiving complaints of animal abuse, neglect and maltreatment at the kennel. In February, Pekarsky was arrested after reports that seven dogs were left out for long hours in extremely cold winter weather. The charges were later dropped, according to her lawyer. Syracuse, N.Y. - A Syracuse University professor says the man authorities say killed two Brown University students and an MIT professor was a highly intelligent student with a socially awkward and often times volatile personality. Scott Watson, an associate physics professor at Syracuse University, on Friday described himself as essentially Claudio Manuel Neves Valentes only friend when the two were doctorate students at Brown University. Authorities say Neves Valente, 48, killed two people and injured nine others at the Brown campus in Providence, Rhode Island, on Saturday before he fatally shot a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor near Boston just two days later. After a five-day interstate manhunt, authorities found Neves Valente on Thursday dead in a storage unit in New Hampshire where they say he killed himself. Watson said Friday that he and Neves Valente became friends when they met at orientation at the start of their physics doctorate programs at Brown University. He was socially awkward, and so was I, he said, which I think is why we connected. Scott Watson, an associate physics professor at Syracuse University, was a doctoral student along with Claudio Manuel Neves Valente at Brown University Syracuse University Neves Valente, who was from Portugal, would often complain about moving to the United States and about Brown University, Watson said. He would say the classes were too easy, he said. Honestly, for him they were. He already knew most of the material and was genuinely impressive. Watson said Neves Valente would also complain about the quality of food on campus, especially the lack of high-quality fish. The two would often get dinner together at a local Portuguese restaurant near campus, where Watson said Neves Valente found community. He could be kind and gentle, he said. Though he often became frustrated - sometimes angry - about courses, professors, and living conditions. Watson said there was a Brazilian classmate who Neves Valente would insult and call him his slave. Watson said he once had to break up a fight between the two. The last time he ever spoke with Neves Valente, Watson said, he was trying to convince him to stay in the United States. But Neves Valente refused, insisting he wanted to return to Portugal. Though it now appears that may not have been the case, Watson said. Police on Friday were still trying to understand the motives behind Neves Valentes mass shooting and killing of the professor, according to the New York Times. It is still unclear how well he knew the MIT professor, Nuno F.G. Loureiro, and authorities have not determined any direct ties to the two slain Brown University students, according to the Times. Gov. Kathy Hochul today repealed the so-called 100-foot rule that allows most new customers to hook into natural gas networks for free, but delayed implementation for a year. Supporters of New Yorks aggressive climate policies have long sought to repeal the 100-foot rule, arguing that it subsidizes and extends natural gas networks at a time when state law calls for curtailing fossil fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental activists were ecstatic that Hochul signed the legislation. Ending the 100-foot rule is an important part of the transition toward the cleaner, healthier, and more affordable energy system that New Yorkers have been expecting, said Jessica Azulay, executive director of Alliance for a Green Economy. Builders and utility companies had lobbied to keep the rule. When the 100-foot rule expires next year, the average Upstate customer who gets new gas service from National Grid would pay about $7,000 to install a gas service line to their property, utility officials said. Downstate, the costs would be much higher. The one-year delay comes on the heels of a similar delay in implementing a new law that would prohibit fossil fuel appliances in all new homes and other buildings of up to seven stories. Hochuls administration last month agreed to a legal stipulation that suspends the All-Electric Buildings Act for at least a year, pending court appeals. Hochul and legislators agreed to a 12-month period to end the 100-foot rule, which will give state regulators time to iron out details and builders time to adjust, according to a source with knowledge of the deal. The delay did not seem to bother State Sen. Liz Krueger, D-Manhattan, who sponsored the bill and has been a champion for energy reform. Kathy Hochul just gave New Yorkers a $600 million Christmas present by signing our bill to repeal the 100-foot rule, Krueger said. This is a massive win for New Yorks gas customers, and for clean air and a livable climate. Hochul said subsidizing natural gas service is no longer justified. Its simply unfair, especially when so many people are struggling right now, to expect existing utility ratepayers to foot the bill for a gas hookup at a brand new house that is not their own, Hochul said in a news release. Supporters of the repeal often frame it as a cost savings for existing gas customers, who will no longer subsidize new customers. Estimates of the statewide annual cost of installing new lines range from $450 million to $600 million, but those numbers are heavily tilted toward Downstate utilities, whose installation costs run five to 10 times higher than Upstate, according to data from the Public Service Commission. National Grid officials said Upstate gas customers will save less than $1 a month when the rule is repealed. Utility officials also said ending the 100-foot rule will make it more expensive for customers to switch to natural gas from dirtier fuels like oil and propane. We are disappointed that the 100foot rule has been repealed," said Jared Paventi, a National Grid spokesman. This law could make it more expensive for customers to convert from oil to natural gas - an efficient way of reducing emissions and saving energy costs. Republican state Sen. Joseph Griffo, of Rome, said the repeal would add to the cost of new housing. This additional expense will further exacerbate the states housing affordability crisis and limit access to the most reliable heating source available, he said. For some homebuilders, the stops and starts of new policy have made for a bumpy ride. Dan Barnaba, who is planning to build 38 houses at his Glen View development in Salina, originally expected to build electric-only homes in keeping with the All-Electric Buildings Act, which was slated to take effect Jan. 1, 2026. When the law was delayed by the court agreement, he changed plans and decided to bring in natural gas. Hes still planning to bring in gas thanks to the one-year extension of the 100-foot rule, but theres still some uncertainty, he said. For example, the 100-foot rule actually allows gas-heating customers up to 200 feet of free pipe. Customers who use gas for heat as opposed to those who use it only for cooking or other purposes -- can get up to 100 feet of main and 100 feet of service line. For other customers, the limit is 100 feet of main and service line combined. Barnaba said hes waiting to see if that remains the rule. Another issue for builders, Barnaba said, is what happens the day the 100-foot rule is repealed? Will developers who paid deposits to bring gas into a subdivision be able to continue extending gas service to new homes they havent yet built? The 100-foot rule has existed since at least 1890, according to Public Service Commission staff. Basically, it says that the utility will not charge a new gas customer to install up to 100 feet of pipe to bring gas to their property. It benefits two types of customers: occupants of new buildings, and people who are converting from different fuels such as oil or propane. The rule requires existing customers to subsidize new customers. The rationale for that, utility officials say, is that over the long term it spreads out the cost of operating the network over more customers. The average payback period, when monthly gas payments of new customers exceed the cost of installing their service lines, is about 7.7 years, according to a 2024 report by the PSC staff. But continuing to build out gas networks flies in the face of state energy policy, which aims to reduce the role of natural gas over time and increase reliance on electricity. Building out gas infrastructure just adds to the number of pipes that will have to be maintained and paid for over the coming decades, critics say. Lisa Marshall, director of advocacy and organizing at New Yorkers for Clean Power, said repeal of the 100-foot rule is an important step toward scaling back natural gas infrastructure and building a cleaner energy system. Are we going to keep expanding fracked gas and expanding climate pollution and indoor air pollution in New York, in all our buildings? Or are we going to stop doing that? Marshall said. Are we going to keep charging people hundreds of millions of dollars a year to put new pipelines, new gas line extensions, out there? Or are we going to stop doing that? Staff writer Tim Knauss can be reached at:email|Twitter| 315-470-3023. Rep. Elise Stefanik dropped her bid for New York governor on Friday, citing the difficult path she would face to win after a divisive Republican primary. Stefanik made her surprise announcement only 10 days after Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman launched his own bid for the GOP nomination. Stefanik and Blakeman are both fierce supporters of President Donald Trump, and the president declined to make an endorsement in the GOP race when asked last week. Stefanik made it clear Friday that she hadnt counted on facing a primary challenger in her bid to unseat Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in the 2026 election. While we would have overwhelmingly won this primary, it is not an effective use of our time or your generous resources to spend the first half of next year in an unnecessary and protracted Republican primary, especially in a challenging state like New York, Stefanik said in a note to supporters on Friday afternoon. Stefanik said she also would not seek reelection to her seat in New Yorks 21st Congressional District, representing most of the North Country. Instead, Stefanik said she will take a break from politics. And while many know me as Congresswoman, my most important title is Mom, Stefanik said. I believe that being a parent is lifes greatest gift and greatest responsibility. I have thought deeply about this, and I know that as a mother, I will feel profound regret if I dont further focus on my young sons safety, growth, and happinessparticularly at his tender age." The decision is a remarkable turn of events for Stefanik, whom Trump once praised as a rising star in the Republican Party. Trump backed Stefaniks bid to unseat Rep. Liz Cheney in 2021 as chair of the House Republican Conference. Last year, Stefanik was among those Trump considered to serve as his vice presidential candidate. After Trump won the presidential election, he nominated Stefanik for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. But Trump pulled the nomination earlier this year and asked Stefanik to remain in Congress over concerns about the slim GOP majority in the House. If Stefanik had won New Yorks Republican primary for governor next year, she would have faced an uphill challenge against Hochul. A Siena College poll published Tuesday showed Stefanik trailed Hochul by 19 points. Blakeman trailed by 25 points. The same poll showed that Stefanik had an early lead over Blakeman in a Republican primary race, 48-17%. The poll was completed a day before Blakeman announced his candidacy. Stefanik had quickly won the endorsement of most Republican and Conservative Party leaders in the state. Only days after launching her campaign, she locked up support from a dozen key Republicans in Central New York, including Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente. New York Republican Chair Ed Cox also endorsed Stefanik and discouraged Blakeman from forcing a primary challenge. After Stefaniks announcement Friday, Cox quickly endorsed Blakeman. Elise Stefanik will remain a leader in our party and a powerful voice for our principles, Cox said. We respect her decision and thank her for her efforts. New York Conservative Party Chair Gerard Kassar held off on endorsing Blakeman. We are disappointed that Congresswoman Elise Stefanik wont be running for governor this year, but we respect her decision and wish her the best in all her future endeavors, Kassar said. Blakeman, who was reelected in Nassau County in November when a Democratic blue wave swept over New York, has maintained that he has a better chance in a general election against Hochul. Blakeman maintained that Stefanik was not electable in a statewide race in New York. I have tremendous respect for Elise, however our party must nominate a candidate that has broad based appeal with independents and common-sense Democrats, Blakeman said in November before kicking off his campaign. Blakeman has gained support from Republicans after he backed a ban on transgender athletes, worked alongside federal authorities in Trumps immigration crackdown, and established a volunteer law enforcement unit on Long Island, which Democrats called an illegal, taxpayer-funded civilian militia. Blakeman also refused to recognize Juneteenth, making Nassau County the only county in New York state that does not observe the federal holiday. PHOENIX Erika Kirk, widow of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and the organizations new leader, endorsed a potential presidential bid by Vice President JD Vance on the opening night of the conservative youth groups annual conference. After telling the cheering crowd that Turning Point would help keep Congress in Republican hands next year, she said, We are going to get my husbands friend JD Vance elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible. Vance would be the 48th president if he takes office after President Donald Trump. Kirks statement on Thursday is the most explicit backing of Vances possible candidacy by a woman who has been positioned as a steward to her late husbands legacy. Charlie Kirk had become a powerbroker and bridge builder within the conservative movement before he was assassinated in September. Vance was close with Charlie Kirk, whose backing helped enable his rapid political rise. After the assassination, Vance and his wife joined Erika Kirk in Utah to fly her husbands remains home to Arizona aboard Air Force Two. Vance is set to speak to Turning Point on Sunday, the conferences last day. The convention has featured the usual spectacle and energy that have characterized the organizations events, but the proceedings have also been marred by intense infighting among conservative commentators and estranged allies who have turned on each other in the wake of Kirks death. As Trumps vice president, Vance is well-positioned to inherit the movement that remade the Republican Party and twice sent Trump to the White House. But it would be no small task for him to hold together the Trump coalition, which is built around personal loyalty to him more than shared political goals. Various wings of the conservative movement already are positioning to steer the party after Trumps presidency, a skirmish thats becoming increasingly public and pointed. Turning Point, with its thousands of young volunteers, would provide a major boost for Vance in a fractious primary. Now 41, Vance would be the first Millennial president if elected, a natural fit for the organization built around mobilizing youth. Trump has repeatedly mused about running for a third term despite a constitutional prohibition. However, hes also speculated about a 2028 ticket featuring Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Although Rubio previously ran for president in 2016, he has said he would support Vance as Trumps successor. WASHINGTON The Justice Department on Friday began releasing its files on Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender and wealthy financier known for his connections to some of the worlds most influential people, including Donald Trump, who as president had tried to keep the files sealed. The total number of files being released in accordance with a congressional mandated deadline was not immediately clear, though Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a Fox News Channel interview that he expected the department to release several hundred thousand records Friday and then several hundred thousand more in the coming weeks. The release included photographs, call logs, grand jury testimony and some documents and records that have already been in the public domain. The records could contain the most detailed look yet at nearly two decades worth of government investigations into Epsteins sexual abuse of young women and underage girls. Their release has long been demanded by a public hungry to learn whether any of Epsteins rich and powerful associates knew about or participated in the abuse. Epsteins accusers have also long sought answers about why federal authorities shut down their initial investigation into the allegations in 2008. Bowing to political pressure from fellow Republicans, Trump on Nov. 19 signed a bill giving the Justice Department 30 days to release most of its files and communications related to Epstein, including information about the investigation into his death in a federal jail. The laws passage was a remarkable display of bipartisanship that overcame months of opposition from Trump and Republican leadership. What the law allows That law allows for redactions about the victims or ongoing investigations but makes clear no records shall be withheld or redacted due to embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Nov. 14 that she had ordered a top federal prosecutor to investigate Epsteins ties to Trumps political foes, including former President Bill Clinton. Bondi acted after Trump pressed for such an inquiry, though he did not explain what supposed crimes he wanted the Justice Department to investigate. None of the men Trump mentioned in a social media post demanding the investigation has been accused of sexual misconduct by any of Epsteins victims. In July, Trump dismissed some of his own supporters as weaklings for falling for the Jeffrey Epstein hoax. But both Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., failed to prevent the legislation from coming to a vote. Trump did a U-turn on the files once it became clear that congressional action was inevitable. He insisted that the Epstein matter had become a distraction to the Republican agenda and that releasing the records was the best way to move on. The Epstein investigations Police in Palm Beach, Florida, began investigating Epstein in 2005 after the family of a 14-year-old girl reported she had been molested at his mansion. The FBI joined the investigation, and authorities gathered testimony from multiple underage girls who said they had been hired to give Epstein sexual massages. Ultimately, though, prosecutors gave Epstein a deal that allowed him to avoid federal prosecution. He pleaded guilty to state prostitution charges involving someone under age 18 and was sentenced to 18 months in jail. Epsteins accusers then spent years in civil litigation trying to get that plea deal set aside. One of those women, Virginia Giuffre, accused Epstein of arranging for her to have sexual encounters, starting at age 17, with numerous other men, including billionaires, famous academics, U.S. politicians and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, then known as Britains Prince Andrew. All of those men denied the allegations. Prosecutors never brought charges in connection with Giuffres claims, but her account fueled conspiracy theories about supposed government plots to protect the powerful. Giuffre died by suicide at her farm in Western Australia in April at age 41. Federal prosecutors in New York brought new sex trafficking charges against Epstein in 2019, but he killed himself in jail a month after his arrest. Prosecutors then charged Epsteins longtime confidant, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, with recruiting underage girls for Epstein to abuse. Maxwell was convicted in late 2021 and is serving a 20-year prison sentence, though she was moved from a low-security federal prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas after she was interviewed over the summer by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Her lawyers argued that she never should have been tried or convicted. The Justice Department in July said it had not found any information that could support prosecuting anyone else. Lots of Epstein records were already public After nearly two decades of court action and prying by reporters, a voluminous number of records related to Epstein is already public, including flight logs, address books, email correspondence, police reports, grand jury records, courtroom testimony and transcripts of depositions of his accusers, his staffers and others. Yet, the publics appetite for more records has been insatiable, particularly for anything related to Epsteins associations with famous people including Trump, Mountbatten-Windsor and Clinton. Trump was friends with Epstein for years before the two had a falling out. Neither he nor Clinton has ever been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, and the mere inclusion of someones name in files from the investigation does not imply otherwise. Mountbatten-Windsor denied ever having sex with Giuffre, but King Charles III stripped him of his royal titles this year after Giuffres memoir was published after she died. SpaceX recently confirmed that one of its Starlink satellites orbiting the planet has exploded, effectively rendering the spacecraft useless and is currently tumbling down for its re-entry. Over the past few days, there have been speculations about this being caused by a collision with a rival space satellite from China, following a recent report that both satellites narrowly avoided each other in orbit. SpaceX Confirms Starlink Satellite Explosion in Orbit SpaceX shared a new post via Starlink's X page, which officially confirmed the latest incident that took place in orbit, leading to one of its internet satellites exploding in the constellation. However, it is important to note that it is only this one satellite that exploded in orbit, with the other satellites in the constellation seemingly not affected by it, as SpaceX did not report any other problems. According to SpaceX, this is an isolated incident because this specific satellite faced an anomaly in its operations, and this shuts down the earlier speculations that the explosion was caused by a collision of any kind. "On December 17, Starlink experienced an anomaly on satellite 35956, resulting in loss of communications with the vehicle at 418 km. The anomaly led to venting of the propulsion tank, a rapid decay in semi-major axis by about 4 km, and the release of a small number of trackable low relative velocity objects," said SpaceX. SpaceX said that the debris of the fallen satellite is trackable, and they have a low relative velocity, suggesting that it is not a threat to the other satellites and space objects in the low-Earth orbit. That said, this debris still adds up to the massive problems in Earth's orbit, particularly as many researchers and astronomers have raised their concerns about the prevalence of space garbage. According to the Musk-owned space company, they are now coordinating with NASA and the US Space Force to track these objects floating in orbit. On December 17, Starlink experienced an anomaly on satellite 35956, resulting in loss of communications with the vehicle at 418 km. The anomaly led to venting of the propulsion tank, a rapid decay in semi-major axis by about 4 km, and the release of a small number of trackable Starlink (@Starlink) December 18, 2025 Now Tumbling to Re-enter EarthIs It Safe? According to SpaceX, the defunct satellite is now tumbling and is expected to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere in the coming weeks, assuring the public that it is fully intact. "The satellite is largely intact, tumbling, and will reenter the Earth's atmosphere and fully demise within weeks. The satellite's current trajectory will place it below the [Space Station], posing no risk to the orbiting lab or its crew," said the private space company. At present, the broken satellite is now tumbling towards the International Space Station, but its trajectory will only pass below the station as it heads to the Earth for its upcoming re-entry. SpaceX has not yet unveiled a timeline for when the re-entry takes place, but the company assures that it will not fall to the surface, claiming that it will fully disintegrate as it is set to face an atmosphere burn. There have been previous incidents about SpaceX's Starlink satellites facing threats from rival space companies that also have satellites in orbit, with the risk of collisions imminent. However, the reported cases were all close calls, and none have resulted in Starlink and its rivals actually colliding with each other. Meta Platforms announced Friday that Dina Powell McCormick has resigned from its board of directors, ending her tenure just eight months after joining the company. The resignation took effect immediately, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, which did not list a reason for her departure. Powell McCormick joined Meta's board in April as part of an effort to expand the board's size and add leaders with strong backgrounds in business and government. At the time, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said she would bring valuable experience supporting companies and entrepreneurs. She was appointed alongside Stripe co-founder and CEO Patrick Collison, Reuters reported. Although Powell McCormick has stepped down from the board, she may continue working with Meta in another way. A source familiar with the matter said she is considering a broad advisory role that could focus on investments and long-term strategy. However, the source stressed that no final decision has been made. Meta also does not plan to fill her vacant board seat, leaving the company with 14 directors. Dina Powell McCormick, a former top adviser to President Donald Trump, is stepping down from the board of Meta Platforms just eight months after she joined https://t.co/BKbPoEPQnW Bloomberg (@business) December 19, 2025 Dina Powell McCormick Brings Global Policy Powell McCormick has a long career that spans finance, public service, and global policy. She spent 16 years at Goldman Sachs, where she held senior leadership roles. During her time there, she led the firm's impact investing business and oversaw efforts tied to sustainability and inclusive growth. Her government experience includes serving as deputy national security adviser during President Donald Trump's first term. Before that, she worked as an assistant secretary of state under President George W. Bush, serving during the tenure of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. These roles placed her at the center of US foreign policy and national security discussions. Outside of Meta, Powell McCormick currently serves as vice chair, president, and head of global client services at BDT & MSD Partners. The firm was formed in 2023 after merchant bank BDT merged with MSD, the investment company founded by Michael Dell. According to CNBC, she is also married to Sen. Dave McCormick, a Republican from Pennsylvania who took office in January, adding another public dimension to her profile. Meta's board remains filled with high-profile leaders from business and technology. Current members include venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, DoorDash CEO Tony Xu, UFC CEO Dana White, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan, and former Enron executive John Arnold. Originally published on vcpost.com The photos carry uncanny similarities: Suspiciously smooth exteriors. Artificial green grass. Distorted, melting lines surrounding doors or windows. Occasionally, nonexistent lights might appear. To hear the homebuyers of today tell it, any of the above can be signs of heavy-handed AI-edited real estate listing photos. Such tweaks and the ordeal of sorting out whats real and whats not have emerged as a new challenge in the already daunting homebuying process. Today, AI editing tools can make it easier than ever to virtually stage homes and go even further by cleaning up the appearance of aging exteriors or projecting rosy visions of what a fixer-upper might look like after a pricy gut renovation. The tools are new enough that only a patchwork of rules and regulations often put in place by local real estate boards or multiple listing services exist to govern their use. In this Wild West moment, the most egregious examples often end up going viral on social media, alongside stories of time wasted touring homes that didnt look like the photos. In other words, buyers are finding theyve been housefished, a play on the popular television show Catfish, about internet relationships that may not be as they seem. Megan Kolstad, a real estate agent with The Hive in St. Paul, Minnesota, recently toured a home in the city with a client, only to discover that AI images in the listing had added a nonexistent window in a bedroom. That felt misleading, Kolstad said. When we got to the property, it was just a lot of comparing the photos we were seeing online to what we were experiencing in real life, and I dont feel like thats the best use of our time. Kolstad isnt opposed to all uses of AI in listing photos. She thinks virtual staging can help buyers imagine what an empty space looks like furnished, though shes also encountered instances where that goes too far, like when an eight-person sectional backs up to a medium-size window, suggesting some impossible furniture Tetris. Realistically, a couch of that size isnt going to fit in that space, she said. Sign up for the Mind Your Money weekly newsletter By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms and Privacy Policy Subscribe Sonia Rodriguez, a Realtor with the Redux Group in Northern Virginia, found herself duped by virtual staging when she stopped to preview a listing for a client. She was prepared to show up to an empty home, but instead found a mess of the existing occupants belongings and markedly different lighting. She didnt bother bringing her client back for a tour. Elon Musk has won a major legal victory after the Delaware Supreme Court reinstated his massive Tesla compensation package, valued at about $55 billion. The ruling, released Friday, overturned a lower court decision that had canceled the pay deal earlier this year. The decision restores a landmark 2018 agreement that rewarded Musk for leading Tesla through years of rapid growth and major business milestones. The court ruled that canceling the pay package was unfair and went too far. In its opinion, the justices said undoing the deal left Musk unpaid for years of work and success at the electric car company. The court called the earlier ruling "inequitable" and said reversing a contract should only happen in rare cases. As part of the decision, the court awarded Tesla $1 in nominal damages, BusinessInsider reported. The original pay package was approved by Tesla shareholders in 2018. At the time, Tesla was struggling to boost production and was still losing money. The plan tied Musk's pay to strict goals, including higher vehicle sales and a big jump in the company's market value. If those goals were met, Musk would earn stock options instead of a salary or cash bonus. Another purchase of Tesla shares by Elon is likely The Supreme Court of Delaware has ruled that Elon Musk's $56 billion 2018 pay package must be reinstated. Elon is winning pic.twitter.com/2ZZO7y3lYM Welcome to Free Speech on X (@FreeSpeech_on_X) December 20, 2025 Supreme Court Restores Elon Musk's Massive Tesla Pay Over the next few years, Tesla's business improved. Manufacturing problems eased, sales climbed, and the company's value soared from roughly $50 billion to well over $1 trillion at its peak. Those gains allowed Musk to qualify for the full payout promised in the 2018 deal. However, in January 2024, Delaware Chancery Court Judge Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick struck down the pay package after a shareholder lawsuit. She ruled that Tesla's board was too close to Musk and did not properly protect investors when approving the deal. That decision angered Musk, who publicly criticized Delaware's legal system. Soon after, Tesla moved its corporate home from Delaware to Texas. Tesla's board also asked shareholders to vote again on the 2018 pay package, AP News reported. Investors approved it a second time, showing strong support for Musk's leadership. The Supreme Court's ruling now settles that dispute and restores the original compensation. It also comes as Tesla shareholders recently approved an even larger future pay plan that could be worth up to $1 trillion if Musk leads the company to reach ambitious growth goals over the next decade. Originally published on vcpost.com Beetles block mining of Europe's biggest rare earths deposit Ulefoss, Norway, Dec 20 (AFP) Dec 20, 2025 As Europe seeks to curb its dependence on China for rare earths, plans to mine the continent's biggest deposit have hit a roadblock over fears that mining operations could harm endangered beetles, mosses and mushrooms. A two-hour drive southwest of Oslo, in the former mining community of Ulefoss home to 2,000 people, lies the Fensfeltet treasure: an estimated 8.8 million tonnes of rare earths. These elements, used to make magnets crucial to the auto, electronics and defence industries, have been defined by the European Union as critical raw materials. "You have rare earths in your pocket when you carry a smartphone," said Tor Espen Simonsen, a local official at Rare Earths Norway, the company that owns the extraction rights. "You're driving with rare earths when you're at the wheel of an electric car, and you need rare earths to make defence materiel like F-35 jets," he added. "Today, European industry imports almost all of the rare earths it needs -- 98 percent -- from one single country: China," he added. "We are therefore in a situation where Europe must procure more of these raw materials on its own," he said. In its Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) aimed at securing Europe's supply, the EU has set as an objective that at least 10 percent of its needs should be extracted within the bloc by 2030. No rare earth deposits are currently being mined in Europe. - 'Rush slowly' - Due to environmental concerns, Rare Earths Norway has already been forced to push back its schedule. Now it aims to begin mining in the first half of the 2030s. Its so-called "invisible mine" project is intended to limit the mine's environmental footprint. It plans to use underground extraction and crushing -- as opposed to an open-pit mine -- and re-inject a large part of the mining residue. But the location of the mineral processing park, where ore extracted underground would be handled and pre-processed, has posed a problem. The company had planned to transport the minerals on an underground conveyor belt emerging above ground behind a hill, in an area out of sight from the town and largely covered by ancient natural forests, rich in biodiversity. But experts who examined that site found 78 fauna and flora species on Norway's "red list" -- species at risk of extinction to varying degrees. They included saproxylic beetles (which depend on deadwood), wych elms, common ash trees, 40 types of mushrooms, and various mosses. As a result, the county governor formally opposed the location during a recent consultation process. Adding to concerns was the fact that disposing of waste rock would take place within a protected water system. "We need to start mining as quickly as possible so we can bypass polluting value chains originating in China," said Martin Molvaer, an adviser at Bellona, a Norwegian tech-focused environmental NGO. "But things should not move so quickly that we destroy a large part of nature in the process: we must therefore rush slowly," he said. - 'Lesser of two evils' - Faced with such objections, the municipality has been forced to review the plans and take a closer look at alternate locations for the above-ground part of the mine. While there is another less environmentally sensitive zone, neither the mining developers nor the local population favour it. "We accept that we will have to sacrifice a significant part of our nature," local mayor Linda Thorstensen said. "It comes down to choosing the lesser of two evils." Thorstensen supports the mine project, given the small town has seen jobs and young people move elsewhere for decades. It is "a new adventure", she said. "A lot of people live outside the job market, many receive social welfare assistance or disability pensions. So we need jobs and opportunities," she said. In the almost-empty streets of Ulefoss, locals were cautiously optimistic. "We want a dynamic that makes it possible for us to become wealthy, so that the community benefits. We need money and more residents," Inger Norendal, a 70-year-old retired teacher, told AFP. "But mining obviously has its downsides too." Three Afghan migrants die of cold while trying to cross into Iran Afghanistan, Dec 20 (AFP) Dec 20, 2025 Three Afghans died from exposure in freezing temperatures in the western province of Herat while trying to illegally enter Iran, a local army official said on Saturday. "Three people who wanted to illegally cross the Iran-Afghanistan border have died because of the cold weather," the Afghan army official told AFP on condition of anonymity. He added that a shepherd was also found dead in the mountainous area of Kohsan from the cold. The migrants were part of a group that attempted to cross into Iran on Wednesday and was stopped by Afghan border forces. "Searches took place on Wednesday night, but the bodies were only found on Thursday," the army official said. More than 1.8 million Afghans were forced to return to Afghanistan by the Iranian authorities between January and the end of November 2025, according to the latest figures from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), which said that the majority were "forced and coerced returns". "These mass returns in adverse circumstances have strained Afghanistan's already overstretched resources and services" which leads to "risks of onward and new displacement, including return movements back into Pakistan and Iran and onward", UNHCR posted on its site dedicated to Afghanistan's situation. This week, Amnesty International called on countries to stop forcibly returning people to Afghanistan, citing a "real risk of serious harm for returnees". Hit by two major earthquakes in recent months and highly vulnerable to climate change, Afghanistan faces multiple challenges. It is subject to international sanctions particularly due to the exclusion of women from many jobs and public places, described by the UN as "gender apartheid". More than 17 million people in the country are facing acute food insecurity, the UN World Food Programme said Tuesday. More cautious voices point to the risk that a lot of upside is already priced in after the rerating, with comments around conservative ASP assumptions, flat to slightly lower dollars per TB near term, and the potential volatility that comes with being at the center of AI driven semiconductor spending cycles. Despite the broad wave of target hikes, some caution remains on valuation, with Susquehanna raising its target sharply to $135 from $62 but keeping a Neutral rating, and Morgan Stanley describing its higher EPS estimates as still conservative even after an extremely strong quarter. Several firms, including Citi and Cantor Fitzgerald, explicitly tie their higher targets (for example Citi to $135 from $110 and Cantor to $160 from $85) to favorable supply and demand dynamics in HDD and NAND and long term AI related tailwinds that they believe are still in the early innings. Analysts at Wells Fargo, Loop Capital, and Wedbush emphasize durable structural demand for nearline HDDs, economic accretion in HDD, and Western Digital's leadership in hybrid SMR and UltraSMR capacities as competitive advantages that can sustain growth and margin expansion. Bulls highlight execution and growth momentum, pointing to stronger than expected nearline HDD and EB shipments, improving pricing trends, and upside in gross margin and operating margin, which together support higher long term earnings trajectories. Most recent moves have been firmly positive, with firms like Barclays lifting their target to $200 from $105, Morgan Stanley to $188 from $171, and BofA to $170 from $145, signaling rising confidence in Western Digital's earnings power relative to its current valuation. Stay updated as the Fair Value for Western Digital shifts by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio . Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Western Digital. Western Digital's narrative has taken a constructive turn, with the fair value estimate nudging higher to about $187 per share from roughly $181 as analysts grow more confident in the durability of the current upcycle. This modest lift reflects slightly stronger assumed revenue growth of around 13.60% versus about 13.36%, underpinned by better than expected execution and improving supply demand dynamics in HDD and NAND, while a small move lower in the ~8.42% discount rate signals a touch less perceived risk. Read on to see how this evolving backdrop can help you stay ahead of future shifts in the story. Story Continues Do your thoughts align with the Bull or Bear Analysts? Perhaps you think there's more to the story. Head to the Simply Wall St Community to discover more perspectives or begin writing your own Narrative! NasdaqGS:WDC 1-Year Stock Price Chart What's in the News Showcased next generation AI and high performance computing storage at Supercomputing 2025, including 32TB UltraSMR HDDs and expanded NVMe oF architectures designed to ease data bottlenecks and boost GPU utilization. Expanded its Open Composable Compatibility Lab ecosystem by adding partners such as ASUS, Solidigm, Leil Storage, Open E, and Swiss Vault to deliver pre validated, vendor neutral, disaggregated storage solutions for enterprise and cloud customers. Opened a 25,600 square foot System Integration and Test Lab in Rochester to speed qualification of high capacity HDDs and support more than 2,000 customer systems across AI and cloud workloads. Returned capital to shareholders by repurchasing 9.2 million shares, or 2.66% of shares outstanding, for $702.41 million under its existing buyback, while raising the quarterly cash dividend by 25% to $0.125 per share and guiding fiscal Q2 2026 revenue to around $2.9 billion. How This Changes the Fair Value For Western Digital The fair value estimate has risen slightly to approximately $187 per share from about $181, reflecting modestly stronger long term fundamentals. The discount rate has edged down marginally to roughly 8.42% from about 8.43%, indicating a slightly lower perceived risk profile in the updated model. Revenue growth has increased slightly to around 13.60% from about 13.36%, incorporating a more constructive outlook for top line expansion. The net profit margin has eased slightly to roughly 24.73% from about 24.89%, suggesting a modestly more conservative view on long term profitability. The future P/E has risen slightly to about 21.0x from roughly 20.4x, implying a modest increase in the valuation multiple applied to forward earnings. Never Miss an Update: Follow The Narrative Narratives on Simply Wall St turn raw numbers into a clear story, combining your view of Western Digital's future revenue, earnings, and margins with a linked forecast and fair value. Hosted on the Community page, Narratives are easy to create and follow, help you judge when to buy or sell by comparing Fair Value to Price, and update dynamically as fresh news and earnings reshape the outlook. Head over to the Simply Wall St Community and follow the Narrative on Western Digital to stay on top of the latest drivers behind the stock: How AI driven storage demand, hyperscaler partnerships, and UltraSMR technology could support higher long term margins and revenue growth. What improving balance sheet strength, cash flow, and capital returns might mean for shareholder value and future fair value estimates. How customer concentration, technology shifts, and trade or macro risks could pressure growth assumptions and drive Narrative updates in real time. Read the full Western Digital Narrative and track every update in one place. Curious how numbers become stories that shape markets? Explore Community Narratives This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include WDC. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Get the inside track from Roisin O'Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Between Addison Raes big pop star launch and Lily Allens crime drama of an album, its been an exceptionally thrilling year for music. Artists like Rosalia and Bad Bunny broke through, proving that Brits can champion non-English-speaking music in a way they never have before. Before the death of Black Sabbath icon Ozzy Osbourne, we shared the bands emotional farewell show; Olivia Rodrigo showed future Pyramid Stage headliners how to do it at Glastonbury before a fallow year; and Jade Thirlwall (who we spoke to below) took us on the ride of her life post-Little Mix. Outside of music, we shared some unforgettable collective cultural moments too. Stephen Graham had us biting our fingernails with Adolescence, our mouths and hearts dropped at the scandal surrounding The Salt Path, and the Wicked: For Good press tour sprouted strange offshoots of discourse yet again. After fiercely debating our albums of the year, The Independents culture team eventually arrived at our Top 20, which includes Pink Pantheress, Brandi Carlile, Big Thief and Perfume Genius. We wanted to know what some of these artists thought of 2025, what their favourite records were, and what theyre most excited about in the year ahead. Heres what they said... JADE Looking back on your album now, what are you most proud of? What has it meant to you? Im most proud of believing in my own ability to create a daring album. Im proud of even having my own album. I think that the start of the project I obviously didnt know what was to come. Its been three to four years in the making, and its been really hard at times and creatively challenging. I did feel a lot of pressure coming out of a huge girl band, what that means and everything that comes with that. So Im proud of myself for sticking to my guns creatively and creating a body of work that I am genuinely so proud of and that has been received so well. I think part of the reason for that is because I just went for it. Its a maximalist pop record and it means everything to me because its me in an album. Its what I genuinely love. I love pop music. I love music. So for that to be praised, it means a lot and it means that Im on the right track, and people believe in my authentic self. open image in gallery JADE: Im so proud of myself for sticking to my guns creatively ( Press ) What have been some of your cultural highlights in 2025? Cultural highlights have been Glastonbury, which was huge for me. It was such a big moment in my career. Its the first time Ive ever done it and that offer came in earlier than I expected. It was honestly just one of the best moments of my life. Also working with Jools Holland was on the bucket list and was very cool. In terms of other cultural moments, obviously, Lily Allens album West End Girl created such a wave. I just love it. I think everyones been reminded of just how incredibly talented a lyricist and writer Lily is. We didnt realise we missed her until she came back. Do you know what I mean? Shes been so supportive of me as an artist as well. Theres been some amazing moments for me where Ive kind of made friends with people I hugely respect in the industry, and Lily Allen is one of them. I think everyones been reminded of just how incredibly talented a lyricist and writer Lily Allen is JADE I loved The Substance. I love horror movies in general, and I think this years been really great for horror. Books wise I have to say Jordans book Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak and Dogs. Obviously Im biased in that Im his partner and really supportive, but I really do feel like it was a very necessary book, especially for men and young men. Ive seen Jordan grow and the reaction to that book and what thats meant to so many people. So Im incredibly proud of that and it actually genuinely has been one of my favorite books to come out this year. Jordan and I have watched a lot of Wayward this year which we thought was amazing. I think Mae Martin is an incredible writer and creator. As you can tell from my Church video, I do love a witchy, culty moment, so that was kind of inspired by that. What is your personal Album of the Year and why? What do you admire about the artist / band? West End Girl by Lily Allen. Every year theres a huge pop culture moment and I feel like Lily Allen filled that space this year. Giving us something so brutally honest and vulnerable. And I find that really inspiring as a songwriter and artist. Besides releasing your amazing album, what are you most proud of achieving this year? Im most proud of the Brit award. To get my first Brit as a solo artist so early on in my solo career was amazing. Glastonbury is up there. Doing my own sell out tour and taking it to the USA and Europe next year is something Im incredibly proud of because I know just how hard Ive worked for all those things. What are your hopes for 2026? To write another record, push myself even more, travel more, do more gigs and work with some new exciting people. Perfume Genius How do you view your album Glory, in terms of the themes it explores? I feel like a lot of the record is about anxiety, about living I guess living and dying. A lot of it is about the push-and-pull of my life, being a very internal person, being a homebody and kind of getting stuck there and afraid to engage, and then the polar opposite of touring and playing shows and being very extroverted. And I think what has happened is that I feel more free, more alive, more myself there. I think part of it is that the album feels very much like me as I am right now, including a lot of things that I probably have included [in my work] the whole time. But I consciously try not to police myself as much even in the visuals I wasnt trying to be hotter than I actually was, I just showed up as I am in a way that really feels like it relieved a lot of anxiety and made me a lot more present. open image in gallery Perfume Genius in artwork for his album Glory ( Cody Critcheloe ) I think its better, which is strange. You always think you need to present a better version of yourself to believe its good, especially in superficial ways. I need to not look how I actually do I need to sound better on everything than I actually do... I havent worried about that stuff as much. And then I actually like how I look and sound better. Its very bizarre. Do you have a favourite album of 2025? I was thinking about that... I mean, I love 1010Benja who just put a few songs out, and [Ten Total] was my favourite record of last year. Addison Rae, Ive been listening to that record. It just makes me happy. She has a lot of life force, and I love when peoples eccentricities or their singular-ness shines through; even when things are artificial, theyre plotted out. Theres something kind of unhinged about her: she doesnt seem to be afraid of dying, which I am very [afraid of] thats what Im projecting onto her. And theres this nostalgia for when I felt more ready to go, everything looked sparkly and I thought I was sparkling. Theres a lot of love in it. open image in gallery Theres a lot of love in it: Perfume Genius on Addison Raes album ( Columbia Records ) What about films and books? I liked One Battle After Another, that was just fun. I went to see Die My Love I really liked it! I was the only one. I love both Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson. You had to buy into the pacing and the weird energetic throughline of it. I was in the right mood to go there. I liked this book Flesh by David Szalay... It was not set up to be a book that Id enjoy, but it ended up being very interesting to me. There wasnt a lot of internal reflection, it was hard for me to figure out a sense of his internal monologue, everything was external. And then God of the Woods by Liz Moore, I read, which is a mystery. I always want a page-turner because I fall off if its just plot and not good writing, it just dies for me. But I thought that book was both. What are your hopes for 2026? I was thinking about things I liked this year and how I wished more things went for it. I want to do that. I had an idea for promo for Glory that I was going to make out with everyone at [my record label] Matador, and thats an amazing idea, I should have done that. But I was like, Well no, thats too much. But I want to do all of the ideas for the next thing I make. All the things Ive loved this year have taken risks Perfume Genius Im sure I might make another bare-bones piano record, but I dont want to limit myself or worry about if its cool or if people will like it. Which is hard to do when my whole job is this, and if people dont like it then I wont make any money. But I think Ive learnt from all the things that I have loved the riskier things, the weirder things... Its weird, this job. You have so many people in your ear, imagined or real. For me its a lot more imagined because I actually get to do what I want but you think you need to sand and round edges for it to be able to reach people. And I think the opposite is actually true. More widely, I just hope that me and my friends are safe for another year, and that we can take care of each other and be around each other as much as possible, and my family too, and do what we can to make that possible for other people. Buck Meek, Big Thief open image in gallery Big Thief ( 2025 Invision ) Looking back on your album now, what are you most proud of? What has it meant to you? Everyone on the Double Infinity record really listened to each other in the recording session. There were 10 or 11 people playing together and Adrienne and James and I were teaching everyone the songs on the spot and they were just arranging their parts instinctually responding to everyone else. I think that requires a lot of openness and releasing your ego and surrendering to the group. The fact we could do that for three weeks is the thing Im most proud of. What have been some of your cultural highlights for 2025? My cultural highlights of 2025 have been mostly good food. Thats the carrot on the stick for touring around the world but theres just endless good food in Los Angeles. Some of my favourite places for food are Mariscos Jalisco, where they make shrimp ceviche and wrap it in a corn tortilla, and deep fry it really quickly so the shrimp that squishes outside the edges of the tortilla gets all brown and crispy but the shrimp on the inside is almost raw and they cover that with this super red and orange sauce with avocado, its so good. Theres this place Whole Box which makes epic ceviche, and Mini Kebab is this joint in Glendale thats kinda like The Bear but kebabs. Its this young cat who took over the place from his parents but hes making kebabs on the highest level Ive ever had. Theres this spot Queen Kebab deep in the valley thats Syrian food run by this wonderful woman. What is your personal Album of the Year and why? My brother Dylan Meeks new album Love Languages. Im proud of how Dylan has evolved over the years. He grew up as a jazz prodigy and played jazz in New York for a long time but for the last ten years hes been writing beautiful songs and recording and producing himself, and layering hundreds of wild vocal tracks on top of each other, and making such unique, powerful music. Asides from releasing Double Infinity with Big Thief, what are you most proud of achieving this year? Im thrilled to have made a new rock n roll album with my band under my own name. Im really proud of the songs, the guitar playing and my voice, and of everyone involved. Im excited to be announcing that soon on [record label] 4AD, and Ill be coming to Europe and playing those songs in the new year. What are your hopes for 2026? Ive got a lot of hopes for 2026 but one of them is to just keep getting better at the guitar. Ive been practising a lot - I go through phases with practising and right now Im really getting into chord melodies, learning my drop 2 and drop 3 inversions and trying to learn some of the old great American songbook stuff and arrange those tunes. Ive also been getting deeper into the Telecaster and learning some hot licks on that. Ive been taking some online classes with some of my favourite guitarists too. Its been a lot of fun. Brandi Carlile open image in gallery Brandi Carlile: There were four standout albums for me in 2025 ( Collier Schorr ) What have been some of your cultural highlights in 2025? Gosh, where do I start?! I think there were four standout albums for me: LUX by Rosalia, Lily Allens West End Girl, Euro-Country by CMAT and Sable, Fable by Bon Iver. Justin Vernon is a f***ing genius (and I dont use either of those words lightly!) I had such a busy year, I didnt have much time to read, but I compel everyone to read Andrea Gibsons poetry book Youd Better Be Lightning. And Dead and Alive and anything else by Zadie Smith! No matter how busy I am, I do however always have time for TV! My recommendations would be Adolescence, which absolutely floored me. Im about four episodes into Pluribus, which has me on the edge of my seat right now! Im also an executive producer on Come See Me in the Good Light about Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson (see book recommendation above) and their wife Megan Falley as they come to terms with a terminal cancer diagnosis. Its incredibly life-affirming despite the subject matter, and it completely changed the way I walk through the world and look at myself in the mirror. As far as shows go, I have to say that Glastonbury was a total pilgrimage for me! Not only was I lucky enough to play it for the first time, but I got to walk right up to the top of that hill and take in that sacred ground! It was actually really hard to comprehend that I was just a tiny dot on the famous Pyramid Stage! Theres no other festival like it in the world. Glastonbury was a total pilgrimage for me! Brandi Carlile What is your personal Album of the Year and why? What do you admire in general about the artist / band? Arrrrgggghhh, I cant possibly choose, but if I absolutely had to it would beWest End Girl by Lily Allen. The thing I admire about Lily the most is her bravery and willingness to write without a filter. The best songwriters of all time have absolutely no filter, including Joni Mitchell, and I really strive to have the guts to write in that unselfconscious and unpretentious way. West End Girl captures that strength and vulnerability in equal measure. open image in gallery Brandi Carlile: The thing I admire about Lily the most is her bravery and willingness to write without a filter ( Lily Allen/Nieves Gonzalez ) Aside from releasing your album Returning to Myself, what are you most proud of achieving this year? Im really, really proud of Returning to Myself and allowing myself the freedom to really do what the title implies. As an extremely codependent person, it was not easy and ironically it took a village. Im also really proud of what led me to that moment, which was the album I made with Elton John Who Believes in Angels?Its funny how album titles can become prophecies. Elton will forever be my hero, my adversary and my angel all at the same time. To get to make an album with my best friend wasnt just my proudest moment of the year, its one of the greatest achievements of my life. What are your hopes for 2026? That I can adequately protect and guide my daughters through this increasingly mad world. Brendan Yates, Turnstile frontman open image in gallery Brendan Yates: Working on the album and the film at the same time, we often felt like we were in too deep ( Getty ) Looking back on your album now, what are you most proud of about it? What has it meant to you? Making an album can be a paralysing process. Working on the album and the film at the same time, we often felt like we were in too deep. But the film ended up giving life to the songs in ways that we needed. Bringing it all to fruition and the team work involved is something Im very proud of. What have been some of your cultural highlights in 2025? Alex Gs Headlights, seeing The Prodigy at Glastonbury, Richard Sikens I Do Know Some Things, The Chair Company, Angel Du$ts Cold 2 the Touch music video, Mustafas Tiny Desk. Making an album can be a paralysing process Brendan Yates What is your personal Album of the Year and why? What do you admire in general about the artist? Blood Orange Essex Honey. This album continues to peel back its layers for me. Being a Blood Orange fan for so many years, this album has become my favorite. Its comforting like a warm, nostalgic hug while also feeling brand new. Aside from releasing your fantastic album, what are you most proud of achieving this year? We played a show in our home of Baltimore raising money for Healthcare for the Homeless. I think we collectively are still processing how special this show was. Seeing the community come together and being surrounded by all of our friends and family in the park was something Ill never forget. What are your hopes for 2026? More music, more empathy. PinkPantheress Looking back on your album now, what are you most proud of? What has it meant to you? Ive always built worlds around the projects Ive released, this year I really wanted to push myself and do things I had never done before so I think thats what Im the proudest of... I think its paid off! open image in gallery PinkPantheress: I hadnt toured in so long so I wanted to come back with a bang ( Charlie Engman ) What have been some of your cultural highlights in 2025? Watching Raye perform at the BFA awards and watching Frankenstein by Guillermo del Toro. What is your personal Album of the Year and why? What do you admire in general about the artist / band? Through the Wall by Rochelle Jordan, she did her biggest one. I love her eagerness to always sound like herself, and how much she is impacting her musical scope one release at a time. I wanted to create a show that people could just lose themselves in PinkPantheress What are you most proud of achieving this year? My live shows! We sold out every date which is crazy, I hadnt toured in so long so I wanted to come back with a bang! I wanted to create a show that people could just lose themselves in and have a great time, thats what the mixtape is all about, so it was important I was having fun on stage. What are your hopes for 2026? I want to be an actress! McKinley Dixon Looking back on your album Magic, Alive!, what are you most proud of about it? What has it meant to you? A lot of my records revolve around a story that also involves my life and draws a lot from that, while being recorded by the people that I know and love. I always go back home to Virginia to record. So with this one, I feel like its important to change things up or your discography is going to get pretty stale. open image in gallery McKinley Dixon: To me, my music is very vulnerable and conversational ( Dennis Larance ) My goal was to limit the amount of... whats the term, I guess, parasocial interactions I have from creating the record that is [about] my life. So For My Mama and Anyone Who Look Like Her (2021) was how I approached young adolescence and finding out that women are the backbone of everything; Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? (2023) was the teachings of my life through the lens of Toni Morrison. Magic, Alive! is the first one where its like, Well if I want to stop having people put the weight of [the songs] on me, I should probably anchor it in fiction. So it was a way of creating a boundary for myself and also the fanbase. Soundwise, I feel like a lot of jazz rap nowadays sits within the realm of bright trumpet notes, you know what I mean? But for my records, I made the demos with my friends, we sort of massage them and flesh them out, and then I go back home to Virginia and get the band to add their own personal touch, along with the humour and the intimacy. To me, my music is very vulnerable and conversational, so what genres mimic that? I think its jazz: it can be vulnerable, conversational, agitated... all of these things existing with one moment, so I wanted to duplicate the sonics of it. Jazz can be vulnerable, conversational, agitated... all of these things existing with one moment McKinley Dixon What are some of your favourite albums of the year? I really love the Maruja album, Pain to Power... I really enjoyed Quedecas album Vanisher, Horizon Scraper. Danny Browns record Stardust. Also Jane Removers EP, that was really cool. What about books and films? I read Monster by Cody Scott, which is a book about one of the original Crips he talks about gangs pre and post-Ronald Reagan, its a really beautiful book. Im teaching a course on lyricism in the next few months, and one of the books from that was the Gucci Mane autobiography. I read a lot of manga as well; I like that. I love going to the theatre, and just recently watched Chainsaw Man, that was a fun one. I saw Good Boy, the indie film, and I rewatched Tekkonkinkreet, which is a Japanese movie about orphans. I really like Satoshi Kons work, like Perfect Blue, Paprika... I watch a lot of movies, and a lot of them arent that good, but those are the ones that have stuck out to me recently. You can find our Albums of the Year 2025 here. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A jury has awarded $65.5 million to a mother of three who claimed talcum products made by Johnson & Johnson exposed her to asbestos and contributed to her developing cancer in the lining of her lungs. Jurors in Minnesota determined Friday that Anna Jean Houghton Carley, 37, should be compensated by Johnson & Johnson after using its baby powder throughout her childhood and later developing mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused primarily by exposure to the carcinogen asbestos. Johnson & Johnson said it would appeal the verdict. During a 13-day trial in Ramsey County District Court, Carley's legal team argued the pharmaceutical giant sold and marketed talc-based products to consumers despite knowing it can be contaminated with asbestos. Carley's lawyers also said her family was never warned about potential dangers while using the product on their child. The product was taken off shelves in the U.S. in 2020. open image in gallery Johnson & Johnson stopped selling powder made with talc worldwide in 2023 ( AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File ) This case was not about compensation only. It was about truth and accountability," Carley's attorney Ben Braly said. Erik Haas, worldwide vice president of litigation for Johnson & Johnson, argued the company's baby powder is safe, does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer. He expects an appellate court to reverse the decision. The verdict is the latest development in a longstanding legal battle over claims that talc in Johnsons Baby Powder and Shower to Shower body powder was connected to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma, which strikes the lungs and other organs. Johnson & Johnson stopped selling powder made with talc worldwide in 2023. These lawsuits are predicated on junk science, refuted by decades of studies that demonstrate Johnson & Johnsons Baby Powder is safe, does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer, Haas said in a statement after the verdict. Earlier this month, a Los Angeles jury awarded $40 million to two women who claimed Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder caused their ovarian cancer. And in October, another California jury ordered the company to pay $966 million to the family of a woman who died of mesothelioma, claiming she developed the cancer because the baby powder she used was contaminated with asbestos. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice It begins with two people, one blanket, and two very different ideas of whats a comfortable sleeping temperature. By midnight, one partner is hot and sweaty while the other is freezing. Sounds familiar? Youre not alone. Many couples have nightly arguments over blankets or doonas, bedroom temperature and differing sleep habits. Poor sleep and relationship strain can follow. So its no wonder couples are curious about the Scandinavian sleep method, which is having a moment on social media. But what is it? And will it end your nightly doona drama, as TikTok suggests? What is the Scandinavian sleep method? This is a sleeping arrangement for couples who share a bed. But rather than sharing bedding, each has their own blanket or doona. This arrangement allows couples to continue sleeping together while meeting each persons individual needs. It offers a balance between sleeping together and sleeping apart. As the name suggests, its said to be a popular in Scandinavian countries. It reflects the preferences of many couples who value both intimacy (sharing a bed) and personal sleep comfort (their own blanket or doona). Now many couples from non-Scandinavian countries say trying the Scandinavian sleep method has been a game-changer for their sleep. Does it really work? Most research on how couples sleep focuses on broader factors. These include the sleep environment (whether its safe, quiet or dark), temperature and routines, rather than whether couples share a blanket. In the absence of research specifically testing two blankets vs one blanket it is hard to check if the Scandinavian sleep method is scientifically valid. However, this method has many aspects that align with healthy sleep practices. So theres reasonable evidence to suggest it could reduce the type of sleep disturbances you can get from sharing a blanket with your partner. Im hot, youre cold The bodys internal clock manages daily rhythms in core body temperature, which drops when you fall asleep. And different bedding materials can influence your sleep by affecting your skin and body temperature. For instance, different fibre types can affect how quickly you fall asleep or the amount of deep sleep you get. Blankets that are too hot and raise your body temperature can also affect your sleep. The bodys internal clock manages daily rhythms in core body temperature, which drops when you fall asleep ( Getty ) But night time body temperature patterns can vary with age, body composition, hormones, and whether youre a morning or evening person. These contribute to whether youre a hot sleeper or a cold sleeper, and can explain why you need different types of bedding to your partner. Hot sleepers generally prefer lightweight, breathable fabrics, whereas cold sleepers tend towards heavier, insulating fabrics that trap heat. Individuals may also prefer different bedding for other reasons. Someone with heightened sensory awareness or skin sensitivities might favour more natural, smooth fibres. Or they may opt for weighted blankets to provide a calming effect that helps reduce anxiety or sensory processing issues. With the Scandinavian sleep method, each person can choose the type of bedding that suits them best. My feet are cold For female-male bed partners, sex differences in night time core body temperature patterns can lead to one person shivering while the other sweats under the same cover. Womens hands and feet often have lower skin temperatures, as their body prioritises keeping their internal organs warm. This can explain why women might want to tuck their hands and feet in under the doona or blanket, while their male partner is happy to stick theirs out. Women may also reach their lowest night time body temperature earlier in the night than men. As women age and transition to menopause, they might experience hot flushes and night sweats, which often disturb sleep. These differences in temperature regulation mean men and women usually have varying preferences for their ideal temperature for sleeping. I was almost asleep! If you have insomnia, your sleep can be disturbed by your partners noise or movement. Your sleep can also be disturbed by your partners influence over the sleep environment whether they watch TV or use their phone in bed, or if they sleep with the lights on. About the authors Yaqoot Fatima is a Professor of Sleep Health at University of the Sunshine Coast. Danielle Wilson is a Research Fellow and sleep scientist at University of the Sunshine Coast. Nisreen Aouira is a Research Program Manager, Let's Yarn About Sleep, Thompson Institute at University of the Sunshine Coast. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Female partners report being disturbed more often by their male partners movement than the other way around. So separate bedding may help minimise someones sleep being disturbed when partners go to bed and wake at different times. And as each person has their own bedding, it would also avoid the disturbed sleep that would arise when one person hogs the blanket. Whats the verdict? For couples who have poor sleep due to conflicting comfort needs whether its blanket-hogging, different temperature preferences, restlessness or misaligned sleep schedules the Scandinavian sleep method seems to offer a practical and affordable solution. It allows you to manage your microclimate to suit your bodys needs. But sleeping with a separate doona or blanket can make it harder to make the bed and make bedtime cuddles more tricky. Unless you have a queen-size or bigger bed, they might also be tough to balance on the bed without one sliding off. While the Scandinavian sleep method appears promising, it certainly isnt a game-changer. Until there is research evidence, it should be best regarded as a practical sleep hygiene hack rather than a scientifically tested sleep method. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Stroke can happen to anyone, at any age and at any time. The number of strokes among younger adults under 55 is rising worldwide, and every day in the UK around 240 people experience the traumatic and life-changing effects of a stroke. A stroke is sometimes described by doctors and stroke awareness campaigns as a brain attack to help people understand that a stroke is as urgent and life-threatening as a heart attack. Both happen when blood flow is suddenly cut off, depriving vital tissue of oxygen and nutrients. There are two main types of stroke. In an ischaemic stroke, blood flow to the brain is blocked, usually by a clot in a blood vessel. Without oxygen, brain cells begin to die, which can cause loss of movement, speech, memory or even death. In a haemorrhagic stroke, a blood vessel inside the brain bursts. This is often due to high blood pressure, which weakens blood vessel walls and makes them more likely to rupture. Treating a stroke is a race against time because, as doctors say, time is brain: the longer the brain is starved of blood and oxygen, the more brain cells die. Treatments that can dissolve or remove a clot in an ischaemic stroke or lower dangerously high blood pressure in a haemorrhagic stroke must be given quickly to limit brain damage. Anyone with a suspected stroke should be taken by emergency services directly to a specialist stroke unit. Patients admitted to these dedicated units tend to have better outcomes because they receive expert care from doctors trained specifically to manage stroke. How to recognise the signs of stroke A lack of early recognition of stroke symptoms is linked to higher mortality rates. The acronym Fast (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) has been a cornerstone of public stroke awareness for more than 20 years. It was developed as a quick screening tool for use before hospital admission, helping people recognise the signs of a stroke and seek urgent medical help. open image in gallery A lack of early recognition of stroke symptoms is linked to higher mortality rates ( PA ) Fast highlights the most common warning signs of stroke, but some strokes present differently. To make sure fewer cases are missed, additional symptoms such as dizziness, visual changes and loss of balance have been added, creating the Be Fast acronym. B = Balance problems. A sudden loss of balance or coordination, dizziness, or a sensation that the room is spinning. E = Eyes. Sudden blurred vision, loss of vision in one or both eyes, double vision, or difficulty focusing. F = Face. Facial weakness or unevenness, often with a droop on one side of the mouth or eye. A = Arm or leg weakness or numbness, often affecting one side of the body. S = Speech difficulty, slurred speech, trouble finding words, or an inability to speak clearly. T = Time to call an ambulance. Make a note of when symptoms began, as this helps doctors decide which treatment is most effective. Other warning signs Stroke symptoms often develop suddenly and can vary from person to person. Some people, particularly women, may experience stroke symptoms that are not included in the Be Fast acronym. Women are less likely to be recognised as having a stroke because their symptoms can differ from mens. These may include sudden fatigue, confusion, nausea, fainting, or general weakness rather than clear paralysis or slurred speech. About the author Siobhan Mclernon is a Senior Lecturer, Adult Nursing and co-lead, Ageing, Acute and Long Term Conditions. Member of the Health and Well-Being Research Centre at London South Bank University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Other possible signs for any person include a severe headache with no clear cause, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, agitation, or sudden memory loss. In some cases, a person may collapse, lose consciousness, or have a seizure. Sometimes stroke symptoms last only a few minutes or hours before disappearing completely within 24 hours. This may indicate a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA), sometimes called a mini stroke. A TIA happens when the blood supply to the brain is briefly interrupted, causing temporary symptoms. The difference between a TIA and a full stroke is that the blockage clears on its own before permanent brain damage occurs. However, a TIA is still a medical emergency and a serious warning sign that a major stroke could soon follow. Advances in technology Telemedicine has become an important tool in making rapid diagnosis and early treatment possible. By using secure video links, paramedics can consult with hospital stroke specialists in real time, even while still at the scene or en route to hospital. This allows early diagnosis, faster decision making and immediate preparation for treatment once the patient arrives. For example, some ambulances now operate as mobile stroke units equipped with brain imaging scanners and clot-busting medicines. In London, video calls between senior doctors and paramedics at emergency scenes have helped speed up care and direct patients to the most appropriate treatment centre. open image in gallery Telemedicine has become an important tool in making rapid diagnosis and early treatment possible ( Getty/iStock ) While telemedicine connects specialists to paramedics on the move, other tools are bringing medical help directly to patients within moments of a 999 call. The GoodSAM app was first developed to improve survival after cardiac arrest by alerting nearby trained responders to begin CPR before an ambulance arrives. The platform has since expanded to support other life-threatening emergencies, including stroke. When someone calls for help, the system identifies clinically trained staff or volunteers in the area and dispatches them to the scene while paramedics are on their way. These responders can provide rapid assessment, basic first aid and reassurance to the patient and family, and can help ensure that key information such as the time symptoms began is ready for the arriving medical team. By combining digital technology, trained volunteers and rapid communication, the app is helping bridge the critical gap between the onset of symptoms and hospital treatment: the period where, quite literally, every minute matters. A stroke can strike suddenly and without warning, but quick recognition and immediate medical attention can mean the difference between life and death. Learning the Be Fast signs and acting immediately could save a life, protect the brain and preserve a persons ability to speak, move and think. BOK Financial's narrative has shifted as analysts nudge their fair value estimate higher to $122.60 per share while trimming revenue growth expectations and slightly lowering the discount rate to reflect a marginally improved risk profile. The updated target balances optimism over a stronger non interest bearing deposit mix and above average loan growth in key markets, with caution around how durable these trends will be if conditions change. Read on to see what is driving this evolving outlook and how you can stay on top of future shifts in the story. Stay updated as the Fair Value for BOK Financial shifts by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on BOK Financial. What Wall Street Has Been Saying Bullish Takeaways Jefferies upgraded BOK Financial to Buy from Hold, lifting its price target to $135 from $120, signaling increased confidence in upside relative to the current trading level. The firm highlights expectations for an improving non interest bearing deposit mix and above average loan growth, pointing to stronger execution in core banking fundamentals. Jefferies notes that nearly half of BOK Financial's loans are tied to the strong performing Texas and Oklahoma markets, which it sees as a key driver of growth momentum and earnings visibility. The bank's strong capital position is cited as support for both buybacks and organic growth, reinforcing the view that management has the balance sheet flexibility to execute on its strategy. Bearish Takeaways Even with the Jefferies upgrade, the move from a $120 to $135 target implies more measured upside, suggesting that some of the improvement in deposit quality and regional loan strength may already be reflected in the valuation. Do your thoughts align with the Bull or Bear Analysts? Perhaps you think there's more to the story. Head to the Simply Wall St Community to discover more perspectives or begin writing your own Narrative! NasdaqGS:BOKF 1-Year Stock Price Chart What's in the News Advertisement A man who ran to help Bondi hero, Ahmed al Ahmed, is in a coma in intensive care, after being shot three times in the Bondi terrorist attack. Family and friends have identified the man in maroon who ran to help Ahmed al Ahmed as Gefen Bitton, a 30-year-old Israeli who has been living and working in Australia. Gefen Bitton accompanied Ahmed al Ahmed as he wrestled a rifle off Sajid Akram. Bittons family praised their loved one, describing him as a true hero who deserves recognition, after he was seriously injured in Sundays attack. After a long day of hiking in the Blue Mountains, one of Gefens favourite pastimes, all he wanted to do was celebrate Hannukah, Bittons family said in a statement. Advertisement Sitting at the benches in Bondi with a friend, he insisted on staying until the last moment until the Chanukkah lighting was completed. Little did he know, this decision would change his life. Related Article Updated Bondi shooting I was holding her: Shattered father reveals Matildas final moments as more families share tributes When the shooting began, Gefen jumped up with his friend and ran, but when his friend looked back just a second later, Gefen had disappeared from sight, his family said. After examining footage of the attack and Gefens location history, his family realised he was the man who ran to help Ahmed. Gefen had escaped, he was safe, but when he saw the terrorist, he ran into the line of fire to help. He made the decision to put himself at risk to save the lives of others. As Ahmad al Ahmad heroically jumped on the terrorist, Gefen ran in alongside to confront the terrorist, they said. Advertisement There, he was shot, fell to the ground, and shot again. Gefens put his own life at risk with his selfless actions, the familys statement read. Gefen an unarmed Israeli civilian, living in peace in Australia made a decision most of us couldnt even think of. He ran into the face of danger like only a hero does, guided by the values on which he was educated and raised. A true hero that deserves recognition. Friend Cay Barr said a gofundme had been created for her beautiful friend Bitton. Not a mere bystander, but an absolute hero who deserves recognition, Barr said. He is currently in the ICU, after multiple surgeries and a long way to go. We are praying in the next days he will be stable enough to wake up. Advertisement As of 1.30pm Saturday, there are currently 14 patients in hospital. Four are in a critical but stable condition, and the remaining 10 are stable. Minns announces new legislation NSW Premier Chris Minns has announced new legislation to ban hateful symbols such as IS flags and give police greater powers to remove face coverings at protests and other public assemblies. At a press conference on Saturday, Minns said he would also insist the phrase globalise the intifada be considered hate speech under legislation to crack down on hateful slogans. Loading Advertisement The NSW Parliament is being recalled on Monday to consider the legislation. Mondays legislation will specifically outlaw terrorist symbols such as the [IS] flags and indeed all banned terrorist organisations in NSW, for public display, either in the streets during a public demonstration or in houses anywhere, Minns said. Well also make it very clear that horrific recent events have shown that the chant globalise the intifada is hate speech and it encourages violence in our community, he said. The chant will be banned alongside other hateful comments and statements made in our community. The Attorney General will ask the Legislative Assembly Committee on Law and Safety to conduct a quick investigation into other hateful statements and recommend which statements can be included in the states hate speech laws that will be introduced in the new year. Advertisement Lifesavers honour victims On Saturday, on the sand of Bondi Beach, hundreds of surf lifesavers gathered for a moment of silence to honour the 15 innocent people killed in Sundays terrorist attack. Many of the lifesavers had been among the first responders, ferrying wounded to the lawn outside their club, where paramedics and doctors who had been off-duty nearby treated the injured. Loading The honour guard of red and yellow uniforms stretched from one end of Bondis shoreline to the other as they stood in silence for three minutes. Nippers clung to their parents. Advertisement Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce said other clubs around Australia were also standing this morning in solidarity. Im so incredibly proud, we all stood shoulder to shoulder, we all cried, Pearce said. Chris Cooper, 27, was one of the first surf lifesavers on the scene last Sunday. Tamarama and Bondi surf lifesavers stood for a minute silence at Bondi Beach this morning. Oscar Colman I was just by the shower, Cooper said, pointing to the Bondi surf club. Advertisement When the gunfire started slowing down, I ran into the playground. I was probably one of the first people to actually see, he said, referring to the location of the Hanukkah by the Sea event that was the target of the terrorist attack. He then ran back to collect first aid equipment, he said. Standing with his fellow lifesavers, Cooper said this special moment showed the community was here to help each other after Sundays horrific events. Ive been in Surf Life Saving since I was like five years old, and Ive never seen this kind of a community strength than here, he said. Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app. Advertisement Exclusive NationalVictoriaPlanning Green light for first apartment block in great design high-density push Daniella White December 20, 2025 7:00pm 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 A A A The first apartment block to be fast-tracked under the state governments great design pathway has been approved, setting a precedent for the higher-density developments it wants to see more of in Melbourne. But not all residents are happy, and some claim the proposed seven-storey development offers an alarming example for new builds in residential neighbourhoods such as Fitzroy North. The Rae Street development in Fitzroy North is the first to be fast-tracked through the governments great design pathway. The block of 27 homes would include 10 two-bedroom and 17 three-bedroom apartments, as well as 41 underground car parking spaces, 49 bicycle spaces and communal open space. The developers of the Rae Street complex secured its fast-track status following an external design review and three workshops with the Office of the Victorian Government Architect, demonstrating a commitment to the state governments great design principles. Advertisement Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny formally approved the development on Friday, about three months after the application was lodged. This is exactly what the great design fast track is all about backing great design, cutting delays and getting more high-quality homes built sooner, she said. The government said a similar-sized development could take up to eight months for council approval, or even years if it was dragged to VCAT. The new pathway aimed at slashing approval times, introduced in April, gives the planning minister control of applications for townhouses and apartment projects of two to eight storeys, depending on their location, if they demonstrate high-quality design, liveability and sustainability and include modern construction methods. The Rae Street development was opposed by some neighbours as well as Yarra City Council. Planning documents Advertisement The government says the pathway will slash approval times and encourage more affordable architectural heritage across the state. The Fitzroy North complex is the first to be assessed under the pathway. Related Article Exclusive Planning The suburbs set to be transformed by ministers sweeping powers Similarly to the existing development facilitation program, residents can respond to the planning applications but have no powers to appeal against any decision at VCAT. The Rae Street development was opposed by some neighbours as well as Yarra City Council, which had wanted the government to reduce the permitted height of the complex. Neighbours told a council meeting in November the development would block natural sunlight and would not offer affordable housing instead providing luxury apartments for the wealthy. Advertisement One long-time resident, Dennis McCormack, said the building was totally unnecessary on the scale it was proposed and set an alarming precedent for the area. Related Article City life Melbournes townhouse boom is happening, but not where its meant to The sheer bulk and height of the structure that is proposed is ridiculous There is nothing like this anywhere near there, he said. Youll be laying down the grounds for more and more of this, and it will destroy the area. Unlike the similar housing fast-track scheme the development facilitation program, the great design initiative does not require developments to include any affordable housing or contribute to a housing fund. Advertisement However, applicants are required to show they are supporting more affordable housing through innovative housing development and delivery models that respond to changing housing markets. In planning documents, Rae Street developer JMSN said this had been achieved through offering a range of apartment sizes catering to different price points, and said the material palette had been carefully selected to include robust materials that would not require frequent maintenance or replacement. Related Article Exclusive Suburban Rail Loop A flawed scheme delivered no affordable homes. Its now planned for the Suburban Rail Loop Yarra councillors had voted to support the application but only subject to conditions, including the removal of two storeys. However, councils do not have the power to block the applications and can only provide feedback to the state government. The seven-storey design was ultimately approved. Kilkenny, through a spokesperson, did not say how many homes she expected to be built through the fast-track scheme. Advertisement JMSN did not respond to requests for comment. Jonathan OBrien, lead organiser at pro-development group YIMBY, said the great design pathway could allow great designs to be replicated across the city, which could lead to a new architecturally distinct era of Melbourne. It allows a scaling up of beauty of things that are tried and tested as opposed to trying to invest in something brand new right from scratch, he said. The design fast-track pathway is part of the state governments broader planning overhaul, which has stripped local councils of decision-making powers for certain developments. Other recently announced changes will also make it easier for landowners to subdivide blocks and build townhouses, while removing the rights of neighbours to formally object to or appeal most development applications. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement NationalVictoriaBondi shooting Lifesavers pay tribute to their heroic Bondi brethren Isabel McMillan December 20, 2025 2:05pm 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 A A As Australia mourns the tragedy at Bondi, life-saving organisations across the country are gathering to pay tribute to the victims, and to honour those who risked everything to help protect others. Standing silently at the beach they volunteer their time to protect, dozens of members from the Altona Life Saving Club in Melbournes west gathered to honour their fellow lifeguards and lifesavers involved in the December 14 terror attack. Altona Life Saving Club lifesavers stood with emergency service officers to pay tribute to the Bondi victims. Eddie Jim Side by side with local police officers and firefighters at the beach on Saturday morning, club members observed three minutes of silence in a tribute to the 15 innocent victims who lost their lives, those who were injured, and those who tried desperately to help. On the day of the Bondi massacre, the beachs famed lifesavers sprinted into the carnage to help, putting their lives at risk as they treated the wounded and ushered terrified people to safety. Advertisement Many of the lifesavers had been among the first responders at Bondi, ferrying wounded to the lawn outside their club, where paramedics and doctors who had been off-duty nearby treated the injured. I just think about how impacted that Bondi club would be after this, Altona Life Saving Clubs 21-year-old patrol captain Alice Henry said. Altona Life Saving Club members Alice Henry and Jeremy Cassar. Eddie Jim They have just done the most amazing job. They have come down to volunteer their time, and theyve done so much more than whats in our quote-unquote job description. Such amazing efforts in protecting the community. Patrol vice captain and support trainer Jeremy Cassar, 17, said the Bondi lifesavers needed to be applauded for their quick responses. Advertisement What they did was way past what they should ever need to do on the beach, he said. They put their lives at risk on Sunday, and I think they should be very much proud of what theyve done. Altona Life Saving Club lifesavers stood with emergency service officers to pay tribute to the Bondi victims. Eddie Jim Altona Life Saving Club president Lisa Curran said the impacts of the Bondi terror attack had been felt heavily by members across the country because life-saving is a movement across Australia. We always think of each other, regardless of whether were standing on the beach here, standing on the beach down the coast, in NSW, anywhere, she said. Advertisement Related Article Bondi shooting A father, a son and the radical world of terror There is that compassion, dedication and empathy for each other and that comradeship, so just that in itself really does speak volumes as to where we stand as a movement, but how we feel and how need to support our fellow members. Earlier in the day, hundreds of lifesavers gathered on Bondi Beach almost a week after the deadly attack. The honour guard of red and yellow uniforms stretched from one end of Bondis shoreline to the other as they stood in silence for three minutes. Nippers clung to their parents. A woman had a tear poised to drop on the baby in her arms. Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said other clubs around Australia were also standing on Saturday in solidarity. Advertisement Im so incredibly proud. We all stood shoulder to shoulder. We all cried, Pearce said. With Julie Power Get alerts on breaking news as it happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Bondi shooting Isabel McMillan is a breaking news reporter at The Age. Advertisement Letters NationalVictoriaLetters Surely, there is a better path for our country December 20, 2025 8:00pm 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 A A A Photo: Matt Golding To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number. No attachments, please include your letter in the body of the email. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. Surely better path awaits Profound thanks to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for his focused commitment to national cohesion following the more than horrific antisemitic Bondi massacre last Sunday. Underneath his initial public statements I heard his deep personal sorrow which I, the daughter of a Jewish mother, also feel, and is beyond words. The human central nervous system is built to process incoming information. After that event, instead of instant simplistic blame, patient self-disciplined waiting to hear the many detailed complex causes now emerging will surely enable us to produce and enact more creative constructive policies to both prevent a recurrence of such a scenario, and build a stronger more cohesive Australia. Jennifer Gerrand, Carlton North Listen to each other As Hanukkahs eighth day (22/12) approaches and Christmas Day beckons, if only we could acknowledge that the messages of both celebrations are intertwined. While Im an agnostic (Im still waiting for proof!), I enjoy this time of year for the opportunity to reflect on whats really important in life. My fellow Age correspondents have made some valid points throughout the year, but more so in the wake of the Bondi tragedy. Some have reminded us how we should develop more empathy and compassion to have an understanding of why people react the way they do and celebrate differences. One correspondent (20/12) expressed resentment about name-calling and politicians use of the acronym NIMBY to describe what is perceived to be a selfish, entitled descriptor. But in my view, with recent events, Not in my backyard defines how most of us want to live our lives: in peace and harmony enjoying what we have for the sake of our familys health and wellbeing. Whether it applies to living in our suburbs or wanting to protect our way of life in Australia, we should remember to listen to each other and consider our words carefully before uttering them. Sally Davis, Malvern East Distorted reality Nobody could doubt the sincerity of Josh Frydenbergs speech, yet the loss of a bipartisan response to the shooting is to be regretted and speaks to the Liberal Partys declining political relevance. If Anthony Albanese has not been seen to do more to address antisemitism, it is because he is also instinctively alert to the plight of the people of Gaza and is treading carefully. A nations religion and its political representation are different things, but even in the early aftermath of Sundays atrocity it is invidious to pretend that the rise of antisemitic feeling around the world does not have its origins in the Israeli governments defence agenda. To blame the prime minister of Australia for the consequences of Benjamin Netanyahus political overreach is an opportunistic distortion. Oliver Dennis, Armadale Advertisement Failure to unite Shaun Carneys Comment (18/12) was a model of intelligent analysis. I dont want to see the conservatives straining to demonise the prime minister, because it serves us no social good. They have chosen retribution and it will backfire come the next election. They should be on a unity ticket with the government positively steering the country through this shattering event, but they choose, as always, to make party policy reactively. They have never learned the art of being in opposition, being masterful at conflating states of affairs and widening the scope of grievance and blame. Whats more, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not an elected official in Australia, yet he succeeds in inserting a pro-Israel political agenda into our politics. It is unbelievable that Australians should seriously listen to him on antisemitism in our country. Pauline Brandon, Beechworth Mistaken approach The Bondi attack was horrific. I feel deep sorrow for the Jewish community. This is a moment that should call for unity, reflection and collective resolve as a society. Instead, in the days that followed, a stream of Liberal figures attacked the prime minister. Whatever legitimate policy debates exist, this response felt opportunistic and ill-timed, using a national trauma to score political points. Australians expect better. Tragedy should not become a partisan weapon, particularly when communities are grieving and fearful. Leadership sometimes means restraint. If the Coalition believes that this approach will earn public respect or trust, I suspect they are mistaken. Bryce Peach, Brunswick East Must work together Josh Frydenberg has every right to be upset and angry at the murder of Jewish Australians exercising their right to publicly celebrate a Jewish holiday. Jewish schools, synagogues, businesses and institutions are possibly the only institutions in Australia that have been forced into placing armed guards to protect its citizens from hateful crimes purely on the basis of their religion. I am, however, disappointed that Frydenberg took the opportunity to seek a political score against Anthony Albanese and the government perhaps a reflection on Port Arthur and the Lindt Cafe siege, which both happened under a Liberal Party watch, brought bipartisan support condemning the attacks and, in both cases, sought a way forward to prevent such incidents happening again, unfortunately with little success. As Mark Dreyfus said on ABC Radio, Albanese must accept some responsibility for the increasing number of attacks on Jewish communities, but blame is not a useful sentiment; what is needed is to work together. Nathan Feld, Glen Iris Annual gun tests Every complex problem has a simple solution and it is almost always fallible. I suggest that any gun permit holder undertake an annual test (before renewal) which might include their rationale for retaining a permit and the details of firearms and ammunition currently held. This test would include all their social media posts since their previous renewal. This test would incur a cost which would be borne by the permit holder I suggest $1000 per firearm annually. There might be scope for exemptions for eligible gun owners, sporting shooters not included. A permit holder wishing to buy an additional firearm would be required to complete a questionnaire interrogating their need for the additional firearm as well as their social media account posts since their last firearm purchase. Gun ownership is a privilege, not a right, and we must pay for the privileges we enjoy. Disclaimer: previous gun owner who surrendered an unused shotgun under John Howards guns buyback scheme. David Brush, Heathmont Go virtual In this day and age of virtual reality, why does anyone need a lethal weapon for non-lethal sport? Surely virtual rifle ranges could be developed to accurately simulate the ones requiring lethal weapons. Michael Langford, Flinders Advertisement Coming up Trumps US President Donald Trump wants to add his name to US buildings and monuments, and has started with with the Trump Kennedy Centre. Will we have the Trump Statue of Liberty, the Trump White House, the Trump Pentagon, the Trump Supreme Court and the Trump Trump Tower? Tony Lenten, Glen Waverley Apart from all this ... Apart from batting, bowling and fielding, the English Ashes cricket team have been close. Jim Kesselschmidt, South Caulfield ... Theyre trying to hang on Pink Floyd sang it, from their album Dark Side of the Moon: Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way. Chris Young, Surrey Hills Advertisement NationalWAWACE The 2025 honour roll: WA students with the highest ATARs revealed Holly Thompson December 20, 2025 1:53pm 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 A A West Australian high school graduates have logged in to find out their ATAR results and for 18 students, opening them held an additional surprise the highest possible score of 99.95. Anaia Kakulas, from Methodist Ladies College, opened her results in the backyard with her brother. She had asked him to film her reaction for fun, but never thought she would get the top result. I always thought I would do well and I was aiming for an ATAR of 99, but I never had any expectations beyond that, she said. As soon as I saw the number I started jumping around, I really couldnt believe it, and my brother joined in and started jumping around with me too. Advertisement My parents wanted to give me some space to open my results first, but I think they were eavesdropping in the laundry I ran in to them and I was crying. Anaia, who studied mathematics specialist and methods, literature, French and chemistry, said it was difficult to decide what to do next year, but she had applied for medicine at the University of Western Australia. Her advice for students heading into year 12 next year was to look after themselves and to not push past breaking point. I had a lot of friends staying up really late studying and I would go to bed early it sometimes felt like it wasnt doing enough, she said. Advertisement But everyone is running their own race. Patrick Wang from Duncraig Senior High School also received the top ATAR of 99.95. The results were released earlier than expected and my friends were messaging me to let me know they were out, he said. Some of them were really happy and others were disappointed. I was pretty nervous, and it was surreal to see what I got and my family was really happy and excited as well. Advertisement Patrick, who took on English, physics, mathematics specialist and methods, accounting and finance and French, is hoping to study a Bachelor of Commerce at UWA or the University of Melbourne next year. Related Article WACE WAs ATAR results revealed for class of 2025 My advice to students going into year 12 would be to keep asking their teachers for feedback on ways to improve and to reach out for help if they need it, he said. Ishika Balram, from Perth Modern School, also found out the results had been released early after receiving messages from friends, and called her family into her room to open them with her. I couldnt believe that I got the top score, I was really happy that my hard work paid off, she said. Advertisement My family was also really excited and proud of me. Ishika said she had loved studying Italian and literature over the year, as she had been learning something a bit different to all her other science-based classes mathematics specialist, physics and chemistry. She sat her mathematics methods ATAR exam in year 11, freeing up some time to focus on her other subjects in year 12. Its a long year, and its important not to get caught up in small setbacks, she said. Its better to focus on the bigger picture and to pace yourself and give yourself some grace and understanding. Advertisement Rachael Wiese, who graduated from Shenton College, said she had been a little nervous to open her results but because she had sat the exams a while ago, she had mostly felt curious. I opened my results in my room and then started yelling out when I saw what I had achieved I called for my parents to come and look, she said. Her mother, Kim Farrington, said she had been thrilled for her daughter. She had a good balance. She was very organised but she also made sure she spent time away from study as well. Rachael said it had been difficult to know what to do next year. Farrington said that was because she loves everything. Advertisement But, after considering taking a gap year, she decided to apply for a Bachelor of philosophy and engineering at UWA. My advice is give yourself more credit than you think, Rachael said. Whatever happens, its going to be OK. Trust yourself enough to take breaks, choose not to study when thats not what you need, and be kind to yourself. Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app. Advertisement WorldAfricaUnited Nations UNs grim week: 6 peacekeepers and an interpreter killed, 10 more staffers detained in Yemen Edith M. Lederer December 20, 2025 12:31pm 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 A A Its been a grim week at the end of a tough year for the United Nations: Six UN peacekeepers were killed in a drone attack in Sudan while an interpreter died while in the custody of South Sudans security personnel and a further 10 staff were detained by Yemens Houthi rebels. Its a very worrying trend, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Friday [AEST time]. We see all too often that the UN flag ... no longer offers the protection that it should to our colleagues. The United Nations fears its peacekeepers, interpreters and other staff are increasingly coming under attack. AP He pointed to more than 300 UN staff members killed during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, almost all of them Palestinians, and over 300 personnel killed during the 10-year peacekeeping mission in Mali. The deadliest in the world, that mission ended in December 2023. UN personnel, whether they are humanitarian, whether they are peacekeepers, whether theyre political envoys, are there for peace, Dujarric said. They are there for the people. They need to be respected. Advertisement The UN Security Council on Friday condemned the heinous and deliberate drone attack on a logistics base in war-torn Sudans South Kordofan region on December 13 that killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and injured nine others. Related Article War After El Fasher horror, UN warns of new wave of atrocities The UNs most powerful body said the attack represents an egregious disregard for international law and reiterated that attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes. An interpreter working for the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan was also taken from a UN vehicle on Monday by local security forces. The mission was engaging with South Sudanese authorities to gain his release when it was informed that he died in custody, Dujarric said. Saninto Udol, a South Sudanese police spokesman, said Army Lieutenant Lino Mariak Chol and two other soldiers were arrested after admitting to the killing of Bol Roch Mayol and disclosing the whereabouts of his body. It was found in a residential area on Thursday, Udol said. Advertisement Mayol, a South Sudanese national who had worked for the UN mission since its inception in 2011, was taken from a UN vehicle by five South Sudanese soldiers following a routine patrol to a displacement camp on the outskirts of the northern town of Wau. Mayols vehicle had stopped on the side of a road after getting a flat tyre, Udol said. The UN called for those responsible to be held accountable. The UN also had another piece of untenable news: Yemens Houthi rebels, who control the capital, Sanaa, and much of the countrys north, detained 10 more UN staffers on Thursday, bringing the total number being held to 69. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the move and demanded that charges against three UN staffers who were recently referred to a Houthi special criminal court be dropped. The court in late November convicted 17 people of spying for foreign governments, part of a years-long Houthi crackdown on Yemeni staffers working for foreign organisations. Advertisement AP 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. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: United Nations Sudan Yemen Advertisement WorldEuropeBondi shooting Intolerable: UK police crack down on hate after Bondi massacre David Crowe December 20, 2025 10:21am 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 A A London: British police have hardened their stance against antisemitism amid claims that some people in the United Kingdom had welcomed the murders of Jewish Australians in the Bondi Beach terror attack. Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson said he knew of reports that some people in his home city had celebrated the killings. He condemned the sickening response and vowed to toughen measures against hate speech. Emergency services at the scene of the attack on the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester in October. AP But an apparent video of one event, said to show Muslim men in Manchester applauding the Bondi attack this week, featured rebadged old footage from June, unrelated to the Australian atrocity. The video, which spread quickly on social media with the false claim that it showed pro-Palestine activists in the past few days, highlighted the challenge for police in separating genuine threats from misinformation. Advertisement The Greater Manchester Police confirmed to this masthead that the video showed an older protest unrelated to Bondi, while fact-checking units at Reuters and Agence France-Presse both found the video showed an event in Manchester on June 8. Manchester, which has Britains largest Jewish population outside London, has been on heightened alert since a terrorism attack on the Heaton Park synagogue on October 2. The aftermath of the October 2 attack on the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester on October 2. Getty Images The assailant in Manchester, Jihad Al-Shamie, was born in Syria and was given refuge in the UK. He killed one man with a knife and wounded several others before being shot dead at the scene. Another man was killed by a police bullet while attempting to hold the door of the synagogue closed to protect people inside. Watson, the most senior police officer for the Manchester region, revealed the concerns about the response to the Bondi attack but did not name specific cases. Advertisement I know that I had reports that there were people in Manchester celebrating the Bondi attack in ways which [are] just sickeningly distasteful, he said at the Policy Xchange think tank on Wednesday. It seems to me that we need to get to the heart of that, we need to get behind that, because there is stuff which is lawful but it is intolerable. And what is intolerable can, over time, become unlawful. Manchester Chief Constable Stephen Watson after the October 2 attack with Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham (left) and Secretary of State for the Home Department Shabana Mahmood. Getty Images British police chiefs are stepping up patrols and taking a more assertive line against hate speech because of the escalating threats, and have named Bondi as a new factor in justifying the arrest of protesters. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley, who is responsible for most of greater London, issued a joint statement with the Manchester chief constable to single out chants like globalise the intifada as grounds for arrest. Advertisement Violent acts have taken place, the context has changed words have meaning and consequence. We will act decisively and make arrests, the two police chiefs said. Related Article Bondi shooting We know their grief: Bondis trauma feels painfully close to Manchesters Jewish community Crown prosecutors have found in the past that globalise the intifada is not hate speech even though the uprisings among Palestinians, particularly the second intifada from 2000 onwards, included suicide bombings against Israeli civilians. Rowley and Watson said the situation had changed and that many of the phrases used by protesters generated fear in Jewish communities. Now, in the escalating threat context, we will recalibrate to be more assertive, they said. Advertisement The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians condemned the police statement and argued that intifada meant uprising. Which pro-Palestinian slogan will be next to face criminalisation? the centre said. Police arrest a pro-Palestine protester in London on October 4. Getty Images This sets a dangerous precedent for the erosion of freedom of expression in the UK. This marks another troubling low in the suppression of protest in support of Palestinian rights. The Metropolitan Police detained two people on Thursday for racially aggravated public order offences after they allegedly called for an intifada at a protest in central London. Advertisement The concerns about the British response to the Bondi terrorism made headlines in the UK, with The Times reporting the claims on Friday. But Manchester police found that the video on social media was old footage. Related Article Bondi shooting A father, a son and the radical world of terror We arent aware of any celebration events in GM in response to this attack, a police spokesperson told this masthead, using the acronym for Greater Manchester. A fact-check by Reuters found that the video that purported to show a pro-Palestinian group celebrating the Bondi mass shooting was previously posted on June 8, when activists said it showed a demonstration in Manchester the previous day. In the Agence France-Presse fact-check, the news agency said a similar false claim had been made about a demonstration in Pakistan that purportedly welcomed the Bondi attack. Advertisement The videos predate the shooting and depict a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Manchester in June and a fireworks display in Karachi organised after Hamass attack on Israel, it said. Related Article Exclusive Bondi shooting Hes a honeypot: The radical Islamic cleric linked to the Bondi shooter who keeps dodging the law Watson argued that firmer action was justified against hate speech because of the way Jewish communities were being targeted. I think its [a] very important point to reflect upon that Jewish children are the only children in our country who, day to day, go to school behind large fences, guarded by people with [high-vis] jackets, and where there are routine police patrols in and around those areas, he said. Our Jewish communities put up with a way of life in our country, today, that nobody else has to put up with. Advertisement I do think there is something very significant in that, something very significant in the realisation of it. And we all, I think, need to question ourselves, afresh, as the dynamic continues to change, as to whether what we are doing continues to be adequate. 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. Advertisement WorldNorth AmericaSyria Hegseth announces effort to eliminate Islamic State fighters in Syria after deaths of Americans Konstatin Toropin , Ben Finley and Aamer Madhani December 20, 2025 10:11am 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 A A Washington: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced the start of an operation to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure and weapons sites in Syria following the deaths of three United States citizens. This is not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trumps leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people, he said on Friday on social media. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced the start of an operation in Syria following the deaths of three United States citizens. AP Two Iowa National Guard members and a US civilian interpreter were killed on December 13 in an attack in the Syrian desert that the Trump administration has blamed on the Islamic State group. The slain National Guard members were among hundreds of US troops deployed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition fighting Islamic State. Soon after word of the deaths, US President Donald Trump pledged very serious retaliation but stressed that Syria was fighting alongside US troops. Trump has said that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was extremely angry and disturbed by this attack and the shooting attack by a gunman came as the US military was expanding its co-operation with Syrian security forces. Advertisement Syrian state television reported that strikes hit targets in rural areas of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces and in the Jabal al-Amour area near Palmyra. It said they targeted weapons storage sites and headquarters used by ISIS as launching points for its operations in the region. Related Article Islamic State Trump pledges retaliation after three Americans are killed in Syria ambush A US official told the Associated Press that the attack was conducted using F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operations, said more strikes should be expected. When asked for further information, the Pentagon referred AP to Hegseths social media post. White House officials noted that Trump had made clear that retaliation was coming. Advertisement President Trump told the world that the United States would retaliate for the killing of our heroes by ISIS in Syria, and he is delivering on that promise, White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese supported the action. These strikes are a direct response to ISIS attacks on US defence personnel and the actions of the United States government are timely, swift and decisive, and we support those actions, Albanese said at a press conference in Canberra on Saturday. ISIS has caused untold suffering around the world, but directly with the actions that theyve taken, but also through their evil ideology that they spread. And last Sunday was an ISIS inspired attack here in Australia, and that evil ideology represents something that should have no place in any consideration of humanity and who we are as global citizens, let alone as Australians. This week Trump met privately with the families of the slain Americans at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware before joining top military officials and other dignitaries on the tarmac for the dignified transfer, a solemn and largely silent ritual honouring US service members killed in action. Advertisement Loading The guardsmen killed in Syria on Saturday were Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, according to the US Army. Ayad Mansoor Sakat, of Macomb, Michigan, a US civilian working as an interpreter, was also killed. The shooting nearly a week ago near the historic city of Palmyra also wounded three other US troops as well as members of Syrias security forces, and the gunman was killed. The assailant had joined Syrias internal security forces as a base security guard two months ago and was recently reassigned because of suspicions that he might be affiliated with IS, Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba has said. The man stormed a meeting between US and Syrian security officials who were lunching together and opened fire after clashing with Syrian guards. AP 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. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Syria Trump diplomacy Middle East tensions Key Points SES AI plans to aggressively expand battery capacity in Korea. Its target market is drone buyers from the U.S. and Europe. 10 stocks we like better than Ses Ai Shares of SES AI (NYSE: SES) jumped 13.7% in early Thursday trading after the developer of artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced lithium-ion batteries announced a big collaboration in Korea. Image source: Getty Images. A massive drone deal Lithium-metal and lithium-ion batteries are not new, but SES AI uses AI to discover new battery materials to build safer and stronger batteries for target markets such as electric vehicles (EVs), urban air mobility (UAM), drones, battery storage systems, and robotics. Thursday morning, SES AI announced that it will collaborate with Korea-based Top Material to boost battery manufacturing capacity in Korea for drones and UAM. SES AI already has a factory in Chungju, South Korea, primarily focused on producing batteries for the automotive industry. The company now plans to triple its capacity at the plant to nearly one million battery cells to meet the rising demand for drones from the U.S. and Europe. Its collaboration with Top Material, a battery cell manufacturer, is a step in that direction. Importantly, the collaboration will build a battery supply chain that complies with NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) requirements, making iSES AI a potentially important supplier of batteries for commercial and defense drones. A day earlier, SES AI also unveiled a new version of its AI software, Molecular Universe, that companies are using to research and discover new battery materials that address the ongoing challenges in the battery market. SES AI expects to reveal more details at the 5th annual Battery World event to be held on Dec. 29, 2025. Keep an eye on SES AI stock SES AI's renewed focus on drones could be a key differentiator. The company is already generating revenues and moving toward a subscription-based revenue model for its AI software. Shares of SES AI had surged over 60% in the year through mid-October but have since given up all of those gains, and some. Investor interest in the stock is likely to rebound as the company pitches Molecular Universe as the top "AI platform for energy transition" and monetizes it. Should you invest $1,000 in Ses Ai right now? Before you buy stock in Ses Ai, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Ses Ai wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. 6 workers killed as water tank bursts at Avada plant site in Butibori Mangled remains of aluminum tank at Avada factory site. (R) Rescue work on at the construction site in Additional Industrial area in Butibori. Staff Reporter : The construction workers, hailing from Bihar, were hurled in air due to water pressure, said police IN one of the worst mishaps at an industry in the region, six workers engaged at under construction Avada company in Additional Butibori area were killed on Friday after a newly-fabricated water tank exploded. According to Butibori Police, the incident occurred around 11.30 am when the tank was being pressure tested by filling water. The impact of the water gushing out at great speed swept off the labourers at the spot and in the vicinity. PI Vishal Giri of Butibori Police Station said, the water pressure was quite severe and the labourers were hurled in the air. Many of them suffered blunt injuries due to fall and impact of the water pressure. While eye-witnesses said, three of them died on the spot, five to six others who were still breathing were taken to a private hospital in Butibori area. Avada is constructing its mega battery and solar module plant in Additional Butibori area. Huge aluminum water tanks have been put up at the company. Water to the company is supplied from Rama Dam. Superintendent of Police, Nagpur Rural, Dr Harssh Poddar, who also rushed to the spot, said, as a matter of safety all the water tanks at the company have been emptied. They will be filled-up only after safety validation, including certificate of their fitness. The mishap site wore a gory look as the bodies lay splattered around the huge water tanks even as construction at the company project came to a standstill. Entire site got wet leaving the workers dumbfounded, unable to overcome the shock. The workers at the site were from Bihar. The deceased are identified as Arvind Thakur (28), Champaran; Ashok Patel (42), Pahadpur; Ajay Paswan (26), Sudhanshu Sahani (36), both from Muzzafarpur; Bullet alias Indrajeet Paha (30), West Champaran; and Shamim Ansari (42), Muzzafarpur. Nine other workers were injured. The seriously injured workers are identified as Prakash Sahani (42) of Muzzafarpur; Anwar Ansari and Muftar Ansari. Other injured workers are Babuchand Prasad, Kushi Nagar, Uttar Pradesh; Zakir Hussain (45), Gopalganj, Bihar; Ibrahim Ansari, Gopalganj; Mayuri Turak (23), Mahal, Nagpur; Vikas Sahani (24), Muzzafarpur; and Santosh Gautam (26), Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Butibori police said, as formalities are on, registration of the FIR will be done later. CM announces Rs 5 lakh to kin of each deceased Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed grief over fatalities in the water tank incident in a company situated at Butibori MIDC, on Friday. In a tweet, the Chief Minister announced Rs 5 lakh to kin of each deceased as compensation from the State Government. In continuous touch with Collector of Nagpur and coordinating with relevant authorities, tweeted the Chief Minister. The company, Avada, also has announced a compensation of Rs 30 lakh to kin on each deceased. It will also provide Rs 10 lakh to the workers injured in the incident, and bear all the medical expenses. Adani to invest Rs 1 lakh cr in airports By Shah Imran Ahmed MUMBAI : ADANI Group plans to invest Rs 1 lakh crore in its airports business over the next five years, betting on sustained growth in Indias aviation sector, which is expected to expand at 15-16 per cent annually, a top group official said. On the airport side, Rs 1-lakh crore in the next five years, Jeet Adani, Director of Adani Airports and younger son of billionaire Gautam Adani, told PTI ahead of the start of commercial operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport on December 25. The airport, being developed by Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd in which the Adani Group holds a 74 per cent stake, is scheduled to commence commercial operations on December 25. Bdesh tense after unrest over Hadis death DHAKA/NEW DELHI : July Uprising leader Sharif Osman Hadi, who was shot in the head last week by masked gunmen during his election campaign, died while undergoing treatment at a Singapore hospital after fighting for his life for 6 days TENSION gripped Bangladesh on Friday after the death of prominent July Uprising leader Sharif Osman Hadi triggered protests, violence and vandalism in various parts of the country. While no incidents of violence were reported in the morning, protesters were seen vandalising the already demolished structure of 32 Dhanmandi, the home of Bangladeshs founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangladesh interim government on Friday urged citizens to resist violence by a few fringe elements as the body of a prominent July Uprising leader reached the capital. Various parts of the country were rocked Thursday night by attacks and vandalism, including stone-hurling at the Assistant Indian High Commissioners residence in Chattogram, after Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus confirmed Sharif Osman Hadis death in a televised address to the nation. There were, however, no reports of fresh violence since Friday morning. Hadi, one of the leaders who had taken part in the student-led protests last year termed as July Uprising - and a candidate for the scheduled February 12 general elections, died while undergoing treatment at a Singapore hospital six days after he was shot by unidentified men. Body of Hadi, who was the spokesperson of the Inqilab Mancha, arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at around 6 pm on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, amid tight security and widespread public mourning, state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) said quoting Biman General Manager (Public Relations) Boshra Islam. Members of the Bangladesh Army, Armed Forces Battalion (AFB) and police were deployed in large numbers to maintain security when Hadis body was taken out of the airport, it added. Hadis passing away at the Singapore General Hospital triggered widespread mourning across political circles, activists of Inqilab Mancha and the general public, BSS said. Yunus has declared a one-day state mourning on Saturday following Hadis death. Earlier on Thursday, soon after Yunus announcement, protesters took to the streets and attacked offices of leading newspapers, vandalised 32 Dhanmandi with hammers, and also demolished an office of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas disbanded Awami League party in Rajshahi city. Regarded as the centre point of Bangladeshs pre-independence struggle for autonomy for decades, 32 Dhanmandi was largely demolished with excavators on February 5 this year. It was also set on fire soon after the August 5, 2024 fall of the then Awami League government and Hasina fleeing to India. Protesters also hurled bricks and stones at the residence of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner in Chattogram at 1:30 am, but failed to cause any damage. Police responded with tear gas and baton charges, dispersing the crowd and detaining 12 protesters. A few injuries were also reported. Senior officials assured the assistant high commissioner of enhanced security. In Dhaka, protesters attacked the office of a leading cultural group, Chhayanaut, and brought out the furniture, setting it on fire. Sporadic violence was also reported from other parts of the country overnight. Meanwhile, after the flight from Singapore landed in Dhaka, local media reports and videos shared on social media showed Hadis followers lining up on both sides of the road from the airport to Shahbagh to receive him before his coffin was brought to the Dhaka University Central Mosque for a public meeting. In a Facebook post, Inqilab Mancha announced that a janaza will be held in Bangladesh on Saturday after Zuhr prayers (afternoon) at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital. Hadi was shot in the head last week by masked gunmen as he initiated his election campaign at central Dhakas Bijoynagar area. He died while undergoing treatment at a Singapore hospital after fighting for his life for six days. On Thursday night, the National Citizen Party (NCP), a large offshoot of Students Against Discrimination (SAD) that led the July Uprising, which ousted the Hasina-led government, joined a mourning procession on the Dhaka University campus. Supporters of the group chanted anti-India slogans alleging that Hadis assailants fled to India after committing the murder. They called upon the interim government to close the Indian high commission until they were returned. Starting Thursday through night, a group of people, believed to be part of the protesters, also attacked the offices of Bangla newspaper Prothom Alos office and the nearby Daily Star at the capitals Karwan Bazar, near the Shahbagh intersection. Reports said they vandalised several floors while journalists and staff of the newspaper were trapped inside, and the mob ignited a fire in front of the building. Critically ill former Prime Minister Khaleda Zias Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) strongly condemned the vandalism and said that the Yunus-led interim government will have to shoulder its responsibility. In his address on Thursday, Yunus vowed to bring those involved in Hadis brutal murder to justice quickly, saying, No leniency will be shown to the killers. I sincerely call upon all citizens keep your patience and restraint, he said. No one can stop the democratic progress of this country through threat, terrorist activities or bloodshed, he said, adding that the responsibility of realising Hadis dream lies on the shoulders of the entire. Crime Branch busts gang involved in honey-trapping Staff Reporter : Seven persons, including a contributor to web portal, caught attempting to extort Rs 60 lakh from an influential person Crime Branch sleuths busted a gang involved in honey-trapping influential persons city and extorting money from them. The gang compromised of seven persons, including a news contributor to a leading city web portal, who used to target rich persons. The Crime Branch came into picture after a senior citizen approached with complaint about receiving a demand to cough-up lakhs of rupees. The person was lured into the trap by the gang who has four good looking and smart girls on their pay rolls. They target such high profile personality and then record their encounters and extort heavy sum from them. Assistant Commissioner of Police Abhijeet Patil tasked the Anti HBT Squad of Crime Branch to lay a trap. The Crime Branch team, during preliminary investigation, learnt that the gang had already extorted Rs 1.78 lakh from the complainant and now the culprits are seeking more hefty sum or threatened to make the explicit videos viral on social media. ACP Patil led squad guided the complainant and latter established contact with the gang and the meeting was fixed at a city hotel. The complainant was targeted from September onwards and finally on December 18, the Crime Branch caught the three members of the gang while accepting marked notes. The police recovered cash of Rs 3 lakh and mobile handsets from the accused persons. The gang had earlier insisting on Rs 2 crore and finally as per guidance from Crime Branch, the complainant bargained hard and brought down the extortion demand to Rs 60 lakh. As the complainant only offered Rs 3 lakh, the gang members did not accept the money and insisted on full payment in one go. The waiting Crime Branch team pounced and caught hold the three members of the gang The gang were identified as Ashwin Dhanvijay (39), Nitin Kamble (38), Kunal Puri (42), all residents of Ajni; Ritesh alias Pappu Durugkar (41), Hudkeshwar; Ashish Kawde (36) and Avinash Sakhre (35), both hailing from Gondia, and Ravikant Kamble, Nagpur. Kamble works with a leading web portal in city and is well connected with police circle. The gang was arrested by team of PI Dilip Chandan, API Nitin Chulpar, HC Ganesh Barde, Pravin Rode, Shrikant Uikey, Prashant Gabhne, Sudhir Pawar and Aman Raut. Dr Chaudhari: redefining urban governance Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari, who is powering the Nagpurs rise as Central Indias growth hub, shares his views during a session of The Hitavadas The Peoples Mic podcast. By Aasawari Shenolikar : Nagpur has inherent strengths. It has excellent road network, the water supply system is robust, & in several aspects Nagpur fares better than many other cities in the same category. In coming days, it will emerge as the growth hub of Central India. What do you want to be when you grow up? For a young Abhijeet, a participant in an elocution contest in school, the answer came naturally. Brought up in a family that comprised of doctors, it was but natural for him to respond with how hed love to be a part of the medical fraternity. After he had said his piece, a teacher commented, Why a Doctor. You should become a Collector. This planted a seed that would quietly, later, alter the very course of his life. Even though he went onto graduate from the prestigious KEM College and earn his MBBS degree, he consciously chose not to pursue a post-graduation that would add more credentials to his MBBS degree. Instead, driven by a larger calling, he started preparing for Civil Services. In his first attempt, he was inducted in the IPS, but his sights were set firmly on the IAS - a goal he achieved in his second attempt. And at The Hitavadas The Peoples Mic, we have as our guest, Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari , the dynamic Municipal Commissioner and Administrator of Nagpur Municipal Corporation, who in a conversation with Dheeraj Fartode, Chief Reporter The Hitavada reflects on his journey and outlines his vision for the city he now steers. For the past two and a half years that he has been in Nagpur overseeing the works as head of NMC, Dr Chaudhari has ushered in many positive changes and forward-looking reforms, thus strengthening the system. Nagpur has inherent strengths, he observes, The city has excellent road network, the water supply system is robust, and in several aspects the Orange City fares better than many other cities in the same category. He has a clear vision about the work that he wants to do. Ambitious, yet grounded, he wants to transform Nagpur into a global, smart city with world- class infrastructure. Nagpur, in the coming days, will emerge as the growth hub of Central India, offering seamless services and an enhanced quality of life to its citizens, he asserts. Quality of life, for Dr Chaudhari, is a holistic concept. The focus is on improving healthcare, education, green spaces, air quality, and digital governance, all of which fall within NMCs radar. Prioritising ease and transparency in all departments, introducing online civic services, is proof that this visionary young officer is on the right track. Acknowledging the advantages of having strong political leadership rooted in the city, Dr Chaudhari states, With Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari from the city, the institutional support has been unwavering. There is no dearth of funds, execution of numerous projects has been smooth, and whenever challenges arise, the guidance of the senior leaders proves invaluable. The most persistent civic challenge, however, is the one about footpaths. With encroachments rampant on the streets, keeping the streets free for pedestrians is a problem that has been dogging the department. Keeping streets free from encroachments and pedestrian-friendly is a constant struggle, he admits, and adds, that even as the NMC takes action against encroachers, We have to also be sensitive to the livelihoods involved. The complex issue requires coordinated efforts, and Dr Chaudhari apprises that the NMC works closely with the Police Department as it is not feasible for NMC alone to monitor the streets continuously. Recently police marshals are being deployed in sensitive areas where this problem is recurrent, and we hope the outcome from all of this are streets fit for pedestrians, he states. Agreeing that this is a never-ending battle, Dr Chaudhari shares that the NMCs Anti-Encroachment Department, has been significantly strengthened. But a lot still needs to be done, he comments. As the conversation moves towards last - mile connectivity, Dr Chaudhari points out that public transport in the city is still underutilised. Working closely with Maha Metro to improve integration and efficiency is on the cards. The introduction of e-buses, e rickshaws and initiatives like the ChaloApp that are designed to help commuters navigate the city effortlessly from point A to point B are steps towards the NMCs commitment to help improve the mobility in the city. With a rare blend of modern vision and administrative acumen, Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari represents a new generation of civil servants - professionals who combine vision with execution. As Nagpur charts its course towards becoming a smart, sustainable, and citizen-friendly metropolis, the citys transformation is clearly being guided by a leader who believes that governance, much like medicine, is ultimately about improving lives - one system at a time. Watch him share his vision on TheHitavadas YouTube channel @TheHitavada1911. Four generations of military service, one eternal Jaguar By Aryan Khartad : NOTHING embodies timeless luxury quite like the iconic big cat, the 1948 Jaguar 1.5 Litre (Mark IV) saloon owned by Squadron Leader Dr Subir Mukerji (Retd). This elegant Jaguar has been a standout at vintage and classic car and bike rallies in Nagpur, clinching top honours as many as 12 times. It has also been celebrated multiple times as the best maintained and most beautiful car in various rallies. Even amid fierce competition from other stunning entries, this Jaguar consistently steals the spotlight. Dr Mukerji represents the third generation of his family to serve as doctors in the Indian Armed Forces. Continuing the proud tradition, his son now serves as a doctor in the Indian Army, marking the fourth generation. The cars distinguished provenance adds to its allure, its first owner was the late Mohammed Hidayatullah, former Chief Justice of India and later Vice President of India. The second owner was the late DPR Cassad, from whom Dr Mukerji acquired it in 1970. Dr Mukerji takes immense pride in his prized possession, maintaining it in pristine, gleaming condition. The car will be on display at the Rotary-The Hitavada Vintage Car Rally, organised in association with the Cent India Vintage Automotive Association (CIVAA), on December 28 at St Ursula Girls High School Ground in Civil Lines. Powered by an inline four-cylinder overhead-valve engine displacing 1776 CC, the car is fed by an SU carburettor and delivers modest yet refined performance typical of its era, with fuel efficiency around 8-10 km per litre. I never needed major repairs since purchasing the car. Virtually no major components have been replaced. The original 1948 factory chrome plating remains intact, and the imposing Lucas headlamps with their chrome detailing are a highlight, Dr Mukerji shares. He adds that the cars handling and maneuverability reflect the characteristics of large saloons from its time, with a notably wide turning circle. The vehicle retains its original tool kit, elegantly mounted on the interior of the rear boot lid. The original leather upholstery is still in excellent condition, calf leather seats in Oxford Blue, complete with a central folding armrest in the rear and reading lights on either side for added comfort, he notes. While maintenance is manageable through dedication, sourcing parts is a challenge. Jaguar tyres, once manufactured in Madhya Pradesh and readily available in Nagpur for 3,000-4,000 rupees. Now it has to be imported from England, Dr Mukerji explains. Bureaucratic hurdles add to the ownership experience: RTO approvals and paperwork can be quite cumbersome. My car bears the registration BYG 15, which must now be updated to 0015 under new norms. Yet, as Dr Mukerji proudly affirms, The car shows no signs of ageno creaks or knocks. This cherished Jaguar stands as a testament to enduring heritage. BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) is looking to hire people in crypto leadership roles as the world's largest asset manager expands its digital asset offerings across the globe. The firm is the largest issuer of both Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) exchange-traded funds (ETFs). It also launched the first tokenized fund, the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL), on Ethereum last year. And it seems BlackRock isn't taking a pause. Related: BlackRock reveals $38T U.S. debt will boost Bitcoin's growth The firm's global head of digital assets, Robert Mitchnick, recently posted on LinkedIn that BlackRock is hiring for multiple leadership roles across its digital assets team. The company's careers page lists openings for digital assets in the U.S., Singapore, England, and Ireland: Digital Assets Associate, New York, U.S. Managing Director, Digital Assets, New York, U.S. Managing Director, Head of Research, Digital Assets, New York, U.S. Vice President/Director, Digital Assets Product Strategist, New York and San Francisco, U.S. Associate, Fund Services- Digital Asset Tokenization, Wilmington, San Francisco, and Boston, U.S. (SI) EMEA Digital Assets Lawyer, Vice President, London, England Digital Assets Associate, London, England Vice President, Financial Crime Compliance, Digital Assets, London, England Financial Crime Associate- Cash Funds, Digital Assets & Tokenization, Dublin, Ireland Managing Director, Digital Assets, Singapore All the roles involve work in crypto assets, stablecoins and tokenization. While the associate roles require a work experience of 3-6 years, the leadership roles require an experience of more than 12 years. In a week, employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office and from home for one day. The MD role in New York, which offers the salary range of $270,000-$350,000, involves managing and leading the execution of multiple major cross-functional digital asset initiatives across BlackRock. The latest job postings indicate that BlackRock is expanding its digital asset offerings not only in the U.S. but also in Europe and Asia. Related: BlackRock plans to tokenize ETFs following its blockbuster Bitcoin ETF This story was originally published by TheStreet on Dec 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the Jobs, layoffs and employment news section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Hinduism is not merely a method of worship but a complete way of life MUMBAI : MAHARASHTRA Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said Africa would play a key role in the future global economy, and the country that actively partners with the continent would emerge as a global leader. He also said the world is moving towards the fifth industrial revolution, which is driven by innovation, data and artificial intelligence (AI) and Indians today are the largest contributors in the field of AI. Speaking at the Annual World Hindu Economic Forum Conference 2025 here, Fadnavis said Hinduism is not merely a method of worship but a complete way of life, a system of thought and an organised civilisational framework that has enabled Indian culture to survive continuously for thousands of years. Africa would play a key role in the future global economy, and the country that actively partners with Africa would emerge as a global leader. Indias relations with African nations are strong, and many African countries look at Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a trusted leader, he said. Indias strong ties with African nations and the trust built under the leadership of PM Modi will enable India to play a crucial role in this process, he said. Urging Indian entrepreneurs to focus on Africa, he said the continent has abundant natural resources and raw materials essential for new technologies. If manufacturing expands in Africa with Indias participation, it can bring a major shift in the global economy, with India playing a leading role, he said. He also mentioned that Papua New Guinea had invited India to participate in gas exploration, calling it a result of Indias civilisational approach of influencing the world through ideas, not force. On the occasion, he announced that a major facility will soon be set up in Mumbai to host representatives from 54 African nations. Innovation has always been an integral part of Indian thinking, Fadnavis said and pointed out that astronomy, mathematics and science in the Vedic and pre-Vedic periods were comparable to modern technological advancements. Innovation is not new to India; it is part of our civilisational DNA, he said. He noted that the world is moving towards the fifth industrial revolution, which is driven by innovation, data and artificial intelligence (AI). Today, Indians are the largest contributors in the field of artificial intelligence on platforms like GitHub, Fadnavis said. AI and data are bringing transformative changes in agriculture, manufacturing and the services sector, and India has the capability to fully leverage these opportunities, he said. India is already at the forefront in AI and data. Citing Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, he said Indians are expected to become the worlds largest group of developers by 2030. AI is bringing fundamental changes across industries, and India has the talent to lead this transformation, he added. According to him, Indias cultural pride is not based on myths, but on historical and scientific evidence, he said. Our responsibility today is to strengthen this pride with self-confidence and take it to new heights in the modern era, he said. Referring to Chanakyas principle that the foundation of dharma lies in economic strength, the CM said prosperous nations are the ones that shape the world order. Therefore, it is essential for India to establish itself as a strong economic power, he said. Hinduism is not merely a method of worship but a complete way of life, a system of thought and an organised civilisational framework that has enabled Indian culture to survive continuously for thousands of years, he said. While many ancient civilisations disappeared, the Indus-Hindu civilisation continues even today. Evidence-based studies show this cultural continuity dates back nearly 10,000 years, he said. Emphasising the importance of technology transfer, CM Fadnavis said India is steadily becoming self-reliant in the technology sector as well. He said Indias worldview, rooted in Hindu ethics, inspires global trust. India has never conquered the world through aggression, but through the strength of its ideas, he said. Platforms like the World Hindu Economic Forum can play an important role in bringing together various stakeholders and helping India increase its share in global trade to 20 per cent, Fadnavis said. The journey will not stop until India once again emerges as a vishwaguru (world leader), he added. India is focusing on domestic manufacturing and developing technology through Indian companies. While some countries relied on reverse engineering, India has the ability to understand technology and become self-reliant, he said. During the event, the Bangur Group of Shree Cement submitted a letter of intent to invest Rs 2,000 crore in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. Fadnavis said the investment reflected industrys confidence in the states development. Parlt adjourned sine die Rajya Sabha passes G RAM G Bill NEW DELHI : RAJYA Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan on Friday strongly disapproved of disruptions by Opposition members during the passage of the rural employment guarantee bill (G RAM G), terming the conduct unbecoming of Members of Parliament, and urged them to introspect and refrain from such behaviour in future. Radhakrishnan read out a synopsis of the legislative and other business transacted during the 15-day sitting of the Winter session before adjourning the proceedings sine die. Adjourned sine die (Latin for without a day) means suspending a parliamentary session indefinitely, without setting a specific date to reconvene. Its used when legislative bodies end a session without naming a future date for re-assemble. The Winter Session of Parliament started on December 1. The Rajya Sabha sat past midnight on Thursday to pass legislation that replaced the 20-year-old rural employment scheme -- the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA) -- by boosting the number of guaranteed workdays to 125, up from the current 100 days per household for unskilled manual labour. Opposition MPs protested the dropping of the name of the Father of the Nation from the new legislation, Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission - Rural (Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission - Rural). Other than that, the 269th Session of the Upper House was highly productive, registering 121 per cent productivity with sittings spanning about 92 hours, he said. Delivering his valedictory remarks, Radhakrishnan said the Winter Session was significant as it marked his first stint presiding over the House after assuming office. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of the House J P Nadda, and Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge for their felicitations. Disruption created during yesterdays sitting by the Opposition Members by shouting slogans, displaying placards, disrupting the Minister replying to the discussion, tearing up papers and throwing them in the well of the House showed conduct unbecoming of Members of Parliament. I earnestly hope that Honble Members would introspect and not repeat such unruly behaviour in future, he said. The warmth and affection in your felicitations proved a source of great encouragement for me as I sat down discharging my constitutional responsibility as the Chairman of this august House, he said. He said that in his first address, he sought the cooperation of members for the smooth functioning of the House. I am happy that Honble Members cooperated with the Chair to complete a significant amount of Business during this Winter Session. The Chairman noted that the House agreed to extend sittings or skip lunch recess on five days to transact business. He said the session recorded an unprecedented rise in Zero Hour activity, with an average of over 84 notices received daily -- a 31 per cent increase over the previous two sessions -- while matters actually raised averaged more than 15 per day, up nearly 50 per cent. Highlighting the quality of deliberations, Radhakrishnan said the House held a two-day special discussion on the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram, with 82 members participating. A three-day discussion on electoral reforms saw interventions from 57 members. During the session, the Rajya Sabha passed or returned eight Bills and adopted a statutory resolution on the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024, with participation from 212 members. As many as 59 Private Members Bills were introduced, reflecting what he described as the vibrancy of parliamentary democracy. The Chairman also cited 58 starred questions, 208 Zero Hour submissions and 87 special mentions during the session, and said he issued a detailed ruling clarifying the scope of Rule 267. LS registers 111 per cent productivity: Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday, drawing curtains on the 19-day-long Winter Session of Parliament, which saw the passage of crucial bills, including one to repeal the 20-year-old MNREGA and another on opening up the civil nuclear sector for private participation. The total sitting hours during the Winter Session was 92 hours and 25 minutes. As soon as the House met for the day, Speaker Om Birla read out his brief valedictory address, noting that the productivity of the Lok Sabha during the session was registered at 111 per cent, with members sitting till late hours to discuss crucial legislation. He then adjourned the House sine die (for an indefinite period), drawing curtains on the brief session that commenced on December 1. When Birla was reading out his valedictory statement, some members were heard raising Mahatma Gandhi ki jai slogans. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present when the proceedings were adjourned. During the 15 sittings of the Winter Session, the House took up two politically-charged debates -- one on the 150 years of Vande Matram and the other on election reforms. The Prime Minister had initiated a discussion to commemorate the completion of 150 years of the national song. The House discussed the subject for 11 hours and 32 minutes, during which 65 members participated. A debate on air pollution, which was to be initiated by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, could not take place. The Opposition had been insisting on a debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in 12 states and Union Territories, but the Government made it clear that the poll panel and its functioning cannot be discussed in the House, and agreed to hold a debate on election reforms instead. The issue was discussed for approximately 13 hours, with the participation of 63 MPs. The opposition, however, focused its attack against the government on SIR, the new law on the appointment of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners, and the vote chori issue. Eight bills were passed during the session. While negative returns disappointed investors expecting gains from Ripples regulatory clarity and ETF launches, the XRP 2025 performance held up relatively well compared to the broader crypto market. Bitcoin and Ethereum suffered deeper losses as macro conditions deteriorated. XRP's 13% decline beat both major cryptocurrencies, showing resilience even as fundamental wins failed to produce the expected price appreciation. But the rally didn't last. As macroeconomic headwinds grew and traders took profits, the XRP price decline accelerated steadily through autumn. Prices held around $2.15 in September, but the market broke lower when President Donald Trump's October tariff announcements triggered a broader flight from risk. By late November, the XRP price decline from its July highs reached roughly 40% and the token traded around $2.05. XRP now trades around $1.88, down about 13% in 2025. XRP's 2025 performance trajectory started with sky-high expectations. After ending 2024 around $0.50, pent-up demand and hopes for a U.S. spot XRP ETF approval fueled a massive rally. The token opened at roughly $2.09 in January 2025 and surged more than 60% to a 2025 peak above $3.40 in Julywith some intraday prints touching $3.65. By late July, XRP had gained over 580% from its bear-market lows. Why did XRP fall despite major breakthroughs? Three factors explain the disconnect: macro headwinds overwhelming crypto markets, aggressive profit-taking after the $125 million SEC settlement, and stiff competition from faster blockchains. XRP's 2025 proved regulatory wins don't guarantee price gains in bear marketsbut 2026 could tell a different story. The XRP 2025 performance disappointed despite historic wins. The token is down 13% this yearsliding from $2.09 at the start of the year to $1.88even after Ripple beat the SEC and XRP ETF inflows topped $1 billion. While XRP's (CRYPTO: XRP) 2025 performance outperformed Bitcoin (-18%) and Ethereum (-27%), the decline confused investors who expected gains from regulatory clarity and institutional validation. If youre thinking about retiring or know someone who is, there are three quick questions causing many Americans to realize they can retire earlier than expected. take 5 minutes to learn more here Despite falling 13%, XRPs 2025 performance beat Bitcoin (-18%) and Ethereum (-27%) as regulatory clarity provided supportbut Ripples On-Demand Liquidity service failed to generate enough real-world token demand to sustain the July rally. XRP ETF approval in November brought $1 billion in institutional inflows within four weeks and withdrew 45% of exchange supply, yet price stayed flat as early investors and whales used the liquidity spike to exit $721 million worth of positions. XRP fell 13% in 2025 despite beating the SEC and attracting over $1B in ETF inflows within weeks of launch. Story continues Why XRP's SEC Settlement Failed to Boost Price in 2025 Maksim Safaniuk / Shutterstock.com Maksim Safaniuk / Shutterstock.com A central narrative in XRP's 2025 performance was Ripple's lawsuit with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In August 2025, the case ended when a federal judge approved a $125 million SEC settlement after both parties dismissed their appeals. The court affirmed that selling XRP on public exchanges does not constitute a securities sale, providing long-sought Ripple regulatory clarity. Many exchanges relisted the token, and bulls expected the price to surge. The SEC settlement became a classic case of "buy the rumor, sell the news." Investors who accumulated XRP expecting a favorable ruling took profits once it arrived. New buyers stayed away because macro conditions remained shaky. The SEC settlement resolved regulatory risk while leaving fundamental issues untouchedcompetition from faster blockchains and slowing network usage remained. The XRP price decline continued steadily after the court decision as early investors locked in gains and macro headwinds intensified across all risk assets. Understanding why XRP fell despite SEC victory requires recognizing that regulatory clarity alone doesn't create sustainable demand. XRP ETF Inflows Hit $1B But Price Stayed FlatWhy? TopMicrobialStock / Shutterstock.com TopMicrobialStock / Shutterstock.com Another milestone came in November when the SEC approved several spot XRP ETFs. Asset managers, including Canary, Franklin Templeton, Grayscale, and Bitwise, rushed to market. Canary's XRP ETF launched November 13 and raised $245 million in its first week. Within four weeks, total XRP ETF inflows topped $1 billionthe fastest ramp-up for a crypto ETF since Ethereum products launched. Custodians withdrew 90 million XRP from exchanges during this period, cutting available supply by 45%. Fewer tokens sat on exchanges waiting to be sold. Yet XRP price decline continued despite record institutional demand. XRP ETF inflows were offset by heavy selling from early investors and XRP whales who used the increased liquidity to exit positions. About 37% of XRP holders sat at a loss since purchasing the token, and many used brief rallies to reduce exposure. On-chain data showed one wallet that accumulated at $0.40 realized $721 million in gains at the $2.00 level, reinforcing resistance rather than absorbing supply. XRP ETFs concentrated ownership among institutional custodians but did little to spur adoption of Ripple's network for cross-border payments. Without new utility driving actual demand for the token, the capital influx from XRP ETF inflows had only a short-lived impact on price. This explains why XRP fell despite SEC victory and institutional validation. 3 Reasons XRP Fell Despite SEC Victory and ETF Inflows alfernec / Shutterstock.com alfernec / Shutterstock.com While Ripple enjoyed huge successes in 2025, XRP's 2025 performance showed the token falling despite outperforming Bitcoin and Ethereum. Three factors explain why major wins didn't translate to gains and why XRP underperformed crypto market expectations. Macro Headwinds and Risk Aversion Hit All Crypto The crypto market in 2025 saw dramatic swings. U.S. tariff announcements in October triggered the largest liquidation in crypto history, wiping out leveraged positions and dragging XRP lower along with Bitcoin and stocks. Rising interest-rate volatility and concerns over an AI bubble led investors to de-risk across all assets. XRP fell 13% while Bitcoin dropped 18% and Ethereum slid 27%. The entire market suffered, and XRP's relative outperformance showed the Ripple regulatory clarity and fundamental wins provided some support. But macro conditions were strong enough to overwhelm even positive catalysts like regulatory clarity and ETF launches. Profit-Taking After SEC Settlement The legal victory removed uncertainty but also eliminated a key speculative catalyst. Traders who accumulated XRP in 2024 sold aggressively into the summer rally. Ripple insiders continued unlocking tokens from escrow, adding supply to the market. While XRP ETF inflows helped absorb some of this supply, demand couldn't overcome the wave of selling from investors who had been waiting years for Ripple regulatory clarity. The psychological shift was clear: once the SEC case was resolved, many holders viewed it as their exit opportunity rather than the beginning of a new bull run. Thats why XRP fell despite the SEC victorythe catalyst had already been priced in during 2024's 290% rally. Stiff Competition and Muted Network Growth Although Ripple's On-Demand Liquidity servicewhich uses XRP to settle cross-border payments instantlycontinues winning partners, transaction volumes on the XRP Ledger lag behind other smart-contract platforms. Competing networks like Solana and Stellar offer faster settlement and lower fees, attracting developers and payments providers. Global macro challenges limited remittance flows through Ripple's payment corridors. Bitcoin maintained institutional interest as digital gold despite its 18% decline. Ethereum's DeFi ecosystem and staking infrastructure kept institutional capital engaged despite its 27% drop. XRP lacks similar organic demand drivers beyond speculation on regulatory outcomes. Without utility-driven demand, even XRP ETF inflows hitting $1 billion couldn't sustain price momentum. Will XRP Recover in 2026? 3 Critical Factors to Watch XRP's 2025 performance proved that legal wins and institutional interest don't guarantee price gains in bear markets. The token's 13% decline came despite the SEC settlement and attracting $1 billion in XRP ETF inflows. The XRP 2026 outlook depends on three critical factors. First, can Ripple's payment network grow fast enough to create real token demand? Transaction volumes need to catch up to competitors like Solana and Stellar. Second, will XRP ETF inflows accelerate beyond the initial $1 billion surge, or has institutional demand already peaked? Third, can XRP survive another macro shock if the Fed stays hawkish or tariffs escalate? For investors, XRP's 2025 performance delivered a harsh lesson: regulatory clarity and ETF launches create headlines, but sustained price growth requires actual network usage and expanding utility. Whether XRP will recover in 2026 depends on execution and whether macro conditions finally turn favorable for risk assets. The XRP 2026 outlook hinges on Ripple converting payment partnerships into measurable on-chain activity that drives genuine token demand. The New Report Shaking Up Retirement Plans You may think retirement is about picking the best stocks or ETFs, but youd be wrong. Even great investments can be a liability in retirement. Its a simple difference between accumulating vs distributing, and it makes all the difference. The good news? After answering three quick questions many Americans are reworking their portfolios and finding they can retire earlier than expected. If youre thinking about retiring or know someone who is, take 5 minutes to learn more here. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSE:CM Get Free Report) (NYSE:CM)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday after Desjardins raised their price target on the stock from C$132.00 to C$135.00. Desjardins currently has a buy rating on the stock. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce traded as high as C$128.87 and last traded at C$128.17, with a volume of 6564666 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$127.27. A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on CM. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$130.00 to C$135.00 in a report on Wednesday. Raymond James Financial raised their price target on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$127.00 to C$132.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Scotiabank lifted their price target on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$123.00 to C$133.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price objective on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$102.00 to C$111.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Friday, August 29th. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$119.00 to C$126.00 in a report on Monday, December 8th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$125.36. Get Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on CM Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Stock Performance The companys 50-day moving average price is C$119.46 and its 200 day moving average price is C$108.21. The stock has a market capitalization of C$119.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.96, a P/E/G ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 1.45. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSE:CM Get Free Report) (NYSE:CM) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, December 4th. The company reported C$2.21 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of C$7.58 billion during the quarter. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a net margin of 27.87% and a return on equity of 12.61%. Analysts predict that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 6.4127341 earnings per share for the current year. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 28th. Investors of record on Wednesday, January 28th will be issued a dividend of $1.07 per share. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 29th. This is a boost from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces previous quarterly dividend of $0.97. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces payout ratio is currently 45.27%. About Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (Get Free Report) CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with 15 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients. Across Personal and Business Banking, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, and Capital Markets, CIBC offers a full range of advice, solutions and services through its leading digital banking network, and locations across Canada, in the United States and around the world. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC grew its holdings in shares of AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV Free Report) by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 178,664 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 5,580 shares during the period. AbbVie comprises about 2.4% of Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NCs holdings in AbbVie were worth $41,368,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of AbbVie by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 177,298,707 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,910,186,000 after buying an additional 3,380,842 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of AbbVie by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 39,178,351 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,240,169,000 after purchasing an additional 924,761 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of AbbVie by 6.0% during the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 26,783,329 shares of the companys stock worth $4,970,848,000 after purchasing an additional 1,517,222 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in AbbVie in the second quarter worth about $4,288,200,000. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its holdings in AbbVie by 5.9% in the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 12,771,854 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,675,959,000 after buying an additional 713,148 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.23% of the companys stock. Get AbbVie alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have commented on ABBV shares. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on AbbVie from $261.00 to $269.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, December 12th. Bank of America upped their price target on AbbVie from $220.00 to $251.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, October 3rd. Piper Sandler restated an overweight rating and set a $289.00 price objective (up from $284.00) on shares of AbbVie in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Cantor Fitzgerald set a $250.00 price objective on shares of AbbVie and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, October 9th. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on shares of AbbVie from $195.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, November 7th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, AbbVie presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $245.84. AbbVie Stock Performance Shares of NYSE ABBV opened at $227.44 on Friday. AbbVie Inc. has a 12-month low of $164.39 and a 12-month high of $244.81. The company has a market cap of $401.98 billion, a PE ratio of 172.30, a P/E/G ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 0.36. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $226.63 and a 200-day simple moving average of $210.98. The company has a current ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 44.14. AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The company reported $1.86 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.77 by $0.09. AbbVie had a return on equity of 3,216.47% and a net margin of 4.00%.The firm had revenue of $15.78 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $15.58 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.00 EPS. The firms revenue was up 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. AbbVie has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 3.320-3.360 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that AbbVie Inc. will post 12.31 EPS for the current year. AbbVie Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 17th. Investors of record on Friday, January 16th will be issued a $1.73 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 16th. This is an increase from AbbVies previous quarterly dividend of $1.64. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.0%. AbbVies dividend payout ratio is currently 496.97%. AbbVie Profile (Free Report) AbbVie is a global, research-driven biopharmaceutical company that was created as a spin-off from Abbott Laboratories in 2013 and is headquartered in North Chicago, Illinois. The company focuses on discovering, developing and commercializing therapies for complex and often chronic medical conditions. Its operations span research and development, manufacturing, regulatory affairs and commercialization, with an emphasis on bringing specialty medicines to market across multiple therapeutic areas. AbbVies product portfolio and pipeline cover several major therapeutic categories, including immunology, oncology, neuroscience, virology and womens health. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABBV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AbbVie Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AbbVie and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Newman Dignan & Sheerar Inc. reduced its stake in abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (NYSEARCA:SGOL Free Report) by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 406,451 shares of the companys stock after selling 12,186 shares during the period. abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF accounts for 3.2% of Newman Dignan & Sheerar Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 6th biggest holding. Newman Dignan & Sheerar Inc.s holdings in abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF were worth $14,961,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Metis Global Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF by 18.1% in the 2nd quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 5,373,804 shares of the companys stock valued at $169,490,000 after buying an additional 824,735 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF by 1.9% in the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 4,507,293 shares of the companys stock worth $142,160,000 after acquiring an additional 83,776 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE grew its stake in abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF by 3.6% in the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 3,647,167 shares of the companys stock valued at $115,032,000 after acquiring an additional 127,106 shares during the period. Pureheart Capital Pte Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF by 5.1% during the second quarter. Pureheart Capital Pte Ltd. now owns 1,217,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,384,000 after acquiring an additional 59,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quadrature Capital Ltd increased its holdings in shares of abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF by 145.2% during the second quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd now owns 1,216,015 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,359,000 after acquiring an additional 720,140 shares in the last quarter. Get abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF alerts: abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF Trading Up 0.2% Shares of SGOL opened at $41.36 on Friday. abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF has a 12-month low of $24.78 and a 12-month high of $41.77. The businesss fifty day moving average is $39.53 and its 200 day moving average is $35.37. Trending Headlines about abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF Profile Here are the key news stories impacting abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF this week: (Free Report) The abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the LBMA Gold Price index. The fund seeks to track the spot price for gold, less trust expenses holding costs, holding physical gold bars. SGOL was launched on Sep 9, 2009 and is managed by Abrdn. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SGOL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (NYSEARCA:SGOL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deere & Company, Corteva, Bunge Global, Cal-Maine Foods, and Valmont Industries are the five Agriculture stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Agriculture stocks are shares of publicly traded companies whose primary business is tied to the agricultural sectorexamples include farm operators, seed and fertilizer makers, farm equipment manufacturers, commodity traders, food processors and agritech firms. For investors, these stocks provide exposure to global food demand and crop production and are often cyclical and sensitive to commodity prices, weather, supply-chain shifts and agricultural policy. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Agriculture stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: Deere & Company (DE) 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. Corteva (CTVA) Corteva, Inc. operates in the agriculture business. It operates through two segments, Seed and Crop Protection. The Seed segment develops and supplies advanced germplasm and traits that produce optimum yield for farms. It offers trait technologies that enhance resistance to weather, disease, insects, and herbicides used to control weeds, as well as food and nutritional characteristics. Read Our Latest Research Report on CTVA Bunge Global (BG) Bunge Global SA operates as an agribusiness and food company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Agribusiness, Refined and Specialty Oils, Milling, and Sugar and Bioenergy. The Agribusiness segment purchases, stores, transports, processes, and sells agricultural commodities and commodity products, including oilseeds primarily soybeans, rapeseed, canola, and sunflower seeds, as well as grains comprising wheat and corn; and processes oilseeds into vegetable oils and protein meals. Read Our Latest Research Report on BG Cal-Maine Foods (CALM) Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, produces, grades, packages, markets, and distributes shell eggs. The company offers specialty shell eggs, such as nutritionally enhanced, cage free, organic, free-range, pasture-raised, and brown eggs under the Egg-Land's Best, Land O' Lakes, Farmhouse Eggs, Sunups, Sunny Meadow, and 4Grain brand names. Read Our Latest Research Report on CALM Valmont Industries (VMI) Valmont Industries, Inc. operates as manufacturer of products and services for infrastructure and agriculture markets in the United States, Australia, Brazil, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Infrastructure and Agriculture. The company manufactures and distributes steel, pre-stressed concrete, composite structures for electrical transmission, substation, and distribution applications; and designs, engineers, and manufactures metal, steel, wood, aluminum, and composite poles and structures for lighting and transportation applications. Read Our Latest Research Report on VMI Featured Articles ANA Holdings Inc. (OTCMKTS:ALNPY Get Free Report) shares gapped down prior to trading on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $3.99, but opened at $3.87. ANA shares last traded at $3.87, with a volume of 257 shares changing hands. ANA Trading Up 2.4% The company has a current ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.31 billion, a PE ratio of 10.16 and a beta of 0.40. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $3.81 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $3.90. Get ANA alerts: ANA (OTCMKTS:ALNPY Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The transportation company reported $0.14 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.14. The company had revenue of $4.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.32 billion. ANA had a return on equity of 12.88% and a net margin of 6.30%. ANA Company Profile All Nippon Airways Co, Ltd. (OTCMKTS: ALNPY) is a Tokyo-based airline offering passenger and cargo air transportation services. Founded in 1952, the company operates scheduled flights under its ANA brand, providing a network of domestic and international routes. In addition to core flight operations, ANA delivers ancillary services including in-flight catering, ground handling and aircraft maintenance. ANAs diversified business model encompasses several subsidiaries such as ANA Wings and Air Japan for regional operations, and ANA Cargo for freight services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for ANA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ANA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (NYSE:SQM Get Free Report) have been given a consensus recommendation of Hold by the twelve ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $59.75. A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a hold rating and issued a $50.00 target price (down from $53.00) on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera in a research note on Monday, October 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a neutral rating and issued a $63.00 price objective (up from $45.00) on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera in a report on Thursday, December 4th. Rothschild & Co Redburn started coverage on Sociedad Quimica y Minera in a report on Friday, October 24th. They set a neutral rating and a $54.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and raised their price objective for the company from $41.00 to $79.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Citigroup cut shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $51.00 to $74.00 in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Get Sociedad Quimica y Minera alerts: View Our Latest Report on SQM Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sociedad Quimica y Minera Sociedad Quimica y Minera Stock Performance A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SQM. AIA Group Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera during the third quarter valued at $1,633,000. Private Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera in the third quarter worth approximately $1,649,000. Liontrust Investment Partners LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera during the third quarter worth approximately $559,000. Advisory Services Network LLC purchased a new position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera during the third quarter valued at approximately $62,000. Finally, Fulcrum Asset Management LLP acquired a new position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 12.41% of the companys stock. Shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera stock opened at $68.79 on Monday. Sociedad Quimica y Minera has a 1 year low of $29.36 and a 1 year high of $69.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 1.88 and a current ratio of 2.82. The firm has a market cap of $19.65 billion, a PE ratio of 37.59 and a beta of 0.99. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $55.03 and its 200-day simple moving average is $45.23. Sociedad Quimica y Minera (NYSE:SQM Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, November 18th. The basic materials company reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.68 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $1.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.14 billion. Sociedad Quimica y Minera had a net margin of 12.12% and a return on equity of 9.79%. The businesss revenue was up 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.46 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Sociedad Quimica y Minera will post -1.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Sociedad Quimica y Minera Company Profile (Get Free Report) Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA (NYSE: SQM) is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals and minerals headquartered in Santiago, Chile. The company focuses on the extraction and processing of key inputs for the agricultural, industrial and hightech sectors. Its core business activities include the mining of lithium, potassium and iodine, as well as the manufacture of valueadded products derived from these raw materials. SQMs product portfolio spans lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide used in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems; potassium chloride and potassium nitrate fertilizers designed for precision agriculture; and iodine and its derivatives for pharmaceutical, food and electronics applications. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Sociedad Quimica y Minera Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sociedad Quimica y Minera and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Man Arrested for Vandalizing Assyrian Cemeteries in Iraq After the security authorities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) arrested the suspect held responsible for attacking the Assyrian cemetery in Shaqlawa, Arba'ilo (Erbil), and following his admission that he committed the act "under the influence of alcohol," Joseph Sliwa, President of the Beth Nahrain Patriotic Union (Huyodo d'Bethnahrin Athroyo, HBA), dismissed both the arrest and confession as little more than an theatrical performance by the regional authorities routinely staged by the KRI authorities to calm public outrage. Sliwa also stressed that true justice can only be achieved through public trials of the perpetrators and vandals, which would not only hold them accountable but also serve as a strong deterrent against anyone considering harming Christians or desecrating their sacred sites and the graves of their deceased. Condemnations, as echoed by Sliwa and other Assyrian politicians, prompted the Assyrian and broader Christian communities to raise questions on social media about the punishment for the suspect who vandalized the cemeteries. In response, Muna Yako, Head of the KRI's Independent Commission for Human Rights, issued a statement addressing the concerns of many commenters on social media who feared that the suspect might escape punishment, or that his claim of being under the influence of alcohol was a "pretext" to avoid accountability. She clarified the following: "Fundamentally, vandalizing these graves is an act that violates the dignity of the deceased, desecrates their sanctity, and hurts the feelings of their families. It also infringes on the rights of members of a long-standing religious community, insults their sentiments, and sows discord and suspicion within society, in addition to causing material losses." Constitutionally, Yako noted that "although the 2005 Iraqi Constitution has some exclusionary provisions, it guarantees freedom of religion in other articles, including Article 2 (Second), Article 3, Article 7, and Article 14. This means that attacks on cemeteries are constitutionally condemned and must be addressed firmly. Such acts also constitute a clear violation of Iraq's international obligations, as the country has ratified numerous treaties and conventions that ensure respect for and protection of freedom of religion and belief, as well as the protection of religious and ethnic diversity." Legally, Yako explained that the suspect should be punished with imprisonment of up to three years under Iraqi Penal Code. She referred to Article 372(1)(c), which mentions "symbols," noting that a grave is considered a symbol, especially since each grave bears a cross, the holiest religious symbol for Christians. Article 372(1)(e) refers to symbols and individuals, and the term "person" is used in legal language to include both the living and the deceased, as recognized in human rights literature. Article 373 stipulates: "Anyone who violates or desecrates the sanctity of a grave, cemetery, or monument for the deceased, or deliberately destroys, damages, or disfigures any of these, shall be punished by imprisonment for up to two years, a fine not exceeding 200 dinars, or one of these penalties." Regarding the impact of intoxication on punishment, whether it might reduce or exempt the suspect from liability, Yako referred to Chapter Four, Section One of the Penal Code on criminal responsibility and its limitations. She highlighted Article 61, which states: "If the loss of perception or will results from intoxicants or narcotics voluntarily and knowingly consumed by the offender, they shall still be punished for the crime committed, even if it requires specific intent, as if it occurred without intoxication." "According to this provision, consuming alcohol does not exempt the suspect from punishment. He is expected to receive the same penalty that would have applied had he not been intoxicated," Yako added. "Moreover, if the alcohol was consumed in preparation for committing the act, punishment may even be increased. From the video released by the security authorities and from the suspect's own statements during our meeting with him, it appears that he bought alcohol and took it to the cemetery area, which suggests he may have deliberately committed the act while intoxicated." Yako summarized her statement by saying, "The crime is fully constituted, the act is criminal, and intoxication will not affect the punishment in any way. This situation is not fabricated by any party for hidden purposes, as some have speculated." She added that although cemetery vandalism is considered a public-rights crime and authorities are obliged to pursue the case until a verdict is issued, families of the deceased should also file private-rights claims, as this ensures compensation, restores dignity, and provides additional legal remedies. "Protecting peaceful coexistence," Yako stressed, "begins with addressing the smallest details and extends to the most complex issues. Ensuring diversity is primarily the responsibility of the authorities, then the majority population, and finally smaller minority communities. We therefore call for respect for the rule of law and for this suspect to serve as a deterrent to others." She concluded by pledging to follow the case until the suspect receives his just punishment and expressed hope that such incidents will not recur and that the rights of all religious and ethnic communities will be respected. Shares of APi Group Corporation (NYSE:APG Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the ten research firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, seven have given a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $38.8095. A number of research analysts have commented on APG shares. CJS Securities upgraded APi Group to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Zacks Research lowered APi Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, September 15th. Citigroup restated a buy rating and set a $45.00 target price (up from $43.00) on shares of APi Group in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Barclays raised their target price on shares of APi Group from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of APi Group in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Get APi Group alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on APi Group APi Group Price Performance Shares of APG stock opened at $38.88 on Monday. APi Group has a 52 week low of $20.50 and a 52 week high of $40.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.17 billion, a PE ratio of 106.04 and a beta of 1.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a current ratio of 1.48. The stocks fifty day moving average is $37.08 and its 200-day moving average is $35.35. APi Group (NYSE:APG Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.39 by $0.02. APi Group had a net margin of 3.44% and a return on equity of 21.86%. The firm had revenue of $2.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.01 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.51 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that APi Group will post 1.83 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity In other news, Director Martin E. Franklin sold 340,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.09, for a total value of $12,270,600.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 18,968,790 shares in the company, valued at $684,583,631.10. This trade represents a 1.76% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 900,000 shares of company stock valued at $32,342,000. 17.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On APi Group Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bares Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of APi Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $30,000. Clearstead Advisors LLC grew its holdings in APi Group by 105.7% during the third quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 831 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 427 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its stake in APi Group by 55.3% in the third quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 834 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 297 shares in the last quarter. Silicon Valley Capital Partners increased its stake in APi Group by 50.0% in the third quarter. Silicon Valley Capital Partners now owns 858 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 286 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. acquired a new position in APi Group in the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. Institutional investors own 86.62% of the companys stock. About APi Group (Get Free Report) APi Group Corp. is a global specialty contractor that provides fire protection, security, mechanical insulation and energy services to commercial, industrial and institutional clients. Headquartered in New Brighton, Minnesota, the company designs, installs, inspects, tests, maintains and repairs a wide range of safety and infrastructure systems. Through its network of operating subsidiaries, APi Group delivers end-to-end solutions for new construction, facility renovations and ongoing maintenance requirements. Its service portfolio spans life safety and industrial servicessuch as fire suppression systems, fire alarms and emergency lightingand specialized offerings including technical insulation, access solutions, passive fire protection and energy efficiency upgrades. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for APi Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for APi Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Avolta AG Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:DUFRY Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $5.9775 and last traded at $5.9750, with a volume of 3333 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $5.85. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, UBS Group reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Avolta in a research note on Monday, December 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Buy. Get Avolta alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Avolta Avolta Stock Down 1.6% Avolta Company Profile The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.85. The business has a 50 day moving average of $5.42 and a 200 day moving average of $5.44. (Get Free Report) Avolta AG operates as a travel retailer. The companys retail brands include general travel retail shops under the Dufry, World Duty Free, Nuance, Hellenic Duty Free, Zurich Duty-Free or Stockholm Duty-Free, Autogrill, and HMSHost brands; Dufry shopping stores; brand boutiques; convenience stores primarily under the Hudson brand; and specialized shops and theme stores. It offers perfumes and cosmetics, food and confectionery, wines and spirits, watches and jewelry, fashion and leather, tobacco goods, souvenirs, electronics, soft drinks, packaged food, travel accessories, personal items, sunglasses, destination, and other products, as well as newspapers, magazines, and books. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Avolta Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Avolta and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of Ireland Group plc (OTCMKTS:BKRIF Get Free Report) shares rose 2.9% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as C$19.30 and last traded at C$19.30. Approximately 613 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 94% from the average daily volume of 9,680 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$18.76. Bank of Ireland Group Trading Down 0.2% The company has a 50-day moving average of C$17.29 and a 200-day moving average of C$15.61. Get Bank of Ireland Group alerts: Bank of Ireland Group Cuts Dividend The business also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 30th. Investors of record on Friday, October 3rd were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, October 2nd. This represents a dividend yield of 383.0%. About Bank of Ireland Group Bank of Ireland Group plc, founded in 1783 and headquartered in Dublin, is one of Irelands leading financial institutions. The bank provides a broad spectrum of services across personal, corporate and institutional segments. Its retail banking offering includes current and savings accounts, mortgages, personal and asset financing, credit cards and a range of general insurance products. Through its wealth management division, the group delivers investment advice, pension planning, fund management and private banking services to individuals and families. In the corporate and commercial arena, Bank of Ireland serves small and medium-sized enterprises, large corporates and public sector bodies with tailored lending, trade finance, cash and liquidity management, and treasury and capital markets solutions. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Ireland Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Ireland Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BBVA Banco Frances S.A. (NYSE:BBAR Get Free Report) shares were up 8.1% on Thursday . The company traded as high as $18.50 and last traded at $18.34. Approximately 572,138 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 40% from the average daily volume of 946,408 shares. The stock had previously closed at $16.96. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Citigroup raised BBVA Banco Frances from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Hsbc Global Res upgraded BBVA Banco Frances to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of BBVA Banco Frances in a research report on Tuesday. Itau BBA Securities raised shares of BBVA Banco Frances from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of BBVA Banco Frances from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $17.67. Get BBVA Banco Frances alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on BBVA Banco Frances BBVA Banco Frances Price Performance The company has a 50 day moving average of $14.76 and a 200 day moving average of $14.22. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.23 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. BBVA Banco Frances (NYSE:BBAR Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 25th. The bank reported $0.13 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.20 by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $512.44 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $871.10 billion. BBVA Banco Frances had a net margin of 4.46% and a return on equity of 7.43%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that BBVA Banco Frances S.A. will post 1.94 EPS for the current fiscal year. BBVA Banco Frances Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 23rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 16th will be given a dividend of $0.0331 per share. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. This is a positive change from BBVA Banco Francess previous monthly dividend of $0.03. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 16th. BBVA Banco Francess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 41.05%. Institutional Trading of BBVA Banco Frances A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. grew its position in BBVA Banco Frances by 199.9% during the second quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 2,381 shares of the banks stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 1,587 shares during the period. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new position in shares of BBVA Banco Frances in the 3rd quarter valued at about $108,000. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of BBVA Banco Frances during the 3rd quarter worth about $109,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its position in BBVA Banco Frances by 123.3% during the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 15,301 shares of the banks stock worth $252,000 after purchasing an additional 8,450 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Insigneo Advisory Services LLC purchased a new position in BBVA Banco Frances in the third quarter valued at approximately $136,000. About BBVA Banco Frances (Get Free Report) BBVA Banco Frances is one of Argentinas leading financial institutions, operating as a subsidiary of the global banking group BBVA. The bank provides a full range of retail and commercial banking services to individuals, small and mediumsized enterprises, large corporations and institutional clients. Its product suite spans deposit accounts, mortgages, personal and auto loans, credit and debit cards, transactional banking and digital solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of customers in both urban and regional markets. Founded in Buenos Aires in the late 19th century, Banco Frances has developed a longstanding presence in Argentinas financial sector. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for BBVA Banco Frances Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BBVA Banco Frances and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MUJ Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Friday, December 12th. Investors of record on Monday, December 22nd will be paid a dividend of 0.054 per share by the financial services provider on Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 5.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 22nd. BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund Stock Up 0.2% Shares of NYSE:MUJ traded up $0.02 on Friday, hitting $12.13. The stock had a trading volume of 168,929 shares, compared to its average volume of 129,584. BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund has a twelve month low of $10.50 and a twelve month high of $12.18. The firms 50 day moving average price is $11.82 and its 200-day moving average price is $11.32. Get BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund alerts: About BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund (Get Free Report) BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund (NYSE: MUJ) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income exempt from federal and New Jersey state income taxes. The fund primarily invests in investment-grade municipal securities issued by or on behalf of the State of New Jersey and its municipalities, authorities, and instrumentalities. By concentrating on high-quality New Jersey public finance obligations, MUJ aims to offer tax-efficient income for investors with exposure to the states credit profile. The funds portfolio is actively managed by BlackRocks municipal fixed income team, which conducts credit analysis and sector allocation to identify opportunities within New Jerseys diverse municipal marketplace. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MYN Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Friday, December 12th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 22nd will be given a dividend of 0.0512 per share by the investment management company on Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 6.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 22nd. BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund Stock Performance Shares of MYN traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $9.94. 202,720 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 114,828. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $10.06 and a two-hundred day moving average of $9.71. BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund has a twelve month low of $9.12 and a twelve month high of $10.33. Get BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund alerts: BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund Company Profile (Get Free Report) BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund (NYSE: MYN) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company that seeks to deliver current income exempt from federal and New York State income taxes. The fund primarily invests in a portfolio of municipal securities, with an emphasis on investment-grade obligations issued by entities located within New York State. The funds investment strategy focuses on long-term, tax-exempt income by allocating assets to general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, and other municipal debt instruments rated in the upper tiers of the major credit rating agencies. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:BNY Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Friday, December 12th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 22nd will be paid a dividend of 0.051 per share by the financial services provider on Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.0%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 22nd. BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust Stock Performance NYSE BNY traded down $0.05 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $10.18. 80,629 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 63,198. BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust has a 1 year low of $9.30 and a 1 year high of $10.67. The businesss 50 day moving average is $10.22 and its 200-day moving average is $9.89. Get BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust alerts: BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust (NYSE: BNY) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of tax-exempt current income. The trust primarily invests in a diversified portfolio of investment-grade municipal securities issued by the State of New York, the City of New York and various local authorities and public agencies within New York State. The portfolio typically includes general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, pre-refunded municipal obligations and other fixed-income instruments that offer credit support through dedicated revenue streams or pledged taxing authority. See Also Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brady Family Wealth LLC lessened its stake in McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD Free Report) by 12.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 11,850 shares of the fast-food giants stock after selling 1,655 shares during the period. Brady Family Wealth LLCs holdings in McDonalds were worth $3,601,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MCD. Nova Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of McDonalds during the first quarter worth approximately $26,000. HFM Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in McDonalds in the first quarter worth approximately $26,000. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. increased its holdings in McDonalds by 142.9% during the 2nd quarter. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. now owns 85 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new stake in McDonalds during the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Finally, GFG Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of McDonalds in the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. 70.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get McDonald's alerts: McDonalds Stock Down 1.2% NYSE:MCD opened at $315.85 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $224.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.95, a PEG ratio of 3.55 and a beta of 0.52. McDonalds Corporation has a 52 week low of $276.53 and a 52 week high of $326.32. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $307.19 and a 200 day moving average of $303.93. McDonalds Increases Dividend McDonalds ( NYSE:MCD Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The fast-food giant reported $3.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.33 by ($0.11). McDonalds had a negative return on equity of 280.89% and a net margin of 32.04%.The business had revenue of $7.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.10 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.23 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that McDonalds Corporation will post 12.25 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st were paid a $1.86 dividend. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. This is a boost from McDonaldss previous quarterly dividend of $1.77. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. McDonaldss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 63.48%. Key Headlines Impacting McDonalds Here are the key news stories impacting McDonalds this week: Positive Sentiment: McDonalds raised its quarterly dividend to $1.86 (annualized $7.44), signaling continued freecashflow strength and supporting the stocks income appeal. (Dividend disclosure appeared in recent MarketBeat reporting.) McDonalds raised its quarterly dividend to $1.86 (annualized $7.44), signaling continued freecashflow strength and supporting the stocks income appeal. (Dividend disclosure appeared in recent MarketBeat reporting.) Positive Sentiment: Holiday marketing is driving strong attention the Grinch Meal promotion generated broad press and consumer buzz, which can boost seasonal traffic and brand engagement. Read More. Holiday marketing is driving strong attention the Grinch Meal promotion generated broad press and consumer buzz, which can boost seasonal traffic and brand engagement. Read More. Positive Sentiment: McDonalds revived its digital MONOPOLY promotion to push app downloads, reinforce value messaging and support U.S. traffic for Q4 a digital-first campaign that can improve repeat visits and AUVs. Read More. McDonalds revived its digital MONOPOLY promotion to push app downloads, reinforce value messaging and support U.S. traffic for Q4 a digital-first campaign that can improve repeat visits and AUVs. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst and institutional activity remains mixed: several analysts reaffirm or tweak targets around the lowtomid $300s, and institutional holdings changed modestly supports a hold consensus but not a clear rerating catalyst. (Coverage summarized in recent market reports.) Analyst and institutional activity remains mixed: several analysts reaffirm or tweak targets around the lowtomid $300s, and institutional holdings changed modestly supports a hold consensus but not a clear rerating catalyst. (Coverage summarized in recent market reports.) Neutral Sentiment: Political/insider transaction news: a report noted Representative Julie Johnson sold shares of McDonalds; such public selling can draw shortterm attention but doesnt change fundamentals. Read More. Political/insider transaction news: a report noted Representative Julie Johnson sold shares of McDonalds; such public selling can draw shortterm attention but doesnt change fundamentals. Read More. Negative Sentiment: EVP Desiree RallsMorrison sold 2,486 shares (~$795k at $320) and reduced her holdings ~28% insider selling can be perceived negatively by investors, especially when clustered with other sales. SEC filing: Read More. EVP Desiree RallsMorrison sold 2,486 shares (~$795k at $320) and reduced her holdings ~28% insider selling can be perceived negatively by investors, especially when clustered with other sales. SEC filing: Read More. Negative Sentiment: Reputational hit: McDonalds pulled an AI Christmas ad after backlash in some markets, which generated negative headlines and potential shortterm brand distraction. Read More. Reputational hit: McDonalds pulled an AI Christmas ad after backlash in some markets, which generated negative headlines and potential shortterm brand distraction. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Broader industry pressure: analysts note U.S. restaurants face softer demand, higher value sensitivity and cost pressures a tougher consumer backdrop could cap samestore sales and margin upside. Read More. Insiders Place Their Bets In other McDonalds news, CFO Ian Frederick Borden sold 17,134 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $310.00, for a total transaction of $5,311,540.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 26,353 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,169,430. The trade was a 39.40% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Manuel Jm Steijaert sold 6,567 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $305.50, for a total transaction of $2,006,218.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 4,606 shares in the company, valued at $1,407,133. The trade was a 58.78% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 42,516 shares of company stock worth $13,036,090 in the last three months. Insiders own 0.25% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Sanford C. Bernstein restated a market perform rating on shares of McDonalds in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. BTIG Research reiterated a neutral rating on shares of McDonalds in a report on Friday, October 24th. Mizuho upgraded shares of McDonalds to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of McDonalds from $340.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, KeyCorp reissued an overweight rating and set a $335.00 price objective on shares of McDonalds in a report on Monday, October 20th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $324.57. View Our Latest Research Report on McDonalds McDonalds Company Profile (Free Report) McDonalds Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is a global quick-service restaurant company best known for its hamburgers, French fries and breakfast offerings. The company develops, operates and franchises a system of restaurants that sell a range of food and beverage items, including signature products such as the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken McNuggets, McCafe coffee beverages and a variety of salads, desserts and seasonal menu items. McDonalds serves customers through company-operated restaurants and franchised locations, and it supports sales via dine-in, drive-thru, digital ordering platforms and third-party delivery partnerships. Founded in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald as a single San Bernardino, California restaurant, the business was transformed into a franchising model after Ray Kroc joined in the mid-1950s and led the brands national and international expansion. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MCD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for McDonald's Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McDonald's and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Brickability Group Plc (LON:BRCK Get Free Report) dropped 1.9% on Friday . The stock traded as low as GBX 52.99 and last traded at GBX 53. Approximately 794,155 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 10% from the average daily volume of 880,869 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 54. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Canaccord Genuity Group reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 106 price target on shares of Brickability Group in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, Brickability Group presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 106. Get Brickability Group alerts: View Our Latest Report on BRCK Brickability Group Stock Performance The companys 50-day moving average price is GBX 53.59 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 58.42. The stock has a market capitalization of 170.74 million, a PE ratio of 16.26 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 47.17, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.31. Brickability Group (LON:BRCK Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 25th. The company reported GBX 4.79 earnings per share for the quarter. Brickability Group had a return on equity of 8.24% and a net margin of 2.59%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Brickability Group Plc will post 8.4193122 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling at Brickability Group In related news, insider Mike Gant sold 57,924 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 53, for a total value of 30,699.72. 13.68% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. About Brickability Group (Get Free Report) Brickability Group Plc is a leading distributor and provider of specialist products and services to the UK construction industry. The business comprises four divisions: Bricks and Building Materials, Contracting, Distribution, and Strategic Importing. With an agile, de-centralised, capital-light business model, supported by a strong balance sheet, Brickability leverages the skills of its people company-wide to effectively service the complex and evolving needs of the construction industry. Incorporated in 1985, the Group has grown organically through product diversification and geographic expansion, as well as through the acquisition of specialist businesses that support its long-term strategy for growth. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Brickability Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brickability Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc (NYSE:IVR Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of Hold by the five brokerages that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have assigned a hold recommendation and one has given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $8.25. IVR has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d+) rating on shares of Invesco Mortgage Capital in a research note on Monday. Compass Point started coverage on Invesco Mortgage Capital in a report on Monday. They issued a buy rating and a $9.00 price target for the company. UBS Group increased their price objective on Invesco Mortgage Capital from $7.25 to $7.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 3rd. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Invesco Mortgage Capital from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Sunday, November 9th. Get Invesco Mortgage Capital alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on IVR Invesco Mortgage Capital Stock Up 5.0% IVR stock opened at $8.83 on Monday. Invesco Mortgage Capital has a twelve month low of $5.86 and a twelve month high of $9.06. The firm has a market cap of $626.49 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.31 and a beta of 1.71. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $7.78 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $7.69. Invesco Mortgage Capital (NYSE:IVR Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.58 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.53 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of ($22.71) million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $45.40 million. Invesco Mortgage Capital had a net margin of 18.16% and a return on equity of 29.47%. Research analysts expect that Invesco Mortgage Capital will post 2.49 EPS for the current year. Invesco Mortgage Capital Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 23rd. Investors of record on Monday, December 29th will be issued a $0.36 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 29th. This is an increase from Invesco Mortgage Capitals previous quarterly dividend of $0.34. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 16.3%. Invesco Mortgage Capitals dividend payout ratio is presently 266.67%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in IVR. PharVision Advisers LLC purchased a new position in Invesco Mortgage Capital during the 3rd quarter valued at about $94,000. Millennium Management LLC increased its holdings in Invesco Mortgage Capital by 1,607.0% during the third quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,523,395 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $11,517,000 after buying an additional 1,434,149 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its holdings in Invesco Mortgage Capital by 7.9% during the third quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 1,544,194 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $11,674,000 after buying an additional 113,608 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. raised its stake in Invesco Mortgage Capital by 27.9% in the third quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 79,663 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $602,000 after buying an additional 17,400 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its stake in Invesco Mortgage Capital by 1.2% in the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 340,898 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,577,000 after buying an additional 4,101 shares in the last quarter. 40.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Invesco Mortgage Capital Company Profile (Get Free Report) Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc (NYSE: IVR) is a real estate investment trust that specializes in investing in U.S. residential mortgage-backed securities. The companys portfolio is weighted toward agency-guaranteed RMBS issued or guaranteed by U.S. government-sponsored enterprises such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae. By focusing on collateral backed by federal agencies, Invesco Mortgage Capital seeks to generate attractive returns while managing credit risk through securities that carry explicit or implicit government guarantees. To enhance its portfolio yield, the company employs leverage through repurchase agreements, warehouse facilities and debt financing. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Mortgage Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Mortgage Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of Hold from the twenty-one brokerages that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $38.9444. A number of equities analysts recently commented on LUV shares. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on Southwest Airlines in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. They set a market perform rating and a $43.00 price target for the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Southwest Airlines in a research note on Monday. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Southwest Airlines from $33.00 to $34.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Southwest Airlines in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. They set a neutral rating and a $38.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Susquehanna upped their price objective on shares of Southwest Airlines from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, October 3rd. Get Southwest Airlines alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on LUV Hedge Funds Weigh In On Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines Trading Up 1.2% Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in LUV. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Southwest Airlines during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Quent Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Southwest Airlines during the third quarter worth $27,000. Corsicana & Co. acquired a new stake in shares of Southwest Airlines during the third quarter worth $27,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Southwest Airlines in the second quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its stake in shares of Southwest Airlines by 81.4% in the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 1,056 shares of the airlines stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 474 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.82% of the companys stock. Shares of Southwest Airlines stock opened at $41.23 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $21.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 63.43, a P/E/G ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.17. The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 0.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. Southwest Airlines has a 12-month low of $23.82 and a 12-month high of $43.54. The businesss 50 day moving average is $34.47 and its 200-day moving average is $33.24. Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The airline reported ($0.38) earnings per share for the quarter. The firm 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%. Equities research analysts predict that Southwest Airlines will post 1.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Southwest Airlines Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 26th will be issued a $0.18 dividend. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 26th. Southwest Airliness dividend payout ratio is currently 110.77%. Southwest Airlines Company Profile (Get Free Report) Southwest Airlines Co is a U.S.-based low-cost carrier that operates a point-to-point domestic and near-international airline network. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company primarily flies Boeing 737 aircraft and offers no-frills, single-class service designed to keep fares competitive. Southwests operating model emphasizes high aircraft utilization, quick turnaround times and an open seating policy, allowing customers to board and select seats on a first-come, first-served basis. Founded in 1967 by Herb Kelleher and Rollin King as Air Southwest Company, Southwest began commercial service in 1971, initially connecting Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Southwest Airlines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southwest Airlines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ Get Free Report) (TSE:CCO) saw unusually large options trading on Thursday. Stock investors acquired 384,705 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 1,490% compared to the typical daily volume of 24,198 call options. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have recently commented on CCJ. CLSA initiated coverage on Cameco in a research report on Tuesday, September 9th. They issued an outperform rating and a $102.00 price objective for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Cameco from $95.00 to $109.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. President Capital upgraded shares of Cameco from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, September 22nd. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Cameco in a research report on Monday, November 10th. They issued a neutral rating and a $140.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Glj Research restated a buy rating and issued a $99.74 target price on shares of Cameco in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $117.25. Get Cameco alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Cameco Cameco Stock Up 2.6% CCJ opened at $89.90 on Friday. Cameco has a 1 year low of $35.00 and a 1 year high of $110.15. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $90.43 and a 200 day moving average price of $81.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 1.85 and a current ratio of 2.99. The company has a market cap of $39.14 billion, a PE ratio of 104.53 and a beta of 1.07. Cameco (NYSE:CCJ Get Free Report) (TSE:CCO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The basic materials company reported $0.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.22 by ($0.17). The business had revenue of $313.74 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $531.72 million. Cameco had a return on equity of 8.58% and a net margin of 15.24%.Camecos quarterly revenue was down 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.01) earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Cameco will post 1.27 earnings per share for the current year. Cameco Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st were paid a dividend of $0.24 per share. This is a boost from Camecos previous annual dividend of $0.12. This represents a dividend yield of 27.0%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. Camecos payout ratio is presently 19.77%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Cameco Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Cameco by 1.3% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 17,801,142 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,493,978,000 after acquiring an additional 235,613 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its stake in shares of Cameco by 39.3% in the first quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 14,048,244 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $578,226,000 after purchasing an additional 3,959,837 shares during the period. Capital World Investors grew its holdings in Cameco by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 13,503,924 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,133,147,000 after purchasing an additional 106,872 shares in the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its holdings in Cameco by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 12,973,799 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,089,080,000 after purchasing an additional 85,762 shares in the last quarter. Finally, DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main increased its stake in Cameco by 41.4% during the 2nd quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 7,076,815 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $524,988,000 after buying an additional 2,071,373 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.21% of the companys stock. Cameco Company Profile (Get Free Report) Cameco Corporation (NYSE: CCJ) is a leading producer of uranium and a supplier to the global nuclear power industry. Headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, the company is engaged in the exploration, mining, milling and sale of uranium concentrate, commonly known as yellowcake, which is used as fuel for nuclear reactors. Cameco also participates in services and activities that support the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle, including processing and marketing of uranium to utilities under longterm and spot contracts. The companys operations have historically centered in Canada and the United States, where it operates and develops uranium mining and processing properties. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Cameco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cameco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE:CMA Get Free Report) have earned a consensus rating of Hold from the twenty-two ratings firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, eighteen have given a hold recommendation and two have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $74.2632. CMA has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Cowen began coverage on Comerica in a research note on Wednesday, September 24th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Comerica from $65.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Comerica from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $83.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on shares of Comerica in a research note on Wednesday, September 10th. They issued a neutral rating and a $72.00 price target for the company. Finally, Piper Sandler set a $82.00 price target on shares of Comerica and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Get Comerica alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Comerica Comerica Trading Up 0.5% Shares of Comerica stock opened at $88.28 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.96 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $80.20 and its 200-day simple moving average is $70.90. The stock has a market cap of $11.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.85 and a beta of 1.07. Comerica has a 1-year low of $48.12 and a 1-year high of $90.44. Comerica (NYSE:CMA Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, December 9th. The financial services provider reported $1.53 EPS for the quarter. Comerica had a return on equity of 10.69% and a net margin of 14.91%.The firm had revenue of $824.00 million during the quarter. Analysts predict that Comerica will post 5.28 EPS for the current fiscal year. Comerica Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be given a $0.71 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 15th. This represents a $2.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.2%. Comericas payout ratio is currently 54.20%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Comerica A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of CMA. United Community Bank purchased a new stake in Comerica in the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Comerica during the third quarter valued at about $27,000. Center for Financial Planning Inc. raised its stake in shares of Comerica by 41.2% in the 3rd quarter. Center for Financial Planning Inc. now owns 514 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the period. Community Bank N.A. acquired a new position in shares of Comerica in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Comerica during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $40,000. 80.74% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Comerica (Get Free Report) Comerica Incorporated is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, operating as Comerica Bank. The company offers a comprehensive suite of banking and financial solutions to businesses, professionals, and individuals. Its principal business activities encompass commercial banking servicessuch as treasury management, lending, and international trade financealongside retail banking products like deposit accounts, consumer loans, and credit cards. In addition, Comerica provides wealth management and trust services, financial advisory, and capital markets solutions to support clients complex financial needs. Established in Detroit in 1849 as the Detroit Savings Fund Institute, Comerica has evolved over more than 170 years to become a regional banking leader. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Comerica Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Comerica and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banco Bradesco (NYSE:BBDO Get Free Report) and Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA Get Free Report) are both large-cap finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership, risk, dividends, valuation and earnings. Dividends Banco Bradesco pays an annual dividend of $0.02 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.7%. Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.6%. Banco Bradesco pays out 5.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria pays out 31.4% 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. Get Banco Bradesco alerts: Profitability This table compares Banco Bradesco and Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentarias net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Banco Bradesco 9.27% 12.95% 1.06% Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria 28.58% 17.07% 1.32% Valuation and Earnings Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Banco Bradesco $117.80 billion 0.26 $3.20 billion $0.35 8.33 Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria $38.40 billion 3.51 $10.88 billion $1.91 12.08 This table compares Banco Bradesco and Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentarias gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Banco Bradesco. Banco Bradesco is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Banco Bradesco and Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Banco Bradesco 0 0 1 0 3.00 Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria 0 3 2 1 2.67 Volatility & Risk Banco Bradesco has a beta of 0.62, indicating that its stock price is 38% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria has a beta of 0.83, indicating that its stock price is 17% less volatile than the S&P 500. Institutional and Insider Ownership 3.0% of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria shares are held by institutional investors. 0.3% of Banco Bradesco shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.0% of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Summary Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria beats Banco Bradesco on 12 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks. About Banco Bradesco (Get Free Report) Banco Bradesco S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services to individuals, corporates, and businesses in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Banking and Insurance. It provides current, savings, click, and salary accounts; real estate credit, vehicle financing, payroll loans, mortgage loans, microcredit, leasing, and personal and installment credit; overdraft and agribusiness loans; debit and business cards; financial and security services; consortium products; car, personal accident, dental, travel, and life insurance; investment products; pension products; foreign currency exchange services; capitalization bonds; and internet banking services. Banco Bradesco S.A. was founded in 1943 and is headquartered in Osasco, Brazil. About Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria (Get Free Report) Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. provides retail banking, wholesale banking, and asset management services in the United States, Spain, Mexico, Turkey, South America, and internationally. The company offers savings account, demand deposits, and time deposits; and loan products, such as residential mortgages, other households, credit card loans, loans to enterprises and public sector, as well as consumer finance. It provides insurance and asset management business, including corporate, commercial, SME, payment systems, retail, private and investment banking, pension and life insurance, leasing, factoring, and brokerage. The company provides its products through online and mobile channels. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. was founded in 1857 and is headquartered in Bilbao, Spain. Receive News & Ratings for Banco Bradesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Bradesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp increased its stake in CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS Free Report) by 16.8% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 71,807 shares of the pharmacy operators stock after buying an additional 10,352 shares during the period. Toth Financial Advisory Corps holdings in CVS Health were worth $5,414,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. HF Advisory Group LLC raised its stake in CVS Health by 2.9% during the third quarter. HF Advisory Group LLC now owns 5,219 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $393,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the period. FineMark National Bank & Trust increased its holdings in shares of CVS Health by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. FineMark National Bank & Trust now owns 9,576 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $661,000 after buying an additional 157 shares during the last quarter. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of CVS Health by 6.1% in the 3rd quarter. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 2,736 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $206,000 after buying an additional 157 shares during the period. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its position in CVS Health by 1.1% during the second quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 15,059 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $1,031,000 after acquiring an additional 164 shares during the period. Finally, Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. increased its stake in CVS Health by 10.9% during the second quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 1,682 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $117,000 after acquiring an additional 165 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.66% of the companys stock. Get CVS Health alerts: CVS Health Trading Down 0.1% NYSE CVS opened at $77.70 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $98.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 204.47, a PEG ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 0.48. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $79.09 and its 200-day simple moving average is $72.37. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. CVS Health Corporation has a 52 week low of $43.56 and a 52 week high of $85.15. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades CVS Health ( NYSE:CVS Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The pharmacy operator reported $1.60 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.36 by $0.24. CVS Health had a net margin of 0.12% and a return on equity of 11.45%. The business had revenue of $102.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $98.85 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.09 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. CVS Health has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.550-6.650 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that CVS Health Corporation will post 5.89 EPS for the current fiscal year. Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen lowered CVS Health from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, November 1st. TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of CVS Health from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of CVS Health in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Barclays raised their target price on shares of CVS Health from $87.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, Leerink Partners upped their price target on shares of CVS Health from $86.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have assigned a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $94.67. Get Our Latest Stock Report on CVS About CVS Health (Free Report) CVS Health Corporation is a diversified healthcare company that operates a large network of retail pharmacies, pharmacy benefit management services and health care solutions. Headquartered in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, the company traces its roots to the early 1960s and has grown into an integrated provider of prescription drugs, overthecounter products, clinical services and health insurance offerings. Its operating model combines retail pharmacy locations and instore clinics with broader pharmacy and health plan capabilities. Key business activities include CVS Pharmacy retail operations, MinuteClinic walkin medical clinics and HealthHUB locations that offer expanded clinical services. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CVS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for CVS Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CVS Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Can-Fite BioPharma (NYSE:CANF Free Report) had its price objective reduced by D. Boral Capital from $11.00 to $4.00 in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. They currently have a buy rating on the stock. CANF has been the subject of several other reports. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $2.50 target price on shares of Can-Fite BioPharma in a report on Tuesday, November 4th. Zacks Research raised Can-Fite BioPharma to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $3.25. Get Can-Fite BioPharma alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on Can-Fite BioPharma Can-Fite BioPharma Stock Up 0.8% Institutional Inflows and Outflows Can-Fite BioPharma stock opened at $0.25 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $6.60 million, a PE ratio of -0.14 and a beta of 0.98. Can-Fite BioPharma has a 12-month low of $0.25 and a 12-month high of $2.33. The firms fifty day moving average is $0.38 and its 200 day moving average is $0.67. A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Can-Fite BioPharma stock. Sabby Management LLC lifted its position in Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE:CANF Free Report) by 80.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,406,050 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 626,306 shares during the quarter. Can-Fite BioPharma accounts for about 1.0% of Sabby Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 6th largest holding. Sabby Management LLC owned approximately 39.72% of Can-Fite BioPharma worth $871,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. 21.00% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Can-Fite BioPharma Company Profile (Get Free Report) Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Petah Tikva, Israel, that focuses on the development of small molecule drugs for the treatment of inflammatory, oncology and liver diseases. Established in 1994, the company leverages its proprietary technology platform centered on modulating the adenosine receptor system to advance novel therapeutic candidates. Can-Fites research and development efforts are directed toward addressing significant unmet medical needs in autoimmune and cancer indications. The companys lead product candidates include piclidenoson (CF101) and namodenoson (CF102). Read More Receive News & Ratings for Can-Fite BioPharma Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Can-Fite BioPharma and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vertiv (NYSE:VRT Get Free Report) and Dynatrace (NYSE:DT Get Free Report) are both large-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, dividends, valuation, earnings, risk and analyst recommendations. Risk & Volatility Vertiv has a beta of 2.03, suggesting that its share price is 103% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Dynatrace has a beta of 0.87, suggesting that its share price is 13% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get Vertiv alerts: Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Vertiv and Dynatrace, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Vertiv 1 6 20 2 2.79 Dynatrace 0 6 17 1 2.79 Earnings and Valuation Vertiv currently has a consensus price target of $180.48, suggesting a potential upside of 13.00%. Dynatrace has a consensus price target of $61.59, suggesting a potential upside of 39.82%. Given Dynatraces higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Dynatrace is more favorable than Vertiv. This table compares Vertiv and Dynatraces gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Vertiv $8.01 billion 7.62 $495.80 million $2.65 60.27 Dynatrace $1.70 billion 7.82 $483.68 million $1.67 26.38 Vertiv has higher revenue and earnings than Dynatrace. Dynatrace is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Vertiv, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares Vertiv and Dynatraces net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Vertiv 10.67% 50.82% 14.98% Dynatrace 27.33% 9.24% 6.14% Insider and Institutional Ownership 89.9% of Vertiv shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 94.3% of Dynatrace shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.6% of Vertiv shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.6% of Dynatrace shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Summary Vertiv beats Dynatrace on 11 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks. About Vertiv (Get Free Report) Vertiv Holdings Co, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and services critical digital infrastructure technologies and life cycle services for data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial environments in the Americas, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers AC and DC power management products, switchgear and busbar products, thermal management products, integrated rack systems, modular solutions, and management systems for monitoring and controlling digital infrastructure that are integral to the technologies used for various services, including e-commerce, online banking, file sharing, video on-demand, energy storage, wireless communications, Internet of Things, and online gaming. The company also provides lifecycle management services, predictive analytics, and professional services for deploying, maintaining, and optimizing its products and their related systems; and preventative maintenance, acceptance testing, engineering and consulting, performance assessments, remote monitoring, training, spare parts, and digital critical infrastructure software services. It offers its products primarily under the Vertiv, Liebert, NetSure, Geist, E&I, Powerbar, and Avocent brands. The company serves cloud services, financial services, healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, energy, education, government, social media, and retail industries through a network of direct sales professionals, independent sales representatives, channel partners, and original equipment manufacturers. Vertiv Holdings Co is headquartered in Westerville, Ohio. About Dynatrace (Get Free Report) Dynatrace, Inc. provides a security platform for multicloud environments in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates Dynatrace, a security platform, which provides application and microservices monitoring, runtime application security, infrastructure monitoring, log management and analytics, digital experience monitoring, digital business analytics, and cloud automation. Its platform allows its customers to modernize and automate IT operations, delivers software, and enhance user experiences. In addition, the company offers implementation, consulting, and training services. It markets its products through a combination of direct sales team and a network of partners, including resellers, system integrators, and managed service providers. It serves customers in various industries comprising banking, financial services, government, insurance, retail and wholesale, transportation, and software. Dynatrace, Inc. was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Receive News & Ratings for Vertiv Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vertiv and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eaton Vance Total Return Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:EVTR Get Free Report) shares saw strong trading volume on Wednesday . 1,325,222 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 235% from the previous sessions volume of 396,000 shares.The stock last traded at $51.5550 and had previously closed at $51.60. Eaton Vance Total Return Bond ETF Trading Down 0.1% The business has a fifty day moving average of $51.69 and a 200 day moving average of $51.24. Get Eaton Vance Total Return Bond ETF alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On Eaton Vance Total Return Bond ETF Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. TruNorth Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Eaton Vance Total Return Bond ETF in the third quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Eaton Vance Total Return Bond ETF in the second quarter valued at about $47,000. Montag A & Associates Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Eaton Vance Total Return Bond ETF in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $58,000. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Eaton Vance Total Return Bond ETF in the second quarter valued at $95,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in Eaton Vance Total Return Bond ETF by 96.5% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 2,287 shares of the companys stock valued at $116,000 after acquiring an additional 1,123 shares in the last quarter. About Eaton Vance Total Return Bond ETF The Eaton Vance Total Return Bond ETF (EVTR) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is an actively managed fund that aims to invest in USD-denominated, investment grade securities from government and corporate issuers. The fund aims to maintain an average weighted maturity between five and ten years. EVTR was launched on Nov 14, 1984 and is issued by Eaton Vance. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Eaton Vance Total Return Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eaton Vance Total Return Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Emerald Holding, Inc. (NYSE:EEX Get Free Report) rose 9.5% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $4.99 and last traded at $5.06. Approximately 37,266 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 62% from the average daily volume of 97,653 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.62. Analysts Set New Price Targets EEX has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d) rating on shares of Emerald in a research note on Monday. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Emerald from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. Finally, Rosenblatt Securities reissued a buy rating and issued a $7.70 target price on shares of Emerald in a research report on Wednesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Emerald has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $7.70. Get Emerald alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on EEX Emerald Stock Performance The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35. The firms fifty day moving average price is $4.16 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $4.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $927.73 million, a PE ratio of 156.39 and a beta of 0.77. Emerald (NYSE:EEX Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The company reported ($0.07) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.04) by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $77.50 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $76.80 million. Emerald had a return on equity of 1.20% and a net margin of 1.05%. Emerald Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 20th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 10th were given a $0.015 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 10th. This represents a $0.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.3%. Emeralds payout ratio is 200.00%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Emerald A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EEX. Citadel Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Emerald by 197.6% in the 3rd quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 92,276 shares of the companys stock worth $470,000 after acquiring an additional 61,273 shares in the last quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC increased its stake in shares of Emerald by 26.0% during the third quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 47,364 shares of the companys stock worth $241,000 after purchasing an additional 9,787 shares in the last quarter. Contrarian Capital Management L.L.C. raised its position in shares of Emerald by 12.1% during the 3rd quarter. Contrarian Capital Management L.L.C. now owns 879,000 shares of the companys stock worth $4,474,000 after purchasing an additional 95,138 shares during the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue acquired a new position in shares of Emerald during the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, Inspire Investing LLC lifted its stake in Emerald by 13.6% in the 3rd quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 90,067 shares of the companys stock valued at $458,000 after buying an additional 10,763 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 14.90% of the companys stock. Emerald Company Profile (Get Free Report) Emerald (NYSE: EEX) is a global provider of independent data, news and analytics for commodity, financial and energy markets. The company operates digital platforms that deliver real-time and historical price assessments, market commentary, research reports and risk-management tools. Its subscriber base spans traders, asset managers, corporate hedgers and financial institutions seeking timely intelligence to support trading, risk management and investment decisions. Serving clients across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, Emerald covers a broad range of markets including metals, energy products, agriculture, freight, environmental emissions and treasury benchmarks. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Emerald Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Emerald and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FICO Get Free Report) CFO Steven Weber sold 1,426 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,810.00, for a total value of $2,581,060.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 2,804 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,075,240. This trade represents a 33.71% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Fair Isaac Price Performance NYSE:FICO traded down $13.51 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $1,747.90. 522,388 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 274,973. The company has a market cap of $41.44 billion, a PE ratio of 65.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 1.29. Fair Isaac Corporation has a one year low of $1,300.00 and a one year high of $2,217.60. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $1,715.79 and a 200 day moving average price of $1,635.51. Get Fair Isaac alerts: Fair Isaac (NYSE:FICO Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The technology company reported $7.74 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $7.36 by $0.38. Fair Isaac had a net margin of 32.75% and a negative return on equity of 43.97%. The business had revenue of $515.75 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $512.38 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $6.54 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 13.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Fair Isaac Corporation will post 24.15 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Analysts Set New Price Targets Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of FICO. Westside Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Fair Isaac during the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. ORG Partners LLC bought a new stake in Fair Isaac during the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Hilltop National Bank purchased a new stake in Fair Isaac during the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Ransom Advisory Ltd bought a new position in Fair Isaac in the third quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Meeder Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Fair Isaac by 66.7% during the 3rd quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 20 shares of the technology companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 8 shares during the last quarter. 85.75% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. FICO has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of Fair Isaac from $1,900.00 to $1,960.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. UBS Group upped their price target on Fair Isaac from $1,590.00 to $1,640.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, September 15th. Zacks Research downgraded Fair Isaac from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, December 1st. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on shares of Fair Isaac from $2,300.00 to $2,200.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Fair Isaac from $2,300.00 to $2,400.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Fair Isaac presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $2,076.77. Get Our Latest Report on Fair Isaac About Fair Isaac (Get Free Report) Fair Isaac Corporation, commonly known as FICO, is a data analytics and software company best known for its FICO Score, a widely used credit-scoring system that helps lenders assess consumer credit risk. Founded in 1956 by Bill Fair and Earl Isaac, the company has evolved from its origins in statistical credit scoring to a broader focus on predictive analytics, decision management and artificial intelligence-driven solutions for financial services and other industries. FICO is headquartered in San Jose, California, and operates globally, serving clients across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. FICOs product portfolio centers on analytics and decisioning technologies. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Fair Isaac Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fair Isaac and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. FedEx (NYSE:FDX Get Free Report) had its price objective increased by research analysts at HSBC from $235.00 to $285.00 in a note issued to investors on Friday,MarketScreener reports. The brokerage presently has a hold rating on the shipping service providers stock. HSBCs price objective indicates a potential downside of 1.35% from the stocks current price. FDX has been the subject of a number of other reports. Vertical Research cut their target price on FedEx from $280.00 to $275.00 in a research note on Friday, September 19th. Susquehanna increased their price objective on FedEx from $300.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on FedEx from $265.00 to $290.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Friday. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their target price on shares of FedEx from $247.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Monday, September 22nd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus set a $328.00 price target on shares of FedEx in a research note on Friday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $297.12. Get FedEx alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on FDX FedEx Price Performance Shares of NYSE FDX opened at $288.89 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $262.33 and a 200 day moving average price of $241.24. FedEx has a 1-year low of $194.29 and a 1-year high of $295.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 1.21. The company has a market cap of $68.17 billion, a PE ratio of 15.93, a P/E/G ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 1.32. FedEx (NYSE:FDX Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 18th. The shipping service provider reported $4.82 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.02 by $0.80. FedEx had a net margin of 4.81% and a return on equity of 16.72%. The company had revenue of $23.47 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.79 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $4.05 EPS. FedExs quarterly revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. FedEx has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.800-19.000 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that FedEx will post 19.14 EPS for the current year. Institutional Trading of FedEx Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of FedEx by 13.2% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 23,442,049 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $5,527,870,000 after purchasing an additional 2,741,723 shares during the last quarter. Dodge & Cox increased its position in FedEx by 12.0% during the third quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 16,225,160 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $3,826,055,000 after buying an additional 1,742,666 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of FedEx by 0.6% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,947,670 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $1,124,524,000 after acquiring an additional 28,450 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its position in shares of FedEx by 5.9% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,814,938 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $1,135,411,000 after acquiring an additional 269,567 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Valeo Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of FedEx by 28,080.9% in the second quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,743,557 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $850,948,000 after acquiring an additional 3,730,273 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.47% of the companys stock. Key Stores Impacting FedEx Here are the key news stories impacting FedEx this week: About FedEx (Get Free Report) FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) is a global logistics and courier company headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded by Frederick W. Smith in 1971 and beginning operations in the early 1970s, the company pioneered overnight express shipping and has since expanded into a diversified portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and supply-chain services. FedEx operates an integrated air-and-ground network that moves parcels, freight and documents for businesses and consumers worldwide. FedExs core operating segments include express parcel delivery via its FedEx Express division, domestic and residential parcel delivery through FedEx Ground, less-than-truckload (LTL) freight services, and logistics and supply-chain management solutions. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for FedEx Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FedEx and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First National Bank Alaska (OTCMKTS:FBAK Get Free Report)s share price gapped down before the market opened on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $305.00, but opened at $295.00. First National Bank Alaska shares last traded at $295.00, with a volume of 23 shares trading hands. First National Bank Alaska Price Performance The firm has a market capitalization of $930.43 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.01 and a beta of 0.17. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $281.64 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $270.96. Get First National Bank Alaska alerts: First National Bank Alaska (OTCMKTS:FBAK Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The financial services provider reported $6.75 EPS for the quarter. First National Bank Alaska had a return on equity of 14.98% and a net margin of 29.11%.The firm had revenue of $56.17 million for the quarter. First National Bank Alaska Dividend Announcement About First National Bank Alaska The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 2nd were paid a $4.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. This represents a dividend yield of 561.0%. First National Bank Alaskas dividend payout ratio is presently 65.47%. (Get Free Report) First National Bank Alaska is a communityoriented financial institution headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska. Established in 1922, the bank has grown to serve individuals, businesses and institutions across Alaska through a network of branch offices and digital channels. As an OTCtraded company, it offers broad commercial and consumer banking services tailored to the unique economic and geographic needs of the state. The banks consumer banking operations include checking and savings accounts, personal loans, mortgages and online banking solutions. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for First National Bank Alaska Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First National Bank Alaska and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC decreased its position in shares of Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR Free Report) by 11.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 56,154 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 7,543 shares during the period. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NCs holdings in Digital Realty Trust were worth $9,708,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. South Plains Financial Inc. boosted its stake in Digital Realty Trust by 280.5% during the second quarter. South Plains Financial Inc. now owns 156 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. Tobam purchased a new stake in shares of Digital Realty Trust during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. AdvisorShares Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Digital Realty Trust during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. NewSquare Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 149.3% in the second quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 187 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AlphaQuest LLC increased its position in Digital Realty Trust by 163.5% in the second quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 195 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 121 shares during the last quarter. 99.71% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Digital Realty Trust alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have commented on DLR. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Digital Realty Trust from $141.00 to $161.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of Digital Realty Trust from $199.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Digital Realty Trust from $200.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Digital Realty Trust in a research report on Monday. Finally, Loop Capital set a $205.00 target price on Digital Realty Trust in a report on Monday, October 27th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Digital Realty Trust presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $197.55. Digital Realty Trust Stock Performance Digital Realty Trust stock opened at $150.11 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 2.02 and a quick ratio of 2.02. The firm has a market capitalization of $51.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.82 and a beta of 1.11. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. has a 1-year low of $129.95 and a 1-year high of $187.74. The companys 50-day moving average is $163.90 and its 200 day moving average is $169.28. Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:DLR Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The real estate investment trust reported $0.15 EPS for the quarter. Digital Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.41% and a net margin of 23.67%.The firm had revenue of $1.58 billion for the quarter. Research analysts forecast that Digital Realty Trust, Inc. will post 7.07 EPS for the current year. Digital Realty Trust Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be paid a $1.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 15th. This represents a $4.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.3%. Digital Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 126.10%. Insider Buying and Selling at Digital Realty Trust In other news, Director Mary Hogan Preusse sold 4,166 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $157.42, for a total transaction of $655,811.72. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Digital Realty Trust Company Profile (Free Report) Digital Realty Trust, Inc (NYSE: DLR) is a real estate investment trust that owns, acquires and operates carrier-neutral data centers and provides related colocation and interconnection solutions. The company focuses on large-scale, mission-critical facilities that support the physical infrastructure needs of cloud providers, enterprises, network operators and content companies. Digital Realtys offerings are designed to enable secure, reliable and highly available IT infrastructure with an emphasis on power density, cooling, and physical security. Digital Realtys product set spans wholesale data center space, turnkey build-to-suit facilities, and retail colocation suites, complemented by interconnection services that allow customers to establish private and public connections to networks, cloud on-ramps and other ecosystem partners. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DLR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Digital Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Digital Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. FUCHS SE Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:FUPBY Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Thursday . Approximately 34,120 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 341% from the previous sessions volume of 7,736 shares.The stock last traded at $10.99 and had previously closed at $11.0495. FUCHS Price Performance The stock has a market cap of $6.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a quick ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 2.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $11.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $11.99. Get FUCHS alerts: FUCHS (OTCMKTS:FUPBY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The company reported $0.19 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.18 by $0.01. FUCHS had a net margin of 8.30% and a return on equity of 15.46%. The company had revenue of $1.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.04 billion. Sell-side analysts expect that FUCHS SE Unsponsored ADR will post 0.61 EPS for the current year. FUCHS Company Profile FUCHS Petrolub SE, traded over the counter under the symbol FUPBY, is a German-based manufacturer specialized in the development, production and marketing of lubricants and related specialty products. Founded in 1931 by Rudolf Fuchs and headquartered in Mannheim, Germany, the company has grown to become the worlds largest independent supplier of lubricants, serving a broad spectrum of industries from automotive and metalworking to mining and renewable energy. The companys product portfolio encompasses engine oils, industrial lubricants, greases, hydraulic fluids, metalworking fluids and process oils, as well as tailor-made solutions for customers specific requirements. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for FUCHS Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FUCHS and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Miller Industries (NYSE:MLR Get Free Report) and ChargePoint (NYSE:CHPT Get Free Report) are both small-cap auto/tires/trucks companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, earnings, valuation, dividends, institutional ownership and risk. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Miller Industries and ChargePoints revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Miller Industries alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Miller Industries $840.26 million 0.51 $63.49 million $2.60 14.31 ChargePoint $417.08 million 0.41 -$277.07 million ($10.28) -0.71 Profitability Miller Industries has higher revenue and earnings than ChargePoint. ChargePoint is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Miller Industries, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. This table compares Miller Industries and ChargePoints net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Miller Industries 3.59% 7.32% 4.76% ChargePoint -59.54% -209.46% -21.77% Volatility & Risk Miller Industries has a beta of 1.26, meaning that its share price is 26% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, ChargePoint has a beta of 1.43, meaning that its share price is 43% more volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Miller Industries and ChargePoint, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Miller Industries 0 2 1 0 2.33 ChargePoint 3 8 1 0 1.83 Miller Industries presently has a consensus price target of $55.00, suggesting a potential upside of 47.78%. ChargePoint has a consensus price target of $12.95, suggesting a potential upside of 77.64%. Given ChargePoints higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe ChargePoint is more favorable than Miller Industries. Institutional and Insider Ownership 79.2% of Miller Industries shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 37.8% of ChargePoint shares are held by institutional investors. 4.4% of Miller Industries shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 3.5% of ChargePoint shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Summary Miller Industries beats ChargePoint on 11 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks. About Miller Industries (Get Free Report) Miller Industries, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells towing and recovery equipment. The company offers wreckers that are used to recover and tow disabled vehicles and other equipment; and car carriers, which are specialized flat-bed vehicles with hydraulic tilt mechanisms, which are used to transport new or disabled vehicles and other equipment. It also provides transport trailers for moving various vehicles for auto auctions, car dealerships, leasing companies, and other similar operations. The company markets its products under the Century, Vulcan, Challenger, Holmes, Champion, Chevron, Eagle, Titan, Jige, and Boniface brands. Miller Industries, Inc. sells its products through independent distributors in North America, and Canada, Mexico; and through prime contractors to governmental entities. Miller Industries, Inc. was incorporated in 1990 and is headquartered in Ooltewah, Tennessee. About ChargePoint (Get Free Report) ChargePoint Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides electric vehicle (EV) charging networks and charging solutions in the North America and Europe. The company serves commercial, such as retail, workplace, hospitality, parking, recreation, municipal, education, and highway fast charge; fleet, which include delivery, take home, logistics, motor pool, transit, and shared mobility; and residential including single family homes and multi-family apartments and condominiums customers. ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Campbell, California. Receive News & Ratings for Miller Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Miller Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Osaic Holdings Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF (NYSEARCA:IPAC Free Report) by 116.3% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 196,038 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 105,396 shares during the period. Osaic Holdings Inc. owned approximately 0.76% of iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF worth $12,724,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. AE Wealth Management LLC grew its position in iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF by 216.7% during the second quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 570 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 390 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF by 34.5% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 2,056 shares of the companys stock valued at $141,000 after purchasing an additional 527 shares in the last quarter. Security National Bank purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF during the 2nd quarter worth about $143,000. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $206,000. Finally, Alaska Wealth Advisors purchased a new position in iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $207,000. Get iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF alerts: iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF Stock Up 0.6% Shares of IPAC stock opened at $72.89 on Friday. iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF has a fifty-two week low of $54.90 and a fifty-two week high of $76.13. The firms 50 day moving average price is $74.22 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $71.86. The stock has a market cap of $1.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.73 and a beta of 0.72. About iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF The iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF (IPAC) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Pacific IMI index, a market-cap-weighted index of developed Pacific securities. IPAC was launched on Jun 10, 2014 and is managed by BlackRock. Read More Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Asia ex Japan ETF (NYSEARCA:AXJV Get Free Report)s stock price dropped 0.4% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $33.63 and last traded at $33.67. Approximately 600 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 82% from the average daily volume of 3,339 shares. The stock had previously closed at $33.80. iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Asia ex Japan ETF Stock Down 0.4% The firms fifty day moving average is $33.67 and its 200 day moving average is $33.67. Read More Receive News & Ratings for iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Asia ex Japan ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Asia ex Japan ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares MSCI Finland ETF (BATS:EFNL Get Free Report) traded up 44.1% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $32.99 and last traded at $46.81. 5,662 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 45% from the average session volume of 10,309 shares. The stock had previously closed at $32.4751. iShares MSCI Finland ETF Stock Up 44.1% The stock has a market capitalization of $28.09 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.40 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a fifty day moving average of $45.32 and a two-hundred day moving average of $42.86. Get iShares MSCI Finland ETF alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of EFNL. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in iShares MSCI Finland ETF in the first quarter worth $25,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Finland ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $31,000. Citadel Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Finland ETF by 31.5% in the 3rd quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 20,887 shares of the companys stock valued at $894,000 after purchasing an additional 5,003 shares in the last quarter. Marotta Asset Management lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Finland ETF by 2.1% in the third quarter. Marotta Asset Management now owns 248,185 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,693,000 after purchasing an additional 5,169 shares during the period. Finally, Zacks Investment Management acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Finland ETF in the third quarter valued at about $227,000. About iShares MSCI Finland ETF The iShares MSCI Finland ETF (EFNL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Finland IMI 25\u002F50 index, a market-cap-weighted index of Finnish all-cap stocks. EFNL was launched on Jan 25, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Finland ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Finland ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Multisector ETF (NYSEARCA:IRBO Get Free Report) dropped 0.1% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $46.8708 and last traded at $47.36. Approximately 244,576 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 88% from the average daily volume of 130,270 shares. The stock had previously closed at $47.40. iShares Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Multisector ETF Stock Up 1.7% The stock has a market capitalization of $861.12 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.81 and a beta of 1.13. The businesss 50-day moving average is $48.19 and its two-hundred day moving average is $44.40. About iShares Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Multisector ETF (Get Free Report) The iShares Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Multisector ETF (IRBO) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in stocks based on a particular theme. The fund tracks an equal-weighted index of global equities involved in robotics and artificial intelligence. IRBO was launched on Jun 26, 2018 and is managed by BlackRock. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Multisector ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Multisector ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CWAN Get Free Report) CFO James Cox sold 7,425 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.00, for a total value of $163,350.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 328,983 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,237,626. This trade represents a 2.21% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Clearwater Analytics Price Performance Shares of CWAN opened at $22.25 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 1.97 and a quick ratio of 1.97. The company has a market cap of $6.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.54, a PEG ratio of 5.78 and a beta of 0.67. Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. has a 12 month low of $15.73 and a 12 month high of $32.00. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $19.87 and a 200 day moving average price of $20.34. Get Clearwater Analytics alerts: Clearwater Analytics (NYSE:CWAN Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $0.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.16 by ($0.02). Clearwater Analytics had a net margin of 61.28% and a return on equity of 2.77%. The firm had revenue of $205.11 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $203.66 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.14 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 77.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current year. Analyst Ratings Changes Clearwater Analytics declared that its board has approved a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, September 3rd that permits the company to repurchase $100.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to reacquire up to 1.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often an indication that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued. Several brokerages have recently issued reports on CWAN. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Clearwater Analytics in a research report on Monday. DA Davidson reiterated a buy rating and set a $30.00 price target on shares of Clearwater Analytics in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and set a $27.00 price target on shares of Clearwater Analytics in a report on Monday, November 24th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Clearwater Analytics from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, November 22nd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $36.00 target price on shares of Clearwater Analytics in a research report on Wednesday, September 17th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $29.56. Read Our Latest Stock Report on CWAN Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of CWAN. FNY Investment Advisers LLC raised its position in Clearwater Analytics by 409.9% in the third quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC now owns 3,411 shares of the companys stock worth $61,000 after acquiring an additional 2,742 shares in the last quarter. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Clearwater Analytics in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $211,000. CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Clearwater Analytics in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $474,000. Danske Bank A S bought a new stake in shares of Clearwater Analytics in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Morningstar Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Clearwater Analytics during the third quarter valued at approximately $965,000. Institutional investors own 50.10% of the companys stock. Clearwater Analytics Company Profile (Get Free Report) Clearwater Analytics LLC is a global provider of web-based investment portfolio accounting, reporting, and analytics solutions. The companys software-as-a-service platform automates complex processes involved in investment data aggregation, reconciliation, valuation, and regulatory reporting. Serving institutional investorsincluding insurers, asset managers, corporations, government entities, and asset ownersClearwater Analytics enables clients to optimize performance visibility, risk management, and operational efficiency. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Clearwater Analytics has grown its global footprint with offices across North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Clearwater Analytics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Clearwater Analytics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited (LON:JAR Get Free Report) was up 8.8% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 68.01 and last traded at GBX 68.01. Approximately 100 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 98% from the average daily volume of 4,382 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 62.50. Jardine Matheson Price Performance The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 63.56 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 60.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 71.64, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.15. The stock has a market cap of 201.12 million, a PE ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 0.40. Jardine Matheson Company Profile (Get Free Report) Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates in motor vehicles and related operations, property investment and development, food retailing, health and beauty, home furnishings, engineering and construction, and transportation businesses in China, Southeast Asia, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It also involved in the restaurants and hotels, financial services, heavy equipment, mining, and agribusinesses. The company offers aviation and transport services; and engineering, sourcing, and contracting services, as well as invests in, develops, and manages residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Jardine Matheson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Jardine Matheson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC boosted its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Free Report) by 9.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 151,833 shares of the restaurant operators stock after acquiring an additional 13,566 shares during the period. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLCs holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $5,950,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in CMG. Operose Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Saudi Central Bank bought a new position in Chipotle Mexican Grill in the first quarter worth about $27,000. 1248 Management LLC purchased a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill in the first quarter worth about $27,000. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill in the second quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Lavaca Capital LLC bought a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. 91.30% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Chipotle Mexican Grill Stock Up 0.0% CMG stock opened at $37.64 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $35.22 and a 200 day moving average of $42.49. The firm has a market cap of $49.77 billion, a PE ratio of 33.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.84 and a beta of 0.99. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a twelve month low of $29.75 and a twelve month high of $62.88. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The restaurant operator reported $0.29 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.29. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a return on equity of 45.39% and a net margin of 13.04%.The firm had revenue of $3 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.06 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.27 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 1.29 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets reissued an outperform rating on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Zacks Research cut Chipotle Mexican Grill from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $40.00 price objective (down previously from $52.00) on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a report on Thursday, October 30th. TD Cowen dropped their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $45.00 to $40.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, Rothschild Redb raised shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have issued a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Chipotle Mexican Grill currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $49.81. Get Our Latest Report on Chipotle Mexican Grill Trending Headlines about Chipotle Mexican Grill Here are the key news stories impacting Chipotle Mexican Grill this week: Chipotle Mexican Grill Profile (Free Report) Chipotle Mexican Grill is a fast-casual restaurant company known for its Mexican-inspired menu of burritos, bowls, tacos and salads. Founded in 1993 by Steve Ells, the chain emphasizes fresh, customizable meals made from a limited menu of core ingredients and a focus on ingredient quality. Chipotle operates primarily company-owned restaurants and offers dine-in, takeout, catering and delivery through its own digital platforms and third-party partners. The company is headquartered in Newport Beach, California, and traces its roots to Denver, Colorado. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CMG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. L. Roy Papp & Associates LLP lessened its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX Free Report) by 59.0% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 4,863 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 7,011 shares during the quarter. L. Roy Papp & Associates LLPs holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $910,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 15.4% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 32,308,749 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $5,565,182,000 after acquiring an additional 4,305,947 shares during the last quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 59.2% during the 2nd quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 8,786,190 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $1,513,421,000 after purchasing an additional 3,268,478 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 24.4% in the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 8,514,446 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $1,466,613,000 after buying an additional 1,670,590 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 3.8% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,723,702 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $1,153,157,000 after buying an additional 244,199 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $653,377,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.97% of the companys stock. Get Becton Dickinson and Company alerts: Insider Activity In related news, EVP Michael David Garrison sold 629 shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $196.03, for a total transaction of $123,302.87. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 13,105 shares in the company, valued at $2,568,973.15. The trade was a 4.58% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Bertram L. Scott sold 217 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $176.58, for a total value of $38,317.86. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 35,816 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,324,389.28. This represents a 0.60% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 1,036 shares of company stock valued at $197,225 over the last 90 days. 0.36% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Becton, Dickinson and Company Trading Up 0.5% BDX opened at $195.72 on Friday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $189.48 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $185.34. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.57, a PEG ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 0.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 0.64. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a one year low of $162.29 and a one year high of $251.99. Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 14th. The medical instruments supplier reported $4.10 earnings per share for the quarter. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a return on equity of 16.42% and a net margin of 7.68%.The firm had revenue of $5.32 billion for the quarter. Analysts predict that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 EPS for the current year. Becton, Dickinson and Company Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Monday, December 8th will be given a dividend of $1.05 per share. This is an increase from Becton, Dickinson and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.04. This represents a $4.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 8th. Becton, Dickinson and Companys dividend payout ratio is presently 72.04%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades BDX has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, November 8th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $224.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Argus raised their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $220.00 to $230.00 in a research report on Monday, September 15th. Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $200.00 to $190.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $215.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $205.64. Get Our Latest Research Report on Becton, Dickinson and Company Becton, Dickinson and Company Profile (Free Report) Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) is a global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and sells a broad range of medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. BDs products are used by healthcare institutions, clinical laboratories, life science researchers and the pharmaceutical industry to enable safe, effective delivery of care, specimen collection and diagnostic testing. The companys operations span multiple business areas focused on medical devices, life sciences research tools and interventional technologies. BDs product portfolio includes single-use medical devices such as syringes, needles, needlesafety and injection systems, infusion therapy and medication management solutions, as well as vascular access, urology and oncology devices acquired through its interventional business. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BDX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Becton Dickinson and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Becton Dickinson and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Louisbourg Investments Inc. reduced its position in Toronto Dominion Bank (The) (NYSE:TD Free Report) (TSE:TD) by 21.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 57,951 shares of the banks stock after selling 16,023 shares during the quarter. Louisbourg Investments Inc.s holdings in Toronto Dominion Bank were worth $4,632,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. American Century Companies Inc. increased its stake in Toronto Dominion Bank by 3.1% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 344,422 shares of the banks stock valued at $20,638,000 after acquiring an additional 10,285 shares during the last quarter. Algert Global LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Toronto Dominion Bank in the 1st quarter valued at $256,000. Northern Trust Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Toronto Dominion Bank by 16.5% in the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,331,006 shares of the banks stock valued at $79,780,000 after purchasing an additional 188,437 shares in the last quarter. Compound Planning Inc. increased its stake in shares of Toronto Dominion Bank by 220.6% in the 1st quarter. Compound Planning Inc. now owns 13,371 shares of the banks stock valued at $801,000 after purchasing an additional 9,201 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Portland Investment Counsel Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Toronto Dominion Bank by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. Portland Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 462,900 shares of the banks stock worth $27,738,000 after buying an additional 10,500 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 52.37% of the companys stock. Get Toronto Dominion Bank alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms recently weighed in on TD. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Toronto Dominion Bank from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Natl Bk Canada raised shares of Toronto Dominion Bank from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday. National Bank Financial upgraded shares of Toronto Dominion Bank from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday. Raymond James Financial upgraded shares of Toronto Dominion Bank to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Toronto Dominion Bank in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $93.00. Toronto Dominion Bank Stock Performance Toronto Dominion Bank stock opened at $92.81 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $83.72 and a 200-day moving average of $77.80. The company has a market capitalization of $156.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.01, a P/E/G ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 0.69. Toronto Dominion Bank has a 1 year low of $51.25 and a 1 year high of $93.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 1.03. Toronto Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD Get Free Report) (TSE:TD) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, December 4th. The bank reported $1.56 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.46 by $0.10. Toronto Dominion Bank had a net margin of 16.52% and a return on equity of 13.90%. The business had revenue of $11.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.10 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.72 EPS. The firms revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Toronto Dominion Bank will post 5.48 earnings per share for the current year. Toronto Dominion Bank Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, January 31st. Investors of record on Friday, January 9th will be paid a $1.08 dividend. This is a positive change from Toronto Dominion Banks previous quarterly dividend of $1.05. This represents a $4.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 9th. Toronto Dominion Banks payout ratio is presently 35.82%. Toronto Dominion Bank Company Profile (Free Report) Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is a Canadian multinational banking and financial services company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. Formed through the 1955 merger of the Bank of Toronto (founded 1855) and the Dominion Bank (founded 1869), TD is one of Canadas largest banks and offers a broad range of financial products and services to individual, small business, commercial and institutional clients. TDs core businesses include Canadian and U.S. personal and commercial banking, wealth management, wholesale banking and insurance. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Toronto Dominion Bank (The) (NYSE:TD Free Report) (TSE:TD). Receive News & Ratings for Toronto Dominion Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toronto Dominion Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mandalay Resources Co. (OTCMKTS:MNDJF Get Free Report) shares were up 5.7% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as C$3.93 and last traded at C$3.92. Approximately 631,813 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 2,115% from the average daily volume of 28,528 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$3.71. Mandalay Resources Trading Up 5.7% The stocks 50 day moving average price is C$3.92 and its 200 day moving average price is C$3.81. Get Mandalay Resources alerts: Mandalay Resources Company Profile (Get Free Report) Mandalay Resources is a Canadian-based mineral resource company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of precious and base metal assets. The company focuses on sustainably mining gold, silver and antimony in stable jurisdictions, leveraging underground mechanized methods and conventional processing technologies. Mandalays strategy centers on operating cashgenerative mines while advancing exploration and development projects to extend resource life and unlock value. The companys primary producing assets include the Costerfield goldantimony mine in Victoria, Australia, and the Bjorkdal gold mine in Sweden. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Mandalay Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mandalay Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Meadowbrook Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 1,882 shares of the investment management companys stock, valued at approximately $1,499,000. The Goldman Sachs Group comprises 1.6% of Meadowbrook Wealth Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in GS. Centurion Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group during the third quarter worth $265,000. Newman Dignan & Sheerar Inc. grew its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 5.5% in the 3rd quarter. Newman Dignan & Sheerar Inc. now owns 1,143 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $911,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC grew its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC now owns 54,752 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $43,602,000 after acquiring an additional 907 shares in the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 92.1% during the third quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 21,086 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $16,792,000 after purchasing an additional 10,108 shares during the period. Finally, Prentice Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 6.6% during the third quarter. Prentice Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,002 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $3,983,000 after purchasing an additional 311 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.21% of the companys stock. Get The Goldman Sachs Group alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research analysts recently weighed in on GS shares. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $700.00 to $765.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, October 16th. BNP Paribas Exane lifted their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $685.00 to $775.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on The Goldman Sachs Group in a research report on Friday, October 3rd. They issued a market perform rating and a $785.00 price target on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on 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. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a neutral rating and set a $750.00 target price (up from $625.00) on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, The Goldman Sachs Group has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $792.67. Key Stores Impacting The Goldman Sachs Group Here are the key news stories impacting The Goldman Sachs Group this week: The Goldman Sachs Group Stock Performance NYSE GS opened at $893.83 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $810.10 and a two-hundred day moving average of $752.84. The company has a market capitalization of $268.09 billion, a PE ratio of 18.16, a P/E/G ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.36. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $439.38 and a 1 year high of $919.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.53, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.65. The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 14th. The investment management company reported $12.25 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $10.27 by $1.98. The Goldman Sachs Group had a return on equity of 15.29% and a net margin of 13.18%.The business had revenue of $15.18 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.68 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $8.40 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 19.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 47.12 earnings per share for the current year. The Goldman Sachs Group Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 2nd will be paid a $4.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 2nd. This represents a $16.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.8%. The Goldman Sachs Groups payout ratio is currently 32.50%. The Goldman Sachs Group Company Profile (Free Report) The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc is a global investment banking and financial services firm headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1869 as a commercial paper business, the company has grown into a diversified financial institution that provides a broad range of services to corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. The firm is led by Chief Executive Officer David M. Solomon and operates across major financial centers worldwide. Goldman Sachs core businesses include investment banking, global markets, asset and wealth management, and consumer banking. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mitsubishi Electric Co. (OTCMKTS:MIELF Get Free Report)s stock price gapped down before the market opened on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $31.0120, but opened at $29.1809. Mitsubishi Electric shares last traded at $29.1809, with a volume of 382 shares. Mitsubishi Electric Trading Down 0.7% The stock has a market capitalization of $62.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.83 and a beta of 0.63. The companys 50 day moving average is $27.87 and its 200 day moving average is $24.93. Get Mitsubishi Electric alerts: About Mitsubishi Electric (Get Free Report) Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (trading OTC as MIELF) is a diversified Japanese multinational manufacturer of electrical and electronic equipment. Established in 1921 as part of the broader Mitsubishi group, the company is headquartered in Tokyo and has grown into a global supplier of products and systems for industrial, commercial, infrastructure and consumer markets. The companys operations span a wide range of businesses including power and energy systems, factory automation and industrial machinery, building systems such as elevators and escalators, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment, transportation systems including railway and traffic control solutions, and space and defense-related products. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Mitsubishi Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mitsubishi Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP.A Get Free Report)s stock price was up 0.1% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $49.28 and last traded at $47.28. Approximately 292 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 29% from the average daily volume of 411 shares. The stock had previously closed at $47.25. Molson Coors Beverage Stock Performance The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $46.92 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $50.53. Get Molson Coors Beverage alerts: Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP.A Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $1.67 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $2.97 billion during the quarter. About Molson Coors Beverage Molson Coors Beverage Company is a leading global brewer and beverage company with a diverse portfolio of beer, malt beverages and nonalcoholic offerings. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with regional offices in Golden, Colorado and Toronto, Ontario, the company develops, manufactures and sells a wide range of brands to consumers in North America, Europe and select international markets. The company traces its roots to the 2005 merger of Molson, Canadas oldest brewery founded in 1786, and Coors, founded in 1873 in Golden, Colorado. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Molson Coors Beverage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Molson Coors Beverage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nevsun Resources (NYSEAMERICAN:NSU Get Free Report) fell 0.2% during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $4.44 and last traded at $4.44. 25,500 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 71% from the average session volume of 87,058 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.45. Nevsun Resources Stock Down 0.2% The businesss fifty day moving average price is $4.44 and its 200 day moving average price is $4.44. Get Nevsun Resources alerts: About Nevsun Resources (Get Free Report) Nevsun Resources is a Canadian base and precious metals exploration and production company specializing in copper, gold, zinc and silver assets. The company has historically focused on advancing high-grade projects through feasibility, permitting and construction to bring sustainable mining operations into production. Its expertise spans resource definition, metallurgical optimization and mine development, with an emphasis on de-risking projects and delivering shareholder value through operational excellence and strategic partnerships. The companys flagship asset was the Copler gold and copper mine in eastern Turkey, which began commercial production in 2011. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Nevsun Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nevsun Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG Get Free Report) dropped 7% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $148.75 and last traded at $149.0050. Approximately 2,019,129 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 29% from the average daily volume of 2,836,940 shares. The stock had previously closed at $160.15. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have recently commented on NRG shares. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on shares of NRG Energy from $185.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Friday, November 7th. Zacks Research downgraded NRG Energy from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an underperform rating on shares of NRG Energy in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of NRG Energy in a report on Monday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a buy rating and issued a $198.00 price target on shares of NRG Energy in a report on Monday, October 20th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, NRG Energy presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $199.21. Get NRG Energy alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on NRG Energy NRG Energy Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.45, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $29.92 billion, a PE ratio of 23.34 and a beta of 1.26. The stocks 50 day moving average is $166.38 and its two-hundred day moving average is $159.77. NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The utilities provider reported $2.78 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.93 by $0.85. NRG Energy had a return on equity of 103.57% and a net margin of 4.84%.The business had revenue of $7.64 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.53 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.90 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that NRG Energy, Inc. will post 6.36 EPS for the current fiscal year. NRG Energy Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 17th. Investors of record on Monday, November 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.44 per share. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 3rd. NRG Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 26.31%. NRG Energy declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback program on Thursday, November 6th that authorizes the company to buyback $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the utilities provider to reacquire up to 9.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically an indication that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, VP Virginia Kinney sold 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.82, for a total transaction of $3,276,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 43,191 shares in the company, valued at $7,075,549.62. This trade represents a 31.65% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.86% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NRG. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in NRG Energy by 2.2% during the second quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC now owns 2,944 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $473,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in NRG Energy by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,222 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $360,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Donald L. Hagan LLC boosted its stake in shares of NRG Energy by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. Donald L. Hagan LLC now owns 3,384 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $543,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Catalyst Financial Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of NRG Energy by 5.0% during the third quarter. Catalyst Financial Partners LLC now owns 1,410 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $228,000 after buying an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Golden State Equity Partners raised its position in shares of NRG Energy by 4.7% in the third quarter. Golden State Equity Partners now owns 1,589 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $257,000 after buying an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.72% of the companys stock. About NRG Energy (Get Free Report) NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG) is a U.S.-based integrated power company headquartered in Houston, Texas. The company develops, owns and operates a diversified portfolio of power generation assets and participates in wholesale and retail energy markets. NRG supplies electricity to utilities, commercial and industrial customers, and retail consumers, while also providing energy-related products and services designed to manage consumption and support reliability. NRGs generation mix includes conventional thermal plants as well as renewable and distributed energy resources. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for NRG Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NRG Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oak Thistle LLC reduced its holdings in Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE:RGA Free Report) by 59.7% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 2,899 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 4,292 shares during the quarter. Oak Thistle LLCs holdings in Reinsurance Group of America were worth $557,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Richard W. Paul & Associates LLC lifted its stake in Reinsurance Group of America by 3.7% in the second quarter. Richard W. Paul & Associates LLC now owns 1,523 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $302,000 after buying an additional 54 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in Reinsurance Group of America by 17.6% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 388 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $76,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Oakworth Capital Inc. increased its holdings in Reinsurance Group of America by 32.4% during the 2nd quarter. Oakworth Capital Inc. now owns 245 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Paulson Wealth Management Inc. increased its holdings in Reinsurance Group of America by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter. Paulson Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,569 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $311,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its stake in shares of Reinsurance Group of America by 3.5% in the 2nd quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 2,021 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $401,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 95.11% of the companys stock. Get Reinsurance Group of America alerts: Reinsurance Group of America Price Performance Shares of RGA opened at $205.18 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $13.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.78 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a current ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 0.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $191.29 and its 200 day simple moving average is $192.68. Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated has a 1-year low of $159.25 and a 1-year high of $232.97. Reinsurance Group of America Dividend Announcement Reinsurance Group of America ( NYSE:RGA Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The insurance provider reported $6.37 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.80 by $0.57. The company had revenue of $6.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.02 billion. Reinsurance Group of America had a net margin of 3.89% and a return on equity of 12.19%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $6.13 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated will post 22.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, November 25th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 11th were paid a dividend of $0.93 per share. This represents a $3.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 10th. Reinsurance Group of Americas payout ratio is currently 28.62%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts recently issued reports on RGA shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on Reinsurance Group of America from $255.00 to $240.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Raymond James Financial downgraded shares of Reinsurance Group of America from a market perform rating to an underperform rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. Morgan Stanley set a $208.00 target price on shares of Reinsurance Group of America in a report on Monday. Barclays reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $246.00 price target on shares of Reinsurance Group of America in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Reinsurance Group of America in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Reinsurance Group of America presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $241.33. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Reinsurance Group of America Reinsurance Group of America Company Profile (Free Report) Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE: RGA) is a leading global provider of life and health reinsurance solutions. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, RGA partners with primary insurance companies to help them manage risk, improve capital efficiency and develop innovative products. The companys offerings span traditional risk transfer, financial solutions and facultative underwriting services, enabling clients to address a wide range of mortality, longevity, morbidity and critical-illness exposures. RGAs product suite includes life reinsurance, living benefits reinsurance, structured reinsurance and financial solutions that support product innovation and capital management. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RGA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE:RGA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Reinsurance Group of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Reinsurance Group of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Orla Mining Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:ORLA Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $14.59 and last traded at $14.4810, with a volume of 829191 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $13.64. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. Scotiabank reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Orla Mining in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. CIBC reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Orla Mining in a report on Monday, October 20th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Orla Mining in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Orla Mining presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $27.00. Get Orla Mining alerts: Get Our Latest Report on ORLA Orla Mining Stock Up 0.6% Orla Mining Announces Dividend The firm has a market cap of $4.82 billion, a PE ratio of 109.09 and a beta of 0.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $12.09 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $11.21. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 12th will be given a $0.015 dividend. This represents a $0.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, January 12th. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Millennium Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Orla Mining by 992.0% during the 3rd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 9,066,678 shares of the companys stock valued at $97,814,000 after buying an additional 8,236,385 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its stake in shares of Orla Mining by 18.3% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,611,924 shares of the companys stock worth $82,079,000 after acquiring an additional 1,178,690 shares during the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Orla Mining by 41.1% during the third quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 7,251,539 shares of the companys stock worth $78,194,000 after acquiring an additional 2,111,765 shares in the last quarter. Amundi boosted its position in Orla Mining by 35.5% during the third quarter. Amundi now owns 4,721,047 shares of the companys stock valued at $54,481,000 after purchasing an additional 1,237,832 shares during the last quarter. Finally, TD Asset Management Inc increased its position in Orla Mining by 30.3% in the 3rd quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 3,540,711 shares of the companys stock worth $38,196,000 after purchasing an additional 823,331 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 43.04% of the companys stock. Orla Mining Company Profile (Get Free Report) Orla Mining is a Canada-based mineral exploration and development company focused on advancing gold and silver projects in the Americas. Its flagship asset is the Cerro Quema oxide gold-silver project in Panama, where the company holds approximately 13,000 hectares of mineral concessions. Through feasibility studies and pilot plant testing, Orla has demonstrated the potential of heap leach processing at Cerro Quema, positioning the asset for transition into construction and production phases. In addition to Cerro Quema, Orla Mining expanded its portfolio in early 2023 with the acquisition of the Gold Springs project located along the UtahNevada border in the United States. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Orla Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Orla Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Perpetual Ltd lifted its position in shares of Nomad Foods Limited (NYSE:NOMD Free Report) by 115.6% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 1,181,555 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 633,650 shares during the quarter. Perpetual Ltds holdings in Nomad Foods were worth $15,537,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Corient Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Nomad Foods during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $321,000. Osaic Holdings Inc. increased its position in Nomad Foods by 87.4% in the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 2,658 shares of the companys stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 1,240 shares during the period. State of Wyoming raised its stake in shares of Nomad Foods by 88.5% during the second quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 17,844 shares of the companys stock valued at $303,000 after acquiring an additional 8,378 shares during the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Nomad Foods by 1,342.3% during the second quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC now owns 14,899 shares of the companys stock worth $253,000 after purchasing an additional 13,866 shares during the period. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its holdings in shares of Nomad Foods by 12.7% during the second quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 18,481 shares of the companys stock worth $314,000 after purchasing an additional 2,084 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.26% of the companys stock. Get Nomad Foods alerts: Nomad Foods Price Performance Shares of NYSE NOMD opened at $12.80 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.96 billion, a PE ratio of 8.89 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. Nomad Foods Limited has a twelve month low of $11.04 and a twelve month high of $20.81. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $12.06 and a 200 day simple moving average of $14.48. Nomad Foods Dividend Announcement Nomad Foods ( NYSE:NOMD Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported $0.57 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.58 by ($0.01). Nomad Foods had a net margin of 6.56% and a return on equity of 9.73%. The firm had revenue of $881.94 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $760.75 million. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.55 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Nomad Foods Limited will post 1.82 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 26th. Investors of record on Monday, November 10th were paid a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 10th. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.3%. Nomad Foodss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.22%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms recently weighed in on NOMD. BTIG Research restated a buy rating and issued a $18.00 price objective on shares of Nomad Foods in a report on Monday, November 10th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Nomad Foods in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded Nomad Foods from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Nomad Foods currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $18.67. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Nomad Foods Nomad Foods Company Profile (Free Report) Nomad Foods Limited is a leading frozen foods company headquartered in the United Kingdom, operating under the ticker symbol NOMD on the New York Stock Exchange. The companys portfolio comprises well-known consumer brands such as Birds Eye, iglo, Findus, Goodfellas and Aunt Bessies, covering a wide range of categories including vegetables, seafood, ready meals, pizzas and desserts. Nomad Foods focuses on delivering convenient, high-quality frozen products designed to meet evolving consumer preferences for taste, nutrition and ease of preparation. Formed in 2015 through the acquisition of Iglo Group by investment firms Permira and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Nomad Foods was created with the strategy of building Europes largest frozen foods platform. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NOMD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Nomad Foods Limited (NYSE:NOMD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Nomad Foods Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nomad Foods and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Perpetual Ltd lessened its stake in shares of Prologis, Inc. (NYSE:PLD Free Report) by 3.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 349,984 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 13,474 shares during the quarter. Perpetual Ltds holdings in Prologis were worth $40,080,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Activest Wealth Management raised its stake in Prologis by 637.1% during the 1st quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 258 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. acquired a new position in Prologis in the first quarter valued at $34,000. Saudi Central Bank purchased a new position in shares of Prologis during the first quarter worth about $41,000. Barrett & Company Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Prologis during the second quarter worth about $44,000. Finally, Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Prologis during the second quarter worth about $44,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.50% of the companys stock. Get Prologis alerts: Prologis Trading Down 0.4% Shares of PLD stock opened at $127.20 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $118.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.92 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The businesss 50 day moving average is $125.69 and its two-hundred day moving average is $115.33. Prologis, Inc. has a twelve month low of $85.35 and a twelve month high of $131.70. Prologis Announces Dividend Prologis ( NYSE:PLD Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.82 EPS for the quarter. Prologis had a return on equity of 5.55% and a net margin of 36.71%.The business had revenue of $2.21 billion during the quarter. Equities analysts forecast that Prologis, Inc. will post 5.73 EPS for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 16th will be paid a $1.01 dividend. This represents a $4.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 16th. Prologiss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 117.78%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth PLD has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group set a $138.00 target price on Prologis in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on Prologis from $113.00 to $116.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Truist Financial reissued a buy rating and issued a $131.00 price objective (up from $120.00) on shares of Prologis in a report on Monday, October 20th. Scotiabank lifted their target price on shares of Prologis from $127.00 to $133.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Industrial Alliance Securities set a $119.00 price target on shares of Prologis in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $126.88. Get Our Latest Research Report on PLD Insider Activity at Prologis In other news, Director Cristina Gabriela Bita sold 621 shares of Prologis stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.60, for a total value of $79,239.60. Following the sale, the director owned 8,208 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,047,340.80. The trade was a 7.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 1,621 shares of company stock valued at $198,655. 0.57% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. About Prologis (Free Report) Prologis, Inc is a real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in logistics and distribution facilities. The company focuses on acquiring, developing, and managing high-quality industrial real estate assets that support supply chain infrastructure for third-party logistics providers, e-commerce businesses, retailers and manufacturers. Its portfolio primarily consists of warehouse and distribution centers designed to optimize goods movement and storage near key transportation hubs. With a global presence, Prologis serves customers across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Prologis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Prologis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) fell 1.9% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $25.03 and last traded at $25.0510. 58,919,270 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 15% from the average session volume of 51,454,895 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.53. Key Stores Impacting Pfizer Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week: Get Pfizer alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes PFE has been the subject of several research analyst reports. UBS Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $28.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Guggenheim reiterated a buy rating on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $32.00 to $28.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating and set a $26.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Pfizer currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $28.06. Pfizer Stock Performance The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $25.10 and a 200-day simple moving average of $24.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 0.97. The stock has a market cap of $143.22 billion, a PE ratio of 14.65 and a beta of 0.46. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by $0.08. Pfizer had a net margin of 15.65% and a return on equity of 20.17%. The firm had revenue of $16.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.94 billion. Pfizer has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.000-3.150 EPS. Equities analysts predict 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 Friday, March 6th. Investors of record on Friday, January 23rd 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, January 23rd. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 100.00%. Institutional Trading of Pfizer Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. acquired a new position in Pfizer in the 1st quarter worth $27,000. Curio Wealth LLC increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 36,600.0% during the second quarter. Curio Wealth LLC now owns 1,101 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 1,098 shares during the last quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Pfizer in the first quarter worth about $28,000. Harbor Asset Planning Inc. purchased a new position in Pfizer in the second quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Pfizer in the third quarter valued at about $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.36% of the companys stock. About Pfizer (Get Free Report) Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) is a multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1849 by Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart, the company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and vaccines for human health. Its activities span discovery research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing and global commercial distribution across multiple therapeutic areas. Pfizers portfolio and pipeline cover oncology, immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, rare diseases, hospital acute care and anti-infectives, along with a substantial vaccine business. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Watsco, Inc. (NYSE:WSO Free Report) by 30.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 19,146 shares of the construction companys stock after purchasing an additional 4,487 shares during the period. Watsco accounts for about 1.3% of Princeton Global Asset Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. Princeton Global Asset Management LLCs holdings in Watsco were worth $7,741,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of WSO. Baskin Financial Services Inc. raised its stake in Watsco by 2.7% in the third quarter. Baskin Financial Services Inc. now owns 71,189 shares of the construction companys stock worth $28,782,000 after buying an additional 1,845 shares in the last quarter. Buckhead Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Watsco by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Buckhead Capital Management LLC now owns 10,737 shares of the construction companys stock worth $4,341,000 after acquiring an additional 299 shares during the period. Hilltop National Bank grew its holdings in shares of Watsco by 7.1% during the 3rd quarter. Hilltop National Bank now owns 454 shares of the construction companys stock worth $184,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares during the period. Balefire LLC bought a new position in shares of Watsco in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $363,000. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of Watsco by 4.5% in the 2nd quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 150,033 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $66,233,000 after purchasing an additional 6,525 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.71% of the companys stock. Get Watsco alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Mizuho dropped their price target on Watsco from $525.00 to $400.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Wolfe Research set a $349.00 target price on shares of Watsco in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. KeyCorp reaffirmed a sector weight rating on shares of Watsco in a research report on Friday, December 12th. UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of Watsco from $425.00 to $390.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Watsco from $505.00 to $460.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $422.71. Watsco Price Performance WSO opened at $348.26 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $14.13 billion, a PE ratio of 27.21 and a beta of 1.01. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $352.02 and a 200-day moving average price of $400.86. Watsco, Inc. has a 1 year low of $323.05 and a 1 year high of $535.40. Watsco (NYSE:WSO Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 7th. The construction company reported $3.98 earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $2.07 billion during the quarter. Watsco had a net margin of 7.04% and a return on equity of 16.48%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Watsco, Inc. will post 14.62 EPS for the current year. Watsco Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, October 16th were issued a $3.00 dividend. This represents a $12.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, October 16th. Watscos payout ratio is presently 93.75%. Watsco Company Profile (Free Report) Watsco, Inc is the largest distributor of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) equipment, parts and supplies in the United States. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, the company operates a network of more than 600 branches across the continental U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Watsco serves residential and commercial contractors by providing essential components for climate control systems, including air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, coils, refrigerants, controls and electrical and piping supplies. Founded in 1947, Watsco has grown from a single regional distributor into an industry leader through a combination of organic expansion, acquisitions and strategic partnerships with original equipment manufacturers such as Carrier, Trane, Goodman and Lennox. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WSO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Watsco, Inc. (NYSE:WSO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Watsco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Watsco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BigBear.ai, Hut 8, and Tempus AI are the three Artificial Intelligence stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Artificial intelligence stocks are shares of companies whose primary business or significant revenue drivers involve developing, providing, or applying AI technologiessuch as machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, or AI infrastructure. Investors follow these stocks for potential high growth from AI adoption but must weigh elevated valuations, rapid technological change, and regulatory or competitive risks that can increase volatility. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Artificial Intelligence stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: BigBear.ai (BBAI) BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. provides artificial intelligence-powered decision intelligence solutions. It offers national security, supply chain management, and digital identity and biometrics solutions. The company also provides data ingestion, data enrichment, data processing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics, and predictive visualization solutions and services. Hut 8 (HUT) Hut 8 Corp., together with its subsidiaries, acquires, builds, manages, and operates data centers for digital assets mining, computing, and artificial intelligence in the United States. It operates in four segments: Digital Assets Mining, Managed Services, High Performance Computing Colocation and Cloud, and Other. Read Our Latest Research Report on HUT Tempus AI (TEM) Tempus AI Inc. is a technology company advancing precision medicine through the practical application of artificial intelligence principally in healthcare. The company provides AI-enabled precision medicine solutions to physicians to deliver personalized patient care and in parallel facilitates discovery, development and delivery of optimal therapeutics. Read Our Latest Research Report on TEM Further Reading ProPetro (NYSE:PUMP Free Report) had its price target hoisted by Barclays from $10.00 to $11.00 in a report published on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. They currently have an equal weight rating on the stock. Several other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on PUMP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised ProPetro from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and increased their price target for the company from $7.00 to $13.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Wolfe Research upgraded ProPetro to a buy rating and set a $13.00 target price on the stock in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d-) rating on shares of ProPetro in a report on Monday. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of ProPetro from $6.00 to $12.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of ProPetro from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, ProPetro currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $12.50. Get ProPetro alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on ProPetro ProPetro Trading Up 0.7% Shares of ProPetro stock opened at $9.11 on Wednesday. The firms 50 day moving average is $9.14 and its 200 day moving average is $6.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $947.26 million, a PE ratio of -53.59 and a beta of 0.80. ProPetro has a 1 year low of $4.51 and a 1 year high of $11.66. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. ProPetro (NYSE:PUMP Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The company reported ($0.02) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.11) by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $293.92 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $266.25 million. ProPetro had a negative return on equity of 0.06% and a negative net margin of 1.31%.The businesss quarterly revenue was down 18.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned ($1.32) earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that ProPetro will post 0.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling at ProPetro In other ProPetro news, Director Michele Vion sold 6,916 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, October 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.64, for a total value of $73,586.24. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 45,029 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $479,108.56. This trade represents a 13.31% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director G Larry Lawrence sold 27,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.84, for a total transaction of $292,680.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 35,831 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $388,408.04. The trade was a 42.97% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of ProPetro A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Quarry LP bought a new position in shares of ProPetro in the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. State of Wyoming bought a new position in ProPetro during the 1st quarter valued at $48,000. Trek Financial LLC bought a new position in ProPetro during the 3rd quarter valued at $57,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP purchased a new position in ProPetro during the 3rd quarter worth $57,000. Finally, MQS Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of ProPetro in the 3rd quarter worth $58,000. 84.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About ProPetro (Get Free Report) ProPetro Holding Corp is a publicly traded oilfield services company that specializes in hydraulic fracturing and well completion solutions for exploration and production operators. Headquartered in Midland, Texas, the company delivers a comprehensive suite of pressure pumping services designed to optimize reservoir stimulation and enhance hydrocarbon recovery. Its integrated approach encompasses well design, proppant selection, fluid systems and pressure management to support clients development targets across unconventional plays. The companys core offerings include high-pressure fracturing, coiled tubing, cementing, acidizing and flowback services, all supported by in-house logistics and digital monitoring tools. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for ProPetro Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ProPetro and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK (OTCMKTS:PPERY Get Free Report) shares traded down 0.2% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $12.26 and last traded at $12.3850. 36,969 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 77% from the average session volume of 163,357 shares. The stock had previously closed at $12.4050. PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK Price Performance The firm has a 50-day moving average of $11.33 and a 200-day moving average of $11.40. Get PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK alerts: PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK Company Profile (Get Free Report) PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk is one of Indonesias largest banking groups, providing a full range of commercial banking services to corporate, commercial, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and retail customers. The bank was established in 1998 through a government-led consolidation of four state-owned banks as part of efforts to strengthen the financial system during the Asian financial crisis. Since then it has grown into a diversified financial services franchise offering deposit taking, lending, trade finance, payment and cash management, treasury, and wealth-management services. Bank Mandiris product suite spans traditional retail and corporate banking products including savings and time deposits, consumer and mortgage loans, working capital and project financing alongside specialized services such as trade and export-import finance, foreign exchange and treasury solutions, card products, and digital banking channels. See Also Receive News & Ratings for PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Rocket Companies (NYSE:RKT Free Report) to a strong-buy rating in a research report released on Friday,Zacks.com reports. Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating on shares of Rocket Companies in a research report on Monday, October 13th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Rocket Companies from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, November 8th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their target price on Rocket Companies from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d+) rating on shares of Rocket Companies in a research note on Monday. Finally, Bank of America upgraded shares of Rocket Companies from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $21.00 to $24.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $19.32. Get Rocket Companies alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Rocket Companies Rocket Companies Trading Up 2.3% Shares of Rocket Companies stock opened at $19.08 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16, a current ratio of 19.68 and a quick ratio of 19.68. Rocket Companies has a 1 year low of $10.06 and a 1 year high of $22.56. The firm has a market cap of $40.15 billion, a PE ratio of 238.53 and a beta of 2.26. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $17.81 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $17.02. Rocket Companies (NYSE:RKT Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.07 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.07. Rocket Companies had a negative net margin of 1.77% and a positive return on equity of 2.83%. The firm had revenue of $1.78 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.65 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.08 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 148.1% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Rocket Companies will post 0.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Matthew Rizik sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.21, for a total transaction of $45,525.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 1,078,536 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,640,140.56. This represents a 0.23% 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. Insiders sold a total of 20,000 shares of company stock valued at $371,175 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 92.64% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Rocket Companies A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in RKT. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its holdings in Rocket Companies by 18.4% in the 2nd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,890 shares of the companys stock worth $55,000 after acquiring an additional 605 shares during the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Rocket Companies by 3.5% during the third quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 18,817 shares of the companys stock worth $365,000 after purchasing an additional 636 shares during the period. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Rocket Companies by 65.0% in the third quarter. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,650 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 650 shares during the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Rocket Companies by 26.1% during the 3rd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 3,267 shares of the companys stock valued at $63,000 after purchasing an additional 677 shares during the period. Finally, Amundi raised its position in Rocket Companies by 2.3% during the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 34,170 shares of the companys stock valued at $498,000 after purchasing an additional 754 shares during the last quarter. 4.59% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Rocket Companies Company Profile (Get Free Report) Rocket Companies, Inc is a Detroit-based holding company whose businesses are centered on digital mortgage origination and related consumer finance and real estate services. The company grew out of the Quicken Loans franchise and completed an initial public offering in 2020. Founder Dan Gilbert remains a prominent figure associated with the firm, which operates a suite of brands that aim to simplify the home financing and buying experience through technology and scale. The companys core activity is mortgage lending through its Rocket Mortgage platform, which offers online application, underwriting and servicing for home purchase and refinance loans. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Rocket Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rocket Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE Get Free Report) insider Satish Chitoori sold 431 shares of Bloom Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.12, for a total transaction of $37,979.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 229,449 shares of the companys stock, valued at $20,219,045.88. This trade represents a 0.19% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Satish Chitoori also recently made the following trade(s): Get Bloom Energy alerts: On Friday, November 14th, Satish Chitoori sold 2,085 shares of Bloom Energy stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.08, for a total value of $217,006.80. Bloom Energy Trading Up 10.4% BE stock opened at $88.59 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $109.90 and a 200 day moving average price of $67.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a current ratio of 4.40 and a quick ratio of 2.88. Bloom Energy Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $15.15 and a fifty-two week high of $147.86. The stock has a market capitalization of $20.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 445.61, a P/E/G ratio of 50.66 and a beta of 3.00. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Bloom Energy ( NYSE:BE Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The company reported $0.15 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.08 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $519.05 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $425.18 million. Bloom Energy had a return on equity of 8.74% and a net margin of 0.84%.The businesss revenue was up 57.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned ($0.01) earnings per share. Analysts expect that Bloom Energy Corporation will post -0.23 EPS for the current fiscal year. BE has been the subject of several research reports. Daiwa Capital Markets set a $98.00 price objective on shares of Bloom Energy in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Bloom Energy to $129.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued an underperform rating and issued a $53.00 price target on shares of Bloom Energy in a report on Friday, October 31st. Robert W. Baird set a $157.00 price objective on shares of Bloom Energy in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Cowen reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Bloom Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $93.77. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Bloom Energy Institutional Trading of Bloom Energy A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Fifth Third Bancorp acquired a new position in shares of Bloom Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in Bloom Energy in the third quarter valued at about $32,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its stake in Bloom Energy by 250.9% in the third quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 393 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 281 shares during the period. Cranbrook Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Bloom Energy during the third quarter worth about $39,000. Finally, E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. bought a new position in Bloom Energy during the third quarter worth about $42,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.04% of the companys stock. Key Headlines Impacting Bloom Energy Here are the key news stories impacting Bloom Energy this week: About Bloom Energy (Get Free Report) Bloom Energy is a clean energy technology company that designs, manufactures and deploys solid oxide fuel cell systems for on-site power generation. Its flagship product, the Bloom Energy Server, converts natural gas, biogas or hydrogen into electricity through an electrochemical reaction, offering customers a reliable, low-carbon alternative to grid power. The company also provides a suite of services that includes system installation, remote monitoring and preventative maintenance to ensure long-term performance and uptime. Founded in 2001 by Dr. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bloom Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bloom Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sienna Senior Living Inc. (TSE:SIA Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of Buy by the six analysts that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$21.42. A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. CIBC raised shares of Sienna Senior Living from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and raised their price objective for the stock from C$20.00 to C$23.00 in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. Desjardins lifted their price target on shares of Sienna Senior Living from C$21.00 to C$23.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Scotiabank boosted their target price on Sienna Senior Living from C$20.00 to C$22.50 in a report on Monday, November 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Sienna Senior Living from C$20.00 to C$22.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Finally, Cibc Captl Mkts raised Sienna Senior Living from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. Get Sienna Senior Living alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Sienna Senior Living Sienna Senior Living Price Performance Shares of TSE:SIA opened at C$21.03 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of C$1.98 billion, a PE ratio of 47.80 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a current ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 215.47. Sienna Senior Living has a 1-year low of C$14.59 and a 1-year high of C$21.21. The businesss 50 day moving average is C$19.78 and its 200-day moving average is C$18.88. Sienna Senior Living (TSE:SIA Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, November 13th. The company reported C$0.30 EPS for the quarter. Sienna Senior Living had a return on equity of 7.71% and a net margin of 3.57%.The firm had revenue of C$261.70 million during the quarter. Sell-side analysts predict that Sienna Senior Living will post 0.4595351 earnings per share for the current year. Sienna Senior Living Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 14th were issued a dividend of $0.078 per share. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 4.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 31st. Sienna Senior Livings payout ratio is currently 212.73%. About Sienna Senior Living (Get Free Report) Sienna Senior Living Inc is one of the largest owners of seniors housing, the largest licensed long-term care operator in Ontario, and a provider of services across the full continuum of care. The firm operates solely within Canada. The company is comprised of the following main business segments, LTC Business, Retirement and Other. LTC business division consists of consists of 35 LTC residences in the Province of Ontario, eight seniors living residences located in the Province of British Columbia and the LTC management services business. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Sienna Senior Living Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sienna Senior Living and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC lifted its position in Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV Free Report) by 147.4% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 6,429 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 3,830 shares during the period. Signal Advisors Wealth LLCs holdings in Elevance Health were worth $2,077,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new position in Elevance Health in the first quarter valued at about $29,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Elevance Health by 94.9% during the 2nd quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 76 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. BOK Financial Private Wealth Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Elevance Health in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Saudi Central Bank acquired a new position in shares of Elevance Health in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Finally, Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc increased its stake in Elevance Health by 400.0% during the 2nd quarter. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc now owns 100 shares of the companys stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.24% of the companys stock. Get Elevance Health alerts: Elevance Health Stock Performance Shares of ELV stock opened at $340.27 on Friday. Elevance Health, Inc. has a 12 month low of $273.71 and a 12 month high of $458.75. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $334.55 and its 200-day simple moving average is $331.31. The firm has a market cap of $75.62 billion, a PE ratio of 13.91, a P/E/G ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.52. The company has a quick ratio of 1.56, a current ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. Elevance Health Dividend Announcement Elevance Health ( NYSE:ELV Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 21st. The company reported $6.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.03 by $1.00. Elevance Health had a net margin of 2.84% and a return on equity of 16.17%. The business had revenue of $50.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $49.26 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $8.37 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Elevance Health, Inc. will post 33.96 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 19th. Investors of record on Friday, December 5th were given a $1.71 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 5th. This represents a $6.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Elevance Healths payout ratio is currently 27.96%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Truist Financial set a $400.00 price target on shares of Elevance Health in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. TD Cowen raised their price objective on shares of Elevance Health from $380.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. Cowen reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Elevance Health in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Elevance Health in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. They issued a neutral rating and a $343.00 target price for the company. Finally, Mizuho dropped their price target on Elevance Health from $420.00 to $400.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $396.21. Read Our Latest Stock Report on ELV Elevance Health Profile (Free Report) Elevance Health, Inc (NYSE: ELV) is a large U.S.-based health benefits company that provides a broad range of health insurance products and related services. Headquartered in Indianapolis, the company rebranded from Anthem, Inc to Elevance Health in 2022 while continuing to operate consumer-facing health plans under established state and national brands. Gail Boudreaux serves as chief executive officer and president, leading the companys strategic focus on integrated health care and benefit delivery. Elevances core activities include offering medical and specialty health plans for individuals, employers and government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid managed-care products. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ELV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Elevance Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Elevance Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Springfield Properties PLC (LON:SPR Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 128 and last traded at GBX 124.19, with a volume of 350527 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 122. Springfield Properties Stock Down 0.6% The firm has a market cap of 147.85 million, a P/E ratio of 11.01 and a beta of 1.42. The firms fifty day moving average is GBX 115.55 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 104.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 38.16, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a current ratio of 2.45. Get Springfield Properties alerts: Springfield Properties (LON:SPR Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, September 16th. The company reported GBX 12.66 earnings per share for the quarter. Springfield Properties had a return on equity of 4.88% and a net margin of 2.83%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Springfield Properties PLC will post 8.1103001 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insiders Place Their Bets About Springfield Properties In related news, insider Sandy Adam sold 127,899 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 119, for a total value of 152,199.81. Insiders sold 1,767,899 shares of company stock worth $204,099,981 in the last three months. 22.45% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. (Get Free Report) 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. With a focus on sustainable and quality homes, the customer is at the heart of what we do. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Springfield Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Springfield Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Suzano S.A. Sponsored ADR (NYSE:SUZ Get Free Report) announced a special dividend on Thursday, December 11th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 22nd will be given a dividend of 0.2036 per share on Wednesday, February 11th. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 22nd. Suzano has increased its dividend by an average of 0.2%per year over the last three years. Suzano has a dividend payout ratio of 12.5% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Get Suzano alerts: Suzano Price Performance Shares of NYSE SUZ opened at $9.48 on Friday. Suzano has a 1 year low of $8.41 and a 1 year high of $10.86. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.88, a P/E/G ratio of 0.09 and a beta of 0.74. The companys 50-day moving average is $9.04 and its 200 day moving average is $9.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.97, a current ratio of 3.20 and a quick ratio of 2.52. Suzano Company Profile Suzano ( NYSE:SUZ Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported $0.29 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.32 by ($0.03). Suzano had a net margin of 13.03% and a return on equity of 16.39%. The firm had revenue of $2.27 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.23 billion. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Suzano will post 1.93 earnings per share for the current year. (Get Free Report) Suzano SA is a Brazil-based pulp and paper company recognized as one of the worlds leading producers of eucalyptus pulp. The company develops and supplies a wide range of fiber-based products that serve global demand in printing and writing papers, tissue paper, packaging, and specialty paper markets. With an extensive network of industrial units and logistics operations, Suzano manages every stage of production from forest plantations to final delivery, emphasizing integrated operations and quality control. At the core of Suzanos business is its sustainable forestry model, which covers more than one million hectares of managed eucalyptus plantations across Brazil. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Suzano Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Suzano and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG (OTCMKTS:TELDF Get Free Report) shares shot up 16.9% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $2.21 and last traded at $2.21. 3,225 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 7% from the average session volume of 3,020 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.89. Telefonica Deutschland Price Performance The company has a 50-day moving average price of $2.28 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $2.50. Get Telefonica Deutschland alerts: Telefonica Deutschland Company Profile (Get Free Report) Telefonica Deutschland is a leading German telecommunications provider and a subsidiary of the global Telefonica Group. Headquartered in Munich, the company operates under the O2 brand and serves both consumer and business customers across Germany. Its network infrastructure supports mobile, fixed-line and converged solutions, offering reliable coverage in urban and rural areas alike. The companys core offerings include mobile voice and data services, fixed-line broadband internet, landline telephony and digital television packages. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Telefonica Deutschland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Telefonica Deutschland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp reduced its holdings in Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI Free Report) by 34.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,681 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,133 shares during the period. Texas Permanent School Fund Corps holdings in Cummins were worth $3,171,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of CMI. Osterweis Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Cummins in the second quarter worth approximately $31,000. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Cummins during the first quarter valued at approximately $41,000. CNB Bank acquired a new position in Cummins in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Flaharty Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Cummins in the 1st quarter worth approximately $47,000. Finally, State of Wyoming acquired a new stake in shares of Cummins during the 1st quarter valued at $50,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.46% of the companys stock. Get Cummins alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CFO Mark Andrew Smith sold 13,110 shares of Cummins stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $470.66, for a total value of $6,170,352.60. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 31,582 shares in the company, valued at $14,864,384.12. This trade represents a 29.33% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Jennifer Rumsey sold 4,570 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $473.89, for a total transaction of $2,165,677.30. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 42,880 shares of the companys stock, valued at $20,320,403.20. This trade represents a 9.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 27,330 shares of company stock worth $12,649,764 in the last quarter. 0.41% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on CMI shares. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Cummins from $628.00 to $653.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday. Melius Research raised Cummins from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $500.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, September 3rd. Melius raised Cummins from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $500.00 price target for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 3rd. Barclays reissued a positive rating on shares of Cummins in a research note on Friday. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Cummins from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, November 15th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Cummins presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $486.60. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on CMI Cummins Stock Performance Shares of NYSE CMI opened at $507.14 on Friday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $467.22 and its 200-day simple moving average is $406.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.77. Cummins Inc. has a 52 week low of $260.02 and a 52 week high of $526.50. The firm has a market cap of $70.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.32, a P/E/G ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 1.11. Cummins (NYSE:CMI Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported $5.59 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.83 by $0.76. Cummins had a return on equity of 26.02% and a net margin of 7.95%.The firm had revenue of $8.32 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.97 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $5.86 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Cummins Inc. will post 22.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Cummins Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 4th. Investors of record on Friday, November 21st were issued a dividend of $2.00 per share. This represents a $8.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 21st. Cumminss dividend payout ratio is currently 41.52%. Cummins Profile (Free Report) Cummins Inc (NYSE: CMI) is a global power technology company that designs, manufactures, distributes and services a broad portfolio of diesel and natural gas engines, electrified powertrains, power generation systems and related components. Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, Cummins has grown into one of the worlds leading suppliers of internal combustion engines and a provider of technologies that reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency. The companys product lineup includes heavy-, medium- and light-duty engines for on-highway and off-highway applications, generator sets and power systems for commercial and industrial use, and key engine components such as turbochargers, fuel systems, air handling, filtration and aftertreatment solutions. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Cummins Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cummins and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tokyo Gas Co.,Ltd. (OTCMKTS:TKGSY Get Free Report)s share price traded down 4.2% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $19.91 and last traded at $19.91. 383 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 91% from the average session volume of 4,454 shares. The stock had previously closed at $20.7735. Tokyo Gas Co.,Ltd. Price Performance The company has a 50-day moving average price of $18.89 and a 200-day moving average price of $18.05. Get Tokyo Gas Co.Ltd. alerts: Tokyo Gas Co.,Ltd. (OTCMKTS:TKGSY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The company reported $0.18 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $4.75 billion for the quarter. About Tokyo Gas Co.,Ltd. Tokyo Gas Co, Ltd. is Japans largest city gas utility, providing a comprehensive range of energy solutions to residential, commercial and industrial customers. The companys core business revolves around the procurement, production, transportation and distribution of natural gas. In addition to city gas supply, Tokyo Gas offers liquefied natural gas (LNG) trading, engineering services for gas infrastructure, and the sale and installation of gas appliances. Beyond traditional city gas services, Tokyo Gas has expanded into power generation, district cooling and heating systems, and energy-related software solutions. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Tokyo Gas Co.Ltd. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tokyo Gas Co.Ltd. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Two Harbors Investments Corp (NYSE:TWO Get Free Report) saw unusually-high trading volume on Thursday after the company announced a dividend. Approximately 1,970,774 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 12% from the previous sessions volume of 1,760,214 shares.The stock last traded at $11.3050 and had previously closed at $11.11. The newly announced dividend which will be paid on Thursday, January 29th. Investors of record on Monday, January 5th will be issued a $0.34 dividend. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 11.9%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 5th. Two Harbors Investmentss payout ratio is presently -54.40%. Get Two Harbors Investments alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have issued reports on TWO. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Two Harbors Investments from $9.50 to $10.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, October 20th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d+) rating on shares of Two Harbors Investments in a research note on Monday. Zacks Research raised shares of Two Harbors Investments from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Maxim Group cut shares of Two Harbors Investments from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price target on Two Harbors Investments from $12.00 to $11.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, September 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Two Harbors Investments currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $11.96. Two Harbors Investments Price Performance The stock has a market capitalization of $1.19 billion, a PE ratio of -4.56 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 1.09. The stocks fifty day moving average is $9.91 and its 200-day moving average is $10.09. Two Harbors Investments (NYSE:TWO Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, March 7th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of ($18.67) million for the quarter. Two Harbors Investments had a positive return on equity of 11.92% and a negative net margin of 44.10%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Two Harbors Investments Corp will post 0.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. More Two Harbors Investments News Here are the key news stories impacting Two Harbors Investments this week: Insider Activity at Two Harbors Investments In related news, insider Alecia Hanson sold 10,768 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, December 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.41, for a total value of $122,862.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 45,288 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $516,736.08. This represents a 19.21% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CIO Nicholas Letica sold 55,488 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, December 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.42, for a total transaction of $633,672.96. Following the sale, the executive directly owned 166,507 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,901,509.94. The trade was a 25.00% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 117,220 shares of company stock worth $1,339,054 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.70% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Two Harbors Investments A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of TWO. Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Two Harbors Investments in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Quarry LP lifted its position in Two Harbors Investments by 695.6% during the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 3,421 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 2,991 shares in the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC boosted its stake in Two Harbors Investments by 240.4% during the second quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 3,370 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 2,380 shares during the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC purchased a new stake in Two Harbors Investments in the 3rd quarter valued at $42,000. Finally, CWM LLC increased its stake in shares of Two Harbors Investments by 456.0% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 5,465 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 4,482 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.19% of the companys stock. Two Harbors Investments Company Profile (Get Free Report) Two Harbors Investments Corp. is a mortgage real estate investment trust (mREIT) that primarily invests in residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) issued or guaranteed by government-sponsored enterprises, as well as non-agency residential mortgage loans, mortgage servicing rights and credit risk transfer securities. The company seeks to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for its shareholders by employing leverage to enhance net interest income derived from its portfolio of high-quality fixed-income assets. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Two Harbors operates through a self-managed platform that combines portfolio management, risk-management and securitization expertise. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Two Harbors Investments Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Two Harbors Investments and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:XTEN Free Report) by 2,628.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 119,902 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 115,508 shares during the period. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF were worth $5,591,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of XTEN. LPL Financial LLC purchased a new position in BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF in the first quarter valued at approximately $1,460,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF in the first quarter valued at $50,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF in the first quarter valued at $16,342,000. Pinnacle Family Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the 1st quarter valued at $250,000. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the 1st quarter worth $306,000. Get BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF alerts: BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF Price Performance Shares of XTEN opened at $46.39 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $46.81 and a 200 day moving average of $46.25. BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF has a fifty-two week low of $43.92 and a fifty-two week high of $47.82. BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF Profile The BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF (XTEN) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is passively managed to invest in a portfolio of US Treasury securities with a target duration of ten years. XTEN was launched on Sep 13, 2022 and is managed by BondBloxx. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XTEN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:XTEN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC trimmed its position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO Free Report) by 7.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 93,496 shares of the companys stock after selling 7,374 shares during the period. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Diageo were worth $8,922,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Diageo in the second quarter worth approximately $26,000. Bell Investment Advisors Inc raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 94.7% in the 2nd quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 292 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 1st quarter worth $30,000. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Diageo by 76.5% during the second quarter. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 330 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Diageo by 84.0% during the second quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 357 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 163 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the companys stock. Get Diageo alerts: Diageo Stock Up 0.9% DEO opened at $89.14 on Friday. Diageo plc has a 52 week low of $85.13 and a 52 week high of $127.90. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $92.32 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $99.93. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have weighed in on DEO shares. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d) rating on shares of Diageo in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. UBS Group reissued a neutral rating on shares of Diageo in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Zacks Research cut Diageo from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Friday, November 28th. Finally, Bank of America cut their price objective on shares of Diageo from $117.00 to $109.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 26th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $119.00. Read Our Latest Report on Diageo Diageo Company Profile (Free Report) Diageo plc is a global producer, marketer and distributor of alcoholic beverages, headquartered in London, England. The company was created through the 1997 merger of Guinness plc and Grand Metropolitan plc and is publicly traded on multiple exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange. Diageo operates a worldwide business, selling products in a broad range of markets across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Diageos core activities cover the production, marketing and sale of a diverse portfolio of spirits, beer and liqueurs. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DEO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Diageo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Diageo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA (OTCMKTS:USNZY Get Free Report) fell 6.1% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $1.07 and last traded at $1.07. 48,065 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 23% from the average session volume of 62,182 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.14. 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 note on Tuesday, August 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold. Get Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais Trading Down 6.4% The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $1.03 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $0.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $575.21 million, a P/E ratio of -2.14 and a beta of 1.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 4.21 and a quick ratio of 2.64. Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais (OTCMKTS:USNZY Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, October 24th. The basic materials company reported $0.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.01) by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $1.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.20 billion. Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais had a positive return on equity of 1.22% and a negative net margin of 12.91%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA will post 0.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. About Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais (Get Free Report) Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA (OTCMKTS: USNZY), widely known as Usiminas, is one of Brazils leading integrated steel producers. The company operates across the full steel value chain, from iron ore mining to the manufacture and distribution of flat steel products. Its portfolio includes hot- and cold-rolled coils, coated sheets, tin plates, plates and tubular products, which serve a broad array of end markets such as construction, automotive, packaging, machinery and energy. Founded in the mid-1950s through a partnership between Brazilian and international investors, Usiminas is headquartered in Belo Horizonte and maintains its principal steelmaking facilities in Ipatinga, Minas Gerais, as well as secondary operations in Cubatao (Sao Paulo) and Santa Cruz. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC grew its position in VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSEARCA:GDX Free Report) by 221.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 21,243 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 14,630 shares during the quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLCs holdings in VanEck Gold Miners ETF were worth $1,623,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Hoey Investments Inc. boosted its stake in VanEck Gold Miners ETF by 71.0% during the 2nd quarter. Hoey Investments Inc. now owns 513 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 213 shares during the last quarter. Creekmur Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of VanEck Gold Miners ETF by 147.2% in the second quarter. Creekmur Asset Management LLC now owns 608 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 362 shares in the last quarter. RMG Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in VanEck Gold Miners ETF during the second quarter worth about $34,000. First Command Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new stake in VanEck Gold Miners ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Assetmark Inc. grew its stake in VanEck Gold Miners ETF by 183.0% during the 2nd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 968 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $50,000 after acquiring an additional 626 shares in the last quarter. Get VanEck Gold Miners ETF alerts: VanEck Gold Miners ETF Price Performance GDX opened at $87.79 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.70 and a beta of 0.55. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $77.99 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $66.25. VanEck Gold Miners ETF has a 1-year low of $33.42 and a 1-year high of $88.69. VanEck Gold Miners ETF Profile The Fund seeks to match as closely as possible the price and yield performance of the AMEX Gold Miners Index. The Fund, utilizing a passive or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the Index by investing in a portfolio of stocks that generally replicate the Index. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for VanEck Gold Miners ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for VanEck Gold Miners ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Voya Investment Management LLC lessened its position in Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ Free Report) by 14.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,382,301 shares of the cell phone carriers stock after selling 237,740 shares during the period. Voya Investment Management LLCs holdings in Verizon Communications were worth $60,752,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 372,787,016 shares of the cell phone carriers stock worth $16,130,494,000 after purchasing an additional 4,615,075 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in Verizon Communications by 2.1% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 208,213,255 shares of the cell phone carriers stock worth $9,009,388,000 after buying an additional 4,205,449 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Verizon Communications by 1.1% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 100,326,792 shares of the cell phone carriers stock valued at $4,322,700,000 after buying an additional 1,101,504 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications during the 2nd quarter valued at $2,504,150,000. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 8.0% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 41,993,829 shares of the cell phone carriers stock worth $1,904,840,000 after acquiring an additional 3,100,342 shares in the last quarter. 62.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Verizon Communications alerts: Verizon Communications Stock Performance Shares of VZ stock opened at $39.83 on Friday. Verizon Communications Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $37.58 and a fifty-two week high of $47.35. The stocks 50-day moving average is $40.38 and its two-hundred day moving average is $42.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 0.74 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market cap of $167.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.51, a PEG ratio of 3.61 and a beta of 0.33. Verizon Communications Dividend Announcement Verizon Communications ( NYSE:VZ Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.21 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $33.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $34.19 billion. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.31% and a net margin of 14.43%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.19 EPS. Analysts predict that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.69 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 12th. This represents a $2.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.9%. Verizon Communicationss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 58.97%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on VZ. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. BNP Paribas Exane downgraded shares of Verizon Communications from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $44.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $48.00 to $47.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Scotiabank lifted their price target on Verizon Communications from $50.50 to $51.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Verizon Communications in a research note on Tuesday, September 2nd. They issued a buy rating and a $49.00 price objective for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Verizon Communications presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $47.47. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Verizon Communications About Verizon Communications (Free Report) Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE: VZ) is a major U.S.-based telecommunications company that provides a broad range of communications and information services. Its operations span consumer and business markets, with core offerings that include wireless voice and data services, fixed-line broadband and fiber-optic services, and enterprise networking solutions. Verizon is headquartered in New York City and operates a nationwide wireless network that supports consumer subscribers as well as business and government customers. The companys consumer products include mobile phone plans, unlimited data services, and Fios, its branded fiber-optic internet, television and voice service for homes and small businesses. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VZ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Verizon Communications Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Verizon Communications and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Voya Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL Free Report) by 7.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 823,071 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 55,933 shares during the quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC owned 0.75% of Western Alliance Bancorporation worth $71,377,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Hantz Financial Services Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation by 995.8% during the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 526 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 478 shares in the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its position in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 241.1% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 713 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $56,000 after buying an additional 504 shares in the last quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S acquired a new position in shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation during the first quarter worth approximately $58,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 128.3% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 840 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $66,000 after buying an additional 472 shares during the last quarter. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation in the 2nd quarter worth about $78,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.15% of the companys stock. Get Western Alliance Bancorporation alerts: Insider Activity In other Western Alliance Bancorporation news, CFO Dale Gibbons bought 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 30th. The stock was bought at an average price of $77.00 per share, for a total transaction of $308,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief financial officer directly owned 300,358 shares in the company, valued at $23,127,566. The trade was a 1.35% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 2.68% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth WAL has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. National Bankshares set a $118.00 price objective on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation in a report on Wednesday, September 24th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation in a research note on Monday. Cowen began coverage on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation in a research note on Wednesday, September 24th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Citigroup restated a neutral rating on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation in a research note on Tuesday, August 26th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation from $110.00 to $105.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $102.87. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Western Alliance Bancorporation Western Alliance Bancorporation Price Performance Shares of NYSE:WAL opened at $86.22 on Friday. Western Alliance Bancorporation has a 52 week low of $57.05 and a 52 week high of $94.40. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The companys fifty day moving average is $80.14 and its 200 day moving average is $81.64. The stock has a market cap of $9.49 billion, a PE ratio of 10.66, a PEG ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.37. Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Western Alliance Bancorporation had a return on equity of 12.93% and a net margin of 17.14%.The business had revenue of $718.00 million for the quarter. Research analysts anticipate that Western Alliance Bancorporation will post 9.05 earnings per share for the current year. Western Alliance Bancorporation Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 13th were paid a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 13th. This is a boost from Western Alliance Bancorporations previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. Western Alliance Bancorporations payout ratio is 20.77%. Western Alliance Bancorporation Company Profile (Free Report) Western Alliance Bancorporation is a bank holding company headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Through its principal subsidiary, Western Alliance Bank, the company provides a range of banking services to commercial clients, entrepreneurs and real estate developers. As one of the largest regional banks in the western United States, it focuses on relationship-driven banking solutions tailored to niche industries and growing businesses. The companys core offerings include deposit products, treasury management and a variety of lending services. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Western Alliance Bancorporation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Western Alliance Bancorporation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Voya Investment Management LLC lessened its stake in shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC Free Report) by 50.0% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,192,156 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,193,964 shares during the quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC owned approximately 0.44% of McCormick & Company, Incorporated worth $79,634,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Addenda Capital Inc. acquired a new position in shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated in the third quarter valued at approximately $3,145,000. Czech National Bank raised its holdings in McCormick & Company, Incorporated by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 64,268 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,300,000 after acquiring an additional 2,504 shares during the last quarter. Spring Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated by 8.7% during the 3rd quarter. Spring Capital Management LLC now owns 66,111 shares of the companys stock worth $4,423,000 after purchasing an additional 5,266 shares during the period. Ransom Advisory Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated by 136.2% during the third quarter. Ransom Advisory Ltd now owns 4,465 shares of the companys stock worth $299,000 after purchasing an additional 2,575 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Heartwood Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated during the third quarter worth $28,000. 79.74% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get McCormick & Company Incorporated alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at McCormick & Company, Incorporated In related news, major shareholder Lawrence Erik Kurzius sold 39,014 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.54, for a total value of $2,517,963.56. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Brendan M. Foley sold 57,144 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.56, for a total transaction of $3,746,360.64. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 108,652 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,123,225.12. The trade was a 34.47% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 146,158 shares of company stock worth $9,557,324 over the last ninety days. 23.80% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. McCormick & Company, Incorporated Stock Performance Shares of MKC opened at $68.64 on Friday. McCormick & Company, Incorporated has a 52-week low of $62.64 and a 52-week high of $86.24. The company has a quick ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The firm has a market cap of $18.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.75, a PEG ratio of 4.53 and a beta of 0.62. The businesss 50 day moving average is $66.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is $69.14. McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 7th. The company reported $0.85 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.82 by $0.03. McCormick & Company, Incorporated had a net margin of 11.46% and a return on equity of 14.30%. The company had revenue of $1.72 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.71 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.83 EPS. The companys revenue was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. McCormick & Company, Incorporated has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.000-3.050 EPS. Analysts forecast that McCormick & Company, Incorporated will post 3.07 EPS for the current fiscal year. McCormick & Company, Incorporated Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 29th will be given a dividend of $0.48 per share. This represents a $1.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 29th. This is a positive change from McCormick & Company, Incorporateds previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. McCormick & Company, Incorporateds payout ratio is currently 62.28%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts have recently commented on MKC shares. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated from $82.00 to $72.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, October 11th. UBS Group reduced their target price on McCormick & Company, Incorporated from $71.00 to $70.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein restated an outperform rating and set a $87.00 price target on shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $78.00. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on MKC About McCormick & Company, Incorporated (Free Report) McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE: MKC) is a global leader in spices, seasonings and flavor solutions. Headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland, the company traces its origins to the late 19th century and has grown into a major manufacturer and marketer of branded and privatelabel flavor products for consumer, industrial and foodservice markets. McCormicks product portfolio includes pure spices and herbs, blended seasonings, marinades, rubs, sauces, extracts and specialty flavorings, along with ingredient systems and custom flavor development for manufacturers and foodservice operators. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MKC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for McCormick & Company Incorporated Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McCormick & Company Incorporated and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW Get Free Report) VP Krantz Nancy Berardinelli sold 195 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,023.93, for a total transaction of $199,666.35. Following the sale, the vice president owned 3,174 shares in the company, valued at $3,249,953.82. The trade was a 5.79% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. W.W. Grainger Stock Up 0.5% GWW opened at $1,025.12 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $48.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 1.59 and a current ratio of 2.72. The firms fifty day moving average is $963.92 and its 200 day moving average is $995.46. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $893.99 and a fifty-two week high of $1,139.15. Get W.W. Grainger alerts: W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The industrial products company reported $10.21 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $9.95 by $0.26. The business had revenue of $4.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.64 billion. W.W. Grainger had a return on equity of 49.40% and a net margin of 9.75%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $9.87 earnings per share. W.W. Grainger has set its FY 2025 guidance at 39.000-39.750 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 40.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. W.W. Grainger Dividend Announcement Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 10th were issued a dividend of $2.26 per share. This represents a $9.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 10th. W.W. Graingers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 25.35%. GWW has been the subject of a number of research reports. Barclays upped their target price on shares of W.W. Grainger from $963.00 to $975.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Sanford C. Bernstein started coverage on shares of W.W. Grainger in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. They set a market perform rating and a $975.00 price objective for the company. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of W.W. Grainger in a report on Monday. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on W.W. Grainger from $1,150.00 to $1,100.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 25th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on W.W. Grainger from $1,006.00 to $1,050.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, November 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $1,009.43. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on GWW Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Hilltop National Bank bought a new stake in W.W. Grainger during the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. Quaker Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of W.W. Grainger by 196.0% during the 2nd quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 24 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Accredited Investors Inc. purchased a new stake in W.W. Grainger during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. raised its holdings in W.W. Grainger by 316.7% during the 2nd quarter. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. now owns 25 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 19 shares during the period. Finally, Loomis Sayles & Co. L P bought a new stake in W.W. Grainger in the second quarter worth $27,000. Institutional investors own 80.70% of the companys stock. About W.W. Grainger (Get Free Report) W.W. Grainger, Inc (NYSE: GWW) is an industrial supply distributor founded in 1927 and headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois. The company supplies maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products and services to businesses, institutions and government customers. Over its long history Grainger has developed a broad product assortment and a national distribution network that supports operations across a range of end markets, including manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, transportation and public sector organizations. Graingers product portfolio spans core categories such as electrical and lighting, safety and personal protective equipment, material handling, motors and power transmission, plumbing and HVAC, fasteners and adhesives, hand and power tools, and janitorial and facility supplies. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for W.W. Grainger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for W.W. Grainger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Yorkton Equity Group Inc. (CVE:YEG Get Free Report) was up 17.6% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as C$0.21 and last traded at C$0.20. Approximately 146,201 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 1,053% from the average daily volume of 12,683 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.17. Yorkton Equity Group Trading Up 2.6% The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 384.03, a current ratio of 0.37 and a quick ratio of 0.84. The company has a market capitalization of C$22.53 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.00 and a beta of 0.49. The business has a fifty day moving average price of C$0.17 and a 200 day moving average price of C$0.19. About Yorkton Equity Group (Get Free Report) Yorkton Equity Group Inc operates as a real estate investment company in Canada. It owns a portfolio of multi-family residential rental properties comprising residential units and commercial unit in Alberta and British Columbia. The company is based in Edmonton, Canada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Yorkton Equity Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Yorkton Equity Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC grew its stake in shares of Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS Free Report) by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 112,773 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 6,059 shares during the period. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NCs holdings in Zoetis were worth $16,501,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in ZTS. Nova Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Zoetis during the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. 1248 Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Zoetis during the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. Saudi Central Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Zoetis during the 1st quarter worth about $29,000. REAP Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Zoetis by 201.5% during the second quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC now owns 196 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 131 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NewSquare Capital LLC raised its position in shares of Zoetis by 69.1% in the second quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 208 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. 92.80% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Zoetis alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In ZTS has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. UBS Group decreased their target price on shares of Zoetis from $158.00 to $141.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Barclays assumed coverage on Zoetis in a research note on Monday, December 8th. They set an equal weight rating and a $136.00 price target on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Zoetis to a buy rating in a research report on Monday. KeyCorp started coverage on Zoetis in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. They set a sector weight rating on the stock. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Zoetis in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $160.18. Zoetis Trading Down 0.3% NYSE:ZTS opened at $122.34 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $128.86 and its two-hundred day moving average is $144.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 3.64 and a quick ratio of 2.28. Zoetis Inc. has a 12 month low of $115.25 and a 12 month high of $177.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $53.91 billion, a PE ratio of 20.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 0.97. Zoetis (NYSE:ZTS Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.62 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $2.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.42 billion. Zoetis had a return on equity of 57.19% and a net margin of 28.21%.The companys revenue was up .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.58 earnings per share. Zoetis has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.300-6.400 EPS. Research analysts predict that Zoetis Inc. will post 6.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Zoetis Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 20th will be given a $0.53 dividend. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.7%. This is a positive change from Zoetiss previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 20th. Zoetiss dividend payout ratio is 33.67%. Zoetis Profile (Free Report) Zoetis Inc (NYSE: ZTS) is a global animal health company that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of products and services for companion animals and livestock. The companys offerings include pharmaceuticals, vaccines and biologics, parasiticides and anti-infectives, as well as diagnostic instruments, consumables and laboratory testing services. Zoetis serves the veterinary community, livestock producers and other animal-health customers with products designed to prevent, detect and treat disease and to support animal productivity and welfare. Zoetis traces its roots to the animal health business of Pfizer and became an independent, publicly traded company following a 2013 separation and initial public offering. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ZTS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Zoetis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Zoetis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MBC, AMESCO extend greetings | IMPHAL, Dec 20: As Christmas day nears, Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC) has greeted people of the State. "Christmas is the celebration of God's greatest gift to humanity's deepest need. It is the celebration of God, the Creator, becoming part of His creation, a human being to bring fallen humanity and God together again. Without this divine intervention, humanity would never have made it," said MBC in its message to the people. Christ's coming also seeks to build a new humanity marked by love and unity among the Nations. The chief purpose of the birth of Christ, therefore, is to bring reconciliation between the righteous God and sinful humans, and to remove the walls of hostility and separation among Nations and tribes, MBC added. "May this Christmas inspire renewed hope, love, and unity among all. Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!" greeted the MBC. All Manipur Ethnical Socio-Cultural Organisation (AMESCO) too has greeted the people, especially Christians, and wished for the Christmas to remove boun-daries between communities and foster peaceful coexistence. Tea, Chai, Cha, Shai, Teh, Tsai, Saa, whatever name you call it with, is the magic brew that has no equal. In India, every household begins its day with a cup of tea. It is brewed in various styles and spiced with flavors. Today, masala chai is served across the world, and Chai Latte finds a place on the menu of Starbucks. Coca-Cola has frequently identified tea as its primary competitor in India. It is so ubiquitous that it is difficult to imagine that India was not a major consumer of tea till about 1800 AD. While indigenous varieties of tea were consumed in some parts of India, the commercial and cultural introduction of tea as a beverage was a deliberate colonial project of the British East India Company. The British introduced commercial-scale tea to India in the 1830s, mainly to meet the rising demand in England and because they found it costly to import tea from China. In popular imagination, if one thinks of the most English-English person, the person comes complete with a stiff upper lip and a cup of tea in their hand. Tea is considered so utterly English that it is hard to imagine a time when the country did not drink it, discuss it or define itself by it. Taken per capita, the British are among the largest consumers of tea. But how did they learn to drink tea? Tea does not grow in England. The path that brought tea to Britain began far beyond its shores in the imperial networks of Portugal. Understanding the story of tea requires looking at global trade, diplomacy, cultural exchanges and royal marriage alliances. Legend has it that the word Tea itself is an acronym with Portuguese roots. The Portuguese tea story starts with the discovery of the sea route to India by Vasco da Gama in 1498. This was the launch pad, and by the early 1500s, Portuguese explorers and traders had established maritime routes that connected Europe to India, Southeast Asia and upto China and Japan. Portuguese merchants were the first Westerners allowed to reside in Macau, a gateway city to southern China. This brought them in touch with tea. Portuguese traders and missionaries sent tea samples back home and wrote accounts of how Chinese elites prepared, served, and consumed the drink. These texts circulated through aristocratic and scholarly circles in Portugal, shaping early ideas about tea as a refined and exotic luxury. Though the supply was sporadic, by the late 1500s and early 1600s, Portuguese nobility had begun drinking tea as an exotic luxury item. From Portugal, it then travelled to England. The single most decisive factor in teas introduction to England was a Portuguese princess, Catherine of Braganza. She was the daughter of King John IV of Portugal, who in 1662 was married to King Charles II of England. The marriage itself was one of convenience. Charles II had inherited debts from the earlier government and soon ran up new ones of his own. Desperately short of cash, the identified solution was to marry a wealthy foreign princess and to demand a large amount of money and goods as dowry. The choice fell on the Portuguese princess, and her father provided a dowry that included money, spices, treasures and the lucrative ports of Tangiers and Bombay. Yes! The Portuguese gifted Bombay to the British as dowry. The princess loved tea, and having grown up drinking tea regularly at the Portuguese court, she carried crates of tea as part of her personal belongings. It is said that crates carrying tea leaves were marked Transporte de Ervas Aromaticas (Transport of Aromatic Herbs) later abbreviated to T.E.A, giving it the name that it bears. In England at that point in time, tea was found sporadically in apothecaries, where it was sold as a medicinal drink, an Asian drug with potential health benefits rather than as a beverage. It happened then as it happens now. People imitate what famous people do. Queen Catherine, upon her relocation to England, became a trendsetter a royal influencer, and her daily tea drinking transformed public perception of the beverage almost overnight. When she introduced her elaborate tea rituals, served in fine porcelain cups, accompanied by confections and small delicacies, aristocratic Englishwomen took immediate note. In 1663, the poet and politician Edmund Waller wrote a poem in honour of the queen for her birthday: The best of Queens, the best of herbs, we owe To that bold nation, which the way did show To the fair region where the sun doth rise, Whose rich productions we so justly prize. The Muse's friend, tea does our fancy aid, Regress those vapours which the head invade, And keep the palace of the soul serene, Fit on her birthday to salute the Queen. By the late 1660s, tea had become one of the defining social markers of English high society. Traders of the East India Company imported it and made it available in England. It, however, continued to be a luxury item as the ability to serve tea at home meant access to exotic goods and familiarity with cosmopolitan tastes. The teapot, tea tray, sugar tongs and porcelain cups became symbols of elitism. Tea drinking was especially embraced by women, shaping new rituals of sociability. By the 18th century, tea had transcended aristocratic circles and entered the daily lives of the English middle class. However, tea was heavily taxed and thus largely smuggled into England. Then came Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger, who in 1784, on the advice of Richard Twining, reduced the tax on tea from around 119% to 12.5%, mainly to cut smuggling and raise taxes through honest imports. The legal import of tea is said to have tripled in the subsequent year. Twinings, the Tea company set up by Richard Twinings grandfather, Thomas Twining, is still famous for its teas and also for its landmark tea shop in London, opened in 1706. Tea also became a driver of British imperial expansion. In the nineteenth century, Britain developed tea plantations in India and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and then later in parts of Africa, permanently linking tea to British colonial economics. In India, once it started growing in larger quantities, the fancy for tea caught on and spread all across the sub-continent. Each part of India added their flavour and peculiarity to it, making it the most popular beverage. Today, India is the second-largest producer and consumer of tea in the world. What about Portugal? Did Portugal forget tea? No. The Portuguese still relish it, call it Cha, and Portugal is the only country in Europe that grows tea in commercial quantities. It is grown on the island of San Miguel in the Azores by the Gorreana Tea Company, which was started in 1883. It continues to be a family run business and is run by the descendants of the original owners. They grow, pack and sell their organic teas that are processed on Made in India machines that they imported from Calcutta 110 years ago. Soft power has the effect of spreading cultural practices. These then evolve and even change hands over time. It was Ming China and Tokugawa Japan that gave tea to the Portuguese. From Portugal, it reached England, not through conquest or trade but through the quiet influence of a Portuguese queen whose fondness for the drink reshaped English tastes. Tea became British and, over time, overshadowed the Portuguese link. Today, tea is more Indian than any other drink or nationality. However, if Catherine of Braganza had not taken tea as dowry with her, would the United Kingdoms national drink have been different today? Would India be drinking something else? These questions have no answers. The flows of history determined these. From Catherine of Braganzas courtly tea sessions to the industrial kettles of Victorian factories, from high tea to roadside chai, from boardrooms to college canteens, tea has integrated itself into everyday lives. Yet behind every sip of tea lies a reminder that cultural traditions often begin with the meeting of worlds, the blending of histories and the unexpected influence of individuals. The author is India's Ambassador to Portugal IFFI Goa, amid the machinery of cinema-spotlights, red carpets, reputations, fashion showcase Handloom Sarees in Motion: 70MM on Runway staged a quieter drama. It was not about trend forecasting or celebrity dressing. It was about time. About labour. About the radical act of slowing down in a culture addicted to speed. To present handloom at Indias most prestigious film festival was, in itself, a statement: that craft, like cinema, is a language of memory, collaboration, and disciplined imagination. Each sari that moved down the runway carried months of work and centuries of knowledge. The process begins at the loom, where weaving can take 15 to 90 days, depending on design complexity. In Maharashtra, weavers Shantilal Bhangde and Rohit Shinde represent a tradition where technique is learned not in classrooms but in homes, through repetition and correction. Their labour is physicalhours of pedalling, counting. Adjusting tensionbut also intellectual. Patterns are memorised, not sketched; errors corrected in real time. From Jharkhand, Muskan Kumari embodies a newer generation of weavers sustaining regional practices often marginalised in mainstream narratives of handloom. Giram Shamim, working across traditional weaving methods, and Meruva Vyanktesh of Srikalahasti, a region historically associated with narrative textiles, add to a collective whose work is rarely attributed individually, even though each decisionthread, density, spacingshapes the final fabric. The textiles themselves spoke in different registers. Banarasi-inspired brocades asserted density and discipline, where zari work requires weeks of precision and an almost architectural understanding of pattern. Chanderi, in contrast, whispered. Its silk-cotton translucence relies on restraint; motifs float rather than dominate, allowing air and movement to complete the design. Tussar and Gheecha silks, rooted in forest economies, refused polish. Their uneven textures and natural hues insisted that luxury need not erase origin. Then there were the technically audacious traditionsIkat, where dye precedes weave, and the design exists first as calculation. Here, one misalignment can destroy weeks of labour. These sarees carry an invisible scaffolding of mathematics and memory, their ease on the body masking extraordinary risk and control. After weaving comes another journey, one that transforms cloth into narrative. Over nearly a month, several saris were hand-painted by traditional artists across India. From Rajasthan, Arun Sahu brought Pichwai art, devotional and dense, demanding sustained concentration across six metres of fabric. From Bhopal, Reshma Sham translated Gond art onto cloth, her rhythmic lines carrying forest cosmologies that resist linear storytelling. In Bhubaneswar, Babita, a Pattachitra artist, approached the saree as a scroll figure, deliberate, every line accountable to tradition. From Maharashtra, Sanjay, working in Warli art, reduced form to rhythm: human, animal, landscape, collapsing into geometry and movement. And from Patna, Mama, a Madhubani artist, layered symbolic density across fabric, negotiating repetition, mythology and scale with remarkable control. Painting on a six-metre saree is not decorative work; it is physically demanding and slow. After painting comes drying, fixing, and finishing processes that cannot be rushed without compromising integrity. In total, nearly three months go into a single saree. There is no standard market rate for such work. Artists and weavers price according to time, intricacy and instinct. Bargaining is limited because replication is impossible. Authenticity is guarded through artisan cards, handloom marks and silk certifications systems overseen by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, whose presence at the event underscored a crucial point: handloom is not nostalgia; it is policy, livelihood, and cultural infrastructure. The Development Commissioners role is not merely symbolic. Through certifications, cluster support, awards, and platforms like IFFI, the Ministry works to ensure that handloom remains both economically viable and culturally visible. Yet, as practitioners themselves acknowledge, government recognition alone is not enough. Artists are often known not by name but by the NGOs or brands representing them. Visibility, fair compensation, and sustained platforms remain urgent needs. Curated by Shikhas Kariigarii, the showcase made a deliberate choice to foreground makers. Artists were paid, transported, housed, and brought into direct dialogue with audiences. In previous editions, visitors were invited to paint themselvesturning spectators into participants and crafting into living memory. This is not incidental. Seventy per cent of Indias handloom workforce is women, many sustaining households through undervalued labour. Craft survives only when dignity accompanies skill. That this was staged at IFFI matters. Cinema is a collective of art-writers, technicians, performers, and editors working in concert. Handlooms are no different. Both demand time, collaboration, and trust in processes invisible to the final viewer. To place the handloom on the IFFI runway was to insist that craft belongs not on the margins of culture, but at its centre. "The showcase resisted romanticising poverty or fetishising tradition. Instead, it argued clearly and confidently for craft as intelligence. Against speed, we offered time. Against anonymity, names. Against spectacle, labour. Like enduring cinema, or A.R. Rahmans music takes time to understand-but once it does, it stays," said Shikha Ajmera, Founder, Shikhas Kariigarii. Indian hospital major Fortis Healthcare announced that it signed definitive agreements to buy People Tree Hospital, Yeshwanthpur (PTHY), through a 100 per cent acquisition of TMI Healthcare Private Limited, the entity that runs the 125bed multi-speciality hospital. The acquisition will be carried out by Fortiss wholly owned subsidiary, International Hospital Limited (IHL). As part of a composite deal, IHL will also purchase the hospital building, the underlying land and an adjacent 0.8acre land parcel. They are together valued at Rs 430 crore, including the debt residing with TMI Healthcare. Including the transaction value, Fortis plans to invest about Rs 840 crore to grow a newly acquired hospital into a 300-plus-bed facility over the next three years. The transaction value of Rs 430 crore is subject to customary closing adjustments agreed in the definitive documents. Ahead of the announcement, Fortis Healthcare stock closed 2.61 per cent higher on Friday at Rs 889 apiece on the NSE. Fortis, in a regulatory filing, said the deal fits into its clusterfocused growth strategy for Bengaluru, where it already operates seven facilities (including hospitals under operations and management arrangements) with around 900 beds and sees potential to scale up to more than 1,500 beds over the next three years. People Tree Hospital, Yeshwanthpur, is a NABHaccredited hospital located in a dense residential area in northwest Bengaluru, with strong connectivity to major transport hubs. It offers key specialities such as cardiac sciences, orthopaedics, neurosciences, renal sciences and gastroenterology. Fortis plans to invest an additional Rs 410 crore in the facility over the next three years to expand bed capacity to over 300, upgrade medical equipment and build new clinical programmes, including radiation oncology. Based on current annual revenues of around Rs 74 crore (FY2025), Fortis believes it can strengthen operations and improve both revenue and profitability as it scales up the hospital. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of January 2026, subject to the fulfilment of conditions precedent in the agreements. Fortis MD and CEO Dr Ashutosh Raghuvanshi said the acquisition will deepen the companys presence in Bengaluru. People Tree Hospitals founder, MD and CEO Dr Jothi Neeraja said the transition to Fortis marks an important milestone, positioning the Yeshwanthpur unit for modernisation and longterm benefits for patients and staff while retaining its focus on ethical, patientcentric care. Indias IT bellwether Infosys announced that a US court approved a settlement of class action lawsuits involving its subsidiary Infosys McCamish Systems LLC. In a stock exchange filing on Saturday, the IT major said a US court had granted final approval to a settlement that covers all pending class actions against McCamish and related entities, without any admission of liability. The cases relate to class action lawsuits filed in the United States against McCamish, which provides technology and outsourcing services to insurance and financial firms. Infosys had first disclosed these cases to investors in a company statement on November 3 2023, and has been providing periodic updates in its financial statements. On March 13, 2025, McCamish and the plaintiffs took part in a mediation process that resulted in an agreement in principle setting out proposed settlement terms. Under that agreement, McCamish has agreed to pay $17.5 million into a settlement fund to resolve the lawsuits. The fund is intended to settle claims not just against McCamish but also against certain customers who had been named in related class actions. Infosys said the court granted final approval to this settlement on December 18, 2025. If no appeal is filed within 30 days of that order, the settlement will become effective, and all allegations in the class action suits will be fully resolved, again with no admission of wrongdoing by McCamish. Cybersecurity analysts reportedly stated that the settlement stemmed from a ransomware attack on Infosys McCamishs systems between late October and early November 2023, which led to the unauthorised access and exfiltration of sensitive data belonging to millions of US insurance and retirement-plan customers. Regulatory and court filings in the US indicated that personal information such as names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, policy and account details, and in some cases medical and salary data, may have been exposed for an estimated 66.5 million individuals across multiple financial institutions that used McCamish as a technology vendor. In the class action suit, plaintiffs accused McCamish not only of inadequate security but also of delays and gaps in breach notification, with at least one US state regulator subsequently penalising the company for shortcomings in its response. The Indian Army, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir Police have intensified their vigil at various locations near the International Border after intelligence warned that the dense fog in the region may be used by cross-border terrorists to enter the country. Anti-terror activities, including search operations and aggressive patrolling, have been launched in the Kathua, Samba, Jammu, and Rajouri districts, besides the Chatroo forest belt in Kishtwar of Jammu and Kashmir, by security forces in the light of the intel, reports said. Terror launchpads along the border opposite the Hiranagar, Ghagwal, Ramgarh, and Akhnoor areas in the KathuaSambaJammu sector have been activated in the past two days, intelligence inputs reportedly said. Thus, search and cordon operations are underway in multiple locations to counter any possible infiltration attempt, news agency PTI reported. For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India In the Kishtwar district alone, security forces conducted searches in over a dozen forest villages for the second day on Saturday after locals reported the movement of suspected terrorists. The Bobiya border outpost, Tappan, Mareed, Paharpur, Pansar, Maniyari, Tarnah Nallah, Bein Nallah, Kishanpur Kandi, Chak Chabbey, Dolka Samyal, and Rukh-e-Sarkar areas in the Kathua district were named among the places where the security forces have upped their vigil. Search operations were also conducted at Babar Nallah, Paloora, Treyal, Mansar, and Chilla Danga in Samba, and Pragwal and adjoining areas in the Akhnoor sector, the PTI report added. However, there has been no contact with any suspects so far, they said, adding that the anti-terror operation was ongoing when the last reports were received. According to officials, the searches are also part of area domination in view of the prevailing harsh weather conditions accompanied by dense fog cover. The weather department has predicted that heavy rainfall or snowfall is likely at isolated places over JammuKashmirLadakhGilgitBaltistanMuzaffarabad on Sunday, 21 December. On Saturday, five flights were cancelled and eight delayed in Jammu, while flight operations from Srinagar airport were partially disrupted due to fog. Earlier this month, BSF intel had claimed that over 100 terrorists were waiting for an opportunity to enter India from Pakistani territory. "Simultaneously, various training camps of terrorists are also under the scrutiny of our intelligence wing... Our G unit is keeping a close watch on all the 69 active launching pads along the LoC, where around 100120 terrorists have been waiting to infiltrate," the BSF had said. #OperationalTraining - Ashni Platoon. On path of Transformation & a as a future ready force, the #RanbankuraDivision under aegis of #ChetakCorps validated the operational prowess of newly raised #ASHNI platoon.#ASHNI enables real-time surveillance & mini-UAS precision strike pic.twitter.com/mLhCE5Hkxy Chetak Corps (@ChetakCorps_IA) November 26, 2025 The Indian Army is in the process of buying 850 kamikaze drones which will be used to equip its special forces as well as naval and air force units. The proposal is at an advanced stage of acquisition and is likely to be cleared soon by a high-level meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council scheduled to be held in the last week of December. The report added that the nature of the conflict with Pakistan in May 2025 and lessons learnt from it influenced the force to acquire more suicide drones. What are kamikaze drones? As per the proposal to be implemented under fast-track procedures by the force, the Indian Army will get around 850 loitering munitions along with launchers from indigenous sources, news agency ANI said. Loitering munitions is the technical term used to describe kamikaze or suicide drones which usually "loiter" over a battlefield before destroying targets by crashing into them and detonating their built-in explosive payload. They can hover in the air silently for hours before their targets finally show up. ALSO READ | Why Indian Army's drone warfare strategy guarantees 'heavier punishment' for the enemy? For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India During World War II, the Japanese Air Force developed "Special Attack Units" that made pilots to deliberately crash their explosive-laden aircraft into Allied warships. These missions were, needless to say, suicide attacks and were called "kamikaze" missions, which literally translates to "divine wind." Thus, the UAVs which nosedive at highspeeds to take out a target, came to be known as kamikaze drone. Indian Armys Ashni Platoon "The Indian Army uses a large number of loitering munitions acquired from different sources and is now looking to induct around 30,000 of them in the near future to equip all its fighting forces," they said. "The Army infantry battalions will now have one Ashni platoon each, which will be responsible for operating drones to be used against enemy locations and also in counter-insurgency roles," ANI reported. ALSO READ | Indian Army, IAF ask DRDO for 16 laser anti-drone systems with upgraded range to counter Pakistans suicide UAVs The Ashni Platoon, sometimes referred to as the Ashni Combat Unit, is an infantry unit of the Indian Army known for its expertise in drone-centric warfare. The platoon was developed as part of the Indian Army's "Year of Technology Absorption" in 2024, and made its operational debut during a high-altitude drill in the Kameng sector of Arunachal Pradesh. Surveillance, target acquisition, and precision strikes to multi-domain manoeuvres are among the platoon's focus areas. As of October 2025, 385 infantry battalions are now equipped with dedicated drone platoons, each operating a fleet of 10 systems four for surveillance and six for loitering munitions, or kamikaze drones, a report had said. The Indian Army in the past too had credited Operation Sindoor for helping the force to shape its understanding of joint, technology-driven warfare. IN PICS | How will Indian Army drones, tanks and Unmanned Systems combine in future battlefields? THIS exercise showed The Indian Army heavily utilised drones to target terror headquarters inside Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. India took out seven of the nine terrorist targets on the first day of the operation, which was conducted in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. As the conflict escalated with Islamabad's attempts to retaliate, the drones were also used against the Pakistan Army. Despite blanket ban on Dhurandhar, the Ranveer Singh spy thriller continues to be the most discussed topic in Pakistan. Now, a former Pakistani minister has claimed that his character was portrayed inaccurately in the movie. In the Aditya Dhar directorial, the character of Jameel Jamali is based on former member of Pakistani National Assembly Nabil Gabol, who was the Minister of State for Ports and Shipping. Jamali is played by actor Rakesh Bedi to give physical resemblance to Gabol. Reporter: Dhurandhar ko ban karne ke liye International Community jayenge? Nabil: Itne paise nahi hai mere paas pic.twitter.com/kMaaAR13P6 DEEWAN. (@Spoof_Junkey) December 18, 2025 "They did not portray my role properly... They've tried to portray Lyari as a terrorist hub, but Lyari is not a terrorist hub. If one of their agents had come, he wouldn't have left Lyari alive," he told media, adding that some elements were exaggerated for dramatisation. But, he admitted that he doesn't have enough money seek an international ban. This comes as several Middle Eastern countries have banned Dhurandhar over anti-Pakistani content. However, in Pakistan, the movie has become an instant hit via torrent downloads. Pakistani users reportedly managed to access piracy links via servers in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, according to a News18 report. These were low-resolution camera prints downloaded from Chinese hosting websites. Dhurandhar has earned Rs 739.5 crore in 15 days, including Rs 160 crore from overseas screens and Rs 579.5 crore in gross domestic collection. The net domestic collection till Day 16 has crossed Rs 500 crore, as of 6 pm, reported Sacnilk. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday revealed that her government has chalked out a comprehensive framework for an electric vehicle (EV) policy aimed to curb pollution as well as overhaul traffic infrastructure in the national capital. CM Gupta hinted that the EV policy, which could be rolled out as early as next financial year, is likely to offer financial incentives to buyers. The government has already stopped levying road tax and registration fees for EVs. The next step will be doling out adequate subsidies to bridge the price gap between EVs and vehicles running on petrol and diesel. #WATCH | Delhi: Delhi Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh says, "After our government came to power, we have registered more than 1 lakh EV vehicles. There are many reasons why EVs are not advancing further. The previous government did not provide subsidies for EVs. We are providing pic.twitter.com/eOD1jLNvzu ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2025 The government will also give priority to remove highly polluting vehicles from the roads. Citizens who scrap old petrol or diesel vehicles will receive additional incentives when they buy a new EV. This will be implemented with the support of scrap dealers and auto makers. Vehicle manufacturers have also been asked to ensure timely supply of EVs to meet the demand. Another focal point will be expansion of EV charging facilities across Delhi. The government is consulting with power distribution companies in this regard. Charging points will be installed at public locations and near residential colonies. There will also be measures to set up facilities for battery swapping and scientific disposal of old batteries with help of experts from IIT Delhi and other advisers. The government will make the draft policy public to invite suggestions from citizens before tabling the final policy. The CM said vehicle owners will be given enough time to switch to EV. CM Gupta noted that vehicular emissions are a major contributor to PM2.5 and PM10 levels, expressing optimism that EV adoption could go a long way in bringing down pollution. The move comes as Delhi's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 398 on Saturday evening, just two points shy of the 'severe' category threshold. After the Bihar elections, the Congress partys major focus has now shifted towards the assembly elections in the heart of the Northeast, Assam. Almost three months ahead of the elections, the party launched its statewide mass outreach campaign titled Raijor Podukut Raijor Congress on December 20, which roughly translates to people's way, people's Congress. The new campaign, which will be executed by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) functionaries, is aimed at directly engaging with people across Assam and also gathering public opinion at the grassroots, which will help the party shape a people-centric vision for the state. Moreover, the recently appointed young president of the APCC, Gaurav Gogoi, will personally participate in the outreach programme at several places. Between December 21 and 24, Gogoi is scheduled to attend public meetings and outreach programmes in Dibrugarh, Makum, Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts. Notably, the Congress has been undergoing organisational churn in most states across the country, including at the national level, by giving major responsibilities to comparatively junior leaders while moving away from age- and experience-based appointments. The partys trust in younger leaders was illustrated during the Bihar Assembly elections, where the states party in-charge, Krishna Allavaru, was given a free hand to deal with political situations. However, the party failed to perform and lost nearly one-third of its Assembly strength, shrinking its numbers to six from 19 in the 2020 elections. Considered close to Rahul Gandhi, Gaurav Gogoi is also being seen as a mainstay of the Assam elections, where his choice of leaders and operational effectiveness will be tested, alongside expectations to deliver results. A section of political observers senses brewing anti-incumbency on the ground, and Gogois political strategy is expected to tap into that sentiment to bring the party to power. A political analyst said the outreach programme is expected to help build the Congress cadre. People are likely to join, and the party aims to create first-phase momentum through this campaign. The analyst added that while the organisation may be weak, a focus on issues and connecting with the people of Assam could improve the Congress chances of returning to power. The campaign formally began with the first team visiting Zubeen Garg Kshetra in Sonapur, where they paid floral tributes at the memorial of cultural icon. Jammu and Kashmir's ruling party, the National Conference (NC) led by Omar Abdullah, has consistently kept its distance from the Congresss vote chori campaign, despite being a part of the broader INDIA opposition bloc and an alliance partner of the Congress in the Union Territory. Omar Abdullah recently said that the INDIA alliance's parties were not bound to adopt identical political agendas. According to him, while the Congress had chosen to stress on issues like SIR and alleged vote manipulation, other parties were free to prioritise matters they considered relevant. In that sense, each constituent of the alliance has autonomy over its political messaging. This position, however, contrasts with the broader stance adopted by several INDIA bloc partners. #WATCH | Srinagar | On Congress rally regarding alleged 'vote chori' yesterday, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah says, "The INDIA alliance has nothing to do with it...Every political party has the freedom to set its political agenda. Congress has made SIR, vote chori as its main pic.twitter.com/W7Oh6HOLRv ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2025 Parties such as the Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, DMK, Left parties, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena, RJDand even the blocs estranged partner, the Aam Aadmi Partyhave repeatedly raised concerns over the timing of the SIR exercise and alleged electoral irregularities. Many of their leaders have also publicly backed Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on these issues. On December 14, the Congress organised a large rally in the national capital to intensify its vote chori campaign, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of influencing the Election Commission to manipulate the electoral process. Both the BJP and the poll body have strongly rejected these allegations. Political observers believe that the NCs cautious approach stems from its long-standing attempt to maintain workable relations with the party in power at the Centre. According to them, Omar Abdullah appears to be balancing his role within the opposition bloc, while also signalling political restraint towards the BJP. VIDEO | On Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah's 'INDIA bloc has nothing to do with vote chori issue raised by Congress' remark, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla (@Shehzad_Ind) says, "Omar Abdullah has countered the narrative pushed by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, stating pic.twitter.com/iTVmFq4kmM Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 18, 2025 Analysts point out that issues like SIR do not have the same political resonance in Kashmir as they might elsewhere. They also note that the NC leadership is aware of the BJPs limited electoral prospects in the region. At the same time, Omar Abdullahs relatively softened tone towards the BJP is seen as being influenced by expectations around the restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs statehood: a decision that rests with the Centre. Within Jammu and Kashmir, this approach has led to perceptions that the National Conference does not always project itself as an active and coordinated member of the opposition alliance. Congress leaders in the region have privately expressed concern over the lack of structured coordination between the two parties. A Congress MLA from Kashmir pointed out that there is no formal coordination committee and little regular communication between the alliance partners. This has contributed to visible unease within the Congress cadre, sections of which remain dissatisfied with the alliance arrangement. Some leaders argue that the party should reconsider its participation in the ruling dispensation. Senior Congress leaders acknowledge that the state unit has been debating a possible exit from the alliance, but maintain that any final decision rests with the central leadership. At the same time, the Congress is wary of triggering political instability that could indirectly benefit the BJP. If a withdrawal were to destabilise the NC-led government, it could open the door for the BJP to influence governance in the Union Territoryan outcome the Congress wants to avoid. For decades, India's criminal justice system carried the stigma of delay, a system that was mocked for "tareek pe tareek" and feared by victims for its slow grind. But in 2025, a quiet but significant shift took place in one of the country's most sensitive areas of law. For the first time since the enactment of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, or POCSO, India disposed of more child sexual abuse cases in a year than it registered. India had registered 80,320 fresh POCSO cases in 2025, while courts disposed of 87,754 casesa disposal rate of 109 per cent. According to a new report titled 'Pendency to Protection: Achieving the Tipping Point to Justice for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse', the study has been done by the Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change (C-LAB) for Children-an initiative of India Child Protection-and is based on data drawn from the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), and parliamentary responses. The numbers mark a critical inflexion point. Until recently, POCSO pendency had grown relentlessly, touching 2.62 lakh cases by 2023. In contrast, 2025 appears to be the year when the system started doing more than merely managing arrears. "This is the tipping point where the justice system starts reducing backlog instead of accumulating it," the report notes. Importantly, this is not a national average masking regional stagnation. As many as 24 states and Union Territories recorded disposal rates exceeding 100 per cent, meaning they cleared not only the cases filed in 2025 but also a portion of older cases. Seven states and UTs crossed a disposal rate of 150 per cent, while another seven fell in the 121150 per cent bracket. Ten more hovered between 100 and 120 per cent. Yet the data also reveals stark fault lines beneath this surface of success. Meaningful progress? Nearly half of all pending POCSO cases have remained pending for over two years, a delay that is especially destructive in cases involving child victims. More worrisome still, the long-term pendency is concentrated in a few states. Uttar Pradesh accounts for 37 per cent of all cases pending over five years. Maharashtra contributes another 24 per cent, and West Bengal 11 per cent. Put together, these three states account for nearly three-fourths of the country's longest-pending POCSO cases. The report, therefore, observes that these figures reflect cases that entered the system several years ago but have not seen meaningful progress, systemic bottlenecks that arise early in the life cycle of a case, from investigation delays to overburdened courts and frequent adjournments. Besides pendency, conviction rates remain wildly variable across states, raising questions of trial quality, prosecutorial preparedness, and survivor support. Faster disposal, the report warns, is not to be at the cost of justice. The most ambitious recommendation from the study is to set up 600 additional e-POCSO courts across the country. Estimated to cost Rs 1,977 crore over four years, the report says that the entire backlog of POCSO cases can be cleared within that period. It suggests that financing can be provided from the Nirbhaya Fund, specifically set up for strengthening institutional responses to crimes against women and children. Locating the data in the broader context of justice and child rights, Purujit Praharaj, Director (Research) at India Child Protection, termed the moment pivotal. "India is now at a tipping point in its response to child sexual abuse. When the system begins to dispose of more POCSO cases than it registers, it moves from intent to impact. Our research consistently shows that prolonged delays intensify trauma for child survivors," he said, underlining the fact that timely justice is not a mere procedural luxury but a psychological necessity. For a justice system so long defined by delay, the 2025 figures offer something rare: cautious optimism supported by data. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's helicopter returned to Kolkata airport after it failed to land at the Taherpur helipad in West Bengal due to low visibility on account of dense fog in the area on Saturday. Modi is scheduled to address a rally in the Nadia district, his public meeting in the state after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Election Commission commenced. He is also scheduled to hold an administrative programme to launch highway projects in West Bengal. It wasn't immediately clear if Modi would reach the rally venue district by road or whether he would wait for the weather to clear up and make another attempt to reach Taherpur by the aerial route. Earlier, Modi reached Kolkata at 10.40 am and left for Taherpur on a special chopper. #WATCH | Nadia, West Bengal | People gathered at the venue for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public rally in Taherpur Netaji Park in Ranaghat wave the national flags and chant the PM's name ahead of his visit. At the event, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the 66.7 km long pic.twitter.com/v3edgzDDHg ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2025 Meanwhile, political tension in West Bengal has heightened following the release of the draft electoral rolls, with non-BJP parties alleging that the exercise is being carried out in haste and that a large number of genuine votersparticularly refugee Hindusrisk disenfranchisement as a result. In his speech, Modi is expected to address growing unease among the Matuas, a Dalit Hindu community that migrated from Bangladesh over several decades due to religious persecution, as the SIR has revived anxieties within the community over identity and documentation. The community has been a major vote bank for the BJP over the years, but reports suggest that a significant number of its members have already been excluded from the draft electoral rolls. PM Modi inaugurated the new integrated terminal building at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati on Saturday. New Guwahati Airport in Assam. pic.twitter.com/ylcBUYJweq Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) December 20, 2025 The new Terminal 2 was built at a cost of around Rs 4000 and is the Indias largest nature-themed airport in Northeast India. The overall project cost is said to stand at Rs 5000 crore, which includes Rs 1000 crore marked for maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities. The airport stretches across 1.4 lakh square metres, and it is designed to handle up to 13.1 million passengers annually. The terminal is seven times larger than the existing facility and can handle up to 34 air traffic movements per hour, the highest in the region. PM Modi took a tour of the new terminal building. The design of the airport was made to mimic Assam's rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, and was made under the theme Bamboo Orchids. The terminal is equipped with digital facilities such as DigiYatra contactless entry points, automated baggage handling, and fast-track security systems for seamless operations, enhancing passenger convenience. I will reach Guwahati, Assam tomorrow, 20th December. In the afternoon, the new terminal building of the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport will be inaugurated. This is a major boost to Assams infrastructure. Increased capacity means better Ease of Living and a pic.twitter.com/Rtn1jMVs0P Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 19, 2025 The airport aims to be a crucial hub for not just Assam but for all of the northeast. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on X, stated, It is an honour to welcome Adarniya Narendra Modi Ji to the sacred land of Maa Kamakhya. Over the next 2 days, Hon'ble Prime Minister's presence will add fresh momentum to Assams growth story & catapult it into the next phase of Vikas. On his two-day visit to the state, PM Modi will also be paying floral tributes at the Shaheed Smarak Sthal, dedicated to the brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the historic Assam Movement. After that, I will be present in Namrup, Dibrugarh, for the ground-breaking ceremony of the Ammonia-Urea Fertiliser Project of Assam Valley Fertiliser and Chemical Company Limited. This is an important project, which will help meet the fertiliser needs of Assam as well as other states. At the same time, it will reduce imports, as a result of which self-reliance will increase, the PM said. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Saturday alleged that the Modi government had removed key provisions of an important nuclear Act within its recently passed nuclear Bill just to restore relations with US President Donald Trump. He claimed that the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill, 2025 (SHANTI Bill) was "bulldozed" through both houses of Parliament on Thursday, flagging concerns at the removal of key provisions under the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 (CLNDA 2010). The Congress MP also questioned the timing of the SHANTI Bill's passage, noting that it coincided with US President Donald Trump recently signing the National Defence Authorization Act (FY26). He pointed out that the 3,100-page Act had a reference to a joint India-US assessment on nuclear liability rules. President Trump has just signed the National Defence Authorization Act for the US Fiscal Year 2026. The Act is 3100 pages long. Page 1912 has a reference to the joint assessment between the United States and India on Nuclear Liability Rules. Now we know for sure why the Prime pic.twitter.com/bGdAOXh9pA Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) December 20, 2025 "Now we know for sure why the Prime Minister bulldozed the SHANTI Bill through Parliament ... It was to restore SHANTI with his once good friend. The SHANTI Act may well be called the TRUMP Act - The Reactor Use and Management Promise Act," he said in an X post. His post also included a photo of that section of the US nuclear legislation, which would redefine India-US nuclear ties, and planned to "discuss opportunities for the Republic of India to align domestic nuclear liability rules with international norms". The US nuclear legislation also expressed an intent to "develop a strategy for the United States and the Republic of India to pursue bilateral and multilateral diplomatic engagements related to analysing and implementing those opportunities". The SHANTI Bill proposed that licences be granted to private companies to operate nuclear power plants in Indiaa major change to India's civil nuclear ecosystem. One of the major provisions of CLNDA 2010 that the SHANTI Bill has removed is a nuclear power plant operator's 'right of recourse' from suppliers if their equipment was found to be responsible for an accident. Dave Chappelle doesn't "feel guilty at all" about performing in Saudi Arabia. Dave Chappelle has no qualms about performing in Saudi Arabia The 52-year-old comedian was on the end of a backlash for performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in the Middle Eastern country - which has faced criticism for its human rights record - earlier this year but stressed that he had no regrets about the show. Speaking in his new Netflix special Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable, he said: "These m*********** act like because I did a comedy festival in Saudi Arabia I somehow betrayed my principles... They said, 'Well, Saudi Arabia killed a journalist' and rest in peace Jamal Khashoggi. I'm sorry that he got murdered in such a heinous fashion. And also, look bro, Israel's killed 240 journalists in the last three months so I didn't know y'all were still counting." Chappelle also stated that his jokes about the trans community went down "very well" with the audience in Saudi Arabia. He said: '"But I've gotta tell you something - transgender jokes went over very well in Saudi Arabia." The comic cited Jimmy Kimmel's recent suspension from his talk show as symptomatic of how free speech has been limited in the United States as he reiterated his past statement that "it's easier to talk in Saudi Arabia for me than it is in America". Dave said: "I'll take money from Saudi Arabia any day just so I can say no over here. It feels good to be free. "And I know that the people in Saudi Arabia can't say all the things that I was allowed to say. But a deal's a deal, and the king said that I could say these things. So I looked at like I was on a diplomatic mission: I've gotta bring p**** jokes to the Middle East." Chappelle added that the assassination of right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk in September further highlights the perils of being outspoken in the US. He said: "This is another reason it's hard to talk in America, because if you talk for a living and see Charlie Kirk get murdered that way, I'm gonna be honest, I was shook." However, The Nutty Professor star rejected comparisons between Kirk and civil rights activist Martin Luther King - who was himself assassinated in 1968. Dave remarked: "(People were saying) Charlie Kirk is this generations Martin Luther King. No, hes not. Thats a reach. They both got murdered in a terrible fashion, they both got shot in the neck, but thats about where those similarities end." [Provisional translation] On December 20, 2025, Prime Minister Takaichi held a summit meeting at the Prime Ministers Office with H.E. Mr. Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who was visiting Japan to attend the Summit of "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue (CA+JAD).Following a salute and guard of honor ceremony, the two leaders held a meeting, followed by a document signing ceremony. The meeting concluded with a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister. The Congress has quietly stepped in to address internal factionalism in Jharkhand amid speculation about its legislators jumping ship and the buzz about an impending breakup with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). A senior Congress leader said that now that the media buzz has died down, the party has tried to rebalance itself by setting up a system where all legislators remain in touch with one another and with the state leadership, with the expectation that it may tone down dissent within the Congress state unit. The party has designed a new strategy to keep its flock together by tagging groups of three MLAs with each minister. The party has four ministers in the state and moreover 12 MLAs. The trio of MLAs will meet the minister once a month, submit a written note detailing constituency-related problems, and receive a time-bound response. According to party leaders, the objective is to prevent legislators from going public with complaints or drifting away from the Congress. On Friday, December 19, Jharkhands Congress state unit in-charge, K. Raju, held an elaborate meeting with all district presidents and MLAs in the presence of the four Congress ministers in the state. The meeting was convened amid reports of growing discontent against the ministers. Earlier, during a recent meeting of legislators at the AICC, sources suggest that warring leaders were made to shake hands in the presence of Organisation General Secretary K.C. Venugopal. There was speculation that the ruling alliance with JMM was on shaky ground after Chief Minister Hemant Sorens meeting with BJP leaders in Delhi. Following this, the PCC has also opened a social media narrative pushing the line that the INDIA bloc is rock-solid. This messaging, first articulated by Venugopal in a post on X, aims to project every such whisper as right-wing fake news. Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Ranaghat in Nadia district to address the Hindu minority community, the Matuas, was marred by dense fog on Saturday. The helicopter could not land at the Taherpur helipad, and the PM had to return to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. PM Modis scheduled public address was delayed by more than an hour and was done virtually through video conferencing. The programme included the virtual inauguration of highway projects in West Bengal. TMCs misgovernance has stalled West Bengals progress. People are now looking to the BJP with renewed hope. Addressing a rally in Nadia district virtually. https://t.co/uNstvInC08 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 20, 2025 Hitting out at the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the state, the Prime Minister said, Today I want to share my pain and talk from the depths and take you into confidence to say clearly to oppose TMC a thousand times and if you want to oppose BJP do that, but why is development in Bengal and projects stalled? That is why I say oppose Modi, but dont kill the dreams of the people. Give BJP and the double engine government a chance here to see how we speed up projects, the PM added. Modi referred to the success of the NDA in the recent Bihar elections, hinting at the effects of victory rubbing off on neighbouring West Bengal. People voted for NDA, I had said the Ganga flows from Bihar to Bengal and Bihar has shown the road for victory in Bengal and the way out of jungle raj. After 20 years, Bengal has given more seats to the BJP, and we now have freedom from the jungle raj and every child in Bengal and every village, town, lane is saying bachte chai, BJP tai (To survive, we need BJP), the PM said. The Prime Minister also referred to neighbouring state Tripura, where the left government, which ruled for three-decades, was replaced by the BJP. We have Tripura neighbouring us. The communists, leftists and red flag people ruled for almost 30 years and destroyed Tripura. They gave us a chance which has enabled us to move ahead, Modi said. We thought after the Left went away (In West Bengal), there would be progress in Bengal, but the TMC has taken over the problems of the Left, and that is why Tripura is progressing, and Bengal is lagging behind. Modi made efforts to connect with Bengal by starting his speech in Bengali and apologizing for not being able to visit supporters in the Nadia district due to bad weather. He also went on to refer to the creator of the national song Vande Mataram, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, as Bankim Babu and not Bankim Da, which led to him getting flak from the TMC. He ended his speech by promising to visit the Nadia district. I am not one of those leaders who will make the weather a big issue and use it to my advantage. I will come for you, to make your dreams true and give you confidence with full force, he said. The TMC wasted no time in lashing out at the PM. Modis helicopter could not land due to bad weather. This is an act of god. Remember Abhishek Banerjees words? Tighten your seat belts, the weather is going to get worse. The weather has turned bad for the BJP in Bengal, former TMC MP Kunal Ghosh said. Oppose TMC in a democratic way. But if you cannot do that, then why make these statements? Ghosh added. The PMs rally to reach out to the Matua community was left incomplete, leaving restless groups of supporters at the venue who tore pieces of the makeshift structure made for the PM. Police had a difficult time controlling BJP supporters who were eager to watch the Prime Ministers address. Meanwhile, the BJP also alleged that local police were blocking roads and preventing people from reaching the venue for PM Modis rally. After West Bengal, the PM is scheduled to reach Guwahati in Assam for a two day visit, which includes multiple programmes. Oman on December 18 signed a historic Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India. While this is Indias second CEPA in the Gulf regionafter the 2022 India-UAE CEPAit is Omans first bilateral trade agreement since its 2006 deal with the United States. For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East A key highlight of the agreement is the enhanced mobility framework for Indian professionals. Indian companies can now enjoy 100 per cent foreign direct investment in key services sectors in Oman through commercial presence, allowing them to set up operations, hire Indian talent, and scale without local ownership restrictions. To facilitate this, Oman has opened 127 service sub-sectorsincluding IT and computer-related services, business and professional services, and R&Dunlocking market access for Indian IT firms and professionals. With more liberal entry and stay conditions for skilled roles such as IT experts and engineers, the framework could be a game-changer for Indian tech companies targeting Gulf and African markets, using Oman as a gateway. More importantly, Indian companies and professionals are uniquely positioned to benefit from what is being described as an emerging Omani AI gold rush. Omans sovereign wealth fund, the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), is actively investing across the global AI supply chain as part of its broader strategy to diversify into future-facing technologies and advance Oman Vision 2040 through technology transfer and economic diversification. OIA has stakes in multiple funds and companies focused on AI, including vertical AI applications and related technologies. It is also an early investor in Elon Musks xAI. In September 2025, OIA invested in a UK-based company specialising in photonic computing chips for AI acceleration. Oman is also investing in firms such as Crusoe Energy, which builds clean energypowered data centersan essential resource for the energy-intensive AI industry. Oman is further leveraging its strategic location and relatively neutral geopolitical stance to attract foreign AI investment. In early 2025, it signed a major agreement with the World Economic Forum to establish a Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) centre in Muscat, focused on AI governance and energy transitions. Alongside this, the country is investing heavily in digital infrastructure to create a landing pad for global AI companies. It has also established dedicated AI Startup Zones and AI Studios that offer sandbox environments for foreign startups to test and scale technologies in the Omani market. Under the CEPA, Indian firms can establish a commercial presence with 100 per cent ownershipcritical for AI companies seeking to protect intellectual property while developing localised solutions, such as large language models tailored to Arabic dialects, without requiring a local majority partner. Indian companies can now transfer up to 50 per cent of their workforce in Omani offices as intra-corporate transferees from India, up from the earlier 20 per cent cap, making it easier to deploy key personnel to manage operations. Contractual tech specialists can also stay for up to two years, compared with the earlier 90-day limit, with an option to extend for another two yearsproviding continuity for long-term projects. Beyond IT and computer-related services, the enhanced mobility framework is expected to boost sectors such as healthcare and medical services, education, research and development, and domains including AYUSH, accountancy, taxation, and architecture. With 100 per cent FDI now allowed and raw materials and components able to move from India to Oman duty-free, some Indian companies may see Oman as a neutral gateway to the US market, thanks to its 2006 free trade agreement with Washington, allowing them to bypass India-specific trade barriers imposed by the US. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to brief US President Donald Trump on options for attacking Iran again when the two leaders meet later this month. This comes amid mounting concerns of Tehran expanding its ballistic missile programme, which was impacted by Israeli military strikes earlier this year, an NBC News report said, citing officials in the know. The Trump-Netanyahu discussion is also expected to touch on Israel's concerns that Iran was restoring the nuclear enrichment sites (Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan) that the US had bombed when it entered a 12-day war between the two countries. However, the ballistic missile issue is said to be more urgent. Trump and Netanyahu are expected to meet at the US president's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on December 29, where Netanyahu will make a case for a possible strike on Iran's ballistic missile production facilities. The report added that Netanyahu's argument was also about the danger of Iran's actions for not just Israel, but also US interests in the Middle Eastan attempt to offer Trump options to join or assist in any new military operations. Israel's requests come at a time when the US has not ruled out open military conflict against Venezuela after its president Nicolas Maduro ordered his navy to escort Venezuelan oil tankers, in response to America's recent seizure of one of its sanctioned 'dark fleet' oil tankers. BREAKING: According to Israeli officials speaking to NBC News, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to brief President Donald Trump on the possibility of launching new strikes against Irans nuclear and missile programs. pic.twitter.com/Uoa50gtUA8 GMI (@Global_Mil_Info) December 20, 2025 Addressing the nation earlier this week, Trump once again spoke of US involvement in the 12-day conflict, and how it destroyed the Iran nuclear threat". He also claimed again that he had "ended the war in Gaza, bringing for the first time in 3,000 years, peace to the Middle East". The operation, labelled 'Midnight Hammer', involved the US using its B-2 bombers to drop 3,000-pound "bunker-buster" bombs on three key Iranian underground nuclear facilitiesFordow, Isfahan, and Natanz. At the same time, Israeli forces had struck several of Irans ballistic missile sites. While Trump had said at the time that the attack had obliterated Iran's nuclear facilities, initial reports from the site differed about the extent of the damage. Still, he has warned Iran against rebuilding its nuclear infrastructure, saying that if it were to do so anyway, "that site would be attacked and would be wiped out before they even got close". Just last week, he also hinted that he was open to US-Iran talks, just as long as Tehran did not restore its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes. You know, we can knock out their missiles very quickly, we have great power. Marking 18 December as the International Day against Colonialism, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution that has condemned and confirmed the explicit cumulative impact of the Iranian governments campaign against the Bahai community since 1979. The resolution was in direct response to the ongoing persecution of Bahais in Iran (the birthplace of Bahaism), and the third week of December 2025 presents a more critical setting, which has been evolving into a more repressive state apparatus. The repression has transitioned from occasional harassment to what international bodies are now classifying as the abuse of human rights. Sociologically, cumulative impacts refer to the erosion of international recognition, including the denial of livelihoods, education, and the right to burial; these are no longer viewed as isolated incidents but as a carefully planned, longitudinal effort to erase the community as a viable social entity. Following the arrest of Bahai citizen Naveed Tashakor on 15 December for merely teaching and educating, his methods were immediately scrutinised and labelled as propaganda through educational activity. The state's radical attitude has enabled the weaponising of judicial mechanisms to achieve the ends of suppression. Mahin Siddiqui A flexible way to justify the actions of the government is to change laws, and the recent escalation against Bahais is due to Articles 499 and 500 of the Iranian Islamic Penal Code. These laws were amended in 2021 and reinterpreted merely to criminalise small religious structures deviant from mainstream Islam. The absurdity of the government is displayed in how Bahai women have become scapegoats for these laws and received sentences simply for teaching and organising art, English, and music classes for their children. The limited understanding of propaganda also includes yoga or nature excursions. To maintain a strict theocracy, these activities were labelled as deviant promotional and educational activities contrary to Islamic law. The carefully curated onslaught of Bahais has taken a gendered dimension; two-thirds of Bahai political prisoners are women, according to the latest data from Human Rights Watch. Analysed within the post-2022 Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (Woman, Life, Freedom) landscape, this targeting represents a strategic attempt to disrupt social reproduction. Since the faith emphasises gender equality and women are the drivers of social reproduction, they are systematically repressed and stripped away from their families by the state, thereby interrupting the transmission of cultural and religious values. Deconstructing the second aspect of weaponisation, the government has introduced Article 49 of the Constitution to curb illicit wealth. However, this article is now widely used to survey the wealth of Bahais. The government's text-message approach, reported this week, has become a popular method for seizing the assets of Bahais. Furthermore, these assets are channelled to the Setad Ejraiye Farmane Hazrate Emam (Execution of Imam Khomeinis Order), which controls assets throughout Iran. This has left the Bahai minority economically vulnerable. Thirdly, geopolitical shifts and the military confrontation of the 12-Day Israel-Iran war have escalated the phenomenon of sudden weaponisation. Being a minority and an offshoot of Islam, Bahais are a lucrative target to be labelled as Zionist spies. The rationale behind this whole narrative is the location of the Bahai World Centre in Haifa. Since a community cannot live in isolation, the minoritys resilience has enabled it to find alternatives rather than engage in conflict with the state or government. December 2025 unveils a powerful method for the systematic erasure of the Bahai minority community. Iran has outgrown traditional methods of indulging in violence; instead, it has more refined methods to use the laws at its disposal. The weaponisation of the judiciary is pulverising the Bahais mainly in two ways: through Article 49 of the Constitution, enabling the seizure of assets, and Articles 499 and 500 of the Iranian Penal Code, curbing social activities by criminalising them. The latest UN Resolution may not be just a diplomatic move; it is a reminder that if the judicial erasure of the Bahais in Iran is not addressed, it might become a rigid blueprint for many authoritarian regimes to use at their disposal to repress minorities. Moreover, a shift from the Rule of Law to Rule by Law indicates that the deteriorating situation of the Bahais is a canary in the coal mine. The author is a doctoral candidate at the Centre for West Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK. The Trump administration has advanced an ambitious 20-year blueprint, dubbed Project Sunrise, to rebuild the Gaza Strip as a high-tech coastal hubfrequently described as a Middle East Riviera. The $112 billion proposal, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, is conceived by President Donald Trumps adviser Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and it frames Gazas reconstruction as a vast development venture, promising smart-city infrastructure, luxury tourism and high-speed transport. At present, Gaza remains a shattered enclave. Officials estimate that around 10,000 bodies are still buried under some 68 million tonnes of rubble, much of it contaminated by unexploded ordnance and toxic materials. Project Sunrise outlines a dramatic transformation of this rubble into modern apartment towers and AI-managed power grids. The plan was presented in a 32-page document marked sensitive but unclassified. It sets out a four-stage reconstruction process stretching over two decades. Initial stages of the plan involve clearing debris, restoring basic services and building temporary housing in southern Gaza. Subsequently, there would be permanent apartments, luxury resorts and a high-speed rail network. By the tenth year, the monetised coastline is projected to generate more than $55 billion in investment returns. A new administrative centre, New Rafah, would house governance institutions and provide roughly 100,000 housing units. Proponents argue that this economic overhaul could lift Gaza from chronic poverty into regional prosperity. They say the plan will replace aid dependency with market-driven growth, delivering something concrete where previous diplomatic initiatives have failed. However, the obstacles confronting Project Sunrise are formidable. The most fundamental contradiction appears within the proposal itself: the plan cannot begin unless Hamas agrees to fully demilitarise, surrendering all weapons and dismantling its tunnel network. The United States and Israel insist this is non-negotiable. And Hamas is unlikely to give up its arms and its coercive control over Gaza to facilitate an American real estate project closely aligned with Israeli strategic interests. While there were indications that Hamas might relinquish administrative control to a Palestinian governing authority, Israel has objections to the presence of certain Palestinian technocrats, further undermining consensus. Financing presents another major challenge. Washington has positioned itself as an anchor investor, proposing close to $60 billion in grants and loan guarantees during the first decaderoughly a fifth of the initial funding. The remainder is expected to come from Gulf states, Turkey and private capital. Yet US officials privately concede that persuading foreign governments and investors to commit billions to a territory with an uncertain security outlook will be difficult. As Secretary of State Marco Rubio has acknowledged, few investors will risk capital if renewed conflict seems likely. Critics also highlight a philosophical contradiction at the heart of the initiative. Although the White House avoids the term, Project Sunrise resembles large-scale nation-buildingan approach Trump has historically criticised. The phased strategy, which assumes security can be stabilised incrementally from south to north, relies on a level of cooperation that is currently absent. Even the initial ceasefire arrangements remain fragile, undermined by unresolved disputes and the lack of progress towards a permanent end to hostilities. The role of the plans architects, especially Kushner, will also face intense scrutiny. The presidents son-in-law heads Affinity Partners, a private equity firm backed heavily by Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds. His approach to the ArabIsraeli conflict appears heavily influenced by investment performance and development indicators. It seems Kushner and the US team of negotiators expect economic incentives to trump entrenched ideological and political conflicts. Supporters see this as pragmatic optimism while critics argue it underestimates the depth of historical grievances and power asymmetries. In the end, Project Sunrise reads less like a peace accord and more like a luxury development prospectus inserted into one of the worlds most volatile conflicts. It offers a detailed vision of what Gaza might one day become, but provides little clarity on how to navigate the political, security and humanitarian realities that would precede any groundbreaking ceremony. Until those basic issues are addressed, the Riviera project is unlikely to take off. Slain Inquilab Mancha leader Sharif Osman Hadi was laid to rest on Saturday with full state honours at the Bangladesh Parliament's South Plaza. Ahead of the funeral prayers for the radical leader behind the ouster of ex-PM Sheikh Hasina, party secretary Abdullah Al Jaber issued a 24-hour ultimatum, demanding that the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government make serious progress in the investigation into Hadi's death. #WATCH | Bangladesh | The funeral procession of Osman Hadi, a key leader in the protests against Sheikh Hasina, who died on 18 December, is underway at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka. pic.twitter.com/FSoJSfM6TT ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2025 Calling out Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and the Yunus aide Khoda Baksh Chowdhury, he demanded that they brief the public on what steps had been taken within 24 hours, criticising the authorities for failing to bring the shooters to justice more than a week after Hadi's death. Why have we come here? We have come here to avenge our brother," he said in his speech, later urging party supporters not to respond to any calls for violence, as per a Financial Express Bangladesh report. He also urged people to gather at Shahbagh after the funeral. Dear Osman Hadi, we have not come here to say goodbye. As long as Bangladesh exists, you will remain an inseparable part of this nation," Yunus had said, at the funeral. The radical leader's death has sent shockwaves through Bangladesh, with the students who led the violent July 2024 protests back onto the streets againthis time as an organised political party under the banner of the National Citizen Party (NCP)joined by cadres of other political parties, demanding justice for Hadi. He had been shot by unidentified assailants in Dhaka on December 12 in Dhaka's Bijoy Nagar area, and was later transferred to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries. The attack comes months ahead of the pollsspecifically, a day after Dhaka's Election Commission announced that the 13th parliamentary election would be held on February 12, 2026. Days of unrest seem to be back in Pakistan's restive Balochistan as suspected insurgents reportedly detonated bombs targeting two trains, including the Jaffar Express, reports said. While the intended damage was not caused by the blasts, the militants did succeed in damaging railway tracks and disrupting services in the region, Pakistani officials reportedly confirmed on Saturday. The railway disruptions were caused by damage to the tracks on the main line. However, there were no immediate reports of loss of life following the blasts. It was also not known if it was the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) that was behind the attacks. While the first blast damaged about three feet of railway track in Mushkaf, the second one was reported in the Dasht area, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Quetta, Shahid Nawaz, was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. While the first bomb's target was found to be the Jaffar Express, the second attack intended to hit the Bolan Mail, the police official revealed. The Bolan Mail is a long-distance train that runs between Karachi and Quetta, the capital of Balochistan. The train is named after the Bolan Pass, a historic mountain pass in Balochistan. Nawaz said that from Saturday, security approval will be granted before confirming passenger train schedules from Quetta to other provinces of Pakistan. The safety and security of the passengers is paramount to us, and special security measures are being taken for all Quetta-outbound passenger trains, he said. Amid security concerns, a special service of the Jaffar Express train was allowed to leave for Peshawar on Saturday. A railway official said a special service of the Jaffar Express was run to manage the passenger rush, while normal services are waiting for security clearance. It is not the first time insurgents have attacked the Jaffar Express, and its service has already been hit multiple times this year. Insurgents have attacked the Jaffar Express and Bolan Mail at least three times in the past two months, damaging tracks but causing no deaths. On 11 March, the train became the target of an unprecedented hijacking when terrorists fired on the locomotive and took nearly 400 passengers hostage. Over 20 people were killed in the attack, while security forces rescued others and killed 33 insurgents. Bangladesh is holding the funeral of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi today, following the unrest in the country after his death. The funeral is scheduled to take place at 2 pm today, according to a press release from the interim government of Bangladesh. Several restrictions have been imposed in the areas of the funeral, the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The Chief Advisor's Facebook page asked those attending the funeral not to carry any bags or heavy objects to the area. Flying drones around the parliament building has also been banned. The Dhaka Metropolitan police also deployed around 1000 police personnel wearing body cameras to maintain order during the namas-e-janaza or the funeral rites. #WATCH | Dhaka, Bangladesh | Supporters of Osman Hadi, a key leader in the protests against Sheikh Hasina, have started arriving at Manik Mia Avenue to attend Hadi's funeral procession that will be held later today. After the death of Osman Hadi, Bangladesh erupted in unrest, pic.twitter.com/NmaffvLprg ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2025 According to the a social media post by the Inqilab macha Hadi, he will be buried next to the grave of the port Kazi Narul islam. Sharif Osman Hadi was a youth political leader who was known for forming the Inqilab Manch. He quickly built support for his group by organising rallies and demanding recognition of the July uprising against the Sheikh Hasina government. He was also known for his anti-India and anti-Awami League statements. He was shot and severely injured on December 12 after an election campaign in the Capital's Paltan area. He was a candidate for the February 2026 election. He was airlifted to Singapore for treatment, where he died. Interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus vowed swift justice, saying no leniency will be shown to those involved in Hadis brutal murder. He also urged citizens to maintain patience and restraint. An unrest erupted in the capital after news of his death spread, and the buildings of two prominent left-leaning media houses were subject to arson and vandalism by a right-wing mob. The U.S. Justice Department released the first batch of thousands of heavily redacted documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday. The documents made scant reference to President Donald Trump but extensively featured Democratic former President Bill Clinton, according to U.S. media reports. Most of the scattered references to Trump, or images of him, were already in the public domain. The documents included photos of Trump and Melania Trump with Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Written references to the president appeared in Epstein's address book and flight logs, as well as in a message book. Trump's name also appears in interviews with Maxwell, whose transcripts had previously been made public by the Justice Department and were rereleased on Friday. The US Justice Department released a new trove of documents from its investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, bowing to pressure from lawmakers who forced their disclosure with a new law https://t.co/DKYUUQRWa6 pic.twitter.com/HpGkcOxFPq Reuters (@Reuters) December 20, 2025 The documents were released a month after Trump signed a bill on November 19 that mandated the release of most of the Justice Department's files on Epstein within 30 days. According to an Associated Press report, many of the most discussed photos in the files feature Clinton, who has acknowledged traveling on Epstein's private jet but said he had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes. Some of the photos show Clinton on a private plane, including one with a woman sitting on his lap. Her face is redacted from the photo, the report said. One photo shows Clinton in a pool with British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, who has been convicted of luring young girls to Epstein so he could abuse them, along with another person whose face is redacted. Another shows Clinton in a hot tub with a woman whose face is redacted. The US on Friday launched massive airstrikes in Syria, targeting the Islamic State's terror group, in retaliation to the killing of two US troops and an American interpreter almost a week ago. The US officials claimed that around 70 targets across central Syria were targeted in what they called Operation Hawkeye. The strike was conducted using F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters, the officials said. F-16 fighter jets from Jordan and HIMARS rocket artillery were also used in the operation. "This is not the beginning of a war; it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump's leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people," Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on social media. "As we said directly following the savage attack, if you target Americans -- anywhere in the world -- you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you. Today, we hunted, and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue," he added. Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria. This is not the beginning of a war it is a Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) December 19, 2025 President Donald Trump had earlier vowed a "very serious retaliation" after the killing of the soldiers who were among hundreds of US troops deployed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition fighting the terrorist group. "We are striking very strongly against ISIS strongholds in Syria, a place soaked in blood which has many problems, but one that has a bright future if ISIS can be eradicated," he had said. Trump, however, reiterated his support for Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, who he said was fully in support of the US effort to target the militant group. "YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A," he added in an all-caps threat. The two US troopsSgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowawere killed while engaging hostile forces in Palmyra, Syria. Both soldiers were assigned to the Iowa National Guard's 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division. Theres always a certain anticipation when Madhuri Dixit returns to the screen. That carries over to Mrs Deshpande, her latest outing a six-part series by Nagesh Kukunoor, streaming on JioHotstar. Cast against type, Dixit steps into territory she has rarely explored, her trademark smile taking on a menacing edge. She plays Mrs Deshpande, a convicted serial killer responsible for eight murders. Yet, in the end, this crime-thriller boils down to just that a show content with presenting Dixit in shades of grey. A remake of the French series La Mante (2017), Mrs Deshpande is absurd almost from the start. It opens with a young Bollywood actor ordering two Russians over the phone before heading off to do drugs -only to be murdered soon after, in a manner identical to a string of killings from 25 years ago. Two more murders follow in a similarly staged fashion, prompting commissioner Arun Khatri (an exceedingly stoic Priyanshu Chatterjee) to bring back Seema Deshpande (Dixit) to help track the serial killer now on the loose. The logic? Why not bring in the original to catch the copycat? Deshpande agrees but only on one condition that the probe must be led by an officer, Tejas Phadke (Siddharth Chandekar), her estranged son, who doesnt remember her. Even for a work of fiction, the premise is difficult to stomach. Why the Mumbai Police would need the help of a serial killer, convicted to life imprisonment, to catch another murderer is never convincingly justified. What makes matters worse are the scenarios staged around this implausible logic. At one point, Deshpande appears to abet a suicide while under police watch, with no consequences. In another instance, she drugs the officers assigned to guard her and injures one of them in a manner eerily similar to her own killings. And yet, the Mumbai Police continues to place its trust in her. Eventually, it becomes hard to tell whether the series is invested in Deshpandes intelligence or in testing the audiences patience. For a crime thriller, Mrs Deshpande generates little urgency in finding who the copycat killer is. Instead, it is more invested in framing Deshpande as a vigilante criminal one who targets only bad people, as if it never fully trusts that the audience would be able to accept Dixit in that light. Female rage could have been an interesting territory to explore. But the series never probes Deshpandes psyche with real depth, flattening her violence into a familiar tale of broken people and moral binaries, stripping her actions of complexity. The writing is never as complex as it believes itself to be. The dialogues, in fact, are laughably flat. Many of the scenarios feel eerily familiar, like what weve long witnessed on shows like CID or Crime Patrol, only that those managed to generate far more interest. You were right, Tejas. I shouldnt have trusted her, the commissioner admits at one point, prompting only one response: exactly. Much of the show rests on Dixit, who remains mysterious but never quite terrifying enough for a serial killer. There is little real menace in her presence; in fact, she is almost too nice to inhabit a character meant to inspire fear convincingly. And its a miss particularly because an actor of her calibre is finally given a markedly different character to portray, one that could have been compelling, but ends up being a missed opportunity. As for the actors, the performances are uniformly flat, as if mirroring the writing itself. In the end, Mrs Deshpande is easily skippable. And if youre watching it for Dixit alone, it is likely to test both your patience and your intelligence more than once. Film: Mrs Deshpande Director: Nagesh Kukunoor Cast: Madhuri Dixit, Kenneth Desai, Umakant Patil, Pradeep Velankar, Hardik Soni Rating: 1.5/5 Sendas Distribuidora S.A. Sponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:ASAIY Get Free Report) traded down 9.5% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $6.78 and last traded at $6.78. 2,054 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 98% from the average session volume of 88,140 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.49. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth ASAIY has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Sendas Distribuidora from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Sunday, August 24th. Citigroup lowered shares of Sendas Distribuidora from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, November 27th. Finally, Zacks Research cut shares of Sendas Distribuidora from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 27th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Sendas Distribuidora has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Sendas Distribuidora alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on Sendas Distribuidora Sendas Distribuidora Trading Down 0.5% Sendas Distribuidora Company Profile The stock has a market cap of $1.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.40, a P/E/G ratio of 0.40 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.32, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $8.15. (Get Free Report) Sendas Distribuidora SA is a Brazilian retail and distribution company that operates in the grocery and consumer goods sector. The companys core activities include operating retail outlets and managing distribution operations that supply food, beverages, household products and personal-care items to end consumers and commercial customers. Its business model centers on combining in-store retailing with logistics and supply-chain services to move fast?moving consumer goods across its network. Product categories handled by Sendas typically include fresh and packaged foods, dairy and frozen goods, beverages, cleaning and household supplies, and health and beauty products. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Sendas Distribuidora Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sendas Distribuidora and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eurofins Scient (OTCMKTS:ERFSF Get Free Report)s share price was up 6.2% on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $71.22 and last traded at $71.22. Approximately 502 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 67% from the average daily volume of 1,505 shares. The stock had previously closed at $67.0580. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts recently commented on ERFSF shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating on shares of Eurofins Scient in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Eurofins Scient in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Eurofins Scient alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Eurofins Scient Eurofins Scient Stock Down 0.7% Eurofins Scient Company Profile The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $69.93 and a 200 day simple moving average of $72.47. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. (Get Free Report) Eurofins Scientific is a global provider of bioanalytical testing and laboratory services, offering a wide array of testing solutions to pharmaceutical, food, environmental, agriscience and consumer products industries. Its core services include pharmaceutical quality control, environmental testing for water and air quality, food safety analysis, agrochemical trials and clinical diagnostic support. The company operates specialized laboratories equipped with advanced analytical technologies such as chromatography, mass spectrometry and molecular biology to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and to support research and development efforts across multiple sectors. Founded in 1987 by Gilles Martin and headquartered in Luxembourg, Eurofins has grown through a combination of organic expansion and strategic acquisitions. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Eurofins Scient Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eurofins Scient and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM Get Free Report)s stock price was down 3.4% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $275.08 and last traded at $277.0190. Approximately 16,304,311 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 14% from the average daily volume of 14,262,549 shares. The stock had previously closed at $286.87. Key Headlines Impacting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Here are the key news stories impacting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing this week: Get Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages have recently weighed in on TSM. Itau BBA Securities initiated coverage on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. They issued an outperform rating for the company. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $330.00 to $355.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price target on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $290.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Sunday, December 7th. Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Sunday, December 14th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $355.00. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Price Performance The business has a 50-day moving average price of $292.52 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $259.45. The company has a quick ratio of 2.47, a current ratio of 2.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The company has a market capitalization of $1.50 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.31. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 16th. The semiconductor company reported $2.92 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.59 by $0.33. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 43.72% and a return on equity of 34.34%. The business had revenue of $32.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $951.89 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.94 EPS. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings quarterly revenue was up 40.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 EPS for the current year. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be paid a $0.9678 dividend. This represents a $3.87 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. This is a boost from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 17th. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 25.85%. Institutional Trading of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in TSM. AIA Group Ltd bought a new position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the third quarter valued at about $2,659,000. Mirabella Financial Services LLP increased its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 122.8% in the third quarter. Mirabella Financial Services LLP now owns 17,361 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $4,839,000 after purchasing an additional 9,570 shares in the last quarter. Mainstay Capital Management LLC ADV bought a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 3rd quarter valued at $328,000. Lynwood Price Capital Management LP raised its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 254.5% during the 3rd quarter. Lynwood Price Capital Management LP now owns 58,500 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $16,338,000 after purchasing an additional 42,000 shares during the period. Finally, Saranac Partners Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the third quarter valued at about $5,361,000. Institutional investors own 16.51% of the companys stock. About Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (Get Free Report) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is a leading pure-play semiconductor foundry that provides wafer fabrication and related services to the global semiconductor industry. Founded in 1987 by Morris Chang and headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, TSMC manufactures integrated circuits on behalf of fabless and integrated device manufacturers, offering contract chip production across a broad set of technologies and products. TSMCs service offering covers logic and mixed-signal process technologies, specialty processes for radio-frequency, power management and embedded memory, and advanced nodes used in mobile, high-performance computing and AI applications. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shiseido (OTCMKTS:SSDOY Get Free Report) and Tristar Wellness Solutions (OTCMKTS:TWSI Get Free Report) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, risk and earnings. Institutional & Insider Ownership 0.0% of Shiseido shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Get Shiseido alerts: Profitability This table compares Shiseido and Tristar Wellness Solutions net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Shiseido -5.80% -1.36% -0.67% Tristar Wellness Solutions N/A N/A N/A Earnings & Valuation Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Shiseido $6.55 billion 0.91 -$68.94 million ($0.94) -15.95 Tristar Wellness Solutions N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A This table compares Shiseido and Tristar Wellness Solutionss top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Tristar Wellness Solutions has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Shiseido. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Shiseido and Tristar Wellness Solutions, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Shiseido 0 1 1 0 2.50 Tristar Wellness Solutions 0 0 0 0 0.00 Risk & Volatility Shiseido has a beta of 0.37, meaning that its stock price is 63% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Tristar Wellness Solutions has a beta of 14.19, meaning that its stock price is 1,319% more volatile than the S&P 500. About Shiseido (Get Free Report) Shiseido Company, Limited engages in the production and sale of cosmetics in Japan and internationally. The company offers fragrances; and skincare and makeup products. It also engages in the restaurant and food, and retail businesses; and operates beauty salons. In addition, the company operates and supports SABFA, a professional hair makeup training school. Further, it offers childcare facilities. The company sells its products through department, specialized cosmetic, drug, and general merchandise stores. Shiseido Company, Limited was founded in 1872 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. About Tristar Wellness Solutions (Get Free Report) TriStar Wellness Solutions, Inc. develops, markets, and sells wound care products. The company also offers skincare and other products under the Beaute de Maman name for pregnant and nursing women; bleeding and wound management products for surgical, health care, consumer, and military markets; and develops and markets Delivery Devise with Invertible Diaphragm, which is a medical applicator for delivering medicants and internal devices within the body without producing injury or damage. In addition, it develops over-the-counter itch suppression products; and develops, manufactures, and markets wound care and infection control medical devices. The company was formerly known as BioPack Environmental Solutions, Inc. and changed its name to TriStar Wellness Solutions, Inc. in January 2013. TriStar Wellness Solutions, Inc. was incorporated in 2000 and is based in Portland, Oregon. On January 15, 2016, TriStar Wellness Solutions, Inc. filed a voluntary petition for liquidation under Chapter 7 in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon. Receive News & Ratings for Shiseido Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shiseido and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vertical Aerospace Ltd. (NYSE:EVTL Get Free Report)s share price traded down 10.6% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $5.03 and last traded at $5.0850. 2,102,509 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 74% from the average session volume of 1,207,987 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.69. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts recently commented on EVTL shares. Canaccord Genuity Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $11.00 price target on shares of Vertical Aerospace in a research report on Monday, September 22nd. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $15.00 target price on shares of Vertical Aerospace in a research note on Thursday, September 18th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d-) rating on shares of Vertical Aerospace in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating on shares of Vertical Aerospace in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $11.00 price objective (up previously from $9.00) on shares of Vertical Aerospace in a research note on Monday. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $11.80. Get Vertical Aerospace alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Vertical Aerospace Vertical Aerospace Trading Up 5.1% The firms fifty day simple moving average is $4.89 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $5.36. The company has a market capitalization of $545.86 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.11 and a beta of 1.23. Vertical Aerospace (NYSE:EVTL Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported ($0.32) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.23) by ($0.09). As a group, analysts forecast that Vertical Aerospace Ltd. will post -3.95 EPS for the current fiscal year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vertical Aerospace Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Vertical Aerospace by 120.0% in the 2nd quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 3,788 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 2,066 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its holdings in Vertical Aerospace by 144.3% in the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 8,211 shares of the companys stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 4,850 shares during the last quarter. Rathbones Group PLC raised its position in Vertical Aerospace by 16.4% in the third quarter. Rathbones Group PLC now owns 61,273 shares of the companys stock valued at $318,000 after purchasing an additional 8,626 shares during the period. Quarry LP acquired a new position in Vertical Aerospace during the third quarter worth $49,000. Finally, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. acquired a new position in Vertical Aerospace during the third quarter worth $52,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.17% of the companys stock. About Vertical Aerospace (Get Free Report) Vertical Aerospace is a United Kingdombased aerospace manufacturer specializing in the development of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for urban air mobility. Founded in 2016 by entrepreneur Stephen Fitzpatrick, the company is publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker EVTL. Vertical Aerospaces mission is to deliver zero-emission, high-speed electric aircraft designed to transform short-haul journeys in densely populated areas. The companys flagship model, the VA-X4, is a piloted, five-seat eVTOL craft engineered for quiet operation, low running costs and minimal environmental impact. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Vertical Aerospace Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vertical Aerospace and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Eloro Resources Ltd. (CVE:ELO Get Free Report) traded up 5.4% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as C$3.55 and last traded at C$3.50. 144,360 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 36% from the average session volume of 106,080 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$3.32. Eloro Resources Price Performance The firms 50 day simple moving average is C$3.50 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$3.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 9.70 and a quick ratio of 3.75. The firm has a market capitalization of C$260.56 million, a P/E ratio of -30.36 and a beta of 1.46. About Eloro Resources (Get Free Report) Eloro Resources Ltd. engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties. It explores for gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, tin, bismuth, indium, and other base metal properties. The company holds 99% interest in the Iska Iska project, a polymetallic property consisting of one mineral concession covering an area of approximately 900 hectares located in Potosi Department, southern Bolivia; and 82% interest in the La Victoria Gold/Silver project that consists of 16 concessions covering an area of 8,933 hectares located in the North-Central Mineral Belt of Peru. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Eloro Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eloro Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Severn Trent PLC (OTCMKTS:STRNY Get Free Report) shares shot up 1.9% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $37.77 and last traded at $37.65. 11,977 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 57% from the average session volume of 27,546 shares. The stock had previously closed at $36.96. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages recently weighed in on STRNY. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Severn Trent in a research report on Friday, August 29th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Severn Trent from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, September 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Severn Trent has an average rating of Buy. Get Severn Trent alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on STRNY Severn Trent Trading Down 0.7% Severn Trent Dividend Announcement The stocks 50 day moving average is $37.35 and its 200 day moving average is $36.47. The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 22nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.6091 per share. This represents a yield of 409.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 1st. Severn Trents payout ratio is presently 147.68%. About Severn Trent (Get Free Report) Severn Trent Plc (OTCMKTS:STRNY) is an integrated water utility company based in Coventry, United Kingdom, specializing in the provision of water supply and wastewater treatment services. As one of the principal regulated water and sewerage companies in England and Wales, it delivers clean drinking water to households and businesses, manages sewer networks, operates sewage treatment works, and maintains extensive water infrastructure across its service regions. Its operations are governed by regulatory frameworks that aim to ensure high standards of water quality, environmental protection, and customer service. The company traces its origins to the privatization of the regional water authorities in England and Wales in 1989. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Severn Trent Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Severn Trent and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Image Source: (AP Images/Michael Brochstein) It's as predictable as it is disgusting. Antigun politicians before knowing any facts, or even worse ignoring them rush to demand more antigun restrictions on law-abiding citizens in the wake of horrible tragedies perpetrated by deranged criminals. Doing so doesn't keep people safe. Suppressing Constitutional rights leaves good people defenseless and emboldens those who don't care about laws in the first place. After the recent horrible tragedies at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, and at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, it was the same predictable demands from gun control activists and antigun politicians, despite the fact that none of the demands would have prevented the horrific events nor prevent them from happening in the future. For the gun control advocates and politicians making such demands, it's the same song every time blame everything else but the criminal and penalize good, peaceful people. Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. (NYSE:HVT.A Get Free Report)s share price rose 1.1% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $26.14 and last traded at $25.1060. Approximately 2,787 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 4,313% from the average daily volume of 63 shares. The stock had previously closed at $24.84. Haverty Furniture Companies Price Performance The firms 50 day moving average is $22.91 and its 200 day moving average is $22.08. The company has a market cap of $408.47 million, a PE ratio of 22.02 and a beta of 0.90. Get Haverty Furniture Companies alerts: Haverty Furniture Companies (NYSE:HVT.A Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The company reported $0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $194.48 million during the quarter. About Haverty Furniture Companies Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc is a publicly traded real estate investment trust specializing in owning and managing retail and distribution properties for the furniture industry. Established in 2019 as a spin-off from Havertys Furniture Stores, Inc, the companys portfolio consists of strategically located facilitiesincluding showroom locations and distribution centersleased primarily to its former parent under long-term, net lease agreements. By focusing on single-tenant commercial real estate tailored to furniture retailing and logistics, Haverty Furniture Companies aims to deliver stable, predictable rental income and to support the growth of its tenants national retail network. At the time of its formation, Haverty Furniture Companies acquired a mix of properties encompassing corporate distribution centers, regional distribution hubs and retail showrooms across several key markets in the Southeastern and Southwestern United States. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Haverty Furniture Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Haverty Furniture Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc (OTCMKTS:HTKKY Get Free Report) shares fell 2.2% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $53.89 and last traded at $53.89. 100 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 0% from the average session volume of 100 shares. The stock had previously closed at $55.10. Hitachi Kokusai Electric Stock Down 2.2% The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $53.89 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $53.89. Get Hitachi Kokusai Electric alerts: About Hitachi Kokusai Electric (Get Free Report) Hitachi Kokusai Electric Co, Ltd. is a Japan-based manufacturer specializing in professional video equipment, security and industrial systems, and medical imaging solutions. As a member of the Hitachi Group, the company leverages advanced electronic and optical technologies to serve broadcast professionals, security integrators, and healthcare providers worldwide. The companys Broadcast & Professional Video division designs and produces high-definition studio cameras, video switchers, signal processors, and recording systems for television networks and production houses. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Hitachi Kokusai Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hitachi Kokusai Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. John Wood Group PLC (LON:WG Get Free Report) insider Birgitte Brinch Madsen sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 24, for a total transaction of 2,400. John Wood Group Price Performance LON:WG opened at GBX 23.66 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average is GBX 20.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 66.97, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.98. The firm has a market cap of 195.82 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.33 and a beta of 1.36. Get John Wood Group alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Peel Hunt reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a GBX 30 target price on shares of John Wood Group in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of GBX 30. John Wood Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) John Wood Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of consulting, project management, and engineering solutions to energy and built environment worldwide. It operates through Projects, Operations, Consulting, and Investment Services segments. The Projects segment provides engineering design and project management services across energy and materials markets including oil and gas, chemicals, mining, minerals, and life sciences. The Operations segment offers maintenance, modifications, brownfield engineering, asset management, repair and overhaul, and decommissioning services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for John Wood Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for John Wood Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX Free Report) had its price target hoisted by Royal Bank Of Canada from $125.00 to $130.00 in a research note released on Wednesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has an outperform rating on the medical equipment providers stock. Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Cowen reiterated a buy rating on shares of Boston Scientific in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $123.00 to $128.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of Boston Scientific from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, October 3rd. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Boston Scientific from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $132.00 target price on shares of Boston Scientific in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Boston Scientific currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $124.85. Get Boston Scientific alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on BSX Boston Scientific Trading Down 0.5% BSX stock opened at $95.61 on Wednesday. Boston Scientific has a twelve month low of $85.98 and a twelve month high of $109.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $141.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $98.64 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $101.28. Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The medical equipment provider reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.04. Boston Scientific had a net margin of 14.43% and a return on equity of 19.46%. The firm had revenue of $5.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.97 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.63 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 20.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Boston Scientific has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.020-3.040 EPS and its Q4 2025 guidance at 0.770-0.790 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Boston Scientific will post 2.85 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling In other Boston Scientific news, EVP Joseph Michael Fitzgerald sold 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, November 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.47, for a total transaction of $4,973,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 178,342 shares in the company, valued at $17,739,678.74. This represents a 21.90% 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. Also, EVP Arthur C. Butcher sold 17,313 shares of Boston Scientific stock in a transaction on Monday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $101.55, for a total value of $1,758,135.15. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 23,600 shares in the company, valued at $2,396,580. This represents a 42.32% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 143,095 shares of company stock valued at $14,228,950 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.50% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BSX. Steph & Co. acquired a new stake in Boston Scientific in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Financial Consulate Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Boston Scientific in the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp grew its stake in Boston Scientific by 200.0% during the 3rd quarter. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp now owns 255 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. 1248 Management LLC acquired a new position in Boston Scientific during the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Finally, FWL Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Boston Scientific in the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.07% of the companys stock. Key Stores Impacting Boston Scientific Here are the key news stories impacting Boston Scientific this week: About Boston Scientific (Get Free Report) Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) is a global medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of products used in less-invasive medical procedures. Founded in 1979 by John Abele and Peter Nicholas, the company is headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and focuses on technologies that enable physicians to treat a wide range of cardiovascular, digestive, urologic, pulmonary and chronic pain conditions without open surgery. Boston Scientifics activities span product development, clinical research, regulatory affairs and commercial sales. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Boston Scientific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boston Scientific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rosenblatt Securities reissued their buy rating on shares of Emerald (NYSE:EEX Free Report) in a research report report published on Wednesday morning,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a $7.70 price objective on the stock. Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d) rating on shares of Emerald in a research note on Monday. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Emerald from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $7.70. Get Emerald alerts: Get Our Latest Report on EEX Emerald Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:EEX opened at $4.69 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.81. Emerald has a 1 year low of $3.21 and a 1 year high of $5.45. The firm has a market capitalization of $927.73 million, a PE ratio of 156.39 and a beta of 0.77. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $4.16 and its 200-day moving average price is $4.70. Emerald (NYSE:EEX Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 31st. The company reported ($0.07) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.04) by ($0.03). Emerald had a net margin of 1.05% and a return on equity of 1.20%. The firm had revenue of $77.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $76.80 million. Emerald Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 20th. Investors of record on Monday, November 10th were issued a $0.015 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 10th. This represents a $0.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.3%. Emeralds dividend payout ratio is currently 200.00%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Emerald Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. State of Alaska Department of Revenue acquired a new position in Emerald during the third quarter worth $31,000. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey purchased a new stake in shares of Emerald in the 2nd quarter valued at $33,000. Vontobel Holding Ltd. acquired a new position in Emerald during the 2nd quarter worth about $61,000. Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in Emerald during the 1st quarter worth about $78,000. Finally, Copeland Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Emerald by 16.4% during the 2nd quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC now owns 19,328 shares of the companys stock valued at $94,000 after acquiring an additional 2,718 shares during the period. 14.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Emerald (Get Free Report) Emerald (NYSE: EEX) is a global provider of independent data, news and analytics for commodity, financial and energy markets. The company operates digital platforms that deliver real-time and historical price assessments, market commentary, research reports and risk-management tools. Its subscriber base spans traders, asset managers, corporate hedgers and financial institutions seeking timely intelligence to support trading, risk management and investment decisions. Serving clients across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, Emerald covers a broad range of markets including metals, energy products, agriculture, freight, environmental emissions and treasury benchmarks. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Emerald Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Emerald and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) had its price target raised by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods from $92.00 to $101.00 in a research report released on Wednesday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have a market perform rating on the financial services providers stock. Several other equities analysts also recently commented on WFC. 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 note on Wednesday, October 15th. Cfra Research upgraded shares of Wells Fargo & Company to a moderate buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 23rd. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $95.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on Wells Fargo & Company from $87.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $92.04. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Wells Fargo & Company Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance NYSE:WFC opened at $93.03 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $292.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.30, a PEG ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.11. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $86.77 and a 200 day simple moving average of $82.32. 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 1-year low of $58.42 and a 1-year high of $94.26. 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 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.55 by $0.18. The firm had revenue of $21.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.11 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.51% and a net margin of 17.18%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.42 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 earnings per share for the current year. Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 7th were issued a $0.45 dividend. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.61%. Institutional Trading of Wells Fargo & Company Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Brighton Jones LLC increased its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 62.3% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 66,233 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,652,000 after purchasing an additional 25,436 shares in the last quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 10.0% in the first quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 31,566 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,266,000 after buying an additional 2,881 shares in the last quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S grew its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 15.3% during the first quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S now owns 240,437 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $17,261,000 after buying an additional 31,986 shares during the last quarter. Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V. increased its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 2.7% during the first quarter. Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V. now owns 90,156 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,472,000 after buying an additional 2,348 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Venture Visionary Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 37.9% during the first quarter. Venture Visionary Partners LLC now owns 35,870 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,575,000 after buying an additional 9,850 shares in the last quarter. 75.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Wells Fargo & Company News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Wells Fargo & Company this week: Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile (Get Free Report) Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified, U.S.-based financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1852 by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo, the firm has evolved from its origins in express delivery and pioneer-era banking into one of the largest full-service banks in the United States. The company provides a broad range of financial products and services to individual, small business, commercial, and institutional clients. Charles W. Scharf serves as chief executive officer. Wells Fargo operates across several core business segments, including consumer banking and lending, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, and wealth and investment management. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM Free Report) had its price objective reduced by Citigroup from $250.00 to $220.00 in a research note published on Wednesday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have a neutral rating on the stock. Several other brokerages also recently issued reports on SAM. Piper Sandler lowered their price target on Boston Beer from $230.00 to $220.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 21st. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on Boston Beer from $230.00 to $225.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 30th. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d+) rating on shares of Boston Beer in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Boston Beer from $230.00 to $246.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, October 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $248.37. Get Boston Beer alerts: Get Our Latest Report on Boston Beer Boston Beer Stock Performance NYSE SAM opened at $200.32 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.62, a PEG ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.06. Boston Beer has a one year low of $185.34 and a one year high of $310.47. The companys 50 day moving average price is $204.78 and its 200 day moving average price is $209.64. Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 23rd. The company reported $4.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.78 by $0.47. Boston Beer had a net margin of 4.38% and a return on equity of 12.29%. The company had revenue of $537.49 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $542.97 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.86 earnings per share. Boston Beers revenue for the quarter was down 11.2% on a year-over-year basis. Boston Beer has set its FY 2025 guidance at 7.800-9.800 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Boston Beer will post 9.29 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Boston Beer news, Director Michael Spillane sold 3,120 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $205.78, for a total value of $642,033.60. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 10,877 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,238,269.06. This represents a 22.29% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 26.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Boston Beer A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in SAM. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its holdings in Boston Beer by 10.5% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 1,402 shares of the companys stock valued at $335,000 after acquiring an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Boston Beer by 1.8% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 865,251 shares of the companys stock worth $206,657,000 after purchasing an additional 15,563 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Boston Beer by 5.4% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 99,457 shares of the companys stock worth $23,754,000 after purchasing an additional 5,101 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Boston Beer by 10.3% in the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 109,259 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,095,000 after purchasing an additional 10,241 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Algert Global LLC lifted its position in shares of Boston Beer by 123.3% during the first quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 13,186 shares of the companys stock worth $3,149,000 after purchasing an additional 7,280 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.13% of the companys stock. Boston Beer Company Profile (Get Free Report) The Boston Beer Company, Inc (NYSE: SAM) is a leading craft brewer headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Since its founding in 1984 by Jim Koch, the company has focused on producing high-quality, distinctive beers and beverages for retail, on-premise, and distribution partners across the United States. Its operations include brewing, packaging, marketing and distribution, supported by a network of wholly owned brewing facilities and strategic partnerships with regional breweries. Boston Beers flagship brand, Samuel Adams Boston Lager, helped establish the modern U.S. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Boston Beer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boston Beer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE:GWRE Get Free Report) insider James Winston King sold 1,457 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $192.08, for a total transaction of $279,860.56. Following the transaction, the insider owned 35,562 shares in the company, valued at $6,830,748.96. The trade was a 3.94% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. James Winston King also recently made the following trade(s): Get Guidewire Software alerts: On Thursday, December 18th, James Winston King sold 1,860 shares of Guidewire Software stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $195.00, for a total transaction of $362,700.00. On Monday, November 17th, James Winston King sold 798 shares of Guidewire Software stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $222.54, for a total value of $177,586.92. On Monday, October 20th, James Winston King sold 798 shares of Guidewire Software stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $245.70, for a total value of $196,068.60. Guidewire Software Price Performance GWRE opened at $199.96 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $221.60 and a 200 day moving average of $228.06. Guidewire Software, Inc. has a 52-week low of $165.08 and a 52-week high of $272.60. The company has a quick ratio of 3.48, a current ratio of 3.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The stock has a market cap of $17.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 190.44, a PEG ratio of 12.93 and a beta of 1.08. Key Guidewire Software News Guidewire Software ( NYSE:GWRE Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, December 3rd. The technology company reported $0.66 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.66. The business had revenue of $332.64 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $316.62 million. Guidewire Software had a return on equity of 10.15% and a net margin of 7.23%.The businesss revenue was up 26.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.43 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Guidewire Software, Inc. will post 0.52 EPS for the current year. Here are the key news stories impacting Guidewire Software this week: Positive Sentiment: DA Davidson upgraded Guidewire, which typically supports buying interest and headline-driven flows into the name. Read More. DA Davidson upgraded Guidewire, which typically supports buying interest and headline-driven flows into the name. Read More. Positive Sentiment: BTIG Research issued a bullish rating (reported as a Buy/Strong?Buy in coverage), adding to the recent cluster of upward analyst moves that can push momentum. Read More. BTIG Research issued a bullish rating (reported as a Buy/Strong?Buy in coverage), adding to the recent cluster of upward analyst moves that can push momentum. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Shareholders approved the companys slate of directors, executive compensation and auditor at the annual meeting removes a governance overhang but is unlikely to move fundamentals. Read More. Shareholders approved the companys slate of directors, executive compensation and auditor at the annual meeting removes a governance overhang but is unlikely to move fundamentals. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Recent quarterly results showed revenue beat and EPS in line, supporting the bull case for recurring cloud revenue, but the market reaction is being driven more by analyst commentary than new fundamental surprises. Read More. Recent quarterly results showed revenue beat and EPS in line, supporting the bull case for recurring cloud revenue, but the market reaction is being driven more by analyst commentary than new fundamental surprises. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Clustered insider selling this week: CEO, President, CFO and CAO executed sales across Dec. 1618 (notable transactions include the CEO and President selling multi?thousand share blocks). Large insider sales can signal liquidity-taking and add short-term downward pressure. Read More. Clustered insider selling this week: CEO, President, CFO and CAO executed sales across Dec. 1618 (notable transactions include the CEO and President selling multi?thousand share blocks). Large insider sales can signal liquidity-taking and add short-term downward pressure. Read More. Negative Sentiment: CFO Jeffrey Elliott Cooper sold 1,232 shares on Dec. 18 (and previously sold additional lots), underscoring management-level selling amid the recent run?up. Investors often view repeated exec sales as a mild red flag. Read More. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Guidewire Software during the 3rd quarter worth $29,000. Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in Guidewire Software in the third quarter worth about $29,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Guidewire Software during the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Guidewire Software in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Finally, Westside Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Guidewire Software in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have recently commented on GWRE shares. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Guidewire Software from $270.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, September 5th. DA Davidson raised Guidewire Software from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $246.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on Guidewire Software from $270.00 to $288.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, September 5th. Citizens Jmp reiterated a market outperform rating and issued a $281.00 target price on shares of Guidewire Software in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, Raymond James Financial restated an outperform rating and set a $275.00 price target (up previously from $255.00) on shares of Guidewire Software in a research note on Friday, September 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $271.29. Read Our Latest Research Report on Guidewire Software About Guidewire Software (Get Free Report) Guidewire Software, Inc develops software products and cloud services for property and casualty (P&C) insurance carriers. Headquartered in San Mateo, California, the companys offerings are designed to help insurers manage the core functions of their businesspolicy administration, billing and claimswhile supporting digital engagement, analytics and operational modernization. Guidewires core product portfolio is commonly known as the InsuranceSuite, which includes PolicyCenter for policy administration, BillingCenter for billing and receivables, and ClaimCenter for claims management. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Guidewire Software Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Guidewire Software and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp trimmed its position in shares of United Community Banks, Inc. (NYSE:UCB Free Report) by 16.5% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 111,950 shares of the companys stock after selling 22,177 shares during the period. Texas Permanent School Fund Corps holdings in United Community Banks were worth $3,335,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in UCB. Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in shares of United Community Banks during the first quarter worth approximately $8,978,000. HighTower Advisors LLC bought a new stake in United Community Banks during the 1st quarter valued at $1,728,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its stake in United Community Banks by 4.9% during the 1st quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 101,973 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,869,000 after acquiring an additional 4,757 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. boosted its position in United Community Banks by 11.9% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 300,514 shares of the companys stock worth $8,454,000 after acquiring an additional 31,999 shares during the period. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in shares of United Community Banks by 149.3% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 886,741 shares of the companys stock worth $24,944,000 after purchasing an additional 531,058 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.29% of the companys stock. Get United Community Banks alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other United Community Banks news, EVP Richard Bradshaw sold 1,654 shares of United Community Banks stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.23, for a total value of $50,000.42. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 75,226 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,274,081.98. The trade was a 2.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.43% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of United Community Banks in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $35.40. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on UCB United Community Banks Stock Down 0.5% Shares of UCB stock opened at $32.21 on Friday. United Community Banks, Inc. has a 1 year low of $22.93 and a 1 year high of $34.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.80. The businesss fifty day moving average is $30.61 and its 200-day moving average is $30.89. The stock has a market cap of $3.92 billion, a PE ratio of 12.78 and a beta of 0.87. United Community Banks (NYSE:UCB Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The company reported $0.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.70 by $0.05. United Community Banks had a return on equity of 9.42% and a net margin of 20.67%.The business had revenue of $276.85 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $270.85 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.57 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 27.4% on a year-over-year basis. United Community Banks announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase plan on Monday, December 8th that authorizes the company to buyback $100.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to repurchase up to 2.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued. United Community Banks Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 5th. Investors of record on Monday, December 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 15th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.1%. United Community Bankss dividend payout ratio is currently 39.68%. About United Community Banks (Free Report) United Community Banks, Inc (NYSE: UCB) is a bank holding company headquartered in Blairsville, Georgia. It operates primarily through its subsidiary, United Community Bank, providing a broad range of banking and financial services to individual, business and governmental customers. The companys core offerings include deposit accounts, commercial and consumer lending, mortgage origination, treasury and cash management services, and wealth management. In addition to traditional banking products such as checking, savings and money market accounts, United Community Bank specializes in commercial real estate financing, small business administration (SBA) loans, equipment financing and agricultural lending. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UCB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for United Community Banks, Inc. (NYSE:UCB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for United Community Banks Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for United Community Banks and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp trimmed its position in Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS Free Report) by 32.1% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 39,216 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 18,510 shares during the period. Texas Permanent School Fund Corps holdings in Fidelity National Information Services were worth $3,193,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Fidelity National Information Services during the second quarter valued at $624,858,000. Baupost Group LLC MA bought a new stake in Fidelity National Information Services during the 1st quarter worth about $260,853,000. Boston Partners raised its holdings in Fidelity National Information Services by 10.5% during the 2nd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 11,820,211 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $958,537,000 after purchasing an additional 1,122,181 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Fidelity National Information Services by 71.7% during the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 2,483,575 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $201,294,000 after purchasing an additional 1,037,100 shares during the period. Finally, Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Fidelity National Information Services by 17.4% in the 1st quarter. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC now owns 6,666,499 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $497,854,000 after purchasing an additional 986,646 shares during the last quarter. 96.23% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Fidelity National Information Services alerts: Insider Transactions at Fidelity National Information Services In other Fidelity National Information Services news, Director Jeffrey A. Goldstein bought 889 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 15th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $67.66 per share, with a total value of $60,149.74. Following the purchase, the director owned 13,588 shares in the company, valued at $919,364.08. This trade represents a 7.00% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.21% of the companys stock. Fidelity National Information Services Price Performance Shares of FIS stock opened at $66.01 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $59.51 and a 12-month high of $83.97. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $65.53 and a 200-day moving average of $71.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $34.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 244.50 and a beta of 0.92. Fidelity National Information Services (NYSE:FIS Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The information technology services provider reported $1.51 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.48 by $0.03. Fidelity National Information Services had a return on equity of 19.76% and a net margin of 1.45%.The business had revenue of $2.72 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.65 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.40 EPS. The firms revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Fidelity National Information Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.740-5.780 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. will post 5.74 earnings per share for the current year. Fidelity National Information Services Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 23rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 9th will be given a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 9th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. Fidelity National Information Servicess payout ratio is currently 592.59%. Analyst Ratings Changes FIS has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup raised shares of Fidelity National Information Services to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on shares of Fidelity National Information Services in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. They set an overweight rating and a $81.00 target price for the company. Truist Financial cut their price target on Fidelity National Information Services from $72.00 to $70.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Fidelity National Information Services from $85.00 to $80.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, KeyCorp reiterated a hold rating on shares of Fidelity National Information Services in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Twelve 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 company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $85.41. Check Out Our Latest Report on FIS Fidelity National Information Services Profile (Free Report) Fidelity National Information Services (NYSE: FIS) is a global provider of financial technology solutions and services for banks, capital markets firms, merchants and corporations. The company develops and delivers software, processing, and outsourcing services that support core banking, payments and merchant acquiring, wealth and retirement platforms, risk and compliance, and trading and capital markets operations. Its offerings include cloud-based and on-premises core banking systems, card processing and gateway services, e-commerce and point-of-sale payment solutions, and a range of back-office and advisory services designed to automate and modernize financial operations. FIS serves a broad international client base across North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region through a combination of direct clients and partner channels. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FIS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Fidelity National Information Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fidelity National Information Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Louisbourg Investments Inc. lifted its holdings in Canadian National Railway Company (NYSE:CNI Free Report) (TSE:CNR) by 3.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 302,143 shares of the transportation companys stock after acquiring an additional 9,729 shares during the quarter. Canadian National Railway accounts for 5.7% of Louisbourg Investments Inc.s holdings, making the stock its biggest position. Louisbourg Investments Inc.s holdings in Canadian National Railway were worth $28,484,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bennett Selby Investments LP grew its position in shares of Canadian National Railway by 2.2% in the second quarter. Bennett Selby Investments LP now owns 4,796 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $499,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares during the period. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV boosted its position in shares of Canadian National Railway by 13.4% during the 2nd quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 929 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $97,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc grew its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway by 3.3% in the second quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 3,582 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $373,000 after buying an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. increased its stake in Canadian National Railway by 5.3% during the second quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 2,374 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $247,000 after purchasing an additional 119 shares during the period. Finally, M&T Bank Corp increased its stake in Canadian National Railway by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 6,629 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $690,000 after buying an additional 122 shares during the period. 80.74% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Canadian National Railway alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on CNI shares. Susquehanna boosted their target price on Canadian National Railway from $115.00 to $116.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Bank of America dropped their price target on Canadian National Railway from $106.00 to $102.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on shares of Canadian National Railway from $98.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Cibc Captl Mkts raised Canadian National Railway from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, November 28th. Finally, CIBC raised shares of Canadian National Railway from a neutral rating to an outperformer rating and increased their target price for the company from $146.00 to $151.00 in a report on Friday, November 28th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $117.36. Canadian National Railway Stock Performance Shares of NYSE CNI opened at $98.23 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $60.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.64, a P/E/G ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 0.96. The firms 50-day moving average price is $95.81 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $97.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. Canadian National Railway Company has a 52-week low of $90.74 and a 52-week high of $108.75. Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI Get Free Report) (TSE:CNR) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The transportation company reported $1.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $2.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.15 billion. Canadian National Railway had a return on equity of 21.50% and a net margin of 26.86%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.72 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Canadian National Railway Company will post 5.52 earnings per share for the current year. Canadian National Railway Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.8875 per share. This is a positive change from Canadian National Railways previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. This represents a $3.55 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.6%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 9th. Canadian National Railways dividend payout ratio is presently 48.01%. Canadian National Railway Company Profile (Free Report) Canadian National Railway Company (NYSE: CNI) is a Class I freight railway that operates an integrated rail network across Canada and the United States. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, CN provides long-haul freight transportation and related logistics services that connect major ports, industrial centers and inland markets throughout North America. Its transcontinental system enables cross-border movement of goods and supports supply chains that span coast-to-coast in Canada and into the central and eastern United States. CNs core business is the railborne transportation of a broad mix of commodities, including intermodal container traffic, forest and paper products, grain and other agricultural products, metallurgical and industrial products, petroleum and chemical products, coal and automotive shipments. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Canadian National Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian National Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Louisbourg Investments Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Teck Resources Ltd (NYSE:TECK Free Report) (TSE:TECK) by 42.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 139,912 shares of the basic materials companys stock after acquiring an additional 41,739 shares during the quarter. Louisbourg Investments Inc.s holdings in Teck Resources were worth $6,136,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Teck Resources during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $437,657,000. 1832 Asset Management L.P. lifted its stake in Teck Resources by 1,555.9% in the 2nd quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 5,738,457 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $231,719,000 after purchasing an additional 5,391,907 shares during the last quarter. Canoe Financial LP acquired a new stake in Teck Resources in the second quarter valued at approximately $97,536,000. Picton Mahoney Asset Management acquired a new stake in Teck Resources in the second quarter valued at approximately $83,322,000. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its stake in shares of Teck Resources by 32.7% during the second quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 7,989,715 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $323,311,000 after buying an additional 1,969,286 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.06% of the companys stock. Get Teck Resources alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TECK has been the subject of a number of research reports. UBS Group upgraded Teck Resources from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 3rd. Scotiabank reissued a sector perform rating on shares of Teck Resources in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Natl Bk Canada cut Teck Resources from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, December 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Teck Resources from $43.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, December 5th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Teck Resources in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Teck Resources currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $55.71. Teck Resources Trading Down 1.1% Shares of TECK stock opened at $44.73 on Friday. Teck Resources Ltd has a 1-year low of $28.32 and a 1-year high of $46.46. The company has a current ratio of 2.78, a quick ratio of 2.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The stock has a market cap of $21.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.13, a PEG ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.83. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $42.79 and a 200-day moving average of $39.31. Teck Resources (NYSE:TECK Get Free Report) (TSE:TECK) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 22nd. The basic materials company reported $0.55 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $2.43 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.93 billion. Teck Resources had a return on equity of 4.14% and a net margin of 11.93%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 18.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.60 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Teck Resources Ltd will post 1.53 earnings per share for the current year. Teck Resources Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be paid a $0.125 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 15th. This represents a $0.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. This is an increase from Teck Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.09. Teck Resourcess payout ratio is currently 20.22%. About Teck Resources (Free Report) Teck Resources Ltd. is a diversified natural resource company headquartered in Canada that explores for, develops and produces a portfolio of metallic and energy commodities. Its core businesses center on copper, steelmaking (metallurgical) coal and zinc, with related smelting and refining activities. Teck supplies raw materials and intermediate products to global steelmakers, metals markets and industrial customers, and operates integrated mining and processing facilities as well as earlier-stage exploration and development projects. The companys operations and projects are located across multiple geographies, with a significant presence in western Canada and North America and additional exploration and development activities in Latin America. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TECK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Teck Resources Ltd (NYSE:TECK Free Report) (TSE:TECK). Receive News & Ratings for Teck Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Teck Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC increased its position in The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Free Report) by 9.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 221,468 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after buying an additional 19,369 shares during the quarter. TJX Companies comprises about 1.8% of Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest position. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NCs holdings in TJX Companies were worth $32,011,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in TJX. Lavaca Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of TJX Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in TJX Companies in the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute acquired a new position in TJX Companies during the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in TJX Companies during the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Capital A Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in TJX Companies by 776.7% during the second quarter. Capital A Wealth Management LLC now owns 263 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 233 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.09% of the companys stock. Get TJX Companies alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Amy B. Lane sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.40, for a total value of $75,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 22,212 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,362,896.80. The trade was a 2.20% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 24,363 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.31, for a total transaction of $3,686,365.53. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 510,780 shares in the company, valued at approximately $77,286,121.80. This trade represents a 4.55% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 54,863 shares of company stock valued at $8,226,366. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TJX has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of TJX Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, August 23rd. Cowen reissued a buy rating on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Erste Group Bank initiated coverage on TJX Companies in a research report on Friday, September 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b+) rating on shares of TJX Companies in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, BTIG Research reissued a buy rating and set a $165.00 price target on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and twenty-three have issued a Buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $161.50. Read Our Latest Analysis on TJX TJX Companies Stock Down 0.2% Shares of TJX Companies stock opened at $154.58 on Friday. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $112.10 and a 1-year high of $157.82. The company has a market capitalization of $171.66 billion, a PE ratio of 34.12, a P/E/G ratio of 3.47 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 0.43. The business has a 50-day moving average of $147.85 and a 200-day moving average of $137.39. TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 19th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.22 by $0.06. TJX Companies had a return on equity of 58.30% and a net margin of 8.68%.The firm had revenue of $15.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.80 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.14 earnings per share. TJX Companiess revenue for the quarter was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. TJX Companies has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 1.330-1.360 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 4.630-4.660 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 4.18 EPS for the current fiscal year. TJX Companies Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 12th will be given a dividend of $0.425 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 12th. This represents a $1.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.53%. About TJX Companies (Free Report) TJX Companies, Inc is a leading off-price retailer of apparel, footwear, home fashions and other consumer goods. The company operates multiple retail concepts that offer discounted brand-name and designer merchandise, including well-known banners such as T.J. Maxx and Marshalls in the United States, HomeGoods for home furnishings, TK Maxx in parts of Europe, and Winners and Homesense in Canada. Merchandise categories span womens, mens and childrens apparel, accessories, beauty, home decor, kitchenware and small furniture, with frequent changes in assortment that create a treasure-hunt shopping experience for consumers. The companys business model centers on opportunistic buying, purchasing excess, irregular or out-of-season inventory from manufacturers, department stores and other suppliers, and passing savings to customers through lower prices. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TJX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for TJX Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TJX Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Free Report) by 593.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,129 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 1,822 shares during the quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLCs holdings in Deere & Company were worth $974,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its position in shares of Deere & Company by 30.6% in the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 364,103 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $185,143,000 after buying an additional 85,351 shares in the last quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN lifted its holdings in Deere & Company by 2.6% during the second quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN now owns 24,000 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $12,204,000 after acquiring an additional 610 shares in the last quarter. Bragg Financial Advisors Inc grew its stake in Deere & Company by 12.7% in the first quarter. Bragg Financial Advisors Inc now owns 7,213 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $3,386,000 after acquiring an additional 813 shares during the period. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Deere & Company by 1.0% in the second quarter. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,678 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,379,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MASTERINVEST Kapitalanlage GmbH bought a new stake in shares of Deere & Company in the second quarter worth about $3,615,000. Institutional investors own 68.58% of the companys stock. Get Deere & Company alerts: Deere & Company Price Performance Shares of DE opened at $470.62 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.01, a current ratio of 2.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. Deere & Company has a twelve month low of $403.01 and a twelve month high of $533.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $127.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.43, a P/E/G ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a 50 day moving average of $471.38 and a 200-day moving average of $486.77. Deere & Company Dividend Announcement Deere & Company ( NYSE:DE Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 26th. The industrial products company reported $3.93 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.96 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $12.39 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.77 billion. Deere & Company had a return on equity of 20.54% and a net margin of 11.00%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 14.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $4.55 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Deere & Company will post 19.32 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be paid a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 31st. Deere & Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 35.01%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages recently issued reports on DE. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on Deere & Company from $440.00 to $475.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. Daiwa Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of Deere & Company from $530.00 to $520.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Deere & Company from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Deere & Company in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. They set an overweight rating and a $543.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on shares of Deere & Company from $488.00 to $467.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $522.70. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on DE Insider Buying and Selling at Deere & Company In related news, CEO John C. May II sold 11,106 shares of Deere & Company stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $500.08, for a total value of $5,553,888.48. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 112,453 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $56,235,496.24. The trade was a 8.99% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.29% of the stock is owned by insiders. Deere & Company Profile (Free Report) Deere & Company, commonly known by its brand John Deere, is a global manufacturer of agricultural, construction and forestry machinery, as well as turf care equipment and power systems. Founded in 1837 by blacksmith John Deerewho developed a polished steel plow to improve tillage in tough prairie soilsthe company is headquartered in Moline, Illinois, and has grown into one of the largest and most recognizable names in equipment manufacturing worldwide. The companys principal businesses include a broad portfolio of agricultural equipment such as tractors, combines, planters, sprayers, harvesters and tillage implements, complemented by precision agriculture technologies and telematics that support farm management, yield optimization and equipment connectivity. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Deere & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deere & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC increased its position in McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD Free Report) by 11.9% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 20,657 shares of the fast-food giants stock after acquiring an additional 2,201 shares during the quarter. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NCs holdings in McDonalds were worth $6,277,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Nova Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of McDonalds during the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. HFM Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of McDonalds in the first quarter worth $26,000. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. boosted its stake in McDonalds by 142.9% during the second quarter. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. now owns 85 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the period. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in McDonalds during the second quarter worth about $25,000. Finally, GFG Capital LLC purchased a new position in McDonalds during the second quarter worth about $29,000. Institutional investors own 70.29% of the companys stock. Get McDonald's alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes MCD has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Piper Sandler reiterated a neutral rating and set a $325.00 price target on shares of McDonalds in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of McDonalds from $381.00 to $375.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. Mizuho raised shares of McDonalds to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of McDonalds from $322.00 to $325.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of McDonalds in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $324.57. McDonalds Stock Performance MCD stock opened at $315.85 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $224.93 billion, a PE ratio of 26.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.55 and a beta of 0.52. McDonalds Corporation has a one year low of $276.53 and a one year high of $326.32. The companys 50 day moving average price is $307.19 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $303.93. McDonalds (NYSE:MCD Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The fast-food giant reported $3.22 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.33 by ($0.11). The business had revenue of $7.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.10 billion. McDonalds had a net margin of 32.04% and a negative return on equity of 280.89%. McDonaldss revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.23 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that McDonalds Corporation will post 12.25 EPS for the current year. McDonalds Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st were issued a $1.86 dividend. This is an increase from McDonaldss previous quarterly dividend of $1.77. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. McDonaldss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.48%. More McDonalds News Here are the key news stories impacting McDonalds this week: Positive Sentiment: McDonalds raised its quarterly dividend to $1.86 (annualized $7.44), signaling continued free?cash?flow strength and supporting the stocks income appeal. (Dividend disclosure appeared in recent MarketBeat reporting.) McDonalds raised its quarterly dividend to $1.86 (annualized $7.44), signaling continued free?cash?flow strength and supporting the stocks income appeal. (Dividend disclosure appeared in recent MarketBeat reporting.) Positive Sentiment: Holiday marketing is driving strong attention the Grinch Meal promotion generated broad press and consumer buzz, which can boost seasonal traffic and brand engagement. Read More. Holiday marketing is driving strong attention the Grinch Meal promotion generated broad press and consumer buzz, which can boost seasonal traffic and brand engagement. Read More. Positive Sentiment: McDonalds revived its digital MONOPOLY promotion to push app downloads, reinforce value messaging and support U.S. traffic for Q4 a digital-first campaign that can improve repeat visits and AUVs. Read More. McDonalds revived its digital MONOPOLY promotion to push app downloads, reinforce value messaging and support U.S. traffic for Q4 a digital-first campaign that can improve repeat visits and AUVs. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst and institutional activity remains mixed: several analysts reaffirm or tweak targets around the low?to?mid $300s, and institutional holdings changed modestly supports a hold consensus but not a clear re?rating catalyst. (Coverage summarized in recent market reports.) Analyst and institutional activity remains mixed: several analysts reaffirm or tweak targets around the low?to?mid $300s, and institutional holdings changed modestly supports a hold consensus but not a clear re?rating catalyst. (Coverage summarized in recent market reports.) Neutral Sentiment: Political/insider transaction news: a report noted Representative Julie Johnson sold shares of McDonalds; such public selling can draw short?term attention but doesnt change fundamentals. Read More. Political/insider transaction news: a report noted Representative Julie Johnson sold shares of McDonalds; such public selling can draw short?term attention but doesnt change fundamentals. Read More. Negative Sentiment: EVP Desiree Ralls?Morrison sold 2,486 shares (~$795k at $320) and reduced her holdings ~28% insider selling can be perceived negatively by investors, especially when clustered with other sales. SEC filing: Read More. EVP Desiree Ralls?Morrison sold 2,486 shares (~$795k at $320) and reduced her holdings ~28% insider selling can be perceived negatively by investors, especially when clustered with other sales. SEC filing: Read More. Negative Sentiment: Reputational hit: McDonalds pulled an AI Christmas ad after backlash in some markets, which generated negative headlines and potential short?term brand distraction. Read More. Reputational hit: McDonalds pulled an AI Christmas ad after backlash in some markets, which generated negative headlines and potential short?term brand distraction. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Broader industry pressure: analysts note U.S. restaurants face softer demand, higher value sensitivity and cost pressures a tougher consumer backdrop could cap same?store sales and margin upside. Read More. Insider Buying and Selling In other McDonalds news, EVP Manuel Jm Steijaert sold 6,567 shares of McDonalds stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $305.50, for a total value of $2,006,218.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 4,606 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,407,133. The trade was a 58.78% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,486 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $320.00, for a total value of $795,520.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 6,268 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,005,760. This trade represents a 28.40% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 42,516 shares of company stock worth $13,036,090. Insiders own 0.25% of the companys stock. McDonalds Company Profile (Free Report) McDonalds Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is a global quick-service restaurant company best known for its hamburgers, French fries and breakfast offerings. The company develops, operates and franchises a system of restaurants that sell a range of food and beverage items, including signature products such as the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken McNuggets, McCafe coffee beverages and a variety of salads, desserts and seasonal menu items. McDonalds serves customers through company-operated restaurants and franchised locations, and it supports sales via dine-in, drive-thru, digital ordering platforms and third-party delivery partnerships. Founded in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald as a single San Bernardino, California restaurant, the business was transformed into a franchising model after Ray Kroc joined in the mid-1950s and led the brands national and international expansion. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MCD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for McDonald's Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McDonald's and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the twenty-six research firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have assigned a buy rating and four have issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $1,141.7273. LLY has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Daiwa Capital Markets set a $1,230.00 target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday. Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,286.00 to $1,268.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 15th. UBS Group restated a neutral rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday. Scotiabank assumed coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, November 13th. They issued a sector outperform rating and a $1,165.00 target price on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $951.00 to $1,145.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Eli Lilly and Company Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance Eli Lilly and Company stock opened at $1,071.35 on Wednesday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $960.76 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $830.36. Eli Lilly and Company has a one year low of $623.78 and a one year high of $1,111.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 1.55 and a quick ratio of 1.24. The firm has a market cap of $1.01 trillion, a PE ratio of 52.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.37. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $7.02 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $6.42 by $0.60. The firm had revenue of $17.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.09 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 109.52% and a net margin of 30.99%.The companys revenue was up 53.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.18 EPS. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2025 guidance at 23.000-23.700 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current fiscal year. Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be paid a dividend of $1.73 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. This is a positive change from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is presently 29.35%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Eli Lilly and Company Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 22.0% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 9,597 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,409,000 after acquiring an additional 1,730 shares during the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,471 shares of the companys stock worth $1,136,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Kaufman Rossin Wealth LLC bought a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the first quarter valued at about $242,000. Bank OZK boosted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 4.8% during the first quarter. Bank OZK now owns 11,942 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,863,000 after purchasing an additional 552 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Texas Capital Bank Wealth Management Services Inc grew its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 4.0% during the first quarter. Texas Capital Bank Wealth Management Services Inc now owns 12,991 shares of the companys stock worth $10,729,000 after purchasing an additional 501 shares during the last quarter. 82.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. More Eli Lilly and Company News Here are the key news stories impacting Eli Lilly and Company this week: Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile (Get Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is a global pharmaceutical company founded in 1876 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and therapies for patients worldwide. Eli Lilly maintains operations and commercial presence across North America, Europe, Asia and other regions, serving both developed and emerging markets. The company has been led in recent years by President and Chief Executive Officer David A. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Surience Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:JNK Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 27,390 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $2,684,000. SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF accounts for 2.5% of Surience Private Wealth LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 13th largest holding. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF by 19.9% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 11,085,683 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,078,304,000 after purchasing an additional 1,842,852 shares during the period. Assetmark Inc. lifted its position in SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF by 6.5% during the second quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 5,066,020 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $492,772,000 after buying an additional 309,551 shares in the last quarter. Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors LLC grew its stake in SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF by 9,700.8% during the second quarter. Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors LLC now owns 2,657,493 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $258,494,000 after buying an additional 2,630,378 shares during the period. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp purchased a new stake in SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF during the second quarter worth approximately $118,767,000. Finally, Man Group plc increased its position in shares of SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF by 24.6% in the second quarter. Man Group plc now owns 1,111,502 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $108,116,000 after acquiring an additional 219,125 shares in the last quarter. 87.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF alerts: SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF Trading Down 0.0% NYSEARCA:JNK opened at $96.82 on Friday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $97.11 and its 200 day simple moving average is $97.00. SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF has a twelve month low of $90.40 and a twelve month high of $98.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.96 and a beta of 0.42. About SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (the Fund), formerly SPDR Barclays Capital High Yield Bond ETF, seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the Barclays Capital High Yield Very Liquid Index (the Index). The Index includes publicly issued United States dollar denominated, non-investment grade, fixed-rate, taxable corporate bonds that have a remaining maturity of at least one year, regardless of optionality, are rated high-yield using the middle rating of Moodys, S&P, and Fitch, respectively, and have $600 million or more of outstanding face value. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JNK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:JNK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM Free Report) by 27.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 9,379 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 2,041 shares during the period. Lifestyle Asset Management Inc.s holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF were worth $2,269,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quaker Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 211.1% during the 2nd quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 120 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 228 shares during the last quarter. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF during the second quarter worth $28,000. Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF in the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. Proathlete Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Russell 2000 ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Pingora Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Get iShares Russell 2000 ETF alerts: iShares Russell 2000 ETF Stock Performance NYSEARCA IWM opened at $250.79 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $69.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.69 and a beta of 1.13. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $245.50 and a 200 day simple moving average of $233.37. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a 52-week low of $171.73 and a 52-week high of $258.20. About iShares Russell 2000 ETF iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index. The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 2000 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 2000 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Perpetual Ltd purchased a new position in Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 358,303 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $31,072,000. A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of WAL. Hantz Financial Services Inc. lifted its position in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 995.8% during the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 526 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 478 shares during the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its stake in shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation by 241.1% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 713 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $56,000 after purchasing an additional 504 shares during the last quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S bought a new stake in Western Alliance Bancorporation in the first quarter worth $58,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 128.3% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 840 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $66,000 after buying an additional 472 shares during the period. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in Western Alliance Bancorporation during the second quarter valued at $78,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.15% of the companys stock. Get Western Alliance Bancorporation alerts: Western Alliance Bancorporation Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:WAL opened at $86.22 on Friday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $80.14 and its 200-day simple moving average is $81.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.85. Western Alliance Bancorporation has a one year low of $57.05 and a one year high of $94.40. The firm has a market cap of $9.49 billion, a PE ratio of 10.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.37. Western Alliance Bancorporation Increases Dividend Western Alliance Bancorporation ( NYSE:WAL Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.91 earnings per share for the quarter. Western Alliance Bancorporation had a return on equity of 12.93% and a net margin of 17.14%.The business had revenue of $718.00 million during the quarter. As a group, equities analysts predict that Western Alliance Bancorporation will post 9.05 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 13th were paid a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. This is a boost from Western Alliance Bancorporations previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 13th. Western Alliance Bancorporations payout ratio is currently 20.77%. Insider Transactions at Western Alliance Bancorporation In other Western Alliance Bancorporation news, CFO Dale Gibbons bought 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 30th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $77.00 per share, for a total transaction of $308,000.00. Following the acquisition, the chief financial officer directly owned 300,358 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,127,566. The trade was a 1.35% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 2.68% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have recently issued reports on WAL. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation in a report on Monday. Cowen began coverage on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation in a research note on Wednesday, September 24th. They issued a buy rating for the company. UBS Group cut their target price on Western Alliance Bancorporation from $110.00 to $105.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Industrial Alliance Securities set a $115.00 price target on Western Alliance Bancorporation in a report on Friday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Western Alliance Bancorporation from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, October 1st. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $102.87. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on WAL Western Alliance Bancorporation Company Profile (Free Report) Western Alliance Bancorporation is a bank holding company headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Through its principal subsidiary, Western Alliance Bank, the company provides a range of banking services to commercial clients, entrepreneurs and real estate developers. As one of the largest regional banks in the western United States, it focuses on relationship-driven banking solutions tailored to niche industries and growing businesses. The companys core offerings include deposit products, treasury management and a variety of lending services. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Western Alliance Bancorporation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Western Alliance Bancorporation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality, Inc. (NYSE:PRSU Get Free Report) has earned a consensus rating of Buy from the five research firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation, three have assigned a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $34.00. Several research analysts have recently issued reports on PRSU shares. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality in a research note on Monday. Wall Street Zen upgraded Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, November 15th. Zacks Research upgraded Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Oppenheimer reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $48.00 price target on shares of Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality in a report on Friday, November 7th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality from $43.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Get Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality Insider Activity at Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality In related news, CEO David W. Barry purchased 755 shares of Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 17th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $33.39 per share, for a total transaction of $25,209.45. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer directly owned 110,430 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,687,257.70. The trade was a 0.69% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . 0.71% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PRSU. Crestview Partners IV GP L.P. purchased a new stake in Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality during the 2nd quarter valued at $193,103,000. River Road Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality during the second quarter valued at $59,213,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC bought a new position in Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality in the second quarter valued at about $43,665,000. GRS Advisors LLC bought a new position in Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality in the third quarter valued at about $28,507,000. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. purchased a new position in Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality in the second quarter worth about $20,657,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.91% of the companys stock. Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality Trading Down 2.5% NYSE PRSU opened at $35.07 on Friday. Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality has a 12 month low of $26.66 and a 12 month high of $43.90. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $34.97 and its 200-day moving average price is $33.55. The stock has a market cap of $991.78 million, a P/E ratio of 2.81, a P/E/G ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 1.50. Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality (NYSE:PRSU Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $2.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.56 by $0.09. Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality had a net margin of 82.54% and a return on equity of 17.61%. The company had revenue of $241.02 million for the quarter. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality will post 1.25 EPS for the current fiscal year. About Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality (Get Free Report) Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality Inc (NYSE: PRSU) is a travel and leisure company focused on delivering immersive experiences at some of North Americas most celebrated destinations. The companys core operations span scenic attractions such as mountain gondolas and tramways, alpine lodges and wilderness excursions, as well as complementary dining venues that showcase regional flavors. By integrating guided tours, wildlife viewing and seasonal activities, Pursuit aims to create memorable experiences for both individual and group travelers. In the mountain segment, Pursuit operates marquee attractions including the Banff Gondola and Jasper SkyTram in Canadas Rocky Mountains, supported by on-site accommodations like Emerald Lake Lodge. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Developmental-behavioral pediatrician Ronald L. Lindsay discusses his article, A pediatricians reckoning with behavior therapy. He shares his profound professional and personal pivot, moving from a decades-long focus on measurable goals to understanding the deep trauma and harm caused by applied behavior analysis (ABA). Ronald explains why he now supports the #BanABA initiative, detailing how the therapy often prioritizes compliance over communication and normalization over neurodiversity, particularly for nonspeaking autistic individuals. He calls for a shift away from coercive behavioral interventions, which were driven by insurance mandates, toward dignity-centered alternatives like DIR/Floortime and robust AAC support. Learn why this pediatrician is unbuilding his legacy to advocate for autistic voices and ethical, trauma-informed care. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Now you can streamline and customize documentation, surface information right at the point of care, and automate tasks with just a click. Part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Dragon Copilot offers an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform to help unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, its backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and its built on a foundation of trust. Its time to ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended Transcript Kevin Pho: Hi. Welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today, we welcome Ronald L. Lindsay. He is a developmental-behavioral pediatrician. Todays KevinMD article is A pediatricians reckoning with behavior therapy. Ronald, welcome to the show. Ronald L. Lindsay: Thank you for having me. Kevin Pho: All right. We will talk about your article in a little bit, but lets first briefly share your story and journey. ADVERTISEMENT Ronald L. Lindsay: My story is that I have been a developmental-behavioral pediatrician for approximately 30 years. I just recently retired in Jacksonville, Florida, but I havent stopped my advocacy for children with developmental disabilities or autism. Kevin Pho: For those who arent familiar with ABA, applied behavior analysis, how often is that being used today in the United States? Ronald L. Lindsay: It is used constantly because basically pediatricians, including the 700 remaining developmental pediatricians, are too stupid to understand that there are no measurable outcome measures. Unlike the risperidone drug studies that were working on reducing disruptive behavior in children with autism, where we had two measures: an improvement by 25 percent in the Aberrant Behavior Checklist irritability subscale, and Clinical Global Impressions (very much better or much better) as ascertained by a psychologist. You had to have two thumbs up, Siskel and Ebert, in order to be determined to be a responder. In that study, we had a 70 percent response rate and a 16 percent response rate to the placebo. ABA does not have any measurable goals to achieve. Because of that, there is no way to tell whether or not it is working. The only randomized trial was in 2000. It involved 15 children, half of whom had autism and half of whom had pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, a different condition. They went through ABA. These children, using the terminology at the time, were mildly or moderately cognitively impaired. The average IQ was 50. As a result of ABA therapy, their average IQ raised up to 55. I am sorry, but that is like using a dimmer switch. Because you are supposed to be at an IQ of a hundred plus or minus 15 percent, these kids were three standard deviations below the average IQ for an American child. Since they were three years old, they were functioning like 15-month-olds. At the end of the study, they were functioning like 16-month-olds. I dont know whether or not it was ABA or if it was actually just time that was the primary factor. Kevin Pho: And today, what are some of the typical indications where ABA is used or prescribed or referred to by pediatricians? Ronald L. Lindsay: Primarily for the treatment of autism. There are other therapies that are much more rigorously studied and are accepted. For example, DIR/Floortime for preschoolers. There are also the LEAP and TEACCH programs that were developed at the University of North Carolina for school-age children. But the problem is ABA got its start, and it is following after a Life magazine article in which basically they were using aversive reinforcement to get kids to comply. Kevin Pho: Despite the accusations against ABA, it is still being used. So what are some of the arguments to keep using it? Despite everything that you said. Ronald L. Lindsay: There are no arguments. Matter of fact, the state of Idaho just banned ABA as a therapy to be paid for by Medicaid because there is no evidence of efficacy. Right now, there is a court case in Wake County, North Carolina looking at ABA, and at this point in time, there is an injunction placed on ABA payments for ABA therapy. It doesnt work. So, you look for the alternatives: DIR/Floortime and AAC. AAC is adaptive communication. That is where people are using devices, electronic devices, to allow a child to push a button (yes or no, or A and B) to answer the question: Do you want gummy bears or would you like teddy bear snacks? A child can sometimes point to the desired object, but other times they have to press a button because they are nonverbal. Kevin Pho: And these alternatives, how often are they being used in this context? Ronald L. Lindsay: Not as widely as the evidence shows that they are superior. My feeling is very simple. I believe in measurable goals. If a therapy works, you keep on using the therapy and keep on upping the goals. It is basically what I have to do every time I have surgery on my knees or my feet. I have to go and achieve goals. I have to do a certain number of exercises, and if I cannot make progress, then Medicare will no longer pay for that particular therapy. That is the problem that we have with developmental pediatricians because they havent really looked into the founding documents from 60 years ago, looking at the studies that proposed ABA as a therapy. Kevin Pho: So right now there is a Ban ABA initiative. Tell us more about the roots of that. Who is organizing that and what does it hope to achieve? Ronald L. Lindsay: There is an organization of people with autism who are high-functioning, as well as parents of children with autism. And they see that the use of aversive reinforcement is basically akin to torture. Therefore, they want to see the practice banned in the United States. Now internationally, the Association for Behavior Analysis International in November 2022 condemned aversive electric shocks as a reinforcer for ABA. But the American association, which is the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, still allows for punishment as opposed to reinforcement. So when electric shocks are being used, we have to ask: Only after less intrusive methods fail. What does that really mean in practice? In practice, that means inducing electric shocks onto the feet of children who, by their nature of having autism, are very, very sensitive to sensory input. Is that little electric shock a tickle, or is it a full-blown taser attack? I dont know. I am not autistic, and I have not been hit with one of those electric shocks or a taser, nor do I desire to basically have that happen. The only time I have gotten into an electric shock is when I made a mistake and touched a live wire while trying to fix it. Kevin Pho: I think from my understanding, does the modern ABA still use punishment-based therapies? Like, isnt it more regulated now and nothing like what ABA was originally designed for? Ronald L. Lindsay: It is currently regulated by true believers of ABA. There is no independent member on the board that regulates ABA therapy. In other words, they are all ABA behavior therapists. None of them are physicians. None of them are psychiatrists. None of them are advocates of non-ABA therapies. So the problem is that the American Psychiatric Association basically has packed the regulatory body with true believers. Kevin Pho: So what is your recommendation to pediatricians today who are treating or need to refer nonverbal autistic patients? Ronald L. Lindsay: What they need to do is go and read up on the recommendations from the international board basically saying that DIR/Floortime and other non-aversive behavior modification methods are the way to go. The problem is that there are very few developmental pediatricians to be able to refer to. To be perfectly honest, in the North Carolina lawsuit, nobody has asked a developmental pediatrician to put their two cents worth in. That is kind of off-putting to me. Has developmental pediatrics sunk so low that it is no longer considered expert opinion? Kevin Pho: We are talking to Ronald Lindsay. He is a developmental-behavioral pediatrician. Todays KevinMD article is A pediatricians reckoning with behavior therapy. Ronald, lets end with some take-home messages that you want to leave with the KevinMD audience. Ronald L. Lindsay: Take-home message: Basically, use your common sense. If people are essentially torturing your children in order to get them to behave, that is not right. When the Life article that came out in 1965 came through, Bruno Bettelheim said: The parents are not the monsters. The kids are the monsters. Children with autism are not monsters. They are people like you and I. They are neurodivergent. They have a different wiring system in their brain, and we need to celebrate those differences because sometimes it yields very good results like Teslas and Starship, because Elon Musk is on the spectrum. So is Bill Gates, and Microsoft has done wonders for the world. Kevin Pho: Ronald, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and insight. Thanks again for coming on the show. Ronald L. Lindsay: Thank you very much for having me and for publishing my articles. Matauro LLC lifted its position in SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF (NYSEARCA:FEZ Free Report) by 22.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 251,938 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 46,138 shares during the quarter. SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF accounts for approximately 2.5% of Matauro LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th largest holding. Matauro LLC owned approximately 0.34% of SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF worth $15,650,000 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 the business. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. lifted its position in shares of SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF by 29.6% in the 2nd quarter. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. now owns 178,222 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $10,645,000 after purchasing an additional 40,728 shares during the period. Griffin Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF by 19.3% during the second quarter. Griffin Asset Management Inc. now owns 9,709 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $580,000 after buying an additional 1,568 shares during the period. Concord Asset Management LLC VA bought a new position in SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF in the second quarter worth approximately $2,494,000. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its holdings in 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 during the period. Finally, Gradient Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF by 24.1% during the second quarter. Gradient Capital Advisors LLC now owns 18,404 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,099,000 after buying an additional 3,569 shares during the period. Get SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF alerts: SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF Trading Up 0.5% Shares of NYSEARCA:FEZ opened at $64.62 on Friday. SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF has a 12-month low of $47.63 and a 12-month high of $65.04. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $62.99 and its 200-day simple moving average is $61.12. The company has a market capitalization of $4.88 billion, a PE ratio of 16.43 and a beta of 1.06. About SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF 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. The EURO STOXX Index is a broad liquid subset of the STOXX Europe 600 Index. The Index captures approximately 60% of the free-float market capitalization of the EURO STOXX Total Market Index, which in turn covers approximately 95% of the free float market capitalization of the represented countries. See Also Receive News & Ratings for SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Zacks Research cut shares of KB Financial Group (NYSE:KB Free Report) from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday,Zacks.com reports. Separately, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of KB Financial Group in a research report on Monday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold. Get KB Financial Group alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on KB KB Financial Group Stock Up 0.6% Institutional Trading of KB Financial Group Shares of KB Financial Group stock opened at $85.29 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.05, a PEG ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.11. KB Financial Group has a twelve month low of $46.38 and a twelve month high of $92.39. The company has a current ratio of 1.65, a quick ratio of 1.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.38. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $84.34 and its 200-day simple moving average is $82.48. Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Invesco Ltd. grew its stake in shares of KB Financial Group by 508.9% in the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 152,939 shares of the banks stock worth $12,631,000 after purchasing an additional 127,823 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake in shares of KB Financial Group by 18.3% during the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 751,168 shares of the banks stock valued at $62,039,000 after purchasing an additional 116,293 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors lifted its holdings in KB Financial Group by 12.7% in the third quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 757,168 shares of the banks stock worth $62,735,000 after purchasing an additional 85,231 shares during the period. Two Sigma Investments LP grew its position in KB Financial Group by 82.0% in the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 171,025 shares of the banks stock valued at $14,180,000 after buying an additional 77,048 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE increased its stake in KB Financial Group by 9.1% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 845,567 shares of the banks stock valued at $69,835,000 after buying an additional 70,865 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 11.52% of the companys stock. About KB Financial Group (Get Free Report) KB Financial Group Inc is a South Korea-based financial holding company that offers a broad range of banking and financial services. Headquartered in Seoul and listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker KB, the group operates through a set of specialized subsidiaries to provide integrated financial solutions for retail, corporate and institutional clients. The companys principal businesses include retail and corporate banking, securities and investment banking, insurance (life and non-life), asset management, credit card and consumer finance, and leasing. See Also Receive News & Ratings for KB Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for KB Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Barclays PLC (LON:BARC Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the six research firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 445.83. Several analysts have recently issued reports on BARC shares. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on Barclays from GBX 455 to GBX 470 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued an overweight rating and issued a GBX 500 target price on shares of Barclays in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Barclays from GBX 400 to GBX 415 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Barclays from GBX 435 to GBX 500 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, Shore Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Barclays in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Get Barclays alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on BARC Barclays Price Performance Shares of BARC opened at GBX 468.95 on Friday. Barclays has a 1-year low of GBX 223.75 and a 1-year high of GBX 470.20. The stock has a market cap of 65.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.36. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 414.03 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 377.05. Barclays (LON:BARC Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, December 16th. The financial services provider reported GBX 24.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Barclays had a return on equity of 6.97% and a net margin of 19.54%. On average, equities analysts expect that Barclays will post 39.1062802 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. About Barclays (Get Free Report) Barclays PLC provides various financial services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through Barclays UK and Barclays International division segments. It offers financial services, such as retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services. In addition, the company engages in securities dealing activities. The company was formerly known as Barclays Bank Limited and changed its name to Barclays PLC in January 1985. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Barclays Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Barclays and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Voya Investment Management LLC trimmed its holdings in Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Free Report) by 72.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 218,466 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 565,643 shares during the quarter. Voya Investment Management LLCs holdings in Deere & Company were worth $99,896,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in DE. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Deere & Company by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 22,372,671 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $11,376,279,000 after buying an additional 309,081 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its stake in Deere & Company by 0.6% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 10,386,268 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $5,297,913,000 after acquiring an additional 64,262 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Deere & Company by 2.1% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 5,541,778 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,810,807,000 after purchasing an additional 111,627 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Deere & Company during the second quarter worth about $1,578,243,000. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Deere & Company by 10.1% in the 2nd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 2,580,228 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,312,020,000 after purchasing an additional 236,406 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.58% of the companys stock. Get Deere & Company alerts: Key Stores Impacting Deere & Company Here are the key news stories impacting Deere & Company this week: Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan trimmed its price target to $460 (from $480) and kept a neutral rating a modest reduction to the stocks upside case that may cap near-term gains. MarketScreener JPMorgan trimmed its price target to $460 (from $480) and kept a neutral rating a modest reduction to the stocks upside case that may cap near-term gains. Neutral Sentiment: Representative Julie Johnson reported a sale of DE shares an insider sale that investors often watch, but by itself doesnt confirm a change in company fundamentals. Rep. Julie Johnson Sells Deere & Company Stock Representative Julie Johnson reported a sale of DE shares an insider sale that investors often watch, but by itself doesnt confirm a change in company fundamentals. Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research cut multiple near-term and medium-term EPS forecasts across Deeres 20262028 fiscal periods, and maintains a Hold rating suggesting reduced earnings visibility: notable moves include Q1 2026 EPS cut to $1.99 from $2.83, FY2026 to $16.74 from $18.83, Q2 2027 to $6.19 from $7.24, Q3 2027 to $5.68 from $6.44, and FY2027 to $21.55 from $24.20. These downgrades signal expectations for weaker near-term profits and are the primary reason the stock is under pressure today. Zacks Research cut multiple near-term and medium-term EPS forecasts across Deeres 20262028 fiscal periods, and maintains a Hold rating suggesting reduced earnings visibility: notable moves include Q1 2026 EPS cut to $1.99 from $2.83, FY2026 to $16.74 from $18.83, Q2 2027 to $6.19 from $7.24, Q3 2027 to $5.68 from $6.44, and FY2027 to $21.55 from $24.20. These downgrades signal expectations for weaker near-term profits and are the primary reason the stock is under pressure today. Negative Sentiment: Zacks also trimmed several quarter-level estimates within FY2026FY2028 (Q3 & Q4 2026, Q1 & Q4 2027, and FY2028 projections were reduced), reinforcing the view of slower earnings growth than previously modeled and increasing uncertainty around hitting prior consensus (the broader consensus cited remains near $19.32 for the current full year). Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have recently weighed in on DE. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a market perform rating on shares of Deere & Company in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Deere & Company in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. They set an overweight rating and a $543.00 price target for the company. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Deere & Company from $609.00 to $612.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 28th. Wolfe Research decreased their target price on shares of Deere & Company from $550.00 to $520.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 3rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets restated a market perform rating and issued a $460.00 price target on shares of Deere & Company in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $522.70. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Deere & Company Insider Buying and Selling at Deere & Company In other Deere & Company news, CEO John C. May II sold 11,106 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $500.08, for a total transaction of $5,553,888.48. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 112,453 shares in the company, valued at $56,235,496.24. This trade represents a 8.99% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.29% of the stock is owned by insiders. Deere & Company Trading Down 0.9% NYSE:DE opened at $470.62 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.01, a current ratio of 2.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. Deere & Company has a twelve month low of $403.01 and a twelve month high of $533.78. The company has a market cap of $127.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.00. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $471.38 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $486.77. Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 26th. The industrial products company reported $3.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.96 by ($0.03). Deere & Company had a return on equity of 20.54% and a net margin of 11.00%.The company had revenue of $12.39 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.77 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $4.55 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 14.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Deere & Company will post 19.32 EPS for the current fiscal year. Deere & Company Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 9th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 31st. Deere & Companys payout ratio is 35.01%. Deere & Company Profile (Free Report) Deere & Company, commonly known by its brand John Deere, is a global manufacturer of agricultural, construction and forestry machinery, as well as turf care equipment and power systems. Founded in 1837 by blacksmith John Deerewho developed a polished steel plow to improve tillage in tough prairie soilsthe company is headquartered in Moline, Illinois, and has grown into one of the largest and most recognizable names in equipment manufacturing worldwide. The companys principal businesses include a broad portfolio of agricultural equipment such as tractors, combines, planters, sprayers, harvesters and tillage implements, complemented by precision agriculture technologies and telematics that support farm management, yield optimization and equipment connectivity. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Deere & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deere & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR Free Report) by 19.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 133,547 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 21,857 shares during the quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Equity Residential were worth $8,644,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in EQR. Czech National Bank increased its position in Equity Residential by 5.6% during the 3rd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 88,264 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $5,713,000 after purchasing an additional 4,680 shares during the period. Osaic Holdings Inc. increased its position in shares of Equity Residential by 15.3% during the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 21,004 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,421,000 after buying an additional 2,795 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its stake in Equity Residential by 69.5% during the second quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 81,196 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $5,480,000 after buying an additional 33,286 shares during the last quarter. State of Wyoming lifted its holdings in Equity Residential by 119.0% in the second quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 5,686 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $384,000 after buying an additional 3,090 shares during the period. Finally, Carronade Capital Management LP boosted its position in Equity Residential by 5.9% during the second quarter. Carronade Capital Management LP now owns 152,549 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $10,296,000 after acquiring an additional 8,548 shares during the last quarter. 92.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Equity Residential alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Mizuho lowered their price objective on Equity Residential from $66.00 to $65.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on Equity Residential in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. They issued an overweight rating and a $70.00 price target on the stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Equity Residential in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on shares of Equity Residential from $75.00 to $70.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus set a $79.75 target price on shares of Equity Residential in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $70.02. Equity Residential Price Performance Shares of NYSE:EQR opened at $61.47 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average is $60.92 and its 200-day moving average is $64.13. Equity Residential has a twelve month low of $58.38 and a twelve month high of $75.86. The company has a quick ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 0.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.29, a PEG ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.75. Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.02. Equity Residential had a net margin of 37.58% and a return on equity of 10.30%. The business had revenue of $782.41 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $779.68 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.98 EPS. Equity Residential has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 1.020-1.060 EPS and its FY 2025 guidance at 3.980-4.020 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Equity Residential will post 3.98 EPS for the current fiscal year. Equity Residential Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.6925 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 2nd. This represents a $2.77 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.5%. Equity Residentials payout ratio is 91.42%. Equity Residential Company Profile (Free Report) Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that acquires, develops, owns and operates rental apartment properties. Headquartered in Chicago, the company focuses on delivering professionally managed, market-rate apartment homes and related services to renters. Its operations cover a range of property types, including high-rise and mid-rise assets, with amenities and on-site management designed to support resident retention and occupancy. The companys core activities include property acquisitions, development and redevelopment, leasing, and day-to-day property management. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EQR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Equity Residential Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Equity Residential and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC decreased its holdings in Blackrock Advantage Large Cap Income ETF (NYSEARCA:BALI Free Report) by 10.2% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 249,651 shares of the companys stock after selling 28,298 shares during the quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Blackrock Advantage Large Cap Income ETF were worth $7,924,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. raised its stake in shares of Blackrock Advantage Large Cap Income ETF by 206.7% in the second quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. now owns 1,046,952 shares of the companys stock worth $31,524,000 after purchasing an additional 705,543 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Blackrock Advantage Large Cap Income ETF by 65.8% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,512,958 shares of the companys stock worth $45,555,000 after buying an additional 600,501 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its holdings in Blackrock Advantage Large Cap Income ETF by 71.3% during the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 449,832 shares of the companys stock worth $13,544,000 after buying an additional 187,250 shares in the last quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. raised its position in Blackrock Advantage Large Cap Income ETF by 50.9% in the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 384,989 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,569,000 after buying an additional 129,931 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Assetmark Inc. lifted its stake in Blackrock Advantage Large Cap Income ETF by 75.6% during the 2nd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 277,345 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,351,000 after acquiring an additional 119,445 shares in the last quarter. Get Blackrock Advantage Large Cap Income ETF alerts: Blackrock Advantage Large Cap Income ETF Price Performance BALI opened at $31.77 on Friday. Blackrock Advantage Large Cap Income ETF has a 1 year low of $25.05 and a 1 year high of $32.21. The company has a market capitalization of $578.85 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.77 and a beta of 0.84. The firms fifty day moving average price is $31.59 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $30.92. Blackrock Advantage Large Cap Income ETF Company Profile The BlackRock Advantage Large Cap Income ETF (BALI) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in large cap equity. The fund is an actively managed ETF that holds a portfolio of US large-cap equity securities. The fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by utilizing proprietary return forecast models combined with quantitative analysis methods BALI was launched on Sep 26, 2023 and is issued by BlackRock. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BALI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Blackrock Advantage Large Cap Income ETF (NYSEARCA:BALI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Blackrock Advantage Large Cap Income ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Blackrock Advantage Large Cap Income ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Voya Investment Management LLC lessened its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report) by 13.3% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 820,015 shares of the companys stock after selling 126,096 shares during the period. Voya Investment Management LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $54,170,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Mattson Financial Services LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in Altria Group during the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. Carderock Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $26,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, Country Trust Bank raised its holdings in Altria Group by 400.0% in the 2nd quarter. Country Trust Bank now owns 500 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the companys stock. Get Altria Group alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Altria Group from $64.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, August 22nd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Altria Group in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Altria Group from $65.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 1st. Finally, UBS Group cut their price target on shares of Altria Group from $68.00 to $61.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $62.33. Altria Group Stock Performance NYSE:MO opened at $58.17 on Friday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $50.08 and a 1 year high of $68.60. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $59.77 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $61.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $97.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.10, a PEG ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.48. Altria Group (NYSE:MO Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $1.45 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.01. Altria Group had a net margin of 37.89% and a negative return on equity of 319.43%. The business had revenue of $5.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.31 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.38 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. Altria Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.370-5.45 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current year. Altria Group announced that its board has authorized a share repurchase program on Thursday, October 30th that permits the company to repurchase $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to buy up to 1.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are generally an indication that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued. Altria Group Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 26th will be issued a $1.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 26th. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.3%. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 80.92%. About Altria Group (Free Report) Altria Group, Inc (NYSE: MO) is a U.S.-based consumer goods company whose principal business is the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the companys operations are focused primarily on the U.S. market and include the production, marketing and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars. Its flagship cigarette franchise in the United States is sold through its operating subsidiaries and is among the most recognizable cigarette brands in the country. Altrias principal operating businesses include Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), U.S. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco India ETF (NYSEARCA:PIN Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, January 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 22nd will be paid a dividend of 1.68 per share on Friday, December 26th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 25.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 22nd. Invesco India ETF Trading Up 1.8% Invesco India ETF stock opened at $26.14 on Friday. Invesco India ETF has a 12-month low of $23.07 and a 12-month high of $28.48. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $26.09 and a 200-day moving average price of $26.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $213.56 million, a PE ratio of 26.32 and a beta of 0.47. Get Invesco India ETF alerts: About Invesco India ETF (Get Free Report) Read More PowerShares India Portfolio (the Fund) is based on the Indus India Index (Index). The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in a wholly-owned subsidiary located in the Republic of Mauritius (the Subsidiary), which in turn invests at least 90% of its total assets in securities of Indian companies that consists of the Index, as well as American depositary receipts(ADR) and global depositary receipts (GDR) based on the securities in the Index. The Index is designed to represent the segment of the Indian equity markets. Receive News & Ratings for Invesco India ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco India ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Zevenbergen Capital Investments LLC trimmed its stake in Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE:PWR Free Report) by 1.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 109,405 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 1,949 shares during the period. Zevenbergen Capital Investments LLC owned about 0.07% of Quanta Services worth $45,340,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PWR. Copia Wealth Management boosted its position in shares of Quanta Services by 509.1% during the second quarter. Copia Wealth Management now owns 67 shares of the construction companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 56 shares during the period. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. boosted its holdings in Quanta Services by 159.3% during the 2nd quarter. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. now owns 70 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares during the period. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Quanta Services in the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. Solstein Capital LLC increased its stake in Quanta Services by 185.7% during the second quarter. Solstein Capital LLC now owns 80 shares of the construction companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the period. Finally, WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of Quanta Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.49% of the companys stock. Get Quanta Services alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have commented on PWR shares. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Quanta Services from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, August 30th. Citigroup upped their price target on Quanta Services from $517.00 to $526.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 31st. Argus set a $540.00 price objective on Quanta Services in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Mizuho set a $415.00 price objective on Quanta Services in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Finally, Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Quanta Services from $472.00 to $521.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $450.10. Insider Activity at Quanta Services In related news, EVP Donald Wayne sold 14,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $443.81, for a total transaction of $6,213,340.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 34,575 shares in the company, valued at $15,344,730.75. This trade represents a 28.82% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Gerald A. Ducey, Jr. sold 7,653 shares of Quanta Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $446.08, for a total value of $3,413,850.24. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 19,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,903,756.80. This trade represents a 27.72% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 32,002 shares of company stock worth $14,295,857. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Quanta Services Price Performance Shares of NYSE PWR opened at $426.50 on Friday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $443.31 and its 200-day simple moving average is $406.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $63.60 billion, a PE ratio of 63.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.14. Quanta Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $227.08 and a fifty-two week high of $473.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a current ratio of 1.34. Quanta Services (NYSE:PWR Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The construction company reported $3.33 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.24 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $7.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.41 billion. Quanta Services had a net margin of 3.74% and a return on equity of 18.74%. The firms revenue was up 17.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.72 earnings per share. Quanta Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 10.330-10.830 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Quanta Services, Inc. will post 9.34 EPS for the current fiscal year. Quanta Services Company Profile (Free Report) Quanta Services, Inc is a leading specialty contractor that provides comprehensive infrastructure solutions for the electric power, pipeline and energy, and communications markets. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company delivers engineering, procurement, construction, installation, maintenance and repair services that support the development, modernization and ongoing operation of critical energy and communications networks. In the electric power sector, Quanta works on transmission and distribution systems, substation construction and grid modernization projects that include integration of renewable generation and energy storage. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Quanta Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Quanta Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Raiffeisen Bank International AG (OTCMKTS:RAIFY Get Free Report) were down 6.7% on Thursday . The company traded as low as $10.57 and last traded at $10.9450. Approximately 5,272 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 65% from the average daily volume of 15,041 shares. The stock had previously closed at $11.73. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Barclays downgraded shares of Raiffeisen Bank International from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Raiffeisen Bank International alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Raiffeisen Bank International Raiffeisen Bank International Trading Up 2.5% The stock has a market capitalization of $14.82 billion, a PE ratio of 15.86 and a beta of 1.10. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $9.66 and its 200-day simple moving average is $8.58. Raiffeisen Bank International (OTCMKTS:RAIFY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The financial services provider reported $0.67 EPS for the quarter. Raiffeisen Bank International had a positive return on equity of 3.09% and a negative net margin of 0.14%.The firm had revenue of $2.63 billion for the quarter. About Raiffeisen Bank International (Get Free Report) Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) is an Austrian banking group headquartered in Vienna, offering a diverse range of financial services. As a universal bank, RBI serves retail customers, small and medium-sized enterprises, and large corporates, with a particular focus on Central and Eastern Europe. The banks service portfolio encompasses everyday banking products, payment solutions, and digital services for individual clients, as well as cash management, trade finance, and structured lending for corporate and institutional customers. In addition to traditional banking, RBI provides investment banking and capital markets services, including underwriting, debt and equity issuance, and advisory services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Raiffeisen Bank International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Raiffeisen Bank International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Medscape recently released a report entitled, A Constant Evolution: The Unique Culture of Medical School: Medscape 2025 Report. The reports underlying premise is that a warm, welcoming, and supportive culture in medical school allows students to not only survive their training, but to truly thrive in their educational journey. What defines medical education today Yet, reading between the lines, this emphasis on culture and environment also poses a very different question: Has medical education subtly morphed into a consumer-driven enterprise, where feelings of belonging trump the rigorous mastery of knowledge and skills needed to produce competent physicians? With only one question focused on study time, the survey is otherwise absent any mention of academics or the learning that takes place. To that end, the reports noted cultural evolution leaves unanswered what remains of the academic culture that should be at the heart of any medical school. At its core, medical schools exist to forge professional, highly competent doctors equipped not only to diagnose and treat, but also to deliver safe and effective care that meets the highest standards of medical excellence. Whether or not medical schools achieve this goal in the context of culture, however, isnt the focus of the report. Instead, beneath the culture umbrella are measures like how supportive school administrators are, whether the school reaches out to help students, the state of friend time during medical school, how difficult it is maintaining a relationship, diversity, and how much classmates discuss school on social media. Supportive administrators and peers are undoubtedly valuable, but they are not the ultimate measure of medical education. Notably missing from Medscapes report is an evaluation of elements one may expect to find in an academic culture like pursuit of knowledge, intellectual rigor, ethical standards, critical inquiry, open debate, teaching quality, mentorship, collegiality, and merit. The rise of the student-as-consumer model Unfortunately, this focus on student as consumer echoes broader trends in higher education, where institutions compete for applicants by promising emotional fulfillment rather than academic excellence. By following the latest trends, one might assume that medical schools are scrambling to attract applicants. Reality tells a different tale: For the 2025-2026 academic year there were over 1 million total applications representing nearly 55,000 applicants competing for just over 23,000 first-year allopathic medical school seats. In a landscape where demand vastly outpaces supply, medical schools have the leverage (and the responsibility) to prioritize academic excellence and professional formation over appeasing consumer expectations. Nevertheless, this shift toward emotional comfort and belonging places personal well-being above the core goal of producing capable, well-trained physicians. While a toxic environment can hinder learning and is unacceptable, the true measure of a schools worth is its ability to train clinically competent doctors, not merely make for comfortable students. Medical training is demanding by its very nature: mastering vast amounts of information and honing critical skills requires sustained effort and dedication, which naturally entails sacrifice given the constraints of time and our human abilities. Compassion need not be sacrificed, and neither should rigor be compromised. It is this academic rigor that forges excellence, excellence necessary to handle the operating rooms unpredictability or a patients deteriorating vitals without hesitation. Why academic excellence still matters What receives surprisingly little attention amid these cultural metrics is the quality of learning itself. While the report briefly mentions competition for grades and residency placements, it stops short of examining whether the reported cultural gains translate into stronger mastery of core subjects and clinical reasoning. Instead, it highlights trends such as a decreased emphasis on studying. A second-year medical student is quoted as follows: Especially after the conversion of the Step 1 exam to pass/fail, it seems like medical students are less preoccupied with studying and more interested in setting themselves apart by participating in research, clinical volunteering, etc. Unforetold is the risk entailed in fueling a new kind of competition, one centered on superficial resume-building rather than substantive competence. While such experiences may seem impressive on paper, they cannot replace the disciplined repetition and deep study required to internalize the fundamentals of medicine. If the drive to excel is dulled by a lowered performance bar, we must ask: Are we cultivating physicians equipped to master complexity, or merely those content to meet the minimum standard? The goal of medical education must remain just that: medical education, not consumer satisfaction. Beyond merely seeking a feeling of belonging, prospective students should be most concerned with how their chosen medical school will shape them into becoming a great doctor. Administrators, likewise, must strike a balance between fostering support and upholding uncompromising standards. Ultimately, the culture must reinforce, not replace, the rigorous academic foundation required to train competent physicians. In the end, patients arent concerned with how welcome a surgeon felt in medical school; they care whether the scalpel is steady. When cultural priorities absent academics overshadow rigor, we risk inviting mediocrity into a profession that demands nothing less than excellence. Medical schools must remain steadfast in their core mission and duty to patients: shaping students into physicians through meticulous, deliberate, and hard-earned development. From there, a culture rooted in academic rigor will follow. ADVERTISEMENT Kurt Miceli is an internal medicine and psychiatry physician. Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico, S.A. de C.V. (NYSE:PAC Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $264.55 and last traded at $264.0150, with a volume of 5670 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $258.00. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have recently weighed in on PAC shares. Scotiabank reissued a sector perform rating on shares of Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico in a report on Thursday, December 4th. Bank of America raised Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico from an underperform rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a report on Friday, November 14th. Citigroup restated a hold rating on shares of Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico in a research note on Wednesday, September 10th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $210.00. Get Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on PAC Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico Stock Performance The company has a quick ratio of 2.01, a current ratio of 2.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.21. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $228.00 and a 200-day simple moving average of $233.54. The company has a market capitalization of $13.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.71, a PEG ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 1.04. Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico (NYSE:PAC Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 21st. The transportation company reported $2.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.96 by ($0.10). Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico had a return on equity of 42.07% and a net margin of 25.27%.The firm had revenue of $522.83 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.04 billion. Equities analysts forecast that Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico, S.A. de C.V. will post 10 EPS for the current year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC acquired a new stake in Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico during the 3rd quarter valued at $30,453,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico by 13.4% in the third quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 947,581 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $224,757,000 after buying an additional 112,212 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its position in Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico by 192.5% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 143,018 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $32,840,000 after buying an additional 94,115 shares in the last quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new position in Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico during the 1st quarter worth about $13,027,000. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico by 4.3% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 1,101,933 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $204,421,000 after acquiring an additional 45,479 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 11.73% of the companys stock. Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico Company Profile (Get Free Report) Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, SAB. de C.V. (NYSE:PAC), commonly known as GAP, is a leading airport operator in Mexico. Established in 1998 as part of the federal governments airport privatization program, GAP holds long?term concession agreementstypically 50 yearsto manage, develop and operate airports under a publicprivate partnership model. Through these concessions, the company undertakes terminal expansions, runway maintenance and the modernization of navigation and security systems. The companys portfolio comprises 12 airports across Mexicos Pacific and western regions, including major hubs such as Guadalajara, Tijuana, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan, as well as regional facilities in Aguascalientes, Morelia and La Paz. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE:GNW Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $9.19 and last traded at $9.2050, with a volume of 535162 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $9.04. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In GNW has been the subject of several recent research reports. Wall Street Zen raised Genworth Financial from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, November 15th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on shares of Genworth Financial from $9.50 to $10.00 and gave the stock 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 report on Monday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, Genworth Financial presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $10.00. Get Genworth Financial alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on GNW Genworth Financial Trading Up 0.1% The firm has a market cap of $3.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.30 and a beta of 1.02. The companys 50 day moving average is $8.64 and its two-hundred day moving average is $8.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 0.29 and a quick ratio of 0.29. Genworth Financial (NYSE:GNW Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results 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 business had revenue of $1.04 billion during the quarter. Genworth Financial had a net margin of 3.01% and a return on equity of 1.56%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of 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 last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP raised its stake in shares of Genworth Financial by 163.3% in the first quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 93,379 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $662,000 after acquiring an additional 57,919 shares during the last quarter. Capital Fund Management S.A. acquired a new position in shares of Genworth Financial in the 1st quarter worth approximately $701,000. Valueworks LLC grew its position in Genworth Financial by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. Valueworks LLC now owns 725,300 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $5,142,000 after acquiring an additional 16,080 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jump Financial LLC increased its holdings in Genworth Financial by 81.4% during the 1st quarter. Jump Financial LLC now owns 636,378 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,512,000 after purchasing an additional 285,636 shares in the last quarter. 81.85% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Genworth Financial Company Profile (Get Free Report) Genworth Financial (NYSE: GNW) is a leading financial security company offering a broad range of insurance products. Based in Richmond, Virginia, Genworth provides individuals and families with solutions designed to protect against long-term care expenses, secure life insurance needs and support homeownership through private mortgage insurance. With operations spanning the United States, Canada and Australia, the company serves both retail and institutional clients through a diversified portfolio of risk management services. The companys Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) segment offers coverage to lenders and consumers in the US, Canada and Australia, enabling homebuyers to purchase properties with lower down payments. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Genworth Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Genworth Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:NBY Get Free Report)s stock price shot up 17.7% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $4.00 and last traded at $4.12. 230,989 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 88% from the average session volume of 1,986,156 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.50. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Stock Up 79.7% The firm has a market capitalization of $667.85 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.53 and a beta of 0.57. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $1.46 and its 200 day moving average price is $1.25. Get NovaBay Pharmaceuticals alerts: 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 $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 30th. This represents a dividend yield of 3,791.0%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows About NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NBY. C2C Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals by 78.2% during the second 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 in the last quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in NovaBay Pharmaceuticals during the third quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Ground Swell Capital LLC acquired a new position in NovaBay Pharmaceuticals during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 23.25% of the companys stock. (Get Free Report) NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing novel, non-antibiotic anti-infective products designed to regulate the innate immune response. Leveraging its proprietary Aganocide Technology, the companys synthetic antimicrobial compounds target and neutralize pathogens without contributing to antibiotic resistance. NovaBays research and development efforts concentrate on ophthalmic, dermatological and wound care applications, aiming to address unmet needs in infection control and inflammation management. The companys primary commercial products include Avenova, an eyelid and lash cleaning solution indicated for managing chronic blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction, and NeutroPhase, a pure hypochlorous acid wound and skin cleanser used in acute and chronic wound irrigation. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of PCCW Ltd. (OTCMKTS:PCWLF Get Free Report) traded down 6.3% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $0.7099 and last traded at $0.7099. 2,100 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 7% from the average session volume of 2,248 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.7578. PCCW Trading Up 3.9% The company has a 50 day moving average of $0.73 and a two-hundred day moving average of $0.70. Get PCCW alerts: PCCW Company Profile (Get Free Report) PCCW Limited (OTCMKTS: PCWLF) is a Hong Kongbased telecommunications and technology services provider with a diversified portfolio spanning fixed-line and mobile communications, broadband internet, and media content. Through its flagship subsidiary, HKT, PCCW operates Hong Kongs largest fixed-line network and one of the territorys leading broadband platforms. The company also offers mobile services under the CSL brand, serving both residential and enterprise customers across the region. Beyond traditional telecom offerings, PCCW provides a range of information and communications technology (ICT) solutions, including cloud computing, cybersecurity, data centre services and IT consultancy. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for PCCW Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PCCW and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MUC Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Friday, December 12th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 22nd will be given a dividend of 0.0535 per share on Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 22nd. BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund Stock Down 0.2% Shares of NYSE:MUC traded down $0.02 during trading on Friday, hitting $10.74. The stock had a trading volume of 260,693 shares, compared to its average volume of 352,754. The firms fifty day moving average is $10.75 and its 200 day moving average is $10.51. BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund has a 12 month low of $9.97 and a 12 month high of $11.20. Get BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund alerts: BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund Company Profile (Get Free Report) BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund (NYSE: MUC) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide high-quality, federally and California tax-exempt income. The fund primarily invests in investment-grade municipal obligations issued by or on behalf of entities located in California, including general obligation bonds and revenue bonds that finance public projects such as schools, transportation infrastructure and utilities. The funds portfolio construction emphasizes credit quality and geographic concentration, targeting bonds rated at or above investment grade by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MIY Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Friday, December 12th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 22nd will be given a dividend of 0.0545 per share by the financial services provider on Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 5.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 22nd. BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Stock Down 0.9% Shares of NYSE MIY traded down $0.11 during trading on Friday, hitting $11.58. The company had a trading volume of 184,825 shares, compared to its average volume of 62,191. BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund has a 12 month low of $10.57 and a 12 month high of $11.89. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $11.60 and a 200 day simple moving average of $11.30. Get BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund alerts: About BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund (Get Free Report) BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund (NYSE: MIY) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide current income exempt from federal and Michigan personal income taxes. The fund primarily invests in investment-grade municipal securities issued by state and local governments within Michigan. Its portfolio typically includes a diversified mix of general obligation bonds and revenue bonds backed by public utilities, transportation projects, and other essential municipal services. The funds investment strategy emphasizes credit quality and diversification across sectors and maturities. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust (NYSE:BMEZ Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Friday, December 12th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 22nd will be paid a dividend of 0.11 per share on Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.7%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 22nd. BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust Stock Performance Shares of BMEZ traded up $0.19 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $15.18. The company had a trading volume of 304,249 shares, compared to its average volume of 306,343. BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust has a 12-month low of $12.58 and a 12-month high of $16.75. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $15.04 and a 200-day simple moving average of $14.57. Get BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust alerts: About BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust (Get Free Report) BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust (NYSE: BMEZ) is a closed-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust. Launched in March 2020, BMEZ seeks to provide total return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity and equity-related securities of companies in the health sciences sector. The trust is structured with a fixed termination date in October 2030, at which time shareholders will vote on its liquidation, extension or conversion. The funds investment portfolio is diversified across subsectors within health sciences, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics and healthcare services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) traded up 1.4% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $1,079.26 and last traded at $1,056.57. 3,842,170 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 5% from the average session volume of 4,030,669 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,041.79. Key Stores Impacting Eli Lilly and Company Here are the key news stories impacting Eli Lilly and Company this week: Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages recently commented on LLY. National Bankshares set a $1,286.00 price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Leerink Partners reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday. BMO Capital Markets set a $1,200.00 target price on Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. UBS Group restated a neutral rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $951.00 to $1,145.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $1,141.73. Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance The company has a quick ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.01 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 52.41, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.37. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $960.76 and its 200-day simple moving average is $830.36. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $7.02 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.42 by $0.60. The company had revenue of $17.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.09 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 30.99% and a return on equity of 109.52%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 53.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.18 EPS. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2025 guidance at 23.000-23.700 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share for the current year. Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a $1.73 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $6.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. This is a boost from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.35%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Eli Lilly and Company Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S. lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 114.3% in the second quarter. Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S. now owns 77,295 shares of the companys stock valued at $60,253,000 after acquiring an additional 41,222 shares in the last quarter. Precedent Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 15.3% in the 2nd quarter. Precedent Wealth Partners LLC now owns 294 shares of the companys stock valued at $229,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division raised its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 25.8% in the 3rd quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 8,990 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,859,000 after purchasing an additional 1,843 shares during the last quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 6.8% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK now owns 6,747 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,260,000 after purchasing an additional 429 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Family CFO Inc acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter worth $54,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.53% of the companys stock. About Eli Lilly and Company (Get Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is a global pharmaceutical company founded in 1876 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and therapies for patients worldwide. Eli Lilly maintains operations and commercial presence across North America, Europe, Asia and other regions, serving both developed and emerging markets. The company has been led in recent years by President and Chief Executive Officer David A. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines Group, Joby Aviation, Alaska Air Group, and Air Lease are the seven Airline stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Airline stocks are shares of publicly traded companies that operate passenger and/or cargo air transportation, representing partial ownership in those airlines. For investors, they are typically cyclical, high?beta investments highly sensitive to travel demand, fuel and labor costs, economic conditions, and regulation, with high fixed costs and operational leverage that can amplify gains and losses. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Airline stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: Delta Air Lines (DAL) Delta Air Lines, Inc. provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Bogota, Lima, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Sao Paulo, Seoul-Incheon, and Tokyo. United Airlines (UAL) United Airlines Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides air transportation services in North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America. The company transports people and cargo through its mainline and regional fleets. It also offers catering, ground handling, flight academy, and maintenance services for third parties. Read Our Latest Research Report on UAL Southwest Airlines (LUV) Southwest Airlines Co. operates as a passenger airline company that provides scheduled air transportation services in the United States and near-international markets. As of December 31, 2023, the company operated a total fleet of 817 Boeing 737 aircraft; and served 121 destinations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as ten near-international countries, including Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos. Read Our Latest Research Report on LUV American Airlines Group (AAL) American Airlines Group Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a network air carrier. The company provides scheduled air transportation services for passengers and cargo through its hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C., as well as through partner gateways in London, Doha, Madrid, Seattle/Tacoma, Sydney, and Tokyo. Read Our Latest Research Report on AAL Joby Aviation (JOBY) Joby Aviation, Inc., a vertically integrated air mobility company, engages in building an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft optimized to deliver air transportation as a service. The company intends to build an aerial ridesharing service, as well as developing an application-based platform that will enable consumers to book rides. Read Our Latest Research Report on JOBY Alaska Air Group (ALK) Alaska Air Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates airlines. It operates through three segments: Mainline, Regional, and Horizon. The company offers scheduled air transportation services on Boeing jet aircraft for passengers and cargo in the United States, and in parts of Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, and the Bahamas; and for passengers across a shorter distance network within the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Read Our Latest Research Report on ALK Air Lease (AL) Air Lease Corporation, an aircraft leasing company, engages in the purchase and leasing of commercial jet aircraft to airlines worldwide. It sells aircraft from its fleet to third parties, including other leasing companies, financial services companies, airlines, and other investors. The company provides fleet management services to investors and owners of aircraft portfolios. Read Our Latest Research Report on AL Featured Articles Shares of Bank of Ireland Group plc (LON:BIRG Get Free Report) shot up 1.4% on Thursday . The company traded as high as GBX 16.60 and last traded at GBX 16.39. 1,382,067 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 255% from the average session volume of 388,873 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 16.16. Bank of Ireland Group Stock Performance The stock has a market capitalization of 156.52 million, a PE ratio of 0.14 and a beta of 1.15. The firms 50 day moving average is GBX 15.02 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 13.53. About Bank of Ireland Group (Get Free Report) Bank of Ireland Group is one of the largest financial services groups in Ireland, with total assets of 156 billion at 31 December 2023. We provide a broad range of banking and other financial services. We are organised into four trading segments (Retail Ireland; Wealth & Insurance; Retail UK; and Corporate & Commercial) and one support division (Group Centre) to effectively serve our customers. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Ireland Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Ireland Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A few years ago, I met a talented internist who had been practicing for 15 years. She owned a small clinic, worked long hours, and ran a thriving patient base, but when we reviewed her financials, I realized shed been paying far more in taxes and taking far more risk than she needed to. Her response was one I hear often: Clint, Im not a businessperson; Im a doctor. Its a mindset many physicians share. You became a medical practitioner to help patients, not to manage payroll, overhead, or liability structures. Yet the truth is unavoidable: every physician is also a business owner, and without an asset protection plan, youre practicing without real legal or financial protection. The overlooked reality: your practice is a business Most physicians see their practice as a profession, not an enterprise, but legally and financially, its both. You hire staff, collect revenue, lease space, and make decisions that carry risk every single day. If you operate as a sole proprietor or simply deposit income into a personal bank account, you expose yourself to unnecessary taxes and personal liability. One billing error, employment claim, or contract dispute can pierce straight into your personal savings. This is where an entity strategy for physicians comes in: structuring your practice under the right legal framework to separate your professional work from your personal wealth. Why the type of business entity matters Choosing the right legal structure (whether a Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC), Professional Corporation (PC), or Limited Liability Company (LLC)) determines three critical outcomes: How youre taxed How youre protected How you grow wealth long-term A well-chosen legal entity creates the foundation for sound financial planning for physicians. It can reduce tax exposure, shield personal assets, and simplify succession or sale planning when you retire or transition out of practice. How the right entity protects you Lets look at what each option offers: Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC): A PLLC is often the go-to structure for solo or small-group practices. It offers the operational flexibility of an LLC while meeting state law licensing requirements for medical professionals. A PLLC separates your business from your personal finances and protects you from business-related liabilities (though it doesnt shield you from your own malpractice, which is why medical malpractice insurance coverage still matters). A PLLC is often the go-to structure for solo or small-group practices. It offers the operational flexibility of an LLC while meeting state law licensing requirements for medical professionals. A PLLC separates your business from your personal finances and protects you from business-related liabilities (though it doesnt shield you from your own malpractice, which is why medical malpractice insurance coverage still matters). Professional Corporation (PC): A PC provides a strong legal separation between you and your practice, preventing you from being personally liable. It can also offer tax advantages when combined with an S-corporation election, allowing you to take part of your income as distributions instead of salary, potentially lowering your self-employment taxes. This approach can significantly impact the protection of physician income and the optimization of after-tax wealth. A PC provides a strong legal separation between you and your practice, preventing you from being personally liable. It can also offer tax advantages when combined with an S-corporation election, allowing you to take part of your income as distributions instead of salary, potentially lowering your self-employment taxes. This approach can significantly impact the protection of physician income and the optimization of after-tax wealth. Limited Liability Company (LLC): For physicians with side ventures (such as consulting, speaking, or investment activities), an LLC for doctors is ideal. It provides flexibility for passive income streams earned through professional services and protects those assets from liability related to your medical practice. If structured properly, using a Wyoming LLC for asset protection adds an extra layer to your strategy through strong charging-order laws, limiting creditors ability to access your business interests. Building a layered defense ADVERTISEMENT Your entity strategy is the backbone of broader asset protection for physicians. Think of it as the firewall that keeps professional issues contained. When paired with malpractice insurance, trusts, and holding entities, it forms a multi-layer defense that keeps your professional and personal worlds separate. I often tell clients: your practice entity is like the sterile field in an operating room, it keeps risk isolated so contamination doesnt spread. Without it, everything is exposed. The tax advantage youre probably missing The right entity structure isnt just about protection; its about profit. When your entity is properly classified, it can allow income splitting, retirement plan contributions, and deduction opportunities that simply dont exist for sole proprietors. In some cases, entity-based planning can save physicians tens of thousands of dollars annually, money that could be reinvested toward long-term growth or early retirement. These strategies go beyond compliance. Theyre the foundation of protecting physician wealth, turning income into enduring stability. Real-world takeaway I worked with a surgeon who had practiced for 15 years as an independent contractor, assuming his CPA had handled everything. Once we set up a PLLC and adjusted his tax election, he reduced his annual liability by over $40,000 and eliminated personal exposure to staff and lease issues. He told me later: I wish someone had explained this when I started out (I thought an entity was just paperwork). Thats exactly the problem: too many physicians treat entity formation as a formality when, in reality, its the first building block of financial freedom. What it really means to protect Youve devoted your career to protecting patients, but your practice deserves the same level of care. Establishing the right entity isnt about complexity, its about control. It provides a cleaner, safer, and more efficient way to manage your financial life. In medicine, youd never perform a procedure without a sterile field. In business, you shouldnt operate without an entity. Because prevention doesnt just save patients: it saves physicians, too. Clint Coons is an attorney. Shares of Krung Thai Bank Public Company Limited (OTCMKTS:KGTFF Get Free Report) traded up 9.8% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $0.9325 and last traded at $0.9325. 13,000 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 40% from the average session volume of 21,606 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.8492. Krung Thai Bank Public Stock Performance The firms fifty day simple moving average is $0.89 and its 200 day simple moving average is $0.76. Get Krung Thai Bank Public alerts: About Krung Thai Bank Public (Get Free Report) Krung Thai Bank Public Company Limited (OTCMKTS: KGTFF) is a state?owned commercial bank headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand. Established under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance, the bank plays a pivotal role in supporting the Thai governments economic policies and public sector funding initiatives. As one of the countrys largest retail and corporate lenders, Krung Thai Bank serves a diverse client base that includes individual consumers, small and medium?sized enterprises, large corporations and government agencies. The bank offers a full suite of financial products and services spanning retail banking, corporate banking, trade finance, treasury and capital markets. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Krung Thai Bank Public Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Krung Thai Bank Public and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Critical Mineral Resources PLC (LON:CMRS Get Free Report)s share price dropped 10% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as GBX 2.70 and last traded at GBX 2.70. Approximately 359,605 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 67% from the average daily volume of 1,077,758 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 3. Critical Mineral Resources Price Performance The firms 50-day moving average price is GBX 3.65 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 2.88. The firm has a market capitalization of 5.58 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.64 and a beta of 1.58. Get Critical Mineral Resources alerts: Critical Mineral Resources (LON:CMRS Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, September 30th. The company reported GBX (0.30) earnings per share for the quarter. Critical Mineral Resources Company Profile Critical Mineral Resources is a Moroccan focused company developing a sediment-hosted copper and silver project in the Anti Atlas. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Critical Mineral Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Critical Mineral Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cerro Grande Mining (OTCMKTS:CEGMF Get Free Report) and Glencore (OTCMKTS:GLNCY Get Free Report) are both basic materials companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, institutional ownership, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations, risk and valuation. Profitability This table compares Cerro Grande Mining and Glencores net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Cerro Grande Mining alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Cerro Grande Mining N/A N/A N/A Glencore N/A N/A N/A Analyst Ratings This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Cerro Grande Mining and Glencore, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Cerro Grande Mining 0 0 0 0 0.00 Glencore 0 3 3 1 2.71 Insider & Institutional Ownership Glencore has a consensus price target of $9.30, indicating a potential downside of 10.06%. Given Glencores stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Glencore is more favorable than Cerro Grande Mining. 0.1% of Glencore shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Valuation & Earnings This table compares Cerro Grande Mining and Glencores gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Cerro Grande Mining N/A N/A -$390,000.00 N/A N/A Glencore $230.94 billion 0.26 -$1.63 billion N/A N/A Cerro Grande Mining has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Glencore. Volatility & Risk Cerro Grande Mining has a beta of 3.3, indicating that its stock price is 230% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Glencore has a beta of 0.74, indicating that its stock price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Glencore beats Cerro Grande Mining on 6 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Cerro Grande Mining (Get Free Report) Cerro Grande Mining Corporation engages in the acquisition, exploration, evaluation, and development of mineral properties in Chile. The company explores for gold, silver, copper, and industrial mineral deposits. It holds interests in Tordillo project, which covers an area of 6,632 hectares located to the southwest of Pimenton; Pimenton mine; and limestone deposits, including Catedral and Cal Norte. The company was formerly known as South American Gold and Copper Company Limited and changed its name to Cerro Grande Mining Corporation in March 2011. Cerro Grande Mining Corporation was founded in 1990 and is based in Toronto, Canada. About Glencore (Get Free Report) Glencore plc engages in the production, refinement, processing, storage, transport, and marketing of metals and minerals, and energy products in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. It operates through two segments: Marketing Activities and Industrial Activities. The company engages in production and marketing copper, cobalt, lead, nickel, zinc, chrome ore, ferrochrome, vanadium, aluminum, alumina, and iron ore; and coal, crude oil, refined products, and natural gas, as well as oil exploration/production and refining/distribution. It also operates marketing and distribution of physical commodities sourced from third party producers and companys production to industrial consumers, including the battery, electronic, construction, automotive, steel, energy, and oil industries. In addition, the company provides financing, logistics, and other services to producers and consumers of commodities. Glencore plc was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland. Receive News & Ratings for Cerro Grande Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cerro Grande Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A man is critically ill in hospital following a serious assault in Co Tipperary. Gardai are appealing for witnesses to the incident which happened on Abbey Street and Barrack Street in Cahir shortly after 1.40am on Saturday. They said a man, who is aged in his 20s, was treated by emergency services for serious injuries before being taken and to Tipperary University Hospital. The male remains in critical condition, gardai said in a statement. Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact them. Any persons who were in the vicinity of Abbey Street and Barrack Street, Cahir between 1.15am and 2am on Saturday 20th December and who may have video footage (including dash-cam) are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cahir Garda Station on 052 744 5630, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Aftermath and maybe more insight into allegations of rising anti-Catholic hateration locally and across the globe . . . Check-it: "Several Catholic schools on the Kansas side of the metro received bomb threats late Thursday night and early Friday morning. Police have determined the threats were a hoax." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA), formerly known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP), represents one of the most egregious and dangerous forms of child maltreatment encountered in clinical practice. Although terminology has evolved, the core phenomenon described decades ago remains unchanged: A caregiver, most often the mother, intentionally fabricates, exaggerates, or induces illness in a child to meet psychological needs. The child suffers not only from the caregivers direct actions but also from unnecessary and often painful medical evaluations and procedures pursued by well-intentioned clinicians unaware of the deception. Once considered a rare psychiatric curiosity, FDIA is now recognized as a form of medical child abuse requiring early recognition and decisive intervention. Foundational work traced the conceptual origins of the disorder to Ashers description of Munchausen syndrome in adults and Meadows subsequent reports of caregivers who projected this behavior onto their children. These early descriptions remain historically important, and many of the observations made by these pioneers continue to apply today. However, contemporary literature has expanded the clinical understanding of FDIA. Rather than presenting only as dramatic hospital-based illness, fabricated or induced illness often develops gradually through subtle, chronic, or nonspecific symptoms that prompt repeated medical visits. Modern case reports describe a wide range of deceptive behaviors, including manipulation of laboratory specimens, contamination of biologic samples, medication tampering, induction of respiratory symptoms, creation of skin lesions, and reporting of fictitious fevers. These presentations were sparsely documented in earlier literature but are now well recognized. The sheer variability of manifestations, combined with increasing caregiver sophistication, continues to complicate diagnosis. A classical case illustrates how severe FDIA can become. A young child underwent extensive evaluation for gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia, including surgery and central line placement, without identification of an organic cause. The case was ultimately resolved when hospital staff discovered that the caregiver had been drawing blood from the childs central line and contaminating his ostomy bag. Though extreme, this case remains representative of the most dangerous form of induced illness and demonstrates how quickly FDIA can escalate into life-threatening harm. Both early and contemporary studies describe striking similarities among perpetrators. Most are biological mothers, many with experience or employment in health care or caregiving environments. They often present as attentive, cooperative, and deeply invested in their childs care, forming close relationships with clinicians and nursing staff. This outward appearance can obscure significant psychological vulnerabilities, including trauma histories, maladaptive coping, personality pathology, and, in some cases, factitious symptoms imposed on themselves. Systematic reviews consistently confirm these patterns, including the predominance of female perpetrators and frequent medically related backgrounds. The psychological dynamics underlying FDIA are complex but center on the caregivers emotional needs rather than the childs welfare. Early descriptions emphasized pathological attachment and a need for validation through interactions with medical professionals. Contemporary perspectives incorporate broader frameworks of trauma, identity instability, and relational dysfunction. Many perpetrators appear to derive psychological reward from the role of devoted parent to a medically fragile child or from the attention and authority that accompany management of complex illness. While the behavior is typically deliberate, the motivation may not be fully conscious and is reinforced by clinician concern and family sympathy. Recognition of FDIA remains challenging in both pediatric and general medical settings. Clinicians may struggle to reconcile caregiver concern with a lack of objective findings, often leading to prolonged diagnostic evaluations. Symptoms may occur only in the caregivers presence, fail to align with clinical data, or rapidly resolve when the child is separated from the suspected caregiver. These features have been consistently described across decades of literature and remain central to diagnosis. Current diagnostic approaches rely on careful review of medical records across multiple providers and institutions, detailed documentation of inconsistencies, coordinated multidisciplinary communication, and observation of the child in controlled settings. In many cases, resolution of symptoms following separation from the caregiver provides the strongest evidence of fabricated or induced illness. Contemporary management places FDIA squarely within the realm of child protection. Whereas early literature emphasized psychiatric understanding, current standards clearly define FDIA as active abuse with legal implications. Once identified, clinicians must prioritize child safety, which may include restricting caregiver access, involving child protective services, and notifying law enforcement when appropriate. Caregiver confrontation must be handled carefully, as denial and minimization are nearly universal. The primary goal is protection of the child, not eliciting an admission. Long-term follow-up is often necessary, as affected children frequently experience lasting medical, psychological, and relational consequences. Factitious disorder imposed on another remains an uncommon but profoundly harmful form of abuse. Missed diagnoses can expose children to prolonged suffering and significant risk. Effective protection depends on clinician awareness, multidisciplinary coordination, and timely intervention grounded in both historical insight and contemporary evidence. Timothy Lesaca is a psychiatrist in private practice at New Directions Mental Health in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with more than forty years of experience treating children, adolescents, and adults across outpatient, inpatient, and community mental health settings. He has published in peer-reviewed and professional venues including the Patient Experience Journal, Psychiatric Times, the Allegheny County Medical Society Bulletin, and other clinical journals, with work addressing topics such as open-access scheduling, Landau-Kleffner syndrome, physician suicide, and the dynamics of contemporary medical practice. His recent writing examines issues of identity, ethical complexity, and patientclinician relationships in modern health care. His professional profile appears on his ResearchGate profile, where additional publications and information are available. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 20. Relations between Azerbaijan and Montenegro are friendly and grounded in concrete results and collaborative efforts, Montenegros Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic said, Trend reports. Speaking at a joint press conference with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Ibrahimovic noted that his visit carries significant importance. As my esteemed colleague has already mentioned, visits by the presidents, prime ministers, and government members of our countries provide additional momentum to the development of bilateral relations. We are confident that upcoming high-level contacts will further strengthen cooperation between our states and allow us to fully realize the significant potential of our interaction, he said. The minister also emphasized that the development of cooperation fully serves the interests of both sides. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 20. Montenegro welcomes the agreements reached in Washington between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic said at a joint press conference with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Trend reports. "We are pleased that the process is moving in the right direction. We hope that your country, a leader in the energy sector, will continue to be a leader in matters of peace and prosperity not only in the region but throughout the world, he also said. Ibrahimovic noted that Azerbaijan and Montenegro have significant potential for cooperation, and his visit today is clear evidence of this. He emphasized that visits by presidents, prime ministers, and members of government provide additional impetus to the development of bilateral relations. The potential for cooperation between Azerbaijan and Montenegro is very significant and is of mutual interest," the minister added. On August 8 in Washington, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, US President Donald Trump, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint declaration. One of the points of the document provides for the launch of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) to unblock regional communications. During the same meeting, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan initialed the draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and signed a joint letter to the current OSCE Chairperson regarding the closure of the OSCE Minsk process, the OSCE Chairpersons personal representative for the conflict discussed at the Minsk Conference, and the High-Level Planning Group. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 20. The inaugural comprehensive online meeting of the Strategic Working Group, responsible for formulating the Strategic Partnership Charter between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United States, occurred on December 19, 2025, Trend reports Information about the meeting was shared on the social media account of the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan. Yesterday, senior representatives of the governments of the United States and Azerbaijan held the first meeting of the bilateral working group to begin implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at President Trumps historic Peace Summit on August 8. During the meeting, we discussed joint actions under the MoU aimed at strengthening regional connectivity and trade, promoting economic investment, including artificial intelligence (AI) and digital infrastructure, and enhancing cooperation in the field of security. The United States looks forward to working closely with our valued strategic partner, Azerbaijan, to advance President Trumps vision of peace and prosperity and to unlock the South Caucasus significant economic potential, the post from the embassy reads. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 20. A one-on-one meeting has begun between Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and the Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations, Foreign Minister of Montenegro Ervin Ibrahimovic, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ministers reviewed the current state and future prospects of AzerbaijanMontenegro relations, including political dialogue, economic cooperation, humanitarian ties, and engagement on international platforms. High-level reciprocal visits, including Montenegro President Jakov Milatovics, were highlighted as key to ensuring continuity of bilateral political dialogue. The importance of enhancing trade, encouraging investments, strengthening business-to-business contacts, and advancing joint projects was underlined. The sides emphasized effective use of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation. Humanitarian cooperation, including tourism, culture and education, was noted as an integral part of bilateral relations. Both sides welcomed expanded exchanges in these areas. The Ministers also discussed cooperation within the UN, OSCE and other multilateral frameworks, reaffirming commitment to collaboration based on mutual trust. Regional issues were also touched upon. Moreover Minister Bayramov informed his counterpart on efforts towards normalization and sustainable peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 20. A joint press conference was held in Baku featuring Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic, Trend reports. The press conference discussed bilateral relations between the countries, as well as current international and regional issues. Speaking at the conference Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized that Azerbaijan and Montenegro have built a significant and meaningful history of bilateral cooperation. According to Bayramov, important agreements were reached between Azerbaijan and Montenegro in 2025, and a number of relevant agreements were signed. "Azerbaijan has invested nearly $1 billion in Montenegros economy, with the majority of funds directed toward the tourism sector," - he added. The minister also noted that political consultations between the foreign ministries of both countries are held regularly. Currently, Azerbaijan and Montenegro have signed 22 agreements covering a range of sectors, further strengthening bilateral ties. During our discussions and through the intergovernmental commission, a wide range of issues was thoroughly examined. In particular, trade turnover, the provision of mutual preferences, and the expansion of cooperation were discussed, Bayramov said. Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic, in turn, emphasized that relations between Azerbaijan and Montenegro are friendly and grounded in concrete results and collaborative efforts. "We are confident that upcoming high-level contacts will further strengthen cooperation between our states and allow us to fully realize the significant potential of our interaction, he said. He also noted that Montenegro welcomes the agreements reached in Washington between Azerbaijan and Armenia. "We are pleased that the process is moving in the right direction. We hope that your country, a leader in the energy sector, will continue to be a leader in matters of peace and prosperity not only in the region but throughout the world, he noted. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 20. Economic cooperation has traditionally played an important role in relations between Azerbaijan and Montenegro and is considered a priority area of state policy, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said, Trend reports. Speaking at a joint press conference with Montenegros Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic, Bayramov emphasized that Azerbaijan attaches special importance to this area. During our discussions and through the intergovernmental commission, a wide range of issues was thoroughly examined. In particular, trade turnover, the provision of mutual preferences, and the expansion of cooperation were discussed, Bayramov said. The minister also highlighted that the volume of mutual investments shows encouraging growth. The tourism sector in Azerbaijan is especially promising. New opportunities and investment projects were identified, and investors were invited to participate. Direct cooperation in tourism between relevant authorities and organizations was also emphasized, he added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 20. Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Sahiba Gafarova, met with a delegation led by Montenegros Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ervin Ibrahimovic, on December 20, the parliaments Press and Public Relations Department told Trend reports. The meeting focused on the current state and prospects of the friendly and partnership-based relations between Azerbaijan and Montenegro. Gafarova emphasized that the visit is of great importance in further strengthening the sincere relations and active political dialogue established between the two countries. High-level mutual visits were highlighted as a driving force in strengthening interstate relations and shaping the bilateral agenda. In this regard, special attention was given to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyevs official visit to Montenegro in 2013, as well as President of Montenegro Jakov Milatovics visit to Azerbaijan in November 2024 within the framework of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), during which he met with President Ilham Aliyev. These visits were recognized as making a significant contribution to the development of friendly and cooperative ties between the two nations. The discussion also explored a wide range of areas within the bilateral agenda, including economic cooperation, tourism, investment, and more. It was emphasized that an active and constructive political dialogue not only strengthens existing partnerships but also opens new avenues for collaboration, while humanitarian and cultural initiatives were underscored as vital elements in bringing the two peoples closer together. Parliamentary cooperation was highlighted as a cornerstone of bilateral relations, with particular emphasis on the role of parliamentary diplomacy. Gafarova spoke with satisfaction about her official visit to Montenegro in April 2024 and the high-level meetings she held there, recalling also visits by speakers of the Montenegrin parliament to Azerbaijan over the years. She underscored the significance of sustained contacts between legislative bodies, mutual visits, and the activities of parliamentary friendship groups, noting that these engagements are vital for fostering a robust interparliamentary dialogue. The exchange of legislative experience between parliamentary committees and the strengthening of mutual support within international parliamentary organizations were also emphasized as key factors in deepening collaboration. Ibrahimovic reaffirmed his countrys strong commitment to developing relations with Azerbaijan, praising the close political dialogue between the two nations. He expressed gratitude for the Parliament Speakers visit to Montenegro last year, highlighting its positive impact on advancing bilateral ties. He also noted that Azerbaijan had been Montenegros largest investor in 2019 and stressed the strategic importance of the tourism sector in strengthening interstate relations. He highlighted the wide-ranging opportunities for further deepening cooperation in this field. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 20. The recent resolution adopted by the European Parliament against Azerbaijan once again shows that this body is far from demonstrating an independent and fair approach, Azerbaijani political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend. According to him, the approach in the text of the resolution, the lexicon used, and the arguments presented are entirely one-sided, based on political sympathies and lobbying interests instead of facts. "Specifically, some provisions of the comprehensive agreement signed between the European Union and Armenia could result in increasing tensions rather than serving peace in the region. The resolution presents the 2023 anti-terror measures carried out in Karabakh as 'ethnic cleansing' and 'pressure on ethnic minorities'. However, the measures were conducted within Azerbaijan's internationally recognized borders for the aim of restoring its sovereignty. The UN, EU, and other organizations recognize Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Yet, the European Parliament makes a one-sided assessment without considering this reality. This approach interferes with Azerbaijans internal affairs and politically encourages Armenia not to adopt a constructive position in the peace process," the analyst explained. He noted that the agreement contains provisions that could indirectly serve as a means of pressure on Azerbaijan. "This document does not respect Azerbaijan's territorial integrity or the new realities established in 2020, including Azerbaijan's sovereignty. Instead, it includes statements and calls aligned with Armenia's interests. This contradicts the efforts aimed at signing a peace agreement in the region. Although the agreement mentions 'lasting peace and the resolution of conflicts in accordance with international law', Armenia's interpretation of this is presented as reopening discussions on the status of Azerbaijan's internal territories. Any ambiguous provisions regarding Azerbaijan's territorial integrity provide Armenia with a political pretext to take an unconstructive position in peace talks." According to Garayev, if the goal is peace, both sides should be approached equally. "The European Parliaments resolution also supports Armenias 'democratization efforts', calling on its to receive economic and security assistance. However, the resolution fails to address issues such as Azerbaijans 30 years of occupation, mined territories, and humanitarian consequences. This is a glaring example of imbalanced politics in the region. If the goal is peace, both sides should be treated equally. Azerbaijan seeks the opening of international transit routes, as stated in the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020. Presenting this as a 'means of pressure' contradicts international agreements. These examples show that both the EU-Armenia documents and the European Parliament's resolutions include provisions that don't serve real peace in the region, but rather strengthen one-sided political positions. Garayev emphasized that the document adopted by the National Assembly in response to the European Parliament's biased resolution is a well-founded and timely step. "The Azerbaijani parliament expressed its position clearly and diplomatically but firmly. The adopted document once again demonstrated that Azerbaijan defends its sovereignty based on international law and will not succumb to any pressure," he added. Photo: Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 20. Ali Asadov, Azerbaijan's Prime Minister, met with Ervin Ibrahimovic, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, today, the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers told Trend. The meeting highly appreciated the successful development of the relations between the two countries in many areas. The mutual support provided by the countries within the framework of international organizations was emphasized. During the conversation, the prospects for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between Azerbaijan and Montenegro in trade and economic, investment promotion, energy, humanitarian, tourism and other areas were discussed. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 20. Sabina Aliyeva, Azerbaijan's Commissioner for Human Rights and Ombudsperson met Vladanka Andreeva, outgoing UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, the Ombudsmans Office told Trend. At the meeting, the ombudsperson was pleased to recall the productive collaboration with the UN's charter and treaty organizations, stressing that these ties have greatly aided in the advancement of human rights and the consolidation of a legal culture. The ombudsperson highly appreciated the importance of the projects carried out jointly with the UN and its specialized agencies over the past period, as well as the competitions and events organized every year in connection with International Human Rights Day. Aliyeva expressed her gratitude to the outgoing Resident Coordinator for the valuable collaboration in the field of human rights during her tenure in Azerbaijan and wished her success in her future endeavors. Andreeva thanked Aliyeva for the reception, praised the work of the Azerbaijani Ombudsperson in defending human rights and freedoms, and expressed her satisfaction with the joint cooperation. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel KHANKENDI, Azerbaijan, December 20. The first group of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) arrived in Karkijahan settlement of Khankendi today, the Restoration, Construction, and Management Service in Khankendi city, Aghdara, and Khojaly districts, told Trend. At the initial stage, 30 families, totaling 117 people, were relocated to Karkijahan. The welcoming ceremony began with the national anthem performance. A minute of silence was observed in memory of the martyrs who gave their lives for their homeland. Then, students from Nizami Ganjavi Secondary School No. 4 in Khankendi performed the dance "Kharibulbul", the songs "Garabaghdan Turana", "Milletim", and "Zefer Sedasi", and the poem "Tarikh Yazan Serkerde". Elchin Yusubov, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Khankendi city, Aghdara and Khojaly districts, delivered a speech during the official part of the ceremony. Presenting the keys to their new apartments to residents, Yusubov congratulated them on this significant event and wished them a prosperous life in their native land. He noted that after many years, life is returning to Karkijahan, symbolizing the end of 34 years of IDP life and the beginning of a new milestone. The official also emphasized that all the necessary conditions have been created for the residents to live comfortably in their native land: residential buildings and the necessary infrastructure have been restored. Residents shared their joy and expressed gratitude to everyone who made this happy day possible. Furthermore, specialists from the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) provided the residents with appropriate recommendations. Karkijahan settlement was occupied by Armenian armed forces on December 28, 1991. Following local anti-terror measures carried out on September 1920, 2023, it returned under the control of the Azerbaijani Army. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 20. Kazakhstan and Japan are outlining plans to deepen cooperation on the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), with a focus on logistics infrastructure and customs modernization, Trend reports via the press service of Kazakh president. Speaking during talks in Japan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted Central Asias growing role as a key transit hub connecting East and West, as well as North and South. He noted that Kazakhstan accounts for the majority of overland cargo flows between Asia and Europe, making the Middle Corridor a strategic priority for long-term regional connectivity. The transit and logistics potential of Central Asia, which serves as a crucial crossroads for major trade routes between East and West, North and South, offers great opportunities for Japan, the President said. Tokayev welcomed Japans decision to take part in improving customs procedures at the Aktau port on the Caspian Sea, describing it as an important practical step toward increasing the efficiency and reliability of cargo transit along the route. The development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route is of particular importance. We welcome the Japanese Government's decision to participate in improving customs procedures at the port of Aktau on the Caspian Sea, he said. Looking ahead, the Head of State emphasized that Kazakhstan sees strong potential for broader Japanese involvement in infrastructure projects along the Middle Corridor, including railways, ports, roads, and logistics hubs. We believe the future participation of Japanese companies in the development of rail, port, road, and logistics infrastructure along the Middle Corridor will be beneficial, Tokayev noted. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 20. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has outlined plans to deepen cooperation with Japan in the energy sector, emphasizing a balanced approach that combines traditional energy development with green technologies, Trend reports via the press service of Kazakh president. Speaking during Central Asia - Japan Summit, the president stressed Kazakhstans interest in attracting Japanese expertise, innovation, and investment into projects focused on the extraction and processing of traditional energy resources using environmentally friendly solutions. We view the development of clean energy as a long-term strategic priority. Kazakhstan is interested in attracting Japanese expertise, innovation, and investment in projects to extract and process traditional energy resources using green technologies, Tokayev said. He noted that amid geopolitical instability and growing global energy demand, hydrocarbon resources will continue to play a key role in ensuring economic stability, making it essential to pursue a balanced and equitable energy transition. Kazakhstans significant coal reserves were also highlighted as part of the countrys long-term plans. Tokayev pointed out that coal remains a major component of the national energy balance, underscoring the importance of modernizing the sector. Therefore, we expect to attract the most advanced technologies to transform this natural resource into a powerful energy source, President Tokayev stated. To note, in a recent address, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev articulated Kazakhstan's strategic initiative to overhaul its energy and utilities infrastructure comprehensively. He outlined an ambitious plan involving the reconstruction of a minimum of 200 facilities and the enhancement of 86,000 kilometers of networks, all targeted for completion by the year 2030, as he spoke at a ceremony commemorating Energy Workers Day. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 20. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has outlined plans to expand cooperation with Japan in the nuclear energy sector, at the Central AsiaJapan Summit, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president. Addressing the meeting, President Tokayev stressed the growing role of nuclear energy in the global green agenda and highlighted Kazakhstans strategic position in the sector. The combination of Kazakhstan's resource potential and Japan's advanced nuclear energy technologies opens up favorable opportunities for successful cooperation, Tokayev said. He noted that Kazakhstan supplies about 40% of the worlds nuclear fuel, while nuclear power plants generate nearly 10% of global electricity, demonstrating the value of stable and innovative cooperation in this field. According to him, joint efforts could focus on introducing advanced technologies and innovation-driven approaches. Tokayev emphasized that Kazakhstan is particularly interested in projects related to nuclear waste management, nuclear safety, and the training of highly qualified personnel, including specialists in civil defense. He added that such cooperation would not only support sustainable energy development but also contribute to long-term regional and global energy security. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 20. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the launch of the Next-Generation SmartMining Plus project jointly with Japan, aimed at digitalizing production processes and enhancing environmental sustainability, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president. Central Asia possesses significant reserves of rare earth elements and other critical minerals necessary for the global energy transition. Our region can become a reliable link in global supply chains to ensure clean and energy-efficient production, the president noted during his speech at the Central Asia-Japan Summit. He emphasized that Kazakhstan is looking to intensify cooperation with Japan in the exploration, production, and processing of critical minerals while creating a full-fledged industrial cluster focused on deep processing and sustainable production chains. The project reflects our priority to develop advanced, environmentally responsible mining practices and strengthen the regions role in global supply networks, Tokayev added. Earlier, within the framework of the summit, President Tokayev met with Masafumi Senzaki, President of Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM), to discuss the development of high-tech and environmentally friendly solutions for Kazakhstans mining industry. The parties emphasized the critical role of digitalization, autonomous transport systems, and "green" technologies in the modernization of mining operations. President Tokayev reaffirmed Kazakhstan's readiness to expand collaboration with HCM in the adoption of innovative, low-carbon, and safe solutions. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 20. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed the creation of a joint Research Platform in Sustainable Agriculture with Japanese participation during the Central Asia plus Japan Summit, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president. Kazakhstan attaches particular importance to the development of agriculture. The countries of Central Asia have traditionally had a strong agro-industrial complex and could play a more significant role in ensuring global food security, the president said. Tokayev highlighted Japans experience in resource-saving technologies, breeding drought-resistant crops, and developing smart farms as a practical reference for Kazakhstan. He proposed holding the first meeting of scientists and researchers from both countries in Astana under the Central Asia-Japan format. The initiative aims to foster applied research, technology exchange, and sustainable agricultural practices across the region. Earlier during the government meeting, Vice Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan Azat Sultanov announced that Kazakhstans gross agricultural output increased by 6.1% over the first 11 months of 2025, reaching 9.2 trillion tenge ($17.9 billion). The growth was driven by a 3.5% increase in livestock production and a 7.6% rise in crop production. While traditional crops continued to yield high harvests, oilseeds and legumes emerged as key growth areas this year. Legume production reached a record 1.1 million tons, and for the first time, oilseed harvests hit 4.7 million tons, he said. The vice minister added that these results were supported by the allocation of 750 billion tenge ($1.5 billion) in preferential financing for sowing and harvesting operations. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, December 20. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov confirmed support for the Japanese sides proposal to focus joint efforts on three key areas of cooperation, Trend reports via the press service of the Kyrgyz president. He made the statement on December 20 during an official visit to Japan while addressing the Summit of the "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue (CA+JAD). According to him, the priority areas include environmental sustainability and sustainable development, the development of communications, and human resource development. Japarov noted that these areas are particularly relevant for Central Asian countries at the current stage and emphasized Kyrgyzstans readiness to actively participate in the implementation of joint initiatives in these fields. The head of state also stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach to full-fledged cooperation, noting that the implementation of these priorities would contribute to the sustainable development of the region as a whole. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: The official website of the President of Uzbekistan TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 20. Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called for the launch of a comprehensive Central Asia-Japan 2040 strategy to drive sustainable development and deeper regional integration into the global economy, Trend reports via the Presidents press service. The statement was made at the summit of the Central Asia Plus Japan dialogue in Tokyo. The strategy would include concrete programs and projects across multiple sectors and is designed to strengthen long-term cooperation between Central Asian countries and Japan. To support this initiative, Uzbekistan proposed creating an Expert Forum with leading analytical institutions from the region, with the first meeting scheduled to take place in Tashkent next year. The president also backed Japans proposal for a permanent justice and law mechanism and the first meeting of justice ministers in Tokyo, while suggesting that heads-of-state summits be held every two years to maintain momentum in regional collaboration. Mirziyoyev is currently on an official visit to Japan, which runs from December 18 through 20. During this visit, he will participate in the inaugural summit of the Heads of State of the Central Asia + Japan Dialogue. The summit will explore avenues for cooperation in several critical areas, including the green economy, sustainable development, regional interconnectivity, fostering partnerships, and advancing human capital development. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, December 20. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov proposed creating a regional early warning system with the participation of Japan, Trend reports via the press service of the Kyrgyz president. He made the statement on December 20 during an official visit to Japan while addressing the Summit of the "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue (CA+JAD). In order to reduce the risks of natural disasters, the president of Kyrgyzstan proposed establishing a regional early warning system. According to him, the implementation of such an initiative would be possible with the active participation of Japan, which possesses advanced technologies in the field of forecasting natural hazards. The head of state also advocated for the development of data exchange among countries in the region, emphasizing the importance of using modern digital solutions and scientific developments. In his view, such a system would enable timely responses to emergency situations and, in turn, contribute to the protection of the population and critical infrastructure. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: The official website of the President of Uzbekistan TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 20. Uzbekistan proposed the creation of a Central AsiaJapan Digital Hub, a multilateral platform for cooperation in digital solutions, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, cybersecurity, and the innovative economy, Trend reports via the press service of the President of Uzbekistan. The proposal was made by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on December 20 at the inaugural Central Asia + Japan Summit in Tokyo. President Mirziyoyev emphasized the critical role of digital transformation as a driver of economic growth and resilience and highlighted Japans global leadership in digital economy sectors, including industrial automation, robotics, intelligent control systems, and next-generation cloud and telecommunications platforms. He is currently on an official visit to Japan, which runs from December 18 through 20. During this visit, he will participate in the inaugural summit of the Heads of State of the Central Asia + Japan Dialogue. The summit will explore avenues for cooperation in several critical areas, including the green economy, sustainable development, regional interconnectivity, fostering partnerships, and advancing human capital development. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 20. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed support for the Tokyo Initiative, aimed at developing cooperation in artificial intelligence between Japan and Central Asian countries, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president. Speaking at the Central Asia+Japan Summit, he highlighted the strategic importance of digital transformation and AI development, noting that Japanese innovations are recognized for their quality, reliability, and technological sophistication. Tokayev outlined Kazakhstans efforts to become a digital state, including the establishment of the Alem.ai International Artificial Intelligence Center and the launch of two supercomputers based on American technology this year. He emphasized that next year, the Digital Kazakhstan strategy will begin, focusing on digitalizing industry, the public sector, social services, and education, creating favorable conditions for AI and digital technology development. Tokayev proposed that the Tokyo Initiatives new AI partnership platform be hosted at Astana Hub, Central Asia's largest IT startup technopark, and the Alem.ai International Center, which provide the necessary infrastructure and an international ecosystem to advance regional AI collaboration. To note, in October, Kazakhstan established its first research university in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and opened the International AI Center Alem.ai within the framework of the Digital Bridge 2025 international forum in Astana. Photo: The official website of the PM of Japan TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 20. Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed creating a Central Asian network of Japanese technoparks, serving as a regional platform for industrial cooperation, technology localization, and knowledge transfer, with locations tailored to the natural and industrial resources of each country, Trend reports via the presidents press service. The proposal was made on December 20, at the inaugural Central Asia + Japan Summit in Tokyo. President Mirziyoyev welcomed the expanding support of Japanese financial institutions for trade, economic, and investment projects in Central Asia. He emphasized that combining the regions rich natural and human resources with Japans industrial and technological potential could create significant synergy. To this end, he proposed establishing a Central Asia Infrastructure and Industry Development Investment Fund, which would support a Quality Infrastructure program aimed at attracting Japanese investment, technologies, engineering standards, and expertise for major regional projects. Highlighting Japans experience in building modern and reliable transport infrastructure, the president expressed interest in Japanese partnership for developing regional transit and logistics networks. This includes investment and expertise in high-speed railways, highways, digital transport corridors, airports, and logistics centers. He also highlighted the synergistic collaboration with Sojitz LLC in the execution of the new international airport project in Tashkent. Mirziyoyev is currently on an official visit to Japan, which runs from December 18 through 20. During this visit, he will participate in the inaugural summit of the Heads of State of the Central Asia + Japan Dialogue. The summit will explore avenues for cooperation in several critical areas, including the green economy, sustainable development, regional interconnectivity, fostering partnerships, and advancing human capital development. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: The official website of the PM of Japan TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 20. Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed launching a joint Central Asia-Japan program for seismic safety assessment and enhancement, Trend reports via the Presidents press service. The statement was made at the inaugural Central Asia + Japan Summit in Tokyo. Highlighting Japans extensive experience in seismic safety, President Mirziyoyev said the program would conduct comprehensive seismic diagnostics of major Central Asian cities with the involvement of Japanese experts, develop roadmaps to improve earthquake resilience, and implement early warning systems based on Japanese models. He additionally put forth the initiative to create a Regional Training Center in Tashkent aimed at equipping engineers, architects, and emergency response personnel with competencies aligned with Japanese standards and protocols, thereby enhancing regional resilience against seismic hazards. Mirziyoyev is currently on an official visit to Japan, which runs from December 18 through 20. During this visit, he will participate in the inaugural summit of the Heads of State of the Central Asia + Japan Dialogue. The summit will explore avenues for cooperation in several critical areas, including the green economy, sustainable development, regional interconnectivity, fostering partnerships, and advancing human capital development. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, December 20. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed 11 bilateral agreements with Japanese companies during his working visit to Japan, Trend reports via the Turkmen Government. The President met with leaders and representatives of leading Japanese firms, including Sumitomo Corporation, Toyo Engineering Corporation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Muroosystems Corporation, ITOCHU Corporation, Tokyo Boeki Eurasia Limited, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Mitsubishi Corporation, and ARGONAVT Corporation, as well as Turkish and regional partners such as Calk Holding and Gap Insaat ve Dis Ticaret A.S. The agreements cover industrial, energy, financial, and educational cooperation, including AI and digital technologies, maintenance of gas-to-gasoline and polymer plants, construction of a urea production complex, and academic partnerships with Tohoku and Hirosaki Universities. Several Memoranda of Understanding were signed between the State Concern Turkmenhimiya and Japanese companies Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Toyo Engineering Corporation, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., in cooperation with Turkish partners, on projects including gas-to-gasoline plant maintenance, polymer plant operations in the Balkan region, and construction of a urea production complex in Turkmenbasy. Berdimuhamedov is currently on an official visit to Japan, which runs from December 18 through 20. During this visit, he will participate in the inaugural summit of the Heads of State of the Central Asia + Japan Dialogue. The summit will explore cooperation in key areas, including the green economy, sustainable development, regional interconnectivity, partnership building, and human capital development. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 20. Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Japanese company RIKEN KOGYO Inc. within the framework of the Central Asia plus Japan Summit, Trend reports via KTZ. Under the agreement, RIKEN KOGYO specialists will conduct a detailed survey of the KoktumaRazyezd 16 section, studying natural and climatic conditions and proposing technical solutions to install protective barriers. The measures aim to reduce the longstanding impact of wind and snow drifts on train operations, an issue that has lacked effective engineering solutions for nearly 30 years. The collaboration will allow Kazakhstan to benefit from Japanese expertise in railway infrastructure, enhancing transportation safety and reliability. The KTZ delegation also participated in the Central Asia + Japan Summit and Business Forum in Tokyo, holding meetings with international partners to discuss further cooperation in the transport sector. The KoktumaRazyezd 16 section is a critical segment of the DostykMoyinty railway, which serves as the primary gateway for cargo moving between China and Europe. This area is notorious for "Force 12" winds and massive snow drifts that can bury tracks and derail operations. "Force 12" winds represent the apex of the Beaufort Scale, denoting hurricane-force phenomena characterized by velocities exceeding 64 knots (74+ mph / 119+ km/h). For nearly 30 years, these conditions have caused significant delays at the Dostyk border crossing, where temperatures regularly drop to -20C with winds so strong they can topple stacked containers. This technical survey is part of the larger $2 billion project to lay second tracks along the 836-kilometer DostykMoyinty section. Once completed, this upgrade is expected to increase the lines capacity fivefold, from 12 to 60 train pairs per day. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 20. Uzbekistan is accelerating the digital transformation of its Ministry of Economy and Finance by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into key processes, Trend reports via the ministry. On December 1819, the ministry hosted an international seminar on AI-based digital transformation in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The event introduced the ClickUp platform, which includes advanced features such as the Brain AGENT intelligent assistant and the Universal AI system, capable of integrating AI tools from Claude, OpenAI, and Gemini into a unified environment. Following the seminar, Uzbek authorities agreed to fully integrate ClickUp into the ministrys operations and organize regular training sessions for staff. The ministry expects the AI-enabled platform to enhance project management efficiency, streamline workflow, and accelerate the overall digitalization of government processes. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, December 20. The Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund (RKDF) has signed an agreement to provide $25 million in working capital financing to Kaindy-Kant OJSC and Koshoy OJSC, continuing efforts to strengthen Kyrgyzstans sugar industry and ensure food security, Trend reports via RKDF. The funding will enable the two factories to increase sugar beet procurement and boost production, meeting domestic demand while supporting the broader agricultural ecosystem. The plants, which employ around 1,500 workers, provide stable markets for 3,500 farms and are part of a supply chain that employs roughly 100,000 people nationwide. Artem Novikov, Chairman of the RKDF, noted that the Funds previous investment of $16 million in 20162017 allowed the two factories to resume operations and achieve record output levels. The new financing aims to further expand capacity and strengthen the industrys contribution to the national economy. As of November 1, the largest volumes of investment flowed into the following sectors of Kyrgyz economy from RKDF: agro-industrial complex$198.6 million, manufacturing$140.4 million, hydropower$127.6 million, and construction materials production$187.6 million. The Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund (RKDF), established in 2014, aims to enhance economic cooperation between Russia and Kyrgyzstan. It focuses on modernizing Kyrgyzstan's economy by investing in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, and IT, with a significant emphasis on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The fund provides long-term loans and financing to drive sustainable growth and leverages opportunities within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, December 20. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov identified green transition, hydrogen energy, and transport connectivity as key areas for multilateral cooperation between Central Asia and Japan, Trend reports via the Turkmen Government. The statement was made at the Central Asia-Japan Summit in Tokyo on December 20. Speaking at the event, President Berdimuhamedov emphasized the importance of expanding economic and investment cooperation and noted Turkmenistans long-standing partnerships with major Japanese companies, including ITOCHU, Mitsubishi, Kawasaki, Sumitomo, Toyo, Sojitz, Komatsu, and Toyota. He highlighted the regions substantial resource potential for developing relations with Japan and stressed priorities such as human capital development, education, and youth training in the Japanese language. Participants discussed raising the six-party partnership to a new level, covering political dialogue, interregional cooperation, business development, and humanitarian exchanges. Berdimuhamedov is currently on an official visit to Japan, which runs from December 18 through 20. During this visit, he will participate in the inaugural summit of the Heads of State of the Central Asia + Japan Dialogue. The summit will explore cooperation in key areas, including the green economy, sustainable development, regional interconnectivity, partnership building, and human capital development. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, December 20. Tajikistan is interested in developing logistics and transport communications and has invited Japan to take part in the construction of logistics and agro-logistics hubs to support the development of transit freight transportation in border regions in the north and south of the country, Trend reports via the press service of the Tajik president. The proposal was voiced by President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon while speaking at the Summit of the "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue (CA+JAD) in Tokyo on December 20. He noted that the country places particular emphasis on the development of logistics and transport connectivity due to its landlocked geography, stressing that improvements in road and railway infrastructure, the expansion of air links, and the introduction of digital logistics technologies would create favorable conditions for the development of trade, investment, and the regional economy. Furthermore, Emomali Rahmon expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for its support in implementing projects in key areas such as the economy, infrastructure, transport, energy, agriculture, environmental protection, healthcare, education, and sanitation. He also underscored the importance of small and medium-sized projects implemented with Japans participation and expressed interest in Japans involvement in large-scale national and regional projects. Priority areas for cooperation were identified as hydropower, mining, light and food industries, automotive manufacturing, and metallurgy. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 20. Uzbekistan and Japans Sojitz Corporation discussed attracting Japanese expertise, financial institutions, and training programs to support prospective transport projects in Uzbekistan, with particular attention to aviation infrastructure development, Trend reports via Uzbek Ministry of Transport. The talks took place during a meeting between Uzbekistans Minister of Transport Ilkhom Makhkamov and Sojitz Chief Operating Officer Masahito Hashimoto on the sidelines of the official visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Japan. The sides exchanged views on expanding cooperation in the transport sector by leveraging Japans advanced experience and financing mechanisms, as well as establishing collaboration in the training of qualified specialists for the industry. Following the meeting, the parties outlined further steps to deepen bilateral cooperation in developing Uzbekistans transport sector, including projects related to aviation infrastructure. Earlier, within the framework of Central Asia + Japan Summit President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with Sojitz Corporation executives, Masayoshi Fujimoto and Kosuke Uemura. The parties discussed the importance of accelerating the implementation of a combined-cycle power plant project in the Syrdarya region amid growing electricity demand. Prince William has agreed to become patron of the Special Air Service Regimental Association (SASRA). Prince William has become patron of an SAS charity The Prince of Wales expressed his admiration for the Special Air Service (SAS) in a letter that was sent to members to announce his patronage of the charity. William said: "It is with a deep sense of honour and respect that I accept your invitation to become patron of the Special Air Service's Regimental Association. "The SAS has long stood as a symbol of courage, resilience and unwavering dedication to duty and the service of this country. "The association continues that camaraderie's forged on the battlefield and provides essential support to its members and families." The SASRA is a charity that supports both serving members and veterans of the SAS. The charity states: "No member or member's widow is ever turned away if the problem is a genuine one." William declared that he is looking forward to working alongside the SASRA and has promised to help ensure "the sacrifices and achievements of SAS members past and present are recognised". The 43-year-old royal ended his message by sending Christmas wishes to members. He penned: "At this special time of year, I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year. "May the festive season bring comfort, joy and renewed strength to all within the SAS family." William has a number of military associations as a senior member of the royal family and last month implored young people to wear a poppy on Armistice Day. In a video address to students aged between nine and 14, he said: "Armistice Day is an important time for us to stop and reflect; it is a reminder that Remembrance is for everyone. "When we remember, we connect with a service in a personal way. We learn from the courage of others, and we carry their stories forward, so they are not forgotten. It's not just about the past it's about shaping who we become in the future." The prince continued: "Remembrance teaches us empathy, resilience and responsibility. And when we wear a red poppy or take a moment of silence, we are saying, 'Thank you. We have not forgotten and we will not forget.'" BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 20. On December 20, Minister of Finance and Co-Chairman of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Governments of Azerbaijan and Montenegro Sahil Babayev met with a delegation led by Ervin Ibrahimovic, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, who is visiting Azerbaijan, Trend reports with reference the Azerbaijan's Ministry of Finance. It was emphasized at the meeting that relations between Azerbaijan and Montenegro are based on the principles of friendship, mutual respect and partnership, and that these relations are built on the solid foundation of the Declaration of Friendship and Partnership signed during the official visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Montenegro in 2013. S. Babayev noted the role of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation in the development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Montenegro, stating that this mechanism is an important platform for transforming political will into concrete economic results. It was noted that the agenda of the next meeting of the Joint Commission, scheduled for March 2026, will cover a wide range of issues related to trade diversification, investment in the non-oil sector, cooperation in the areas of green energy, tourism, infrastructure, and small and medium-sized businesses. Trade and investment issues were also discussed at the meeting, and Montenegrin companies were invited to take advantage of investment opportunities in industrial zones and other priority areas of Azerbaijan. In turn, E. Ibrahimovic stated that Montenegro attaches great importance to the development of relations with Azerbaijan, noting that political dialogue and high-level contacts play an important role in deepening bilateral relations. He emphasized that there is favorable potential for expanding cooperation in the economic, energy, tourism and humanitarian spheres. An exchange of views took place on issues of mutual interest during the meeting. Azerbaijan resumes oil exports to Spain in November 2025 Azerbaijan resumed exports of oil and petroleum products to Spain in November 2025 after a break in December 2024. In November, Azerbaijan exported over 82,576 tons of crude oil and bitumen-derived products to Spain, valued at $38.58 million. This compares to nearly 250,396 tons valued at $143 million from January to November 2024. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 20. Azerbaijan is confidently expanding its presence in the European energy market through new supply routes, thereby increasing the region's energy security. On this account, national regulatory bodies in the energy sector of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine have officially approved new transport capacitiesRoute 2 and Route 3which is an important step towards strengthening regional gas connectivity and securing supply for Ukraine. The decisions made provide the possibility of natural gas supplies to Ukraine from two diversified sources: - liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Alexandroupolis FSRU floating terminal via the IGB pipeline; - Caspian pipeline gas through the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) via IGB. On December 22, all new product capacitiesRoutes 1, 2, and 3will be simultaneously offered on a competitive basis on the Regional Booking Platform (RBP). Since December 1, 2025, Azerbaijani natural gas supplies to private and industrial consumers in North Macedonia have also begun. Thanks to productive cooperation between the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and companies M-Gaz and CNG Systems, a pilot virtual gasification project was implemented, similar to the one that has been successfully operating in Bulgaria since 2024. On December 10, SOCAR and Hungarian company MVM ONEnergy signed an agreement for the supply of 800 million cubic meters of natural gas to Hungary, which will take effect from January 1, 2026. The new routes and agreements open up the possibility of supplies to countries in Central and Southeastern Europe, as well as the Balkans, confirming the strategic importance of the Southern Gas Corridor. At the same time, there is a clear need to take real and timely steps to expand this infrastructure in order to meet the growing demand for gas and ensure the region's sustainable energy security. It should be remembered that as early as 2022, Azerbaijan and the European Commission signed a memorandum to expand the capacity of the Southern Gas Corridor from the current 10 billion cubic meters per year to 20 billion cubic meters by 2027. Time is running out, and to achieve this goal, active cooperation from all stakeholders and concrete actions are needed to implement the expansion plans. As a result of the 2021 market test, the long-term capacity of TAP will be increased by 1.2 billion cubic meters per year starting in 2026. Of this volume, 1.04 billion cubic meters per year are reserved for supplies to Italy, and 0.16 billion cubic meters per year will go to Albania. Addressing the 11th Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting and the 3rd Green Energy Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said that the geography of the country's gas supply in Europe will definitely grow because today Azerbaijan is already involved in the creation of gas distribution networks in some European countries. "Some of them do not have it. Some of them need to expand it. Azerbaijan as an investor is planning to do it. So, the geography of our gas supplies will definitely grow in different ways, including interconnectors. Of course, we need to think about joint efforts in the expansion of the existing gas pipeline system. The Southern Gas Corridor is a tremendous success story for all of us. The 3,500-kilometer integrated pipeline system today is the main artery for energy security for many countries. And now it is working at full capacity. Whether its the South Caucasus Pipeline, TANAP, or TAPthree integral parts of the Southern Gas Corridorall are fully packed. So we need to expand," the head of state noted. Undoubtedly, European countries that receive Azerbaijani gas and are interested in increasing their volumes, as well as countries that want to gain access to gas from Azerbaijan, understand that this requires expanding the existing infrastructure. Thus, previously, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jrgensen said in an exclusive interview with Trend that the EU is working with partner countries to increase gas supplies through the Southern Gas Corridor. "This is even more important as we aim to phase out our dependency on Russian fuels and diversify our energy supplies," he said. According to him, the EU aims to continue with Azerbaijan and other partner countries the development of the bilateral trade of natural gas via the Southern Gas Corridor. The Romanian side emphasizes that concrete steps are needed to expand the Southern Gas Corridor into Southeastern Europe and the Balkans. Meanwhile, Hungary notes that the country has always supported the construction and expansion of the Southern Gas Corridor, which is a key project not only for Hungary or the Central and Eastern Europe region but for all of Europe. Moldova also expresses firm support for the expansion of the Southern Gas Corridor and its role in strengthening Europes energy security. The country seeks to enhance its energy independence by expanding connections with alternative supply routes, including through partnerships within the framework of the Southern Gas Corridor. Thus, the expansion of the Southern Gas Corridor and the increase in Azerbaijani gas supplies to Europe are becoming not only commercial but also strategic priorities. To achieve the goal of 20 billion cubic meters by 2027, timely and concrete actions are necessary, as well as strengthening cooperation among partner countries and investing in infrastructure modernization. Azerbaijan continues to demonstrate its ability to meet the growing demand for gas in Europe and plays a key role in diversifying energy supplies. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 20. Iran and Azerbaijan have coordinated efforts to increase cargo traffic at the Astara customs border checkpoint, the Iranian Embassy in Azerbaijan told Trend. Irans Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mojtaba Demirchilou, visited the Astara customs border crossing and met with officials from the Azerbaijani customs service. During the meeting, officials discussed ways to simplify and accelerate the passage of trucks at the Astara border crossing. They also reached an agreement to increase the number of trucks passing through and to reduce waiting times for exported goods. To note, cargo traffic at the Astara border nexus generally experiences a marked uptick as the fiscal year approaches its conclusion. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 20. Iran has never rejected talks and discussions grounded on mutual respect and reflecting the countrys legitimate interests, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said during a phone conversation with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on December 19, Trend reports. Araghchi stressed that dialogue should not be aimed at imposing one sides position unilaterally. He added that Iran does not share and has criticized the stance of the European trio on Irans nuclear program. In turn, Cooper emphasized the importance of using diplomacy to address issues related to Irans nuclear activities. The two sides also exchanged views on bilateral relations, including consular matters, and underlined the need to continue consultations at various levels to focus on issues of mutual interest and strengthen understanding. On September 26, the United Nations Security Council convened to deliberate on a draft resolution presented by Russia and China, which sought to extend the term of Resolution 2231 and prevent the activation of the "snapback" mechanism. The resolution was met with mixed reactions: four members voted in favor, nine opposed, and two abstained. Consequently, as of September 28, the Security Council's sanctions targeting Iran were reinstated. Resolution 2231, adopted by the UN Security Council on July 20, 2015, marked a pivotal moment in international diplomacy, annulling six prior resolutions against Iran and lifting extensive sanctions related to its nuclear program. Under Articles 36 and 37 of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), if a member state files a complaint over another partys violation of the deal, a review process begins. The complainant has the option to escalate the issue to the UN Security Council if it remains unresolved. Should the Council accept the complaint against Iran, international sanctions may be reactivated, and the Council may even authorize military action against Iran. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 20. Iran doesn't consider it appropriate to transfer information about the Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan nuclear facilities that were attacked due to technical and security issues, Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), told reporters, Trend reports. According to him, Iran doesn't want to share with the other parties the extent of damage to its nuclear facilities and uranium materials. If advised, Iran will protect the country's technical information by fulfilling its obligations. Kamalvandi said that Iran's Supreme National Security Council can give the main legal opinion on this issue. The official noted that the Iranian side has focused more on safeguard protocols. Iran has minimized its relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency following Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June. In this regard, the Iranian parliament has adopted a law on cooperation with the IAEA. According to the law, any cooperation with the IAEA can take place only with the approval of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran. On the morning of June 13, Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting Iran, resulting in the deaths of numerous high-ranking military officials, generals, nuclear scientists, and other senior figures. That same evening, Iran retaliated with Operation True Promise III, a large-scale missile and drone assault on multiple targets, including Tel Aviv, which caused civilian casualties and extensive damage. On June 22, the United States conducted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, with reports indicating the destruction of these sites. The following evening, June 23, Iran launched airstrikes on the U.S. military base in Qatar, further escalating tensions in the region. On June 24, the Israeli Prime Ministers Office announced that Israel had agreed to a ceasefire with Iran, facilitated by the U.S. President Donald Trump. In response, Irans Supreme National Security Council issued a statement confirming the cessation of hostilities. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 20. Iran's conditions and intended issues should be taken into account in case of beginning serious discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), told local media, Trend reports. According to him, the cooperation process between Iran and the IAEA is possible on the condition that, contrary to usual, the agency and the relevant countries do not politicize the issue. Kamalvandi said that the law on the suspension of Iran's cooperation with the IAEA mentions two issues. First, military threats against Iran's nuclear facilities should be stopped, and second, Iran's nuclear issue, especially its right to enrich uranium, should be respected, and the idea of 'zero enrichment' should not be put forward again. If conditions are created within the framework of these two principles, Iran's cooperation with the IAEA can return to the period before the 12-day attack on Iran. The official noted that at the current stage, the IAEA and the European trio, instead of acting logically, are taking steps with political bias and using political opportunities to put pressure on Iran. Iran has minimized its relations with the IAEA following Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June. In this regard, the Iranian parliament has adopted a law on cooperation with the IAEA. According to the law, any cooperation with the IAEA can take place only with the approval of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran. On the morning of June 13, Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting Iran, resulting in the deaths of numerous high-ranking military officials, generals, nuclear scientists, and other senior figures. That same evening, Iran retaliated with Operation True Promise III, a large-scale missile and drone assault on multiple targets, including Tel Aviv, which caused civilian casualties and extensive damage. On June 22, the United States conducted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, with reports indicating the destruction of these sites. The following evening, June 23, Iran launched airstrikes on a U.S. military base in Qatar, further escalating tensions in the region. On June 24, the Israeli Prime Ministers Office announced that Israel had agreed to a ceasefire with Iran, facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump. In response, Irans Supreme National Security Council issued a statement confirming the cessation of hostilities. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Dear UC Community, As we approach the end of another remarkable calendar year at the University of Cincinnati, I want to express my profound gratitude to our students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters. Your hard work and dedication continue to shape our universitys growing impact. As I shared during last weeks All-University Faculty Senate meeting, UCs forward momentum remains strong, and 2025 shows what our community can achieve together. These achievements are never more evident than during commencement, and we celebrated with two ceremonies December 12 when we officially added 2,628 more graduates to a community of 360,000 living alumni. These newly minted Bearcats join nearly 10,000 fellow 2025 grads who completed their UC degrees during spring and summer ceremonies. To truly grasp the significance of UCs collective impact, we must look beyond the impressive totals and focus on the contribution each of these talented grads will have on our society. As just one example, think of the difference a single skilled nurse makes to patients and families in need of care. Now, multiply that impact a thousand times roughly equal to the number of nurses UC graduates every single year. This sort of talent production has a tremendous impact on our health system, our economy and our society. Half of all those nurses will live and work right here in Ohio. The same can be said of our doctors, our lawyers, our writers, our teachers, our artists and our engineers, to name only a few. No matter what part you play, if you attend UC, work at UC or support UC, these wins are not just university wins. These are your wins, too, and now more than ever we need to share our story with a collective voice. As a public university, we meet our mission when we fulfill the talent demands of our society, and Im proud to say that the University of Cincinnati is rising to the challenge. While we will always have more work to do, Im thrilled to report that this year we are again reaching new heights: record enrollment, all-time highs for degrees, peak research funding, and historic co-op earnings by our students. The list is long, and there is so much in which we can take pride as an academic community. Success repeated, however, should not be success assumed. In other words, we should take none of our progress for granted. Higher education faces significant hurdles. Disruption is our new normal. Universities are competing for a shrinking pool of high school graduates and in a rapidly changing research funding environment. Still, I remain confident confident because we have momentum and an agile strategy that allows us to adapt to our rapidly changing world. Ultimately, UC continues to rise because our people rise, meeting challenges with creativity and conviction, remembering always that the heart of our work is our enduring mission to educate and discover. For this, I give credit to the dedicated faculty, staff, supporters and donors who pour so much of themselves into shaping the next generation. Thank you for your dedication to the University of Cincinnati, and for the countless ways you bring our mission to life each day. Together, we will carry this momentum into the new year and continue shaping a bold future for our university. Next Lives Here because of you. In accordance with the state of Ohios 2025 Advance Ohio Higher Education Act: The University of Cincinnati declares that it will educate students by means of free, open, and rigorous intellectual inquiry to seek the truth. The University of Cincinnati declares that its duty is to equip students with the opportunity to develop the intellectual skills they need to reach their own, informed conclusions. The University of Cincinnati declares its commitment to not requiring, favoring, disfavoring, or prohibiting speech or lawful assembly. The University of Cincinnati declares it is committed to create a community dedicated to an ethic of civil and free inquiry, which respects the autonomy of each member, supports individual capacities for growth, and tolerates the differences in opinion that naturally occur in a public higher education community. The University of Cincinnati declares that its duty is to treat all faculty, staff, and students as individuals, to hold them to equal standards, and to provide them equality of opportunity, with regard to those individuals' race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. In Russias Volgograd region, the main gas pipeline Central Asia Center went out of operation due to a suspected explosion. Ukrinform reports this citing a source in the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU). According to the source, on December 19, a mysterious ground subsidence occurred near the settlement of Romanovka, Olkhovsky district, causing the pipeline to fail. According to Russias usual explanation, the decades-old Soviet pipeline, which transported gas from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan for years, could not withstand the force of gravity especially near Romanovka. The real cause of this sudden geological incident can be seen in exclusive photos obtained by our special correspondents, the DIU statement said. Despite the supposedly minor nature of the incident, emergency and special service vehicles were quickly deployed to the site. Presumably, to document yet another unique natural phenomenon: soil that selectively subsides under strategic gas infrastructure, the statement added. The Central Asia Center pipeline is a key element of the system through which Russia imported up to 12 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Since 2022, despite loud claims of energy independence, Moscow has used this pipeline for reverse flows and even purchased gas from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to cover local shortages. Currently, gas transportation through this route is suspended indefinitely. The DIU emphasized that geological processes in Russia tend to develop further especially near facilities that finance the war against Ukraine. Every war crime against the Ukrainian people will be met with just retribution. As previously reported by Ukrinform, on the night of December 19, a drone group attacked several facilities on Russian territory, including the chemical company TogliattiAzot in Samara region. Photo: provided by source The new Minister of Defense of the Czech Republic, Jaromir Zuna, considers it necessary to support Ukraine and continue the ammunition initiative. He plans to visit Ukraine in the near future. The minister said this at his first press conference at the Ministry of Defense, presenting his priorities for the next four years, according to a Ukrinform correspondent. We have clearly stated that our support for Ukraine will continue. We stand with Ukraine. Ukraine is defending itself, Russia is the aggressor, Zuna said. He does not question the ammunition initiative, but is critical of how it was carried out. A meeting with experts will be prepared for the prime minister to discuss how to continue this initiative. In principle, no one questions the ammunition initiative, and I do not, but it is about the process of managing it and how to continue, Zuna said. He also announced plans for his first foreign visits, saying he wants to visit neighboring Slovakia shortly after Prime Minister Andrej Babis's visit there on January 8, and then we will plan a visit to Ukraine. The priorities for the Czech Republic are to strengthen the role of the Czech defense industry, particularly in view of its export potential, to strengthen its own air defense, and to fulfill its obligations to NATO. In order to achieve results, the new leadership is ready to rethink the priorities of both defense and the army, as the current concept of building the Czech army is based on the 2019 strategy, which is already somewhat outdated. The new concept is planned to be updated in the first half of 2026. Zuna noted that it will take into account the experience of the war in Ukraine. In particular, it is planned to increase the number of personnel to at least 30,000. Currently, the Czech army has approximately 24,000 military personnel. At the same time, the Ministry of Defense plans to reduce its staff by 5% and optimize its structure. Former Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced that the Czech initiative had achieved its goal and that 1.8 million units of large-caliber ammunition had been sent to Ukraine in 2025. As reported by Ukrinform, the day before, Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal held talks with Zuna, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, on the development of security cooperation. The parties focused on ways to develop defense cooperation to strengthen the security of Ukraine and the Czech Republic. In particular, the head of the Ministry of Defense noted the importance of the Czech initiative on the supply of ammunition. Photo: Petr Pavel / Facebook Currently, only Ukrainian citizens are allowed to leave Moldova toward Odesa via the Palanca Maiaky Udobne and Tudora border crossing points. An additional requirement is that vehicles must weigh no more than seven tons. Two checkpoints on the Moldova Ukraine border are operating under a special regime following Russian drone attacks in southern Odesa region on December 18 and 19, NewsMaker reports, according to Ukrinform. Moldovas Border Police said on December 20 that departures from Moldova through the Tudora checkpoint toward Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi are allowed without restrictions. However, travel toward Odesa is permitted only for Ukrainian citizens and vehicles weighing up to seven tons. The agency also emphasized that departures from Moldova through the Palanca Maiaky Udobne checkpoint are currently restricted to Ukrainian citizens only. Vehicles must also weigh no more than seven tons. Travel toward Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi via this checkpoint remains unrestricted. Moldovas Border Police advised citizens to refrain from traveling to Odesa at this time. As previously reported by Ukrinform, border checkpoints toward the Odesa Reni highway in Odesa region are operating, but traffic toward Odesa and the Moldovan border is complicated due to damage to a bridge near the village of Maiaky. Photo: NewsMaker Repair work on a damaged bridge in Ukraines Odesa region is ongoing, and the logistics situation is expected to improve in the coming days. According to Ukrinform, this was stated by Serhii Sukhomlyn, Head of the Recovery Agency, during a broadcast on Suspilne. Engineers are working so that the relevant services can restore the bridge as quickly as possible. We understand how important this is for the country, including for the supply of petroleum products. The government has done everything possible to reroute fuel supplies via alternative routes, and such options exist. Therefore, I believe that within two to three days we will normalize the situation, Sukhomlyn said. Commenting on the repair work itself, the Head of the Recovery Agency noted that operations are complicated by regular shelling, which has further worsened the condition of the bridge. At the same time, Sukhomlyn emphasized that the Agencys services have hands-on experience in dealing with such damage and expressed hope that the repairs can be completed soon. At present, alternative routes are being used to maintain connections with the southwestern part of Odesa region, including routes through the territory of Moldova. We understand that many people do not have foreign passports. The Cabinet of Ministers is currently doing extensive work, including at the international level, to resolve this issue, Sukhomlyn added. As reported earlier, Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) has assigned an additional group of railcars to Chisinau from Odesa and Kyiv. This was an prompt response to complications at the Moldovan border affecting other modes of transport. Ukraine, together with Moldova, is working on transit routes and alternative transport links to ensure uninterrupted logistics in southern Ukraine. Photo: dumskaya.net Walton Institute at South East Technological University (SETU) has secured 100k in Enterprise Ireland Proof of Concept funding to develop AgritatorAI, a next-generation artificial intelligence agricultural and land image analysis platform. This platform is designed to speed up important business decisions and workflows using advanced machine learning with transparency built in from the beginning. AgritatorAIs initial development aims to automate Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) compliance verification. CAP payments depend on photographic evidence to confirm crop type, farming activity and environmental compliance. With more than 6.2 million beneficiaries across Europe, paying agencies receive an overwhelming volume of farm imagery each year. Processing remains largely manual and unsustainable. AgritatorAI will address this head-on by developing a production-grade AI engine capable of identifying crops, detecting land activity such as grazing, and assessing compliance features within land parcels. Unlike earlier pilots that struggled to maintain accuracy outside controlled training environments, this platform is being built specifically for real-world regulatory use. Project The project is led by Christine OMeara, Commercialisation Researcher at SETUs Walton Institute, and builds directly on the Institutes role in the Horizon Europe NIVA4CAP programme, which delivered the widely used AgriSnap geo-tagged photo app in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Teagasc and farmers. The potential of AI to process vast and complex agricultural data is undeniable. "However, if AI is to support real payment decisions, accuracy and transparency are non-negotiable, said Christine OMeara. These systems must handle nuance, operate transparently, respect data sovereignty and meet GDPR and AI Act requirements. This project is about building AI that can be trusted in high-stakes regulatory environments. Nakul Wali, Senior Commercialisation Specialist at Enterprise Ireland, commented, AgritatorAI shows how commercialising research can potentially turn Irish AI into export-ready Ag-tech, cutting CAP red tape for 6 million EU farmers and positioning Ireland to lead the next wave of compliance-tech spin-outs. Richard Rodgers, CEO of Voxgig and commercial partner on the project, added, "This solution shows that the intersection of machine learning, regulation and market opportunity can be bridged to create a new generation of opportunities that can responsibly meet both economic and social needs." By reducing manual workloads and significantly improving verification accuracy, AgritatorAI is expected to enable faster claim resolution, stronger environmental monitoring and greater consistency across CAP controls. The work builds on the Walton Institutes success in NIVA4CAP, a Horizon Europe project involving 27 partners and nine European Paying Agencies. The platform will use advanced machine learning architectures, including Vision Transformers and specialised neural networks optimised for agricultural image analysis. The system will operate using a modular, containerised architecture and will incorporate Explainable AI and federated learning to ensure regulatory transparency, GDPR compliance and data sovereignty. The project will deliver multi-method confidence scoring to support reliable and auditable payment decisions by CAP Paying Agencies. The Walton team includes Philip OBrien (Senior Technical Lead, AI and Machine Learning), Thomas Walsh (Senior Systems Architect), and Catherine Cunniffe (Delivery Manager). Walton Institutes research in AgriTech Walton Institute is an ICT research Institute within South East Technological University (SETU), specialising in ICT research, innovation and digital transformation. The institute has a strong track record in coordinating national and EU-funded research projects in areas including agritech and precision agriculture. Notable DAFM funded projects include AgNav and agriDISCRETE. Notable EU funded projects include DIVINE, NIVA4CAP, DEMETER, SmartAgriHubs, and agROBOfood. About Richard Rodgers, VoxGig Richard Rodgers is the founder and CEO of voxgig.com, a professional networking and tool suite for the technology conferences and events industry. He was previously a co-founder and COO of nearForm.com, the world's largest specialist Node.js consultancy delivering next-generation enterprise software, with a focus on Node.js and microservices. Before that, Richard was the CTO of FeedHenry, a mobile application platform provider that was acquired by RedHat in 2014. Richard is the author of The Tao of Microservices, a book from Manning focused on the design and management of microservice architectures. EI Proof of Concept funding Enterprise Irelands Commercialisation Fund supports third-level researchers to translate their research into innovative and commercially viable products, services and companies. Proof of Concept Funding can be used to de-risk technology and prove concept of commercial need. For more visit https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/supports/commercialisation-fund A man made a false report of having been a victim of a knife-point robbery and claimed a related support payment, Waterford District Court has been told. Teibor Kobova (29), of Apt 2, Aylesbury Manor, Johnstown Road, Waterford, was before Judge John Cheatle at Waterford District Court charged with making gains or causing loss by deception and making a false report. For the purposes of jurisdiction, Sergeant Michael Hickey told the court that at 7:50pm on August 12, 2025, the defendant attended Waterford Garda Station and reported that he had been robbed at knifepoint. It is alleged that he then went to the social welfare office and claimed a payment of 180, which he received because of the assault. A subsequent investigation found the claim to be false, Sgt Hickey told the court. Judge Cheatle accepted jurisdiction and put the matter back to February for mention. Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme While Micheal Martin visibly preened last week over work commencing on a 93 million refurbishment of Corks Crawford Art Gallery, Waterford was told that the Waterford/Wexford Rail reopening, highlighted in the 2024 Rail Review, was dropped from the National Plan. Nobody would care if the Crawford job cost 930m, if a fair share was coming our way, but it most definitely is not! The Crawford Gallery was apparently designated by Micheal Martin as a national cultural institution in 2006. It doesnt charge an admission fee. Not a cent has come the way of Waterfords museums or galleries. They charge for admission to maintain our historic patrimony and are financially supported by the admirable civic largesse of private individuals, like Noel and Stephanie Frisby, David Bowles and Coleman Curran. The latter two are Dubliners mind you, prepared to step up when our own government fails us. This is the penultimate column of 2025. Its usual at this time for the column to reflect on the past years political and economic performance and ask, how is our city doing? To answer that, while you read this in a quiet moment over Christmas week, ask yourself if it is almost beyond question that our senior political representative, Minister Mary Butler, is failing her own constituency? A record IDA year with 323 job announcements, 183 of those in the regions. Only one, from IBM, in Waterford! South East Economic Monitor (SEEM) Report 2025: Within the region, IDA job growth has been uneven: Carlow and Wexford remain static; Kilkenny has seen a significant uplift and Waterford has declined. This appalling performance, satisfaction with the half car and the single candidacy at election times, cannot continue into 2026 without local Fianna Fail calling her to order. This is abject surrender on a grand scale, never ask, never question, never demand, just pathetic acceptance of crumbs. Its disgraceful. Even the normally staid, suited members of Waterford Chamber, business people with an eye on the local economy, have begun to grumble. Micheal Martin has been a disaster for Waterford. He has shown that in spades. Given his deserved tribulations over the Jim Gavin debacle, his usual Cork hubris, the sooner he is gone as Taoiseach, following Coveney and McGrath and taking Ms Butler with him, the better. We might get a fairer country. Ms Butler is too close to him for Waterfords sake and will surely pay the price under any new Fianna Fail regime, whenever it emerges. We had the same problem with Fine Gaels Enda Kenny in 2011. His government slashed and burned UHW and WIT, closed two VECs and left Waterford as the only city in the country without an ETB HQ! The sooner we get a Dublin Taoiseach, the better. At least they tend to be even-handed. Bertie Ahern showed he understood local angst over the status of this city, but we now have a dire situation with Ms Butler, close to power as chief whip, but cannot influence that power for her own constituency. Martin Cullen was offered the chief whip position by Bertie Ahern in 2002 and refused it precisely because it was powerless. Mr Martin, well knowing Waterfords needs and desire for a cabinet ministry, with Ms Butler as firm favourite to be Minister for Children, neutered her and Waterford by making her a peripatetic messenger as chief whip, running around for every dog and devil, while ignoring her own constituency requirements. He gave her a poisoned chalice. Ms Butler couldnt secure a paltry 12 million for a joint venture at Waterford Airport despite assuring us pre-2024 election that a new Minister for Transport would sort the project for us. Now, with Fianna Fail minister Darragh OBrien in that position, Waterford cannot get airport funding, or rail funding for the Wexford line. Waterford will be the only city not to have a twin rail track to Dublin. We cannot get a cent for Port of Waterford, despite the port working at full capacity and having a business case with the Dept. of Transport for the past two years! Ms Butler has also singularly failed to ensure that 24/7 cardiology, promised by the Taoiseach eight years ago outside UHW and by the Minister for Health last April, is in place. Vacuous statements about the coming months are inexcusable. Ms Butler should have insisted that a vital, UHW Vertical Out Patients Department (now cancelled), on the stocks in 2022, was built under a Covid Derogation without planning permission, but instead accepted two modular tin prefabs and a tent outside the Emergency Department. What other Model 4 hospital was decorated with a Medecins Sans Frontieres tent outside its ED in freezing weather? Was there one in CUH, St Vincents in Dublin, or even the perpetually under siege Limerick UH? The message to Waterford voters that we are not getting a fair crack of the whip is gaining traction. Insulting our historic city by allowing Dundalk rename its Institute of Technology as Dundalk University College, while the name Waterford was gleefully erased from WIT to form SETU, by political fiat from Simon Harris for the benefit of Carlow/Kilkenny/Wexford? Greenlighting a new SETU engineering building and two new courses in Waterford, after 17 years waiting for investment, hardly cuts the mustard. The North Quays, SETU engineering block and UHW surgical hub are all from the last government. The surgical hub was devised by senior civil servants without recourse to the HSE (they would have ruined it!). Announcements of SETU projects being progressed to the planning rather than the construction phase, or not having any UHW projects at all at the planning stage, confirm the bias explicitly detailed in the SEEM report. The South East, despite marquee projects like the North Quays, has the lowest per capita investment at 1,738 - around 7,000 below the national average - reflecting a persistent pattern of regional underinvestment. Those figures have not been challenged or rebutted at any time by local Fianna Fail or Fine Gael, because our politicians know that when they are explaining, or not, they are losing. And by the way, local chatter already has it that Sinn Fein will never see two seats again in this constituency, such is the level of general political disaffection! A plague on all their houses? 22:10 Singapore tourist held for filming inside Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple A Singapore national was taken into custody on Saturday for allegedly recording videos inside the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram using camera-embedded smart glasses, the police said.The accused, identified as 49-year-old Thiruneepanar, a resident of North Shore Drive,... Read more > 21:48 EC introduces new BLO option to resolve voter linkage issues in Bengal File image The Election Commission has introduced a new option in the BLO application to re-verify logical discrepancies in West Bengal, aiming to resolve nearly 32 lakh cases of voters not linked to the 2002 electoral rolls, an official said on Saturday. The application, titled 'Re-verify logical... Read more > 21:38 Man nabbed with posters of banned outfit in Pulwama A person was arrested in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Saturday and the posters of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) were recovered from his possession, the police said.During routine checking at Gudoora area near New Circular Road in the south Kashmir district, the accused -- identified... Read more > 21:35 WR motormen, train managers threaten to launch stir over pending issues File image Western Railway's motormen and train managers have threatened to launch an agitation if their long-pending issues, including denial of leave and forced double duties, are not resolved. After a meeting at Churchgate station here on Friday, they decided to intensify the fight over their... Read more > 21:27 INS Sindhughosh decommissioned after 40 years of glorious service: Navy Representational image INS Sindhughosh, the lead submarine of her class with the Indian Navy, has been decommissioned after 40 years of glorious service to the nation, the Western Naval Command said on Saturday.The decommissioning ceremony was held at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, in the presence of WNC's Flag Officer... Read more > 21:02 Ex-Agniveer quota for BSF constable post now 50% The Union home ministry has increased the quota for ex-Agniveers for constable recruitment in the BSF to 50 percent from 10 percent, according to a gazette notification.The increase has been made by amending the Border Security Force, General Duty Cadre (Non-Gazetted) Recruitment Rules, 2015.The... Read more > 20:57 Rupee revives from record low The rupee appreciated 53 paise to close at 89.67 against the US dollar on Friday, supported by corporate dollar inflows and easing crude oil prices.The rupee sank to a fresh record low, breaching the 91-a-dollar mark for the first time on Tuesday. Read more > 20:48 Delhi minister warns of strict action against polluting industries With the air quality in Delhi remaining close to 'severe' category, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Saturday said strict action will be taken against polluting industries and those violating construction ban in the national capital. Sirsa, citing forecast of the India... Read more > 19:57 Going abroad not crime: Omar Abdullah backs Rahul Gandhi on Germany visit Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday defended Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is battling allegations of meeting anti-India forces outside the country, saying it was no crime to go abroad and even the prime minister does it. Responding to the BJP's allegations,... Read more > 19:15 Delhi gets its first cold wave, maximum temp plunges to 16.9 degrees C Delhi experienced its first cold wave of the season on Saturday, recording its coldest December day this year as the maximum temperature plunged to 16.9 degrees Celsius, 5.3 notches below normal. The sun remained largely obscured by thick clouds and a persistent grey haze throughout the... Read more > 18:56 Sanjay Raut meets MNS chief amid BMC polls tie-up talks Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray as the two parties are discussing seat-sharing for the January 15 civic elections in Mumbai. This was Raut's second visit to `Shivtirth', Raj Thackeray's residence in Dadar, in the last three... Read more > 18:52 Bhopal gets metro service; Khattar, CM Yadav flag off train Bhopal's metro service flagged off by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadav./Courtesy X Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and state minister Kailash Vijayvargiya on Saturday inaugurated Bhopal's metro rail service by flagging off a train from Subhash Nagar station on the network's 'priority corridor'. The 'priority corridor, part of... Read more > 18:32 SC to hold special vacation sitting on Dec 22 to hear urgent matters The Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, has constituted a special vacation bench to hear urgent matters during the ongoing court vacation.The bench will comprise CJI and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. It will sit on Monday, December 22, 2025, to take up urgent matters for hearing.The Supreme Court... Read more > 18:16 Guj traffic cop suspended for slapping woman during dispute over rules File image A policeman has been suspended for allegedly slapping a woman in Ahmedabad after getting into an argument with her over violation of traffic rules, officials said on Saturday.Head constable Jayantibhai Zala has been suspended after he hit a woman for allegedly dropping his ID card, Bhavana Patel,... Read more > 17:48 AgustaWestland: Court orders to free Christian Michel in ED case Christian Michel James/ANI Photo A Delhi court on Saturday ordered the release of Christian James Michel from custody in a money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) related to the alleged AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam. However, he will remain in jail as he is also an accused in a separate corruption... Read more > 17:37 Tribal man killed in tiger attack in Kerala's Wayanad A 60-year-old man was killed in a tiger attack near here on Saturday, police said. The deceased was identified as Maran, a resident of a tribal settlement under the Vandikkadavu forest station limits. According to the police, Maran and his sister had gone into the forest to collect... Read more > 17:26 Traffic curbs, diversions in place for A R Rahman concert in Delhi The Delhi traffic police has issued an advisory announcing restrictions and possible diversions near the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here in view of A R Rahman's musical event Harmony of Hearts slated for Saturday evening. According to the advisory, the concert will take place at the Main... Read more > 16:57 J'khand offers job, flat to Bihar doc after 'naqab' row Bihar CM Nitish Kumar pulls down the hijab of an AYUSH doctor./Screen grab/X Jharkhand health minister Irfan Ansari on Saturday said he has offered a job with Rs 3 lakh monthly salary, a government flat and desired posting to a woman doctor from Bihar following the naqab controversy during distribution of appointment letters. Ansari alleged that Bihar Chief Minister... Read more > 16:36 Modi inaugurates new terminal of Guwahati airport Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated a new terminal of the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati. The Integrated Terminal 2 Building is designed to handle 13.1 million passengers per year. The PM also undertook a tour of the new terminal built at... Read more > 16:15 Telugu actress Aamani joins BJP in Telangana Telugu actress Aamani/ Image courtesy Instagram Popular Telugu actress Aamani on Saturday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in Hyderabad in the presence of Union Minister G Kishan Reddy and Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao. Along with Aamani, well-known make-up artist Sobha Latha also joined the party, BJP sources... Read more > 15:39 Search intensified along IB over possible infiltration in J-K File image Security forces have intensified anti-terror operations across the Jammu region following intelligence inputs about a possible infiltration attempt by terrorists from across the border amid dense fog, officials said on Saturday. Search operations by police, Border Security Force, Central... Read more > 15:15 Delhi: Nigerian national among nine arrested in anti-drug drive The Delhi police arrested nine people, including a Nigerian national, in a major anti-drug crackdown seizing over 33 kg of cannabis, synthetic drugs, illicit liquor, arms and cash exceeding Rs 3.6 lakh, officials said on Saturday.The 'Operation Clean Sweep-2' was carried out on Friday and... Read more > 14:51 Pakistan hockey team manager caught smoking inside plane File image Well-known hockey Olympian Anjum Saeed, who accompanied the senior Pakistan team to the FIH Pro League in Argentina as manager, landed himself in trouble after being offloaded in Brazil for smoking on the airplane while it was refuelling at the Rio de Janeiro airport. Anjum, along with a... Read more > 14:33 ED quizzes Anil Ambani's son for 2nd day in PMLA case File image of Jai Anmol (left) with parents Anil and Tina Ambani/Sahil Salvi for Rediff.com The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday questioned Jai Anmol Ambani, son of industrialist Anil Ambani, for the second consecutive day in a money laundering case linked to an alleged bank loan fraud, officials said. The statements of 34-year-old Anmol Ambani were recorded under the Prevention... Read more > 14:28 Army jawan arrested for 'raping' woman in Jharkhand An Army jawan has been arrested in Jharkhand's Ranchi for allegedly raping a 22-year-old woman while on duty, an official said on Saturday. The incident occurred at Tatisilwai Railway Station on Thursday around 5:30 pm, when the woman was waiting to board a train for Ranchi, he... Read more > 14:22 1 lakh PUC applications received in 3 days amid anti-pollution drive in Delhi More than one lakh vehicle owners applied for Pollution Under Control certificates in the last three days amid intensified enforcement against polluting vehicles in the national capital, Delhi transport and health minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said on Saturday. Singh said the BJP government is... Read more > 14:09 YC activists clash with police, hurl eggs during Odisha CM residence gherao Odisha Youth Congress activists scuffled with police personnel and hurled eggs at them while trying to gherao the residence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, an officer said. Holding posters and banners, the Youth Congress workers, led by state president Ranjit... Read more > 13:47 7 arrested over Hindu man's lynching in Bangladesh Seven people have been arrested in connection with the lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh, the interim government announced on Saturday. Dipu Chandra Das, 25, was lynched to death by a mob and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Mymensingh city on Thursday. In a statement... Read more > 13:24 Low visibility prevents Modi's helicopter from landing in Taherpur Prime Minister Narendra Modi's helicopter failed to land at the Taherpur helipad in West Bengal owing to low visibility on account of dense fog in the area on Saturday, an official said. The PM's chopper made a U-turn after hovering over the helipad ground for a while and returned to the... Read more > 13:07 Elephants killed on tracks: Train services hit in Assam The Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express dashed into a herd of elephants in the Jamunamukh-Kampur section in Assam./ANI on X Train movement has been affected in Assam on Saturday, after seven elephants were killed and one was injured when a herd of pachyderms was hit by the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Hojai district early on Saturday, an official said. Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) chief spokesperson... Read more > 12:57 Snow, rain likely as Kashmir braces for 'Chillai-Kalan' Kashmir is likely to face a spell of wet weather, including moderate to heavy snowfall in the higher reaches, even as the night temperature improved slightly a day ahead of the onset of 'Chillai-Kalan' -- the 40-day harsh winter period, officials said on Saturday. The local meteorological... Read more > 12:36 Aditya Dhar's 'Dhurandhar' crosses Rs 500 cr mark at box office Aditya Dhar's directorial Dhurandhar, featuring Ranveer Singh in the lead role, has crossed the mark of Rs 500 crore at the domestic box office, the makers said on Saturday. Released on December 5, the film also features Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, R Madhavan and... Read more > 12:15 Pak ex-PM Imran Khan, wife sentenced to 17 years in corruption case Former Pak prime minister Imran Khan A Pakistani accountability court on Saturday sentenced jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years imprisonment each in the Toshakhana 2 corruption case. The case is about alleged fraud in state gifts, which the former first couple received from the Saudi... Read more > 12:03 UP bank fraud: Cashier gets life term, five others 10 years A local court has sentenced a cashier of an Indian Bank branch to life imprisonment and five others to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment for siphoning off more than Rs 1.85 crore from over 100 accounts, the police said on Saturday. Additional district and sessions judge Sarvesh Pandey on... Read more > 11:47 Goa fire: Cops to seek blue corner notice against Briton The Goa police have started the process to secure a Blue Corner Notice against British national Surinder Kumar Khosla, an accused in the December 6 nightclub fire that killed 25 people, through Central agencies, a senior officer said on Saturday. He said Khosla was in Goa when the incident... Read more > 11:38 'Have not received complaint yet': Police on assault by off-duty AI Express pilot The Delhi police on Saturday said they have not received any formal complaint so far in connection with the alleged assault of a passenger by an off-duty Air India Express pilot at the city airport. The alleged assault is linked to a dispute over some staff members allegedly cutting the... Read more > 11:28 B'desh to hold state funeral for slain youth leader Bangladesh is set to hold the funeral of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi on Saturday amid tight security following unrest in the country triggered by his death.The funeral prayer will be held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building at 2 pm, the press wing of the interim... Read more > 10:52 Smartphones fuel 38% jump in electronics export in FY26 Electronic exports, led by smartphones, reached $31 billion in the first eight months this financial year (FY26), showing an increase of 38 per cent over the same period in 2024-2025, according to figures released by the ministry of commerce and industry.Among the top 30 export items, this sector... Read more > 10:49 Noted actor Sreenivasan dies at 69 Noted Malayalam actor-director Sreenivasan died at a private hospital near Kochi on Saturday morning, film industry sources said. He was 69.He was admitted to the hospital at Tripunithura on Friday night. He passed away this morning.Sreenivasan, who hails from Kannur, had been staying in Kochi... Read more > 10:11 Dense fog blankets Delhi, AQI at 384 Visibility plunged across parts of Delhi on Saturday morning, with buildings and flyovers fading into a grey blur amid dense fog, as the capital's AQI edged closer to the 'severe' category at 384.The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies an AQI between 201 and 300 as 'poor', 301 and... Read more > 09:37 SAT to hear Avadhut Sathe's appeal on Jan 9 The Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) will hear on January 9, 2026, an appeal filed by the Avadhut Sathe Trading Academy (ASTA) challenging a Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) order that directed the impounding of 546 crore and barred the entity from the securities... Read more > 09:36 US trade talks: DPDP Act, IT rules dominate Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer-led American team, which was in New Delhi last week for trade talks, discussed with its Indian counterparts the executive rules under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act and the Information Technology Rules of 2021, sources told Business... Read more > 08:43 Rupee sees best day in 3 years The Indian rupee appreciated sharply in the final hour of trade on Friday, supported, according to dealers, by aggressive dollar sales by the Reserve Bank of India.The domestic currency posted its strongest single-day gain in over three years, strengthening 1.1 per cent to settle at 89.29 per... Read more > 00:45 NEET aspirant dies after falling into canal in Rajasthan's Kota A 24-year-old man, who allegedly fell into the Main Canal in Kunhadi area here, was found dead on Friday morning, the police said.The deceased was identified as Lokesh Kumawat, a resident of Jaipur district. He was preparing for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test - UG in Kota for... Read more > 00:28 ISRO to launch communication satellite of US-based AST SpaceMobile on Dec 24 File image Indian Space Research Organisation's LVM3 rocket will launch a communication satellite of a US-based firm AST SpaceMobile on December 24.The launch of LVM3-M6 is scheduled on 24 December 2025 at 08:54 hrs IST from the Second Launch Pad, SDSC SHAR (Satish Dhawan Space Centre), Sriharikota, ISRO... Read more > Atlantic Technological University (ATU) hosted a special event this week to honour students who represented ATU Sligo at the WorldSkills Ireland Carpentry finals. The ceremony, attended by family, employers, staff, and students, saw Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Marian Harkin TD, presenting the awards. Among the celebrated participants was Gavin Hopkins from Shanvallybeg, Drummin, Westport, whose exceptional carpentry skills earned him a place among the countrys top apprentices. Hopkins was supported throughout his WorldSkills journey by Westport employer Danny Maloney of Owenwee, a long-standing advocate for cultivating young talent in the trades. The competition, regarded as one of the most rigorous assessments of craft training in Ireland, evaluates competitors on precision workmanship, technical drawing interpretation, and advanced carpentry methods. This years test piece, described as one of the most challenging in recent years, placed strong emphasis on geometric accuracy and complex timber structures. ATU Sligo Lecturer and WorldSkills Carpentry Expert Patrick McElwee praised the dedication shown by Hopkins and his fellow competitors, noting: "I couldnt be any more proud of the competitors for their work rate and dedication, this years final test piece was challenging to say the least containing various types of incline, raking and crossing rafters which all had to be developed first testing the geometric ability of each competitor, its being a great year for the college to have four competitors qualifying for the final in carpentry and to come away with the winner and three placed is extremely pleasing Padraig McGarry Head of Department of Engineering Technology at ATU Sligo said: I am very proud of the long tradition we have competing in the WorldSkills competition both nationally and internationally. It is a huge endorsement of the teaching and technical standards at ATU Sligo to produce three national champions in the same year, in the Skills of Electrical Installations, Carpentry and Joinery. Well done to all our contestants, we hope this will inspire all groups of apprentices coming through the college to reach for the stars. Mayo continues to build a strong reputation for high-quality apprenticeship training, and Hopkins achievement further highlights the countys rising profile in national skills competitions. 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: Study overview. Credit: Nature Genetics (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41588-025-02397-7 Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve, which connects the heart to the rest of the body. It affects millions of people and can be fatal if left untreated. At present, there are no effective medical therapies to prevent or slow its progression. The only effective treatments are surgery or percutaneous valve replacement when the valve has become severely narrowed. Recently, common genetic variants have been linked to the clinical diagnosis of aortic stenosis in population genetic studies. Genetic research and study methods To gain insight into the genetic underpinnings that lead to the initial development of aortic stenosis, a team of researchers from UC San Francisco and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard conducted a study analyzing genetic associations with aortic valve measurements in a healthy population. Their research is published in Nature Genetics. Since severe aortic stenosis on a population level is rare, the researchers used continuous measurements of aortic valve function to find genetic signals. For this, they conducted a large-scale genetic analysis of three deep learning-derived measurements of aortic valve function in almost 60,000 healthy participants from the UK Biobank. The measurements included peak velocity, mean gradient, and aortic valve area (AVA) from MRIs and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). They used these three deep learning-derived measurements of aortic valve function from MRI to identify 61 distinct genetic loci associated with these traits. They additionally conducted a meta-analysis of aortic stenosis diagnoses in more than 40,000 cases and 1.5 million controls from multiple biobanks, identifying 91 loci. Finally, they conducted a multi-trait analysis incorporating both continuous aortic valve measures in the healthy population and the disease-based GWAS, identifying 166 genetic loci (134 for aortic valve function and 134 for aortic stenosis). Key findings and implications "In this study, we analyzed aortic valve function and disease diagnoses to comprehensively evaluate the common genetic basis for aortic stenosis," said study senior author James Pirruccello, MD, a cardiologist and assistant professor of Medicine in the UCSF Division of Cardiology. "Our findings suggest that risk for aortic stenosis is conferred at least in part through the same genetic mechanisms that drive normal variation in aortic valve function in the healthy population." The genetic correlation between these measures in healthy people and the aortic stenosis GWAS meta-analysis was substantial: on a scale of 01 (0 being no relationship and 1 being in perfect agreement), the correlation with aortic stenosis was 0.64 for the gradient-based measures and 0.50 for AVA. "Using deep learning to measure normal variation in aortic valve function helped us to identify 134 loci associated with aortic stenosis risk and 166 with aortic valve stenosis or function," said Shinwan Kany, MD, visiting scientist at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. "We observed strong associations between aortic stenosis risk and coronary artery disease, lipoprotein biology, and phosphate handling, suggesting future avenues for research to prevent the development or progression of aortic stenosis." The authorswhich include collaborators at Mass General Brigham, Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centernote that clinical validation is needed before any implementation of programs to manipulate cholesterol or phosphate levels for aortic stenosis prevention. Still, Pirruccello adds, "These findings demonstrate the power of jointly analyzing cardiovascular structure and function and their downstream disease outcomes." Publication details Shinwan Kany et al, Multitrait analyses identify genetic variants associated with aortic valve function and aortic stenosis risk, Nature Genetics (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41588-025-02397-7 Journal information: Nature Genetics Clinical categories CardiologyClinical genetics After many users raised their concerns over the past few days, LG will soon allow users delete the Microsoft Copilot shortcut that magically appeared on their smart TVs despite not installing the software. LG to Let You Delete the Microsoft Copilot Engadget reported that LG has already delivered a statement saying that the company is now working to allow users to delete the Copilot app shortcut. Many users have reported that they have seen a Microsoft Copilot app shortcut appear on their LG smart TVs without ever installing the app, and they had no way of deleting it. It was revealed by the LG spokesperson that the Microsoft Copilot app found in the home screens is a shortcut to launch the AI chatbot on the smart TV's web browser when users need it. That said, the company opted to add a Copilot shortcut instead of launching an app with Microsoft to use for the smart TVs, one that would have been embedded on the appliance. The LG spokesperson did not reveal when the shortcut could be removed from the home page of the smart TV, with the company only saying that they are working to make this happen in the future. Copilot Fiasco: Unremovable on LG TVs In the past weeks, there has been a wave of frustrated customers taking their grievances about Microsoft Copilot's unwarranted appearance on LG smart TVs to social media platforms. One of the platforms is Reddit, where users posted images of their LG TVs featuring a Microsoft Copilot icon, which they did not install on the appliance. Additionally, these users claimed that they have not opened any form of Microsoft Copilot on their LG TVs or even used the browser to use the AI chatbot for whatever reason, but it still appeared on their devices. Some users say that they are growing frustrated with Microsoft's push for AI, particularly Copilot, as the company features it as the main technology in almost all of its experiences and products. One comment claimed that instead of getting access to the likes of Office 365, Outlook, Calendar, and other Microsoft apps, the company pushes them to use Copilot instead. Microsoft's Copilot is also known for its various issues in the past, particularly with its AI Recall feature that required deep access to one's PC files, data, and information. Many grew concerned with this massive access to the generative AI, citing that Microsoft's systems violate user safety and security with the feature, leading to its takedown in several regions and delays in some. Originally published on Tech Times This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An exam room at a medical clinic in Detroit on July 29, 2015. Credit: Charles V. Tines/Detroit News via AP, File It's not unusual for a 20-something to text Mom in a panic from the doctor's office, seeking help answering a question. And patients of any age can struggle to recall all their medicinesor forget to mention a concern. Getting the most out of a doctor's visit requires some advance preparation. Even the professionals plan ahead. "It is really hardeven for me as a doctor going to see my own family doctorto remember the things that I wanted to bring up," said Dr. Sarah Nosal, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. "The worst is when you've had that moment with your doctor" only to recall another problem after walking out, she said. "You've lost that time." Her top tip: Bring a list of symptoms and questions to show at the start of the visit. The first item should be your top concern, but seeing the full list helps your doctor prioritize what's most medically urgent. "I'm actually going to be able to see, is there a red flag?" explained Nosal, who has some advice about prepping for a typical primary care visit. Your primary care doctor monitors your overall health Some illnesses require specialists like a cardiologist or rheumatologist. But regardless of your age or how healthy you are, research has long shown that a relationship with a primary care provider is important for overall health. It might be a family physician like Nosal, who cares for all ages, or an internist. Some patients choose gynecologists, geriatricians, or have a primary care team that includes nurse practitioners or physician assistants. Primary care is more than preventive checkups to help avoid illness, such as vaccinations, cancer screenings or health advice. It also includes detecting and treating common problems like high blood pressure, and helping to find and coordinate specialty care. "That ongoing relationship also helps me know your 'normal,'" Nosal explained. "If something's different or changes or you feel off, when you tell me that information and I also have known you over time, we can really figure out together what's going on." Quiz your family before the appointment Young adults navigating health care on their own for the first time may need help filling out forms with their personal medical history. Have you ever had general anesthesia? Is your tetanus shot up to date? If you still have access to the patient portal at your former pediatrician's office, you can see records of vaccinations and prior illnesses, or you may have to request them or quiz parents. For all ages, family medical history is criticaland needs regular updating. Ask what diseases your close relatives have had and how they fared. For example, if Type 2 diabetes runs in the family, or Grandma had a stroke, or someone had cancer at a young age, that information could help tailor your preventive care, Nosal said. Fill out your paperwork ahead of the visit Filling out paperwork from home makes it easier to check medicine bottles for the name and dose. Include both prescription and over-the-counter medicines, pills or creamsand don't forget vitamins and supplements. Why are the latter important? Some can interact with prescription medicines. Nosal cited some patients whose longtime treatments quit working after they started taking turmeric, a spice also sold as a supplement. Also before your visit, check if the doctor received records of recent lab tests, hospitalizations or visits to other health providers, since electronic medical records aren't always automatically shared. Keep a running list of questions before a doctor visit Some symptoms are bad enough to prompt an urgent visit. But if you've got a checkup coming, whether it's routine or to follow up on health problems, start a list of questions in advance. Notice a pain when you move a certain way? Or chatting with a friend who just got a colonoscopy and wonder if you're due? Pop those on your list right away, before you forgetand be specific in describing symptoms. Nosal keeps a running list on her phone and, ahead of visits with her own doctor, sends it as a heads-up through her patient portal. Patients also can include their list on visit check-in forms. The idea is to address the most urgent questions first, rather than patients running out of time before raising a key concern. Nosal said questions about mental or sexual health and wellness especially tend to come up at the last minute. Whatever the medium, "please bring that list," she said. "That's the most critical of all pieces." It's OK to ask again People may know to ask questions about treatments, such as how well they work and what side effects to expect. But it's also important to understand why a doctor makes a particular diagnosis or, conversely, isn't as worried about a symptom as you might be. Don't hesitate to say, "Explain to me what else could be going on," Nosal advised. "What would be the next step? How would you evaluate that for me, to know if it's this or that?" Most health advocacy groups also advise bringing along a friend or relative, especially if you have serious or multiple health problems. They can help ask questions and take notes. "Whether you are 20 or you are 85, you will not remember everything from your medical visit," Nosal said. 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Scientists used specialized equipment to dive into the oceans twilight zone. They found creatures never seen before Thumping their desks and shouting Hear, hear!, the legislators of Albertas governing far-right United Conservative Party (UCP) passed Bill 9 in the middle of the night on December 10 after using their majority to cut off debate and muzzle the opposition. The measure attacks the rights of transgender youth to receive appropriate medical care and participate in sporting activities and prevents medical professionals from providing them with certain treatments. The manner of the bills passage was only fitting, as it tramples on basic democratic rights. Bill 9 invokes the Canadian constitutions authoritarian notwithstanding clauseSection 33 of the Charter of Rights and Freedomsto uphold the UCP governments legal crusade against transgender youth. Bill 9 shields three laws victimizing trans youth from constitutional and legal challenge, whether under Canadas constitution, the Alberta Bill of Rights, or Alberta Human Rights Act. Its passage marks the fourth time in two months that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has invoked the notwithstanding clause, which enables Canadas federal, provincial and territorial governments to impose laws that violate fundamental constitutional rights supposedly guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In late October, the UCP government used the notwithstanding clause to illegalize a strike by 55,000 public school teachers and impose a government-dictated contract on them. Thousands of public school teachers flocked to the Alberta legislature October 23 to oppose the UCP government's plans to outlaw their strike using the "notwithstanding clause" [Photo: David J. Climenhaga/Rabble.ca] Till recently, the notwithstanding clause had almost never been used by governments, apart from Quebecs. However, in recent years, as the Canadian ruling class has lurched ever further right, provoking mounting social oppositionabove all from the working class its deployment has been increasingly normalized. Indeed, hard-right and far-right political leaders, including Smith, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, have vowed to bury once and for all any taboo surrounding its use. Fords Tory government has thrice used the notwithstanding clause, most significantly in 2022 when it pre-emptively outlawed a strike by 55,000 poorly paid education support-staff workers. In 2023, Moes Saskatchewan Party government invoked the notwithstanding clause in response to a court ruling that paused implementation of its pronoun law targeting trans youth pending a determination of its constitutionality. Quebecs national-autonomist CAQ government has repeatedly invoked Section 33 to shield chauvinist laws targeting immigrants and religious minorities and reinforcing Frenchs privileged status in the provinces public life, including Bill 21 which especially targets Muslim women. Albertas newly adopted Protecting Albertas Children Statutes Amendment Act (Bill 9) stifles multiple lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of three anti-trans laws enacted in 2024the Health Statutes Amendment Act, the Education Amendment Act and the Fairness and Safety in Sport Act. These acts ban gender affirming care for trans youth under 16, prohibit transgender girls from participating as females in sport, and police the usage of trans youths pronouns and names in Albertas public schools. The laws the Alberta government has enacted against trans youth constitute naked attacks on freedom of speech, association and expression, as well as the freedom of doctors to prescribe treatments for their patients based on science and their own conscience. They constitute state-sanctioned discrimination against trans people in general, and as such legitimize right-wing agitation and violence against them. The Alberta governments attacks threaten working peoples lives. Trans youth are disproportionately at risk of suicide, with 82 percent reportedly having considered suicide, and 40 percent having actually attempted it. Parents of trans youth report that they are preparing to leave the province for the safety of their children. Smiths government has tried to justify the unjustifiable via appeals to pseudo-scientific hogwash and outright lies. Despite the fact that the Alberta Medical Association has declared that puberty blockers do not render those who take them infertile, Smith claimed that children need to get of an age where they can understand if theyre going to make decisions that affect their ability to have children of their own one day Wallowing in medieval superstition, Smith, a far-right demagogue, has made that decision for themand for their doctors!based on her own bigotry and scientific illiteracy. The World Socialist Web Site unequivocally condemns the state attack on transgender youth, who constitute an extremely vulnerable minority whose rights to self-expression, whether through the choice of their own names or participation in sport and to safe medical care must be defended by the working class as a whole. But the Alberta governments invocation of the notwithstanding clause under Bill 9 is not merely a question of trans rights, as significant as they are. It is part of a broader drive by the entire ruling class towards authoritarian forms of rule. Canadian capitalism has the entire working class in its gunsights. Through the scapegoating of vulnerable minorities, the ruling class seeks to divert social anger over mounting economic insecurity and divide the working class. The promotion of chauvinism and discrimination is also a means for it to politically mobilize the most reactionary and backward elements of the population. With Bill 9, the UCP is throwing its fascistic base a meal of political red meat. Smith and her UCP speak for the most ruthless section of the ruling class, including but not limited to Albertas oil barons. On their behalf, her government is intensifying austerity, pushing for health care privatization and seeking to radically restrict if not scrap altogether equalization, the constitutionally mandated program under which Ottawa provides transfers to poorer provinces to ensure public and social services across the country meet a basic national standard. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Donald Trump [Photo: Danielle Smith/X] Long identified with right-wing populism, Smith has become more radical in recent years as the ruling class in Canada and internationally has resurrected the far-right and reintegrated it into establishment politics. This is exemplified by Trump and his MAGA movement, but also the neo-Nazi AfD in Germany, Italys Meloni and Marine Le Pen and the Rassemblement National in France. Smith has courted Trump, flying to Washington and Mar-a-Lago to press for Albertas full integration into his US imperialist global energy dominance strategy; and is openly fanning the far-right, Christian nationalist Alberta separatist movement. She was a staunch supporter of the fascist-instigated Freedom Convoy, which menacingly occupied downtown Ottawa at the beginning of 2022 with the aim of forcing the dropping of all remaining anti-COVID measures and the ousting of the Trudeau Liberal government. Her UCP government is systematically dismantling essential public health measures, in line with the demands of the anti-vaccination wing of the far-right. Her government has fulminated against out-of-control immigration, blaming immigrants for the public healthcare and education crisis produced by decades of cuts and underfunding. In an ominous development, the UCP government is implementing a new drivers license system which singles out non-citizen drivers with an identifying mark on their license cards. In this regard, the Carney government is not far behind. Just before the House of Commons rose for the holiday break this month, it approved a government bill that further restricts the right to asylum and beefs up border security so Canada can intensify its cooperation with Trumps anti-immigrant witch hunt. In Canada as internationally, the ruling classs turn towards authoritarian forms of rule and cultivation of the far right is driven by ever-rising social inequality; its need to gut public spending to pay for an explosion in war budgets; and its fear that the upsurge of the class struggle will break out of the straitjacket imposed on it by the trade union bureaucracy. Led by the Trudeau and Carney Liberal governments, the ruling class is moving to abolish workers right to strike and negotiate collective agreements. On the basis of a fraudulent reinterpretation of Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, Ottawa has arrogated the power to illegalize strikes at will and used it over the past 16 months to break strikes by railway, port, Air Canada and postal workers among others. Quebecs CAQ has followed suit. Its Law 14 (Bill 89) gives the Quebec Labour Minister similar powers to unilaterally illegalize worker job action, while greatly expanding the definition of essential services to limit public and private sector workers right to strike. The federal Liberal government and its provincial counterparts have systematically smeared and repressed opponents of Israels imperialist-backed genocide of the Gaza Palestinians. In the name of answering Trumps trade war and annexation threats, the Carney government and multiple provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia, have adopted or proposed laws giving them the power to suspend environmental and other regulations on major economic development projects. Not content with this, hidden deep inside the federal Liberal governments omnibus new budget bill is legislation that would grant cabinet ministers the power to exempt any individual or company from any federal lawexcept the Criminal Codefor up to six years. The notwithstanding clause is, constitutionally speaking, extremely unusual, a legal artifact which exists in no other democracy. It is essentially a get out of jail free card for any government that wishes to restrict the freedom of conscience and religion, thought, belief, opinion, and expression, peaceful assembly, and association set out in Section 1 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The clause is considered a legislative model by none other than the genocidal fascist Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who covets a Canadian solution to override decisions by Israels Supreme Court. The Canadian state set-up contains multiple other such anti-democratic escape hatches, in keeping with the reactionary political origins of the Canadian ruling class, which was always a bitter opponent of revolutionary progress. These include the so-called reasonable limits on basic democratic rights set out in Section 1 of the Canadian Constitution, and the sweeping reserve powers of the Crown, which the minority Harper Conservative government invoked in 2008 to shut down Parliament to stave off certain defeat. Even in times of relative class peace, every democratic feature of Canadas constitutional set-up has a provisional character. In all of their attacks on democracy, the ruling class and successive governments have relied on the political services of the trade union bureaucracy and the New Democratic Party to block working class opposition. The bureaucracy has suffocated and suppressed strikes such as the Canada Post and the Air Canada workers struggles, to name only the most recent. The social-democratic NDP provides the capitalist ruling class with critical political support. It propped up the Trudeau government as it waged an imperialist proxy war against Russia in Ukraine and confined the anti-genocide movement to impotent moral appeals directed at the deaf ears of Canadian imperialism. Workers must draw the necessary political conclusions and take up a struggle for their political independence from all factions of the bourgeoisie. The defence of democratic rights today must be led by a working class counteroffensive against capitalist austerity and war, and for the socialist transformation of socio-economic life. Labour-run Birmingham City Council (BCC) has issued its first compulsory redundancy notices to striking bin workers. The dispute, now in its 12th month, is at a critical juncture. Its prolonged isolation and subordination to Unites bankrupt strategy of appealing to the Labour council to be reasonable now threatens total defeat. Striking refuse workers in Birmingham on the Atlas Depot picket line, April 11, 2025 On Monday, ITVX reported that George Wilson, a striker and a bin lorry driver since 2015, is the first driver to be made compulsorily redundant for refusing to accept a downgrade of wages and conditions, including a pay cut of around 8,000. He was one of three refuse workers made compulsorily redundant, while around 80 others are thought to have accepted voluntary redundancy since the dispute began in January 2024. Wilson, seven years from retirement, told the broadcaster: They said the jobs would be available for us to move over, but that was not true. There were 12 jobs for 130 drivers, and eight of those were already taken. Four hundred bin loaders and drivers across the citys three depots have mounted determined resistance, with strike action starting in January turning to all out action on March 11 against the downgrading of their jobs, involving pay cuts, the abolition of the loaders safety-critical Waste Reduction and Collection Officer (WRCO) roleaxing 150 postsand crew sizes reduced by a quarter. They have faced a coordinated strike-breaking operation led by the Labour council and directed by the Starmer Labour government. The council has chipped away at resistance, exploiting Unites isolation of the dispute and its bankrupt moral appeals to those prosecuting the attacks. Twelve months in, the WRCO role has been abolished, loaders downgraded from Grade 3 to 2, and drivers from Grade 4 to 3. The use of scab labour and fire-and-rehire is being entrenched, with compulsory redundancies issued to those refusing to sign. Unites leaders facilitate Labours attacks The World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) warned from the outset that the Birmingham strike was a test case for the imposition of Starmer s austerity agenda against the working class. The declaration of a major incident by the Labour council on March 31 was used to justify an unprecedented operation involving military planners, agency labour, support from outside councilsincluding Labour-run Coventrys arms-length company Tom White Waste Ltdand police deployment under Section 14 of the Public Order Act to disperse pickets under threat of fines and imprisonment. Council leader John Cottons administration has escalated its offensive, dragging Unite before the High Court over alleged picketing breaches, using its contractor to threaten agency staff with blacklisting if they join the strike, and now initiating compulsory redundancies. On December 1, agency workers previously used to break the strike joined the action for the first time. Around 40 Job & Talent agency workers began indefinite strike action after a ballot organised by Unite, protesting bullying, harassment and blacklisting threats. Unite reports that BCC has responded by recruiting new agency labour. Online adverts seen by Birmingham Live include roles for an HGV Class 2 refuse driver via Smarter Solutions, which the council initially denied. Unite claims new agency workers have already been drafted in at the Smithfield depot. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said, Instead of trying to break a strike, the council should stop disgracing itself and get back to talks to find a fair resolution for the bin workers. The council, backed by the Labour government, has acted precisely as Unites leadership has allowed it to by refusing to mobilise its one million members in solidarity with Birmingham strikersinstead choosing to preserve the unions partnership with a discredited austerity government. Grahams criticisms of Labour are vapid soundbites aimed at keeping a lid on any political struggle against the Starmer government with calls to Labour MPs and councillors to show workers whose side you are on. Unite has diverted the struggle away from workers red linesdefending safety-critical roles and opposing deep pay cutstowards securing a one-off lump-sum payment. Workers were urged to sign new contracts claiming this would allow the strike to be extended. Instead, it has cleared the way for compulsory redundancies, with loaders next in line. In July, Cotton underscored the councils intransigence, stating talks had reached the absolute limit. Bins chief Councillor Majid Mahmood made clear how the unions strategy has enabled the council to act with impunity: Most of the former driver team leaders have accepted their roles as drivers. There were three compulsory redundancies issued. Some have taken voluntary redundancies; some changed their role. So, everyone has accepted a new role or taken other action. Im struggling to understand why they [Unite members] are still out on strike. Rank-and-file unity not bureaucratic performative solidarity Unite has not commented on the compulsory redundancies, but its backers in the pseudo-left organisations have announced yet another mega picket for January 30! The theatre of mega pickets has been supported by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultanas Your Party. The claim that up to 30 organisations and trade unions will be mobilised to support the strikers is a fallacy. Only token officials and representatives of the unions will make an appearance, without a single workplace shut down in solidarity action. Mega-pickets in May and July promoted by the Socialist Party and Socialist Workers Party were used by union officials to spout empty phrases of solidarity, justifying their continued partnership with the Starmer government and Birmingham council leader John Cotton by claiming they could be pressured to do the right thing. The temporary one-day closures of the yards had no lasting impact. The attack on Birmingham bin workers is only the beginning. The Labour authoritys Section 114 bankruptcy in September 2023 was engineered through inflating estimates of the cost of settling a protracted legal claim for equal pay by predominantly female workers at the council. This was settled this month for around 250 million, a third of the 650-750 million originally cited. Bankruptcy was used by the then Conservative government to impose unelected commissioners, maintained under Starmer, to push through 300 million cuts on vital services and council jobs. The officials of the GMB and Unison who brought the legal claim on equal pay have praised the Cotton authority for delivering justice, knowing this has been cynically exploited not to level up pay and conditions but to justify the downgrading of jobs throughout the council, starting with the bin workers. As the WSWS stated: The Birmingham bin strike can and must be wonbut not through stunts, hollow appeals, or reliance on the union bureaucracy. A rank-and-file strike committee must be formed to take control of the dispute and break its isolation, issuing an appeal to council workers nationwide for a collective fight against austerity and the frontal assault on workers rights by the Starmer government. It is vital that workers now act in genuine solidarity with the Birmingham strikers. The path to waging any fight against the diktats of big business, imposed through the authoritarian methods of the Starmer government, lies through breaking the grip of its partners in the trade union bureaucracy. The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature. Asia India: Telangana steel workers halt production over colleagues death in molten metal accident On December 15, workers at the steel production plant of MS Agarwal Foundries, in Medak stopped work and shut down the plant to protest the accidental death of work colleague Saranth Pandey, 35, from Uttar Pradesh and the critical injury of Rajesh Pandy, 45, from Bihar when molten metal spilled on them. Workers said factory management had ignored their concerns about seriously unsafe conditions which led to the tragic industrial accident. MS Agarwal Foundries manufactures steel products for construction. India: Tamil Nadu public sector workers demand previous pension scheme About 700 Tamil Nadu school teachers and other public sector workers held a protest hunger strike in Thoothukudi on December 13 to demand reinstatement of the old pension scheme. It was organised by the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisation and Government Employees Organisation. Similar protests were held in Tenkasi district and Kanyakumari. Protesters claimed that their demand for reinstatement of the old pension scheme was an election promise of the current Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government. Workers say the current market-linked new pension scheme is neither secure nor sustainable for government employees after retirement. Teachers were also demanding permanent jobs. Tamil Nadu construction workers protest for Hindu festival allowance Around 500 construction workers, including 300 women, demonstrated and held a roadblock in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu on Tuesday over payment of the Pongal (Hindu festival) bonus. The protest was called by the Centre for Indian Trade Unions. Workers demanded a bonus of 5,000 rupees ($US55.3) and a pension of 3,000 rupees for workers above 55 years. Kashmir ASHA workers protest overdue wages Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers employed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare demonstrated in Hajin, North Kashmirs Bandipora district, on December 17, over a six-month delay in the payment of wages. Frontline health workers say they are finding it difficult to survive because of the delayed wage payments. They have threatened to step up their agitation if their demands are not met. Assam 108 Ambulance emergency workers remain on strike About 3,000 Assam 108 Ambulance emergency contract workers, including ambulance pilots, emergency medical technicians and emergency response officers, are maintaining strike action and a protest in Guwahati. The workers, who walked out on December 1 to demand permanent jobs, have ignored the Assam state governments use of the draconian Essential Services Maintenance Act to illegalise the industrial action. Their demands include higher wages and a salary increment issued on August 4 by their employer, Jeevika-EMRI. Pakistan: Punjab hospital security guards strike over low pay Security guards at two public hospitalsthe DHQ (Dr Faisal Masood) Teaching Hospital and Maula Bakhsh Hospitalin Sargodha stopped work and protested this week over longer working hours and low pay. Strikers closed the main gate of one public hospital, blocking ambulances carrying patients from entering the facility. Workers said the contract security company forced them to work overtime but paid them only 16,000 rupees ($US57) a month. Bangladesh: Chattogram water utility workers demand permanency Over 100 temporary wage workers from the state-owned Chattogram Water Supply and Sewerage Authority demonstrated on December 11 to demand permanent jobs and to protest a new recruitment circular which they claim undermines their demand. They gathered outside the utilitys main gate, disrupting entrance to the facility for three hours. Workers have accused the authorities of attempting to sideline temporary employees, despite a pending High Court case involving their employment status. They said the new recruitment circular would disadvantage more than 150 temporary workers who have been serving the utility for years. We have long been demanding regular posts. We were told that contractual staffers would be adjusted against vacant positions and only then would new posts be advertised, said a protester. Australia and the Pacific Western Australia: Woodside Pluto-2 LNG construction workers ready to walk out About 1,000 construction workers employed at Woodsides $12.5 billion Pluto 2 LNG processing plant project in Western Australia plan to begin one-hour rolling stoppages on January 5. The workers are members of the Australian Workers Union (AWU), Electrical Trades Union (ETU), Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and the Construction Forestry Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU). They are in dispute with Woodsides lead contractor Bechtel over its proposed enterprise agreement. The Offshore Alliance (OA), which includes the AWU and Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), and the other unions began negotiations in September. Workers have twice rejected Bechtels proposed agreement. Bechtel presented a revised proposal to 2,000 workers this week, with the ballot to close this weekend. The revised agreement includes a 20 percent increase in the base rate of pay over three years, including 10 percent this year on top of 2.5 percent already paid at the start of the month, and a $10,000 sign-on bonus paid before Christmas, up from previous offers of $8,000 paid in March. The unions directed members to reject the proposal. The unions want a 30 percent base pay increase to address real pay cuts in the current agreement which expired this month. The OA is demanding that travel time to and from camp be included as work time, superannuation paid on all hours, increased site allowance, 2-1 rosters with 12-hour days and all overtime paid at double time. MSS Security workers at Canberra Airport strike for pay parity Following 15-minute rolling stoppages on December 12 at Canberra Airport, MSS Security workers will maintain their action up to December 23 when they will hold a longer stoppage and rally at the airport. The workers are members of the United Workers Union (UWU) which is seeking pay parity with security workers in the same roles at Sydney Airport. The UWU claimed that the MSS pay offer was far below what Sydney Airport workers receive. Healthscope nurses in Victoria escalate industrial action Close to 2,500 Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) members at Healthscope private hospitals in Victoria have begun closing beds in their long running dispute with the private health provider over stalled negotiations for a new enterprise agreement. The action follows several four-hour stoppages at Healthscopes 12 facilities since November 20 and ongoing action that includes wearing campaign T-shirts, as well as bans on redeployment, overtime, working outside ordinary hours and some administrative work. As well as closing beds, ANMF members imposed additional bans on Monday. These include refusing receptionist/administrative duties or food delivery and banning any nurse or midwife in charge of a ward or unit taking a patient load. Healthscope has threatened to dock workers imposing the bans. Nurses and midwives are calling for Healthscope to return to the negotiating table. The ANMF allege that Healthscope is refusing to finalise the enterprise agreement if a new salary packaging clause (which would result in nurses and midwives receiving only a fraction of any benefit) is not included in the enterprise deal. The ANMF members rejected Healthscopes pay offer which would leave wages about 10 percent behind those in the public sector by the end of 2027. Currently, Healthscope pays some 2.53.5 percent less than the public sector, according to the union. Healthscope, with 37 facilities nationwide and in debt for $1.6 billion, wants employees to support the creation of a not-for-profit entityPurposeCoas a means of keeping as many of its facilities within the one organisation as possible. If accepted, Healthscope will receive up to 90 percent of staff salary packaging benefits to support operational costs, including servicing the companys debt. Bridgewater Dental Clinic workers in Tasmania strike for higher pay About one dozen workers at the government-run Bridgewater Dental Clinic stopped work and protested outside their facility at Bridgewater on Monday. The action, by members of the Health and Community Services Union, was part of ongoing statewide protests and stoppages by state public sector workers in dispute with the Rockliff Liberal government over wages and conditions. The government is refusing to improve on its 3 percent wage rise offer in its proposed one-year agreement with no improvement in conditions, to be followed by further negotiations. The proposal has been rejected by public sector workers across Tasmania. Crown Melbourne casino workers prepare for industrial action United Workers Union (UWU) members at the Crown Melbourne casino are preparing to take protected industrial action, intensifying their dispute with Crown over its proposed enterprise agreement. More than 1,000 UWU members are opposing Crowns demand for a two-tier wages system which will impact 4,500 Crown workers. Crown and the UWU have been in negotiations for more than four months. Management proposed a radical restructure of pay rates. Base rates for new hires would be cut by between 16 and 32 percent, though existing employees would retain their current wages through a grandfathering arrangement. The UWU says Crown wants new level one workers to start on $28.84 per hour, compared with $34.22 for current staff. The union alleged this would equate to an annual wage difference between a current worker and a new worker of as much as $10,600 for workers doing identical work. The UWU says the offer would institutionalise inequality and lay the groundwork for long-term wage suppression. Workers argue that the two-tier model will inevitably be used to drive down overall labour costs by reducing shifts for experienced staff and expanding the lower-paid workforce. South Australian nurses and midwives rally for higher wages Public sector nurses and midwives in South Australia are once again rallying to call on the state Labor government for higher wages and better conditions in a new enterprise agreement. On Tuesday, more than 200 members of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) stopped work and rallied outside the Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide. It followed earlier stopwork protests at major metropolitan hospitals and a statewide rally in October, when more than 4,000 nurses, midwives and supporters gathered outside state parliament to protest the governments wage rise offer of just 13 percent across four years, supplemented by several one-off payments. The ANMF argues that the offer fails to address cost-of-living pressures, interstate wage disparities, and chronic staffing pressures. The government has refused to improve its offer citing budget restraints. To combat ongoing nurse and midwife shortages the union is demanding wage parity with equivalent health workers in other states. The unions principal demand is a 23 percent pay increase by 2027, and a further rise of 3 to 4 percent if the agreement extends into 2028. Other claims include improved allowances and the formal recognition of babies as patients for the purpose of nurse-to-patient ratios. The ANMF plan another stop work rally outside parliament on February 5. Tasmanias Child Safety, Youth Justice and Advice Referral Line workers strike On Wednesday, about 60 Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) members from Child Safety, Youth Justice and Advice Referral Line held rolling two-hour stoppages across Tasmania and put in place a ban on unpaid overtime. The workers are calling on the state Liberal government to increase wages, resolve chronic understaffing, end unsafe workloads and to change vacancy controls that are preventing backfilling. Workers are demanding urgent recruitment and the advertising and backfilling of all vacancies, safe staffing levels and enforceable workload caps, and measures to address occupational violence and improve safety supports. The HACSU says chronic worker shortages are so bad that single staff members are now doing the work of entire teams which is placing vulnerable children, young people and families at risk. The union says the governments long term underfunding of child welfare services is risking system failure. The HACSU has run an isolated campaign since 2023 consisting of largely ineffective and limited industrial actions appealing to the government to negotiate with it. It has not organised its thousands of other members in a campaign of support for the distressed and overworked child welfare members, leaving them isolated. TasRail freight workers strike The Communications Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) and the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) members employed by state-owned TasRail held a 24-hour stoppage on December 12. About 100 members at TasRails Burnie marshalling yard and the East Tamar Junction site in Launceston participated in the strike. The unions have been in negotiations with TasRail for a new enterprise agreement. The talks are stalled over TasRails refusal to meet the workers wages, conditions and staffing demands. Workers want a 31 percent wage rise over three years to make up for concessions the unions gave during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further industrial action is expected if TasRail refuses to make an acceptable offer. Union cancels Air New Zealand cabin crew strike The E tu union this week called off a planned one-day strike by Air New Zealand cabin crew during the pre-Christmas buildup. More than 400 Air NZ staff will no longer strike after the union reached an agreement in principle with the company. The airlines short-haul cabin crews, who work on domestic flights, as well as flights across the Tasman and Pacific, had voted to strike on December 18 over pay and conditions. Workers are employed on as little as $60,000 a year and their pay has not kept up with soaring living costs. The union has not publicly announced details of the settlement. E tu assistant national secretary Rachel Mackintosh said the strike was called off when the deal for cabin crew was close enough to being finalised. Unions have been negotiating with Air NZ since April. An earlier strike planned for December 8 had also been cancelled. At the time a company spokesperson said discussions with E tu were constructive and progressing well. After the cabin crew initially voted to strike, E tu director Michael Wood appealed to the companywhich is 51 percent owned by the governmentto return to negotiations, saying that the union would work hard to prevent any strike action. At 6:11 p.m. on December 18, 2025, the state of Florida concluded its deadliest year in modern history by putting to death Frank Athen Walls. Inside the execution chamber at Florida State Prison near Starke, Walls, 58, was strapped to a gurney and administered a three-drug lethal injection consisting of a sedative, a paralytic, and a drug to stop the heart. Before the chemicals began to flow, Walls offered a final apology to the families of his victims, stating, I am sorry for all of the things I did, the pain I caused, and all of that you have suffered all these years. This undated photo provided by the Florida Department of Corrections shows Frank Athen Walls. [AP Photo/Florida Department of Correction] Walls path to the executioner began in the mid-1980s with a series of brutal attacks in the Florida Panhandle that investigators dubbed the Tuesday murders because the victims were typically killed on a Tuesday or before dawn on Wednesday. In July 1987, Walls broke into the mobile home of Edward Alger, an Air Force airman, and his girlfriend, Ann Peterson. After binding the couple, Walls slit Algers throat and shot him in the head when Alger managed to break free and fight back. He then turned his weapon on Peterson, shooting her twice in the head. Walls was apprehended after his roommate alerted police to his erratic behavior; a search of his home revealed items stolen from the crime scene. Following his conviction, DNA evidence and confessions linked Walls to three additional killings: the 1985 murder of Tommie Lou Whiddon, who was sunbathing when Walls slit her throat; the 1986 stabbing of Cynthia Sue Condra; and the 1987 rape and murder of Audrey Gygi. A lifetime of cognitive failure The execution of Frank Walls is an indictment of a legal system that ignores clear evidence of intellectual disability as a mitigating factor. Walls was hypoxic (deprived of oxygen) at birth and suffered from high fevers and meningitis as a toddler and teenager, leading to documented brain damage. By age five, he struggled with severe impulse control and focus. As an adult, he recorded IQ scores in the low 70s (consistently 72, 73 and 74), placing him in the intellectually disabled range. Despite a 2002 Supreme Court ruling prohibiting the execution of the intellectually disabled, Florida courts utilized a rigid interpretation of these standards to uphold his sentence. Advocates noted that during his 37 years in prison, Walls found solace in his Catholic faith and became a Benedictine Oblate in the confines of death row. Walls legal journey was a decades-long cycle of convictions and reversals. Initially sentenced to death in 1988, his conviction was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court due to issues with his competency hearing. He was re-convicted and re-sentenced to death in 1992. In the days leading up to his death, Walls attorneys filed a last-minute lawsuit alleging that the Florida Department of Corrections was using expired drugs and incomplete doses in its 2025 executions, raising the risk of a needlessly cruel death in which the prisoner might choke on his own blood. The US Supreme Court denied his final request for a stay on the afternoon of the execution. Florida as execution leader The execution of Frank Walls was the 19th in Florida in 2025, shattering the states previous record of eight set in 2014. This surge was driven by Governor Ron DeSantis justice delayed is justice denied policy, which targeted inmates who had spent decades in the appellate system. DeSantis aggressive approach was bolstered by 2023 legislationthe Parkland Law, after the school shooting of the same namewhich allowed for death sentences with a non-unanimous 8-4 jury recommendation, the lowest threshold in the nation. This state-level killing spree reflects a broader national trend influenced by President Donald Trumps return to office. Trumps vocal support for capital punishment and his administrations resumption of federal executions created a political climate that encouraged high-use states to accelerate their protocols. Nationally, the US saw 48 executions in 2025, a 15-year high, with Florida alone accounting for approximately 40 percent of that total. The following individuals were put to death by the state of Florida during this record-breaking year: The 2025 surge in Florida represents a grim assembly line of state power, where the gears of finality grind over the complexities of mental illness, military trauma and institutional abuse, leaving a trail of state-sanctioned death that has become the new national standard. In a split decision on Thursday, a Wisconsin jury convicted Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan of felony obstruction while acquitting her of a related misdemeanor charge. Dugan was arrested by the FBI this past April as part of the Trump administrations ongoing efforts to establish a political dictatorship and subordinate all branches of government to the White House. Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan leaves the federal courthouse after a hearing in Milwaukee on Thursday, May 15, 2025. [AP Photo/Andy Manis] Dugan is facing up to five years in prison for the crime of instructing Eduardo Flores Ruiz, a Milwaukee resident at the time, to use a side door to exit her courtroom as a gang of federal agents waited outside. After exiting the courtroom, Flores Ruiz and his attorney proceeded down a public hallway where two federal agents were waiting and arrested him. Prosecutors argued that even though Flores Ruiz did not evade arrest, Judge Dugan intended for him to avoid federal agents by using a stairwell and exit not typically accessible to the public. Under previous administrations, courts and other so-called sensitive areas were generally off limits to ICE kidnapping operations in part because the government sought to ensure immigrants would appear for court hearings without fear of arrest. The arrest and conviction of Dugan is one of the most consequential actions taken by the Trump administration in its drive to erect a presidential dictatorship. The Trump White House, which directed Dugans arrest, has demonstrated its willingness to imprison political opponents, including members of the judiciary, who take any action that impedes the ongoing mass deportation operation. While Dugan was found guilty of obstructing federal agents, she has not yet been sentenced. Her attorney has already stated that the conviction will be appealed. If the verdict stands, Dugan faces up to five years in prison. Dugans conviction comes nearly 11 months after Trump, in one of his first official acts after returning to office, pardoned more than 1,500 fanatical supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 in an attempted coup. Many of those pardoned had been convicted of obstructing a federal proceeding for conspiring to block Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote. While Trumps fascist foot soldiers walk free, Judge Dugan now faces the prospect of imprisonment. Underscoring the political character of the prosecution, Trump administration officials and Republican politicians responded to the verdict by gloating and issuing threats. Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on X, NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. No one can obstruct law enforcement as they carry out their basic duties. This Department of Justice will not waver as our agents and law enforcement partners continue to make America Safe Again. FBI Director Kash Patel echoed the same slogan, posting, No one is above the law alongside a Fox News headline about the trial. On Friday, Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August released a joint statement demanding that Dugan immediately resign or face impeachment proceedings. As Republican officials circle, no prominent Democrats have spoken out in defense of Dugan. At the time of her arrest, Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer described the prosecution as an attack on the separation of powers and pledged to fight this with everything we have. As of this writing, more than 24 hours after the conviction, Schumer has issued no further public statement. Wisconsin Democratic Governor Tony Evers, who previously denounced Dugans arrest and Trumps assault on the judiciary, has also remained silent. The attack on Dugan is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration against democratic rights. The Guardian, citing records obtained by Property of the People, reported that the FBI has initiated domestic terrorism investigations into anti-ICE activity in 23 regions across the United States. Some of these investigations were launched under Trumps National Security Presidential Memorandum 7, Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence, issued on September 25. The memorandum asserts, without evidence, that Common threads animating this violent conduct include anti Americanism, anti capitalism, and anti Christianity; support for the overthrow of the United States Government; extremism on migration, race, and gender; and hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, and morality. Although the FBI document provides few specifics, an accompanying chart shows that 54 percent of pending investigations related to anti-ICE activity concern civil unrest, meaning the FBI is investigating individuals for protesting illegal, violent and brutal immigration kidnapping operations. Further escalating this campaign, Thursday marked the first deadline in a memo issued earlier this month by Attorney General Pam Bondi ordering all federal domestic law enforcement agencies to submit intelligence files on Antifa and Antifa related activities to the FBI. The December 4 memo outlines how federal agencies are to implement NSPM-7 against those who oppose capitalism and fascism and express support for socialism. Defending these actions, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the Washington Post that Left wing organizations have fueled violent riots, organized attacks against law enforcement officers, coordinated illegal doxing campaigns, arranged drop points for weapons and riot materials, and more, a claim made without evidence. The Trump administration has seized upon virtually any violent incident to intensify its assault on immigrants and democratic rights. Following the shooting at Brown University and the murder of MIT Professor Nuno Loureiro at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts by Claudio Neves Valente, a former Brown grad student and Portuguese national, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Thursday night the suspension of the diversity visa lottery program, even though DHS does not administer the lottery. The lottery program is run by the State Department. DHSs role is limited to issuing green cards to individuals already granted legal permanent resident status. By halting the issuance of green cards under this program, DHS is effectively placing legal residents at risk of detention by ICE for failing to carry documentation. Hundreds of thousands of people have entered the United States through the diversity visa lottery since Valente did in 2017. Suspending the program will do nothing to address gun violence but will instead expose hundreds of thousands of people to immigration raids and detention. The Democratic Party, which has just voted to provide Trump with a $1 trillion war budget, has demonstrated that it is both incapable and unwilling to defend democratic rights. As Trump launches daily attacks on the Constitution, the judiciary and the working class, Democrats have supplied the votes needed to keep the government and the detention camps operating. This is a government of the oligarchy waging war on the working class. It is dismantling vital social programs on which millions depend. This week Republicans confirmed there would be no vote to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, ensuring that health insurance costs for millions will rise sharply in the coming year. The decisive question is one of political leadership and organization. The Democratic Party will not oppose Trumps drive toward dictatorship because, like him, it represents the financial aristocracy and is committed to the defense of the capitalist state and the wealth of the super-rich. 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: A recently approved injectable eczema drug provides quick itch relief to patients with the maddening skin disease, a new study says. Nemolizumab (Nemluvio) relieved itchiness within two days for three times as many patients as a placebo, researchers reported in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. The drug also helped twice as many eczema patients sleep better within a couple of days, researchers said. "These new data reinforce our understanding of nemolizumab's rapid onset of action in relieving itch and, in turn, improving sleep in patients living with atopic dermatitis and prurigo nodularis," researcher Dr. Christophe Piketty said in a news release. He's program head of therapeutic dermatology for the Swiss pharma company Galderma, the developer of nemolizumab. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved nemolizumab in 2024 for treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema, as well as for itchy bumps that often appear alongside eczema in a condition called prurigo nodularis, according to Drugs.com. Eczema occurs due to immune system problems that hamper the skin's defenses against allergens and irritants, the Cleveland Clinic says. A monoclonal antibody, nemolizumab, targets a receptor which activates an inflammatory immune system chemical that drives itch and other symptoms in eczema, researchers said in background notes. For the new study, researchers performed a follow-up analysis of the clinical trial data that led to FDA approval of the drug. They reviewed data from trials involving nearly 2,300 people. Results showed that nemolizumab reduced itch within 48 hours for nearly 11% of patients, compared to 3% of patients taking a placebo. It also reduced itch that swiftly for 17% of patients with prurigo nodularis, compared to just under 4% of those on placebo. Sleep also improved within two days for 10% of eczema patients on nemolizumab compared to under 5% of those on a placebo, and more than 13% of prurigo nodularis patients compared to about 4% of those on placebo. By two weeks, a quarter of patients with eczema and more than a third with prurigo nodularis had shown clinically meaningful improvements in itch and sleep, the study said. "Itch is the most burdensome symptom reported by patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and patients with prurigo nodularis, and rapid improvement in itch intensity is a key treatment goal," researchers concluded. "Treatments that rapidly reduce itch and provide clinically meaningful improvements in disease severity and patients' quality of life are key in the current treatment landscape for both AD and PN," they wrote. More information Sonja Stander et al, Rapid improvement of itch with nemolizumab in atopic dermatitis and prurigo nodularis phase 3 studies, Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/jdv.70250 Copyright 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved. On December 11, the WSWS reported on the growing opposition to the IG Metall union at the Mercedes plant in Berlin-Marienfelde, and called for the establishment of a rank-and-file committee to wage the struggle against layoffs and social cuts independently of the IG Metall apparatus. Workers must take the fight for their rights and demands into their own hands, we wrote. This requires new fighting organizations, organizations that prioritize workers rights over profit interests and break through IG Metalls nationalist policies by networking across locations, companies, industries and national borders. Protest against job cuts at the Daimler plant in Berlin Marienfelde, November 2020 (Photo: WSWS) Shortly after the article appeared, we received an angry comment from a reader calling himself Frenchie. He defends IG Metall and accuses us of dividing the workers. He compares our proposal to build independent rank-and-file committees with the Italian ideologically oriented trade unions and with the policy pursued by the Stalinist Communist Party of Germany (KPD) in the early 1930s. At that time, the KPD drove a wedge between Social Democratic and Communist workers by establishing independent unions under the name Revolutionary Trade Union Opposition (Revolutionare Gewerkschaftsopposition, RGO). Frenchie speaks for those pseudo-left trade unionists who like to call themselves militant, but in reality fight for only one thing: the defense of the discredited IG Metall union. While workers are leaving the union in droves, these militants are doing everything they can to stuff them back into the straitjacket of the bureaucratic apparatus. Given the importance of this question, we take this opportunity to once again explain our position. Merger of union, state and company Frenchie writes: You have to work first of all with what you have. Perhaps the day will come when new, serious unions emerge, but we are not there yet. And even if we were, it would still be important to work together. Or do you want a situation like in Italy, where the various ideologically oriented trade unions are fighting each other?! There is already a rank-and-file committee in Marienfelde, and it would be advisable to work with it to improve the situation of the workers, even if you have different political views (keyword: independent). Your approach smacks strongly of the RGO (not independent), which, as we know, failed miserably. Every single sentence in this comment is false. It starts with the assertion: You have to work with what you have. The workers have nothing with which to worki.e., defend their jobs, wages and working conditions. This applies not only to the Mercedes plant in Marienfelde, but to all companies where around ten thousand jobs are being destroyed every month in Germany. IG Metall is not opposing this industrial bloodletting, but is using its bloated apparatus of officials, works councils and shop stewards to ensure that it proceeds smoothly and that any resistance to it comes to nothing. IG Metall and other contemporary unions have nothing in common with the reformist mass organizations of the 19th and 20th centuries, which fought for better wages, working conditions and workers rights in oftentimes bitter class battles. Decades of social partnership (Sozialpartnerschaft) and legally regulated co-determination (Mitbestimmung) have completely fused the modern unions with the state and big business, and the unions now function as the latters extended arm. Their officials (such as German Trade Union Confederation [DGB] chairwoman Yasmin Fahimi) move smoothly from political party positions to government roles and from there into union offices. They become ministers orlike the former IG Metall district leader of North Rhine-Westphalia, Oliver Burkhardhead of large weapons manufacturers. Union members, on the other hand, have no say and no rights. There is no democracy in the unions. In IG Metall, the powerful regional leaders are appointed and paid by the national executive committee and are bound by its instructions. These regional representatives, in turn, determine who climbs the career ladder and gets a promising position in works council elections or a well-paid supervisory board post. Those who dont toe the line are kicked out. Who is dividing the workers? Frenchies accusation that the establishment of a rank-and-file committee is dividing the workforce turns reality on its head. In fact, it is IG Metall that is systematically dividing the workforce and playing them off against each otherunion members against non-members, full-time employees against temporary workers, location against location and country against country. At Ford, the IG Metall and its works councils organized the miserable bidding war that pitted the workers in Saarlouis, Germany against their colleagues in Almussafes, Spain. Now both locations are being gradually shut down. The workforces of Opel Bochum, ThyssenKrupp Stahl and numerous other companies have also been systematically betrayed and sold out by IG Metall. The establishment of rank-and-file committees overcomes this division of workersnot under the barracks discipline of the union apparatus, but on the basis of common struggle. Rank-and-file committees are based on the principle that the social interests of the working classthe vast majority of the populationtake precedence over the profit interests of a small minority of billionaires. The right to adequate incomes and pensions is non-negotiable. Anyone serious about fighting to defend jobs, wages, social gains and workers rights is welcome to join the rank-and-file committee. It does not matter whether they have a union card or a German passport, where they were born, what their native language is or whether they are a permanent employee or a temporary worker. Union officials, on the other hand, are not welcome, because free discussion and democratic decisions are only possible without company representatives from the trade union. Unlike in the unions, it is the members who have the say in rank-and-file committees. Those in charge are elected by the members and are accountable to them. They receive neither special remuneration nor supervisory board fees. The rank-and-file committees do not fight each other, but network across borders to effectively coordinate the struggles against globally active corporations. To this end, the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees, the IWA-RFC was founded. Frenchie obviously rejects all of this. He wants to tie the Mercedes plant workers to IG Metall until perhaps the day comes when new, serious unions emerge. He does not tell us how this miracle is supposed to happen. Frenchies claim that there is already a rank-and-file committee in Marienfelde is also false. He is apparently referring to the group Autoarbeiter fur eine kampfende IG Metall (Auto Workers for a Militant IG Metall), which we discussed in detail in our December 11 article. Under the guise of militant rhetoric, this group is attempting to lure workers who have turned their backs on IG Metall back into the union. It is collecting signatures for petitions asking IG Metall to be more militant. Degeneration of the unions The degeneration of the unions, which can be observed in every country in the world, is not only the result of the widespread corruption of their leadership. It is rooted in the very form of the unions themselves. (See David Norths lecture: Why are trade unions hostile to socialism?) Because the unions justify and defend the capitalist profit system on which their activities are based, they subordinate the interests of workers to the interests of profit. This gives rise to their boundless opportunism. While trade unions were still able to secure social concessions during the post-war economic boom, this is no longer possible under the conditions of globalization and crisis. The global nature of production and financial markets has undermined all national reformist programs. Companies can relocate production at any time, while trade unions remain tied to the national framework. German unions now see their task as defending the competitiveness of Germany as a business location against its competitorswith all that this entails: layoffs, low wages and intense work pressure. They divide workers and play them off against each other according to location, company and nation. They stand behind German corporations in the international trade war, demanding tariffs on products from China and tax breaks for local corporations. They support the rearmament of the German army, the war in Ukraine and the genocide in Gaza. That is why the prospect of renewing the unions leads to a dead end. In reality, it only serves to pacify workers, lull them into believing in a better future and paralyze their fighting power. Rank-and-file committees are not new unions. They do not subordinate themselves to profit interests. They arein workplaces, neighborhoods, and elsewheregerm cells with which the working class can take control of the economy and society. Comparison with the RGOa falsification of history Frenchies claim that our call to build rank-and-file committees smacks of the RGO is a gross falsification of history. It is a standard argument of all left defenders of the union bureaucracy. The KPDs building of independent revolutionary unions in the early 1930s was part of its ultra-left social fascism policy, which equated the SPD with the Nazis and strictly rejected a united front against the fascist danger. The resulting split in the working class contributed significantly to Hitlers victory. However, the mistake made by the KPD was not that it weakened the trade unions, but that it weakened itself, as Leon Trotsky, the most important Marxist opponent of Stalinism, emphasized at the time. Many Social Democratic (SPD) workers were organized in the ADGB [General German Trade Union Federation, 1919-1933], which the KPD surrendered to the influence of the SPD without a fight by founding its own associations. Trotsky did not fetishize the unity of the ADGB, about whose pro-capitalist orientation he had no illusions. But unlike todays corporatist trade union apparatuses, many workers were still active in the ADGB at that time. Trotsky did not hesitate for a moment to propose new initiatives when the opportunity arose. In France in the mid-1930s, he advocated the establishment of rank-and-file committees to break the paralyzing influence of the Popular Front of Stalinists, Social Democrats and bourgeois radicals. In the founding program of the Fourth International in 1938, Trotsky wrote: Therefore, the sections of the Fourth International should always strive not only to renew the top leadership of the trade unions, ... but also to create in all possible instances independent militant organizations corresponding more closely to the tasks of mass struggle against bourgeois society; and, if necessary, not flinching even in the face of a direct break with the conservative apparatus of the trade unions. Frenchies comment, which justifies the union apparatus and its daily machinations in the factories because there is no alternative, is a pathetic declaration of bankruptcy. Mercedes workers in Marienfelde and elsewhere should reject this pessimistic and submissive whining with contempt. Of course it is possible and absolutely necessary to build new structures of struggle in factories. We invite all autoworkers, in Mercedes and Marienfelde and beyond, to contact us and discuss the necessary next steps. Send us a WhatsApp message at +491633378340 and fill out the form below. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) unequivocally condemns the terrorist shootings of innocent people attending a Chanukah by the Sea event at Sydneys Bondi Beach on December 14, marking the start of the Jewish Hanukkah festival. Among the 15 dead were a 10-year-old child, two elderly survivors of the Nazi Holocaust, a local rabbi and three others who, unarmed, courageously attempted to disarm the gunmen. While many questions remain unanswered, the two alleged shootersSajid Akram and his son Naveedwere evidently motivated by the reactionary and divisive ideology of Islamic State. It blames the monstrous crimes of the Israeli regime and US imperialism in the Middle East over decades, not on capitalism, but on Jews and other infidels, to justify indiscriminate acts of slaughter as took place last Sunday. People gather at a floral tribute outside Bondi Pavilion on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025,. [AP Photo/Mark Baker] The Jewish people are not responsible for the Zionist regimes genocidal slaughter of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, nor for the wider war being waged throughout the Middle East in league with US imperialism and its allies. Thousands of Jewish people have joined the mass anti-genocide demonstrations in Australia and around the world against the atrocities in Gaza being carried out in their name. Despite their mutual hatred, Islamic State terrorists have a great deal in common with the proponents of Zionismboth insist on a false identity of the Israeli state with Jewish people throughout the world. Benjamin Netanyahu, fallaciously claiming to represent all Jewish people, seized on the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach to demand the stamping out of all opposition to his far-right governments barbaric war on the Palestinian people. Netanyahu launched an extraordinary attack on the Labor government, blaming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese personally for the carnage at Bondi Beach. You did nothing to curb the cancer cells that were growing inside your country. You took no action, he said on Sunday. You let the disease spread, and the result is the horrific attacks on Jews we saw today. In fact, for more than two years, the Albanese government, along with state governments, the media and Zionist leaders and groups, have been waging a relentless campaign of vilification, falsely branding all opposition to the Gaza genocide as antisemitism. Along with the anti-genocide protests, academics, journalists and health workers have been targeted as well. The state Labor government in New South Wales (NSW) has been in the forefront of ramming through far-reaching anti-democratic measures, banning so-called hate speech and attempting to block protests. Netanyahus personal attack on Albanese is motivated by the depth of the popular opposition in Australia to his governments crimes. Over the past two years, the anti-genocide protests have been continuous and among the largest per capita in the world. In August, 300,000 people took part in a march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge despite the frantic efforts of NSW Premier Chris Minns and the police to ban it. Netanyahus comments, which have been echoed by former Liberal-National Coalition Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and other Zionist leaders, have created a political crisis around Albanese. At a press conference yesterday, Albanese offered what amounted to an abject apology for failing to do more to protect Jews and stamp out antisemitismthe code word for any criticism of the Israeli state. Standing alongside his governments antisemitism special envoy, Jillian Segal, a longstanding Zionist lobbyist, Albanese promised to implement her recommendations in full. These include a purge of the media, universities and schools, including through the blocking of research grants and a revision of curricula and courses, to ensure the predominance of Zionist propaganda. Minns is convening an emergency session of the NSW parliament to pass hastily drafted legislation to grant the police extensive powers to ban anti-genocide and other political slogans, protests and demonstrations, further overturning basic democratic rights. Both Albanese and Minns are also promising tougher gun laws. No answers have been provided, however, to the obvious question: How was it that Sajid Akram was able to get a gun licence in 2023 and purchase six rifles and shotguns, just four years after his son had been subject to investigation by ASIO, the domestic intelligence agency, for his association with organisations with Islamic State connections? For more than two decades since the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US, successive governments have vastly expanded intelligence and police resources and powers devoted to the so-called war on terror. The claim by ASIO and the police that the Akrams simply went off the radar for six years, even though they spent last month in the southern Philippines, known for its Islamic extremist connections, is simply not credible. A cover-up is underway to obscure how and why the Bondi Beach shootings were able to take place. The Bondi Beach shootings were the most violent terrorist attack ever on Australian soil. Just as September 11 was exploited by US imperialism to launch illegal wars of aggression and erect a vast police-state apparatus, so the Australian ruling class is rapidly moving to use the reactionary slaughter last Sunday for its own ends. The US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza is part of a wider war throughout the Middle East that has been backed to the hilt by the Australian government and indeed the entire political establishment. Moreover, it is just one front in a developing global conflict that is already underway in Europe and Latin America, and is rapidly being prepared against China, as US imperialism recklessly resorts to military means to arrest its global decline. The far-reaching legislation and measures being prepared by state and federal governments under the banner of combatting antisemitism will be used not only to ban anti-genocide protests but to suppress opposition to war and militarism more broadly. The strengthening of the police and intelligence apparatuses will be directed against the inevitable social unrest that is emerging as the burdens of war are imposed on working people. Above all, it will be targeted against working-class militants and socialistsas is happening in the United States under the fascistic Trump administration. To expose the role of the capitalist state in the Bondi Beach shootings, a completely independent and transparent inquiry is needed. The purpose of the full investigation, as promised by Albanese and Minns, whether by police, a parliamentary committee or a Royal Commission, will be to cover up the truth. The 2019 Christchurch massacre in New Zealand, in which 51 people were killed by fascist gunman Brenton Tarrant, is instructive. A blanket of secrecy was thrown over what the police and intelligence agencies knew prior to the attack, despite Tarrants well-known links to fascist organisations in Australia and Europe. The expansion and strengthening of the state apparatus must be opposed by the working class. The SEP calls on workers and youth to take matters into their own hands and come to the aid of Jewish people or any community that comes under racialist attack. Just as we call for the establishment of rank-and-file committees in factories and workplaces to defend jobs, working conditions and safety standards, so rank-and-file committees are needed in working-class suburbs to protect basic democratic and social rights. Such rank-and-file committeeswhich must be composed of workers and youth regardless of their language, religion or racehave to explicitly reject all forms of nationalism, communalism and xenophobia. In the case of the Bondi Beach shootings, communalism, whether in the form of Zionism or Islamist extremism, is utterly reactionary. Its class purpose is to strengthen the hand of the ruling class by dividing the working class, setting worker against worker, youth against youth. In the final analysis, the eruption of poisonous ideologies based on race and religion is an expression of the acute and deepening crisis of global capitalism. The resort to war, austerity and far-right autocratic forms of rule is threatening to plunge humanity into the abyss. The defence of democratic rights in Australia and around the world is completely bound up with the struggle by the working class for a socialist future in which the resources of humanity are used to meet pressing social needs, not the corporate profits of the handful of multi-billionaires. Tom Stoppard (1937-2025), known for plays like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1966), screenplays as diverse as Shakespeare in Love (1998) and Terry Gilliams Brazil (1985) and television adaptations like Ford Madox Fords Parades End (2012), was a talented and clever writer for stage, screen and radio. Tom Stoppard, 1990 [Photo by Gorup de Besanez / CC BY 3.0 Described by fellow playwright David Hare as spendthrift with jokes, he could be highly entertaining, using humour to show off undoubted intelligence. The critic Kenneth Tynan said Stoppards understatement amounted to see how self-deprecating I can be and still be assertive Toms modesty is a form of egotism. Stoppard was also, in his own words, a timid libertarian, who defended bourgeois liberalism with a superficial but explicit anti-communism. His identification of Marxism and communism with the repression of its Stalinist distortions hampered his work. He exemplified the intellectual crisis of the later 20th century. Born Tomas Straussler in Zlin, Czechoslovakia, the son of a Jewish doctor, he only discovered in middle age that all four of his grandparents had died in the Holocaust. His paternal grandparents died in the Riga ghetto, his maternal grandparents in Auschwitz. This informed his unsatisfactory Leopoldstadt (2020), which deals with the fate of European Jewry by tracing the destiny of an interlinked Viennese family over the first half of the 20th century. The play takes its name from the old Jewish quarter of Vienna. The family fled to Singapore in 1939, with help from his fathers colleagues at the Bata shoe company, they escaped again from Japanese invasion in 1942, during which his father was killed. Tomas, his brother Petr and mother set off for Australia. Diverted by war at sea, they went to India, where his mother worked for Bata. At the end of the war, she married British officer Kenneth Stoppard, and they moved to Britain in 1946. The boys anglicised as Tom and Peter, went to school in Nottinghamshire and then Pocklington, a private day and boarding school in East Yorkshire. He hated Pocklington. In 1988 he said The whole Czech thing about me has got wildly out of hand I was brought up English. I dont feel Czech. But that antipathy toward his Czech history hinted at a political outlook he cultivated his whole life. Stoppards Englishness was based around identification with a bourgeois liberalism he treated as essential and eternal: The strong argument is to behave decently before you do the arithmetic because the arithmetic is never going to be that bad. Theres a lot of space, money and goodwill in England. He put forward similar sentiments in his Coast of Utopia trilogy (2002), whose aim was nothing less than to depict the rise and early struggles of the Russian intelligentsia in the years 1833 to 1868. Stoppard put these conceptions in pioneering Russian radical Alexander Herzens mouth: Their [the British establishments] coarseness is the sinew of some kind of brute confidence which is the reason England is home to every shade of political exile. They dont give asylum out of respect for asylum-seekers, but out of respect for themselves. They invented personal liberty, and they know it, and they did it without having any theories about it. They value liberty because its liberty. Poster for Leopoldstadt, by Tom Stoppard This elevation of liberalism above history does an injustice to Herzen. Stoppards identification with Herzens disillusionment is a defence of liberalism against the revolutionaries who drew quite other lessons from Herzens life, Marx and Lenin above all. The conservatism was Stoppards own position, making him unable to transcend political contradictions even when he was aware of them. Having said that he wrote only for posterity, he later said he was mostly, unconsciously, trying not to cooperate with posterity. To his credit, Stoppard last year defended Jonathan Glazer when he spoke out against Israels genocide in Gaza. In 2016, he visited the Jungle refugee camp in Calais, France. A journalist asked if it was possible Britains goodwill was being exploited by asylum seekers, Stoppard replied that it might be, but in that case he would be happy to be historically on the wrong side. Rather than a defence of migrants against a rapidly rightward-moving politics, this was nostalgia for an official political culture long extinct. Returning to Stoppards life story, he moved to Bristol with his family and began working as a local journalist in 1954, at 17, forgoing a college education. He began developing his writing, submitting plays to BBC Radio. Work as a reviewer and features writer for the Bristol Evening World took him to the theatre, although he was uncomfortable as a critic. In the Bristol Old Vics 1957-58 season he saw Peter OToole play Hamlet and Jimmy Porter in John Osbornes Look Back in Anger. Hooked on theatre, Stoppard found initial success with radio and television plays and short stories. Radio drama was undergoing a period of inventive experimentation. An imaginative medium that does not require literalism, it allowed Stoppards clever wit space for invention. Translating this to the stage inclined his earlier works to a sometimes-dazzling excess of cleverness. Although not shallow, the plays were not as deep as their learning and wit suggested. His breakthrough came with Rosencrantz, which brings two hapless, ultimately overwhelmed and doomed courtiers from Shakespeares Hamlet centre stage. The absurdist piece, with comic and tragic elements, expands on the activities of these minor characters, taking place in the interstices, as it were, of Shakespeares work. Stoppard admitted his big influences were T. S. Eliots The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock (No! I am not Hamlet, nor was meant to be; Am an attendant lord) and the bleak absurdism of Samuel Beckett, with its existentialist background. Production of Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead in Split, Croatia, 2006 [Photo by HNK Split / Foto: Matko Biljak / CC BY 4.0 They are revealing influences, disillusioned and world-weary, with Eliot championing a mystical high church traditionalism. Stoppard had a good sense of the theatres potential for physical surprisethe arguments in Jumpers (1972), a satirical treatment of academic philosophy likening it to a gymnastics competition, are conducted by a philosophy don and a troupe of acrobatsmaking his plays theatrically exciting but hobbled intellectually. For all the theatricality, the absurdism of Rosencrantz comes across as a rather cute and complacent playing with the literary canon. This was a regular theme, with Stoppards toying with the canon seeming affectionate and protective. He wrote and directed a 1990 screen adaptation of Rosencrantz with Tim Roth and Gary Oldman. The same slightly precious approach runs through Shakespeare in Love, which portrays a fictional love affair during the famed playwrights writing of Romeo and Juliet, where every actor describes Shakespeares new script as being about his or her character. Rosencrantz went through various versions before the Oxford Theatre Group had a hit with it at the Edinburgh Festival. Tynan requested a script for Laurence Oliviers National Theatre. Stoppard had arrived. Although his later plays would move away from the often-dazzling absurdism and theatricality, Jumpers and Travesties (1974) outlined the conservatism of political and philosophical thought that marked his work. The formers moral philosopher George is writing a lecture on the existence of god against a backdrop of marital crisis and a team of acrobatic professors of philosophy. Audiences may have felt some recognition at Georges discussion of his method: My method of inquiry this evening into certain aspects of this hardy perennial may strike some of you as overly engaging, but experience has taught me that to attempt to sustain the attention of rival schools of academics by argument alone is tantamount to constructing a Gothic arch out of junket. Travesties explores the presence in Zurich in 1917 of Lenin, James Joyce and the Dadaist Tristan Tzara prior to the Russian Revolution. Their arguments are woven through the recollections by minor diplomat Henry Carr (also based on a real figure) of an amateur production of Oscar Wildes The Importance of Being Earnest. Tzara is a plate-smashing iconoclast, with Joyce the Stoppard-like advocate: An artist is the magician put among men to gratifycapriciouslytheir urge for immortality If there is any meaning in it, it is what survives as art, yes even in the celebration of tyrants, yes even in the celebration of nonentities Stoppard gives them playful interactions but presents Lenin humourlessly in material drawn from his writings. The intention was to portray Lenin as the originator of the Stalinist distortion of Marxism that followed. Shakespeare in Love (1998) Stoppard was explicit in a long 1974 interview. People tend to think of Stalinism as being a perversion of Leninism, he said, with the Trotskyist movement obviously in view. That is an absurd and foolish untruth, and it is one on which the Left bases itself. Lenin perverted Marxism, and Stalin carried on from there. This was the Bad Man theory of history and politics writ large: Ideological differences are often temperamental differences in ideological disguise. For all that he accused Lenin of perverting Marxism, Marx and materialism were also Stoppards target. The great irony about Marx was that his impulses were deeply moral while his intellect insisted on a materialist view of the world. Stoppard claimed Marxs theory of capital, his theory of value, and his theory of revolution, have all been refuted In short he got it wrong. Stoppard, the traditionalist liberal, praised Eduard Bernstein for saying Marx had got it wrong, but that it didnt matter because social justice was going to come through other means human solidarity was a better bet than class solidarity. Whatever the nuances of thought, this view remained, which is why his nine-hour Coast of Utopia trilogy failed in its efforts to step up intellectually. Tynan wrote a supportive profile after Travesties, comparing Stoppard to Czech liberal anti-communist playwright Vaclav Havel. Stoppards vocal defence of free speech became very much identified with the promotion of anti-communist dissidents under Stalinism, although it was hardly new in his thinking. From the late 1970s, a period of reaction internationally to the 1968-75 upsurge of class struggle, his work became more directly political in this way, while still theatrically inventive. Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (1977) featured a Soviet dissident in a psychiatric hospital. An inmate images an orchestra in his headthe play requires a full orchestra, which Andre Previn conducted for the debutand the script plays repeatedly with mathematics. The more explicit he became about these politics, the more the weaknesses emerged. In RocknRoll (2006), he looked at the 1968 Prague Spring and 1989 Velvet Revolution through the eyes of a Czech student Jan and Cambridge academic Max, a Communist Party member. It is informed largely by his agreement with Havel and is the weaker for it. Jans dissidence is driven not by political conviction but by passively becoming a victim of the regimeEverythings dissident except shutting up and eating shitand leads to advocacy of rocknroll as dissidence, citing Czech group the Plastic People of the Universe. Max resigns from the CP but remains loyal to its political confusions, contemplating voting for Margaret Thatcher in 1987 in an attempt to wake the British working class up. This is poor stuff, and points to the limitations and constraints underlying Stoppards evident talent. There is much to enjoy in Stoppards work, but it is never as substantial as it first appears. On December 12, some 1,600 students walked out at four Portland, Oregon-area high schools, Hillsboro, Liberty, Century and Glencoe, and three middle schools, South Meadows, Poynter and R.A. Brown. With approximately a total of 9,100 students in its middle and high schools, the number that walked out represents a significant percentage of the Hillsboro School District student population, the fourth largest in Oregon. A protester holds a sign as law enforcement officers stand outside a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Portland, Oregon. [AP Photo/Jenny Kane] Waving home-made signs and yelling spirited chants, students marched along the major Tualatin Valley Highway, with many cars honking their support, to make clear their opposition to ICE raids. Congregating at Shute Park, students chanted, We want justice, we want rights. We want ICE out of sight, and Hey, hey, oh, oh, ICE has got to go. Student walkouts also took place earlier in the week in the cities of Beaverton and Forest Grove, both adjacent to Hillsboro. These actions are part of a growing national wave of walkouts against ICE and state terror that have occurred in Michigan, Minnesota and North Carolina. The protests in North Carolina grew to 56,000 students at their peak. One of the student leaders in Oregon, Manny Chavez, whose testimony to the Hillsboro City Council denouncing ICE went viral in November, posted on his social media account: For months, ICE has terrorized Hillsboro and all of Oregon. They claim to be targeting criminals, yet they target everyone with a brown skin complexion. U.S. citizens have been detained without reason. By doing this walkout, we are showing Hillsboro and the Oregon community that we stand for them and are tired of this reign of terror. On Tuesday, over a hundred students from Lincoln High School in downtown Portland and from other schools in the city also walked out against ICE. Jasmine Hamilton, one of the student organizers, told KPTV News, I have a lot of friends and family that have been impacted by this, and I know that some people cant speak about this out of fear that theyll be targeted next, and so I want to be that voice for the people who cant talk for themselves and are being put under pressure and fear. Recent data released by ICE show that it has arrested 644 people in Oregon since the Trump initiated crackdown. According to the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition, a heat map indicating a higher intensity of ICE activity in a given location on its website, show that Hillsboro and Beaverton have both experienced a larger amount of ICE activity. The large presence of ICE in Hillsboro is especially significant given that it is the most diverse city within Oregon, with slightly more than 40 percent of the population consisting of minorities. A large agricultural sector draws migrants from Mexico and Latin America, while an extensive tech industry, such as Intel, draws from Asia and South Asia. More broadly, it is an extremely working class town, many of whom are native-born, expressing the fundamentally class nature of the attacks by ICE on workers across the country. The methods being deployed are part of a nationwide escalation. Federal agencies are building a mass data and policing apparatus, including airline passenger lists that have been handed to ICE by the TSA, while facial recognition and targeting software are used to generate arrest lists and quotas, making raids increasingly automated, indiscriminate and farreaching. A trial in US District Court in Portland held at the beginning of December heard testimony from ICE officers detailing the generation of post-detention arrest warrants, false allegations inserted via copy-and-paste onto the warrants, arrest quotas and the use of facial recognition tools and, in addition, a software called Elite designed for ICE that can aggregate names and photos of people in a general area who had prior contacts with immigration officials at some point in their lives. The officer testified, The goal was to make eight arrests per team per day, adding, We had to develop our own targets. Moreover, the raids have exposed the inability of the Democrats to oppose immigration raids. Despite Oregons Sanctuary Promise Act and the designation of Hillsboro as a sanctuary city in a 2017 city council resolution, ICE has proceeded with impunity to target, arrest, jail and deport hundreds of Oregon residents. While the law itself prohibits federal immigration authorities from carrying out warrantless arrests in Oregons courthouses and their vicinities, this has simply shifted the focus to minority-intensive towns like Hillsboro. Under Trumps second term, the Democrats have emerged as collaborators with the administration. The Democrats provided the necessary votes to end the government shutdown in October and in November on Trumps terms, ordered local law enforcement to work alongside federal agents. Coinciding with attacks on the working class domestically, the Democrats have backed the escalation of Americas wars abroad, including the undeclared war against Venezuela. Among the most wretched examples of this collaboration came from New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), who visited the White House in November and declared a partnership with the fascist. Mamdani even released a video encouraging residents to follow ICE commands: Do not impede their investigation, resist arrest or run, Mamdani warned, in an effort to demobilize the broad masses of workers opposed to the flagrant and dictatorial attacks on democratic rights. And in Seattle, Mayor-elect Katie Wilson, a self-described socialist, has stated she will meet with anyone, including Trump. The targeting of Hillsboro by the Trump administration is not a mistake. The city is only about 17 miles west of Portland, a frequent focus of Trumps fascistic agitation. In September, Trump ordered National Guard troops to Portland, with authorization to use deadly force. He posted at that time on Truth Social, At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists. I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary. The next stage of the walkouts must include a turn by the students to the working class. Students, teachers, parents and workers must form rank-and-file committees in every school, workplace and neighborhood to coordinate opposition to all efforts by the American ruling elite, with the support of both capitalist parties, to erect a dictatorship and plan for even greater wars. They must connect with other committees under the umbrella of the International Workers Alliance of RankandFile Committees (IWA-RFC) and fight to abolish the source of all these social ills, capitalism. Production of the Ford Fiesta in Cologne [Photo by GillyBerlin / flickr / CC BY 2.0 The outlook for the Cologne plant is grim. The company, the IG Metall union, and the works council are currently organizing the elimination of around 4,000 of the plants approximately 11,500 jobs. Five hundred of these cuts stem from a 2023 program under which 2,300 jobs are to be eliminated by the end of this year. A further 2,800 jobs will be cut by the end of 2027 under an agreement pushed through by IG Metall last summer. Nearly 750 jobs in the Cologne assembly plant will be lost due to the introduction of single-shift operations. Around 250 agency workers have already lost their jobs at Ford or one of its subsidiaries. Most of the job cuts are to be implemented through severance packages. To this end, Ford and IG Metall have devised a three-phase mechanism of coercion. On November 28, the first three-month deadline began, during which workers are expected to decide on the voluntary surrender of their jobs. If too few workers accept the offer during this period, severance payments will be reduced by 25 percent. In the final stage, compulsory redundancies are threatened. Anyone who resists this pressureor simply hesitates too longnot only loses their job but may also receive a drastically reduced severance payment, or none at all. In this way, Ford, the works council and IG Metall are attempting to force through the destruction of jobs. How many employees have so far signed severance agreements is being kept under wraps by both the company and the works council. It is said, however, that many prefer an end with a bang to a bang without end. This approach places workers under enormous psychological pressure. For weeks, rumors have circulated throughout the plant about which departments would be closed, which sections sold off, and how many jobs would be cut in specific areas. There is no end in sight to this psychological warfare. At a works meeting last week, employees were informed that further job cuts are planned for next year. Only last month, the final Focus rolled off the production line at the Saarlouis plant, which is now being wound down. The same processdeath by a thousand cutsis now threatening the main plant in Cologne. At the final works meetings of the year, held in recent weeks at the Cologne plant, management presented a brief overview of business developments and the so-called social contract negotiated with IG Metall and the works council. Concrete information was scarce, and neither the full negotiating documents nor precise timelines for the job cuts were disclosed. This confirms what many employees report: IG Metall, the works council, and company management make decisions behind the backs of the workforce, destroying the future of thousands of families without consulting those affected. Workers are instead confronted with a fait accompli and pressured, mafia-style, with offers they cannot refuse. At the beginning of the year, the Cologne workforce demonstrated its willingness to fight for jobs. More than 93 percent of IG Metall members voted in favor of a strike. Yet the unionhaving reluctantly organized the strike ballot under pressure from the membershipcalled off the strike after just 24 hours to enter into so-called negotiations with management, which ultimately produced the notorious social contract. A resumption of the strike was explicitly ruled out. Unfortunately, a viable future strategy cannot be forced through a strike, shop stewards leader David Ludtke claimed last summer. The Cologne workforce now faces a fundamental decision. Will it follow the path taken in Saarlouis the outcome of IG Metalls and the works councils policies under Chairman Benjamin Gruschka? Or will it organize independently of the companys trade union enforcers? On September 19, we wrote: It can hardly be clearer: the jobs and the entire plant, which provide the livelihood for many thousands of people, can only be defended against the IG Metall apparatus and its works council. Workers who want to fight must organize independently in the Ford Action Committee. Ford is a global corporation employing 171,000 workers at plants on four continents. Links must be established with themas well as with workers at Renault and other companies in the automotive, supplier, steel and related industriesacross Germany, Europe and worldwide. Everyone is confronting the same challenges. Only an international strategy and cooperationbased on the shared interests of working people around the worldcan overcome division and protect workers from blackmail by management and the works council. Workers must reject the logic of the capitalist profit system, which union and works council officials defend at all costs. We appeal to Ford workers: Send us a WhatsApp message at the following number: +491633378340 or register via the following form to begin the struggle to defend the plant. On Friday, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) released a heavily redacted fraction of the Epstein files in a politically calculated continuation of the decades-long coverup of Jeffrey Epsteins crimes and his global network of wealthy and powerful co-conspirators. News media reports said the DOJ posted approximately 10 percent of the records from the investigations into Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, drawn from its own records, the FBI, the Southern District of New York and other federal entities. Former President Bill Clinton and Jeffrey Epstein Legal experts say many of the documents are already publicly available from previous court disclosures. The latest documents are being released under the requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Trump on November 19, which stipulates that they all will be released within 30 days. The online DOJ portal aggregates data sets, including an evidence list and trial exhibits from US v. Maxwell, flight logs for Epsteins private aircraft, a partially redacted contact book, and a masseuse list, alongside videos and transcripts from a two-day 2025 interview of Maxwell by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in Tallahassee, Florida. Media commentary has emphasized that the law obliges the DOJ to disclose a broad range of categories, including bank records, witness interviews, internal memoranda and communications, and any material about people, government entities or companies connected to Epsteins trafficking or financial networks. Within this framework, the new tranche reportedly contains some internal records on the federal investigations in Florida and New York spanning more than a decade, although the extent to which the critical 2007 non-prosecution arrangement is illuminated remains contested. The documents are riddled with redactions, especially where they concern victims, non-charged individuals, and the concrete operational details of Epsteins trafficking apparatus. The DOJs public notice on its disclosure site explicitly announces that redactions of victim names and other identifying information have been applied, and that in audio files, the names of victims and other identifiers have been replaced with a steady tone. The Transparency Act gives the department wide latitude to withhold information on several grounds: to protect victims identities and child sexual abuse material, to safeguard open investigations or litigation, and, most ominously, to exclude any material whose disclosure is deemed contrary to national defense or foreign policy. Media reports have stressed that, while this language is presented as a protection for survivors, it also provides a sweeping legal pretext to remove names, financial trails, and communications that might implicate government agencies, intelligence-connected figures or foreign regimes. U.S. Representative Thomas Massie (Republican-Kentucky), who was a leading sponsor of the Epstein Act, said Friday that the Justice Department is grossly violating its legal obligations. Members of Congress have also noted that the DOJ is required by the Act to provide within 15 days a report explaining the rationale for any redactions and withholdings, including a list of all government officials and politically exposed persons referenced in the underlying files. If such a report exists, it has not been made public, and even its promised list of politically exposed persons may itself be shaped by secret classification decisions and the doctrine of national security, which has repeatedly been invoked to shield the states relationship with Epstein from public scrutiny. One significant document that has emerged is the child pornography complaint file by Maria Farmer on September 3, 1996. This document proves that the FBI received specific, credible warnings about Jeffrey Epsteins sexual exploitation of minors more than a decade before serious federal action was takenand ignored them. While her name is redacted, Farmers handwritten complaint details Epstein taking nude photos of her sisters (aged 16 and 12), stealing negatives, and threatening violence, flagging potential child pornography and coercion. Its release implicates the federal agency in a coverup, raising questions about the Justice Departments 2007 intervention in the Epstein scandal as part of the systemic protection of the powerful over vulnerable teenage girls. Speaking with the New York Times, Farmer said, Ive waited 30 years. I cant believe it. They cant call me a liar anymore. Additionally, the number of Epsteins victims has now been confirmed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as 1,200 individuals. In his letter to Congress on Friday accompanying the initial release, Blanche acknowledged for the first time the scale of the Epstein sex trafficking and abuse operation, writing that the investigation resulted in over 1,200 names being identified as victims or their relatives. Blanche, Trumps legal confidant elevated to the number-two post at the DOJ, has emerged as the central public defender of the partial release. In an appearance on Fox News, Blanche said that the DOJ was releasing several hundred thousand documents, but admitted that this was not the entirety of the departments holdings, promising several hundred thousand more pages in the coming weeks. Blanche argued that the department was meeting what he called the initial deadline under the law, insisting that additional material would be posted as it was processed for redactions to protect victims and comply with other statutory limits. Through the DOJs public affairs office, Blanche posted on the departments official social media account: The DOJ is releasing a massive tranche of new documents that the Biden and Obama administrations refused to release. The story here: the Trump administration is providing levels of transparency that prior administrations never even contemplated. The initial deadline is being met as we work diligently to protect victims. However, the blatantly political motivation of the DOJ and Blanche is evident in the prominent placement of multiple new photos of Bill Clinton, while other individuals are redacted. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson posted one of the new photos on social media saying, Here is Bill Clinton in a hot tub next to someone whose identity has been redacted, and Per the Epstein Files Transparency Act, DOJ was specifically instructed only to redact the faces of victims and/or minors. Time for the media to start asking real questions. In pursuit of their own political advantage, Democratic members of the House and Senate have accused the Justice Department of violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act by failing to release all the unclassified records. Of course, throughout the period in which the Democrats controlled both houses of Congress in the first two years of the Biden administration, they did nothing to expose the full extent of Epsteins criminal enterprise or bring anyone to justice, and covered up their own role in facilitating it. Attorneys representing Epsteins victims have denounced the partial release as another betrayal, combining performative disclosure with the substantive preservation of impunity for those who financed, organized, and profited from the trafficking network. According to press reports, victim advocates in contact with House Democrats describe the DOJs decision to miss the deadline and then retroactively redefine it as an initial benchmark as a clear violation of the law and of the survivors right to know why this was allowed to happen for so long. As for the 2007 non-prosecution agreement in Floridawhere federal prosecutors, including then-US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Alex Acosta, intervened to shield Epstein from the sex trafficking charges and ensure a sweetheart state pleacommentators have said that the Transparency Act specifically demands disclosure of the details and legal rationale for DOJs intervention. However, early analyses of the new release indicate that while some internal communications and memoranda have surfaced, the key legal reasoning, high-level communications, and decision chains leading to the non-prosecution agreement remain either fully withheld or heavily redacted, raising immediate questions about statutory compliance. Previous statements by victims lawyers in the wake of the August 2025 Maxwell transcript release accused the government of dribbling out information in a way that maximizes political advantage while minimizing real transparency, a method which is now being repeated. Family members of victims, quoted in recent coverage, have pointed to the continuing omission of a full accounting of Epsteins contacts and collaborators in Palm Beach, New York, Paris and the US Virgin Islands, regions where his abuse of underage girls was systematically organized and protected. They note that the files so far add little to the list of already known namespoliticians, billionaires, royalswhile continuing to obscure the mechanisms by which law enforcement, intelligence agencies and financial institutions enabled Epsteins operations and then closed ranks after his death in custody. The new document dumpwhich has been framed by Trump, Blanche and the DOJ as an unprecedented gesture of transparencyis the latest stage in a protracted coverup of Epsteins criminal operation and the layer of the financial and political elite that participated in and benefited from it. Even now, more than six years after Epsteins death in a federal jail under suspicious circumstances, and decades after his abuses began, the state is invoking ongoing investigations, victim protection, and national security to maintain a regime of secrecy over the most sensitive aspects of his network. As previous analysis on the World Socialist Web Site has explained, the conflicts within the American ruling class over how much of the Epstein story to reveal are driven entirely by considerations of factional advantage, not by a desire to expose the truth about what occurred over decades in Palm Beach, New York, Paris and the US Virgin Islands. The selective, heavily redacted nature of the socalled Epstein files confirms the WSWS assessment: Even when compelled by law to disclose, the state has responded by carefully curating what becomes public, preserving deniability for institutions whose legitimacy is already deeply corroded. The pervasive depravity, corruption and indifference to human life manifested in cases like Epsteins are not aberrations but expressions of the advanced degeneration of American capitalism and its ruling establishment. The Epstein affair exposes the intertwining of the financial oligarchy, the intelligence agencies, the courts and both major parties in crimes against the most vulnerable, and the December 19 release stands as further proof that no section of this class can or will provide a genuine reckoning with those crimes. 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] Jacobin magazine, the unofficial publication of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), published an article last week condemning constant and relentless denunciations from the political left, in particular, socialist criticism of Democratic New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. The article, titled Critique Is Easy. Whats Your Plan for Power?, is the most recent in a growing series of Jacobin pieces defending Mamdani from left-wing criticism of his evermore naked embrace of the corporate and financial elite. For months, Mamdani, first as the Democratic Party mayoral candidate and now as mayor-elect, has been cozying up to the Wall Street oligarchs, including their fascist in the White House, Trump. It is significant that even before Mamdani has taken office Jacobin and Mamdanis other pseudo-left backers have been forced to go on the defensive for the Democratic mayor-elect. Jacobins most recent article, written by longtime pseudo-left activist and labor studies academic Eric Blanc, argues, fundamentally, that left-moving workers and young people must cease serious political criticism and suppress discontent to preserve the credibility of Mamdani and the DSA to maintain the political stranglehold of the Democratic Party. Blanc writes, The intensity of our criticism of left elected leaders on a given issue should correlate with our degree of power. He adds, It would be unjustified to denounce Zohran for not taking steps to abolish capitalism given that neither he nor we have the institutional mechanisms, popular mandate, or organized force to do so. Blanc assures his readers that criticism of leftist Democrats is important. However, the left is too weak to allow for exposures of political charlatans and, above all, the building of a mass independent movement of the working class for socialism. Therefore, workers, young people and students must engage in low-intensity criticism while unquestioningly supporting Mamdanis administration and the left wing of the political establishment more broadly. This central argument of Blancs article, repeated ad nauseum, is an apology for the most naked forms of political adaptation. Mamdani, he claims, is constrained by the reality of the political system. The task of genuine socialists, however, is to fight to mobilize the working class against this political system. In the article, Blanc focuses on criticizing opposition to Mamdanis decision to retain billionaire heiress Jessica Tisch as New York City Police Commissioner, a key demand of the capitalist elite. Tisch has played a central role in establishing the New York Police Departments (NYPD) pervasive surveillance apparatus, overseen the city-wide violent crackdown on opponents of the Gaza genocide and facilitated the ICE Gestapos illegal detention of immigrants under the outgoing mayoral administration of Eric Adams. According to Blanc, Whether we like it or not, firing Tisch at this moment risks sinking Zohrans new administration in a losing battle before hes even taken officeand before hes cemented popular goodwill by delivering tangible improvements in their daily lives. He adds, Leftists should dial back the intensity of our criticisms of Zohrans reappointment decision and avoid misleading betrayal claims. Blanc admits that Tisch is a mouthpiece for racist and reactionary policing. But his argument is that firing her would prompt a police (and potential capital) strike to force Zohran to rehire her and jeopardize Mamdanis administration. In other words, the capitalist class and its shock troops are too powerful. They will oppose measures against them, and therefore such measures must not be taken. This is not a political strategy for building socialism but for stifling the development of an independent movement of workers against capitalism. If all the power lies with the billionaires and their police, then the job of socialists is to organize workers against this powernot to rationalize it, as Blanc does so easily. That Mamdani has capitulated at the first sign of confrontation with the ruling class shows what his administration will do when faced with far greater pressures from Wall Street. In an attempt to provide cover for the overt prostration before the demands of the ruling class, Blanc seeks to foist blame on the workers. The main push for Mamdani to keep Tisch as police commissioner came from billionaires and establishment politicians, he said. But, according to Blanc, public support for police and concerns about crime facilitated these elite efforts and constrained Zohrans room for maneuver. Mamdani, who ran as a democratic socialist, won the New York City mayoral election with well over 1 million votes, the highest number of votes in a New York City mayoral election in over 50 years. Workers and young people who voted for him were motivated by opposition to war, genocide, inequality, exploitation and poverty. In New York City and countless cities and towns across the US, millions of people marched in the No Kings protests to oppose the Trump administrations assault on democratic rights. According to Blanc, however, the supposed public support for reactionary policies requires that Mamdani maintain the status quo. Having outright rejected the role of the working class as an independent political force, Blanc insists that The fate of all our bottom-up movements and organizations is tied to this administration. What should workers and young people do to oppose capitalism dragging humanity into the pits of barbarism? Blanc declares, Our [DSAs] electoral reach has rocketed far past our on-the-ground organized power. The way to help Zohran overcome establishment and billionaire opposition will mostly be organize bigger and deeper rather than criticize harder. In short, Blancs message is: Stop demanding change! Get back to door knocking for the Democrats! As is the case with most Jacobin articles, more significant than what is said is what is not said. While Blanc goes on at length explaining why Mamdani cannot be held accountable for aligning with the NYPD and Wall Street, he says virtually nothing about what Mamdani plans to do in office. The incoming administrations affordability agenda is not clearly defined by Blanc or for that matter anyone. Mamdanis policies, as the World Socialist Web Site has noted, amount to modest rent freezes and pilot programs for vouchersmeasures that do not touch the power of the corporate elite and, in any case, Mamdani is systematically repudiating them. Most significantly, Blancs article makes no reference whatsoever to Mamdanis meeting with Donald Trump at the White House nor to Mamdanis public declaration of a partnership with the fascist would-be Fuhrer overseeing mass immigration raids, political repression and war crimes abroad. Blancs entire argument is that criticism must be determined by what is realistically possible within existing power relations. Yet Mamdanis meeting with Trump was an initiative taken voluntarily by the mayor-elect, who requested the rendezvous in order to make crystal clear the incoming administrations reliability to the ruling class. Blanc avoids the issue entirely because acknowledging it would shatter the central fiction he seeks to maintain: that the DSA represents an oppositional force constrained by circumstances, rather than a faction of the political establishment actively integrating itself into the machinery of bourgeois rule. Jacobin, the DSA and the pseudo-left more broadly speak fundamentally for privileged sections of the upper middle class. These forces work consciously to block workers and youth from drawing the necessary political conclusions from an analysis of present-day political, social and economic developments, sowing political confusion, disorientation and, ultimately, demoralization. This social layer opposes the development of an independent movement of the working class in opposition to capitalist barbarism, the critical factor in the fight for socialism. Everything outside of the capitalist Democratic Party, its pseudo-left political appendages and the pro-corporate trade union bureaucracy is deemed not feasible or desirable. What is lacking in the political landscape is not mass opposition to conditions that exist in the US and internationally but, rather, a political program and perspective to guide and organize the struggles of the working class against austerity, exploitation, war, assaults on democratic rights and the development of dictatorship. The raising of workers political and social consciousness through education in the history and politics of socialism, the exposure of political charlatans and scoundrels, and the building of a revolutionary socialist vanguard party of the working class to lead the developing mass struggles to expropriate the oligarchs and seize power are the central tasks of socialists. In the WSWSs announcement of the launching of Socialism AI on December 12, the WSWS Editorial Board wrote: Workers and youth confront a sprawling apparatus of misinformation, historical falsification and ideological diversion. They face a media whose function is not to inform but to conceal the class roots of war, inequality and political reaction. They contend with capitalist governments that have lost all legitimacy, parties that represent only rival factions of an embattled ruling class, and union bureaucracies that openly police the working class on behalf of the corporations and the state. They must see through the fraudulent claims of pseudo-left political charlatans that capitalism can be reformed and made to serve the working class. The statement emphasizes that the role of the socialist movement, now aided by the powerful tool of Socialism AI, is to help workers cut through the lies of capitalist ideology, understand the causes of the crisis, and act consciously within it. It will illuminate the essential strategic lessons of past struggles and clarify their bearing on present tasks. Above all, it will help establish a new and dynamic relationship between the revolutionary heritage of Marxism and the living movement of the working class. This is precisely what Jacobin and the DSA work to preempt by laboring to channel workers and young people back into the stranglehold of the Democratic Party, the 200-year-old political party of Wall Street and war. 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: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain MIAMI Florida's surgeon general wants to do away with all state vaccine mandates. But the first step in his plan targets four specific vaccines. Earlier this month, the Department of Health had a meeting during which officials unveiled a proposal to drop the requirement for the chickenpox; the Hepatitis B; the Haemophilus influenzae type b, or Hib; and the Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. Unlike many of the state's other required vaccines, the Health Department can drop those four requirements without needing legislative approval. If the department continues on its current path, the four vaccines could be out of the state's requirements by the Spring. But what do they do, and why have public health experts recommended them? Here's what to know. Chickenpox/Varicella The Varicella, or chickenpox, vaccine was added to the recommended schedule of childhood shots in 1996, making it one of the newer childhood vaccines. Dr. Ravi Jhaveri, the division head of pediatric infectious diseases at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, said that though there's a popular notion that chickenpox is a "rite of passage," kids can still develop severe complications from it. Sick children can get severe pneumonia, severe encephalitis or have their scabs become "super infected" with other bacteria, he said. He said people with chickenpox tend to be most contagious before their rash appears, so having the vaccine helps protect children who may be exposed before anyone realizes. Chickenpox, which is transmitted through the air, is more contagious than many other viruses. A high vaccination rate means the most vulnerable children are protected, Jhaveri said. Some children, like those who are immunocompromised or who are going through cancer treatment, can't get the vaccine. Instead, they rely on a high level of public immunity for protection. On a practical level, Jhaveri said getting kids vaccinated for chickenpox means fewer sick kids having to miss class and fewer parents having to miss work to take care of their ill children. Last year, there were 705 cases of chickenpox across Florida, according to data from the Florida Department of Health. Pinellas County had the most cases, with 175 infections. Hepatitis B During the news conference where Ladapo and Gov. Ron DeSantis announced their plan to end vaccine mandates in the state, DeSantis specifically questioned whether the Hepatitis B vaccine was necessary. "I think about something like a newborn baby, do they need that hepatitis shot?" DeSantis said in September. "What's the rationale for it? We know how you can get that, OK, so, a baby needs that?" Hepatitis B is primarily spread through bodily fluids like blood or semen. It can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her child. When it comes to Hepatitis B, Jhaveri said doctors and public health professionals tried to control the disease's spread by only targeting those with known risk and it didn't work. There were women who gave birth without prenatal care, and without knowing they were infected. Infection only came under control with the administration of vaccines to all infants, which was recommended officially in 1991. One 2010 study found that within 10 years of the universal Hepatitis B vaccination, cases among children aged 6-19 dropped by 68%. "This is an infection that is lifelong with no cure," Jhaveri said, noting it can lead to liver cancer and liver failure. "If you offered me the chance to protect my child from getting liver cancer, I would do it in a heartbeat." Hib and Pneumococcal conjugate Dr. Jeffrey Goldhagen, the chief of the Division of Community and Societal Pediatrics at University of Florida Jacksonville, said that Hib and pneumococcal infections can lead to meningitis, which can cause death or leave children with lasting brain injuries. In his early career as the head of a pediatric emergency department in Minneapolis, before the Hib vaccine was available, Goldhagen would see children die every year from the infections. Annually, doctors would have to perform hundreds if not thousands of spinal taps to check for meningitis among sick children, he said. "In many respects, I would say that two of the most important vaccines currently that we give children are those two vaccines," he said. The Hib vaccine was recommended for children starting in 1989 and the pneumococcal vaccine was recommended for children starting in 2001. In Florida, very few children contract Haemophilus Influenzae invasive disease, according to data from the Florida Department of Health. Over the past 10 years, there have been fewer than 375 cases among children aged 0 to 4 throughout the state. Goldhagen said it's impossible to convey how the prevalence of vaccines changed the practice of pediatric medicine, and changed childhood. When a child used to go to the doctor with a high fever, a pediatrician's first response was to rule out the vaccine preventable diseases. Now, doctors largely don't think of them, he said. Though, as vaccination rates drop, Goldhagen said pediatricians have to be skeptical of those illnesses again. And among parents, the fear of illnesses like polio, measles and other sicknesses were always present. "I understand parental rights, and parents have the right to make the decisions," Goldhagen said. "But those decisions are being influenced by political policies. So children are being used as political pawns." Key medical concepts ChickenpoxHepatitis BMeningitis 2025 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain For the millions of Americans who buy Affordable Care Act insurance, there's still time left to enroll for 2026. But premium increases and the expiration of enhanced tax subsidies have led to larger-than-expected costs. Concerned shoppers, wondering if there's anything they can do, are consulting insurance brokers or talking to representatives at ACA marketplace call centers. "We're hearing from people with complex medical conditions who don't think they can survive if they don't have access to medical care," said Audrey Morse Gasteier, executive director of the Massachusetts Health Connector, that state's insurance marketplace. And some are considering going outside the ACA to find more affordable options. But that requires caution. Congress looks increasingly unlikely to extend the enhanced subsidies before the year's end. Late Wednesday, the House passed a package of measures favored by conservatives that does not address the subsidies and is largely viewed as dead on arrival in the Senate. Earlier Wednesday, however, four GOP moderates joined with Democrats to sign a discharge petition to force a votelikely in Januaryon a three-year extension. The Senate and President Donald Trump would also have to approve the measure, but if extended the subsidies could be applied retroactively. Meanwhile, the deadline for choosing a health plan is quickly approaching. The official end of open enrollment is set for Jan. 15 for coverage starting Feb. 1. In most states, it's already too late to enroll for coverage starting Jan. 1. Here are five considerations in the decision-making process: 1. Short-Term Plans: 'You Have To Be Healthy' Some ACA shoppers might find themselves considering short-term insurance plans sold outside the government-run marketplacesor steered toward the plans by insurance brokers. Be wary. Short-term plans are just that: insurance originally designed as temporary coverage for situations like changing jobs or attending school. They can look a lot like traditional coverage, with deductibles, copayments, and participating networks of hospitals and doctors. Still, they are not ACA-compliant plans and are not available on the official ACA marketplaces. They are often less expensive than ACA plans. But they cover less. For example, unlike ACA plans, they can impose annual and lifetime caps on benefits. The vast majority do not cover maternity care. Some might not cover prescription drugs. Short-term plans require applicants to complete a medical questionnaire, and insurers can exclude coverage or cancel a policy retroactively for those with preexisting medical conditions. Also, depending on the terms of the particular plan, a person who develops a medical condition during the coverage period might not be accepted for renewal. In addition, short-term plans are not required to cover care on the ACA's checklist of essential benefits, such as preventive care, hospitalization, or emergency services. The shortcomings of the plans, which critics say are sometimes marketed in misleading ways, have led Democrats to label them "junk insurance." The Trump administration argues they're suitable for some people and has sought to make them more widely available. "We recommend it when it makes sense," said Joshua Brooker, a Pennsylvania insurance broker. "But if you're going to enroll in short-term coverage, you need to know which boxes are unchecked." "They're not for everyone. You have to be healthy," said Ronnell Nolan, the president and CEO of Health Agents of America, a trade group. And they're available in only 36 states, according to KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News. Some states, such as California, prohibit them. Others set tight restrictions. 2. Beware of Coverage That's Not Comprehensive There are other types of health coverage offered by sales brokers or other organizations. One kind, called an indemnity plan, is meant to supplement a traditional health insurance plan by paying toward deductibles or copayments. Those plans do not have to follow ACA coverage rules, either. Generally, they pay a fixed dollar amountsay a few hundred dollars a daytoward a hospital stay or a smaller amount for a doctor's office visit. Typically those payments fall short of the full costs and the policyholder pays the rest. They generally also require consumers to fill out medical forms stating any preexisting conditions. Another type, a faith-based sharing plan, pools money from members to cover their medical bills. The plans are not required to keep any specific amount of financial reserves and members are not guaranteed that the plans will pay their health expenses, according to the Commonwealth Fund, a foundation that supports health care research and improvements to the health system. Sharing plans expanded beyond faith communities after the ACA was adopted. Like short-term plans, they cost less than ACA plans but also don't have to follow ACA rules. They are not considered insurance, and some have been accused of fraud by state regulators. "Yes, it is cheaper, and yes, it does work for some people," Nolan said. "But you need to understand what that plan does. It would be my last resort." 3. Consider a 'Bronze' or 'Catastrophic' Plan, But Be Aware of Deductibles For those wanting to stay with ACA plans, the lowest premiums are generally in the categories labeled "catastrophic" or "bronze." Jessica Altman, executive director of California's ACA exchange, said her state has noticed an uptick in enrollments in bronze-level plans. They have lower premiums but high annual deductiblesthe amount a customer must spend before most coverage kicks in. Deductibles for bronze plans average nearly $7,500 nationally, according to KFF. Another option, new for 2026, is expanded eligibility for catastrophic plans, which used to be limited to people younger than age 30. As the name suggests, they're intended for people who want health insurance just in case they suffer a catastrophic health condition, such as cancer or injuries from a car accident, and the plans can have deductibles as high as the ACA's annual limit on out-of-pocket spending$10,600 for an individual or $21,200 for a family. But now people losing subsidies because of the expiration of the enhanced tax credits can also qualify for the plans. However, they may not be available in every region. Lauren Jenkins, a broker in Oklahoma, said some of her clients earning less than $25,000 this year had qualified for very low-cost or free plans with the enhanced subsidies. Next year, though, their costs may rise to $100 or more per month for a "silver"-level plan, a step up from bronze. So she is showing them bronze plans to bring down the monthly cost. "But they might have a $6,000, $7,000, or $10,000 deductible they now have to pay," Jenkins said. "For people only making $25,000 a year, that would be detrimental." Both bronze and catastrophic plans are eligible to be linked with health savings accounts, which can be used to save money tax-free for medical expenses. They are more popular with higher-income households. 4. Another Plan May Have Lower Premiums It can pay to shop around. Some people may be able to find a lower premium by shifting to a different plan, even one offered by the same insurer. There are also different levels of coverage, from bronze to "platinum," where premiums also vary. Brooker said that in some locations "gold"-level plans are less expensive than silver, even though that seems counterintuitive. Also, some people who run their own businesses but have only one employee might qualify for a group plan rather than an individual policy. Sometimes those can be less expensive. Not every state allows this, Nolan said. But, for example, Nolan said, she has a client whose only employee is his wife, so she's going to see whether they can get a group plan at lower rates. "That might work out for them," she said. ACA rates for small group plans (fewer than 50 employees) vary regionally and are not always less expensive than individual coverage, Brooker said. "It's pretty all over the board as to where the rates are better," he said. 5. Other Rules of the Road Insurance experts encourage people not to wait until the last minute to at least take preliminary steps. Shoppers can go onto the official federal or state marketplace website and fill out or update an application with required income and other information necessary to determine what the 2026 plan year holds for them. For instance, even without congressional intervention, subsidies will not go away entirely. They will be smaller, though, and there is an upper income limita cutoff for households earning more than four times the poverty level, which comes to $62,600 for an individual and $84,600 for a couple for 2026. When shopping, consumers should make sure they land on an official ACA website, because there are look-alikes that may not offer ACA-compliant plans. Healthcare.gov is the official federal site. From there, people can find websites serving the 20 states, along with the District of Columbia, that run their own ACA exchanges. The government sites can also direct consumers to licensed brokers and other counselors who can help with an application. And a reminder: Consumers also need to pay their first month's premium for coverage to take effect. Police in Samata Nagar have booked eight people, and arrested four, for allegedly cheating dozens of people after promising them well-paying foreign jobs. The victims, around 190 in all, arrived in Mumbai under the impression that they would be flying to Moscow, Russia, where they would be working in various sectors, including construction. Some of them realised they had been duped only after reaching the airport, having paid up to Rs 5 lakh each to the fraudsters. The police said they froze Rs 10 lakh from the bank accounts of the accused, seized Rs 70,000 in cash, and returned 118 passports to their owners. Some victims came to the police station after realising they had been duped. We registered an FIR and arrested four individuals, Senior Inspector Jaywant Shinde told Mumbai Mirror. Victims who spoke to Mumbai Mirror said the accused approached them with promises of well-paying jobs. We suspect they got our contact details from social media. They told me I would get a construction job in Moscow that I would get Rs 1 lakh per month, Vinod Gupta said. Gupta said he was sufficiently intrigued to rope in two of his friends. The three of us paid Rs 80,000 each. They sent us for medical tests and took our passports, he said. The three friends came to Mumbai on November 30 and checked into a hotel in Kandivali. To our shock, their [the accuseds] office in Thakur Complex was shut, and they stopped answering our calls. Thats when we realised we had been cheated, Gupta said. Gupta added that Santosh Yadav alias Deviraj, one of the accused, later came to the hotel. Deviraj and others came and we had a heated argument. Their answers were unsatisfactory, so we approached the police, he said. Umesh Pal, 22, said he discovered the fraud only after reaching the airport. I was looking for a well-paying job and lost Rs 70,000. Like others, they gained my trust and took my passport. On December 5, I reached the airport only to find that the flight didnt exist. I then learned that an FIR had been registered, and the police returned my passport, he said. According to police, the accused had been operating a make-shift office for the past two months. During interrogation, they admitted to running an office named Starman Power at Kanakia Park, Thakur Complex. We have arrested four people so far, frozen Rs 10 lakh from their bank accounts and seized Rs 70,000 in cash. We suspect one of the accused was involved in a similar offence earlier. Further investigation is underway, the police said. The police have booked the eight accused under Section 318 (cheating) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. NEED TO KNOW Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, as well as their attorneys, will meet at a settlement conference in February On Dec. 9, Judge Lewis J. Liman, who is overseeing the case at U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, directed the parties to meet with a magistrate judge for settlement talks The judge's order is standard for civil cases litigated in federal court, and the two could still head to trial in May if they don't reach an agreement Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni as well as their attorneys will meet at a settlement conference on Wednesday, Feb. 11, to potentially resolve the ongoing legal dispute stemming from It Ends With Us, according to a Dec. 18 scheduling order from United States Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave. The settlement conference, which is standard for civil cases being litigated in federal court, will take place in New York City at U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Advertisement Advertisement The order notes that "the presence of each party (the client), in addition to counsel, is essential to the settlement process." Almost 100 percent of the time the parties are required to personally attend the settlement conference, legal expert Gregory Doll, a partner at Amir Doll and Eley in Los Angeles who is not involved in this case, tells PEOPLE. Rarely are they excused and seldom allowed to appear by phone," explains Doll. "The magistrate judge wants them there for maximum force and effect. According to the document, Cave also directed Lively's side to make a settlement demand to Baldoni by Jan. 28. His side must then respond by Feb. 4. Advertisement Advertisement The document also outlined what will happen when the parties meet next year. At the settlement conference, counsel for each side should expect to make a succinct presentation (1015 minutes) in the presence of all parties and the Court summarizing the issues counsel believes are important for the client(s).. of the opposing party to consider for purposes of formulating a settlement position, according to Caves order. After the initial statements, counsel may respond and have their clients speak if they choose, the order continues. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic; Araya Doheny/Variety via Getty Blake Lively; Justin Baldoni Blake Lively; Justin Baldoni Following the presentations, the Court will meet separately with each side in private. In these meetings, the parties and their counsel must be prepared to inform the Court of the amount of attorneys fees and expenses incurred to date, and an estimate of the remaining costs (including attorneys fees) of litigating the case to judgment, including appeal," according to the order. Advertisement Advertisement District Judge Lewis J. Liman, who is overseeing the case between Lively and Baldoni, previously directed them to discuss a settlement with the magistrate judge. He gave the order during a Dec. 9 motion hearing. Lively, 38, and Baldoni, 41, whose trial date is set for May 18, 2026, could still battle it out in court if they dont settle. But Doll previously told PEOPLE that the threat of a trial often spurs parties to come to an agreement, even if they were previously averse to it. Many settlements occur right before trial. There is something about the looming trial date and reality of what is about to happen that makes parties reconsider their previous views about settlement, he said. He added that the magistrate judge will be hammering the message that there is so much risk in going to trial. Advertisement Advertisement In December 2024, Lively sued her It Ends With Us director and costar Baldoni and several of his associates, alleging sexual harassment and a retaliation campaign after she spoke up about it. She is seeking $160 million in damages. Baldoni, who has denied any wrongdoing, countersued in January for $400 million, but that suit was dismissed by Liman in June. Though more than 90 percent of civil cases do reach a settlement before a trial, Doll notes that this one between Lively and Baldoni may be an outlier: "This is a deeply personal dispute." Read the original article on People The seaside, Branford house of Broadway's Robert G. Bartner has hit the market with a price tag of $3.95 million. Bartner is a famous Broadway producer who has won Tony Awards for "Best Revival of a Play" in 2016 with Arthur Miller's "A View from the Bridge," as well as the same award in 2008 for "Boeing-Boeing." In 2011, Bartner won the Laurence Olivier Award for his work on "Legally Blonde The Musical" on the West End. He is also known for his work with "The Present," "King Charles III," "Uncle Vanya" and "This is Our Youth." The seaside, Branford house of Broadway's Robert G. Bartner has hit the market with a price tag of $3.95 million. (Courtesy of Dan DeMayo) Bartner purchased the Branford property in 2012 for $735,000, according to town property records. The house that currently stands was custom built in 2015 and features sweeping views of Long Island Sound, the property listing notes. Advertisement Advertisement Sitting on .23 acres of land, the 4,030 square-foot house has four bedrooms and five full bathrooms. The seaside, Branford house of Broadway's Robert G. Bartner has hit the market with a price tag of $3.95 million. (Courtesy of Dan DeMayo) The house has shoreline access and a beach at low tide via a stonework deck and metal staircase. The property also features a "highly engineered seawall and wave-return system," which is considered "rarely seen," according to the listing. Inside, the house boasts its own indoor lap pool, wine cellar, an elevator, a two-car garage, high-impact windows and automatic hurricane shutters. There is also a whole-house generator system, EV hookup and solar panels. The seaside, Branford house of Broadway's Robert G. Bartner has hit the market with a price tag of $3.95 million. (Courtesy of Dan DeMayo) Real estate tracking firm Redfin listed median prices for the house's 06405 ZIP code at $450,000 in November. Redfin notes average houses in the area often sell for around list price and are off the market in about 50 days, while the hottest houses sell for 4% above the asking price and are only on the market for about 25 days. Advertisement Advertisement The house at 21 Sagamore Cove Road is listed by William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty. Listing agent Michelle Wininger can be reached at 860-707-5389 and agent Mark McElrath can be reached at 860-951-4918. This article originally published at Connecticut home of Tony Award winner listed for $3.95 million. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Comedian Dave Chappelle took aim at the legacy of assassinated-conservative activist Charlie Kirk in a surprise comedy special filmed in Washington, D.C. Chappelle and Netflix surprised everyone on Friday when they dropped Dave Chappelle: Unstoppable. In the special, Chappelle unsurprisingly did not shy away from controversial subjects, defending his performance at the controversial The Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia and also taking aim at whites who are remembering Kirk in the same vein as other assassinated-activists like Martin Luther King Jr. Advertisement Advertisement Ill tell you what I dont believe, and the whites were quick to say this: Charlie Kirk was this generations Martin Luther King, Chappelle said after discussing Jimmy Kimmels temporary suspension by ABC over comments about Kirk following his September death. Thats a reach. They both got murdered in a terrible fashion. They both got shot in the neck, but thats about where those similarities ended. Chappelle dismissed Kirk as a motherf**king internet personality and nothing like MLK. Charlie Kirk is a motherf**king internet personality by design. Fundamentally, he cant function like Dr. King. Internet n***as are negative because they have to be, he said. No one will engage them unless they say shit unless that makes them upset. Can you image if Dr. King was behaving like Charlie Kirk? Smash that like button and subscribe! Follow me for more content like that! I believe all Black people should be free, change my mind! Say it louder Dave Chappelle Charlie Kirk wasn't no damn MLK#TheUnstoppable pic.twitter.com/6NE96EuLQc I Plead the GIF (@lilwaltjr305) December 20, 2025 Kirk was shot and killed during an event on a college campus in Utah on September 10. Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with his murder. Advertisement Advertisement Chappelle also pushed back against those who criticized him for performing in Saudi Arabia, including Bill Maher. Chappelle said he feels no guilt about participating in the festival, dismissing those bringing up murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi by blasting Israel. They said, Well, Saudi Arabia killed a journalist and rest in peace Jamal Khashoggi, he said. Im sorry that he got murdered in such a heinous fashion. And also, look bro, Israels killed 240 journalists in the last three months so I didnt know yall were still counting. The post Dave Chappelle Mocks Charlie Kirk Supporters Comparing Him to MLK: Motherf**king Internet Personality first appeared on Mediaite. Elon Musk has frequently expressed his disapproval of his father Errol Musk, who had connections with South Africas apartheid regime and has faced numerous criminal accusations. Elon Musk has characterized his father as someone who will plan evil in an interview with Rolling Stone a few years ago. "He was such a terrible human being, you have no idea. My dad will have a carefully thought-out plan of evil. He will plan evil. Almost every crime you can possibly think of, he has done. Almost every evil thing you could possibly think of, he has done. It's so terrible, you can't believe it," Elon Musk said about his father. Advertisement Advertisement In 1998, Errol admitted to killing three people, asserting it was in self-defense. He was subsequently arrested, but the charges were later dropped. Also Read: Elon Musks Father Says America Will Collapse if White Population Becomes Minority: You Want To See the US Go Down? Elon Musk has repeatedly stated that his fathers words cannot be trusted, further emphasizing the tense relationship between the two. "In my experience, there is nothing you can do. "Nothing, nothing. I wish. I've tried everything. I tried threats, rewards, intellectual arguments, emotional arguments, everything to try to change my father for the better, and he, no way, it just got worse," Elon Musk added. Advertisement Advertisement The strained relationship between Elon Musk and his father, Errol, has been a topic of public interest for years. The recent revelations about Errols controversial life provide a deeper understanding of the familial dynamics and the potential impact it may have on Elon Musk, one of the most influential tech entrepreneurs of our time. Read Next Musk's Father Says He Warned His Son Against Going Into Politics He's Not a Very Good Politician At All' Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Advertisement Advertisement Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga: This article Elon Musk Called His Father 'Evil': 'He Was Such a Terrible Human Being' originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. On Instagram, Henry shared a photo of herself wearing a blue dress and posing for the camera, accompanied by a lengthy caption detailing her experience in the hospital as she continues her road to recovery. After suffering a scary fall that went viral, Miss Jamaica Dr. Gabrielle Henry is giving well-wishers a brief update on her health following a fall during the preliminary evening gown portion of the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand on November 19. On Instagram, Henry shared a photo of herself wearing a blue dress and posing for the camera, accompanied by a lengthy caption detailing her experience in the hospital as she continues her road to recovery. Advertisement Advertisement In a time that calls for stillness and healing, I am grateful to be in Jamaica and to feel the familiar strength of Jamaica surrounding me , she began. I extend sincere thanks to my family, friends, for every prayer lifted on my behalf from my fellow Jamaicans, and to those who stood with me through moments seen and unseen. Henry also offered her gratitude to the medical teams in Thailand and all of those who were by her side, including the Miss Universe Jamaica Team and the Jamaica Tourist Board. As Miss Jamaica Universe 2025 and an ophthalmology resident, I am reminded that moments of darkness do not diminish vision; they refine it, Henry wrote. While I continue to recover, I am inspired by the way Jamaicans rise, undeterred, after adversity. In time, more will be shared. For now, my focus remains healing, purpose, and service. The Miss Universe Organization released a statement on Dec. 8 revealing the nature of Henrys injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Henry suffered a serious fall through an opening on the stage while performing her walk during the preliminary competition on November 19, 2025, resulting in an intracranial hemorrhage with loss of consciousness, a fracture, facial lacerations and other significant injuries, the press release read. Henry was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after her fall and remained hospitalized for days as her sister and others provided updates on her condition. Melissa Sapini, Miss Haiti, called out the Miss Universe organizations gross misconduct, claiming that the organization tried to initially place the blame on Dr. Henry in a conversation with contestants shortly after the incident occurred. The MUO denied blaming Henry for her injuries and asked for those speculating about Henry or any improper actions by the organization to seek inner peace. More must-reads: SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Two north Louisiana natives are living their dreams of dancing professionally with the iconic Radio City Rockettes as the group celebrates 100 years of entertaining audiences in the Big Apple. Known for masterfully designed costumes, precision dancing, high kicks, red lips, and French twists, the Radio City Rockettes are also athletes who represent a sisterhood that has touched generations. Courtney Crain and Audrey McDonald forged a friendship at Missy Crain Dance Studios in Ruston, where they first met. Courtney was pretty much raised in the studio owned and managed by her mother, and Audrey took classes there starting at the age of two. Advertisement Advertisement Audrey said the two of them reuniting in the Rockettes dance line is a dream come true, and something I will cherish forever. More Entertainment News Dance is as competitive as any sport, and landing a spot in the Radio City Rockettes lineup is no easy feat, but its one that both ladies said they had been quietly eyeing throughout their lives. I saw the Christmas spectacular for the first time when I was four years old. My family took a trip out to New York City, Courtney said. It was a big deal. And I remember when the curtain opened, I looked at my parents. I was like, this is what I want to do. Advertisement Advertisement After four auditions, Courtney Crain finally got the call of a lifetime and five seasons as a Rockette to date, which inspired Audrey to set out to make her own dance dreams a reality. Were from such small towns in Louisiana. So the Rockettes seem like such a big dream, and I just remember, Ive looked at her {Courtney} my whole life, and she booked the job, and I was like This is possible, Audrey said. Inspired by her lifelong friend, Audrey auditioned three times before the best day of her life, when she was tapped to join the nationally recognized group. The 100th year of the Rockettes is also Audreys first season. The 100-year celebration of the Rockettes is present throughout Manhattan, with displays in storefronts, tributes at the Empire State Building, and a street naming to mark the centennial throughout the year. Advertisement Advertisement The Christmas season is the Rockettes time to shine. Precision and uniformity dont just happen; the ladies have a rigorous practice schedule that started in September. They practice for six weeks, six hours per day, six days a week, leading up to the opening night of the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. We perform in nine numbers in the show. My favorite personally is the Parade of the Wooden Soldiers. Its been in the show since 1933, so every Rockette has performed that number, Courtney said. She said the wooden soldier performance is a reminder that they are carrying on a legacy every time they perform. Over the years, dances have been added or slightly modified to keep the show fresh. Mine is Dance of the Frost Fairies, Audrey said. The movement is beautiful, the costumes are beautiful, were little snowflakes, and each costume is unique. Advertisement Advertisement No conversation about the Rockettes is complete without talking about the look, which includes costumes. Over the years, some of the most iconic names in fashion have designed costumes for the Rockettes, including Vicente Minelli, father of Liza Minelli, and Bob Mackie, the designer behind some of Chers most beloved costumes. Courtney describes being a Rockette as being an athlete dripping in diamonds. She said her first costume fitting was what made the entire experience feel real. Both ladies agree that whether they are donning a newer design or a vintage piece like the wooden soldier look, it feels like no other. If youre traveling to New York City, be on the lookout for all of the Rockettes 100th-year celebration displays, or grab tickets; they are performing through January 5, 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. Its been over 40 years since we first heard Santa Claus tell Ralphie Parker, Youll shoot your eye out, kid, in A Christmas Story. The beloved 1983 Christmas film follows 9-year-old Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) and his desperate attempts to procure a Red Ryder Range 200-shot BB gun as his Christmas present, along with his many misadventures and those of his family. Many members of the original cast reprised their roles in the 2022 sequel film, A Christmas Story Christmas, which takes place 33 years after the original film. Advertisement Advertisement "Ralphie's not really where he wants to be in his life but he's still a dreamer, so he still has these fantasies of what his life could be, where it could go. And then he's called home with some real responsibilities and burdens," Billingsley told PEOPLE ahead of the movies release. In the 2022 sequel film, Erinn Hayes plays Ralphies wife, Sandy, but in real life, Billingsley has been married to his wife, Elizabeth Buffy Bains, since 2015. Heres everything to know about the real-life partners of the A Christmas Story cast. 01 of 08 Peter Billingsley and Elizabeth Bains Cassidy Sparrow/Getty Peter Billingsley and Elizabeth Bains attend Del Frisco's grand opening on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Peter Billingsley and Elizabeth Bains attend Del Frisco's grand opening on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Peter Billingsley, who starred as Ralphie Parker in the Christmas classic, married his wife Elizabeth Buffy Bains in 2015. The couple have kept their private life on the quiet side over the years. Advertisement Advertisement When the actor revisited his iconic role in the 2022 sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas, he told PEOPLE ahead of the release that his kids were part of why he felt ready to make the sequel. "A lot of people have said, 'Why now?' for this movie, and definitely being a father in real life [paralleled] being able to channel being a father in A Christmas Story Christmas," he said. At the time, he and Bains had been married for nearly seven years and were raising a 5-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son. 02 of 08 Melinda Dillon Ron Galella Collection via Getty Melinda Dillon attends the memorial service for Hal Ashby on December 27, 1988 in Hollywood, California. Melinda Dillon attends the memorial service for Hal Ashby on December 27, 1988 in Hollywood, California. Melinda Dillon starred as the Parker family matriarch in the 1983 film. Advertisement Advertisement In real life, she was married to actor Richard Libertini from 1963 until their 1978 divorce. Together, they shared a son. Dillon died on Jan. 9, 2023, at age 83. 03 of 08 Darren McGavin and Kathie Brown Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Kathie Browne and Darren McGavin attend an event in circa 1988. Kathie Browne and Darren McGavin attend an event in circa 1988. Darren McGavin, who portrayed the no-nonsense Mr.Parker/The Old Man, was married twice. He was married to Melanie York from March 1944 until their divorce in 1969. The couple welcomed four children together. Also in 1969, he married Kathie Brown, per the Los Angeles Times. The actress was known for roles on television series such as Star Trek and Perry Mason. In 1972, they co-founded Taurean Films, a production company. McGavin died on Feb. 25, 2006, at age 83. Advertisement Advertisement 04 of 08 Jean Shepherd and Leigh Brown Michael Tighe/Donaldson Collection/Getty Jean Shepherd poses for a photo shoot in 1975 in New York. Jean Shepherd poses for a photo shoot in 1975 in New York. Jean Shepherd served as the narrator (adult Ralphie) of A Christmas Story. He married at least three times before his death in 1999. First to Joan Laverne Warner, with whom he welcomed two children, second to Emmy-winning actress Lois Nettleton, and lastly to his agent and producer Leigh Brown. Shepherd and Brown were married for 21 years before her death in 1998. 05 of 08 R.D. Robb and Amy Israel J. Vespa/WireImage Amy Israel of Paramount (right) and RD Robb during The 78th Annual Academy Awards - Executive Arrivals at Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, United States. Amy Israel of Paramount (right) and RD Robb during The 78th Annual Academy Awards - Executive Arrivals at Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, United States. R.D. Robb plays Ralphies best friend Schwartz in A Christmas Story. He is married to Amy Israel, with whom he shares two children. Israel is the president of television at Peter Chernins North Road Company, where she has overseen scripted television development and production since joining the company in October 2023, per Variety. Advertisement Advertisement 06 of 08 Zack Ward and Jennifer McMahan Joshua Blanchard/Getty Jennifer McMahan-Ward and Zack Ward attend "Bennett's War" Los Angeles Premiere at Warner Bros. Studios on August 13, 2019 in Burbank, California. Jennifer McMahan-Ward and Zack Ward attend "Bennett's War" Los Angeles Premiere at Warner Bros. Studios on August 13, 2019 in Burbank, California. Zack Ward portrays bully Scut Farkus in the film. He has been married to his wife Jennifer McMahan since Aug. 18, 2018. McMahan, who is from Seattle, has worked as an actress and producer and first met Ward in 2013. McMahan celebrated 11 years together with a sweet post dedicated to Ward on Instagram, writing: Happy Day 17 my sweet husband. 11 years ago today I met you and its been an amazing ride ever since! Thank you for loving me for who I am and making me a better person. Everyday is an adventure and I cant wait to see what we do next! 07 of 08 Yano Anaya Bobby Bank/Getty Yano Anaya attends Chiller Theatre Expo Halloween 2023 at Parsippany Hilton on October 27, 2023 in Parsippany, New Jersey. Yano Anaya attends Chiller Theatre Expo Halloween 2023 at Parsippany Hilton on October 27, 2023 in Parsippany, New Jersey. Yano Anaya portrayed Scut Farkus buddy and fellow bully Grover Dill in A Christmas Story. Advertisement Advertisement He was previously married to actress Selena Anduze, whose recurring television credits include roles in Swamp Thing, WandaVision, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The former couple met in 2006 at A Christmas Story convention, where they were introduced by Anduzes best friend. Anaya and Anduze married in Puerto Rico two years later, but have since divorced. 08 of 08 Tedde Moore and Donald Shebib Darren Eagles/Getty Tedde Moore and Donald Shebib, and Suzanna Shebib attend the "Nightalk" Premiere during the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival at Scotiabank Theatre on September 16, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. Tedde Moore and Donald Shebib, and Suzanna Shebib attend the "Nightalk" Premiere during the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival at Scotiabank Theatre on September 16, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. Tedde Moore played Miss Shields, Ralphies teacher, in the movie. In real life, she was in a relationship with Canadian director Donald Shebib for over 40 years. The couple shared daughter Suzanna Shebib and son Noah 40 Shebib, Drakes longtime producer. She was pregnant with Noah while filming A Christmas Story. Moore is also mother to daughters Zoe Carter and Chaunce Drury. Read the original article on People Deep in the mountains, shrouded by forests and mists, the Mullaperiyar is like a creature from legend. Few have seen the massive dam erected 130 years ago, plugging one of South Indias most important rivers. But nearly everyone who lives within 100 miles knows its power. To the east, in the farmlands of Tamil Nadu, the Mullaperiyar is sacred. Via a tunnel beneath the surrounding mountains, the dam provides drinking water to millions, and its reservoir irrigates hundreds of thousands of acres of orchards and paddy fields. When rains fail, and the red soil turns cracked and dusty under a blistering sun, the dam ensures that water still flows through pipes and fills up wells. Mullaperiyar is my life, said Salethu Innaci, 66, a farmer in the village of T Sindalacherry. If someone said die for Mullaperiyar, I would. But to the west, in remote communities tucked among Keralas hills, the Mullaperiyar is a monster. When heavy monsoon rains fill the reservoir, forcing excess water to be released into the Periyar river, these areas often flood. Locals live in terror that the century-old structure built without advanced engineering techniques or concrete may one day collapse, unleashing a torrent that obliterates thousands of homes. When the water rises, we cant sleep, said Nabeesa Moosa, 65, a labourer who lives on the banks of the Periyar below the dam. We hold our lives in our hands. The dispute between the two states has raged for decades. But extreme weather, supercharged by climate change, is raising the stakes like never before. Of the worlds roughly 62,000 large dams, most were built at least 50 years ago, before engineers understood the effects of human-caused warming. Surging rainfall means these dams may face extremes they were not designed to handle. In few cases is this conundrum more stark than the fight over the Mullaperiyar. Officials in Kerala, where the dam is located and at least 75,000 people could be affected if it gave way, say the structure must be dismantled and replaced. In the past seven years, India has seen three dams break amid floods. Yet leaders in Tamil Nadu, which controls the dam under a colonial-era arrangement, say it is stable and should be allowed to hold even more water. They point to studies suggesting that rising temperatures will increase the chance of drought, making reservoirs more essential. The dispute illustrates the thorny choices posed by aging infrastructure in a warming world. What one community sees as its salvation, another fears will be its doom. Someday it will break and kill all of us In Keralas Idukki district, where the Mullaperiyar stands, June marks the start of a season of fear. Whenever the downpours pound her homes thin roof, Moussa imagines the water level rising in the Mullaperiyar reservoir and feels her chest contract. For the rest of the six-month rainy season, all we think about is Mullaperiyar, said PN Sebastian, a cardamom farmer in Vandiperiyar who is active in protests over dam safety. Someday it will break and kill all of us, that is the feeling. The anxiety Sebastian and his neighbours feel is exacerbated by the secrecy that surrounds the dam. The Mullaperiyar sits in the middle of Periyar National Park, a vast wilderness inhabited by elephants, tigers and snakes. A Kerala police checkpoint blocks the only road to the facility, and boat access is forbidden. Sharp mountain peaks surround it like a fortress, shielding the dam from all public view. Much of what residents know about the Mullaperiyar comes from legal filings and secondhand reports. The main dam is 155 feet high and made of lime-surkhi mortar a precursor of modern cement that dates back to ancient Rome. Behind it lies a 10-square-mile reservoir containing enough water to fill 177,000 Olympic swimming pools. To the side of the dam, a spillway comprises 13 shutters that can be opened and closed to control the water level. At the opposite end of the lake, a mile-long tunnel carries water under the mountains, towards Tamil Nadu. This unusual setup stems from an agreement inked before either state existed. In the 1880s, the maharaja of what is now Kerala granted the British a 999-year lease to build the Mullaperiyar and divert all its reservoir water. The Tamil Nadu government inherited the lease after independence and maintains complete control over the dams operation. Many dams show signs of wear and tear after 50 to 100 years, said James Wilson, a veteran dam safety expert and chief adviser to the Kerala government on interstate water issues. Though routine maintenance can keep dams safe for centuries, some older structures, particularly those built before the development of modern engineering standards, may develop weaknesses that cause them to give way under the weight of too much water. Older dams are also less able to withstand earthquakes, which pose a risk in Kerala, he said. The Kerala government has said it will cover the cost of constructing a new dam and pledged that Tamil Nadu would receive just as much water from a replacement structure. In the meantime, it wants to limit how much water can be stored to avoid putting excess pressure on the dam. Maintaining a lower storage level also creates more cushion during heavy downpours, Wilson said, reducing the need to open the spillways when the river is already swollen by rain. Disasters like the 2018 flood, which killed more than 400 people across Kerala, are expected to become even more severe in a changing climate, research suggests. Kerala officials say the Mullaperiyar is not equipped to handle even todays downpours. A study from the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, commissioned by the Kerala government, found that an exceptional rainstorm would cause water to flow into the reservoir more than twice as fast as it could be released. In a worst-case scenario, the study found, water might gush over the top of the dam for as long as 14 hours - potentially causing the entire structure to fail. My simple question to any person of logic is: Would you live in a 130-year-old house if the status of the roof and the walls is questionable? said Sekhar Kuriakose, Keralas chief climate resilience officer and head of the state disaster management authority. We cant just tell people, this is what the science says Just over the border in Tamil Nadu, inside an impressive green building surrounded by trees, there stands a giant gilded statue of a mustachioed British man. This is John Pennycuick, the engineer who oversaw the construction of the Mullaperiyar. I personally look at him as equivalent to God, said Madhusudhanan Ramachandran, an irrigation inspector who oversees the memorial. Without him, none of us in this region would be here. According to documents filed with the Supreme Court, which is considering ongoing complaints about the issue, the dam supports the livelihoods of some 680,000 agricultural workers - most of them small-scale farmers growing rice, pulses, vegetables and fruits. Many of these foods, Tamils are quick to note, are eventually purchased by people in Kerala. Access to this dependable water source can be transformational for small farmers, said 95-year-old Chinna Yosanai, who still cultivates five acres in the village of Pudhukottai. Since he began farming more than seven decades ago, Yosanai has seen the monsoon rains become less and less reliable. Many of his neighbours abandoned their land and sought jobs in the cities. He watched his own mango orchard wither and die. But when a newly built canal brought Mullaperiyar water to the region in 2018, it made my life abundant, Yosanai said. Yet Yosanais newfound abundance feels tenuous his region receives water only in years of surplus, after villages with older rights have their fill. He supports raising the Mullaperiyars reservoir levels so it can provide more water. The storage level of the Mullaperiyar has been the subject of legal battles going back nearly 50 years. In 2014, Indias Supreme Court ruled that the dam was safe enough to maintain 142 feet of water 10 feet below its original design capacity. The state was also ordered to implement guidelines mandating lower storage levels during the rainy season. Tamil Nadu and Indias Central Water Commission maintain that the Mullaperiyar is structurally sound. And a top engineer with the Tamil Nadu water resources department, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to discuss the subject, said the state had made several upgrades to bolster the dam, including adding a reinforced concrete crown to the back of the main structure, installing cables to anchor the dam to the bedrock and adding drainage systems to relieve pressure from water seeping through the masonry. When the flood comes, give me a camp cot and I will stay out on the dam, the engineer said. I am that sure it will not harm people. Wilson, the adviser to the Kerala government, said the heightened emotions around the dam make it impossible for the two states to find a compromise. We cannot just tell people, This is what the science says, he said. It will take an outside force another Supreme Court ruling, an independent safety assessment, perhaps even a weather catastrophe to break the stalemate. On a misty day in November, a group of officials from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Indias Central Water Commission gathered on a dock at the edge of the Mullaperiyar reservoir. No outside onlookers were permitted to watch as the officials clambered into boats and set sail for the dams interior wall. The visit like all inspections by the court-appointed supervisory committee was closed to journalists and the public. The following day, National Dam Safety Authority chairman Anil Jain reassured reporters that the Mullaperiyar was in good shape. He added that the two states had agreed to coordinate on some maintenance measures. But it was not enough to quell the anxieties that raged beyond the Mullaperiyars mountain barricades. Out of the forest, in Keralas riverside villages and on Tamil Nadus farms, residents continued to wait and worry caught between the unseen dam and the unpredictable sky. NEED TO KNOW Miss Jamaica, Dr. Gabrielle Henry, fell off the stage during the preliminary evening gown round at Miss Universe in Thailand on Wednesday, Nov. 19 She spoke out about the incident via Instagram on Friday, Dec. 19 "I am grateful to be in Jamaica and to feel the familiar strength of Jamaica surrounding me ," she wrote Miss Jamaica Dr. Gabrielle Henry is letting her fans know that she will speak out in her own time. Nearly two weeks after the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) and Henry's family issued a press release detailing the injuries that the pageant queen sustained after she fell off the stage during the preliminary evening gown round at Miss Universe in Thailand on Wednesday, Nov. 19, Henry is speaking out on her own accord. Advertisement Advertisement Next to photos of herself wearing a shiny blue dress on Instagram, Henry said that "In a time that calls for stillness and healing, I am grateful to be in Jamaica and to feel the familiar strength of Jamaica surrounding me ." The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Miss Universe Jamaica/Instagram Dr. Gabrielle Henry Dr. Gabrielle Henry "I extend sincere thanks to my family, friends, for every prayer lifted on my behalf from my fellow Jamaicans, and to those who stood with me through moments seen and unseen," she continued. Henry expressed her gratitude to her medical teams and to all who cared for her, including the Miss Universe Jamaica team and the Jamaica Tourist Board. Advertisement Advertisement "As Miss Jamaica Universe 2025 and an ophthalmology resident, I am reminded that moments of darkness do not diminish vision; they refine it," wrote Henry. "While I continue to recover, I am inspired by the way Jamaicans rise, undeterred, after adversity. In time, more will be shared. For now, my focus remains healing, purpose, and service. Light persists. ," she continued. The post received support from many, including Miss Universe Fatima Bosch, who commented, "Love you queen, youre so strong I admire you so much ." PEOPLE reached out to Henry's representative for comment. Advertisement Advertisement A statement shared on Monday, Dec. 8, by the MUO and Henry's family said that she "suffered a serious fall through an opening on the stage while performing her walk during the preliminary competition on November 19, 2025, resulting in an intracranial hemorrhage with loss of consciousness, a fracture, facial lacerations and other significant injuries." Mohan Raj/Getty Miss Universe Jamaica showcases her evening gown during the 74th Miss Universe Preliminary competition on November 19, 2025 Miss Universe Jamaica showcases her evening gown during the 74th Miss Universe Preliminary competition on November 19, 2025 "She was immediately admitted to intensive care in Bangkok, where she remained in critical condition under constant neurological monitoring, and continues to require 24-hour specialist supervision," the release added. PEOPLE previously reported that Henrys sister, Dr. Phylicia Henry-Samuels, and their mother, Maureen Henry, were by her side in Thailand during her recovery. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. On Monday, Dec. 1, the official Miss Universe Jamaica account shared a message ahead of the new month, celebrating a "season of recovery, reflection and renewed resilience." Read the original article on People When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Getty Images Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, and on Friday, December 19, the Norwegian royal issued an update on her chronic lung disease. As she revealed to Norwegian media outlet NRK, the future queen of Norway will need to undergo a lung transplant due to the recent developments in her health. Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease in which scar tissue builds up in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe and get enough oxygen. Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who is married to the country's future king, Crown Prince Haakon, told NRK that she's spent the past six months "taking new tests, and then we have had a number of conversations this fall about lung transplantation." Advertisement Advertisement "That is what is new, that we are starting to approach that step," she shared in the broadcaster's Year with the Royal Family program at their home in Skaugum. "It has beenIt has been a long process to get there for me mentally," the crown princess admitted. Crown Princess Mette-Marit is seen visiting a nursing home with daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra on December 17. | Credit: Getty Images Mette-Marit, who shares daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra and son Prince Sverre Magnus with Crown Prince Haakon, revealed that her pulmonary fibrosis has progressed "faster" than anticipated. "I have always hoped that we would be able to keep the disease in check with medication, and the development has actually been quite slow up until now. Whereas now the development has been faster than both I and the doctors had hoped for," the future queen shared. Crown Prince Haakon also noted the difference in his wife's health, sharing, "We have seen that she is struggling more to breathe." Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Crown Prince Haakon, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus are pictured on December 17. | Credit: Getty Images The crown princess said that it was tough both for herself and her family to make the decision to move forward, sharing, "Just thinking about the idea that this is the next step is quite demanding, because it is an operation with a lot of risk associated with it." The timeline for her operation has not been set, but in a palace statement, Professor Are Martin Holm of Oslo University Hospital's pulmonary unit said, "We are approaching the time when a lung transplant must be performed, and we are making the necessary preparations so that it will be possible when that time comes." Denise Ivonne Jarvis Gongora, the late social media influencer known as Mary Magdalene, was captured on video being escorted back to her hotel in Thailand in the days before she fell to her death. In new video footage that is said to have been recorded on November 20, Gongora who was known for her extreme plastic surgeries can be seen being placed into a large vegetable cart and transported by police to the hotel she was staying at. As the National Enquirer previously reported, Gongora died after falling from the ninth-floor balcony of a rented condo in Phuket, Thailand, on December 9, according to Phuket News. The video recorded in November shows multiple men lifting the 33-year-old into the cart before it cuts to her being walked directly into her hotel room. Advertisement Advertisement At one point, she seems to call the people helping her amazing, and in another part of the video, she says, Im actually drunk, before collapsing onto the bed. The Mexican-Canadian citizen was known for the many procedures she had done all over her body, including multiple breast implants, butt lifts and implants, nose jobs and fillers and injections many of which were performed illegally around the world. She spent an estimated $500,000 on all of the work, per The Sun. Following her death, her brother who goes by Ivan on social media shared a GoFundMe to raise funds to return Gongoras ashes home from Thailand. Advertisement Advertisement Right now our family is grieving in ways we never imagined while also doing everything we can to bring her home and honor her properly, the GoFundMe stated. Everything happened suddenly, far from home, and the logistics alone are painful, and urgent. We need help bringing our angel home and arranging her ascent to the heavens. The page said that the funds will also go towards travel expenses for the family to handle Gongoras final arrangements, shipping her personal belongings back home, urns and memorial necklaces and other costs. We have felt an overwhelming wave of love and support from all of you, and it means more than we can ever express, the GoFundMe read. Denise carried a beautiful burning light and It drew people in without her ever needing to try. Read More From National Enquirer This story Surgery-Addicted Star Seen Drunk, Being Carried Into Thailand Hotel Before Falling to Her Death first appeared on National Enquirer. Add National Enquirer as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Does Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in music for 2025 include Tom Jones, Jelly Roll, Willie Nelson, Pink, Jimmy Page, Johnny Mathis, Mick Jagger, or anyone? No, that's not true: There is no such TIME Magazine list. While musicians are sometimes included in the publication's annual list of most influential people, there is no specific list of 100 musicians. Facebook pages administered from Vietnam posted false claims listing dozens of musical artists as 2025 honorees, but none of them are on the real list. One example of the claim appeared in a post (archived here) shared by the Classic Crooners Facebook page on October 13, 2025. It featured a fake Time cover image with a caption that read: CONGRATULATIONS: Music Legend Sir Tom Jones Has Been Named One of TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in Music for 2025 -- But the Story Behind the Milestone Might Surprise You... This is what the post looked like on Facebook at the time of writing: Source: Facebook screenshot taken on Fri Dec 19 18:04:35 2025 UTC Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of Facebook Time magazine is well-known for publishing an annual "TIME 100 Most Influential People" list, which included two musicians -- Ed Sheeran and Hozier -- in the 2025 list (archived here). Advertisement Advertisement But there is no such thing as a "TIME 100 Most Influential People In Music" list as claimed in these posts. A Google search (archived here) for "Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in Music" found a long list of these fake claims, all with the same roots in Vietnam. While Google's Gemini "AI Overview" noted that there is no such thing as the "People in Music" list, it was fooled into repeating the fake claims as fact. Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of Google.com A Facebook search (archived here) found dozens of posts making near-identical claims about a long list of musicians, including: Jelly Roll Tom Jones Ringo Starr Paul McCartney Stevie Wonder Jimmy Page Pink Johnny Mathis Smokey Robinson Mick Jagger Steve Perry Rhonda Vincent Linda Ronstadt Yungblud James Hetfield Teddy Swims Kid Rock Dave Mustaine Celine Dion Joe Jonas Luke Bryan Neil Young Randy Owen Josh Groban Brian May Joan Baez Don Reid Leann Rimes Eric Clapton Miranda Lambert Shania Twain Brandon Lake Barbra Streisand Abba Andrea Bocelli Elton John Donny Osmond Steven Tyler Stevie Nicks Image source: Lead Stories video scroll of Facebook search These fake posts are all tied to an AI-assisted network based in Vietnam. The post's caption also includes a link to an article (archived here) making the claim on a website that includes an acknowledgement on its "terms and services" page (archived here) that it is based in Vietnam. Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of Facebook The Vietnam connection is significant, since fact-checkers, including Lead Stories, have identified a major source of AI-generated false stories coming from a single operation based in that Southeast Asian country. We have published at least 70 fact-check articles focused on this content. Lead Stories has published a primer -- or a prebunk -- on how to identify these kinds of fake posts exported from Vietnam. It's titled "Prebunk: Beware Of Fake Fan Pages Spreading False Stories About Your Favorite Celebrities -- How To Spot 'Viet Spam'" If Emily in Paris gets renewed for season 6, the hit Netflix show will likely be relocating to a new location again but where is Emily heading next? The fifth season, which premiered on Thursday, December 18, took Emily (Lily Collins) and her friends from Rome, back to Paris and then to a stop in Venice in the finale. In the last scene, however, viewers checked in with Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), who was working on a boat that was about to dock in Greece. Gabriel wrote a letter to Emily about his feelings for her before inviting her for a visit. This doesn't seem to be a coincidence, with Emily in Paris likely expanding to different places in a potential new season. Advertisement Advertisement "Assuming we're picked up, I want to go back to Paris. But I want to go other places too," director and executive producer Andrew Fleming exclusively told Us Weekly. "It's teased where we might end up going at the end of season 5 there's a possibility we'll be going there, to Greece." Which Emily in Paris Stars Are and Arent Returning for Season 5 After Shocking Cast Exits? Samuel Arnold, who plays Julian, was excited at the prospect of a relocation, telling Us, "I am not going to lie. If they want to shoot in Greece, whatever the reason I say, 'Let's go.' I've never been to Greece." Emily in Paris centers around Emily Cooper after her move to France from the U.S. for a new job. Emily subsequently ended up caught in a love triangle between Gabriel and Alfie (Lucien Laviscount). Netflix Emily then moved on with Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini) but by the end of season 4, Gabriel realized that he wanted to fight for her. Emily, however, had made the move to Rome and appeared to start her future with Marcello. Advertisement Advertisement Before season 5 premiered on Thursday, creator Darren Star shut down concerns that Emily in Paris would now be Emily in Rome. Which Iconic TV Love Triangles Should Have Just Been a Throuple? Doctor Odyssey and More She didnt change her Instagram handle to Emily in Rome," he told Deadline in September 2024. "She is working in Rome sometimes. Sylvies company has an office in Rome. Emilys getting that on its feet. I dont necessarily think that it means a permanent in my mind, its definitely not a permanent move to Rome. Were not leaving Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron, however, told Variety in October 2024 that he planned to "fight hard" so Emily in Paris didn't relocate to Italy for season 5. Advertisement Advertisement For his part, Star teased to TVLine in September 2024 that the move to Italy expands the universe of the show. "Just at the point that Emily has gotten comfortable in Paris, shes sort of thrown into another country where shes going to experience some cultural differences, he said. And also, I think theres cultural differences to explore and we do between French and Italians. Its a whole new world, but it doesnt mean that were leaving Paris." Emily in Paris is currently streaming on Netflix. The General Hospital spoilers for Monday, December 22, focus on Ava and Nina reconciling. In other news, Jason and Danny come bearing gifts while Emma confides in Trina. Key Takeaways Ava and Nina put their feud aside and reconcile at a crucial moment. Curtis updates Jordan as Portia keeps her whereabouts a secret. Jason and Danny are in the gift-giving mood. Emma opens up to Trina as Tracy offers Cody timely romantic advice. Next on General Hospital Friends Forever Right now, Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) needs all the friends she can get. In the name of protecting her daughter, Willow (Katelyn MacMullen), she will throw almost anybody under the bus. She just did it to Portia (Brook Kerr). And she ALMOST did it to Lulu (Alexa Havins) and Charlotte (Bluesy Burke). Advertisement Advertisement But she stopped herself. However, she got what she wanted the evidence of Willow driving near Drews the night of the shooting was thrown out of the trial. What will Jack (Chris McKenna) do once he finds out that Nina didnt follow through with their deal? Meanwhile, Nina has been angry with Ava (Maura West) for 1) Blabbing the details of Ninas betrayal to Portia. And 2) Attempting to engineer a peace summit between her and Portia. Both women felt ambushed and walked out on the gallery owner. Perhaps Nina realizes how flawed she is and that she shouldnt judge others for their actions. Needless to say, look for Ava and Nina to reconcile, which is great because Nina probably needs to vent. Perplexed in Port Charles Curtis (Donnell Turner) must be confused as to why Portia (Brook Kerr) refused to go home with him and Trina (Tabyana Ali) from the hospital. The father and daughter wanted to care for her. However, upon reflection, Portia realized that she didnt feel it was the right thing to do. Currently, Curtis believes a friend is supporting her in her hotel room. Portia is, once again, lying. Shes in Isaiahs cabin, where he can take care of her. And hell do this whether its his baby or not. Portia looked mighty cozy with Isaiah (Sawandi Wilson), as if she knew she made the correct choice. This leaves Curtis to update Jordan (Tanisha Harper), probably wondering whats going on with his soon-to-be ex. Giving Gifts, Offering Advice, and Lending an Ear It is the holidays in PC. Its the time of giving. Expect Jason (Steve Burton) and Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) to come bearing gifts. Lets hope that, despite Drews behavior and viciousness, Danny and Scout (Cosette Abinante) will be able to see each other. Forget the gifts, this brother and sister need to see each other. Will it happen? Advertisement Advertisement And while Emma (Braedyn Bruner) confides in Trina (Tabyana Ali), look for Tracy (Jane Elliot) to counsel Cody (Josh Kelly). In the Friday preview for next week, Tracy tells Cody, Take a chance. Go for it. She may be telling him to take a risk and ask Molly (Kristen Vaganos) out. Those two just cant seem to get on the same page at the same time. But if they talked to each other, they would realize that they are indeed on the same page. If they would just talk, everything would simply fade away, including his moment with Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) at the Brown Dog. So if this is what Cody discusses with Tracy, should he try again with Molly? READ THIS: Heres what else to expect on GH the week of December 22-26. NEXT: Find out what happened during the Friday, December 19 episode of GH. MORE: GHs Valentin is back James Patrick Stuart Explains Why It Works Now. READ NEXT This story was originally reported on Soap Hub on December 19, 2025. Add Soap Hub as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The White Lotus took off after its premiere in 2021, and its hard to believe were already approaching a fourth season! Ive got my suitcase packed, and Im ready to check in to the resort for another installment of drama, lies, and scandals. Mike White has already revealed that the upcoming season will be set in France, and he was location scouting in Paris and the French Riviera. Though this will be no Parisian romcom, but something much more sinister. The White Lotus guests are bound to bring tension, and probably murder, to the city of love. The HBO series is known for boasting the most impressive ensemble casts every season, which has fans wondering who will star in the upcoming 4th installment. Who will be checking into The White Lotus hotel this time? Heres what a hilarious fan on TikTok has to say about his dream cast and storyline. Buckle up, cause its a lot. Keep reading for the most incredible The White Lotus season 4 fan cast ever. Sandra Oh And Her Clueless Boy-Toy, Jacob Elordi Okay, so heres the tea. In this The White Lotus season 4 fan cast, Sandra Oh has a sugar baby portrayed by Jacob Elordi, whos just here for a good time and free Souffle au Chocolat. (Of course, everythings paid for by his ultra-wealthy sugar mama.) Advertisement Advertisement Honestly, after watching our boy Jacob portray the kind-hearted but naive monster in Guillermo Del Toros Frankenstein, I need more innocent roles like this from him to use as a palette cleanser from his ruthless portrayal of Nate Jacobs on Euphoria. Im low-key loving the idea of him being Sandra Ohs shirtless and clueless accessory as the two of them waltz around la Ville Lumiere. Someone contact Mike White, stat. Bowen Yang and Michael Uri Are In a Heated Throuple Gone Wrong bowen yang on SNL | SHOWTIME Next up, we have Bowen Yang (Wicked) and Michael Urie (Ugly Betty), who are in a long-term relationship that involves a scorned third, who was not invited to France. You know how every season, someone dies a tragic death (mostly resulting in them floating lifeless in the pool?) Well, this time, its their scorned lover, played by none other than Jose David Sierra, best known as drag queen Jessica Wild. Bryan Cranston And Judith Light Are In The Worst Marriage Of All Time bryan cranston the white lotus season 4 fan cast | SHOWTIME I would literally give Mike White all my money just to see Judith Light check into the White Lotus Hotel. In this storyline, good ol Walter White (I mean, uh, Cranston) and Judith are celebrating their 50th anniversary, but its not exactly a romantic celebration. (Judith cant stand her man.) Theyre visiting with their adult children, Meg Stalter (Too Much) and Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story). According to the TikToker, Paulsons whole storyline is that she doesnt like the breakfast theyre serving at the hotel. Why does this check out as an actual storyline on the show? Advertisement Advertisement Megs older brother, played by Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense), will also be joining the family on vacation. Though he has a much more uplifting role on the show, the TikToker says his whole thing is being awesome. Lindsay Lohan, Elizabeth Olsen, and Keke Palmer Are Undercover Spies keke palmer | SHOWTIME Our fave millennials are secretly serving as undercover agents to scope out the resort for any funny business. The trio is also all single and seems like they could be this seasons version of Jaclyn, Kate, and Laurie from The White Lotus season 3. As we all know from previous seasons, theyre gonna find a whole lot of trouble along the way. Patti LuPone is The Diva Manager patti lupone the white lotus season 4 | SHOWTIME Who better to play the manager of The White Lotus than the Broadway diva herself, Miss Patti LuPone? Honestly, pure genius casting. According to the TikTok user, LuPone will obviously sing at some point in this hypothetical season and will spend her time berating her protege, portrayed by Kate Berlant. While its been confirmed that The White Lotus season 4 will be set in Paris, the TikToker thinks it would be even better if it were set in Palm Springs, California, at Trixie Motel, owned by the popular drag queen Trixie Mattel. It might take some convincing to pull that one off, but fingers crossed we head out West for season 5. Subscribe to our Weekend Watch email newsletter for updates on The White Lotus season 4. THE RUNDOWN Season 5 of Emily in Paris dropped on Netflix in December On January 5, Netflix announced the series will continue for a sixth season. The show is popular with Netflix executives. Emily Cooper has been enjoying Rome, but fans are still hoping for one more season of Emily in Paris. Season 5 dropped on Netflix on December 18. So, when will season 6? Heres everything we know so far about a possible season 6 for Emily in Paris. Warning: Spoilers ahead. Will there be a season 6 of Emily in Paris? On January 5, Netflix announced Emily in Paris has been renewed for a sixth season. Lily Collins appeared in the video where she remotely blew out a 6 candle on a croissant. Home sweet home EMILY IN PARIS is returning for Season 6! the streaming company wrote. Advertisement Advertisement The announcement timeline is similar to when season 5 was confirmed: a month after season 4 was released. Netflixs Ted Sarandos seems to be a huge fan of the show as well, telling Variety that his wife, Nicole, loves it too. In an interview with Deadline in December 2025, showrunner Darren Star said theres more of Emilys story he is curious about. Season 5 ends with Miss Cooper receiving an invite to Greece from her on-again-off-again French boyfriend, Gabriel. I hope Emily says yes to that invitation, Starr mused. [Emily and Gabriel] reconnected in a nice way. [As for] where that takes them, I think it definitely hints at the idea that theyll stay in each others lives. What would Emily in Paris season 6 be about? Season 5 ends with Emily and her Italian boyfriend Marcello splitting up as he decides to stay in Italy to lead his familys company. Emily returns to Paris, where she and Gabriel reconnect after Sylvie sends a sly text telling the French chef his gal is back in townand single. He then invites her to Greece, setting the stage for yet another reunion between the pair. If season 6 gets greenlit, it might take place in yet another country and could potentially lead to Gabriel and Emily finally making things work. Advertisement Advertisement There is also the tension between Mindy and Alfie, despite her engagement to Nico. Plus, for fans who prefer business intrigue over love triangles, Agence Grateau is now being run by Sylvie and Princess Jane, after the latter made a hefty investment in the company. Who would be cast in Emily in Paris season 6? Lily Collins would likely return as the titular character, as well as series regulars Ashley Park as Mindy, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu as Sylvie, Lucas Bravo as Gabriel, Samuel Arnold as Julian, Bruno Gouery as Luc, Lucien Laviscount as Alfie, and Paul Forman as Nicolas. Minnie Driver as Princess Jane would likely return as well. Its unclear if Eugenio Franceschini as Marcello will have a regular place in the show now, but the series does love to keep Emilys past boyfriends around. This post will be updated. You Might Also Like We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Coffee is complicated. It's delicious, it brings you back to life in the morning, and it's apparently even good for you. But it's also built on a colonial, exploitative past, where coffee-producing countries on the equator from Kenya to Honduras have been the supply chain base fueling our caffeine addictions. And fuel them they did; thousands of tons of coffee, through back-breaking and tedious work, were transported from mountain-perched trees in countries like Colombia to the best roasters in the country, each harvest. Thankfully, we've made significant progress since the early days of the coffee trade, and now, you could argue, conditions are more equitable than ever for the farm workers, all the way to the roasters and cafes in your hometown the last ones in the supply chain to touch those beautiful little beans. Inequality and moral distortions of the past will always haunt us. Still, we seem to be moving forward, and there are so many outstanding black entrepreneurs and business owners today who are thriving and deserving of recognition, especially given the context and history of coffee as a commodity. Here, I aim to highlight some of the best ones where you're almost guaranteed to find epic beans, with beautiful stories behind them, too. After working in the coffee industry for over 13 years, you can trust my opinion in assembling this list of wonderful black-owned roasteries! Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 14 Chains' Chocolate Milkshakes, Ranked Worst To Best 1. Kann Coffee Chef Gregory and his partner spooning ground coffee out of a bowl - Gregory Gourdet What do you get when you combine the culinary expertise of an award-winning restaurateur with Haitian-Kenyan heritage, culminating in a progressive specialty coffee project? Kann Coffee. Chef Gregory Gourdet is making waves in the industry with his nascent roasting project, and if it's anything like the dishes served at the restaurant of the same name Kann in Portland coffee fans are in for a treat. Some readers may recognize Chef Gregory from his television appearances on "Top Chef", "Iron Chef America", and the sketch comedy show "Portlandia" (as himself). His restaurant opened its doors in 2022 and was a slam-dunk, immediate success, and notoriously hard to get a table at. The restaurant's fast upward trajectory led it to national recognition winning a James Beard Award and provided a natural platform for Chef Gregory to enter the coffee landscape with steadfast momentum and name recognition to boot. What sets Kann Coffee apart from many roasters is that it inherently understands terroir and flavors something that is foundational to a chef's existence and success. The roastery is not only an extension of the eatery, but also a deliberately cross-pollinated project. The most exciting new coffee launched by Kann is its new blend, Melanj Espesyal (Haitian Creole for "special mixture"), which meshes bright Kenyan acidity with a rounded sweetness characteristic of Haitian coffees. Much like a chef blending ingredients to create something special, the same ethos is applied here to create new and exciting flavours. 2. Kahawa 1893 Two bags of Kahawa 1893 coffee - Amazon Many businesses have been the beneficiaries of Shark Tank appearances and investments, but a Black-owned, woman-run coffee company focusing on African coffees is one that stands out. "Kahawa" means "coffee" in Swahili, which is an homage to founder Margaret Nyamumbo's Kenyan heritage, where her grandfather started his coffee farm years ago. But what Margaret took away from a life in the coffee world is that, despite how much progress has been made, it's still a world filled with inequality. She claims that women provide 90% of the labor, which comprises coffee cherry picking, transport to mills, and more hands-on labor sorting the cherries before they are de-pulped and further processed. It's very tedious and hard work, and yet the majority of farmers are men, with few women owning land. So it's nice to know that in 2023, a $350,000 injection of cash from the sharks will help to change the narrative, one harvest at a time. Advertisement Advertisement African coffees are very special in that the roots of this beloved brown beverage can be traced back to Ethiopia, where the Bunna coffee tradition continues to this day. Then, to the south, neighbouring Kenya has an equally rich and fascinating coffee culture, as well as the nations of Rwanda and Congo, from which Kahawa sources its beans. From decaf to whole bean to pods, Kahawa has an impressive curation of African coffees that you need to try. 3. BLK & Bold Pernell & Rod owners sitting at a table taste-testing coffee - BLK & Bold In a crowded coffee market, consumers have numerous choices about whom they want to support. Much like the food industry, you have big corporate players all the way down to humble entrepreneurs. "Big Coffee" like Starbucks could almost be considered fast food, helping many Americans to get over the hump when they need a pick-me-up. But with the rise of specialty coffee in the last 15 years, many are looking to support the little guys who have compelling brand stories. BLK & Bold proves that robust business growth and deep social impact are not mutually exclusive. Co-founders Pernell Cezar and Rod Johnson established the brand on sound principles of aiding the next generation. Their pledge is simple: 5% of gross profits are dedicated to nonprofit organizations across the US, focused on empowering underprivileged youth. To make them even more lovable, BLK & Bold is Fair Trade and B-Corp certified! But what about the coffee? BLK & Bold aims to please a spectrum of java sippers who can expect roast degrees ranging from light to dark, encompassing blends and single-origin lots. Additionally, they offer cold brew fans cases of canned cold brew coffee, and for the purists, they even have plain black coffee without all the sweeteners and milks that you often find in canned coffee. Whatever your pleasure, buying BLK & Bold translates into investing in the future of American communities cheers to that! 4. Boon Boona Coffee Five bags of Boon Boona coffee - Boon Boona Coffee Boon Boona Coffee is a coffee project founded by Efram Fesaha, based in Seattle. This Pacific Northwest city has a rich coffee culture and serves as a bridge to Efram's East African roots and coffee traditions. The project started when Efrem went on a formative trip to his family's homeland of Eritrea. The name "Boon Boona" is derived from the words for "coffee" in both Eritrean and Ethiopian languages, reflecting the brand's deep commitment to its East African origins. To support this, the roastery sources all its beans from Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Kenya, where fruit-forward and complex flavors delight coffee enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike. Advertisement Advertisement It is especially pleasing to see coffee from Burundi on the Boon Boona menu, as this East African nation is among the poorest countries in the world, so any spotlight shone on its wonderful coffee-growing culture is a treat. With tasting notes like stone fruit, cherry, vanilla, and nougat, the Akeza release from the northern region of Burundi will satisfy coffee fans looking for a fruity, yet not-too-acidic roast, while Ethiopian espresso and decaf options round out the Boon Boona curation. Beyond coffee, the company has a strong focus on local community building, supporting BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized individuals inclusively, whether through helping launch pop-ups or supporting local artists. You could say this Black-owned roastery is a real boon to the community! 5. Portrait Coffee Filter coffee being poured into an overflowing mug next to a cup of coffee creamer - Portrait Coffee Portrait is one of the more light-hearted and fun brands on our list here. It's an award-winning roastery that's dedicated to changing the narrative of specialty coffee by shining a light on the people behind the beans. To this end, its mission statement reads, "While coffee was first discovered by Africans, their faces have largely been forgotten, even as the drink became one of the most consumed beverages globally." While this could read as depressing, thankfully, new generations of coffee producers and roasters are raising awareness, one cup at a time and doing so with style and purpose. This Atlanta-based coffee company has its headquarters and roastery space in the West End of the city, which has a rich history of Black entrepreneurship and culture. Focusing on transparency and equity from seed to cup, Portrait aims to shine a light on the emerging classes of coffee farmers through initiatives like the Young Producer Program. But how is its coffee curation? When I say fun, I'm referencing the way Portrait packages its coffee, with collaborations from legendary rap duo Outkast on its recent "Stankonia" blend, which commemorates the group's 25th anniversary, to the hand-drawn cartoon labels reminiscent of hip natural wine brands. Fans of funky, fruit-coded brews will find coffee Nirvana in its Triple Double Colombian release, showing notes of strawberry, cherry, and lime thanks to an intense natural sun-kissed fermentation. With 13 other coffees to choose from, Portrait aims to please all palates. 6. Sip & Sonder Two women standing outside of the Sip & Sonder storefront - Sip & Sonder Sip & Sonder is an Inglewood, California-based, Black woman-owned roastery. Founded by friends Amanda-Jane Thomas and Shanita Nicholas in 2017, the business comprises a roastery space, coffee houses, and digital content spaces, too. The vision for Sip & Wonder is built on the principle that a cafe should be a supportive third space for freelancers, creatives, and entrepreneurs. In an interview with ESSENCE, "Shanita's goal was to provide the startup community access to business and networks while drinking coffee." This intentionality and focus on community-building are authentic and something that many roasters overlook, with too much emphasis placed on the coffee itself. Sip & Sonder is able to balance a well-curated coffee menu and an overall authentic and community-focused vibe. Advertisement Advertisement The branding is on point, with colourful label drawings on the copper-coloured coffee bags, showcasing a range of captivating blends. One such blend takes coffee from Mexico a historically overlooked origin, finally getting some love in the specialty world with beans from Ethiopia, called Native Mezcla. Its kismet blend features notes of milk chocolate, caramel, and toasted marshmallow (yum!), thanks to a mix of Colombian and Brazilian beans. Beyond the coffee, true fans will find tons of gift ideas with limited edition satin scarves, t-shirts, pins, coasters, and gift cards perfect for the holiday season. Sip & Sonder is a wonderful example of a mission-driven brand scaling without compromise, that just so happens to be powered by passionate African American entrepreneurs. 7. Red Bay Coffee Two men assessing coffee beans in a field - Red Bay Coffee The West Coast is synonymous with good coffee. Cities like Portland, Seattle, and San Francisco have been at the forefront of third-wave coffee for decades now. Continuing with this momentum, across the bridge in Oakland, we have Red Bay Coffee, a Black-owned and founded artisanal roasting project from artist/entrepreneur Keba Konte. Its philosophy, "Beautiful Coffee To The People," is built on equitable relations, inclusivity, and, crucially, transparency from the farm all the way to the Probat drum roaster turning those green beans brown. Red Bay Coffee is a certified B Corp, and after being in business for 11 years, continues to uphold the same values of paying a premium to coffee farmers. Keba claims that the company pays twice the current (commodity) market price to Red Bay's producer partners, in addition to working with woman-owned cooperatives on the ground. What's more, Red Bay seeks to hire and, by extension, empower people of color, the formerly incarcerated, women, and individuals with disabilities, who are often left out of the conversation in the specialty coffee realm. At the time of publishing, it has an impressive coffee menu curation consisting of 12 different roasts, from espresso to decaf, to half-caf, to blends and single-origin offerings. The company also publishes brew guides on its website, in case new home brewers need some guidance in doing those beautiful beans justice. 8. Dope Coffee Man in roastery space between palettes of packaged coffee - Dope Coffee In case you couldn't tell from the name, Dope Coffee has a hip-hop bend, fusing high-quality coffee with unapologetic swagger and creative energy. The company was founded by Michael Loyd in 2020, in Atlanta, focusing on East African coffee curation and a very fun approach to branding. Through channeling the deep and omnipresent hip-hop culture of Atlanta, Dope offers a refreshing perspective on what can at times be an overly serious specialty scene. What's more, to do this and have it come off authentically and actually be able to resonate with your customers is no easy feat. Dope Coffee, as a modern and hip specialty coffee company, aims to elevate Black culture while roasting up genuinely great brews. Advertisement Advertisement Fans of the expressive and fruit-forward coffees found in East Africa will be at home here, as Dope Coffee exclusively sources beans from this region. With a Tanzania peaberry (if you're unfamiliar, peaberry coffees are the rare occurrence of a single bean, as opposed to the typically twinned beans found inside 95% of coffee cherries), an 84-point-scoring Rwandan, two Ethiopians, and an espresso blend, Dope's menu will appeal to coffee nerds and casual sippers alike. Its commitment to quality is met with a dedication to ethical sourcing, ensuring transparency in Dope's supply chain, from farm to cup. This brand has a strong personality and lifestyle component that is hard to deny! 9. Three Keys Coffee Closeup of Three Keys Coffee bag label - Three Keys Coffee Jazz fans will love the Three Keys Coffee brand, hailing from Houston. It's a longstanding cliche to associate jazz playing inside a quaint cafe, but the two things seem to complement each other so well, something that founders Kenzel and Tio Fallen understand firsthand. As the story goes, Tio is a trumpet player; the brand name Three Keys is an homage to the three keys found on all trumpets. Jazz is infused into the brand's DNA not just through the name, but in the packaging, with labels reminiscent of old Blue Note and Impulse record sleeves. The project was launched in 2019 with the belief that coffee is indeed a multi-sensory experience, focusing on quality, community, and the environment. Tio is actually the company's lead roaster, leaning heavily on the science side of things when he logs each roast. For those who may not know the backend logistics of coffee roasting, it can actually become a very complex process with the tiniest details being obsessed over, like the speed at which the drum inside the roaster is spinning, to the ambient temperature inside the roastery space it can all affect how a bean takes on heat and, ultimately, flavor. One cool thing readers should note is that Three Keys offers single-serve pour-over packs, which means you can make coffee on the fold-out cardboard dripper inside, placed directly over your cup. With 14 coffees on its menu, Three Keys delivers on cool, jazzy aesthetics and roast variety. 10. Black Acres Roastery Closeup of espresso pouring into a Black Acres Roastery cup - Black Acres Roastery Located in the Station North district of Baltimore, you'll find the small-batch roaster Black Acres. The name and company are rooted in Black history and culture, with a nod to famous director Spike Lee's "40 Acres and a Mule" production company. Founder Travis Bell states it also references black acres in a literal sense, which were known as plots of land in the South meant for reparations. And per its website, Black Acres "strives to bring out the finest qualities in unique coffees from around the world," sourcing ethical beans and creating custom roast profiles that do them justice. This might sound like a dry mission statement, but it's actually a massive undertaking to do this and do it well. What's more, roasting naturally processed coffees from Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia, can prove to be exceedingly difficult, but Black Acres coaxes out notes of blackberry, cherry, pastry, and even citrus zest once locked inside those little beans. Advertisement Advertisement The roastery has a full curation that also includes more mellow and approachable blends, in addition to hawking brew gear for the home baristas out there looking to make a mean AeroPress. You can find its beans in cafes across many states outside of Maryland, from New York to Virginia, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. Of course, most will look to the online shop for easy access, and with free shipping on orders over $50.00 (in the US only), Black Acres is quite accessible as far as artisan, small-batch roasters go. 11. Chicago French Press Closeup of Chicago French Press coffee bag on a white background - Chicago French Press Out of all the brands here, spanning niche and under-the-radar local sensations, Chicago French Press may be the most recognizable and more mainstream of the bunch. With features in Forbes, Cosmopolitan, USA Today, and the Food Network, the secret is out! This is a Black woman-owned roastery with multiple locations in the Chicago area, founded in 2017. What sets them apart is that, unlike most traditional roasters who use gas-powered behemoths to caramelize the beans, CFP uses an electrical roaster. This choice positions the brand in an eco-conscious segment of the market, appealing to modern consumers who think hard about the downstream effects of their consumption. Beyond sustainability, what's in the bags matters too, and Chicago French Press has a very approachable and more affordable curation compared to the other roasters on our list. While I personally don't care for flavored coffee and prefer the flavors to be imparted by the coffee's terroir combined with the roaster's skill, I would never want to look down on anyone who likes pumpkin spice or salted caramel coffee. Dig a bit deeper, though, and you'll find some bangers like an AA Kenyan (these are actually increasingly rare on menus), as well as Tanzanian Peaberry, Rwandan, Burundi, and Ethiopian single-origin roasts. This is the kind of menu and coffee shop that I could take my mom to, and we're both going to leave happy; her with her salted caramel creme roast, and me with my juicy Kenyan brew. Win-win. Methodology Man sipping on a coffee - Andresr/Getty Images Coffee is such a special thing, and making this list was no easy task. As mentioned in the intro, I was fortunate to lean on 13 years of experience in the specialty coffee industry this helps me decode markers of quality that may go over the heads of casual sippers. Factors like transparency in sourcing, seasonality, and a considered range of roast levels mattered here. I also look for menus that offer multiple coffee origins, along with decaf and espresso options. Advertisement Advertisement Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Chowhound. New Years is absolutely NOT the time for feeling unlucky. Which is why you should join us in attempting to cram as many lucky foods (in addition to those 12 grapes) into our New Years as possible to guarantee better luck next year. Even if youre not superstitious, we think theres no harm in having a little fun with traditions that have been followed around the world for centuries. What, you couldnt use a little more health, happiness, and prosperity in the form of, say, dumplings and pretzels? Thats what we thought, us too! We collected our favorite recipes to go with each good luck food here, so you can have the fortunate feast of a lifetime this New Years. Were all for eating as many of these foods as possible, but if youd like to get more specific with what you usher into your year, weve got you. Looking for prosperity? As Southern tradition dictates, black-eyed peas, greens, and cornbread represent pennies, dollars, and gold, respectively, so eating them together on New Years will keep your purse full all year long. Dumplings are also an important part of traditions to welcome in prosperity from around the world, from Chinese (jiao zi) to Russian pelmeni. They take a bit of effort to make them and are the perfect activity for you and your family to work on together during the between-Christmas-and-New-Year's limbo. Looking for more protein with your prosperity? Try incorporating pork or lentils into your meal. Pigs are big and they root forward (rather than backward like chickens), whereas lentils expand a ton when cookedthey both represent abundance and progress in the New Year. Advertisement Advertisement Just looking for some good old-fashioned good fortune? Try the Spanish tradition of eating 12 good luck grapes at midnight on New Years Eveone for every month of the year. In Ireland, one tradition involves banging bread against a door frame to chase away bad luck, while another invites good luck in by sharing the baking bounty with friends, loved ones, and neighbors. We say give both a try! You could also nosh on round sweets like donuts, cookies, and cakes to bring your luck full circle. Now theres a tradition thats easy to get behind. Want even more New Year's Eve inspiration? Check out our favorite New Year's Eve appetizers, our best New Year's Eve desserts, and our top New Year's Eve drinks too. Grapes In Spain and Mexico, when the clock strikes midnight, people try to eat 12 grapes as quickly as possible because each grape will bring luck for the 12 months ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Try our 12 Grapes Cocktail, our Prosecco grapes (pictured here), our Sour Patch grapes, or our sangria grapes to make yours extra festive. PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE Black-Eyed Peas There are a variety of myths as to where the tradition of eating black-eyed peas comes from, but whichever you believe in, they all say the beans will bring good luck in the form of money in the New Year. As the saying goes, if you "eat poor on New Year's, [you'll] eat fat the rest of the year." Check out our guide on how to cook black-eyed peas, then try our black-eyed pea salad, our black-eyed pea bruschetta, or our New Year's black-eyed peas (pictured here) to bring prosperity into your home this NYE. PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON Donuts Many Germans start the new year by eating lucky "Berliner" donuts, usually filled with jam or a Baileys cream filling. Watch out, though: Old tradition suggests filling one or two with mustard, and whoever gets those will have a year of bad luck (and no lovely jam flavor!). Advertisement Advertisement If you're up for the challenge, our powdered donuts, our paczki (pictured here), our sufganiyot, or our Boston cream donuts are labors of love that are guaranteed to bring you luck in the New Year. Want something a little easier? Our pull-apart jelly donut is baked, not fried, and is perfect for sharing with loved ones. PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE Noodles Super-long noodles are thought to bring long life in the New Year, especially if you can make them without breaking them in half. Any noodle will do, as long as it's long, so break out the rice noodles, the Italian pasta, the ramen noodles... sky's the limit. Check out our Dan Dan noodles, our creamy steak fettuccine, our miso Bolognese, our dirty martini pasta, our ramen chicken noodle soup (featured here), or our pasta al limone for ideas, then get creative with your favorites. PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE Round Sweets Round desserts, like bundts, donuts, layer cakes, cookies, and more are all believed to bring a full circle of luck in the New Year. Advertisement Advertisement Try our chocolate bundt, our cranberry crinkle tart (pictured here), our mochi donuts, our citrus olive oil cake, or our caramel chocolate chip cookie tart to fill your life with continuous luck all year long. PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER Champagne Popping Champagne to usher in the New Year is a tradition dating back to the 1800s. It was a drink associated with wealth and nobility, so drinking it at midnight (and all night long) is a way to welcome prosperity into your own life for the upcoming year. You could just drink it straight, but we're big fans of a Champagne cocktail, like our cranberry mimosas, our French 75, our holiday punch, our Champagne margaritas, or our champagne Jell-O shots (pictured here). PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE Dumplings Dumplings are an important part of New Year's traditions from around the world, from Chinese (jiao zi) and Russian pelmeni to our very Delish take on dumplings, Smash Dumplings (pictured here). They're shaped like little money pouches or the coins themselves, and are meant to represent prosperity, wealth, and health. Advertisement Advertisement The homemade kind are truly a labor of love, so gather some family members and have everyone help with assembly. And don't worry about getting them perfect-lookingeven the wonkiest of the bunch are sure to bring health and wealth in the New Year. PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE Pork Eating pork on the New Year is supposed to inspire progress throughout the year to come, both because of pig's girthy size (mmm, prosperity) and the fact that they root forward (rather than backward like chickens). On New Year's, pork is often paired with cabbage in the form of sauerkraut, but we say, anything goes. Try our oven-roasted pulled pork, our sausages and sauerkraut, our chicharrones (pictured here), our roast pork tenderloin, or our Instant Pot pork puttanesca to get yourself out of a rut in 2024. PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON Onions In Greece, you'll find onions hanging from doorways over New Year's, a tradition that dates back to Ancient Greece when it was thought that onions increase fertility. Now they're a sign of rebirth and expansion (just think of all those layers!). Advertisement Advertisement We're all about alliums, and know just what you should make with all those leftover onions in the days aheadour Tennessee Onions (pictured here), our French onion soup, our sour cream & onion dip, our baked bloomin' onion, or our Oklahoma fried onion burgers. PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE Greens It's traditional to eat hearty greens like cabbage or kale to bring prosperity in the New Year. Traditionally, they're paired with dishes like black-eyed peas and cornbread, or alongside pork in the form of sauerkraut.We say get creative! Kimchi, Jamaican callalloo, bacon fried cabbage, air-fried kale chips, our one-pot creamy vegan greens (pictured here), or even a delicious winter salad count in our book, and are sure to help you put more "green" in your pocket all year long. PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON Tamales Mexican tamales arent just fun to eat, theyre a great solo or group project for anyone who loves to cook, and they'll guarantee strong bonds between family and loved ones in the upcoming year. Advertisement Advertisement Make it a party by involving your friends, enlist your partner or spouse for a different kind of date night, or get the whole family involved. Tamale making is a joy, and tamales are a great canvas for different kinds of fillings. Get the Tamales recipe. PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS Fish Fish symbolizes abundance around the world, but the way it's eaten is different depending on where you live. In Asian cultures, people feast on whole fishes around the Lunar New Year, and in Europe, people eat carp, herring, and cod. We suggest you start a new tradition with one of our favorite fish recipes, like our firecracker salmon (pictured here), our mahi mahi tacos, our Arctic char with pistachio gremolata, or our spicy tuna rolls. PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE Rice Whether you're in the American south or all the way in Asia, rice is a classic good luck food for anyone looking to usher in good luck on New Year's Eve (or day). We enjoy rice in any form it takes, whether it's in our rice and peas (pictured here), rice pudding, rice paper mozzarella sticks, or yes, in Rice Krispies Treats. PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON Cornbread Sweet or savory cornbread is said to bring prosperity in the New Year (its golden hue literally referring to gold and other riches). Want to take it even further? Add fresh kernels to represent gold nuggets. Advertisement Advertisement Try our classic cornbread, our skillet cornbread, our cheddar cornbread (pictured here), our Southern cornbread, or our bacon-topped jalapeno cornbread... heck, a box of Jiffy would do ya if that's all you've got. Becky Luigart-Stayner Galette De Rois We bet you've heard of a Mardi Gras king cakes, but do you know about the French galette de rois? Similar treats are the more popular cakes among European countries, with many enjoying the flaky pastry (or similar ones) on New Year's Eve and Day. Known as banitsa in Bulgaria, rosca de reyes in Spain, and vasilopita in Greece, there's one thing that connects them all: a tiny trinket (a bean, coin, or baby figurine are all popular) hidden in one of the slices. Whoever finds it is said to have good luck the rest of the year. Andrew Bui Lentils Round like a coin, lentils represent good luck around the start of the New Year and beyond. They're also a symbol of abundance, since they increase so much in size when cooked. Advertisement Advertisement Try our lentil salad, our vegan crunchwraps, our lentil dal, our coconut curried lentils, or our lentil soup (pictured here) to bring you luck (and TONS of fiber and protein, perfect for kick starting any resolutions). PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON Pomegranate Seeds Pomegranate seeds have always been affiliated with fertility and life. In Greece, the whole fruit is thrown across the floor releasing a sea of seeds that symbolize abundance in the New Year. If you're not up for making quite that big of a mess, use our tutorial on how to cut a pomegranate, then use them to make our pomegranate martini, our fancy holiday cheese ball, chocolate pom poms (pictured here), our muhammara dip, our Parmesan Brussels sprouts salad, or our pomegranate mimosa instead. PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE Pretzels The breaking of a New Year's pretzel (or neujahrsbrezel) for luck and prosperity is a long-time German tradition. It can be eaten either at midnight or for breakfast on New Year's Day. Unlike regular savory pretzels, these are made of a sweet enriched dough, sort of like a babka or brioche. If you're a pretzel purist, feel free to make our homemade soft pretzels, our cinnamon sugar crunch pretzels (pictured here), or even just go store-bought (maybe alongside some homemade pub cheese or funfetti dip?). What's really important is sharing and breaking them with loved ones (the pretzels also represent interconnectedness), so you do you. PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE Buttered Bread In Ireland, it's said that there are a number of traditions involving bread on New Year's, so many that January 1 is known to some as the "Day Of Buttered Bread." One entails banging bread against a door frame to chase away bad luck, while another invites good luck in by sharing the baking bounty with friends, loved ones, and neighbors. We know which one we'll be going withjoin us in baking some Irish brown bread, sourdough, or brioche, all topped with our homemade garlic butter, Tuscan butter (pictured here), or red wine butter. Bonus: These are the perfect baking project for that limbo time between Christmas and NYE! PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE Oranges & Honey Asian cultures believe that eating oranges and honey on New Year's will bring good fortune, wealth, and money. Our recipes for fruit salad, our jalapeno citrus salmon, or our sheet pan citrus glazed chicken (pictured here) couldn't be any more perfect. They've got slices of fresh orange throughout and are sweetened with orange juice and honey. Bring on the gold. Lucy Schaeffer You Might Also Like Mumbai calls itself Indias film capital, yet some of its most influential filmmakers remain marginal to its cultural life. Ritwik Ghatak is one of them. That absence gives urgency to Ritwik: 100 Years Songs of Exile, an all-day centenary programme this weekend. Organised by Brief Encounters Film Club with NFAINFDC and Indifferent@Gharaonda, the event features restored screenings, discussions, and family voices, offering many Mumbaikars their first real encounter with Ghataks work, beyond reputation. Anatomy of an absence For organiser Aparajita Roy Sinha, daughter of filmmaker Bimal Roy, foregrounding Ghatak in Mumbai felt long overdue. While other centenaries have been widely celebrated, she notes that Ghatak, despite being one of Indian cinemas most significant figures, remains less known outside Bengal. His influence on filmmakers like Kumar Shahani and Sudhir Mishra, she adds, was recognised only decades after his death. The idea for the programme emerged at the Kolkata International Film Festival, where she saw far richer commemorations than in Mumbai. A later meeting with filmmaker Anup Singh helped shape the Mumbai edition into a full-day event. The searing gaze The day opens with a restored screening of Subarnarekha, courtesy the National Film Archive of India. One of Ghataks most searing works, the film explores the afterlife of Partition through personal loss rather than historical distance. It is important for us to screen this, Roy Sinha says. This is an all-day event with two screenings and two panel discussions, not a token tribute. The afternoon screening, Ekti Nadir Naam (The Name of a River) by Anup Singh, extends Ghataks legacy beyond his own films. Rooted in themes of displacement and memory, it demonstrates how Ghataks cinematic language continues to resonate across borders and generations. The craft of trauma Following Subarnarekha, the first panel brings together Sudhir Mishra, Amole Gupte, and Shamya Dasgupta, moderated by Amborish Roychowdhury. The discussion will focus on Ghataks ability to turn political trauma into deeply personal cinema, and why his films still unsettle and challenge. The second panel, after The Name of a River, features actor-producer Mita Vashisht, film historian Amrit Gangar, and cinematographer Satish Bhatia, who met Ghatak during his Doordarshan years. Moderated again by Shamya Dasgupta, the conversation will explore Ghataks philosophy, craft, and emotional force. Overdue reset Two members of Ghataks family will be present, adding an intimate layer to the event. That personal presence matters, Roy Sinha says. Ghatak was also a close friend of her father, filmmaker Bimal Roy, and wrote the story for Madhumati. I have been a long-time admirer of Ghatak, she adds. Her personal favourite, Ajantrik, is missing from this years line-up. Ghatak is at his most irrepressible and witty in that film, she says. If it were made today, I believe it would have gone to Cannes or the Oscars. A future screening is planned. For Mumbai audiences, Songs of Exile is, clearly, not just a centenary event. It is a reminder that Ghataks cinema remains unfinished business for a city that celebrates film but often avoids its most uncomfortable voices. The centennial celebration takes place at Indifferent @ Gharaonda, Bandra, on Saturday, December 20, featuring screenings of Subarnarekha at 11 am and The Name of a River at 4 pm, interspersed with panel discussions at 2.30 PM and 5.30 pm Every country has its own Christmas traditions. The US is no different, and there are many American traditions that baffle the rest of the world. Hiding a pickle ornament and drinking eggs are some of the most interesting US Christmas traditions. Christmas is the time for gift-giving, spending time with family, reflecting on the year, and running around bars dressed up as a drunk Santa? Like any other nation, the US has its own holiday traditions that might seem confusing to people from other countries. Advertisement Advertisement We've chosen five Christmas traditions that are as American as fireworks on the Fourth of July and turkey on Thanksgiving. Some Americans hide pickle ornaments in Christmas trees, but no one can really agree on how this tradition got its start. Pickle ornaments. Matt McClain for the Washington Post/Getty Images Many Americans have a pickle ornament for their Christmas tree. Traditionally, the ornament is supposed to be hidden somewhere on the tree, and the first child to find it receives an extra present, but it's unclear where this tradition started. One website, Why Christmas, points to two potential origin stories. The first legend goes that two boys were killed by an evil innkeeper, who put their bodies in a pickle barrel, but a passing Saint Nicholas was able to magically revive them. Advertisement Advertisement The other suggests that a German-born soldier in the American Civil War was imprisoned, and begged for one last pickle before he died. A guard took pity on him and gave him a pickle, which miraculously sustained him. Another theory posits that the pickle ornament got its start in Germany, per The New York Times, though few people there have heard of it. It is more likely that it was a marketing stunt invented by those importing glass decorations from Germany. Popcorn is another decoration seen on American Christmas trees. Marie C Fields/Shutterstock While Christmas trees as we know them are said to have originated in Germany in the 16th century and brought to German settlements in Pennsylvania, the popcorn garland is an American thing. Advertisement Advertisement As Christmas trees were a relatively new idea, people had to get creative with their decor. Apparently, recently transplanted German Americans favored using fruits and nuts, thus turning to popcorn, which was ubiquitous. Per The Daily Meal, this practice was originally meant to help feed birds during harsh winters. However, the rest of the world might have a hard time understanding why everyone's favorite movie theater snack would appear on a Christmas tree. Drinking egg yolks is an American tradition that people from other parts of the world just don't understand. Eggnog. NSC Photography/Shutterstock According to The Spruce Eats, eggnog has its roots in posset, a punch with ale, raw eggs, and figs, served warm. British monks drank posset all the way back in the 13th century. Advertisement Advertisement It eventually crossed over to America, where it was renamed eggnog. Its first known use dates back to 1775, according to Merriam-Webster. Eggnog typically consists of egg yolks beaten with sugar, milk, and/or cream and your choice of alcohol. Rum, whiskey, and sherry are all acceptable options. While eggnog might not seem that strange to Americans even George Washington had his own recipe it's a hard sell to the rest of the world, who might not find drinking eggs appetizing, let alone when mixed with rum. Getting drunk dressed as Santa is one festivity that's spread to other parts of the world. REUTERS/Seth Wenig SantaCon's roots are believed to be in '70s Danish performance art, according to Vox, but it eventually crossed over to San Francisco in the '90s, as a protest called Santarchy. Advertisement Advertisement A secret society called the San Francisco Suicide Club was dedicated to pranking the city and generally causing chaos for fun. One of their events, Santarchy, began with members dressing as Santa, sneaking into bars and parties, and inciting mayhem. Over the years, it became a giant pub crawl. One of the biggest SantaCons takes place in New York City every year, and has been advertised as a charity event. According to Newsweek, the NYC SantaCon raised over $400,000 in the five years leading up to 2018 by asking participants for donations. The money goes to charities across the city, such City Harvest, The Secret Sandy Claus Project, and The Food Bank for New York City. Mostly, though, it's a drunken, debaucherously good time. Advertisement Advertisement Raging bonfires help Santa find his way to homes in Louisiana. Fireworks explode over a row of fires during the Festival of the Bonfires December 24, 2005 in Lutcher, Louisiana. It is said in Louisiana that the fires from the Cajun tradition help show Santa Claus the way to homes in the area on Christmas Eve. Ethan Miller/Getty Images Christmas bonfires are a Christmas Eve tradition in Louisiana, where tree-shaped bonfires are lit up on the levees that keep the Mississippi River under control. It's a Cajun tradition, Cajuns being the descendants of French Canadians driven from French colonies in Canada by the British in the 18th century. The bonfires are said to help Papa Noel (Santa Claus) find his way in the dark. Hundreds of raging fires up and down the Mississippi River might not be everyone's idea of an idyllic Christmas Eve. Read the original article on Business Insider Even though theyre technically done working their traditional 9-to-5, many retirees who want to earn some extra cash seek out part-time work. The reasons for this are numerous. Some retirees simply enjoy continuing to work, helping out others or keeping their minds occupied. Other retirees may actually need the extra income, especially if they would otherwise just be living off of Social Security. Since it can be hard to find businesses that actually hire retirees part-time, particularly when searching on your own, here is a helpful list of companies that do. Belay Belay is a fully remote company that offers both career and part-time positions for anyone who qualifies, including seniors. The company provides U.S.-based virtual assistant, accounting and social media services to its clients, and it hires vetted experts to serve as everything from consultants and bookkeepers to social media managers and virtual executive assistants through its online platform. The company claims to hire just over 3% of those who apply for jobs, so youll definitely want to have specialized skills in the areas in which Belay operates to get even a part-time job. Advertisement Advertisement The company screens for expertise and skills rather than age, making it an ideal option for retirees with relevant professional experience. Better yet, Belay offers flexible, part-time schedules with a minimum commitment of 10 hours per week, which is well-suited for a retired lifestyle. Foundever Foundever provides customer service support to countries across the globe, with 150,000 associates in over 45 countries providing 9 million interactions with customers at various businesses daily. As a customer service platform, the company offers plenty of work-from-home opportunities, including for retirees and/or part-time workers. Discover More: 6 Best Side Hustles for Seniors To Offset Social Security Cuts Read Next: 5 Clever Ways Retirees Are Earning Up To $1K Per Month From Home Rev Rev bills itself as the No.1 speech-to-text company in the world. The company works with thousands of freelance writers worldwide to build and provide the worlds best speech recognition AI, which is clearly a growing field. If you snag one of Revs many remote jobs, you could participate in providing captions, subtitles or transcripts quickly and accurately to any of the companys numerous clients. OnlineVerdict If youre looking for something a bit different, with a modern twist on it, check out the part-time jobs available at OnlineVerdict. For nearly 20 years, the company has been a leader in online research regarding mock trials and jury outcomes. Advertisement Advertisement As a part-time, remote worker with OnlineVerdict, you could be called upon to serve in an online focus group that helps lawyers with their case summaries. For some retirees, this could be a more interesting option than answering phones or working as a virtual assistant, two of the more common part-time, work-from-home jobs for retirees. Cactus Communications If youre retiring from a job that requires specialized knowledge, you may be able to put that information to use working part-time with Cactus. The remote-first company offers freelance careers in scholarly communication and has been named one of the top 20 companies for remote jobs multiple times. Cactus primarily works in life sciences and academia, providing research support, editorial services and medical communications. If you have the qualifications, you could work part-time as a freelancer from the comfort of your own home. Here are some of the top opportunities for retirees with Cactus: A significant number of the companys job postings are for freelance peer reviewers in academic and scientific fields. These roles are specifically open to researchers, retired researchers and former researchers. The company also offers freelance opportunities for editors and writers, which may be suitable for retirees with experience in scholarly communication, life sciences or academia Verbalizeit Verbalizeit hires work-from-home translators to help brands deliver their message across a variety of platforms, from web, mobile and document to video. Currently, the companys workforce is able to translate over 150 different languages. If you have top-notch language skills and are interested in helping companies spread their message, this type of remote work could be a good part-time option for you, particularly as a retiree. Advertisement Advertisement Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Companies That Hire Retirees Part-Time for Side Gigs One of the main reasons surfers tend not to travel further afield is down to one thingcost. Why should you spend your hard-earned coin going halfway round the world when you can find decent surf way closer to home for half the price? Surf travel can be transformativebut that doesn't mean much if you've broken your bank beyond repair to get there. Some surf locales over the globe relish in an ultra-luxury offering, with exclusive waves, spas, pools, AAA restaurants and the comforts of home. Others focus on one thing: giving you a bed, safe in the knowledge that you'll be surfed out after a day in the drink, and where that bed is doesn't really matter. If you're leaning towards a budget-friendly surf tip that's not going to make your bank account flip out, here's a list of where to go and when. El Salvador Pointbreaks Galore Surf City is where you want to head to in El Salvadorthe stretch of coast that encompasses El Tunco, La Libertad and Punta Roca, a wave-rich area where you won't be short of options. Think consistent point breaks, warm water and surf culture built around affordable hostels and hotels. Flights from many airports are often short and cheap, compared with other international trips. And once you're there, the cost on the ground tends to be low. El Salvador is good for the surfer looking for right-hand point perfection. Hostel dorms or guesthouses start from $10 to $30 per night. Local meals will set you back a couple of bucks, and surf guides and board rentals are priced for budget travelers. Head out in the shoulder season months, April to June, to maximize budget efficiency. Despite the global spotlight on El Salvador, you can still find the odd empty gem. Aaron Hughes/World Surf League via Getty Images (Aaron Hughes/World Surf League via Getty Images) Nicaragua The Boom If you love beachbreak barrelspop Nicaragua at the top of your budget surf bucket list because you are unlikely to find anything quite like this close to home. Warm water, mostly chilled in the waterand enough beaches to make you grin, Nicaragua's a solid choice for the cash-strapped surfer. Surf camps and hostels are massively affordable and often include lessons or board rental packages that keep daily costs down. Its an excellent choice for groups and for surfers who like to road-trip between breaks. Hostel packages and all-inclusive meals can help reduce costs; however, expect somewhat modest transfer fees from Managua. Consider renting a car and splitting the cost among your buddies for full flexibility. Beachbreaks across the country are wonderful. There are reef breaks and points tooso best to hunt around. Joel Sharpe/Getty Images (Joel Sharpe/Getty Images) Mexico Baja Peninsula and Beyond Baja's a right of passage. From the West Coast, Mexico's favorite peninsula is a short trip and a cheap one, too. Ensenada, Scorpion Bay and nearby surf spots offer long waves rolling into the distance and rustic surf towns where you can camp or stay in inexpensive hotels. A bit further south, Puerto Escondido is one of the best big waves on the planet. It can be pricier during peak season, but traveling off-peak helps keep costs down. Domestic flights can be affordable if booked in advance or during a sale. Street food and mercado meals will also help cut daily expenses. Head out in May through October for the best waves. Swell wrapping into Mexico, a glorious setup Alfredo Martinez/Getty Images (Alfredo Martinez/Getty Images) Related: 5 of the Most Luxurious Surf Resorts on the Planet Peru World's Longest Wave One of the longest waves in the world is housed in Peru. Chicama is a wave marvel and can run for kilometers into the distance. It's also relatively easy to get to without breaking the bank. Northern spots near Trujillo and Chicama can be really affordable, local surf hostels offer package stays and eating is cheap. Peru is particularly budget-friendly for extended trips where accommodation and food dominate costs. If you go to Peru, it's best to travel slower. Stay for longer in one town to keep rates lower and a better chance of getting to know the points around the country. Also, fun tip: Look for surf packages that include transfers to remote pointbreaks to save cash. Chicama in the North of Peru has the longest waves in the world. Geraint Rowland Photography/Getty Images (Geraint Rowland Photography/Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Portugal Algarve For those on the U.S. East Coast, the Old Continent's not too far away. You're looking at a seven-hour flight straight to Lisbon, and from there, you can travel north to Nazare or south to the warmer climates of the Algarve. What makes Portugal a budget-friendly surf trip is that the locations around the Algarve can be relatively inexpensive to stay, especially in the wintertime when you get the best swells rifling in from the North Atlantic. The crowds are way lower in the fall and winter months, tooyou'll need a 3mm wetsuit, but that's kind of it. You can always fly into Faro, too, and consider basing yourself along the south coast or in surf towns like Sagres. That way, you have access to both coastlines. Hire a car for ease and explore the area without putting a strain on your wallet. Look over the next headland during a swell, and you will often find secluded setups in the southern regions of Portugal. glashaut/Getty Images (glashaut/Getty Images) Tips To Make Surf Travel Cheaper Consider booking a surf camp with everything includedmeals, board rental and transfers. Set up flight alerts and keep your calendar open if you can. Cheap flights pop up all the time, so it's worth figuring out how to be agile. If you go with pals, you can split the cost of everything, including car hire, rooms and even the food bill if you go self-catered. A good example of ultra-budget rooms should cost between $25 and $45 per day in a hostel. For a private room, you can expect to pay around $50 to $100 per day. Base your trip around the flight prices, as this will be your major investment point. El Salvador will give you the best bang for your buck in terms of wave quality. Peru offers relentless pointbreaks, and if you're happy with flights costing a bit more, head to Portugal for a quintessentially European surf adventure. Related: These 9 Island Surf Destinations Are Totally Worth the Trip This story was originally published by Surfer on Dec 20, 2025, where it first appeared in the Surf Culture section. Add Surfer as a Preferred Source by clicking here. General Carrera Lake sits in the heart of Patagonia, straddling the borders of two South American nations: Chile and Argentina. Also known as Buenos Aires Lake on the Argentinian side and by its indigenous name, Chelenko, the enormous body of water is fed by glacial runoff from the Andes Mountains. This makes the waters of General Carrera Lake crystal clear and deep blue, almost to the point of looking tropical. Along the western shore on the Chilean side of the lake is a sight that many tourists flock to see in the Patagonian summer (winter in the Northern Hemisphere); the Capilla de Marmol or Catedral de Marmol (which translates to Chapel or Cathedral of Marble) is one of the most mesmerizing places on Earth. In English, this tremendous natural structure is often called the Marble Caves, and it is located in the isolated heart of Chilean Patagonia. Over the course of 6,000 years, this series of caverns (made of calcium carbonate and other minerals) was cut by glacial waters into a network of colorful spires and spindles that make for a dazzling viewing experience. The ice cream-like patterns on the mottled marble are unlike anything you've ever seen, even on the nicest kitchen countertops. But, before you can properly experience the Marble Caves, you need to know how to get there! Read more: 50 Of The Most Mesmerizing Places On Earth How to get to Chile's Marble Caves Driving road in Chilean Patagonia - Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images The Marble Caves are located in the Aysen Region of southern Chile, further south than the Patagonian Lakes District. Being over 1,100 miles by car from Santiago, Chile's capital and one of the best South American cities for solo travelers, you could hardly expect to enjoy making the 29-hour car journey unless you're up for creating your own Top Gear-style special. Instead, those looking for easier access to the Marble Caves will first have to fly into Santiago and then catch another flight to Balmaceda, which is the closest airport to the caves. Advertisement Advertisement From Balmaceda, you can rent a car and head south through the mountains to the port town of Puerto Rio Tranquilo. This journey to the western side of General Carrera Lake will take over three hours, but you will spend virtually all of it on Chile's famous Route 7, also known as the Carretera Austral, through the gorgeous Patagonian mountains. Keep in mind, however, that much of this highway is not paved. It would behoove you to rent a car with some decent traction and off-road capabilities. A small town that bustles with tourists in the summer, Puerto Rio Tranquilo has numerous hotels, shops, and restaurants that will soothe your weary body after that long journey on the Carretera Austral. This will prepare you for the amazing visit you will have to the Marble Caves come morning. Experience the dazzling wonder of the Marble Caves Kayaker in Chile's marble caves - Manuel Sulzer/Getty Images Owing to the extreme topography of the area, the only way to access the Marble Caves is by boat. There are a few ways you can do this. First, if you are an active person, you can rent a kayak or book a kayaking tour from numerous travel companies in town. It takes roughly 30 minutes to paddle from Puerto Tranquilo to the Marble Caves. When you make it, you will be rewarded with a truly personal experience with the colorful marble. The glittering glacial waters make the experience all the richer, as they reflect their light onto the marble above. Another option is to take a motorized tour boat to the caves with a touring company like Civitatis. These boats are relatively small, which means that you will have access to the caves, but not nearly as intimately as you would if you were kayaking. Still, these trips are a great option for those who want to see the Marble Caves but are less active or unable to kayak there themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Many who travel to Chile find it to be a budget-friendly country that offers tons of chances for adventures. When combined with access to numerous Argentinean and Chilean national parks with beautiful scenery, a trip to Patagonia is always going to be worth the effort of getting there especially if you take the time to explore the Capilla de Marmol. Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Explore. Alabama is making waves in retirement circles. Thirteen of the states cities earned spots on U.S. News & World Reports list of the best places to retire in the U.S. 2026, highlighting everything from affordable living to quality health care. U.S. News Best Places to Retire rankings score cities based on what matters most to retirees: quality of life, affordability, health care, taxes, senior population trends and job opportunities. The list combines government and private data with insights from a nationwide survey of 3,500 adults aged 45 and older, giving the most weight to quality of life and cost of living. Here are the best places to retire in Alabama for 2026. Hoover Hoover stands out as a top retirement spot thanks to its combination of affordability, a strong job market and a family-friendly community. The city of about 92,000 offers a median household income well above the national average, a low unemployment rate and home prices that are reasonable compared with those of similar-sized cities. Advertisement Advertisement With mild weather year-round, a mix of young families and retirees, and convenient commutes, Hoover balances small-city comfort with big-city amenities. Huntsville Huntsville is a standout for retirees looking for affordability and opportunity. With a population of nearly 239,000, the city offers lower-than-average home prices and a strong job market with unemployment below the national rate. Huntsville combines a younger, diverse population with mild weather and manageable commutes, making it a city where both work and leisure can thrive. Dothan Dothan draws retirees with its low cost of living and small-town charm. With a population of about 71,000, the city offers affordable housing well below the national median, a short average commute and a job market with unemployment below the national rate. Mild weather, a mix of families and seniors and a slower pace of life make Dothan a comfortable option for those looking to stretch their retirement dollars. The 13 best places to retire in Alabama, according to U.S. News & World Report From affordable small towns to bustling suburbs, Alabama offers a variety of cities that appeal to retirees. Here are the states 13 best places to retire: Advertisement Advertisement Hoover Huntsville Dothan Florence Daphne Decatur Mobile Gadsden Anniston Auburn Tuscaloosa Birmingham Montgomery The 10 best places to retire in the U.S., according to U.S. News & World Report Midland, Michigan Weirton, West Virgina Homosassa Springs, Florida The Woodlands, Texas Spring, Texas Rio Rancho, New Mexico Spring Hill, Florida Altoona, Pennsylvania Palm Coast, Florida Lynchburg, Virginia Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@usatodayco.com. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: These are the 13 best cities in AL for retirement says U.S. News In 2023, the film Island X documented a cold-water experiment. Could one find and surf waves on a mysterious patch of land in the Bering Sea known for research on seal colonies? At the end of the movie, the locale is revealed: St. Paul Island, whose population was 413 at the 2020 census, sits north of the Aleutian Islands, fully exposed to some of the harshest seas in Alaska. While there may have been some grumblings about revealing the source of the waves they found, I highly doubt the island is about to be overrun with surfers, cameras and influences. Its not just the bone-chilling temperatures and temperamental weather patterns. Its also a pain in the ass to get to and out of. Imagine what the pilot sees. Josh Mulcoy, Noah Wegrich and Pete Devries pray for a pick-up. Fielder Films/YouTube (Fielder Films/YouTube) Im learning that nothing is reliable up here, says photographer Mark McInnis as flights get delayed and airport logistics complicate. From the weather to the airlines, youre sort of at the mercy of nature. Advertisement Advertisement But two years after that original trip, the same cast, including Mark, Noah Wegrich, Josh Mulcoy, Pete Devries, and the filmers, reunited for another go. Their mission: go even further in Return to the Bering. While surfing along the Aleutians has been documented for years, this group went a step further, flying from St. Paul to an even smaller island 40 miles away. When I originally think of wave potential in the Bering Sea, I think of Deadliest Catch, Mark said. The wild, unruly, untamed, chaotic body of water. Relatively unexplored for surfing. At first glance, St. George Island, like its neighbor, appears incompatible with wave-riding. But even here, waves persist. The crew finds a playful left point overrun with seals until the true locals show up: two massive orcas on patrol. Then they get a taste of the only consistent thing in remote Alaska: Sketchy weather and canceled flights. But for this crew, the cold juice is worth the squeeze. Josh Mulcoy stays limber in Alaskan waters. Fielder Films/YouTube (Fielder Films/YouTube) Its cool to see how this group operates with the communities on both islands. They dont duck in and out. Theyve engaged with the residents and even given surf lessons to St. Paul kids whove likely never seen it done before. It was really cool to see their stoke, Pete said. The water is cold up here. The wind is freezing. And they just didnt care. They were in the water for hours, just loving life. Noah "Waggy" Wegrich, also loving life on St. Paul Island. Fielder Films/YouTube (Fielder Films/YouTube) As much as Island X and Return to the Bering are surf films, theyre essentially documentaries about a culture in a remarkably rugged and isolated world. Theyre highlighting places and people most of us will never experience. Daily life is not easy here. The weather is harsh, and livelihoods are earned, not given. For Ben Weiland and Brian Davis, the creatives behind Fielder Films, these seldom-seen stories are what they strive for. Advertisement Advertisement Its so remote and hard to get to, it just hasnt been documented much at all, Ben said. I love the idea of telling the story of this place. Revealing it to people, uncovering whats here. Who the people are, what life is like on this island. What its like to get here and travel and look for waves. Its a hidden gem. That unknown keeps me coming back. Related: Photos: The Story of Island X and Scoring Alaska's Best-Kept Secret This story was originally published by Surfer on Dec 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the Surf Culture section. Add Surfer as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Are you tired of shuffling through other people at Crater Lake National Park or queuing for several hours to see Haystack Rock in Oregon? While these are some of the most popular American tourist destinations, there is something exceptional about exploring spots where nature still calls the shots places where you can stroll for ages without meeting another tourist. Hidden in the rugged landscape of eastern Oregon, Leslie Gulch is a surreal wonderland. The rock formations and cliffs were shaped by millions of years of volcanic activity. The canyon's winding roads reveal breathtaking formations and beautiful landscapes. In addition, Leslie Gulch's remote location makes it an unforgettable escape from the crowds. Leslie Gulch is in Malheur County, Oregon, near the Idaho border. The easiest way to get to this hidden gem if you're coming from overseas or a distant state is to fly into Boise Airport in Idaho. From the airport, you can take a taxi or rent a car and drive to Leslie Gulch. The ride takes about two and a half hours along Highway 95 before turning onto Succor Creek Road. The closest small towns are Jordan Valley, about 42 miles away, and Nampa, Idaho, about 62 miles away. Leslie Gulch got its name from a cattle rancher, Hiram E. Leslie, who was struck by lightning in 1882 in the area, which was initially called Dugout Gulch. Today, Leslie Gulch is protected by the Bureau of Land Management as part of the Owyhee Canyonlands. Read more: 50 Of The Most Mesmerizing Places On Earth Exploring Leslie Gulch's scenic drives and trails Family hiking in Leslie Gulch State Park - Toasted Pictures/Shutterstock The best way to experience Leslie Gulch is by driving through Leslie Gulch Road, which was once a wagon route for transporting goods between Watson and Rockville. The road passes through the rocky canyon, and every turn provides beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes. You can pull off to the side of the road to take photos or marvel at the rock formations. The drive ends at the bottom of Owyhee Reservoir, where you can turn around and head back to the entrance. And that's not all. Leslie Gulch is also one of the top must-visit destinations in the world for avid hikers. Start with the Upper Leslie Gulch Trail, a moderately challenging 4.2-mile out-and-back trail. While the trail winds through a dry creek bed, you're rewarded with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Just keep your eyes open for rattlesnakes and ticks along the way. Advertisement Advertisement Another popular hiking trail is the Juniper Gulch Trail, a moderate 3.3-mile route. The trailhead is about 10.3 miles from the entrance, where you can park your car before embarking on your trailblazing escapades. You'll pass overhanging rocks and caves, and a few willow trees, before climbing steadily for an up-close look at the rock formations and the surrounding Owyhee Canyonlands. Leslie Gulch is home to various wildlife species, including bighorn sheep, which were reintroduced in 1965. You may also spot Rocky Mountain elk, bobcats, mule deer, and coyotes. It's also easy to see raptors, other feathered friends, and California quail. Fun things to do near Leslie Gulch Desert canyon in southwestern Idaho - Christiannafzger/Getty Images Leslie Gulch is surrounded by plenty of adventures for those who want to experience the Owyhee Canyonlands. The Owyhee Reservoir, located at the end of Leslie Gulch Road, is a must-visit for fun water activities. You can take your kayak or paddleboard and explore the waters. Just keep in mind that in summer, the water levels can be low. If fishing is your thing, the 53-mile-long reservoir offers a great opportunity to put your skills to use. Some of the fish you can catch include smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and crappie. Oregon's secluded hot springs, beneath painted cliffs that offer warm swims, are also located near the Owyhee River Canyon. Dubbed Snively Hot Springs, the man-made pool is a beautiful place to relax as you soak in the stunning vistas of the surrounding landscape. Since the hot spring water from Deer Butte Hot Springs mixes with Owyhee River water, the temperature is ideal for soaking and enjoying the restorative features of the mineral-rich water. While visitors can access the springs year-round, they are sometimes closed temporarily during spring when submerged. Another hot spring you should stop by at the Owyhee Reservoir is Echo Rock Hot Springs. This pool is surrounded by rock canyons and the tower-like Echo Rock, providing a beautiful place to relax and marvel at the scenery. The water temperatures of the hot springs hover around 103 degrees. Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Explore. The Holiday Lights Map is live and ready to make your season sparkle. Explore breathtaking displays across the First State. Just click any map icon for location details. Use the zoom buttons (+/-) to navigate and uncover the most dazzling spots near you. Your ultimate guide to festive brilliance is just a click away! Want to spread the cheer? You can still add your own display by clicking here. Holiday lights map Holiday Lights 2025 sponsor Generac. Happy holidays: Holiday Planning & Ideas Advertisement Advertisement Holiday lights: How and where to see millions of Delaware Christmas lights in 2025 Show off your work and add your house or business to the map by filling out this form. If you have questions, please contact Michelle Ganassi at mganassi@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware holiday lights guide and interactive map We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Bubbie's Ice Cream prides itself on offering mochi "made with rich, creamy, super-premium ice cream," according to the brand's official website, which adds that it offers "an unforgettable bite every time." But does it, really? In our ranking of 18 Bubbie's mochi ice cream flavors, we found that some options from the Hawaii-founded brand were better than others. Described as featuring "super-premium milk tea ice cream wrapped in sweet mochi," Bubbie's Milk Tea Mochi Ice Cream looks tasty, with brown rice-made dough wrapped around lightly colored ice cream. However, this variety may be suited only to those with a taste for milk tea. Advertisement Advertisement Though the treat is far from bad, the strength of the tea might be overwhelming to someone who is not keen on milk tea. That said, our taste tester applauded Bubbie's for capturing the true essence of the milk tea, writing, "I admire the company for diving headfirst into the milk tea profile. It's sweet, as expected, with a strong flavor of milky black tea." Still, it ranked lowest on our list. Read more: 22 Best Trader Joe's Frozen Foods Under $5 Bubbie's Milk Tea Mochi Ice Cream receives mixed reviews Bubbies Mochi Milk Tea Ice Cream beside a wall - Emily Hunt/Tasting Table In addition to being offered at Whole Foods, Bubbie's Mochi is also available on Amazon, where it has a 4.1 out of 5 rating from 60 reviews. Some applauded the flavor as refreshing with an incredible taste, while others slammed it as "dreadful" and "overpowering."One person, who titled their review "Worst Bubbie's Flavor," said that eating the milk tea mochi was like "biting into a block of butter." Still, there were plenty of fans of this flavor, including some who weighed in on Bubbie's Ice Cream's Instagram page. "Top 3 flavors for sure!" one social media user proclaimed as someone else said it was their "fav." Even those who hadn't spotted the items in stores expressed excitement. "Haven't seen this yet but definitely picking it up when I do," another user said. "I want to try this flavor soooo bad," added another. Advertisement Advertisement While Bubbie's Milk Tea Mochi Ice Cream has gotten mixed reviews, fans of milk tea seem to appreciate it. So, perhaps it's worth a try. Or, if you'd rather play it safe, grab some mochi from other popular brands, including Trader Joe's and My/Mochi, or make your own mochi at home. Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Tasting Table. Thousands of Royal Caribbean passengers just got an email that no cruise vacationer ever wants to receive. After they spent time carefully selecting their cruise itinerary and booking far in advance to secure the best rate, their sailing suddenly got canceled. Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines reserve the right to cancel or alter sailings for most any reason, but its not common for a cruise line to completely cancel a sailing for a redeployment. But occasionally, a cruise line makes a strategic decisions to redeploy a ship to sail in a different region or offer a different type of itinerary for a future season. Royal Caribbeans latest cruise cancellations suggest that the cruise line has decided to trade fall cruises to Mexico for sailings to another part of the Caribbean on one popular cruise ship. Want the latest cruise news and deals? Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Royal Caribbean canceled some fall 2026 sailings on Freedom of the Seas.Photo credit: Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock.com (Photo credit: Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock.com) Royal Caribbean cancels select Freedom of the Seas sailings Royal Caribbean just canceled several 2026 cruises from Miami on Freedom of the Seas, including the ships planned sailings to Cozumel, Mexico in the fall. Advertisement Advertisement Freedom of the Seas offers four- and five-night Bahamas and Caribbean cruises from Miami. In fall 2026, most of the ships eastern Caribbean itineraries are scheduled to visit the cruise lines private destinations, Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee, Haiti, while most western Caribbean itineraries include stops at CocoCay or Labadee, and Cozumel. Royal Caribbean has now canceled some of those fall 2026 itineraries for a redeployment, according to passenger posts in the Royal Caribbean community on Reddit. Some Freedom of the Seas sailings are being redeployed Due to a change in itinerary planning, and after exploring all our options, our October 26, 2026, Freedom of the Seas sailing has been redeployed. The time and effort you took to plan your cruise is important to us, and we apologize for the inconvenience. Every aspect of your time with us should be enjoyable, so we've put together some alternative options that we hope will work for you and those in your party, Royal Caribbean wrote in an email to impacted passengers that was shared in the subreddit. Passengers booked on other fall 2026 Freedom of the Seas western Caribbean cruises on other dates reported receiving the same email. Related: You can visit 2 new beach clubs on Royal Caribbean cruises in 2026 Those impacted by the cancellations can choose to rebook a fall 2026 eastern Caribbean itinerary on the ship at a protected rate, rebook any other sailing with change fees waived, or get a full refund. Advertisement Advertisement Those options are not very appealing to some passengers who were looking forward to visiting Cozumel and some who planned their cruises to celebrate special occasions over the original cruise dates though. Details of Freedom of the Seas redeployment are unclear Royal Caribbean has not yet released new itineraries to replace the canceled Freedom of the Seas sailings to the western Caribbean. As of Dec. 19, the cruise lines website only lists the ships original eastern Caribbean sailings. Its unclear at this time where the ship will sail instead of Cozumel, or if any of the ships sailings will visit Labadee as scheduled in 2026. Royal Caribbean suspended visits to Labadee through April 2026 due to security concerns related to civil unrest in Haiti thats been going on for some time. If those concerns persist into 2026, its possible that fall 2026 visits to Labadee could get canceled, too. Related: Royal Caribbean drops surprising destination from some cruises (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Mes Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally published by TravelHost on Dec 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the Come Cruise With Me section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Say you're off for a multi-day hike in Andorra, and you might receive some intrigued looks. Andorra, located between France and Spain in the Pyrenees, is one of the smallest states in Europe according to Britannica the whole country covers just 468 square kilometers (181 square miles). Those who have heard of Andorra likely know the microstate for its iconic ski resorts and tax-free shopping, which inspired Rick Steves' likening of the country to a giant shopping mall. But for adventurous hikers, a journey on the Coronallacs Trail is a must for getting off the beaten path in Europe. The Coronallacs Trail is a 92-kilometer (57-mile) circular hut-to-hut hike traversing the rugged peaks and beautiful landscapes of Andorra. The trail starts in Escaldes-Engordany by the capital city of Andorra la Vella, passing 20 lakes on its way through the mountains. Per the travel blog Unexpected Catalonia, the hike is best for experienced hikers after all, it's advertised as one of the most challenging trails in the Pyrenees. Unexpected Catalonia recommends doing the hike between the end of June and the beginning of October, and Visit Andorra notes how it could take around four days to clear. Overnight accommodation is available at four staffed mountain huts which provide breakfast and dinner. The option to add on a picnic lunch when booking is also available there's essentially nowhere to buy food on the trail, so this is a smart choice unless you're happy carrying your own food for midday meals. The shelters have bunk beds in shared dormitories, which includes bedding like blankets and pillows. They also have additional comforts such as showers and charging stations. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Rick Steves' Most And Least Favorite Places In Europe What to expect on the Coronallacs Trail The stone mountain hut, Juclar Refuge, in the mountains of Andorra - Jlgutierrez/Getty Images The Coronallacs Trail is divided into five sections, with each day covering between 13 and 22 kilometers (8 and 14 miles). The real kicker is the ascent: the route has 6,449 meters (21,158 feet) of elevation gain. Ben Lerwill of The Guardian reported that the trail is "furiously undulating" constantly ascending up and descending down. Tink Adventures reports that it's easy to navigate, but the path can be challenging, forcing hikers to deal with rocky terrain and chains at certain points. The scenery of the trail itself is the showstopper here, with superb views of the Pyrenees mountains. Unexpected Catalonia notes scenic highlights like "rugged peaks, high-altitude lakes, breathtaking valleys, and meadows full of colourful wildflowers." Adventurer Nic of Komoot noted 12 Pessons Lakes and Estany de Cabana Sorda as some of the best views found throughout the adventure. It's a 25-minute walk or a short bus journey from the main bus station to the trail's starting point at the tourism office in Escaldes-Engordany. While Andorra doesn't have an airport or train station, it's easy to reach thanks to solid bus connections from Barcelona in Spain and Toulouse in France; both journeys take around 4 hours. If you're after an easier walk, Away With Maja notes plenty of day hikes in Andorra that are perfect for a shorter adventure. For more scenic multi-day walks in Europe, consider Iceland's Laugavegur Trail or the West Highland Way in Scotland. Advertisement Advertisement Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter and add us as a preferred search source for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets. Read the original article on Islands. The Kaamos Road follows French cyclist and filmmaker Joffrey Maluski on a winter journey along the Arctic Circle. On his 1,500km, 25-day expedition through Lapland, he carries everything he needs on his bicycle, barely seeing the sun. The journey begins not on a bike but on a series of nine trains, which takes Maluski from the south of France to Bodo, Norway. There, he assembles his bike, on which he will carry his fuel, gear, and tent. While he waits for the ferry to the Lofoten islands, he explains the plan. Starting from this archipelago, he'll cycle across Norway, Finland, and Sweden. The "kaamos" of The Kaamos Road is the Finnish word for the polar night. His entire journey takes place during a time when the sun barely breaches the horizon. Near Maluski's starting point. Photo: Screenshot Through the frozen dark He does enjoy a few hours of muted light every day, but the rest of the time, Maluski bikes through the dark. After six days of riding through lashing rain and icy wind, he reaches the Swedish border. Advertisement Advertisement With every kilometer, he reminds us, he pushes deeper into the Arctic. Sunlight becomes even rarer, even as the camera lingers on the rosy, perpetually dawning skies. The scenery comes with fairly brutal conditions for a bike ride. After one 110km day, where temperatures never rose above -16C, Maluski shows us the icicles hanging from his face. Biking in Lapland. Photo: Screenshot His journey quickly settles into a daily routine. At eight, he gets up, eats, and waits for the dawn. Around 10 am, he starts biking. He captures as much film and photographs as he can before it sets again at 1:30 pm. He keeps biking in the darkness, covering between 60 and 100 kilometers. His toes, he reports, are painfully cold, all day, every day. The temperatures only drop as he nears the final stretch, crossing back into Norway. When he shows us his morning routine, he admits how hard it is to will himself out of his sleeping bag into the -23C morning and onto his waiting bike. After the 25th consecutive morning of such hardship, Maluski arrives in Vardo, Norway. In the heart of Jackson Hole, Wyoming's year-round tourist haven and an adventure-filled valley, lies the charming mountain town of Jackson. The town is anchored by Jackson's Town Square, flanked by its four elk antler arches entrances. One of the most celebrated restaurants, tucked off Jackson Town Square and across the street from the southwestern arch, is Snake River Grill, which was recently named the most beautiful restaurant in Wyoming according to LoveFOOD. Snake River Grill was opened in 1993 by Alan Hirschfield, the late Hollywood executive who served as CEO of 20th Century Fox, and restaurateur August Spier. Named for the Snake River, the national park river renowned for crystal clear waters, recreation, and scenery, Snake River Grill is one of Jackson's most beloved and popular restaurants for locals and visitors alike. Once you've ascended the stairs to the second-floor, it's clear why it's the state's most beautiful restaurant. The interiors reflect a classic log cabin with exposed beams and warm lighting, elevated by elements of a fine dining restaurant: snow-white tablecloths, candlelight fixtures, and luxe leather booths. The sophisticated menu reflects what is locally sourced and in season, but there are a few staple dishes that regulars know to order again and again. Locals often beeline to the first-come, first-served 12-seat bar for local draft beers from Jackson and innovative craft cocktails. While Snake River Grill is nestled away from the main square, the secret is most certainly out. Reservations are essential and open three months in advance. Snake River Grill is open for dinner from Monday through Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and closed on Sundays. The restaurant is a 15-minute drive from Jackson Hole Airport, the only airport inside a national park, which receives nonstop flights from most major U.S. cities. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: The 14 Most Mouth-Watering New York Eateries You Didn't Know Are Owned By Celebrities, According To Reviews Dining at Snake River Grill The dining room at Snake River Grill fashioned after a log cabin interior with wood log beams and elegant tables - Snake River Grill Archive After you've secured one of Jackson's most coveted reservations, prepare for a truly special evening at Snake River Grill. Timbered walls, floor-to-ceiling stone fireplaces crackling with flames, painted ceilings, and hanging lanterns create a cozy atmosphere in the majestic dining room, especially during the snowy winter months. During the summer season, you can also dine on the white wooden alfresco deck overlooking Jackson. The kitchen is helmed by executive chef Addison Fleming, who previously worked at Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago. Begin with one of Snake River Grill's creative appetizers, such as the SRG steak tartare pizza or the SRG potato pancake topped with smoked salmon, sour cream, and chives. Other indulgent starters include caviar service and foie gras mousse, while vegetarian options of beet apple soup or root vegetable salad are also featured. For main entrees, order hearty specialties such as the dry-aged bison rib-eye, pappardelle pasta with local beef, or roast chicken with black truffle, accompanied by sides like the crispy truffle fries or coal-roasted carrots. Cap off your dinner on a sweet note with classic desserts such as baked Alaska or chocolate sticky toffee cake. The Snake River Grill also has an impressive wine list to choose from, with about 300 bottles on offer. "By far and away the best restaurant in Jackson Hole," raved a TripAdvisor reviewer. "Beautifully decorated as a hunting lodge, great service from well trained staff and fantastic food. Try the potato pancake with smoked salmon for starters outstanding." Advertisement Advertisement Before dinner, take time to explore the art galleries and shops of downtown Jackson, where one of America's most vibrant art scenes is found. After dinner, make the short walk across Jackson Town Square to Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, Jackson's iconic Wild West saloon that opened in 1937. Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter and add us as a preferred search source for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets. Read the original article on Islands. According to the Washington State Patrol, the death of Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting Friday night brings the total number of troopers killed while on duty to 34 in the agencys 105-year history. Trooper Guting, 29, died Friday evening while working along southbound State Route 509 in Tacoma. The patrol said she was outside her vehicle investigating a two-car crash near milepost 2, south of the Port of Tacoma, when another vehicle struck her shortly before 7:30 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement People already at the scene attempted to help, but she later died from her injuries. The Tacoma Police Department is leading the investigation into what led to the crash. Guting had only recently begun her career with the Washington State Patrol. She joined the agency as a trooper cadet in January 2024, graduated with the 119th Trooper Basic Training Class and was commissioned on Oct. 30. She was assigned to District 1 in Tacoma. In a statement, the patrol said her death is deeply felt across the agency and by her family, including her husband, Timothy, a deputy state fire marshal at the patrols Fire Training Academy in North Bend. Advertisement Advertisement My heartfelt condolences go out to Timothy, Taras extended family, her friends, her academy classmates, to District 1 Captain Gundermann, and his entire team, Chief John R. Batiste said. We will never forget Badge #720 Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting. The sky has poured rain on us all for the past two weeks, he added. And with this loss, now tears flood our souls. Guting was born July 19, 1996, in Honolulu to Russell and Cheryl Hirata. She graduated from Mililani High School in 2014 and soon after enlisted in the Army National Guard, beginning a career in public service. She served eight years as a signal intelligence analyst and completed her military service honorably in October 2022. Advertisement Advertisement She married Timothy in August 2019 at the Fire Training Academy. Her death is the most recent in a long list of patrol members who have died while serving Washington residents. In 2024, Trooper Christopher M. Gadd, 27, died after being struck by a motorist on Interstate 5 near Marysville. In 2021, Detective Eric T. Gunderson died after contracting COVID-19 while training officers at a conference. Trooper Justin R. Schaffer died in 2020 after being struck by a vehicle while placing spike strips on Interstate 5 in Chehalis. The patrols history shows that traffic-related incidents have been a recurring danger for decades. Advertisement Advertisement Troopers and patrolmen have been struck while directing traffic, assisting motorists, investigating crashes or conducting stops on highways across the state from Long Beach to Spokane, from Seattle to Pasco. Other deaths occurred during motorcycle crashes, medical emergencies while on assignment, acts of violence and rescue efforts, including one patrolman who died in 1957 while trying to save a teenager caught in ocean surf. The earliest recorded on-duty death in the patrols history dates back to 1923, when Patrolman Vernon Fortin died after a motorcycle collision while traveling to traffic duty at the Lynden fair. As the agency marks more than a century of service, patrol leaders said each name represents a life devoted to public safety and a family forever changed. Gutings death now stands alongside those 33 others, a reminder of the risks troopers face every day on Washingtons roads. Alabamians may have already dusted off their coats and heaters, but official winter doesnt start until the winter solstice. Thats the astronomical signal that the days are at their shortest and the nights are at their longest. What is winter solstice, and when does it begin? Heres what to know. When is the winter solstice in 2025? When does winter officially start? According to the Old Farmers Almanac, the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere arrives on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, at 10:03 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. For Alabama residents, that means the shortest day and longest night of the year will start at 9:03 a.m. How many daylight hours will Alabama see on Dec. 21? On the winter solstice in Alabama, the Old Farmers Almanac says the sun will rise at 6:42 a.m. and set at 4:43 p.m. This gives Alabama 10 hours and 1 minute of sunlight. At 11:43 a.m., shortly after the solstice begins, the sun will reach its highest point in the sky. What is winter solstice? Winter solstice graphic. The winter solstice is the day with the fewest hours of sunlight, making it the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. While it means just over 10 hours of daylight in Alabama, the silver lining is that the days gradually start getting longer, leading up to the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@usatodayco.com. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: When is the winter solstice 2025 in Alabama? Shortest day explained Three people were shot inside a moving car on Chicago's South Side early Saturday, police said. Police said the shooting happened in the West Chatham neighborhood's 8100-block of South Stewart Avenue just before 12:30 a.m. Two women, 21 and 26, and a 25-year-old man were inside the vehicle when someone fired shots, police said. The 21-year-old was hit by a fragment in the back of the head. The 25-year-old was shot in the arm and hand. Advertisement Advertisement The 26-year-old suffered a graze wound to the stomach and arm. The victims took themselves to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where they are all listed in fair condition. Police said the suspected shooter fled the scene. There is no one in custody, and Area Two detectives are investigating. Police did not immediately provide further information about the shooting. INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood Seven minors are now facing criminal charges over an attack on a woman and her children near a Chicago Public Schools elementary school last month on the South Side, police said. A video shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook showed a woman being punched before the assault turns even more violent. It happened in the afternoon Nov. 17 near 106th Street and Bensley Avenue, right down the street from Orville T. Bright Elementary. Advertisement Advertisement A 33-year-old woman could be seen in a video posted to social media being punched and eventually falling to the ground. Police say the woman and a 9-year-old boy were taken to Trinity Hospital in serious condition. Seven minors are now charged with battery in the case, Chicago police said. Those charged included three 10-year-old boys, a 10-year-old girl, an 11-year-old girl, a 12-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl. "All were referred for counseling services and were released from custody," CPD officials said. The woman who was beaten, Corshawnda Hatter, spoke with ABC7 the week of the attack and said she's never endured such pain. Advertisement Advertisement READ MORE | Mother speaks out after violent beating near South Side CPS school caught on video: 'So much pain' "So much pain, emotional, physical, I'm not feeling good at all," Hatter said at the time. Hatter says she told the school staff for two years her son was being bullied. Sometimes, she says, older kids would follow him home. "For two years, and they have not done a thing," she said. "They see me coming they will run or tell security to tell me they are not there." In November, CPS said in a statement, "Chicago Public Schools (CPS) prioritizes the safety and well being of our students, staff, and families, and we are committed to building a physically and emotionally safe teaching and learning environment in every school. Advertisement Advertisement "We are horrified by the attack on this family, and we are working collaboratively with City departments and agencies to provide support to the victims of the attack. CPS is coordinating closely with the Mayor's Office, CPD, CHA, and other City departments to provide additional support to the family. "School administrators, teachers, and support staff work with students to create an open environment where conflicts and grievances can be addressed. School leaders work with parents and all parties involved to find a resolution, adhering to the Student Code of Conduct (SCC) as they address any confirmed violations. In addition, it is always our goal for all members of our school communities, including staff, students, and parents, to work together proactively to maintain a safe and calm environment at our schools." In November, Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement, "I was deeply disturbed to see the video of young people attacking a mother and her child on the Far South Side yesterday afternoon. That type of behavior is unacceptable in our city and we must not normalize that type of senseless violence. Leaders from my office have been on the ground all day to coordinate with CPS, CPD, and CHA to respond to this incident. CPD has deployed additional resources to the area to maintain public safety, and we are working with CHA on additional measures to support the family. We have also activated support from community-based organizations that focus on youth services and violence prevention to provide safe passage for students and families at this school. I will continue to monitor this situation closely as I get updates from the ground and as the investigation unfolds. It is critical that we provide the necessary resources to our public education system so that every school community has counselors and mental health professionals. We must redouble our efforts to teach our young people that violence is never an acceptable response. Our students and families should always feel safe on their way to and from school and we must make the critical investments necessary to make that a reality in every part of our city. I'm grateful for the community residents who have rallied to support the family and I am calling for calm as we conduct a full investigation and ensure there is accountability for the attackers and healing for the victims." In November, the Chicago Teachers Union said in a statement, "We're as saddened as anyone to see parents and students suffer violence. Every family should show up to school knowing they'll be safe, loved, and cared for and every educator and community member should be equipped with the resources to foster a beloved community. Advertisement Advertisement "What has proven to effectively work to reduce violence in our communities and at schools is exactly what is missing from Bright: safe passage workers, restorative justice coordination, and after-school programming that engages young people and nurtures their interests. "Our educators alongside community groups have been doing all they can to fill the gap caused by the $1.6 billion dollars in underfunding from the governor and IL General Assembly and to meet the needs of the students even without the budget from the district to do so. It's clear the community needs to be invested in and have more services provided. It shows exactly why the funding for the very community safety initiatives aldermen voted against yesterday are so urgently necessary." INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER | Track crime and safety in your neighborhood The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced a child sexual abuse arrest. James Hill, 79, was arrested Dec. 18 in Decatur on charges of sexual exploitation of children. The investigation began in February 2024 after the GBI received a Cyber Tipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about regarding the possible online possession of child sexual abuse material. DeKalb County Police Department assisted the GBI during the investigation that led to Hills arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Hill was booked into the DeKalb County Jail following his arrest. This case is part of a larger initiative by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, operating under the GBIs Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit. The ICAC Program was established by the U.S. Department of Justice in response to a rise in online child sexual abuse material and the growing presence of online predators seeking unsupervised contact with minors. The GBI continues to encourage the public to report any additional information related to child exploitation cases. Citizens can contact the GBIs Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit directly at 404-270-8870, or utilize the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline at Cybertipline.org. In addition to this case, the GBI urges anyone with information about child exploitation to come forward, reinforcing their commitment to battling online predation and child exploitation. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the See Something, Send Something mobile app or via the GBI website. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Police are investigating after a man was fatally shot in Westwood on Dec. 19. Craig Gaines, 35, was shot near the 2300 block of Ferguson Road at approximately 1:17 p.m., Cincinnati police said in a new release. Cincinnati fire personnel attempted to transport Gaines to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, but he succumbed his injuries on the way there. The shooting occurred near the Western Hills Square, where the Cincinnati police's district 3 station is located at 2300 Ferguson Road. Advertisement Advertisement Police are investigating his death as a homicide. Anyone with information is asked to call 513-352-3542. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Afternoon shooting kills 35-year-old in Westwood, police say State prosecutors have cleared Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill, D-Lebanon, of charges that she illegally engaged in electioneering by seeking clients to sue the state over a law that imposed new requirements for those seeking absentee ballots. AG dismisses electioneering complaint against Liot Hill State prosecutors have dismissed a complaint that alleged Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill, D-Lebanon, engaged in illegal electioneering when she tried to recruits citizens to sue the state over a new law that imposes more requirements for those seeking to vote by absentee ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Republican State Chairman James MacEachern brought the complaint to Attorney General John Formellas office about emails that Liot Hill sent last August about the law (SB 287) which compels those seeking an absentee ballot to show an ID or sign an affidavit under penalty of perjury that they were eligible to vote. Weeks after Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed the absentee voting law, Liot Hill wrote emails trying to find low-income or disabled voters who would be willing to launch a constitutional challenge to it. I am writing to ask for your help, Liot Hill wrote, urging them to contact the Elias Law Group, a prominent national law firm that often represented the Democratic National Committee and New Hampshire Party in past lawsuits over election laws. In a letter to MacEachern, Senior Assistant Attorney General Brendan ODonnell said Liot Hills actions did not meet the definition of the law, which deals with improper influence regarding the vote of a voter or any question or office that is voted on in an election. Advertisement Advertisement This office cannot conclude that the e-mails constituted a misuse of position or otherwise violated the executive branch ethics code, ODonnell wrote. This matter is closed. Two weeks after Liot Hill sent out those emails, a trio of visually impaired residents did sue Formella and Secretary of State David Scanlan over the law and alleged that it disproportionately harmed the homeless, disabled and low-income residents who seek to vote by absentee. Earlier this month, Rockingham County Superior Court Judge David Ruoff approved the states motion to dismiss the lawsuit without holding a hearing on the matter. The Elias Law Group represented those who had sued the state along with an in-state lawyer. Advertisement Advertisement The prosecutor said it was noteworthy that two of the five emails he reviewed sent by Liot Hill went to executive branch officials, Charles Saia, executive director of the Governors Commission on Disability and Isadora Rodriguez-Legendre, executive director of the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities. It would not be appropriate for an executive branch official to use their position to secure a privilege or advantage for another person or entity such as the Elias Law Group to which that entity was not entitled, ODonnell said. Both Saia and Rodriguez-Legendre told prosecutors they viewed Liot Hills emails as requests and not demands that they act on her desire. Even though Councilor Liot Hills e-mails were not phrased as a command and neither recipient interpreted those emails as a command, sending this type of email from her government e-mail address to other executive branch officials created a risk that these officials would interpret her request as commands, ODonnell wrote. Advertisement Advertisement All executive branch officials should use care to avoid acting in any way that would create an appearance of impropriety. House Deputy Majority Leader Joe Sweeney, R-Salem, sponsored a resolution (HR 41) for the 2026 legislative session that if approved would have the House to investigate whether Liot Hill should be removed from office over the controversy. The proposal maintained Liot Hills emails negligently and improperly placed her personal or partisan objectives over her duties as a financial watchdog and that this amounts to maladministration which is one of the grounds for impeachment under the state Constitution. MacEachern said despite the AGs decision, Liot Hills actions were improper. Advertisement Advertisement This report, among others, continues to raise serious questions about Councilor Liot Hills judgement and brazen willingness to push ethical boundaries with her conduct, MacEachern said in a statement. Sweeney said hell continue to pursue his impeachment resolution against Liot Hill. I am taking a different approach. I firmly believe it is malpractice and maladministration for an executive councilor, who oversees the Department of Justice and has influence over the states legal defense, to organize litigants against the state of New Hampshire. An individual can choose to act as an activist organizing lawsuits against the state, or serve as an executive councilor focused on the responsibilities of the office, but they cannot do both, Sweeney said in a statement. In October, the AGs election law unit fined Liot Hill $1,000 after concluded she spent nearly $3,000 from her campaign on illegal expenses including groceries, home heating oil, clothing and her own medical care. Liot Hill agreed to pay the fine and reimburse her campaign for those expenses. Advertisement Advertisement On the same day, the AG also fined House Majority Leader Jason Osborne, R-Auburn, $2,000 and Sweeney $500 for late reporting of campaign finance reports of political committees that they ran. klandrigan@unionleader.com Nebraska and other states have considered legislation to regulate artificial intelligence. Image created using Canva. (Courtesy of Cassie Mallette/University of Nebraska at Omaha) The sex trafficking industry is one of the most serious and fast-growing challenges facing Nebraskas law enforcement officers. Once thought to be an issue limited to major metropolitan areas, trafficking now reaches deep into Nebraska communities from Lincoln and Omaha to our rural counties and small towns along the I-80 and I-29 corridors. Advertisement Advertisement As the founder and director of Innocence Freed, a Nebraska nonprofit dedicated to supporting female victims of sex trafficking, Ive seen firsthand how this unthinkable crime devastates survivors, their families, and the fabric of our local communities. Traffickers are constantly adapting, using technology to recruit, groom and exploit victims in increasingly sophisticated ways. But for the first time in decades, we are witnessing a shift. Artificial intelligence (AI) is giving Nebraska law enforcement and victim-service organizations a powerful new set of tools to stay a step ahead of traffickers and we should embrace that progress, not shy away from it. One example already making an impact is the use of AI-driven facial recognition to help identify missing Nebraskans who may be featured in online ads or exploitation networks. When used responsibly, this technology allows investigators to match images with missing-person databases far more quickly than any manual process, helping speed up recoveries and focusing limited resources where theyre needed most. In a state where many local agencies are stretched thin, these time savings can directly translate into lives saved. AI is also proving invaluable in tracing the financial trails left by trafficking operations, many of which run through Nebraska due to our central location and major transportation routes. Trafficking networks frequently rely on subtle payment patterns to hide their activities. AI systems can detect anomalies and suspicious transactions that even seasoned investigators might miss. This type of data analysis can give Nebraska law enforcement a clearer view of how networks operate, who is funding them, and how they move money ultimately leading to stronger prosecutions and more dismantled trafficking rings. Advertisement Advertisement The promise of AI in this fight is real: faster investigations, more victims identified and more traffickers brought to justice. To be clear AI will never replace the compassion and determination of Nebraskas law enforcement officers, social workers, advocates and community partners. But it can be one of the most transformative tools we give them. Thats why its critical that Nebraska and the federal government pursue policies that support not hinder the responsible use of AI in law enforcement. Poorly written regulations could slow deployment, add unnecessary costs or limit access to lifesaving tools for agencies that already operate on tight budgets. Instead, we should focus on smart, balanced policies that protect privacy while ensuring AI remains accessible to those fighting on the front lines across our state. As Nebraska continues to confront the evolving threat of sex trafficking, we have a responsibility to use every tool available to protect survivors and stop the people who exploit them. By strengthening collaboration between Nebraskas innovators, law enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations, we can build a more effective and compassionate response to this crisis. Sex trafficking is fast-moving and adaptive. Nebraska must be just as fast and even more determined. With the help of AI, we can turn the tide against traffickers and offer more hope, healing and freedom to the women and children who deserve nothing less. Advertisement Advertisement Julie Shrader is the founder and CEO of Innocence Freed, a Nebraska nonprofit serving adult and child survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In this week's air travel news, U.S. airlines are expecting record passenger numbers over the coming holiday period; United upgrades its mobile app with new features; Alaska Airlines rolls out its first Starlink installations; the Transportation Security Administration is set to nullify its labor contract with employees next month; Spirit Airlines dodges a default and starts talking about a possible merger, perhaps with Frontier; Cathay Pacific deploys a new Boeing aircraft with enhanced lavatory features on more SFO flights; JetBlue drops a European route; Southwest inks an interline agreement with another foreign carrier; and Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport introduces a guest pass so non-travelers can access secure areas. FILE: Spirit Airlines planes parked at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Jan. 21, 2025, in Houston. (David J. Phillip/AP) Spirit Airlines, now operating in Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in a year, has gained a little breathing space after reports circulated on the internet last weekend that the carrier was just hours away from suspending operations. The reports noted that Spirit faced a Dec. 13 deadline to secure more funding as required by its lenders and said that at least two other airlines, anticipating Spirit wouldn't make it, were planning to operate "rescue" flights for Spirit customers. But Spirit kept flying, and on Dec. 15, it announced it had amended its debtor-in-possession credit agreement in a deal that would give it a funding infusion of $100 million - half of it immediately and half subject to "further progress on a standalone plan of reorganization or a strategic transaction," such as a possible sale of the company. "Spirit is currently in active negotiations on each of these possibilities," the company said, although it didn't mention specifics. Bloomberg News reported this week that Spirit is talking to Frontier Airlines once again about a possible merger as part of its restructuring, but there was no official confirmation. Spirit caught another break when its pilots and flight attendants voted to take a pay cut, subject to bankruptcy court approval, while the airline straightens out its finances. Advertisement Advertisement Be prepared for airport crowds if you're flying over the year-end holidays. Airlines for America, a trade group of the nation's air carriers, predicted this week that its member airlines will carry a record 52.6 million travelers over the 18-day holiday period, which it defines as Dec. 19 through Jan. 5. That's a 1.5% increase over last winter's year-end holidays and an average of 2.9 million passengers every day. Airlines for America said airlines have added 72,000 seats to their schedules each day to accommodate demand. The busiest air travel days, it said, will be Dec. 19-21 (Friday-Sunday), Dec. 26 (Friday) and Dec. 28 (Sunday). The organization is reminding travelers to download their airlines' mobile apps for quick access to changes in flight status. The United Airlines app in the Apple Store on an iPhone. (Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) United Airlines has added several features to its mobile app designed to make life easier for travelers at the airport. The enhancements include "AI-supported navigation tools that will predict what features would most benefit customers during their trip and personalize content to each traveler," United said in a news release. For example, the new "Virtual Gate" feature gives real-time updates about which groups are boarding a specific flight, with a progress bar displaying how many people have boarded, "eliminating the need to wait around the gate area." Another enhancement advises users about the United Club location closest to their gate, and the app's bag-tracking feature "includes a package-delivery-style tracker that shows real-time locations throughout the journey." Users can also find information on traveling with strollers or wheelchairs, advice on required travel documents, and arrival information that includes local weather conditions and a guide to finding ride-hailing locations at the airport. United said more than 84% of its customers use the app on the day of their flight. Alaska Airlines has installed Starlink Wi-Fi equipment on four Embraer E175 regional jets as the first step in expanding the low-orbit satellite service to its entire fleet in the months ahead, according to the Seattle Times. It is expected to start putting the Starlink technology into its 737s in 2026 and have it available fleetwide by 2027. Starlink Wi-Fi is already available on Hawaiian Airlines, which Alaska acquired in 2024. Alaska said it will offer the Starlink service at no cost to members of its Atmos loyalty program. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem speaks at a media conference supporting TSA at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on Nov. 13, 2025. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) Trouble is brewing in the ranks of the Transportation Security Administration after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that effective Jan. 11, TSA will end its 2024 collective bargaining agreement with the union representing the agency's employees - even though such an action appears to violate a June 2025 court order. Besides eliminating TSA workers' right to negotiate their labor contract through the American Federation of Government Employees, or AFGE, the agency said it will also discontinue using its payroll system to collect union dues from employees' paychecks. TSA said Noem has determined that the agency's airport screeners "have a primary function of national security and shall not engage in collective bargaining or be represented for any purposes by any representative or organization." BEST OF SFGATE Los Angeles | 'The little California coffee shop crushing Starbucks, one latte at a time California| Century-old Calif. community has no power, and a waitlist you can't join Central Coast| 'Heartbreaking': Once thriving Calif. downtown is on the brink Culture | He was a janitor. Then, his 2000s California rock band made an immortal hit. Advertisement Advertisement Get SFGATE's top stories sent to your inbox by signing up for The Daily newsletter here. According to the publication Government Executive, Noem first mentioned the idea of ending TSA agents' bargaining rights and union contract earlier this year, but in June, a federal judge issued an injunction to block that move, ruling that it constituted retaliation against the union and its 47,000 members. Then in September, Noem issued a "new determination," after a legal review, to return TSA "to its original labor framework" in which collective bargaining was not permitted, and her latest announcement of a Jan. 11 termination flowed from that memo. It also came just hours after the House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation that would protect collective bargaining rights for more than a million federal employees (although that bill's chances of passing the Senate were not clear). "Secretary Noem's decision to revoke our union contract is a slap in the face to the dedicated workforce that shows up each and every day for the flying public," said AFGE Council 100 President Hydrick Thomas. "... Prior to having a union contract, many employees endured hostile work environments and workers felt like they didn't have a voice on the job, which led to severe attrition rates and longer wait times for the traveling public. Since having a contract, we've seen a more stable workforce, and there has never been another aviation-related attack on our country." AFGE National President Everett Kelley called Noem's announcement "an illegal act of retaliatory union-busting that should cause concern for every person who steps foot in an airport." A Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ER takes off from SFO. (Yichuan Cao/NurPhoto via Getty Images) In international route news, Cathay Pacific has decided to deploy its new three-class 777-300ER on more San Francisco-Hong Kong flights. Starting Jan. 1, Cathay will use the aircraft on one daily round trip (CX872/873) instead of the three weekly flights it had previously planned, according to AeroRoutes. Cathay operates 19 flights a week between the two cities. The three-class Boeing 777 aircraft are celebrated for their touch-free features in the lavatories onboard, such as the flush button and the waste bin. The airline is refitting its 777-300ERs with a new Aria Suites business class and an improved premium economy section, as well as updates to the regular economy section. Advertisement Advertisement JetBlue is shrinking its New York JFK transatlantic network by eliminating flights to Amsterdam, according to Simple Flying. The carrier had been due to resume seasonal JFK-AMS service in late March, but it has pulled that route from its schedule, although it will continue to fly to Amsterdam from Boston. Delta has filed plans to resume Boston-Tel Aviv service on Oct. 24, AeroRoutes reports, operating one daily flight with an A330-900neo. American Airlines this week expanded its code-sharing network with British Airways, putting the AA code onto BA flights from London Heathrow to Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A Southwest Airlines airplane at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on Oct. 11, 2021. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Southwest Airlines is adding another international carrier partnership early next year, this time with Turkish Airlines, which flies to 10 U.S. airports that are also served by Southwest. "International travelers will be able to seamlessly connect through those shared gateway airports on tickets that will become available next year through Turkish Airlines, travel agents, and travel websites," Southwest said in a news release. Turkish becomes the sixth foreign carrier to sign an interline partnership with Southwest in the past year, along with Icelandair, Taiwan's China Airlines and EVA Air, Philippine Airlines and Germany's Condor Airlines. Following a similar move by San Diego's airport last month, Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport has introduced an OAK guest pass program that allows non-travelers to gain access to the post-security side of the terminal without showing a boarding pass or having a flight reservation. Obtaining a guest pass requires an online application. An applicant has to provide their date of birth, gender and full name as it appears on their TSA-approved photo ID. Anyone who applies in advance can expect to receive an approval or denial email after midnight on the day of their intended visit; anyone who applies on the same day as their intended visit can expect a reply in about 15 minutes. The OAK guest pass will be attached to the approval email, and the visitor should show it at the security checkpoint, along with an approved ID. More Travel - All hotels on Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim to close temporarily - 'It's a milestone': Bay Area bridge will be first in California to make major change - Disneyland's new plan to get everyone off their phones - This tiny Bay Area town has become an unexpected destination For more travel news and features, sign up for our TravelSkills newsletter here. This article originally published at Pilots, flight attendants accept pay cut to support struggling airline. A sprawling search for the person responsible for a deadly mass shooting at Brown University is over, but key questions remain about the alleged shooter. Authorities have identified the suspect as Portuguese national Claudio Manuel Neves Valente. On Dec. 18, he was found dead inside a New Hampshire storage unit from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities say The 48-year-old suspect is accused of the Dec. 13 shooting at the Ivy League campus in Providence, Rhode Island, that left students Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov dead and nine others wounded. Two days later, on Dec. 15, the suspect then allegedly fatally shot MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro, 47, at the professors home in Brookline, Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement While surveillance footage and the help of a social media tip led investigators to his rental car, the investigation now looks to understand the motive behind the killings. Heres what we know as of Dec. 20. Images of the shooter at Brown University, identified by authorities as Claudio Neves Valente, are displayed during a press conference as civic leaders and law enforcement announce Valente has been found dead, in Providence, RI on Dec. 18, 2025. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, with Providence Police Chief Colonel Oscar Perez and Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, announce that the Brown University shooter, shown in photographs behind them and identified as Claudio Neves Valente, was found dead, during a press conference in Providence, RI on Dec. 18, 2025. Local, state and federal law enforcement agents, including from the FBI, take part in the search for the Brown University shooter, in Salem, NH on Dec. 18, 2025. Providence Police Officers join state and federal law enforcement agents searching for the Brown University shooter, in Salem, NH on Dec. 18, 2025. Local, state and federal law enforcement agents, including from the FBI, take part in the search for the Brown University shooter, in Salem, NH on Dec. 18, 2025. Local, state and federal law enforcement agents, including from the FBI, take part in the search for the Brown University shooter, in Salem, NH on Dec. 18, 2025. Police swarm a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire on December 18, in connection with the shooting at Brown University Police swarm a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire on December 18, in connection with the shooting at Brown University Police swarm a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire on December 18, in connection with the shooting at Brown University Authorities are searching for the gunman in the deadly attack at Brown University on Dec. 13 that killed two students and wounded nine others after investigators released a person of interest. The person of interest in connection with the December 13, 2025 shooting at Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, U.S., walks in a screengrab from video released by the Providence Police. FBI agents search the grounds around the site of the Brown University shooting as the manhunt continues for the gunman in Providence, Rhode Island, on Dec.15, 2025. A law enforcement officer canvasses with a police dog as the manhunt continues for the gunman Dec. 15, 2025, following a shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. A security camera stands outside the site of a shooting at Brown University, as the manhunt continues for the gunman, in Providence, Rhode Island, December 15, 2025. Law enforcement officers speak with a resident on E George Street as the manhunt continues for the gunman, following a shooting at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, Dec. 15, 2025. A law enforcement officer waits to speak with a resident on E George Street as the manhunt continues for the gunman, following a shooting at Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, Dec. 15, 2025. A law enforcement officer canvasses with a police dog as the manhunt continues for the gunman, following a shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, Dec. 15, 2025. A police dog works while law enforcement officers canvass, as the manhunt continues for the gunman, following a shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, Dec. 15, 2025. Law enforcement officers canvass E George Street as the manhunt continues for the gunman, following a shooting at Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, Dec. 15, 2025. A resident looks out their window to watch the law enforcement officers canvass on Pitman Street as the manhunt continues for the gunman, following a shooting at Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, Dec. 15, 2025. Law enforcement officers canvass Pitman Street as the manhunt continues for the gunman, following a shooting at Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, Dec. 15, 2025. Brown University President Christina H. Paxson takes questions during a press conference as the manhunt continues for the gunman, following a shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, December 16, 2025. The FBI released this new poster on Dec. 15 with images and a description of the suspect in the mass shooting at Brown University An FBI Evidence Response Team searches the grounds of a building, with a security camera on the second floor, next to the site of the Brown University shooting, as the manhunt continues for the gunman, in Providence, Rhode Island, December 15, 2025. An FBI Evidence Response Team searches the grounds of a building, with a security camera on the second floor, next to the site of the Brown University shooting, as the manhunt continues for the gunman, in Providence, Rhode Island, December 15, 2025. Authorities find Brown University gunman dead in New Hampshire 1 of 24 Images of the shooter at Brown University, identified by authorities as Claudio Neves Valente, are displayed during a press conference as civic leaders and law enforcement announce Valente has been found dead, in Providence, RI on Dec. 18, 2025. What was the suspect's academic background? Neves Valente attended the same prestigious Portuguese academic program as Loureiro, the MIT physics and nuclear science professor he allegedly shot. Both men overlapped at the University of Lisbons Instituto Superior Tecnico, according to the university on Dec. 19. Neves Valente studied for an engineering physics degree between 1995 and 2000, the university said in a statement. Loureiro took the course during the same period, the university statement said. Neves Valente was the top student in his class, Rogerio Colaco, president of the universitys Instituto Superior Tecnico, told the Portuguese newspaper Diario de Noticias. Advertisement Advertisement Neves Valente had been a teaching assistant at the University of Lisbon until his contract was terminated Feb. 18, 2000, according to government records. Its unclear whether he was fired, and the university has declined to comment on the ongoing investigation. That year, he went to Brown, in the United States, to study physics as a doctoral student but later dropped out. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, Providence Police Chief Colonel Oscar Perez and Providence Mayor Brett Smiley. What do former classmates say about the suspect? Former classmates and colleagues in Portugal have described Neves Valente as a talented, troubled and jealous academic. Filipe Moura, who was colleagues with both Neves Valente and Loureiro as an undergraduate, said Neves Valente had a "confrontational personality." A still image of Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, 48, the suspected Brown University shooter at an Alamo Car Rental facility in Boston on Nov. 17, 2025. Brown University President Christina Paxson said Dec. 18 that Neves Valente attended the university for only three semesters. Paxson said it was safe to say he would have spent time in the Barus & Holley building where he is accused of the mass shooting on Dec. 13. Advertisement Advertisement The university hasnt found records detailing concerns around his conduct or interactions with public safety officers. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley announce that the Brown University shooter, shown in photographs behind him and identified as Claudio Neves Valente, was found dead, during a press conference in Providence, RI on Dec. 18, 2025. Updates on immigration, reward In a Dec. 18 X post, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Neves Valente entered the country through the diversity lottery immigrant visa program in 2017. Officials then granted him a green card. At President Donald Trumps direction, Noem said she immediately directed Customs and Immigration Services to stop the program. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley on Dec. 19 said the FBI should give the Reddit tipster who helped officials find Neves Valente the $50,000 reward. In a letter addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel, Smiley said the tipster, known as John in legal documents, is no less than a hero. FBI declined to comment on the ongoing investigation. Lurdes da Silva provided translation for this story. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is the Brown University shooter? Updates on motive, suspect American Airlines will launch more than a dozen new routes next summer, making it easier for travelers to plan 2026 getaways. The carrier will introduce 15 different routes starting March 14, 2026, American shared with Travel + Leisure. These will take off from some of the airline's biggest hubs, including Chicago, Dallas, Charlotte, Miami, and more. American is proud to offer unmatched connectivity across the United States, Brian Znotins, Americans senior vice president of network and schedule planning, said in a statement shared with T+L. "Today, were furthering our commitment with new routes designed to help customers realize their travel goals in 2026 from important hubs such as Chicago and Phoenix." Advertisement Advertisement The largest share of the new routes will take off from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) in 2026 with brand-new service to: Anchorage, Alaska, once daily, seasonal service starting May 21. Bozeman, Montana, once daily, seasonal service starting June 4. McAllen, Texas, once daily, year-round service starting June 4. Rapid City, South Dakota, once daily, seasonal service starting June 4. Kalispell, Montana, twice weekly, seasonal service starting June 19. Lincoln, Nebraska, once daily, seasonal service starting winter 2026. American will also launch service from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to both Madison, Wisconsin, and Nantucket, Massachusetts, starting June 18, 2026. While the Madison route will operate year-round, the Nantucket flight will be seasonal and end on Sept. 8, 2026. From North Carolina's Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), American will operate a new year-round, daily route to Columbia, Missouri, starting June 4, 2026; and will fly once weekly on Saturdays between Miami International Airport (MIA) and Jackson, Mississippi, starting March 14, 2026. From the carrier's flagship hub in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), the airline will operate twice-daily, year-round service to Lincoln, Nebraska, as well as daily, year-round service to Roanoke, Virginia. Each of these flights will take off on June 4, 2026. And from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD), American said it will add two new routes to Erie, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee's Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) starting May 21, 2026; as well as a new flight to Lincoln, Nebraska, starting June 4, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement With these new flights, American said it will operate more than 500 daily departures from ORD next summer. The airport also functions as a hub for United Airlines. The new routes may be helpful for passengers booking with points since American is a member of the Oneworld Alliance along with other major carriers like Alaska Airlines. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure When Sheikh Mohammed Abu Mustafa stepped out of his mosque in southern Gaza after leading afternoon prayers in early November, a gunman on a motorcycle pulled up and shot him dead. It was a targeted assassination that an Islamist militant group said was carried out by local Israeli-backed militia. A Hamas-linked group later claimed that the slain imam was a jihadist who had concealed Israeli hostages during the Gaza war, and accused the hitman of belonging to a new Israeli-supported militia led by Hussam Al-Astal a former prisoner in Hamas-ruled Gaza who is now openly working to topple the militant group that has ruled the territory with an iron fist for nearly two decades. Advertisement Advertisement In a phone interview with CNN, Al-Astal denied that his men assassinated Sheikh Abu Mustafa but said he welcomed the death of any Hamas member. His obscure group, the self-styled Counter-Terrorism Strike Force, has taken control of a village in the Israeli-occupied part of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. From there, it carries out raids against Hamas while trying to grow its small domestic following. As the dust begins to settle after the brutal two-year war, Gaza has been split in two. Hamas is reconsolidating its control in the western half of the enclave that Israel withdrew from, and remains the dominant force where the vast majority of Gazas population lives. East of the so-called yellow line an Israeli military boundary however, relatively few civilians remain. It is there, in the Israel-controlled territory, that small armed groups are trying to assert their dominance and carve out influence. Under Israels close watch, at least five factions are now operating within the yellow line. What began as scattered, opportunistic gangs exploiting the chaos of the conflict has coalesced into a coordinated network of armed militias that are openly positioning themselves for a postwar role in Gaza should Hamas be removed from power. Advertisement Advertisement There is coordination between our groups. We have the same goals and the same ideologyWe have the same aim, Al Astal told CNN, referring to Hamas defeat. Armed with light weapons, a few dozen fighters, and a handful of vehicles, the militias operate from separate bases across Israeli-controlled areas of Gaza. On social media, their leaders regularly post propaganda videos showing masked men in makeshift black uniforms, clutching rifles, awkwardly chanting in unison and vowing to liberate Gaza from Hamas. Though small and lacking in skill and support to fully replace Hamas, these militias have already plunged Gaza into more instability. Using hit-and-run attacks, they have tried to challenge Hamas as it has consolidated power in areas no longer controlled by Israel since the ceasefire. The militias have waged an insurgency within an insurgency, targeting Hamas at a critical moment in the process of establishing governance in post-war Gaza. Hamas has not sat idly by. Advertisement Advertisement Concerned about its status in the enclave, Hamas is now on a mission to hunt them down, while ordinary Palestinians grow increasingly anxious that the war-torn enclave could slide toward open civil conflict. Reports of violence have been shared widely on social media, with one particularly gruesome video that was shared by Hamas-affiliated channels in October showing a group of masked fighters, some of whom are wearing green Hamas headbands, killing eight blindfolded people in a square in Gaza City. Hamas affiliated groups said those executed were collaborating with Israel or were involved in security and criminal offences, but it did not provide any evidence. Video shows Hamas armed men dragging seven men into a circle of people in Gaza City, forcing them to their knees and executing them. - From Social Media/Reuters Ambitions to govern The most disruptive among the anti-Hamas groups, and the one most openly backed by Israel, is the so-called Popular Forces, formerly led by Yasser Abu Shabab, an Israel-allied gang leader who was suddenly killed this month after a family dispute in Gaza turned violent, his group said. Hamas and its supporters widely celebrated his death, handing out sweets in the enclave as a show of celebration that reveals the Islamist groups relief that one of its main internal challengers had been eliminated. Advertisement Advertisement This gang was one of the most serious reasons for the suffering of our people in the Gaza Strip They were a major reason for guiding the occupation forces to the young men trapped inside the Rafah tunnels, which led to their arrest or targeting, a Hamas affiliated group wrote on Telegram, referring to a pocket of Hamas fighters trapped in Israeli-occupied Gaza following the ceasefire. Yasser Abu Shabab's funeral - From Ghassan Al-Dahini/Facebook Yet the militias ambitions clearly extend far beyond defeating Hamas. Groups like Abu Shababs Popular Forces in the south, Ashraf Mansis Popular Army in the north, Hussam al-Astals Counter-Terrorism Strike Force in the east, and Rami Hallas Popular Defense Army in the center of Gaza are actively trying to prove their ability to govern locally. The gangs are seeking to recruit civilians, calling on doctors, lawyers, and teachers to enlist. On social media, Abu Shabab has openly offered monthly salaries for fighters, promising $1,000 for regular rank-and-file and $1,500 for officers willing to join him. Israel has acknowledged backing the group but it remains unclear how it is funded. Hallas, commander of the Popular Defense Army, told CNN his group is largely composed of men previously imprisoned by the Hamas-run government. Hallas said the militia was formed in May in coordination with the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority with the initial task of securing humanitarian aid routes in eastern Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement He said the mission has since evolved into what he called a larger project. Its a very large project and I am a part of it, he told CNN in a phone interview. Leader of the Popular Defense Army, Rami Hallas, reading a statement - Popular Defense Army/Facebook Gazas day-after plan Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trumps son-in-law and one of the chief architects of Gazas day-after plan said in October that the enclaves reconstruction could begin in Hamas-free zones, pointing specifically to Rafah an area where Abu Shababs forces operate. The leaders of the militias CNN spoke to insist they are part of the day after in Gaza, although it remains unclear if they will have enough public support to govern when and if Israel fully withdraws. Advertisement Advertisement Our role will be pivotal, Al-Astal said before revealing plans for to renovate a hospital in the area he operates from. We are not a phenomenon that will vanish. (We will) certainly be in the day- after (plan). Two Israeli sources familiar with the matter told CNN that Israel will continue to back the militias, even after Abu Shababs death. His militia was supposed to be involved in securing the intended reconstruction site in Rafah, one source said. Muhammad Shehada, a Gaza expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations said the militias, along with their families and a few other vetted Palestinians would be allowed to live in the Israeli-controlled areas as a pretend population in a reconstructed Rafah. Eastern Gaza is where reconstruction goes. West Gaza is left in ruins. Both are divided by the yellow lineThe twist is nobody really lives in eastern Gaza and no one is allowed to live there so the gangs are now serving a pretend population, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear if Gazas residents would even consider moving to Israeli-occupied areas. Israeli forces have already killed a number of Palestinians who have approached the yellow line. Its strange how people are able to move. If you go close to the yellow line, youre dead, Magdy, a resident of Gaza City told CNN, only providing his first name to protect his identity. Those who go are considered spies (for Israel). There must be an authority that is Palestinian that would tell us to move. We would only move when Israel withdraws. In the diplomatic limbo that exists between the first and second phase of the ceasefire, the militias have tried to establish themselves as a fixture of Gazas future. But without a plan for governance, they make the path forward even less clear, carving out their own interests in the war-torn territory still searching for peace. Another Gaza resident, Abu Riad, said the majority of people in western Gaza would not move into Israeli-controlled territory. Why will we move into these (gang-controlled) areas? We will be moving towards the unknown. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Multiple shark sightings at a Hawaiian beach have closed the waters to residents and tourists in the area. What's happening? At Nanakuli Beach on O'ahu, visitors and residents lost access to the beach as local authorities took safety measures after multiple shark sightings. According to Hawaii News Now, the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department spotted a non-aggressive seven to eight-foot shark, and about five minutes later, they spotted a 10-foot tiger shark at the beach. Crews posted signs, patrolled by land and sea, and kept the public informed while assessing the situation. Advertisement Advertisement Shark sightings along O'ahu's coast are common and tracked by the state with a public incident log for residents and tourists to check. Still, the string of recent sightings has heightened concerns, especially as the beach remains a popular spot for families, surfers, and swimmers. Why is this concerning? While shark encounters are statistically rare, shifts in human behavior and environmental conditions are making close interactions more likely. Rapid coastal development reduces habitat and disrupts feeding patterns, while resource shortages and warming waters can push marine animals closer to popular beaches. Recent beach closures for sharks in California saw sharks moving farther north to establish a nursery in Monterey Bay, where none had existed before. Juvenile white sharks usually grow in warmer southern waters, but as ocean temperatures rise, they travel to new territory, sometimes not returning to their normal spots for years. Research has shown increases in human-wildlife conflict in areas experiencing habitat loss and higher temperatures, not just in the ocean, with potentially dangerous outcomes for both wildlife and humans. Protecting coastal ecosystems, like reefs and beaches, before they disappear, helps reduce these risky interactions while supporting biodiversity and the health of local communities. What's being done about these encounters? Officials urge beachgoers to avoid murky waters, swim in groups, steer clear of dawn and dusk hours, and always check with a lifeguard before entering the ocean. If you see or encounter a shark, notify ocean safety authorities immediately or call 911. Advertisement Advertisement Conservation efforts across Hawaii and beyond are offering hope and potential solutions. Reef restoration projects, marine-protected areas, and local programs have shown success in strengthening ecosystems and wildlife behavior. Coral recovery initiatives and community shoreline conservation work from organizations like the Surfrider Foundation can also help recover these natural environments. 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. 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. Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the suspect in the mass shooting at Brown University, is estimated to have died on Dec. 16, according to an autopsy done by the New Hampshire Department of Justice Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella announced Dec. 19 that Neves Valente died from a gunshot wound of the head. His manner of death was suicide, according to the press release. Based on the findings, Neves Valente died just one day after he shot and killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts, and three days after he killed two students and wounded nine others at Brown. Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement identified him as the shooter and found his body in a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, on Thursday night, Dec. 18. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Autopsy: Brown shooter Claudio Neves Valente died Dec. 16 In a joint statement released by the Boston Division of the FBI and ATF revealed that ballistic and DNA testing connected 47-year-old Claudio Manuel Neves Valente to the Brown University shooting and the murder of an MIT professor. On Thursday night, Valente was found dead in Salem, New Hampshire, at a storage facility following a multi-state manhunt. An autopsy later revealed that Valente died from a gunshot wound to the head, which was ruled a suicide. Advertisement Advertisement At the scene where they found the body of Valente, authorities found two firearms. Authorities said that the shell casings found at the Brown University shooting and the shell casings from the murder of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro in Brookline were fired from separate weapons. However, on Thursday afternoon, CNN reported that police were investigating possible ties between the two shootings. Following ballistic testing done on the two weapons found at the scene of Valentes body, it was found that the shell casings found at Brown University are correlated with the firearm used in the mass shooting. The other of the two firearms is positively correlated with the murder of Nuno Loureiro in Brookline, Massachusetts. A rapid DNA test was also conducted, where they found a positive match between Valente and evidence collected at Brown. Advertisement Advertisement The FBI and ATF would like to offer their sincere gratitude and appreciation for the around-the-clock collaborative effort of the CSP Forensic Science Laboratory personnel, authorities said. Their behind-the-scenes effort has allowed for the rapid scientific confirmation of the facts of this investigation. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The Vallejo City school board voted unanimously this week to close three schools, marking the second year in a row the Bay Area district will shut down campuses to help close a gaping deficit and address the vast number of empty seats in its classrooms. Lincoln, Highland and Pennycook elementary schools will close at the end of this school year, the board decided after a months-long process, winnowing down a list of seven possible sites to the final three. Advertisement Advertisement "No board member takes these decisions lightly," said board President John Fox, in a statement following the Wednesday night vote. "We carefully examined years of data, listened to our community, and weighed our responsibility to maintain stability in this district for the long term." The relatively calm and regimented closure process in the North Bay district stood in stark contrast to the chaotic efforts that played out in San Francisco and Oakland, where protests, petitions and hours of angry and emotional public comment ultimately resulted in the districts reversing course and keeping schools open. Prior to Wednesday's vote on the Vallejo closures, just four people spoke during public comment, two fewer than the six that spoke before last year's vote to close two schools. Several town halls, staff informational meetings and interactive online Q&A's preceded the vote. Advertisement Advertisement While the district didn't see the outrage and tumult experienced in other neighboring communities, many families and staff at each of the seven schools considered for closure rallied to keep their site open, hanging banners to "Save our School" or citing their school's success stories and unique qualities. Based on the board's decision, about 1,000 students will need to transfer to new sites next year, with many families disappointed if not devastated at the big changes ahead. "It breaks my heart," one Highland parent interviewed by KPIX. "I feel like they're closing the wrong schools." Superintendent Ruben Aurelio initially recommended three schools be closed at the end of this academic year, including Pennycook, Lincoln and Cooper elementary schools. Ultimately, the board opted to close Highland instead of Cooper. Advertisement Advertisement The board also approved $32 million in budget reductions during the meeting, including $22 million in staffing cuts for the next school year. Each school closured is expected to save the district $450,000 to $1.1 million annually going forward, district officials said. "These actions allow us to protect academic programs, keep resources where students need them most, and prevent far more severe consequences in the future," Fox said. "Our priority is - and will always be - the success and well-being of Vallejo students." This article originally published at Bay Area school district to close three schools, affecting 1,000 students. For more than half a century, pandas have helped serve as ambassadors for China around the world, but their time in Japan appears to be drawing to a close with the last two bears in the country set to return next month. Hopes of receiving new ones soon appear dim given the current tensions between the two countries. Tokyo's metropolitan government has reportedly been in talks with China about receiving new pandas, but there is no sign of agreement in the wake of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments about Taiwan last month. Advertisement Advertisement Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. On Monday, the city's authorities said they would return four-year-old twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, who were born at Ueno Zoo but were always destined to be returned to China. The announcement comes after four pandas kept at a wildlife park in central Japan were returned to China in June. Pandas have been used by China as a long-standing symbol of friendship with other countries. The tradition of panda diplomacy may date back to the Tang dynasty (618-907), when two "white bears" - generally believed to be giant pandas - were sent to Japan. Advertisement Advertisement The practice was revived in the 1950s, then in 1972 China sent two of the animals to Tokyo to mark the normalisation of diplomatic relations following World War II. Since then, as relations thawed, more pandas followed. At one point, Japan was home to nine of the animals, more than any other country. Dylan Loh, an associate professor at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University who specialises in China's foreign policy, said the current situation reflected Beijing's wider pressure on Tokyo. Since Takaichi said that an attack on Taiwan might trigger military intervention from Japan, Beijing's ban on seafood exports has been restored, Chinese visitors have been warned against travel to the country, film releases have been delayed and performances by Japanese artists cancelled. Advertisement Advertisement "The return of the pandas is just one instance out of the series of other kinds of diplomatic, economic and military measures that China has enacted against Japan," Loh said. "There has been some attempt to recast and walk back on the comments in Tokyo but these do not go far enough in the eyes of Beijing and the pressure will likely remain for the short term, at least." However, he said: "I think there is a ceiling in terms of how far China wishes to pressure Japan and we are at or near the ceiling but the diplomatic pressure will not let up." Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China and has never ruled out the use of force to reunify it with the mainland. Japan, like most countries, does not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but is opposed to any attempt to take the island by force. Advertisement Advertisement Previous China-Japan rows have also affected panda exchanges between the two countries. Xiao Xiao's twin Lei Lei will also be returned to China next month: AFP alt=Xiao Xiao's twin Lei Lei will also be returned to China next month: AFP> In 2012, officials in Sendai city had hoped to receive a pair of giant pandas to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations, but China cancelled the plans amid a dispute over the Diaoyu Islands, known in Japan as the Senkaku Islands. Disputes between China and the United States in recent years have also taken their toll on America's panda loans. Advertisement Advertisement At one point it appeared the country was destined to become a panda-free zone once its last four resident pandas, housed in Atlanta's zoo, returned to China last year. But panda diplomacy resumed and two of the animals, named Bao Li and Qing Bao, were sent to the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoo in Washington for a 10-year loan in October, the same month that the Atlanta-based animals left. Earlier this month, China announced an agreement to send a pair of pandas to France in 2027 as part of a decade-long loan finalised during French President Emmanuel Macron's recent trip to China. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said on Monday that the Japanese people loved pandas. Advertisement Advertisement "Exchanges through pandas have contributed to improving the public sentiment between Japan and China, and we hope the relationship will continue," Kihara added. 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. Belarus' authoritarian president said Thursday that Russia had deployed its latest nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system to the country, a move that comes as talks to end the war in Ukraine have entered a crucial phase. President Alexander Lukashenko said the Oreshnik, an intermediate range ballistic missile system, arrived in the country on Wednesday and is entering combat duty. He didn't say how many missiles have been deployed or give any other details. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that the Oreshnik will enter combat duty this month but didn't give any other details. Putin made the statement at a meeting with top Russian military officers, where he warned that Moscow will seek to extend its gains in Ukraine if Kyiv and its Western allies reject the Kremlins demands in peace talks. Advertisement Advertisement U.S. President Donald Trump has unleashed an extensive diplomatic push to end nearly four years of fighting following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but Washingtons efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands by Moscow and Kyiv. Russia previously has deployed tactical nuclear weapons to the territory of its Belarus, whose territory it used to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Lukashenko has earlier said that his country has several dozen Russian tactical nuclear weapons. Russia first tested a conventionally armed version of the Oreshnik Russian for hazelnut tree to strike a Ukrainian factory in November 2024, and Putin has boasted that its impossible to intercept. He has warned the West that Russia could use it next against allies of Kyiv that allowed it to strike inside Russia with their longer-range missiles. The Russian leader has bragged that Oreshniks multiple warheads plunge at speeds of up to Mach 10 and cant be intercepted, and that several of them used in a conventional strike could be as devastating as a nuclear attack. Russian state media boasted that it would take the missile only 11 minutes to reach an air base in Poland and 17 minutes to reach NATO headquarters in Brussels. Theres no way to know whether its carrying a nuclear or a conventional warhead before it hits the target. Advertisement Advertisement Intermediate-range missiles can fly between 500 to 5,500 kilometers (310 to 3,400 miles). Such weapons were banned under a Soviet-era treaty that Washington and Moscow abandoned in 2019. Putin and Lukashenko have previously said that the Oreshnik will be deployed to Belarus before the years end. While signing a security pact with Lukashenko in December 2024, Putin said that even with Russia controlling the Oreshniks, Moscow would allow Minsk to select the targets. He noted that if the missiles are used against targets closer to Belarus, they could carry a significantly heavier payload. In 2024, the Kremlin released a revised nuclear doctrine, noting that any nations conventional attack on Russia that is supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on his country. The threat was clearly aimed at discouraging the West from allowing Ukraine to strike Russia with longer-range weapons and appears to significantly lower the threshold for the possible use of Russias nuclear arsenal. Advertisement Advertisement The revised Russian doctrine also placed Belarus under the Russian nuclear umbrella. Lukashenko has ruled the nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist for more than three decades. His government has been repeatedly sanctioned by the West for its crackdown on human rights and for allowing Moscow to use its territory during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. While maintaining strong ties with Moscow, Lukashenko also has sought a rapprochement with the U.S. On Saturday, Lukashenko freed 123 political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, as part of a deal with Washington that lifted U.S. sanctions against the Belarusian potash industries, a key source of export earnings. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told The Associated Press on Thursday that the deployment of Oreshnik to Belarus deepens the country's military and political dependence on Russia. Advertisement Advertisement The deployment of Oreshnik turns Belarus into a target and militarizes the country, and we stand categorically against it, Tsikhanouskaya said. Putin is using Lukashenko as a tool for the Kremlin's games. ___ This story has been corrected to note that Putin and Lukashenko have previously said the Oreshnik missile system will be deployed to Belarus, not Ukraine, by year's end. Bill Clinton is facing renewed questions over the extent of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein after he featured heavily in a tranche of unsealed documents. Dozens of photographs of the former president with the late paedophile were released by the Trump administration, including some showing him in a hot tub and swimming with Ghislaine Maxwell. The pictures are part of the so-called Epstein files that Congress ordered to be released by Dec 19 after mounting public pressure on Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement The US department of justice said hundreds of thousands more documents would be released in the coming weeks, suggesting some of the most damaging ones for the White House could be published over Christmas. Democrats accused the Trump administration of censoring the release to protect the US president. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor also featured in the first trove of documents, including a picture of him lying in black tie across the laps of five women, below. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor also featured in the first trove of documents, including a picture of him lying in black tie across the laps of five women, below. Mr Clinton criticised the White Houses handling of the files and accused the Trump administration of shielding themselves from what comes next. Advertisement Advertisement Angel Urena, his spokesman, said on X that the latest disclosure isnt about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be. Mr Urena wrote: Meanwhile, Karoline Leavitt, Mr Trumps press secretary, shared a picture of Mr Clinton relaxing in the hot tub with the comment: Oh my! The Clinton hot tub picture showed the former president lying half-naked with a woman whose face was redacted. Gates McGavick, a justice department employee, claimed the woman whose face was blocked out was an Epstein victim. Another photograph, below, that appeared to be taken on the same occasion also showed Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for trafficking teenage girls to Epstein, in a dimly lit swimming pool with Mr Clinton. Dozens of photographs of Mr Clinton with Epstein were released by the Trump administration, including showing him topless in a hot tub and swimming with Ghislaine Maxwell. The former president was also photographed with his arm around a young blonde woman sitting on his lap on a red velvet chair. The woman is one of many in the Epstein files whose face has been redacted. Clinton is pictured with his arm around a woman in another image from the Epstein files release A similar picture showed Mr Clinton in a red hooded sweatshirt with his arm around a blonde woman. Advertisement Advertisement The furniture in the background appeared to match that of Epsteins private jet, nicknamed the Lolita Express over allegations that the businessman used it to traffic underage girls to his island in the US Virgin Islands. Bill Clinton in a red hoodie with his arm around a woman Further images released on Friday showed the 42nd president and Epstein pictured side-by-side with their arms around one another in twin patterned shirts at a dinner function, below, as well as one of Mr Clinton with Michael Jackson. Clinton and Epstein wear similar patterned shirts Clinton with Michael Jackon and Diana Ross The tranche of images also included a framed caricature of Mr Clinton and Epstein getting ready to board an aircraft alongside two unidentified men. The drawing was hung up in a bathroom, thought to belong to Epstein. Mr Trump has sought to draw attention to Epsteins relationship with Mr Clinton as scrutiny intensified over his own links to the paedophile. Advertisement Advertisement Susie Wiles, Mr Trumps chief of staff, said this week in an interview with Vanity Fair that her boss was in the file but that hes not in the file doing anything awful. Clinton with Mick Jagger White House officials, meanwhile, mocked Mr Clinton for the images released of him with Epstein and various women. Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, commented on one picture: Slick Willy! Bill Clinton just chillin, without a care in the world. Little did he know Mr Clintons spokesman has repeatedly said the former president did not know about Epsteins crimes. He has never been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement The new files show that Epstein also kept a cartoon of him and Mr Clinton above what appears to be his toilet. The photo shows a framed drawing of a muscle-bound Epstein alongside the former president outside a private jet. Jeffrey Epstein also kept a cartoon of him and Bill Clinton above his toilet, the new files show The politician was previously photographed with Epstein on a number of occasions in the early 1990s. He and Maxwell were pictured speaking with the then-president in September 1993 at an event for donors to a White House restoration project. Epstein gave two $1,000 donations to Mr Clintons presidential campaign in 1992. Through a spokesman, Mr Clinton described Epstein in 2002 as both a highly successful financier and a committed philanthropist. In one image, Clinton was seen with his hands on the shoulders of actor Kevin Spacey A picture of Epstein and Mr Clinton together in Brunei in 2002 appeared in Vanity Fair about the time he was taking trips on the sex offenders private jet. Advertisement Advertisement Mr Clintons spokesman said after Epsteins arrest for sex trafficking in 2019 that the former president took four trips on the jet between 2002 and 2003, including stops in connection with the work of the Clinton Foundation in Africa. The 2019 statement confirmed the two men met at Epsteins Harlem office and at his New York apartment. Mr Clinton is also alleged to have contributed to Epsteins 50th birthday book in 2003. In his 2024 memoir, Mr Clinton said he knew nothing about Epsteins crimes and that he wished he had never met him. I had always thought Epstein was odd but had no inkling of the crimes he was committing, he wrote. He hurt a lot of people, but I knew nothing about it and by the time he was first arrested in 2005, I had stopped contact with him. Advertisement Advertisement Mr Clinton added: The bottom line is, even though it allowed me to visit the work of my foundation, travelling on Epsteins plane was not worth the years of questioning afterward. I wish I had never met him. A picture of Lord Mandelson with Epstein also features in the files. Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein celebrating a birthday at Epstein's Paris apartment in January 2007 Taken in 2007, it shows the pair celebrating Epsteins 54th birthday at his Paris home. The picture first emerged in 2022. The Labour peer was sacked as Britains ambassador to the United States in September after emails came, to light from 2008 in which he urged Epstein to fight for early release after he was convicted of child prostitution. Advertisement Advertisement The files also reveal a complaint made to the FBI in 1996 by one of Epsteins former employees accusing the financier of child pornography offences. Maria Farmer, who was hired by the paedophile to acquire art for him, said in the document from Sept 3 1996 that Epstein had stolen photographs of her sisters, aged 12 and 16, which she had taken for personal artwork. Epstein at one time requested [redacted] to take pictures of young girls at swimming pools, the complaint reads. Epstein is now threatening [redacted] that if she tells anyone about the photos he will burn her house down. The document redacts her name but Ms Farmer told the New York Times it was her report, saying it vindicated her claims. Not acknowledged Brad Edwards, a lawyer who represents a number of Epsteins victims, said the complaints existence had not previously been publicly acknowledged by the US government. Advertisement Advertisement Ms Farmer has previously said the FBI never responded to her complaint and only contacted her about it in 2008, when Epstein was jailed for soliciting underage sex. They should be ashamed, she said, adding: Ive waited 30 years. I cant believe it. They cant call me a liar anymore. Fridays release came on the final day of the 30-day deadline that mandated the publication of all of the governments files on Epstein except for those revealing the identity of victims. Despite this, only a fraction of the files were released. Democrats criticised the limited released with Chuck Schumer, the partys most senior senator, accusing the administration of a cover-up. This just shows the department of justice, Donald Trump, and Pam Bondi are hellbent on hiding the truth, he said in a statement. Clintons subpoenaed James Comer, the Republican chairman of the House oversight committee, has subpoenaed both Bill and Hillary Clinton to provide in-person depositions into the panels Epstein investigation. The committee is offering the former president and former secretary of state new deposition dates in January and threatening possible contempt proceedings if they do not comply. The Clintons were first subpoenaed in August and have been involved in a legal argument over whether they need to appear in person. On Friday night, Democrats demanded answers from the department of justice as to why so many redactions were made in the documents. Ro Khanna, the congressman behind the Epstein Files Transparency Act, said the initial files protected the identity of rich and powerful men complicit in the paedophiles activities. Mr Khanna claimed Pam Bondi, the US attorney general, could be prosecuted or impeached after obfuscating for months. A document from a New York grand jury has 119 pages totally blacked out, with no explanation for the redactions as required by the Act, even though a federal judge had agreed to its release, he said. Fox News reported that the same redaction standards were applied to politically exposed individuals and government officials as they were to victims. Barnes & Noble at UConn in downtown Storrs is closing its doors at the beginning of the New Year to make way for a new brewery, the first of its kind in the village. Urban Lodge Brewery, which is opening in the fall of 2026, is also part of an academic initiative with UConn to provide experiential and academic learning opportunities for students to connect with the craft beer industry, according to university officials. Our goal isnt just to create a pipeline of new beer brewers in the world, said Jennifer Mathieu, UConns executive director of the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. It is to create interdisciplinary courses for students to get hands-on experience. It provides an opportunity to translate this experience to many other industries and roles. Advertisement Advertisement The brewery is expected to open in the fall of 2026 and will provide internships and job opportunities for students, according to Mathieu. The idea to bring a brewery to downtown Storrs culminated from the wide interest from students in the UConn Brewing Innovation, a collaboration between the College of Engineering, the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources and the School of Business. It was formed in 2023 to provide students with academic courses and experiences concerning the brewing industry such as the science of brewing. In one course, the Brew Crew, Mathieu explained, 60 students worked with Urban Lodge Brewing to market and design a new beer from the raw ingredients to the end results. The class works with Urban Lodge Brewery to design two that they launch into the market, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Mathieu said there are more than 200 applications per semester for the Brew Crew course. Kyle Muncy, director of Brand Partnerships and Trademark Management at UConn, said the decision to close the Barnes & Noble was a joint one between the university and Barnes & Noble, which housed its store at 1 Royce Circle since 2016. Muncy said the bookstore on campus would remain open. In talking with Barnes & Noble we mutually agreed it would be in the best interest of the university and Barnes & Noble for them not to operate the location as a bookstore and that we would institutionally have a better use for it in executing the brewing innovation and Urban Lodge partnership, Muncy said. Advertisement Advertisement Barnes & Noble could not be reached for comment on this story. Michael Gerrity, co-owner of Urban Lodge Brewing, said the partnership with UConn is extremely collaborative. Theres a lot of excitement from the students, he said. The brewers really enjoy the curiosity and the excitement that the students bring and it brings a new level of energy into the brewery. It will be nice to be around a very vibrant and populated community. Mathieu said the hope is to have other community events at the brewery and provide a space for students to come and connect with one another. Other ideas include creating a community brewing program and merchandise, she said. By Andrei Khalip LISBON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - The man who police say killed two Brown University students and a Massachusetts Institute of Technology physicist had cut short a promising academic career to take a modest software developer job back in his native Portugal before returning to the United States in 2017. U.S. investigators, helped by their Portuguese colleagues, are still seeking a motive for the shootings carried out by Claudio Valente before his suicide. Officials have been looking into his academic past, which some of Valentes former colleagues recall as an uneasy one. Advertisement Advertisement According to physicist Filipe Moura, who was Valente's teaching assistant at Lisbon's elite Instituto Superior Tecnico (IST) in 1996-97 and maintained contact with him through the early 2000s, Valente did not enjoy his time at Brown and left after about a year in 2001. "Claudio thought none of it was worthwhile, that it was a waste of time, and that everyone else was incompetent," he wrote, adding that Valente then took a job as an IT specialist for Portuguese internet portal Sapo. In a series of Facebook posts, Moura remembered Valente as "the best student of his year" at IST, but also someone who had "a very strong need to stand out and show that he was better than the others", which often made teaching him an unpleasant experience because of his squabbles with other students. Several ex-students disputed that characterization, however, saying that while Valente could be arrogant at times, he conducted himself much like other brilliant students and did not exhibit any antisocial behavior. Advertisement Advertisement A former colleague at Sapo, cited by the newspaper Diario de Noticias, described Valente as "a very good person, truly sweet," with a great sense of humor and patience to explain things, but extremely reserved about his life away from work. "He was a little weird... a bit out of place as a software developer" considering his academic background in physics, she said, adding that Valente at one point left the company but then returned for another stint before going to the United States. Valente won the U.S. green card lottery and became a lawful permanent resident in 2017. The only child in a middle-class family from the town of Entroncamento near Lisbon, he had severed all relationships with his parents around the time of his studies at Brown, according to local media. Advertisement Advertisement Investigators believe that two days after the Brown shooting, Valente shot Nuno Loureiro, an MIT physics professor and his classmate at the IST. "I never thought I'd live to see this tragic drama unfold, especially involving the physics students from IST who, despite everything, seemed more like children in adult bodies during moments of ego insecurity," researcher Hugo Tercas wrote commenting on Moura's post. (Reporting by Andrei Khalip; Editing by Sergio Non and Nick Zieminski) NEED TO KNOW The suspect in the Brown University mass shooting died at least two days before his body was found, authorities said Claudio Manuel Neves Valente was identified as the suspect and died of a gunshot wound The Portuguese national was a former student at the Ivy League university The suspect behind the deadly Brown University mass shooting likely died two days before his body was found, according to government officials. Attorney General John M. Formella and the Chief Medical Examiner shared new information related to the timeline of Claudio Manuel Neves Valentes death in a press release on Friday, Dec. 19. Providence Police/X Person of interest in the Brown University shooting Person of interest in the Brown University shooting The 48-year-old former Brown University student from Portugal is estimated to have died on December 16, 2025, according to the release, issued by the New Hampshire Department of Justice, citing an autopsy report. Advertisement Advertisement Officials also confirmed previous reports that Valente died as a result of a gunshot wound of the head, and that his manner of death was suicide. During a press conference on Thursday, Dec. 18, authorities said the suspect who killed two people and wounded nine others on Dec. 13 was found dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His body was later found in a New Hampshire storage facility. Brown University President Christina Paxson said Thursday that Neves Valente attended the Ivy League school from 2000 to 2001, where he was enrolled as a graduate student in the physics department. Advertisement Advertisement "It is safe to assume that this man, when he was a student, spent a lot of time in that building," she said, referring to the Barus & Holley building where the shooting occurred. The attack happened at around 4 p.m., local time, when the lone gunman opened fire in the hallway of the building and then entered a lecture hall, where approximately 60 students had just finished a two-hour economics prep session for winter exams. Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov were identified by family members as the two students who were killed. Neves Valente has also been linked to the death of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro. The 47-year-old Portuguese national was shot and killed in his home in Brookline, Mass. on Monday, Dec. 15. Providence Police Department / AFP via Getty CCTV footage released on December 18, 2025 shows Claudio Neves Valente CCTV footage released on December 18, 2025 shows Claudio Neves Valente Investigators later learned that Loureiro and Neves Valente knew each other and studied together in Lisbon, the New York Times reported. Advertisement Advertisement Following a days-long manhunt, authorities were able to track Neves Valente down thanks to an anonymous Reddit user who saw the suspect walking in the area at the time of the shooting. Im being dead serious, the source wrote. The police need to look into a grey Nissan with Florida plates, possibly a rental. That was the car he was driving. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The individual recalled seeing Neves Valente lock the car and then back away suddenly, which he described as odd," leading him to pay more attention to the suspect, according to the affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement The anonymous source added that they then saw the suspect circle the block. In Thursdays press conference, FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks said "even though the suspect was found dead tonight, our work is not done." Read the original article on People A Sacramento County woman who led a transnational terrorist group from the "comfort of her suburban California home" was sentenced this week to 30 years in prison, according to the Department of Justice. Dallas Humber, 35 of Elk Grove, was labeled by federal officials a leader of the Terrorgram Collective, which promotes violent white supremacy and encourages followers to assassinate government officials and commit hate crimes. Federal officials said individuals across the globe committed or plotted attacks "inspired and guided by Humber," including an attack on an energy facility in New Jersey and a plot to murder two people in Wisconsin. Humber was sentenced Wednesday after being convicted of soliciting hate crimes, soliciting the murder of federal officials and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, federal prosecutors announced this week. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Feds say antigovernment group plotted New Year's Eve bombings in Southern California From the comfort of her suburban California home, Humber used online platforms to celebrate violence and solicit attacks that took the lives of innocent people and injured others around the world," said John A. Eisenberg, assistant attorney general for national security, in a statement. The Department of Justice has shown that it can and will find these criminals even in the darkest corners of the Internet. Humber was arrested last year alongside Matthew Allison, 37, of Boise, Idaho. The pair allegedly worked together to circulate several Terrorgram videos and publications mostly on the Telegram messaging app that encouraged carrying out specific crimes and provided a list of assassination targets, according to court documents. They also were accused of providing instructions for making napalm, thermite, chlorine gas, pipe bombs and dirty bombs. Humber actively encouraged violence against, and the murder of, individuals based on their race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity, U.S. Atty. Eric Grant, for the Eastern District of California, said in a statement. Our office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners and with other Department of Justice components to stop these hate-fueled crimes and to ensure the safety of all people and public officials. Advertisement Advertisement The Terrorgram group has been linked to several acts of violence or terror plots, including an October 2022 shooting outside an LGBTQ+ bar in Slovakia, a July 2024 planned attack on an energy facility in New Jersey and a knife attack at a mosque in Turkey. In January, the State Department designated the Terrorgram Collective and three of its members as specially designated global terrorists. Humber's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Times staff writers Brittny Mejia and Nathan Solis contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. NEED TO KNOW More than a month after Capt. Dana Diamond died in a UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville, Ky., his widow is remembering their final moments together Diamond worked at UPS for 37 years as a pilot and previously served as commissioner and fire chief of his local fire department in Texas Minutes before the deadly crash, he texted his wife On the night before a crashing UPS cargo plane rained fire and devastation across a swath of Louisville, Ky. killing 14 Capt. Dana Diamond planted flowers with his wife, Donna, to encourage more butterflies to flit across their 132-acre ranch in Caldwell, Texas. We did good. We've made a beautiful home, Dana, 62, told his wife before he left to serve as the international relief officer on the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 jet that was bound for Hawaii on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Advertisement Advertisement "We've got so much more to do," Dana said. The Diamonds had spent much of October together, making improvements to the property on which their house had been built just a year and a half before. That Monday, Nov. 3, they took a tour of the grounds before Donnas sister, Carol, arrived. At the end of Carol's visit, she got up to leave, giving Dana a hug and kiss. "I worry about you, Dana, on those old airplanes, Carol told her brother-in-law, Donna recalls in an interview with PEOPLE, her first since her husband's death. "I hate it when you fly. I worry about something happening." Donna Diamond From left: Dana and Donna Diamond From left: Dana and Donna Diamond The longtime pilot quickly reassured Carol. "I'm just going to be riding in the back this time, Dana said, according to his wife. "I'm going to be the 'cook.' " Advertisement Advertisement I'll be home before y'all miss me, he told them both. The following afternoon, UPS Flight 2976 was rising into the sky at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport when its left engine and pylon separated from the wing as fire erupted. The plane careened back toward the ground and crashed in a massive explosion, killing Dana, the other two crew members on board Capt. Richard Wartenberg, 57, and First Officer Lee Truitt, 45 and 11 bystanders in the area, PEOPLE previously reported. Donna was left a widow for the second time in her life. I've done this before, says the 63-year-old whose previous husband, Johnny, died unexpectedly in 2015. (She also shares two children with her first husband, whom she divorced before marrying Johnny.) Advertisement Advertisement I didn't think I could ever love like I did before, but Dana is the one, Donna says. For decades, Danas focus was on his career and giving back to his hometown of Bastrop, Texas. He joined UPS in 1988 and rose in the ranks alongside Lee Collins, a fellow pilot. For some years Dana served as Collins deputy in the Independent Pilots Association (IPA), and together they became known as the union's "Batman and Robin." You never wanted to have either one of us in a meeting, because you might be in over your head, says Collins, 65, who worked at UPS for 31 years before becoming CEO of the National Flight Training Alliance. We were a formidable team. Donna Diamond Donna and Dana (center and right) with two of their grandchildren. Donna and Dana (center and right) with two of their grandchildren. Dana also served as commissioner and chief of Bastrop County Emergency Services District No. 1, and later trained aircraft rescue firefighters some of whom were the very first responders who arrived at the scene in Louisville. Advertisement Advertisement He was a champion for safety, says Capt. Jess Grigg, who brought Dana on when he was chairman of the Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) committee of the IPA. Jack Kreckie, a retired deputy fire chief who oversaw ARFF services at Boston Logan International Airport, says the training he received from Dana was "among the best aircraft training many of us have received." In total, Dana helped train more than 1,000 firefighters in that specialty. When Dana met Donna in 2015, their worlds quickly expanded. I was lost and broken, I'll tell you, says Donna. Then I met Dana, and he just filled up everything inside of me. She went on a date with Dana in 2010 her first and her last with him: They were married within a matter of months. This October marked their 10th anniversary. Capt. Jess Grigg Capt. Dana Diamond with ARFF teammembers. Capt. Dana Diamond with ARFF teammembers. We were inseparable, says Donna of the halcyon days of their marriage. Dana quickly became known as Papaw to their now seven grandchildren. Advertisement Advertisement I loved it that my dream was his dream, she adds. Together, the couple built their dream estate. In between long stretches at home in Caldwell, Dana continued to travel across the world for work, leaving sweet notes for Donna to find in his absence. By October, the pilot had spent almost 25 years flying MD-11s, and was the most senior pilot of that fleet type for UPS. In his last conversation with Collins in August, Dana spoke of his plans to retire in 2026. Donna still struggles with the bitter irony that her husband decided to bid on the trip to Hawaii, which was supposed to be quick. Donna Diamond The Diamonds with their grandchildren. The Diamonds with their grandchildren. That Tuesday, Dana texted with his 8-year-old granddaughter, Hayden, who shared her Christmas list and a sweet note: I love you, Papaw. Donna also communicated with Dana multiple times that day. The tenure of the day shifted when she was checking on one of their cows. Her son, Will, called to ask if shed heard about a UPS plane crash in Louisville. Did she know what kind of plane Dana was scheduled to be on? Advertisement Advertisement Rushing home, Donna found Will waiting for her and looked at the news, despite his protests. Her nightmare was soon confirmed: Danas plane had gone down. Oh God, it's him, Donna recalls saying. I got on the floor, just screaming. It wasnt until later that day as she and her family navigated the tsunami of grief and shock that Donna read one of the last messages Dana sent her, minutes before the crash: "I love you, wife." Donna Diamond A young Capt. Dana Diamond. A young Capt. Dana Diamond. In the following weeks, the local community and people around the nation have collectively mourned. Unanswered questions also remain as the NTSB continues its lengthy investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Collins describes the crash as the perfect storm of events. He says that if the plane had just lost an engine, that airplane would've flown away just fine. But losing an engine, getting a fire going on that wing where the engine left from, and then contaminating the number two engine and causing that to compressor stall, and then roll back, Collins continues. You can't really envision that scenario. Donna Diamond Days before the crash, Dana and Donna took their grandchildren trick-or-treating. Days before the crash, Dana and Donna took their grandchildren trick-or-treating. He adds, There was nothing that was going to save them after that second engine rolled back. As he awaits the NTSB report, Collins says that hes alarmed by a change in statistics. For years during his tenure at UPS, the company had no deadly crashes, but in the last 15 years, thats changed, he says. Advertisement Advertisement There have been three crashes, all of which were fatal, seven crew members killed, and 11 people on the ground, says Collins, referencing the three deadly UPS plane crashes that have occurred since 2010, as reported by USA Today. Capt. Jess Grigg IPA members salute the casket of Capt. Dana Diamond for the flight from Dallas to Austin. IPA members salute the casket of Capt. Dana Diamond for the flight from Dallas to Austin. As he mourns his friend and former colleague, Collins says that the best way to honor Dana is by training pilots with a focus on safety a priority that Dana fought for every day. 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. Dana was very much a formidable person and captain in that he believed in doing things one way, and that was the right way, the safe way, says Collins. There were no shortcuts. There were no excuses because we all know our world can have deadly consequences. The goal is to keep that from ever happening. Advertisement Advertisement Sharing Danas impact on the aviation community is important to Donna, even as she holds memories of him close. Dear wife, I love you, Dana wrote months ago in a note that he left for Donna to find, hoping to ease the ache from his absence. You are the best part of me. Read the original article on People TikTok is moving closer to staying online in the United States after reaching a major deal to separate its US business from its China-based parent company, ByteDance. The plan, backed by President Donald Trump, would place TikTok's US operations into a new company owned mostly by American investors, according to a memo sent to employees by CEO Shou Chew. The agreement is not final yet, but it marks a big step forward. A US law passed last year requires TikTok to sell most of its American assets or face a ban. Enforcement of that law was delayed several times while the Trump administration worked to arrange a transfer of control to US ownership. In his memo, Chew said TikTok has signed agreements with investors to form a new U.S. joint venture. "We have signed agreements with investors regarding a new TikTok US joint venture, enabling over 170 million Americans to continue discovering a world of endless possibilities," he wrote. A source familiar with the matter confirmed the memo, FoxBusiness reported. Under the deal, the new TikTok US company will be owned 50% by a group led by Oracle, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-backed investment firm MGX. Just over 30% will belong to existing ByteDance investors, while ByteDance itself will keep a 19.9% stake. This structure is meant to meet US legal limits that require most ownership to be in non-Chinese hands. BREAKING: TikTok US Sold Deal Signed with Oracle, Silver Lake & MGX Leading the ChargeByteDance inks agreement to spin off US ops to American-led joint venture. Oracle handles data, security & algorithm. Massive cloud boost incoming. Closes Jan 2026, ban averted! pic.twitter.com/FfEj81M3Vw Stock Mom (@stockmom) December 18, 2025 TikTok US Algorithm to Be Retrained Chew told employees that more steps are still needed before the deal is completed. The companies involved are aiming to finish everything by January 22, 2026, with both TikTok and ByteDance agreeing to the current terms. The Trump administration has said the deal counts as a qualified divestiture under US law. According to CNN, an executive order signed in September delayed the ban for 120 days to give the companies time to close the transaction. The law, which took effect in January, bans apps like TikTok unless about 80% of their US assets are sold to non-Chinese investors. As part of the plan, TikTok's US algorithm will be retrained using American user data, and Oracle will manage data storage for US users. The new US company will also handle content moderation. However, ByteDance's global TikTok business is expected to continue managing e-commerce, advertising, and marketing. The deal still needs approval from regulators in both the US and China. While President Trump has said Chinese President Xi Jinping supports the plan, China has not publicly confirmed its approval. Originally published on vcpost.com A group of Catholic faith leaders is demanding access to the Broadview Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. They want to be allowed inside on Christmas Eve and Day, to pray with detainees and offer communion. Some said they are horrified after seeing that more people were detained this week in the Chicago area. "We pray they remember that those inside Broadview are not numbers, not cases, not paperwork. They are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters," said Sister Jeremy Midura, who is with the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership Women's Religious Council. Advertisement Advertisement Catholic clergy on Friday gathered outside the downtown immigration office. Members of CSPL are once again requesting to access the Broadview processing facility to offer pastoral care. They delivered a letter to a Department of Homeland Security officer to get access to the facility on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to provide communion. "We lift our voices with theirs, and we are here to insist, and our right to extend pastoral care to them," said Father Dan Hartnett, with CSPL. RELATED: Illinois Accountability Commission holds 1st meeting on claims of abuse in 'Operation Midway Blitz' This week, more than a dozen people were detained as immigration enforcement was carried out in Cicero, Little Village, Evanston and more. Advertisement Advertisement Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino made a return, and watched as operations were carried out. DHS reiterated that they "aren't leaving Chicago and operations are ongoing." "Families are being ripped apart during this most holy and sacred weeks of Advent," Hartnett said. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is running for a U.S. Senate seat, was granted access to the Broadview processing center Friday. He said he visited the detention cells, but still has many concerns. "What I was told is that no one is being held here anymore overnight. They are normally taken to other states," said Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat who represents Illinois' 8th District. "My biggest concern is the people who they are targeting. It could just be someone who is walking down the sidewalk and had nothing to do with the target in question. They could get picked up and taken to this Broadview facility." Advertisement Advertisement There is a pending lawsuit against DHS to allow pastoral care at the Broadview processing center on a regular basis. A DHS spokesperson shared the following statement late Friday: "The facility in Broadview, IL is a field office, it is not a detention facility. Illegal aliens are only briefly held there for processing before being transferred to a detention facility. Religious organizations are more than welcome to provide services to detainees in ICE detention facilities. Even before the attacks on the Broadview facility, it was not within standard operating procedure for religious services to be provided in a field office, as detainees are continuously brought in, processed, and transferred out. "In addition, rioters have repeatedly attacked the Broadview field office and Illinois streets, creating serious safety concerns for personnel and detainees alike. They created serious public safety and officer safety threats: assaulting law enforcement, attacking law enforcement with vehicles, throwing tear gas cans, slashing tires, been arrested with firearms in their possession, blocking the entrance of the building, and trespassing on private property. "ICE staff has repeatedly informed religious organizations that due to Broadview's status as a field office and the ongoing threat to civilians, detainees, and officers, they for safety, they are not able to accommodate these requests at this time." The City of Centerville has filed an appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court regarding the Sheetz development project, challenging a previous decision by the Court of Appeals. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] News Center 7 previously reported that in November, the Second District Court of Appeals ruled that Centerville needs to accept the recommendations of the Centerville Planning Commission, which approved the plan for the site on Far Hills Avenue. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Centerville maintains that its city council unanimously determined that the Sheetz proposal was not consistent with surrounding properties as required by its unified development ordinance. News Center 7 reached out to a city spokesperson about the appeal filed Friday and received the following response: The City of Centerville has filed an appeal asking the Ohio Supreme Court to review the decision of the Court of Appeals that upheld the trial courts decision allowing the Sheetz development. Centerville strongly believes this case raises important questions about local land-use authority and our elected officials ability to make responsible planning decisions that reflect community values. City Council unanimously determined the character of the Sheetz proposal was not consistent with the surrounding properties as required by Centerville unified development ordinance. We continue to believe that those closest to our residents needs should retain the authority to make these critical decisions. News Center 7 has reached out to the legal team representing Sheetz and Elsas, who said they were aware this appeal would be filed. We will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A prison officer from Cherry Hill has admitted that he raped an inmate at a federal detention center in Philadelphia, authorities said. Michael Jefferson, 43, allegedly entered a sleeping woman's cell during an overnight shift, grabbed her shoulder from behind and then warned, "Don't say anything," according to a prosecution filing in Philadelphia federal court. DNA evidence provided "very strong support" for identifying Jefferson as the assailant in the July 2024 incident, the memorandum stated. Advertisement Advertisement Inmate assault: South Jersey corrections officer heads to prison Jefferson, who also faces a civil suit from the inmate, admitted guilt Dec. 18 to aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and sexual abuse of a ward. He also pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law. The U.S. Constitution and federal laws protect inmates from cruel and unusual punishment, which includes the right to be free from sexual abuse by a correctional officer, the federal prosecutor's office said. The inmate's lawsuit said the woman had been placed on a suicide watch three days before the assault and was alone in a "high security" cell in the special housing unit (SHU). Advertisement Advertisement It said the woman, identified as Jane Doe, pretended to sleep after the assault, but reported the incident when prison officers began their morning shift. She was taken to a hospital, where a rape test found DNA evidence. A second officer in the SHU during the assault told investigators that he didn't have a view of the inmate's cell and that he'd been listening to music, the prosecutor filing said. The suit contended that officials at the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and detention center employees knew or should known of the danger presented by Jefferson. "It was known among officers and incarcerated people, that Officer Jefferson likes to have women in the SHU cells strip naked and dance for him so that he can see," the suit alleged. Advertisement Advertisement It also claimed Jefferson "knew how to identify various blind spots that fell outside of the view of the security cameras." Jefferson was fired from his job, the lawsuit said. He's to be sentenced April 7. Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com. . This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Prison officer admits guilt to sex assault at FCI Philadelphia CHICAGO The budget counterproposal crafted by opponents of Mayor Brandon Johnson won a critical first vote before the full City Council on Friday, setting the mayor up to soon concede their remarkable weekslong fight or issue Chicagos first mayoral veto of a budget in decades. Aldermen voted 29-19 to approve the revenue piece of an alternative 2026 spending plan that does not include Johnsons corporate head tax. Thats shy of the 34-vote threshold needed to override a potential mayoral veto, however, leaving the door open for the City Hall standoff to escalate further still. And with under two weeks until an end-of-year deadline to approve a budget, all factions agree Chicago is inching too close for comfort to a government shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement When the moment came, aldermen debated for mere moments before quickly passing the plan. The city of Chicagos financial position is at a critical juncture, and I think we have emerged today with the budget plan that protects programs which are vital to those, said Ald. Pat Dowell, Johnsons handpicked budget chair who played a critical role in the effort that out-muscled him. The $16.6 billion aldermanic package contains a debt sale measure that Johnson called Thursday morally bankrupt and a red line. His budget team warned such a novel proposal should not be counted on to raise any money at all, on top of attacking other components of the alternative budget that they argue is unbalanced and would require midyear amendments next year. Whether the plan requires a veto, in Johnsons eyes, is the question of the hour. Advertisement Advertisement I dont want people to take this as some sort of tool that is being taken lightly, he told reporters on Thursday. It needs to be used when necessary, and I will find that tool necessary if there is something that is presented in front of me that doesnt hold to our values as a city. Johnson advisers said Friday the mayor had still not made up his mind on a veto. He will not reveal his decision until after the full budget package faces a vote likely to occur on Saturday. The mayor introduced a revised budget plan of his own Friday that would replace the debt sale plan with his proposal to reinstate a corporate head tax. In the plan, the city would make a full advanced pension payment Johnson had earlier proposed halving, not legalize video gambling terminals and count on slot machines being placed at a Midway Airport lounge. The historic rebuke of the freshman mayor will likely draw further condemnation from his leftist allies who have been admonishing aldermen for what they say is siding with rich corporations and billionaires over working-class Chicagoans. But even the progressives were not united with Johnson, who first introduced his own $16.6 billion package in October but failed to make the case that his pitch to reinstate the citys head tax, among other new revenue measures, was Chicagos best hope to stand up to President Donald Trump. ____ The Chicago City Council passed a 2026 city budget plan Saturday, but Mayor Brandon Johnson has the ability to veto it. The $16.6 billion budget, which does not include the mayor's controversial proposed corporate head tax, passed with a vote of 30 to 18, meaning it is not veto-proof. Chicago city leaders had face two sources of pressure as they worked to pass a budget as quickly as possible. They had less than two weeks to avert a government shutdown, and their set Christmas deadline was also less than a week away. Advertisement Advertisement "The goal from the start of this process was to pass a budget that did not kill jobs at a time when the city faces it's worse forecast since COVID," 39th Ward Ald. Samantha Nugent, who supported the alternative budget that was passed. Chicago City Council members hashed it out and passed the plan during a rare Saturday meeting, which began at 10 a.m. The move comes a day after alders approved amended 2026 revenue ordinance Friday, which determines how the city will bring in money next year. "We have an obligation to pass a budget that is honest, reliable, and truly balanced. This budget is not. Mayor Johnson and some alderpersons do not support the alternative budget, which a majority of alderpersons are behind, calling it unbalanced. Advertisement Advertisement "We have an obligation to pass a budget that is honest, reliable, and truly balanced. This budget is not," 26th Ward Ald. Jessie Fuentes said. "This is not the alternative budget, this is the billionaire budget," 25th Ward Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez said. The plan partially calls for increased collections of debt owed to the city and focusing on businesses and developers who can afford to pay versus the working poor, who are unable to pay for items like unpaid parking tickets or water bills. It also relies on an increase in the city's plastic bag tax, ride share tax and liquor sales tax, while adding video gaming to restaurants and advertising to light poles and city vehicles. "We take nothing for granted here," 11th Ward Ald. Nicole Lee said. "We're proud of the work of this coalition, and as I say it many times, I don't believe there's one member of council who wants to see a government shut down." Advertisement Advertisement The budget by the alders also proposes bringing in nearly $90 million from selling some debt owed to the city for unpaid fines and fees, a proposal the mayor and his supporters have called "immoral." The administration says the alternate proposal would lead to a projected $163 million deficit in 2026. "We build our hope on what is just, and what is just is what I laid out in my protecting Chicago budget that continue to lay the groundwork for transformation," Mayor Johnson said. Chicago faces a projected $1.2 billion shortfall for 2026 stemming from from expiring federal pandemic aid, rising employee costs and structural imbalances. 'We're taking steps at a time," 37th Ward Ald. Emma Mitts said. "We're not trying to take giant steps here, cause we're in the unknown territory." Advertisement Advertisement Alderpersons said 30 members of council supported the alternative plan, but that figure still falls a bit short of the 34 votes needed to override a mayoral veto. In a last-minute move Friday, the mayor reintroduced his controversial corporate head tax, but it was immediately sent to the Rules Committee, where it was likely dead. The mayor's modified budget also calls for allowing gaming at Midway Airport instead of having video gaming terminals spread around the city. The mayor's proposal also restores the full pension payment for city employees, a position his opponents had been pushing for. Since the alderpersons advocating for the alternative budget succeeded in voting their version through over the mayor's objection, it is now the first time that has happened in decades, if ever. Advertisement Advertisement It is not yet clear if Mayor Johnson will veto the budget or not. He says he will make a decision by Christmas. The city has until Dec. 30 to officially pass a budget or the city will go into a government shutdown. China is still trying to recruit US-based researchers despite years of heightened scrutiny, members of Congress were told on Thursday at a hearing where multiple science agencies warned that tighter security measures must go hand in hand with efforts to retain foreign talent. "Just in the past week, I have received three emails that were forwarded to me from researchers in the community who had been approached for recruitment by Chinese malign foreign talent recruitment programmes," said Rebecca Keiser, acting chief of staff of the National Science Foundation (NSF). "The fact that they were approached, even now in 2025, is extremely concerning," she continued, adding that Beijing kept changing the names of recruitment programmes, making it difficult to enforce security measures. Advertisement Advertisement Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. The comments came during a House science committee hearing focused on protecting US research from China. Officials from the National Institutes of Health, Nasa and Department of Energy also testified amid growing political pressure to sever scientific ties with China. Washington has for years raised concern about state-backed programmes from China, such as the Thousand Talents Programme, which was set up in the late 2000s to draw in leading researchers from overseas. Advertisement Advertisement Keiser urged Congress to act to protect early-stage research, citing a recent case in which a China-based researcher sought to join an NSF-funded project and get an agreement to publish its results. She added that such research often fell outside the scope of existing US export controls and other laws, including those designed to protect intellectual property. She and other witnesses stressed that US agencies had responded to outreach efforts from China by tightening vetting procedures for foreign researchers, but warned against measures that could deter legitimate international cooperation. Asked by Florida Republican Daniel Webster whether the US could remain competitive in global research without China, Patricia Valdez, a chief research integrity officer at the NIH, said no. Advertisement Advertisement "We definitely need to have international collaborations," Valdez said. "Science is global. We can't cut off all the other countries." Daniel Evans, a senior research official at Nasa, said concerns about China's "malign" foreign talent recruitment programmes should not obscure the parallel challenge of retaining foreign-born researchers trained in the US. He cited an example of his Chinese officemate at Harvard who conducted "benign" research in the US and later returned to China to found a tech company. "The issue wasn't so much that we trained him - it's that we lost him, and the long-term economic benefit of that US research investment was actually accrued to an overseas nation," Evans said. Advertisement Advertisement Jay Tilden, director of the counter-intelligence office at the Department of Energy, said universities were a key area for research security, arguing they needed support from the US government to assess whether incoming scientists posed acceptable risks. Tilden also called for congressional support to develop "US-born talent", while noting that it would take the country a long time to "wean" itself off its reliance on Chinese and other foreign researchers. The witnesses found a receptive audience from members of both parties, with Rich McCormick, the Republican chairman of the subcommittee on scientific investigations and oversight, saying lawmakers were grappling with a persistent tension. "We walk a fine line between talent and risk ... We'll never be done. It doesn't matter who the president is, doesn't matter who the chair is, doesn't matter who has the majority, this issue will follow us for the rest of our lives." Advertisement Advertisement The difficulty of drawing that line became clear when a provision that would have imposed funding restrictions and disclosure requirements on university research collaborations with Chinese entities was left out of a defence bill signed into law on Thursday. But some lawmakers still lean towards more blanket restrictions. "We need to be open and secure, but I don't know that we can do that with our adversaries. They have been robbing us blind for decades," Pat Harrigan, a North Carolina Republican, said on Thursday. Meanwhile, efforts to shed light on US government funding of research involving Chinese institutions continue. Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, the House committee on China released a report identifying around 4,350 research papers published between June 2023 and June 2025 that acknowledged funding from the Energy Department or research support while involving relationships with Chinese entities. 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 rebuilding of a World War II-era airfield in Micronesia with the help of Chinese companies has raised alarm in the United States, with US defence analysts warning about Beijing's growing footprint in the strategic western Pacific. Cleo Paskal, a non-resident senior fellow at the Washington-based Foundation for Defence of Democracies, posted a video on social media last week showing an airport runway being rebuilt on Woleai, a remote 4.5 sq km atoll in Micronesia's Yap state. "Chinese company at work rebuilding the old Imperial Japanese runway on Woleai, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia - a bit over 600 miles from Guam. Scheduled to be completed by the end of the month," Paskal said in the post on December 10. Advertisement Advertisement Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Originally built in the early 1940s by imperial Japan, the runway was wrecked by US bombers during the second world war, leaving it unusable, according to the Habele Institute, a project run by the US-based non-profit Habele Outer Island Education Fund. Now at least two Chinese companies appear to be involved in rebuilding the facility. At the time of the groundbreaking ceremony in May, Shandong Hengyue Municipal Engineering Co Ltd, a private Chinese firm, said in a company statement that it was working on the project. Advertisement Advertisement Shandong Hengyue said the project would play "a vital role in promoting regional economic and social development". "The reconstructed airport runway will significantly enhance aviation capacity and safety, benefiting ... residents of the atoll," it said. And in a social media post in October, a subsidiary of Dezhou Transport Development Group, a municipal state-owned enterprise in Shandong province, indicated that its employees were also involved in the construction work. The runway on Woleai was originally built in the early 1940s by imperial Japan. Photo: X/Cleo Paskal alt=The runway on Woleai was originally built in the early 1940s by imperial Japan. Photo: X/Cleo Paskal> Advertisement Advertisement Micronesian President Wesley Simina, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony, described the project as "a long-awaited investment funded by the [Federated States of Micronesia] Congress to restore air connectivity and improve transportation access for the atoll". Simina's office referred to the reconstruction as the "Woleai Airstrip Rehabilitation Project". As with the Marshall Islands and Palau, Micronesia is tied to the US in the Compact of Free Association, under which Washington provides economic aid and military protection to the three Pacific nations in exchange for exclusive military access to vast areas of their land, air and territorial waters. The compact gives the US the right to veto any third-country military or strategic presence in Micronesia, making it extremely unlikely that China could use the Woleai airfield for its own dual-use purposes without Washington's consent. Advertisement Advertisement Brent Sadler, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation's Allison Centre for National Security, described the runway's reconstruction as the "latest warning sign" that "China is methodically chipping away at America's Pacific defence architecture". "Given the stakes, an investigation is needed to determine how another Chinese investment in dual-use military facilities has proceeded unimpeded for so long," Sadler, a retired US Navy captain, wrote in an article in National Security Journal on December 10. Micronesian President Wesley Simina (centre, wearing a blue shirt and garland) leads the groundbreaking ceremony for the runway project on Woleai on May 26. Photo: X/Cleo Paskal alt=Micronesian President Wesley Simina (centre, wearing a blue shirt and garland) leads the groundbreaking ceremony for the runway project on Woleai on May 26. Photo: X/Cleo Paskal> The unease surrounding the runway work highlights the escalating tug of war between the US and China for diplomatic and economic leverage in the resource-rich, strategically important region. Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, Beijing signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands, and in February this year, signed three memorandums of understanding with the Cook Islands, covering infrastructure, tourism, technology and deep-sea mineral exploration. While Beijing has said very little, if anything, about the Micronesian project, the Chinese embassy in Fiji said in July that Beijing had for decades been involved in "practical matters such as renovating roads and building bridges" in the Pacific region. "China has no interest in geopolitical competition or seeking the so-called 'sphere of influence'. There are no political strings attached to China's assistance," the embassy said. As its strategic rivalry with Beijing intensifies, Washington has renewed its focus on the Pacific islands after years of waning interest following the end of the Cold War. Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, US President Donald Trump signed into law the National Defence Authorisation Act for financial year 2026. It calls on the US Defence Department to engage with Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Palau and other Pacific island countries as part of efforts "to further the comparative advantage of the United States in strategic competition with the People's Republic of China". The legislation also raised American funding for Micronesia's Yap International Airport by nearly 58 per cent to US$1.495 billion. The development came days after China hosted a group of diplomatic representatives from the region. Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Ma Zhaoxu, China's foreign vice-minister, met in Beijing with envoys from Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu and the Pacific Islands Forum. "China and Pacific island countries have yielded fruitful results in the past year," the Chinese foreign ministry quoted Ma as saying. In November, Beijing signed a framework agreement to upgrade its economic partnership with five Pacific island nations, including Micronesia, after hosting a gathering in May with the foreign ministers of 11 countries from the region. 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. WEST SALEM The Northwestern Ruritan Club held its Christmas dinner and meeting Dec. 8 at Northwestern High School, according to a community announcement. The meeting included the installation of the club's 2026 officers by Rick Dilyard, the 2026 Ohio District governor. Dilyard emphasized the importance of maintaining virtue and encouraging young people to appreciate the freedoms the country offers. A night of celebration and service The meeting began with members singing "America" and an invocation by Jim Johnson. A ham dinner was served by the school's chefs, and the Northwestern High School Choir, led by Leslie Andrews, performed Christmas songs. Advertisement Advertisement Treasurer Chuck Beck reported on the successful packing of packages for the "Huskie Brigade," which supports Northwestern area soldiers. Packages were sent to 24 soldiers, and Beck expressed appreciation for the contributions and assistance from club members. He also mentioned receiving paper work from the State Highway Department regarding the club's participation in trash pickup along St. Rt. 301 from Pleasant Home to Lattasburg in 2026. Husky Salute Squad honors veterans Kevin and Joyce Keener provided an update on the Husky Salute Squad, which was involved in the National Wreathes Across America Day Ceremony on Dec. 13. Seven cemeteries in the Northwestern School District were served, with 654 known veterans' graves honored. The West Salem Legion Rifle Squad participated in the opening ceremony at the West Salem American Legion Hall, and the Northwestern High School FFA and others assisted in placing the wreaths. Bell ringing and community outreach Many members signed up for the Salvation Army bell ringing at Buehler's Milltown Store on Dec. 16. It was noted that few Northwestern students are aware of the Ruritan Club and its activities, and there is hope to increase awareness in the future. The next dinner meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at Northwestern High School, with club committees set to discuss plans for the year. The directors will meet at 6 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/. This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Northwestern Ruritan Club installs new officers and plans for 2026 The French have been accused of ruining Christmas after an IT meltdown across the Channel sparked travel chaos at Dover. Holidaymakers have been facing queues of up to an hour after French border controls were compromised on Saturday morning, prompting traffic to back up around the busy port. Millions of motorists hit the road for their Christmas getaways on Saturday, with around 30,000 cars expected to embark on outward journeys from Dover during the festive period. Advertisement Advertisement The chaos at the border sparked a backlash from senior Tories, who attacked the French authorities for disrupting peoples holidays. Mark Francois, the shadow defence minister and chairman of the European Research Group, told The Telegraph: It seems daft that France, our ally in Nato and fellow partner in the coalition of the willing is prepared to treat Brits just trying to take a Christmas break in this way. If we can co-operate successfully in defence of Ukraine, why cant France run a more efficient border regime, just across the Channel? Port authorities have urged holidaymakers not to arrive for their ferry more than two hours early - PA/Gareth Fuller Greg Smith, a shadow transport minister, told The Telegraph: The French IT issues must be resolved ASAP. It is just unfathomable that IT has gone wrong this close to a key holiday period. Advertisement Advertisement The French have consistently caused border issues they insisted on developing the app for the entry-exit system yet have an IT record worse than most. Richard Holden, the shadow transport secretary, said: The Government should have ensured robust contingency plans with French authorities long before Christmas travel peaked. Ministers need to get a grip and give travellers clear, honest information, rather than leaving families stuck in queues. Authorities said they were working with partner agencies to resolve the problem and urged passengers not to arrive more than two hours before they were due to sail. Advertisement Advertisement At one point, the Port of Dover said tourist queue times were around 60 minutes, but estimates reduced to 30 minutes later in the day. At around 2.45pm, the port said traffic was now free-flowing through border control, with only small queues in the check-in area. In a post on X, it said: Tourist traffic is now free-flowing through border control with no queue in the buffer zone. There are small queues at the check-in plaza. Passengers were reassured they would put on the next available ferry if they missed their bookings, while authorities advertised pet welfare points for animals. P&O Ferries, which operates some of the ships from the port, said there were large queues on the approach roads and in the buffer area, but once through passengers were facing a smooth check-in with no delays. Advertisement Advertisement The RAC estimates that around 37.5 million leisure trips by car are planned between Dec 17 and Christmas Eve, with 2025 looking to be the busiest Christmas getaway period on record. Nick Mullender, RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader, said: With record numbers predicted to be taking to the roads this Christmas, journeys have the potential to be Grinch-worthy without some careful planning. The week before Christmas is one of the few times of year when most of the UK hits the road simultaneously, with 2025 looking to be the busiest getaway period since our records began. National Highways, which manages Englands motorways and major A roads, said it will remove as many roadworks as we safely can so everyone can get where they need to go this Christmas. Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays. One emoji prompted a social media nightmare for a Greater Cincinnati doughnut shop and forced them to publicly apologize for insulting the area's LGBTQ+ community. The local bakery posted a puking emoji from its business account on a story from local lifestyle site CityBeat in reaction to a story about Midwestern Lesbian signing a lease for a new office space in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. "We are deeply sorry for the harm this caused and are reviewing how our social media accounts are managed and putting clearer safeguards in place to ensure this does not happen again," Marcella's Doughnuts and Bakery posted as part of the apology Dec. 18 on its Facebook page after deleting the emoji. Advertisement Advertisement Marcella's, which has three locations in Greater Cincinnati, did not return phone calls from The Enquirer seeking an explanation of how the incident occurred. Kelsey Ference, who founded Midwestern Lesbian in 2021 as a resource for the LGBTQ+ community, and her partner, Caitlin Dunkley, saw the Facebook post in the early morning hours of Dec. 18. The couple quickly responded with an Instagram story highlighting the Facebook post and their response: "sending homophobic hate comments from your business account is crazy work." Marcellas was founded by Marcella Holtman Poole, the daughter of locally famous doughnut maker Charles Holtman, and her husband, Bill. Advertisement Advertisement The business is now owned by Marcella Holtman Poole's grandson, Tristin Meholick, and his parents, Carmen and Cory Meholick, according to the bakery's web page. Ference said Marcella's contacted her through Instagram and asked them to take down their story after the post garnered a large number of responses. This is a screenshot of an Instagram story posted by the founders of Midwestern Lesbian, reacting to a derogatory Facebook post on Marcellas' Donuts & Bakery's Facebook page. Midwest Lesbian wanted to send message with Instagram post The couple refused to take down the Instagram story, which has since expired, because they wanted to send a message, Ference said. "Our whole intention is to keep our community safe and make sure the businesses our community is supporting are also supportive of our community," Ference told The Enquirer. Advertisement Advertisement Although Marcella's apologized online, Ference said no one from the bakery has reached out to her directly. "They posted the apology on Facebook after our story started blowing up and people started sharing it," Ference said. "We've communicated with them (Marcella's) via Instagram, but they haven't said anything to us other than asking us to take down our original story post.'' Controversy started over new LGBTQ+ resource in OTR The controversy started over Ference and Dunkley's plans to open a new office at 1447 Walnut St. in Over-the-Rhine. The couple recently signed a lease for a 654-square-foot office in the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. Willkommen project. Advertisement Advertisement Willkommen is a mixed-use, mixed-income development that includes 16 historic rehabs and four new infill buildings across four sites in the neighborhood. 3CDC said in a press release that it's committed to "cultivating a diverse, inclusive mix of businesses" and highlighted its long-standing partnership with Ference and Dunkley on several events in civic spaces. Midwestern Lesbian has expanded over the years Ference and Dunkley, Midwestern Lesbian's co-owner, have expanded the business into an active event organizer, collaborating with local businesses and organizations. Kelsey Ference, founder of the social media platform Midwestern Lesbian, Thursday, June 13, 2024, at Tokyo Kitty in Cincinnati. Ference hosted a Gay Karaoke night event at the venue. Ference and Dunkley have cultivated thousands of followers across Instagram and Facebook by posting social calendars of events at the Birdcage, Bloom OTR and other local LGBTQ+ friendly spots. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Midwestern Lesbian calls out Facebook post as hate speech With Christmas right around the corner, many Missourians are already gearing up to travel for the holiday. Given the unpredictability of Missouri's weather, it's hard to say for sure what's in store. Will it be a classic white Christmas or an unusually warm one? To prepare travelers for what may lie ahead, here are multiple weather services' predictions on what the weather will be like in Missouri this Christmas. National Weather Service's Christmas weather forecast for Missouri U.S. temperature outlook for Dec. 22-26. The National Weather Service predicts the state has about an 80-90% chance of seeing warmer-than-usual temperatures during the Christmas holiday. Advertisement Advertisement There's also about a 40-50% chance that Missouri will experience below- normal precipitation levels, so it's unlikely there'll be any snow and/or rain. More: These Missouri events rank among the nation's best holiday events Missouri Christmas weather forecast from AccuWeather Meteorologists at AccuWeather similarly predict the weather in Missouri will be dry and warmer than usual during the Christmas holiday. Old Farmer's Almanac Christmas weather forecast: Mild in Missouri Christmas forecast map for the U.S. The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts the weather will be mild, sunny and with minimal precipitation in the Heartland region during the Christmas holiday. It should be mostly smooth sailing for Missourians travelling within the state. Farmers' Almanac Christmas weather forecast The Farmers' Almanac, meanwhile, largely differs in its weather predictions for the Christmas holiday. Advertisement Advertisement The publication forecasts that the North Central zone, which includes Missouri, will experience some snow and flurries earlier in the week, ultimately culminating in stormy weather with heavy snow. AAA predicts record number of travelers for Christmas 2025 AAA projects more than 122 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the year-end holiday period, which runs from Saturday, Dec. 20, to Thursday, Jan. 1. "This year's forecast is a 2.2% increase over 2024, surpassing last year's record of 119.7 million travelers," AAA said. Here's a breakdown of AAA's prediction on how people will travel over the year-end holiday period: Advertisement Advertisement Car: 109.5 million people (89.4%) Plane: 8.03 million people (6.6%) Other (bus, train, cruise): 4.90 million people (4%) This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: What's in the Christmas weather forecast for Missouri? Heather Sterling stepped into the ring at the Texas Game Warden Training Center, ready to face an ambush by instructors acting as violent assailants. The four-on-one drill is a rite of passage for those training to be game wardens, sworn officers who enforce state conservation laws. Nationwide, thousands of local and state police recruits are allowed into the profession only after passing similar drills simulated fights for their lives. The barrage of force against Sterling came rapidly, video obtained by The Associated Press shows. A surprise push from behind threw her to the floor. A right-handed punch to the back of the head knocked her down. Within two minutes, she was struck at least seven times in the head, the last blow knocking off her wrestling helmet. Advertisement Advertisement Protect yourself! an instructor yelled. Sterling completed the drill but suffered a concussion. A dozen of her classmates a third in all were injured that day as they were repeatedly punched, tackled on a gym floor and thrown against padded walls, records show. While the drill was physically punishing, their experience was not unique. Since 2005, similar drills at law enforcement academies nationwide have been linked to at least a dozen deaths and hundreds of injuries, some resulting in disability, an AP investigation has found. ______ Editors note: This is the third installment of APs Dying to Serve series. Find the previous stories here and here. Advertisement Advertisement ______ The drills frequently referred to as RedMan training for the brand and color of protective gear worn by participants are intended to teach law enforcement recruits how to defend themselves against combative suspects. Theyre among the most challenging tests at police academies. Law enforcement experts say that when properly designed and supervised, they teach new officers critical skills for handling high-stress situations. But critics say they can put recruits at risk of physical and mental abuse that runs some promising officers out of the profession. Academies have wide latitude in running such exercises, given a lack of national standards governing police training. Sterling quit the academy after her drill. She's now speaking out, hoping to spark change in training practices nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement Im worried that someone is going to get killed, said Sterling, who'd previously worked as a senior game warden and defensive tactics instructor in Wyoming. This is a poorly disguised assault. An investigation by the agency that regulates law enforcement training found no wrongdoing in how the drill was conducted. An academy official told investigators the goal was to overwhelm the cadet physically and mentally to force them to think while physically exhausted. An expert who reviewed the case told AP injuries happen during volatile training environments nationwide, but the Texas drill stood out for its design recruits could not use force to defend themselves against the onslaught of assailants. He said the number of injuries was concerning. To teach cadets how and when to defend themselves, only to put them in a doomsday scenario with the instruction that theyre not allowed to fight back, does not match any training curriculum Ive seen, said David Jude, a retired Kentucky State Police academy commander. Advertisement Advertisement A Wyoming game warden moves back to Texas In October 2024, Sterling started the Texas Parks and Wildlife Departments eight-month academy in rural central Texas, which boasts of producing the best-trained conservation officers in the country. Game wardens called conservation officers or wildlife troopers in some states enforce hunting and fishing laws. They carry firearms, have arrest powers, are often among the first to respond to emergencies and rescue missions. Sterling said she loved serving as a game warden for nearly five years in Wyoming, where she sometimes shooed moose and mountain lions away from towns. Patrolling without backup, she said, she had some very tense conversations with suspects and had to restrain some in handcuffs. Advertisement Advertisement She said almost everyone she encountered during hunting season was armed and potentially dangerous, but she prided herself on responding alertly and calmly. She never had to fight a suspect, and none of the 40 wardens she taught self-defense had been in a significant use-of-force incident. Sterling applied in Texas to live closer to family, hoping for a similar law-enforcement role in her home state. She grew up as the daughter of a Dallas police officer and ran track and cross-country at Texas A&M. The academy scheduled the four-on-one drill for Dec. 13, 2024, after five weeks of arrest and control training. Instructors told cadets they couldn't defend themselves and were only to punch and kick a shield held by instructors, Sterling recalled. They discussed how some cadets had been seriously injured and terminated from previous academies for performing poorly. Advertisement Advertisement Sterling told AP she was confused by the drills purpose. She'd never been ambushed by one person, let alone four. If that happened, shed be able to use a firearm or other force to defend herself. As an instructor, she said, she would have never approved such a scenario or allowed punches to the head and neck. A female classmate who had previously worked as a police officer resigned rather than participate. She later told investigators she saw the drill as inappropriate and part of an academy culture of unprofessional training and hazing. But Sterling felt she had no choice if she wanted to stay in her profession. She completed a cardio exercise, and the drill began. Combat drills take various forms nationwide Advertisement Advertisement Academies have discretion to design training within state guidelines, and AP found the drills take many forms at local police, county sheriff and state departments. Theyre sometimes called combat training, Fight Day or stress reaction training. Recruits like Sterling must ward off several assailants at once. Others fight a series of instructors, one after another. Some academies intentionally use larger, more skilled instructors. In Kentucky, one scenario requires fighting a combative suspect in a pool. The stated goals are generally the same: to use skills learned in the academy to fend off or subdue assailants and to never give up. Recruits and instructors wear protective gear to cushion their heads from blows. But there are no uniform safety guidelines, including whether academies must have medical personnel on site. Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers for some Black and female former trainees have alleged that instructors targeted their clients with excessive force to try to run them out of the profession. Several of the deaths have been of Black men hoping to join disproportionately white police forces. Amid the deaths and criticism, experts are encouraging academy directors to retire or modify any problematic drills. The drills can quickly devolve into abusive rites of passage without appropriate focus and oversight, said Brian Baxter, who oversaw training at the Texas Department of Public Safety and now leads a group that studies the use of force. Some instructors want to win rather than allow recruits to practice their skills, he added. The idea that were just punching each other to see whos toughest ... thats when it becomes inappropriate, said Baxter, whose former agency overhauled its practices after a trooper died in 2005 from getting hit several times in the head. There needs to be a problem thats being solved by this training. And that problem needs to be directly related to public service. Advertisement Advertisement For this Texas academy class, injuries were widespread For Sterling, the drill came to an end when she simulated holding her assailants at gunpoint and put them in handcuffs. Later that day, she had a pounding headache. Her knee swelled, and shed skinned her elbow on the floor. At least 13 of 37 cadets reported injuries: concussion symptoms; a fractured wrist; a torn MCL; sprained wrists and knees; a bruised nose, records show. Two recruits needed surgery. Some were told the injuries were due to their lack of preparation and poor technique, and had to redo the drill. Sterling said she wasn't offered medical care. She recalled vomiting while driving herself for emergency treatment. A doctor found she suffered a concussion that resulted from an assault, a medical record provided by Sterling shows. Sterling had passed the drill, but turned in her resignation. I have a very high sense of what is right and what is wrong," she told AP. "I did not want to be part of what was happening at the academy anymore. Deaths and injuries across the country Nationwide, deaths and injuries have been blamed on a mix of trauma from punches and other force, overexertion, heat stroke, dehydration, and organ failure. In August, 30-year-old Jon-Marques Psalms died two days after a training exercise at the San Francisco Police Academy. He suffered a head injury while fighting an instructor in a padded suit. An autopsy found his death was an accident caused by complications of muscle and organ damage in the setting of a high-intensity training exercise. His family has filed a legal claim against the city and hired experts for a second autopsy. In November 2024, a 24-year-old Kentucky game warden recruit died after fighting an instructor in a pool to the point of collapse, video obtained by AP shows. William Baileys death was ruled an accidental drowning due to a sudden cardiac dysrhythmia during physical exertion. A year earlier, a Denver police recruit had both legs amputated after a training fight that his attorney called a barbaric hazing ritual. An Indiana recruit died of exertion after he was pummeled by a larger instructor, and a classmate was disabled after fighting the same man. Investigations of Austins police academy in Texas found that physical and psychological abuse from such exercises resulted in a significant number of cadets injured, ranging from dehydration to broken bones, and led to reforms. Black and female cadets represented a disproportionate number of those who were injured and quit. Macho Products Inc., which sells RedMan Training Gear nationwide, cautions in its warranty that such training always presents risks of accidental injury, disability, and death that must be assumed by all participants." The document says risks can be minimized through carefully planned scenarios conducted at appropriate levels of force. A company spokesperson didnt respond to AP's request for comment on recent deaths and injuries. Former cadet compares the drill to a gang initiation ritual Alarmed by the injuries to Sterling and others, a state lawmaker's office contacted the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to seek an investigation. After reviewing videos, investigating the injuries, and interviewing instructors and some recruits, the investigation found the drill was conducted in a control and organized manner, with safety measures in place and training objectives clearly communicated. The videos did not show instructors acting overly aggressive to Sterling, or any other actions that were inappropriate or inconsistent with the established training guidelines, it found. While multiple cadets sustained minor to moderate injuries during the drill, the majority recovered without extended medical consequences or changes to their training status," the report said. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department declined to comment and refused to release records, citing the potential for litigation. Sterling, who has returned to Wyoming and still works in law enforcement, was outraged by the state's defense of the drill, which she compared to a gang initiation ritual. New members are physically beaten down by the gang membership, she said, which now considers you as its property. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A new year will bring new flights to Nashville International Airport! Several airlines at BNA announced they would be expanding their services in 2026, further enhancing connectivity for Middle Tennessee travelers. According to BNA officials, the airport reached several milestones in 2025, including breaking screening records and recording a sharp rise in overseas traffic. European travelers lift Nashville to record tourism numbers Advertisement Advertisement In fact, the airport reportedly set a new record on Sunday, Oct. 5, after screening a total of 116,047 passengers. Heres what travelers should know about BNAs new nonstop routes for 2026. Iceland Earlier this year, Icelandair revealed it was extending its popular Nashville-Reykjavik route through January 2026. The international route was originally intended to be seasonal, running until the end of October 2025. | READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County February 2026 Beginning Feb. 12, passengers traveling with Avelo Airlines can enjoy nonstop service between BNA to Charlottes Concord-Padgett Regional Airport in North Carolina. The route will operate four times weekly on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, using a Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. March 2026 Frontier Airlines will begins its nonstop service from Nashville to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) just in time for spring break on March 6. The service will reportedly operate four times per week for a limited time. Advertisement Advertisement Domestic service including twice-daily flights to Knoxville and Little Rock, Arkansas, as well as Saturday-only service to Montrose, Coloradowill also begin on March 6 for those traveling with Southwest Airlines. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Then, on March 7, Southwest Airlines will begin offering Saturday-only flights to Montego Bay, Jamaica and San Jose, Costa Rica. For more information about flight schedules, nonstop routes and BNA, visit flyNashville.com. 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 WKRN News 2. Not all heroes wear capes some are furry, bark, and walk on all fours. Several Connecticut police K-9s recently visited Brown University in Rhode Island, alongside other service and comfort dogs, to bring smiles and cuddles to students and staff affected by the recent shooting that left two students dead and nine injured. Several K-9 teams from Middletown, Colchester, New London, and Southern Connecticut State University took part, according to officials. Advertisement Advertisement A Meriden police K-9 named John and his handler, Officer Stephanie Massella, also took part in the trip to Brown, according to the Meriden Police Department. John, a graduate of the Puppies Behind Bars program, is trained to provide comfort by reducing anxiety, fostering connection, and enhancing communication. Meriden police said John was met with smiles and received lots of love and affection from the campus community. Throughout the day, John met with staff, students, and first responders who were affected by the tragic mass shooting on the Brown University campus and in the greater Providence community, Meriden police said in a statement. While our patches may differ and we are separated by invisible borders, Connecticut law enforcement agencies remain united and ready to assist our brother and sister agencies throughout the New England region. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with Brown University, the City of Providence, and the Police, Fire, and EMS personnel who responded to this senseless tragedy. It was truly an honor to offer our assistance during a time of such profound need. Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com The California Energy Commission on Friday denied the approval of the Fountain Wind project, ending a years-long battle by Shasta County to stop the controversial project from moving forward. At its business meeting in Sacramento, the CEC adopted the recommendation of its executive director not approve the project. Director Drew Bohan made his recommendation in November, eight months after the CEC, in a published staff assessment of Fountain Wind, concluded that the projects benefits do not outweigh the toll it would take on the environment. Advertisement Advertisement Shasta County Board of Supervisors Chair Chris Kelstrom and county Chief Executive Officer David Rickert attended Friday's meeting in-person. The landmark effort to override local governance by the State of California has short-circuited today. Rickert said in a news release. Kelstrom said: "This project was never suited for the heavily forested eastern region of Shasta County, and Id like to take a moment to thank our community, especially the Pit River Tribe, and Redding Rancheria, who have been leaders in every effort to oppose this Project. Without their support, we would not have been successful today. In his recommendation, Bohan stated the numerous significant and unavoidable environmental impacts specifically associated with the Fountain Wind project do not justify approval. Advertisement Advertisement In October 2021, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors voted down the project, denying ConnectGens appeal of the county Planning Commissions decision not to approve the wind farm. The supervisors' meeting featured more than 10 hours of public comment. But the California Legislature in 2022 approved AB 205, which allowed the Energy Commission to consider approving the project, even though Shasta County rejected it. David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. Hes part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: California energy commission denies Shasta County Fountain Wind farm (This December 19 story has been repeated without any changes to the text.) By Steve Gorman Dec 19 (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge on Friday overturned the conviction of one of two men found guilty of murdering pioneering rap star Jam Master Jay in 2002 as part of a drug-dealing dispute, ruling that prosecutors had failed to satisfactorily prove their case. U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall granted a rare judgment of acquittal for Karl Jordan, whom a jury had found guilty in the shooting death of Jason Mizell, the legal name of the famed rap DJ, producer and founding member of the hip-hop group Run-DMC. Advertisement Advertisement The judge denied a similar request for Jordan's co-defendant, Ronald Washington. Jordan, the godson of Mizell, and Washington, a longtime friend of the rap artist, were found guilty in February 2024 on federal charges of murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking. The U.S. attorney's office in the Eastern District of New York state, where the case was tried, is reviewing the decision, a spokesperson told The New York Times. Mizell and his Run-DMC bandmates helped usher rap into the pop mainstream in the 1980s with such hits as "It's Tricky" and a cover of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" off the best-selling 1986 album "Raising Hell." Advertisement Advertisement The group was known for decidedly anti-drug messages in its lyrics and concerts. But as Mizell's showbiz success waned in the 1990s, he turned to dealing cocaine to help fund his music career, according to evidence presented at trial. Mizell was shot dead the night of October 30, 2002, in his New York City recording studio, in what the prosecutors said was a disagreement with Jordan and Washington stemming from a lucrative deal to distribute cocaine in Baltimore. Prosecutors said the case took many years to solve because witnesses were reluctant to cooperate with investigators for fear of retribution. The government's case, as charged, hinged in part on proving a drug-related motive for the killing, the judge ruled. Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors argued in court that Jordan and Washington conspired to kill Mizell, who operated as a "middleman," after he cut them out of the Baltimore drug deal. However, Judge DeArcy Hall found that prosecutors presented no evidence that Jordan had been cut or felt dissatisfied with his share of drug proceeds - leaving no reason for retaliation - and no evidence that he intended to steal from Mizell's supplies. "To draw the conclusions urged by the government would exceed the bounds of reason and require plainly impermissible speculation" on the part of the jury, the judge wrote in a 29-page opinion. A third defendant, Jay Bryant, also was indicted in the killing and faces a separate trial. Advertisement Advertisement Jordan has maintained that Bryant shot Mizell. According to prosecutors' account, Jordan shot Mizell in the head at close range when the DJ stood up to greet his godson. The government said Bryant had entered the studio and let in Jordan and Washington, both armed with handguns, through a locked rear fire exit. (Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by William Mallard) A damning image from a batch of new files released Friday by the Justice Department on the late *** trafficker Jeffrey Epstein shows a table drawer with photos of President Donald Trump inside. On Saturday, the image file EFTA0000468 had disappeared from the Justice Departments release of the files. HuffPost reviewed the files again, only to see that the files went from 467 to 469. Politics: Ro Khanna Says Top Trump Officials Could Face Impeachment Over Epstein Files Fiasco This photo, file 468, from the Epstein files that includes Donald Trump has apparently now been removed from the DOJ release, House Oversight Democrats posted on social media Saturday. [Attorney General Pam] Bondi, is this true? What else is being covered up? We need transparency for the American public. Advertisement Advertisement The photo was restored Sunday after the backlash over its removal. The photo shows an open table drawer with at least two images of Trump. One of the images appears to show Trump hanging out with Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, and another shows Trump surrounded by young female models. At least 15 other files went missing after the Friday release, the Associated Press reported later Saturday. An open table drawer shows images of President Donald Trump, including one where he appears to be surrounded by young models. Justice Department A spokesperson for the Justice Department did not return a request for comment from HuffPost about the removals. While the latest batch of documents from the Justice Department show the horrors of Epsteins crimes, along with the many powerful friends he had, Trump is noticeably absent. Politics: DOJ Makes Epstein Files Public Sort Of There are also more than 500 pages fully redacted. Advertisement Advertisement One image that survived heavy redactions shows a prominently displayed framed photo of Epstein with Trump and the current first lady, Melania Trump. The photo is of the same table seen in the now-deleted 468 file, but from a different angle and most crucially with the table drawers closed. A photo of Jeffrey Epstein, President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump sits on a table in Epstein's Manhattan mansion in this undated photo. Department of Justice House Oversight Ranking Member Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) blasted what he said was just 10% of the trove of documents the Justice Department has on the late *** predator. In our initial estimation It could be that were only getting about 10% of what the DOJ has, Garcia told CNN Friday And of that 10%, 5% of that has already been released. And the other 5% is highly redacted. So were getting very little so far. News: Powerball Lottery Jackpot Soars To $1.7 Billion After Another Drawing With No Big Winner Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said Friday he and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) are considering impeachment charges against Attorney General Pam Bondi over the handling of the documents. Advertisement Advertisement Thomas Massie and I talked about it, Khanna told The Source host Kaitlan Collins. Hes working, as am I, on drafting articles of impeachment and inherent contempt. We havent decided whether to move it forward yet, but were in the process of doing it. U.S. Updates Read the original on HuffPost India is on the Moon, S. Somanath, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, announced in August 2023. The announcement meant India had joined the short list of countries to have visited the Moon, and the applause and shouts of joy that followed signified that this achievement wasnt just a scientific one, but a cultural one. Indias successful lunar landing prompted celebrations across the country, like this one in Mumbai. AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade Over the past decade, many countries have established new space programs, including multiple African nations. India and Israel nations that were not technical contributors to the space race in the 1960s and 70s have attempted landings on the lunar surface. With more countries joining the evolving space economy, many of our colleagues in space strategy, policy ethics and law have celebrated the democratization of space: the hope that space is now more accessible for diverse participants. Advertisement Advertisement We are a team of researchers based across four countries with expertise in space policy and law, ethics, geography and anthropology who have written about the difficulties and importance of inclusion in space. Major players like the U.S., the European Union and China may once have dominated space and seen it as a place to try out new commercial and military ventures. Emerging new players in space, like other countries, commercial interests and nongovernmental organizations, may have other goals and rationales. Unexpected new initiatives from these newcomers could shift perceptions of space from something to dominate and possess to something more inclusive, equitable and democratic. We address these emerging and historical tensions in a paper published in May 2025 in the journal Nature, in which we describe the difficulties and importance of including nontraditional actors and Indigenous peoples in the space industry. Continuing inequalities among space players Not all countries space agencies are equal. Newer agencies often dont have the same resources behind them that large, established players do. Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. and Chinese programs receive much more funding than those of any other country. Because they are most frequently sending up satellites and proposing new ideas puts them in the position to establish conventions for satellite systems, landing sites and resource extraction that everyone else may have to follow. Sometimes, countries may have operated on the assumption that owning a satellite would give them the appearance of soft or hard geopolitical power as a space nation and ultimately gain relevance. In reality, student groups of today can develop small satellites, called CubeSats, autonomously, and recent scholarship has concluded that even successful space missions may negatively affect the international relationships between some countries and their partners. The respect a country expects to receive may not materialize, and the costs to keep up can outstrip gains in potential prestige. Environmental protection and Indigenous perspectives Usually, building the infrastructure necessary to test and launch rockets requires a remote area with established roads. In many cases, companies and space agencies have placed these facilities on lands where Indigenous peoples have strong claims, which can lead to land disputes, like in western Australia. Advertisement Advertisement Many of these sites have already been subject to human-made changes, through mining and resource extraction in the past. Many sites have been ground zero for tensions with Indigenous peoples over land use. Within these contested spaces, disputes are rife. Because of these tensions around land use, it is important to include Indigenous claims and perspectives. Doing so can help make sure that the goal of protecting the environments of outer space and Earth are not cast aside while building space infrastructure here on Earth. Some efforts are driving this more inclusive approach to engagement in space, including initiatives like Dark and Quiet Skies, a movement that works to ensure that people can stargaze and engage with the stars without noise or sound pollution. This movement and other inclusive approaches operate on the principle of reciprocity: that more players getting involved with space can benefit all. Researchers have recognized similar dynamics within the larger space industry. Some scholars have come to the conclusion that even though the space industry is pay to play, commitments to reciprocity can help ensure that players in space exploration who may not have the financial or infrastructural means to support individual efforts can still access broader structures of support. Advertisement Advertisement The downside of more players entering space is that this expansion can make protecting the environment both on Earth and beyond even harder. The more players there are, at both private and international levels, the more difficult sustainable space exploration could become. Even with good will and the best of intentions, it would be difficult to enforce uniform standards for the exploration and use of space resources that would protect the lunar surface, Mars and beyond. It may also grow harder to police the launch of satellites and dedicated constellations. Limiting the number of satellites could prevent space junk, protect the satellites already in orbit and allow everyone to have a clear view of the night sky. However, this would have to compete with efforts to expand internet access to all. What is space exploration for? Before tackling these issues, we find it useful to think about the larger goal of space exploration, and what the different approaches are. One approach would be the fast and inclusive democratization of space making it easier for more players to join in. Another would be a more conservative and slower big player approach, which would restrict who can go to space. Advertisement Advertisement The conservative approach is liable to leave developing nations and Indigenous peoples firmly on the outside of a key process shaping humanitys shared future. But a faster and more inclusive approach to space would not be easy to run. More serious players means it would be harder to come to an agreement about regulations, as well as the larger goals for human expansion into space. Narratives around emerging technologies, such as those required for space exploration, can change over time, as people begin to see them in action. Technology that we take for granted today was once viewed as futuristic or fantastical, and sometimes with suspicion. For example, at the end of the 1940s, George Orwell imagined a world in which totalitarian systems used tele-screens and videoconferencing to control the masses. Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the same decade, Thomas J. Watson, then president of IBM, notoriously predicted that there would be a global market for about five computers. We as humans often fear or mistrust future technologies. However, not all technological shifts are detrimental, and some technological changes can have clear benefits. In the future, robots may perform tasks too dangerous, too difficult or too dull and repetitive for humans. Biotechnology may make life healthier. Artificial intelligence can sift through vast amounts of data and turn it into reliable guesswork. Researchers can also see genuine downsides to each of these technologies. Space exploration is harder to squeeze into one streamlined narrative about the anticipated benefits. The process is just too big and too transformative. To return to the question if we should go to space, our team argues that it is not a question of whether or not we should go, but rather a question of why we do it, who benefits from space exploration and how we can democratize access to broader segments of society. Including a diversity of opinions and viewpoints can help find productive ways forward. Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, it is not necessary for everyone to land on one single narrative about the value of space exploration. Even our team of four researchers doesnt share a single set of beliefs about its value. But bringing more nations, tribes and companies into discussions around its potential value can help create collaborative and worthwhile goals at an international scale. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Timiebi Aganaba, Arizona State University; Adam Fish, UNSW Sydney; Niiyokamigaabaw Deondre Smiles, University of British Columbia, and Tony Milligan, Ki Read more: Advertisement Advertisement Tony Milligan receives funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant agreement No. 856543). Adam Fish, Niiyokamigaabaw Deondre Smiles, and Timiebi Aganaba do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. The beleaguered Voting Rights Act is on the ropes again and it may soon suffer a crippling strike. The Supreme Court seems on the verge of making it much harder to use the landmark civil rights measure to force states to draw districts where minority candidates stand a strong chance of winning. And a key provision that lets private groups sue under the 60-year-old law could be the next to fall. That would be a huge blow to civil rights lawyers like Mississippis Carroll Rhodes, whos spent his career leveraging the Voting Rights Act to increase the political power of Black people and other minorities. Advertisement Advertisement It becomes almost an impossible hill to climb, Rhodes told POLITICO Magazine. Over the past decade or so, the VRA has been battered by a series of hits from the increasingly conservative high court. In 2013, the justices knocked out a key pillar of the law by eliminating pre-clearance requirements for advance approval of voting changes, including redistricting, in most or all of nine states and a smattering of localities. In recent months, petitions have stacked up at the Supreme Court that could lead to the justices wiping out the long-assumed right of private groups and individuals to bring lawsuits under the law. And, earlier this month, the high court blocked a lower courts Voting Rights Act ruling and gave Texas a green light to redraw its congressional map at President Donald Trumps request in order to give Republicans up to five additional House seats. Despite those challenges, litigators like Rhodes have had significant success harnessing the VRA. A lawsuit he pressed forced redistricting and a special election in Mississippi last month led to Black Democrats picking up two additional seats in the states House. The incremental gain broke a longstanding GOP supermajority in a state that is nearly 40 percent Black the highest percentage in the nation. Those sorts of advances for minority representation could come to a halt if the Supreme Court rules against the law. Advertisement Advertisement I reached Rhodes at his law office in the small town of Hazelhurst, Miss. and asked him to take stock of the bruises the VRA has sustained, the threats it faces at the moment and how hes managed to use the law to advance minority power in his home state. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. The Voting Rights Act has taken a lot of major hits from the Supreme Court in the past couple decades. Many lawyers now see it as teetering on the brink of irrelevance or impotence. What are the stakes in the pending case, Louisiana v. Callais, and whether states doing redistricting can sometimes make use of race to comply with the VRA? Some people are concerned that the Voting Rights Act might be on its way out, but I'm an eternal optimist. Given that the Voting Rights Act was passed by Congress pursuant to the 15th Amendment, and the 15th Amendment guarantees the right to vote on an equal basis, not on account of race, to everyone I think in the Callais case that they're going to resolve that issue in favor of [the law] being upheld. Advertisement Advertisement Youve had considerable success in Mississippi with the Voting Rights Act and the state legislature there. Does that confound perceptions that the VRA is at deaths door? We have been successful. A lot of civil rights organizations and civil rights opponents have been successful in using the Voting Rights Act to increase the number of Black elected officials. In Mississippi, for the most part, whites do not vote for Black candidates in contested elections, and that's why the Voting Rights Act has been so successful in creating Black majority districts. When you have a minority population that's large enough, concentrated enough, and they're in these election districts where they cannot elect candidates of their choice because the majority population always votes against their candidates of choice you have to redraw the districts in such a way so you give this large, geographically insular minority group the ability to elect the representative of their choice. And Mississippi's demographics have made it easier for us to be successful here. Advertisement Advertisement Has there been a concrete impact to this? There was a time where we had 45 or 50 Black people elected from Black majority districts in the Mississippi Legislature. And there were Black chairmen of different committees, even the powerful committees. But what has happened over the years, more and more white Democrats have left the Democratic Party and gone toward the Republican Party, so now you have a [GOP] supermajority in the Senate. We broke that in this last election. When you break the supermajority in the Senate, money bills, especially taxing and spending, budget, a lot of times it takes a supermajority to get those bills passed. If there is no supermajority, then that means that the Republican leadership within the Senate will have to negotiate with most of the Black people elected as Democrats. Have those legislators been able to use this effective veto to actually get some spending concessions in terms of, You're going to spend in this part of the state or on these types of programs? Advertisement Advertisement We won't know yet because the special election just took place, and the legislature comes back in January. So, we will see if this cohesive group of Black Democrats can get some concessions. In 2013, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the Shelby County decision , which ended the requirement that many states, including Mississippi, most places across the South and a few in the North, had to submit any voting changes including redistricting to the Justice Department to get approved. The maps that Mississippi adopted in 2022, which you successfully challenged in court, were they put in place initially because of the Shelby County decision? They were able to do it directly because of Shelby County, yes. And John Roberts got it wrong. I agree with Justice Ginsburg who said at the time, its like standing up under the umbrella and it's not raining and saying, Oh, it's not raining, so you can let the umbrella down. That's what that Roberts decision did: took the umbrella down. And rain is falling everywhere. Under the process essentially abandoned after Shelby County, the maps had to be submitted to Washington, and that took place under presidents both Republican and Democrat. The maps that you challenged, do you think President Obama's Justice Department would have approved them? What about President George W. Bushs Justice Department or President Donald Trumps Justice Department? Advertisement Advertisement The Trump Justice Department would have approved them, but no other president. And I'm going to go back to Obama, Biden, Clinton, I'd even go back to Ronald Reagan. The strange thing is that Ronald Reagan initially was opposed to the Voting Rights Act extension in 1982 but wound up signing it and cited it as the crown jewel of American democracy. And so the Trump Justice Department probably is the only one, because the Trump Justice Department had flipped what the purpose of the Voting Rights Act was to protect minority voters to say it's to protect white voters. Roberts has been on the court now for 22 years. The first decade and a half or so, he was viewed uniformly as hostile to voting rights enforcement. That was seen as one of his animating issues. But there have been a few decisions in recent years where the court has not been as aggressive toward the Voting Rights Act as some expected. It seems like Roberts went along with this current Callais case being punted for a year , which basically left those districts in place through the current election cycle. Is there something going on with Roberts? Do you think he has shifted or moderated at all? My personal take is that he really is really an incrementalist. He's not for upending longstanding precedent and what the country has become accustomed to. He believes in incremental changes and I think the Shelby County decision came about because he genuinely thought that so much advancement had been made in this area that it was no longer necessary for those protections. And I think after Shelby County, he's seen that those protections are still needed. His views might be moderating somewhat. He might see the damage that Shelby County decision has caused. You've had this span of four or five decades to look at how these things have developed. How has technology changed this process of redistricting? Has it made it easier for those trying to dilute the power of minority voters to do that, and have people on your side of the fight been able to harness that technology in any similar fashion to fight back against those efforts? Advertisement Advertisement When I first started out in this area, the map drawers used maps and pencils and even had notepads to add before the calculators came. Then calculators and then the programs and social science has developed over the years, too. Statistical analysis has become more and more sophisticated, and the technology has become more and more sophisticated. My take is that whoever writes the algorithm, whoever writes the code, the code can be written in such a way that it could lead to more discrimination and make it harder to undo. We do have folks on our side who are using technology, but technology was used in the Texas case to draw districts in such a way that discriminated against Black and Latino voters in Texas. You were a teenager when a lot of these landmark civil rights laws were passed in the 60s. Do you personally have memories of what the Jim Crow South was like? Did any of your relatives experience some of these more bizarre tests that were used for decades before that to exclude Black people from voting, like, How many bubbles are in a bar of soap? or How many jelly beans are in the jar? Advertisement Advertisement Oh, yes. I was born in 51. I grew up in a segregated neighborhood, went to an all-Black high school, segregated high school, segregated elementary school. I remember going to the dentist. And the dentist office had two entrances, one for white, one for colored, and going through the white side, they had air conditioning. They had magazines. The colored side did not. We had field trips to the courthouse, where the courthouse had white and colored water fountains. And we had to sit in the balcony. I remember a third grade field trip to the courthouse and we watched a trial where a white lawyer was defending a Black man accused of some crime. And he was saying, This was a good Nigra N-I-G-R-A. And so I grew up through it and I also remember my parents when the Voting Rights Act was first passed, and they did have federal registrars around, but all of the neighbors, my parents and everybody not only did they go and register to vote, they voted in every election, no matter what. There were people telling us stories. Tim Winston owned a funeral home here and he was one of the few Black people who was able to register prior to the Voting Rights Act being passed, and he told stories of how they were turning away Black folks by asking them ridiculous questions. So, yeah, I remember, personally, stories of how hard it was before the Voting Rights Act was passed and after it was passed. Advertisement Advertisement If the Voting Rights Act Section Two were to be knocked out and it wasn't a tool you could use anymore, what would be the strategy after that? Would that mean there's no option for civil rights groups? What is the world going to look like if the VRA is not available for private groups to litigate? It almost becomes an impossible hill to climb. You have to go back to the 15th Amendment and prove intentional discrimination, which is difficult, or the 14th Amendment and prove intentional discrimination, which is difficult. All a legislative body has to do is say, We didn't draw the district based on race. We drew them based on partisanship, and they're entitled to the presumption that there was a good faith effort to do that, and it's hard. We had overwhelming evidence in Texas that partisanship was not the real reason. If that cannot overcome a presumption that the legislator was acting in good faith, going forward, it's going to be impossible to prove a racial gerrymandering claim. The Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that the federal Constitution puts no limits on partisan gerrymandering, even as the justices continue to aggressively police use of race in redistricting. Is that line meaningful? Race and party, in Mississippi, theres no distinction. Its a fiction. Dec. 19Ohio voters in future elections will need to make sure their mailed ballots arrive at their board of elections by Election Day in order for their vote to be counted. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says he reluctantly signed a bill getting rid of Ohio's grace period for late-arriving ballots. DeWine told reporters that he thinks the grace period which allows mail-in ballots to be counted in state and federal elections as long as they arrive within four days post-election and are postmarked at least the day before the election is "reasonable" and "makes a lot of sense." Advertisement Advertisement "I normally would veto a repeal of this four-day grace period, and frankly, that's what I wish I could do," DeWine said. He explained that he felt handcuffed by scheduling considerations. The Supreme Court of the United States opted to pick up a case on whether it's constitutional to accept federal ballots after Election Day, and DeWine said the case likely wouldn't be decided until June, one month after Ohio's May 2026 primary and about four months before its November general election. DeWine said a June court decision finding Ohio's grace period to be unconstitutional would cause Ohio's elections to be "chaotic." That series of events would see May's primary include a grace period but not November's general election. Or, if the state wanted to keep its grace period for November's general election, Ohio would have to create two separate ballots, one for state issues, which could use the grace period, and one for federal issues, which could not. Advertisement Advertisement DeWine also said the timing of the court's decision, should it come against the state, would leave the legislature with little time to tweak its election rules to become compliant with federal law. DeWine's reasoning echoes that of Republican legislative leaders. It hasn't held much water with state Democrats. "There is no federal law that is being violated. There is a court case that is being reviewed by the Supreme Court that may or may not (impact us)," Rep. Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, told her colleagues on the House floor just before S.B. 293 passed. "Why are we preemptively changing state law for a process that works? For a process that is popular with all Ohio voters? Not just my constituents, but your constituents." ------ Advertisement Advertisement For more stories like this, sign up for our Ohio Politics newsletter. It's free, curated, and delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday evening. Avery Kreemer can be reached at 614-981-1422, on X, via email, or you can drop him a comment/tip with the survey below. Loading... Dec. 19The Ohio Auditor of State's special investigations unit is asking court officials to review whether Montgomery County Clerk of Courts Mike Foley violated his probation by drinking alcohol at a county GOP Christmas party this week. Foley ended a three-year legal saga two weeks ago by accepting a plea deal in which felony charges brought by the state auditor were dropped and Foley pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges. "Foley's sentence included prohibitions against alcohol and drug use and retaliation against employees," says a Dec. 8 press release from Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber. Advertisement Advertisement Foley attended a Christmas party hosted by the Montgomery County Republican Party on Thursday at a Vandalia VFW post where he allegedly was openly drinking. Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague, a candidate for Ohio secretary of state, posted photos from the party on Facebook. One photo shows Foley holding a brown glass bottle as he talks with partygoers. Officials with the Ohio Auditor of State's Office say they received a complaint about Foley drinking alcohol at a local party, and are asking a Montgomery County probation officer to review it. The Dayton Daily News contacted a spokesperson for Foley, who issued a statement that did not deny Foley was drinking alcohol. Advertisement Advertisement "It's my understanding that after completing the judge's terms and meeting with his probation officer that Mr. Foley successfully met all conditions of his probation," according to a statement from Foley's office. As of Friday afternoon, no court filings reflecting any request to terminate his probation appeared on Foley's public court docket. Officials from his office said they believe that a request was pending. "It was Mr. Foley's understanding that it was submitted to Judge Hein for termination," Clerk of Courts Chief Administrator Steve Harsman said. Probation services did not return calls from a Dayton Daily News reporter. Advertisement Advertisement Visiting Judge Jonathan Hein this month convicted Foley on misdemeanor counts, placing Foley on 24 months of community supervision and suspending a 180-day jail sentence. Foley was also required to complete 40 hours of community service and ethics training as a part of his sentencing. Foley's community control sanction comes with several conditions: abstinence from alcohol is one of them, according to court records filed after his sentencing. "If he is in violation of his community control conditions, he needs to be held accountable, 100%," said state Rep. Phil Plummer, R-Butler Twp. and Montgomery County Republican Party chairman. A spokesperson for Sprague declined to comment on Foley's probation. Advertisement Advertisement Foley was originally charged with felony counts of theft in office, unlawful use of a computer, unlawful interest in a public contract and aiding the abetting in the unlawful interest in a public contract. Those charges were dismissed with his guilty plea for misdemeanor charges of soliciting political contributions from public employees. He was indicted alongside ex-Montgomery County Municipal Court Judge James Piergies. Piergies pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts as a part of a separate plea deal with the state earlier this year that forced Piergies to step down from the bench. State investigators said his charges were linked to the employment of his son. Piergies was also given two years of community control sanctions. His sanctions were terminated in June this year after he met the requirements for his probation. Loading... A Jacksonville man said a local moving company he hired is now holding his belongings hostage. Robert Matthews said he hired 1st Coast Express after his apartment flooded. If you can imagine your whole life got sopping wet, put that into a truck and just watch it go down the road, Matthews said. Their website claims they are a licensed and insured professional moving company based out of Jacksonville, offering quality local and long-distance moving services at an affordable price with no hidden fees. Advertisement Advertisement Matthews said he put his trust in the company and hired them. I said, hey, if I have to do an emergency move, are you guys ready for that? They said yeah, we dont need days notice a lot of time we can do same day, Matthews said. He said he received a verbal quote over the phone, which was anywhere between $3,000 to $4,000. That was to pack and store his 2-bedroom apartment, which was about 1100 square feet. He put down a deposit of $150, and the movers came out. They didnt get done until 5 a.m., Matthews said. When they left, they left things behind that I actually got charged for. He said he was hit with a bill that was $10,000 for the companys nearly 28 hours of work. Advertisement Advertisement They were like this is what it is, and you have to pay it same day cash, Matthews said. This was supposed to be an emergency move. This was supposed to be you just shrink wrapping it in a box, along with towels, and getting it out to the truck. Matthews soon learned that the companys license had expired in 2022, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Action News Jax Alexus Cleavenger went to try and speak with the owner of the company at the businesss listed address. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] When she showed up, it was a home, and the woman who answered to door told Cleavenger her son runs the business, but he doesnt live there. Advertisement Advertisement So she tried calling, but there was no answer. Matthews said he filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, which lists the company as not BBB accredited. I kicked it up another notch, and Im like, hey, this has to go to the state, Matthews said. Mathews filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which is now reviewing his case. He also reached out to the State Attorneys Office. We asked if theyre looking at his case, and they did not get back to us yet. Matthews said he is hopeful something can be done so he can get his belongings back. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Ace Aguirre was just two bites into his oatmeal on the morning of November 4 when he noticed something strange: mud had seeped onto the living room floor of his bungalow in Cotcot, a village in the Philippines Cebu province. The moments that followed will be forever seared into Aguirres memory. His living room furniture floating; the terrifying few minutes when he wasnt sure hed be able to pry the front door open; his son praying to God as the water rose to their chests; his daughter, who cant swim, perched high on a pillar as water and cars gushed by, inches from her feet. I dont know how we were able to survive. One detail that didnt go our way and many of us could have died, Aguirre told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement That morning Typhoon Kalmaegi dumped over a months worth of rain, causing rivers and waterways in Cebu to swell and unleashing catastrophic flash flooding that killed more than 230 people nationwide. One of the dead was Aguirres neighbor, a mother of two, who drowned when she became trapped in her kitchen. He had tried to save her but couldnt get her out in time. Torrential downpours and deadly flooding in the tropical, disaster-prone Philippines are not new. But revelations in recent months that politicians, officials and contractors had looted billions of dollars from the nationwide program supposed to mitigate their effects have roiled the country. Prior to the deadly flooding, a citizens group in Cebu had called for an audit of flood control projects along the Cotcot River, upstream from where Aguirre lives, according to local media. Advertisement Advertisement The scandal has embroiled dozens of high-ranking lawmakers and officials who allegedly received kickbacks to award contracts. Those revelations have sparked huge youth-led anti-government protests against corruption and wealthy elites, similar to those seen this year in Indonesia and Nepal. Aguirre had been watching the political drama unfold far away in Manila, the capital, for months, but he didnt expect it to come to his doorstep. All of a sudden you become a direct victim, he said. It hits different. The flooding in November prompted Cebus governor Pamela Baricuatro to demand an investigation into the 26 billion pesos ($443 million) in flood-control projects in the province which officials in Manila admitted should have been working by the time disaster struck. Advertisement Advertisement Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. later visited the region and promised to clear and clean the waterways, and de-clog drainage systems, in time for rainy season next year. The previous July he had revealed a government flood control program worth more than 545 billion pesos ($9.2 billion) had been plagued by corruption. He said an internal audit found many of the 10,000 projects his government had overseen since he came to power in 2022 had been built using substandard materials or not at all, he said, referring to the projects as ghost projects. CNN has reached out to the Philippine government for comment. Advertisement Advertisement When Marcos Jr exposed the fraud, he opened a can of worms that has since spun out of his control, said Sol Iglesias, associate professor of Political Science at the University of the Philippines. This aerial photo shows damaged houses in the aftermath of Typhoon Kalmaegi in Talisay, in Cebu province on November 5, 2025. - Jam Sta Rosa/AFP/Getty Images Testimonies in the House and Senate have revealed an entire system of plunder and corruption that has been facilitated by the very agencies that were responsible for budgeting, planning, implementing, monitoring and checking on the financial soundness of these infrastructures, Iglesias said. In September, Finance Secretary Raph Recto told a Senate hearing up to 118.5 billion pesos ($2 billion) in funding for flood control may have been lost to corruption in the past two years, according to the Associated Press news agency. Marcos Jr has vowed to jail at least 37 congressmen and other officials responsible for the scams by Christmas, and seven have been thrown behind bars so far. The government has also frozen about 12 billion pesos ($204 million) in assets of individuals linked to the scandal. Advertisement Advertisement The scandal has galvanized ordinary Filipinos, who have taken to the streets to protest decades of unchecked corruption. This is the last straw for the Filipino people, said Tiffany Faith Brillante, the head of Youth Rage Against Corruption in the Philippines, which has been involved in the protests. Filipino activists protest near the presidential palace on Human Rights Day in Manila, Philippines on December 10, 2025. - Eloisa Lopez/Reuters The corruption today is no longer just a symptom of weak governance, she said. Its deeply rooted in how power is held in the government, how budgets are allocated, and how accountability is constantly avoided. Marcos Jr has insisted he did not know of the fraud being perpetrated. He has positioned himself as a corruption crusader, shaming those responsible for the graft and egging on the protesters. Advertisement Advertisement But as more top-ranking officials have become implicated in the scandal, some have pointed the finger back at the president. One of those people is Zaldy Co, a one-time Marcos Jr ally and former House appropriations committee chairperson, who has become one of the central figures accused in the scandal. He fled the country and is currently a fugitive. While in hiding, he posted a series of explosive videos to his social media account, accusing Marcos Jr and his family members of profiting from the corruption charges which the president has denied. Marcoss family members have also been caught up in the drama. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, a cousin of Marcos, resigned as House Speaker in September over the controversy, though he has denied any involvement in the scandal. Advertisement Advertisement Beyond the scale of the alleged theft, what has made this scandal hit so hard is that for many Filipinos it feels like history is repeating itself, said Aries Arugay, a Filipino political scientist and visiting senior fellow at the Singapore-based think tank ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. Corruption and the Marcoses are almost synonyms in Philippine politics, Arugay said. Marcos Jrs father, the dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr, ruled the Philippines with an iron fist from 1965 until his ouster in 1986, with the country living under martial law for about half that time. His regime committed systemic human rights abuses and engaged in widespread corruption, stealing an estimated $10 billion from public coffers. The flood control scandal has reminded Filipinos of the dark days many experienced under Marcos Sr. One of the biggest anti-corruption protests was held on a significant date, September 21, when in 1972 Marcos Sr imposed martial law. Advertisement Advertisement Marcos Jrs landslide victory in 2022 marked an extraordinary comeback for the notorious political family, which critics claimed was made possible in part by disinformation campaigns which whitewashed the history of the Marcos era. And though officials have warned the looting of the flood prevention program may have started under Marcos predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, the disparity between the lifestyles of the elite and regular Filipinos has been a source of anger under the current president. Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr speaks during a press conference at Malacanang Palace in Manila on November 13, 2025. - Jam Sta Rosa/AFP/Getty Images Social media videos posted by the children of wealthy politicians and contractors flaunting their lavish lifestyles have added salt to the wounds of angry citizens, Arugay said. When people are being submerged in flood water, the politicians are in Paris, riding their private jets, he said. Advertisement Advertisement This backlash against so-called nepo kids mirrors similar anti-corruption protests across Asia this year, including in Indonesia and Nepal, where Gen-Z led protests overthrew the government. Like those protests, young people have been some of the loudest voices calling for accountability in the Philippines. We inherit the consequences of corruption and systemic abuse in our country if the government continues to steal, oppress and ignore the people, Brillante said. We really want to hold accountable and jail every single official involved in corruption, Brillante said. President Marcos cannot be spared, because at the end of the day, hes the one who signs and approves the national budget every single year. While public confidence in Marcos Jr has wavered, hes not likely to meet the same fate as his father, who was unseated in a public uprising. Marcos Jr is more than halfway through his six-year term, and Philippine presidents have single term limits, so he will not be eligible for re-election in 2028. We havent seen the equivalent of a smoking gun, Iglesias said. But if (we get) that smoking gun, for example, evidence of his directly benefitting financially from this corruption, then that will I think push the administration over the edge. Right now, its teetering. Filipinos march alongside an effigy depicting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr during a protest against corruption in Manila, Philippines on November 30, 2025. - Lisa Marie David/Getty Images Recent public opinion polling by the firm WR Numero found Marcos Jrs satisfaction rating was 21% in November, a 14% drop from August. For someone who came so close to losing everything, Aguirre is upbeat and grateful. But hes not optimistic that this wave of public momentum will produce any meaningful change in the Philippines. With our resilience, we can still move forward, but the quality of life will still be the same. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Department of Justice released a new tranche of files related to the investigation into the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Saturday, continuing the slow-drip document disclosure that began Friday afternoon. But lawmakers are still smarting over the first drop, which was chock full of redactions and revealed little in the way of new information regarding the rise of the financier and his connections to powerful people. People are raging and walking away, warned outgoing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on X Friday. She slammed the release as NOT MAGA. Advertisement Advertisement The new documents released Saturday included grand jury materials from the investigations into Epstein in Florida and New York. The Justice Department had renewed its requests to federal judges to publicly release the secret materials after the Epstein Files Transparency Act's passage in November, which they granted. The materials include transcripts of interviews with witnesses and investigators, though appear to offer little revelatory information about the investigations. Judges had initially rejected the administrations requests to unseal the materials, noting that the information would be sparse compared to the full DOJ cache of information. The information contained in the Epstein grand jury transcripts pales in comparison to the Epstein investigation information and materials in the hands of the Department of Justice, U.S. District Judge Richard Berman, a Bill Clinton appointee, wrote in a 14-page opinion at the time. Saturday's release appeared to include redactions that went beyond just victim information and also included the identity of prosecutors, FBI case agents and other law enforcement personnel who appeared before the grand jury. Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department missed its Friday deadline to release all the information it had on Epstein, putting it in apparent conflict with a law President Donald Trump signed in November compelling a wholesale release within 30 days. Even still, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche had promised on Fox News on Friday that the department would make available several hundred thousand documents in the coming days and weeks. Blanche said Friday that the DOJ would not show favoritism and wouldnt withhold material because theres the name Donald J. Trump or anybody elses name. On Saturday, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said that one of the thousands of files released Friday an undated photo of a desk drawer, which included at least one printed picture of Donald Trump appeared to be removed from the list publicized by the Department of Justice. This photo, file 468, from the Epstein files that includes Donald Trump has apparently now been removed from the DOJ release, the Oversight Democrats X account wrote Saturday afternoon. @AGPamBondi is this true? the account wrote, tagging Attorney General Pam Bondi. What else is being covered up? We need transparency for the American public. Advertisement Advertisement Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote Saturday that if theyre taking this down, just imagine how much more theyre trying to hide. This could be one of the biggest cover ups in American history. The photo appeared to be absent from the DOJs archive on its website as of Saturday afternoon. The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Overnight, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) one of the lawmakers who pushed for the legislation requiring the Trump administration to release the entirety of the files said Fridays drop grossly fails to comply with the spirit and the letter of the law that he, alongside Rep. Ro Khanna (R-Calif.), introduced in September. The Kentucky congressmember continued railing against the administration Saturday morning, digging up a 2021 post from JD Vance, in which the now-vice president said: What possible interest would the US government have in keeping Epsteins clients secret? Oh Advertisement Advertisement I miss this version of JD Vance, Massie said. RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) charged on X even after the initial drop on Friday. Since Fridays release, the Trump administration has dismissed anger around the disclosures and said it was acting transparently, instead attacking Democrats. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement Saturday that the "Trump Administration has done more for the victims than Democrats ever have," adding that the administration is the most transparent in history. Democrats, meanwhile, are looking to continue pressuring Trump over his ties to Epstein. Trump was once friends with Epstein, but the president has maintained for years that the two had a falling out decades ago. The president has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing associated with Epstein, and there has been no evidence to suggest his involvement in any criminality in connection with the convicted sex offender. Advertisement Advertisement Congressional Democrats are skewering the DOJ for redacting large portions of the files in Fridays release, including names, dates, investigative details and internal deliberations. I want to hear from MAGA voters who have stood for transparency on the Epstein files, Khanna said Saturday morning. Are you satisfied with the excessive redactions & missing 60 count draft indictment? Or do you want Bondi & Blanchard to release the docs that will hold the Epstein class accountable? he said, referring to Bondi and apparently Blanche. On Friday evening, Khanna said on CNN that he and Massie are in the beginning stages of drafting articles of impeachment and inherent contempt against Bondi. We havent decided whether to move it forward yet, but were in the process of doing it, he said. The problem that the attorney general has is the amount of MAGA influencers who are upset with her. The issue for her is not, are there going to be 212 Democrats who support it. The issue for her is how many Republicans and MAGA supporters would support it. Advertisement Advertisement The heavy redactions in the first release violate the spirit of transparency and the letter of the law, Schumer wrote Friday on X. Senate Democrats are working to assess the documents that have been released to determine what actions must be taken to hold the Trump administration accountable, he said. We will pursue every option to make sure the truth comes out." House Oversight ranking member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) was similarly critical. What were seeing is not transparency, Garcia told CNN on Friday. This is not what the law passed. This does not meet the subpoena that the Oversight Committee has in place. Advertisement Advertisement Many administration officials have taken to X since the initial release to claim a win, praising themselves as the most transparent administration in history. In a post announcing that the DOJ received court approval to disclose to Congress documents gathered as part of the FBIs investigation into the presidents attempted assassination, Bondi hailed the presidents administration as the most transparent administration in American history. Kyle Cheney, Josh Gerstein and Erica Orden contributed to this report. CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct that Vance was not a senator in 2021. A driver led law enforcement on a bizarre chase in a stolen ambulance on Friday night. It began in the San Fernando Valley and ended in the Antelope Valley. AIR7 was live above the chase as the Los Angeles Fire Department ambulance traveled on the 210 Freeway with its lights on and with several police cars following behind. Authorities said the ambulance was stolen from a scene in Northridge. From AIR7, multiple fire trucks were visible at the Northridge scene, but it's unclear exactly what type of call brought crews to the location. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the stolen ambulance continued northbound on the 14 Freeway and into the Agua Dulce area. Eventually, all airships, including AIR7, had to pull off due to heavy fog. California Highway Patrol said officers eventually deployed a successful spike strip, and the suspect was taken into custody in the Palmdale area. Republican US representative Elise Stefanik a staunch ally of Donald Trump who calls herself ultra-Maga is ending her campaign for New York governor and will not seek re-election to Congress. Stefanik wrote on X: It is not an effective use of our time or your generous resources to spend the first half of next year in an unnecessary and protracted Republican primary, especially in a challenging state like New York. Once considered the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for governor, Stefaniks race became more complicated after Bruce Blakeman, the executive of Nassau county, entered the race. If she did manage to win the primary, she would have faced a tough battle to unseat New Yorks Democratic governor Kathy Hochul, who has been polling far ahead in a state where Democrats far outnumber Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement The states Republican chair, Ed Cox, said the party respected Stefaniks decision and endorsed Blakeman. Bruce Blakeman has my endorsement and I urge our state committee and party leaders to join me, Cox said in a prepared statement. Bruce is a fighter who has proven he knows how to win in difficult political terrain. Related: Marjorie Taylor Greene to resign from Congress in January amid fallout with Trump Stefanik, who represents New Yorks North Country region, will also be joining a number of Republican lawmakers leaving the House, following in the footsteps of far-right representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who is leaving office in January. Stefanik said she would serve out the remainder of her term in Congress. Trump had previously picked Stefanik to become the United Nations ambassador, but her nomination was suspended earlier this year amid concerns about the Republicans narrow majority in Congress. Advertisement Advertisement In the House, Stefanik often clashed with speaker Mike Johnson in the months since. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, she called Johnson a political novice and said he wouldnt have the votes to be speaker if representatives voted today. Earlier this month, she excoriated Johnson after a provision she championed was omitted from a defense authorization bill. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Members of the Elks Lodge 112 took part in their annual Christmas Basket Program on Friday. The Christmas Basket Program is one of the biggest events held by Elks Lodge members during the year. The purpose of the Christmas Basket Program is to feed as many people as the Lodge can over the Christmas holiday. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement More than 300 baskets were prepared at the Elks Lodge 112 on Friday night. Recipients of the baskets are nominated by local Elks members. Its a humbling thing to be able to help people, and thats what we do here at the Elks Club, said Mike Javanovic, chairman of the Christmas Basket Program. We help as many people as we can, and thats what drives us to do more. Were probably the best-kept secret in Sioux City, and we sure wish we werent, said James Scott Haberer, exalted ruler for Elks Lodge 112. Because our membership, we do a lot. We do a lot of good things. Elks Lodge 112 has been doing the Christmas Basket Program for over 100 years. They will be going out Saturday morning to hand out the baskets. Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KCAU 9 News | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. A Florida man is on the verge of losing his home and his marriage after falling prey to a scam including Elon Musk deepfakes. What's happening? News 6 detailed how 69-year-old George Hendricks from Leesburg, Florida, had his life unravel after commenting on Facebook in an Elon Musk car giveaway group. He received a message claiming he had won a new car and $100,000. The communication then switched to WhatsApp at the scammers' request, allowing them to chat with him in a private, encrypted forum. Hendricks was sent personalized deepfake videos that appeared to be from Elon Musk. Advertisement Advertisement With Hendricks buying into the legitimacy of the Musk name and imagery, the scammers systematically pounced. First, they demanded a $7,500 shipping fee. Then they instructed him to send an additional $37,000 or so for supposed investment opportunities. When he questioned them, they sent seemingly earnest deepfake Musk videos. Hendricks ultimately obliged, straining his credit card balances and bank accounts. After his $100,000 prize and car never materialized, Hendricks reported the scam to the Leesburg Police Department. "I know it's going on all the time, you just never think it's going to be you," Hendricks reflected, per News 6. Why is the trend of deepfake scams important? It's important to remember these are real human beings facing devastating consequences. Hendricks says being duped jeopardized his marriage of 39 years and may lead to losing his home. He told News 6 his life "doesn't really exist" after the fallout. Advertisement Advertisement The rise of deepfake technology is undoubtedly contributing to increasing fraud cases. Elon Musk's likeness is fast-becoming one of the key tools, as CBS News reported. If Musk himself is wary of deepfakes, his desire to promote freedom of speech may have set back efforts to combat this troubling trend. He threw a fit after the EU fined X, the social media platform he owns, for deceptive designs around blue checkmarks. The EU alleges that the verification for unvetted users can lead to fake accounts proliferating deepfakes and other pieces of misinformation. Musk had better luck in California, where he won a battle against restrictions around deepfakes on X during elections, per Politico. Advertisement Advertisement The saga also shows how digital communication and technology are empowering scammers. Cryptocurrency scams are a new way to prey on victims' naivete around the tech. What's being done about deepfake scams? To combat such scams, consumers should take the time to research unfamiliar companies. When it comes to deepfakes, there are flaws in the tech to seek out. ThreatLocker's security enablement lead, Kieran Human, told News 6 that many deepfakes lack realistic bodily or neck movement. Still, that might be a thing of the past as AI progresses and deepfakes improve. "It's just going to be a matter of time until people do start adding that breathing to the videos, and people are just going to have to be more cautious," Human concluded. 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. Included in the latest Epstein Files release is confirmation of an FBI complaint filed all the way back in 1996 that was ignored for years, something that had the person filing it feeling plenty emotional and vindicated. The Department of Justice released thousands of documents related to late child sex predator Jeffrey Epstein this week, and there is still more to come (something that has irked lawmakers who passed the bill to secure their full release within 30 days). Contained in these latest pages is an FBI complaint filed by Epstein victim and former employee Maria Farmer. The complaint, which redacts all names except for Epstein, is for child pornography, and Farmer described Epstein having pictures taken of children next to pools. The complaint was filed on September 3, 1996, but Farmer didnt hear back for years. Advertisement Advertisement When The New York Times contacted her about the FBI complaint being included in the files, she broke down in tears. Ive waited 30 years, she said. I cant believe it. They cant call me a liar anymore. The White House previously disputed a story Farmer gave about meeting President Donald Trump while working for Epstein. Trump and Epstein are former friends. According to the complaint, Epstein asked Farmer, who worked for him, to take pictures of young girls at swimming pools. Farmer also described having photos for her personal art work of her underage sisters, some nude, that Epstein stole. He allegedly threatened to burn her house down if she told others about the photos. Farmer said she urged investigators to look into Epstein and his connection to some of the richest and most influential men in the country. Months ago, Annie Farmer reminded us how her sister Maria filed a complaint with the FBI in 1996 and never heard back. She argued more girls were harmed "that didn't need to be" because of FBI inaction. Farmer had told the FBI that Epstein, who assaulted Maria, a figurative pic.twitter.com/lau3hrcz5r Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) December 20, 2025 Farmer eventually was contacted by authorities approximately a decade after her complaint when Epstein was being investigated in Florida for sex crimes. He would eventually take a plea deal and register as a sex offender. He died in 2019 of an apparent suicide while facing sex trafficking charges. Advertisement Advertisement Both Maria Farmer and her sister, Annie Farmer, have accused Epstein of sexual assault. Annie Farmer had a similar tearful reaction to the original FBI complaint being released. She was 16 when she alleged she was assaulted by Epstein. She told CNNs Jake Tapper: I have to say, it has been an emotional day and a way that I was not expecting. You know, my sister, Maria Farmer, reported Epstein and his crimes in 1996. Weve been saying that over and over again. And part of what was released today was an official FBI form. And I think it was an FD71 dated September 3rd, 1996 with my sisters, some of my sisters report. It was labeled under child pornography, and it described Epstein stealing photos of myself at the age of 16, of my younger sister, who was 12 at the time. And just to see it in writing and to know that they had this document this entire timeand how many people were harmed after that date? It just, you know, weve been saying it over and over, but to see it in black and white that way has been very emotional. Watch above via CNN. The post Epstein Victims Break Down in Tears After Files Prove Decades-Old Child Pornography Complaint Ignored By FBI first appeared on Mediaite. Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Officials for the European Union have agreed to loan $105 billon to Ukraine to help it stay financially solvent over the next two years amid Russian attacks in the Odesa region. The money is in lieu of an allocation to Ukraine from frozen Russian assets equal to nearly $246 billion and being held in Belgium, the BBC reported. The funds are equal to about two-thirds of the amount that Ukraine will need to pay its bills and give it a stronger bargaining position as peace talks continue with the aim of ending the Ukraine War that started when Russia invaded its neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022, according to The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the loan is interest-free and only would be repaid if Russia were required to pay reparations to Ukraine. The allocation of 90 billion by Europe, which in any case is linked to Russian assets, is an unprecedented decision, and it will also have an impact on the peace negotiations. Ukraine will be in a stronger position. The funds are earmarked for 2026-2027, and we are counting on... Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) December 20, 2025 News of the E.U. allocation comes after a Russian missile strike near Odesa that killed eight and injured 27 others on Friday night, CNN reported. Russian missiles struck a port facility in Pivdenne, and some of those killed and wounded were on a bus that was struck during the attack. The missile strikes were part of an ongoing aerial campaign against the Odesa region over the past nine days and caused a power outage in Odesa, which is located on the Black Sea and about 300 miles south of Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement Two bridges in southern and northern Odesa were knocked out in recent strikes and are being repaired. Russian forces also are targeting the energy infrastructure in Ukraine and have used drones and missiles to damage or destroy many targets in recent months. City staff have removed 55 of Eugene's 57 Flock cameras, and plan to remove the last two next week, according to a Dec. 19 announcement from the Eugene Police Department. The City of Eugene ended its contract with Flock Safety for Automated License Plate Reader cameras earlier this month. According to Eugene's city manager, in the termination notice to Flock, she requested Flock remove the cameras by Dec. 12. According to a statement from EPD, Flock Safety told the city it would not begin removing cameras until Jan. 26. So the city decided to remove them with its own staff. City staff began taking down the cameras Dec. 18 and on Dec. 19 had "disconnected and secured" all but two. A Flock automated license plate reader camera hangs from a light post near the intersection of Highway 99 and Roosevelt Boulevard in Eugene. According to Eugene police, staff plan to remove the last two cameras next week, dependent on factors such as weather and holiday time off. City staff are leaving the solar panels associated with the cameras until Flock Safety collects them. Advertisement Advertisement At the press conference discussing the end of Eugene's contract with Flock Safety, Police Chief Chris Skinner rejected the idea of covering the cameras while waiting for Flock employees to remove them. "Those cameras don't belong to us by contract," he said at the time. "So I don't want to tamper with the camera and then be held accountable and liable for damaging a camera. So I don't see us going out with our step ladder and putting bags and duct tape on cameras." What we know about Flock: Back door searches, cameras turning back on ALPR cameras take photographs of passing cars, bicyclists and pedestrians and use AI to interpret those photographs, allowing police departments to search for vehicles by license plate as well as vehicle type, color and features. Georgia-based Flock Safety is the national leader in such cameras. Advertisement Advertisement Eugene Police installed Flock cameras in May but turned them off in October in response to community privacy concerns. Skinner said he changed his mind on Flock after a camera was turned back on without police knowledge. Alan Torres covers local government for the Register-Guard. He can be reached byemail at atorres@registerguard.com, on X @alanfryetorres or on Reddit at u/AlfrytRG. This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon city removes Flock Safety cameras after ending contract A Pakistani court on Saturday sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife to 17 years in prison each, in a corruption case involving the retention of luxury state gifts. The decision of a special court was announced during a hearing at Rawalpindis jail where Khan, 73, has been imprisoned for more than two years. Pakistani laws allow the retention of state gifts after a prescribed payment. Khan is accused of retaining a Bulgari jewelry set by paying only a fraction of its market value. Advertisement Advertisement Khans party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), rejected the decision, posting on X that a closed door jail trial is neither free nor fair, it is in fact a Military Trial. The PTI called the court "a kangaroo court." The government, however, rejected the criticism. I think this is a fair decision, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told local media. Tarar said the court order was announced after a comprehensive trial in which criminal breach of trust by a public servant and misuse of authority was proved beyond doubt. The minister clarified that the latest jail term would start following the completion of Khans current jail term of 14 years, also over corruption allegations. Advertisement Advertisement The latest decision comes at a time when Khans family and party is mounting pressure over alleged mistreatment in jail. Khans sister, who was allowed to meet him recently after protests, told media that the couple were being subjected to mental torture as both were held in isolation. Khan ruled Pakistan between 2018 and 2022 before being removed by parliament in a confidence vote. The United States interdicted a tanker off the coast of Venezuela, two sources familiar with the raid told USA TODAY on Dec. 20, just days after President Donald Trump announced a "blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. The sources identified the vessel as the Centuries, which maritime records show is a Panama-flagged oil tanker. The ship is not under U.S. sanctions, the sources said. Marine traffic trackers showed the Centuries was off the coast of Venezuela in the waters of Curacao, a Dutch Caribbean island. The Centuries is a 333-meter-long oil tanker that last docked in Singapore in October, according to vessel tracker Maritime Optima. Its reported seizure would mark the second time in recent weeks that the United States has seized a tanker near Venezuela and comes amid a large U.S. military build-up in the region. The seizure was first reported by Reuters. Three officials told Reuters the Coast Guard was in the lead. The Coast Guard and Pentagon referred questions to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Venezuela's oil ministry and state oil company PDVSA did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement "I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela," Trump said on Tuesday. A U.S. military helicopter flies near an oil tanker during a raid described by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi as its seizure by the United States off the coast of Venezuela, Dec. 10, 2025, in a still image from video. In the days since U.S. forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela last week, there has been an effective embargo in place, with loaded vessels carrying millions of barrels of oil staying in Venezuelan waters rather than risk seizure. Since the first seizure, Venezuelan crude exports have fallen sharply. While many vessels picking up oil in Venezuela are under sanctions, others transporting the country's oil and crude from Iran and Russia have not been sanctioned, and some companies, particularly the U.S. oil company Chevron, transport Venezuelan oil in their own authorized ships. Advertisement Advertisement China is the biggest buyer of Venezuelan crude, which accounts for roughly 4% of its imports, with shipments in December on track to average more than 600,000 barrels per day, analysts have said. Since the U.S. imposed energy sanctions on Venezuela in 2019, traders and refiners buying Venezuelan oil have resorted to a "shadow fleet" of tankers that disguise their location and to vessels sanctioned for transporting Iranian or Russian oil. Trump's pressure campaign on Maduro has included a ramped-up military presence in the region and more than two dozen military strikes on vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, which have killed at least 100 people. Chairman of the Nobel Committee, Jorgen Watne Frydnes, holds a phone displaying a picture of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, the laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025, at the Nobel Institute in Oslo, Norway October 10, 2025. Maria Corina Machado (R), stands atop a truck next to the leader of the opposition Encuentro ciudadano party Delsa Solorzano (C) during a protest called by the opposition for election 'victory' to be recognized, in Caracas on August 17, 2024. Machado, who came out of hiding to attend the rally, vowed that anti-government protesters would remain out in force, as she addressed a protest in Caracas against Nicolas Maduro's disputed reelection victory claim. Maria Corina Machado signs their national anthem during a rally in Caracas on August 28, 2024. Venezuela's opposition supporters rallied on August 28, a month after the disputed re-election of President Nicolas Maduro, who armored his cabinet with a strongman at the helm of law and order. Maria Corina Machado embraces children during a rally in Caracas on August 28, 2024. Maria Corina Machado waves a national flag during a rally in Caracas on August 28, 2024. Maria Corina Machado waves a Venezuelan flag during a rally in Caracas on August 28, 2024. Maria Corina Machado gestures to supporters next to opposition figure Delsa Solorzano during a rally in Caracas on August 28, 2024. MEPsd give a standing ovation to co-laureate of the 2024 Sakharov human rights prize Maria Corina Machado (screen) during the award ceremony at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on December 17, 2024. Maria Corina Machado (L) and former Deputy of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Juan Pablo Guanipa, hold a banner demanding for the release of all political prisoners during a protest called by the opposition on the eve of the presidential inauguration in Caracas on January 9, 2025. Machado, who emerged from hiding to lead protests against the swearing-in of Nicolas Maduro for a highly controversial third term as president, was arrested after being "violently intercepted upon exiting the rally," according to her security team. Nobel peace laureate Maria Corina Machado greets supporters from a balcony of the Grand Hotel in Oslo, Norway, early on Dec. 11, 2025. Machado arrived in Oslo hours after the Venezuelan opposition leader's award was collected on her behalf by her daughter. Nobel peace prize laureate Maria Corina Machado laughs as she addresses a press conference at the Grand Hotel in Oslo, Norway, on Dec. 11, 2025. The 58-year-old, who has been in hiding in her home country since June 2024, missed the award of the Nobel Prize in Oslo on December 10. But she waved to supporters from her hotel shortly after arriving during the night. Maria Corina Machado is the lynchpin of opposition to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's regime, a fearless activist with rock star appeal whose inability to attend her own Nobel prize ceremony underlined the dangers she faces. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado greets supporters outside the White House following a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, on Jan. 15, 2026. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado waves to supporters as she leaves the White House following a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, on Jan. 15, 2026. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado speaks with US Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (L), Democrat from Illinois, as she meets with senators at the US Capitol on Jan. 15, 2026 in Washington, DC. US President Donald Trump met earlier Thursday with Machado, whose pro-democracy movement he has sidelined since toppling her country's leader, and whose Nobel Peace Prize he openly envies. Meet Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner 1 of 14 Chairman of the Nobel Committee, Jorgen Watne Frydnes, holds a phone displaying a picture of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, the laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025, at the Nobel Institute in Oslo, Norway October 10, 2025. Trump has also said that U.S. land strikes on the South American country will soon start. Advertisement Advertisement Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has alleged that the U.S. military build-up is aimed at overthrowing him and gaining control of the OPEC nation's oil resources, which are the world's largest crude reserves. This story has been updated to add new information. Contributing: Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US seizes vessel off Venezuela, sources say South Dakota wildlife officials have uncovered an unfortunate truth about Sheridan Reservoir: a confirmation of zebra mussel spread. South Dakota Public Broadcasting stated that this was the second outbreak in three years. What's happening? Zebra mussels are an invasive species often found in aquatic areas like Sheridan Reservoir. They are quick to multiply and hard to remove, which presents a rising concern for Sheridan. South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks' aquatic invasive species coordinator, Tanner Davis, shared some insight. Advertisement Advertisement Davis told SDPB, "This is an important time of year for monitoring the spread of zebra mussels. Age-0 mussels, or those in their first year of growth, will be able to be detected on structures that have been placed in the water throughout the summer months." Zebra mussels themselves present a significant issue to both marine and human life. With their sharp shells, mussels often cause injury to those who touch them. This is especially true when they're found in clusters growing on human-constructed aquatic structures. Additionally, they consume nutrients within the water itself that native species are then deprived of as a result, per SD Least Wanted. Why is this important? It is crucial to quell the zebra mussel population as quickly as possible. Otherwise, they could become a notable threat to local wildlife. Advertisement Advertisement As filter feeders, they suck up algae and plankton floating through the water. SD Least Wanted emphasized that "each individual is capable of filtering over one liter of water per day." At that rate, the water's nutrient density would be severely lowered for the original species that live there. 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. Without native species, the biodiversity of a given environment is put at risk. Losing any of the keystone contributors to that specific area poses a problem conservationists are constantly trying to solve. The effect that invasive species have on native ones often ripples out and affects other forms of life nearby, including humans. Advertisement Advertisement Native species are imperative to a protected and stable food supply. They have also been found to mitigate the spread of disease and maintain the overall health of their environments. What's being done about this? SDPB reported that Game, Fish, and Parks officials want boat and dock owners to look out for these mussels. A citizen monitoring page allows South Dakotans to report sightings of zebra mussels. Hopefully, this will help officials understand how quickly the mussels spread and where the main areas of concern are within Sheridan Reservoir. Spotting invasive species is a helpful way to clue wildlife officials into environmental dynamics. You can take the time to learn a few local invasive threats just to be aware and alert conservationists if you notice them. Doing so could make a difference in your community. 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. Conservative podcaster Candace Owens had strong words for Ben Shapiro on Friday in response to his speech attacking her ongoing conspiracy theories about the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. In an episode of her podcast, Candace, Owens dragged The Daily Wire co-founder, whom she had worked for at the publication until her firing last year, over alleged anti-Semitic rhetoric. In her podcast, Owens claimed that after her firing, Shapiro wanted to make sure my reputation and livelihood was also destroyed. Owens retraced her conflict with Shapiro and claimed their recent spat over Charlie Kirk marked a point of no return. She has alleged Kirk was assassinated as part of a conspiracy that possibly involves members of the Israeli government. Advertisement Advertisement Ive put up with a lot of it, but today I draw the line. I draw the line with this miserable imp when it comes to Charlie Kirk, she said. Okay, dont try me on this, but you keep trying me on this. You are an impostor, Ben. Youre an impostor. Owens played a clip from Shapiros speech on Thursday, in which he called out other conservatives including Megyn Kelly and Tucker Carlson who have refused to condemn Owens theories about Kirks death. The people who refuse to condemn Candaces truly vicious attacks, and some of them are speaking here, are guilty of cowardice. Yes, cowardice, said Shapiro in his speech. The fact that they have said nothing while Candace has been vomiting all sorts of hideous and conspiratorial nonsense into the public square for years is just as cowardly. Owens launched into her own attack on Shapiro, deriding his attempt to feign popularity in the public and his jealousy of Tucker Carlson, before taking up even stronger language to express her anger over their most recent Kirk clash. Advertisement Advertisement You know those kids booed you on that stage. The amount of messages I got from Turning Point USA, people saying, What is happening? Why is he on this stage, standing against everything that Charlie believed in? Cause thats what youre doing, she said. Youre standing against everything that Charlie believed in because you werent his friend. He didnt like you for that very reason. Look at you, and I just think you are such a little worm. Owens then attacked Shapiros faith, claiming he and other Jewish people believe they are contract lords, before moving to lay down the gauntlet once and for all. Im here to let you know that Im done with it. I am done with it. This one is so fully off of the mother effing plantation. Truly, Ben Shapiro, f**k you and the midget horse that you rode in on. And I say that on behalf of the world, she said. Owens words mark a further escalation in the ongoing MAGA feud surrounding her and Kirks widow Erika Kirk. Kirk has accused the podcaster of attacking TPUSA and her family with baseless accusations, leading to a meeting between the two, which occurred on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement The meeting did little to calm the storm. This week saw battle lines being drawn between those who support Owens chiefly Kelly and Carlson and those who support Kirk most vocally Shapiro, alongside CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss. The post F*** You, Ben Shapiro: Candace Owens Unloads on Former Boss Amid MAGA Rift first appeared on Mediaite. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) D.C.s outgoing police chief did not mince words Friday, delivering a blunt and harsh speech during her walkout ceremony. Im going to the bible when I say to my haters, F you, said Chief Pamela Smith. No, its not a drop the mic moment. Watch me in this space. I forgive you. I forgive you. Smith announced her resignation, effective Dec. 31, earlier this month. It comes amid federal scrutiny and an interim House Oversight Committee report that accused Smith of creating a toxic work environment and pressuring officers to manipulate crime data. Advertisement Advertisement DC interim police chief plans to lead with integrity transparency after Pamela Smiths resignation Smith denied all allegations of manipulating crime data, invoking her faith in God and delivering a sermon-like speech. Never would I, never will, compromise my integrity for a few crime numbers. I said it and its on the record, said Smith. Never would I compromise my love for God, the faith I have in this city. Never would I compromise my integrity, never would I compromise 28 years in law enforcement for a few folks who couldnt stand to be held accountable. And if I had to do it all over again, Id do it again. Smith was appointed as chief of police in 2023 amid a crime spike in the District. That year, the city saw 274 homicides. Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, the number dropped to 182. To date this year, there have been 126 homicides. I dont have to talk about what Ive done in this city, said Smith. May the work Ive done speak for me. Smith closed with another strong message. The same folks that said in their reports that they changed their numbers and I did not, the report said I did not direct anyone, you should investigate those folks, she said. Earlier this week, Mayor Muriel Bowser appointed Jeffery Carroll as interim police chief. Hell be sworn in following Smiths final day. As of now, an official time and date have not been set. Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. A Valley family is seeking justice after their son was brutally assaulted in a crime they're describing as "senseless." UPDATE: 37-year-old Geoff Bernardi has died after being taken off life support, his mother confirming to Action News on Saturday. "I have a really hard time being in the room with him because it just isn't my boy. It's just very hard to look at," Erin Adams said. Erin Adams, the mother of 37-year-old Geoff Bernardi in tears as she prepares to say goodbye to her son, who was the victim of a violent attack early Thursday morning in Clovis. Advertisement Advertisement "He went outside to smoke and he can't smoke on site of the apartment complex, so he walked to the canal bank. Somebody asked him if he would give him a cigarette, and he said, 'Sure, buddy,'' Adams said. "And they hit him over the head, he went to the ground, he yelled to his girlfriend, 'Run!' And then the person continued to beat him until he was unrecognizable." The location of the brutal beating is along Dry Creek canal, located behind the Pacific Grove Apartments on Barstow and Villa avenues. "We do get calls for service, however, nothing at all to this nature," Clovis Police spokesperson Ty Wood said. "The doctors said that the injuries were not consistent with the beating from a fist, that it was consistent with some kind of object," Adams said. Advertisement Advertisement Clovis Police is calling on the community for help as it investigates the crime as aggravated battery. "Our Clovis police detectives in crime scene personnel were called out. They searched for any kind of physical evidence in and around the canal and the area that the victim was located in," Wood said. "If you have any information that can help us identify who committed this crime, it could possibly save another person's life," Adams said. His mother telling Action News Bernardi was a beloved educator with Clovis Unified who worked closely with students on theater productions. Adams sharing one final message with her son, who would be celebrating his 38th birthday next month. Advertisement Advertisement "Thank you for years of love and support and adoration. You took care of your mother, your brothers, your sisters. We miss you. This is too short of a time," Adams said. As of Friday night, Clovis Police confirm to Action News that no arrests have been made in this case. The family says they have taken Geoff off life support as they prepare his organs for donation, in hopes of saving more lives. For news updates, follow Christina Lopez on Facebook, X and Instagram. The family of an Army veteran who was hit and killed while walking in a parking lot earlier this week in Hillside spoke exclusively with ABC7 on Friday. Edward Price is being remembered as a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. The victim's son says his father was a Vietnam veteran, a Purple Heart recipient and for years worked for the state as an advocate for children. He says he spoke to his father on the phone minutes before the crash. Advertisement Advertisement "He said, 'I need you to get this paperwork, in case anything ever happens to me,' life insurance paperwork, and it was almost prophetic," Anthony Price said. "Within an hour and a half later, he was, he was no longer with us." Relatives of Edward Price are mourning the death of their family patriarch. The 78-year-old great-grandfather, who survived being shot in Vietnam, lost his life in a flurry of chaos. I just think he was an advocate for people. He was one of these people that commanded the room. "That's why I was shocked," Anthony Price said. "My first conversation to the doctor was I just talked to him. What do you mean?" Advertisement Advertisement Wednesday around midday, police say the driver of an SUV may have had a medical episode before crashing into several vehicles, including a police squad car with two officers inside, near Butterfield Road and Laverne in Hillside. Police said the driver continued east on Butterfield before careening into a Walgreens parking lot, hitting more vehicles and striking Edward Price, who was using a walker to navigate a pedestrian ramp. "The weather had receded a little bit. It had gotten a little bit warmer, and that's when he ventured out, yeah, unfortunately," Anthony Price said. He says his father didn't drive and was disabled after another vehicle crash several years ago. The West Side native has retired from working for Illinois DCFS as a child welfare specialist. Advertisement Advertisement "I just think he was an advocate for people," Anthony Price said. "He was one of these people that commanded the room." SEE ALSO | USPS truck crashes head-on into car, killing woman in Des Plaines, police say Despite losing his father, Anthony's thoughts are now with the two officers who were injured and the 73-year-old driver who police said remains hospitalized. "My father is no longer with us, but ideally both officers will have full recovery, and so will the other driver," Anthony Price said. Hillside police say they continue to investigate the crash. The driver has not been charged or cited as of Friday evening. https://abc7chicago.com/post/hillside-deadly-crash-driver-crashes-squad-car-strikes-kills-pedestrian-butterfield-laverne-police-say/18295713/ Saffron is the most expensive spice on the planet, but farmers have decided to grow apples instead, ETV Bharat reported. One agriculturalist from Kashmir, Mohammad Asif Azad, shared his story on how the annual harvest failed to cover his workers' wages. What's happening? Only 250 grams of saffron (about half a pound) over 15 kanals of land (about 1.9 acres) was harvested, compared to the anticipated 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds). The soil's mixture of sand and clay was the ideal ground for the crop to flourish. These areas, known as karewas, are slowly deteriorating and disappearing because of changing temperatures and urbanization. The local leader of a group of saffron growers, Abdul Majeed Wani, explained how severe the harvest looks. Advertisement Advertisement "Saffron growers were never interested in government jobs, as our earnings were sufficient to sustain us," he said. "But now, our young generation is looking for jobs as this farming is not sustainable after the next five years." The association only produced 10% of the previous year's harvest, forcing businesses to seek other avenues. Why is saffron decline important? Saffron farmers are experiencing the worst growing conditions they have faced in recent history, with a three-month dry spell affecting their lands. The world will feel the hit, as saffron becomes rarer and more expensive. Additionally, the swift reduction in availability highlights how rapidly global temperatures and soil conditions are changing, which are among the most pressing issues to raise awareness about. Farmers may resort to unhealthy farming practices to compensate for these conditions, such as using chemical-based fertilizers and other hazardous, exploitative agricultural methods to maximize production. Even cherry farmers in Kashmir are facing similar growth concerns, as natural disasters such as hailstorms ravage the region. Advertisement Advertisement Growers would also be driven to use far more water than necessary, pushing irrigation tech and water tables to their limits. This could delay positive progress toward a healthier planet, especially since water scarcity already threatens numerous communities worldwide. What's being done about saffron losses? Local growers have met with officials to design a plan. Part of it included powering essential borewells with renewable energy to lower fuel costs. They are also attempting to control saffron corm smuggling, which is the storage organ of the plant. This theft threatens farmers' stability. Farmers are also changing their strategies, adopting regenerative agriculture practices like no-till farming and organic strategies. This phenomenon is occurring globally, particularly as growers transition to more resilient crops, such as those found in Azad's apple orchard. However, farms with more resources are implementing more innovative solutions, such as smart technology and robots, to see if they can detect concerns before they become unmanageable. This reimagining of precision agriculture could be the future for many. 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. Nawaf Salam's comments came as tensions continued to boil along Lebanon's eastern border, where Israel accuses Hezbollah of ignoring calls for disarmament and carrying out ceasefire violations. The first phase of the plan to confiscate weapons from Hezbollah south of the Litani River will end in a few days, Lebanons Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said in a statement on Saturday. Salams remarks were made amid ongoing tensions along Lebanons southern border, where Israel says Hezbollah has been ignoring calls for disarmament and committing violations regarding a November 2024 ceasefire agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Israel has continued striking Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon while publicly urging authorities in Beirut to fulfill the commitment under the truce to disarm Hezbollah. It warned that it would act as necessary if Lebanon does not take steps against the Iran-aligned proxy terrorist group. Israeli soldiers near the Israeli border with Lebanon, northern Israel, October 16, 2023. (credit: AYAL MARGOLIN/FLASH90) Rubio hopes for Hezbollah disarmament, 'strong' Lebanese gov't On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US hoped negotiations between Lebanese authorities and Israel would lead to a strong Lebanese government and see Hezbollah disarmed. We are hopeful that talks between Lebanese authorities and Israelis will create outlines and a way forward that prevents further conflict, Rubio told a press conference. A day prior, officials from France, Saudi Arabia, and the US held talks with the head of the Lebanese army in Paris aimed at finalizing a road map to enable a mechanism for Hezbollahs disarmament. Cultural & Historical Significance Alaia holds profound cultural significance within Muslim communities, particularly those with Arabic linguistic roots. The name derives from Arabic origins and carries the beautiful meaning of 'sublime' or 'exalted,' reflecting Islamic values of spiritual elevation and moral excellence. In many Muslim cultures, names are carefully selected to embody positive attributes that parents hope will guide their children's character development and life path. Alaia represents the aspiration for nobility of spirit and the pursuit of higher states of being, aligning perfectly with Islamic teachings about human potential and spiritual growth. The name's popularity spans across various Muslim-majority countries and diaspora communities, where it serves as a bridge between traditional values and contemporary appeal. Unlike some names that are region-specific, Alaia has gained acceptance in diverse Muslim cultures from the Middle East to Southeast Asia and beyond. Its elegant sound and meaningful connotation make it a favored choice for parents seeking a name that honors Islamic heritage while sounding modern and international. The name's cultural resonance extends beyond religious boundaries, appealing to those who appreciate its melodic quality and profound meaning. Maryland faces a series of growing budget gaps in coming years, state forecasts say. Deficits starting in 2028 are driven by required education spending. (Chart by Department of Legislative Services) Maryland could be in for some belt-tightening in an effort to contain a series of projected budget shortfalls, including a $1.2 billion gap forecast for the fiscal 2027 budget. The joint Spending Affordability Committee Thursday adopted a recommendation to cut the projected deficit in half by cutting ongoing spending by $600 million. Advertisement Advertisement I think the theme of these recommendations is that weve got to be prudent, said Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince Georges and Anne Arundel), the joint committees Senate co-chair and the vice chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. Weve got to be conservative, and thats why Im supporting it. The committee also adopted a recommendation to leave the states rainy day fund untouched. Using the fund even a portion of the fund would be a one-time move. Sen. James C. Rosapepe (D-Prince Georges and Anne Arundel). (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) The current balance of 8% of general fund revenues is about $800 million more than the 5% required by law. But analysts and lawmakers note that bond rating agencies are already skittish about the state dipping into the account, and worry the states higher-than-required reserves are not enough compared to peer states. Another recommendation called on the governor to fill only mission critical vacancies and increase others to meet turnover goals. The recommendation stopped short of asking Moore to implement a hiring freeze. Advertisement Advertisement Thursdays vote fell along party lines, with the committees three Republicans rejecting the recommendation. Del. Jefferson L. Ghrist (R-Upper Shore) suggested the recommendations did not go far enough. Obviously were very concerned about our structural deficit, said Ghrist. If we dont make the appropriate cuts to the structure of government that matches the deficit by making these one-time cuts, the only thing were really doing is kicking the can down the road to a time and place where, looking at the graph its going to be much worse than it is now. House Minority Whip Del. Jesse T Pippy (R-Frederick) and Sen. Johnny Ray Salling (R-Baltimore County) also voted against the recommendations. The governor is not required to follow the recommendations of the committee but typically does. Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers and Gov. Wes Moore (D) start the 2026 legislative session next month facing a nearly $1.6 billion structural budget deficit. Three quarters of that about $1.2 billion is a cash shortfall. The forecast released by the committee last month was a gut punch following a fiscally trying 2025 legislative session. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The news since that November meeting has not improved the states fiscal situation in a significant way. A week ago, the Board of Revenue Estimates projected general fund revenues for fiscal 2027 would inch up from $27.102 billion in Septembers estimates to $27.111 billion in December an increase of just $9.1 million. Advertisement Advertisement Legislative budget analysts pointed to weakness in the sales tax collections as well as uncertainty related to federal fiscal policies. The reality is that weve got problems because we got a big problem in Washington, Rosapepe said Thursday. We had the longest government shutdown in history just a month ago. We may have another government shutdown in January. Were never sure when the Trump administration is going to come through with money that it is supposed to provide us from the federal government. We saw what they tried to do with SNAP benefits during the shutdown, he said. So the risks caused by the Trump administration to the people of Maryland and to the budget of Maryland are huge. A dedicated fund for the Blueprint for Marylands Future will run out in fiscal 2029. The fund was projected to run dry a year earlier. (Department of Legislative Services) To start the year, legislators and the governor faced a $3.3 billion deficit for fiscal 2026, which started July 1. A final spending plan used one-time cuts, fund transfers and $1.6 billion in tax increases to plug that hole. Advertisement Advertisement When it was all said and done, the compromise budget agreed to by the House and Senate closed the deficit and was supposed to leave the state in a good place for fiscal 2027, with what was expected to be about a $300 million surplus. The solution was meant to get the state through the final year of the term. But lawmakers and Moore knew then as now that tougher challenges awaited starting in fiscal 2028 through fiscal 2030. In those years, the state would see the structural deficit explode, driven by increased spending required by the Blueprint for Marylands Future education program. And while the out-year gaps projected a year ago are smaller, they increase from $1.5 billion in fiscal 2028 to $3.4 billion in fiscal 2030. Dec. 20 (UPI) -- A flood watch is in effect in the greater Portland area and large portions of western Oregon and southwestern Washington as rainy conditions continue. The National Weather Service issued the flood watch on Saturday morning, which is in effect until 4 p.m. PST and follows a week of heavy rainfall, Oregon Live reported. Local flooding is likeliest in urban areas and in locations with relatively little water drainage, and the day's forecast calls for an 80% chance of rainfall during the morning hours. Advertisement Advertisement The Sandy and Clackamas rivers are especially vulnerable to flooding, and at least one person has died as many roads in western Oregon became covered by landslides and other weather-related damage, according to OPB. "The Clackamas River in the last 24 hours, we've been seeing 3 to 4 inches [of rain] and in some cases even higher amounts southeast of Estacada," NWS meteorologist Sebastian Westerink told OPB on Friday. "Those amounts are certainly contributing to the rapid rise of the river," he added. Despite the continued rainy weather, most local evacuation orders were lifted on Friday in areas along and near the Clackamas River, KATU reported. Advertisement Advertisement The river set a new record when it crested at 26.25 feet during the early morning hours on Friday. The prior record was 25.52 feet in 1972. The rainy weather likely will continue through Sunday as a cool and moist airmass covers much of the region. Hundreds of local residents have evacuated the area, and some flood waters have started to recede but many bodies of water will remain higher than normal into Sunday, NWS forecasters said. Some, though, took advantage of rare whitewater kayaking opportunities afforded by the week's weather. Many traveled to Gladstone's High Rocks Park, where local waters were flowing at a very high rate on Friday and could continue doing so through the weekend. The longest running drag tour in the United States is set to make three stops in Florida after drawing the ire of the states attorney general last month but receiving support from city governments, including St. Petersburgs. James Uthmeier, appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in January, has weighed in on numerous local debates during his first year as Floridas top legal officer. Hes twice opined on a dispute between Clearwater and the Church of Scientology and has also said Miami cant change its election dates without voter approval. In November, he wrote to Pensacolas City Council asking it cancel A Drag Queen Christmas, the nationally touring drag show slated for a Dec. 23 performance at the city-owned Saenger Theatre. Advertisement Advertisement But Uthmeier has not asked the same of St. Petersburg, which also will play host to the show at a city-owned venueMonday night. A public records request for any letter from Uthmeier to St. Petersburg about the show did not generate any results. Even if Uthmeier had delivered a letter to St. Petersburg, its unlikely City Council members would have complied. Some councilmembers have strongly backed the performance. Its an art form. Not all kinds of art appeals to all kinds of people, council member Gina Driscoll told the Tampa Bay Times. The beauty of art is that there is something for everyone. The show, which says attendees should be at least 18-years old and features performers who rose to prominence thanks to their time on RuPauls Drag Race, is on a 38-city tour. It comes to Hard Rock Live Orlando on Sunday, before heading to St. Petersburgs Mahaffey Theater. Advertisement Advertisement In his letter to Pensacola officials, Uthmeier called the show blasphemous and said it should not occur two days before Christmas or at the same time as the citys family oriented Winterfest, which kicked off in November and runs until Christmas Eve. Both events will occur near each other in Pensacolas downtown, but the Saenger Theatre is an indoor venue. This annual drag show openly mocks one of the most sacred holidays in the Christian faith, he wrote. While Pensacola children are taking pictures with Santa, men dressed as garish women in demonic costumes will be engaged in obscene behavior mere feet away. Uthmeier argued in the letter, which he also posted to his X account, that the city had the power to cancel the show and should do so. While the First Amendment safeguards freedom of expression, it does not require a city to platform and endorse disgusting, obscene content that denigrates its residents religious beliefs, Uthmeier wrote. The shows content is designed to inflame religious strife, its timing is intentional, and its proximity to children is unacceptably problematic. Advertisement Advertisement A Pensacola City Council member said the letter was not a formal legal opinion and that canceling the show could put the city at risk of legal ramifications. With all due respect to the Attorney Generals office, this was an unsolicited opinion, council member Charles Bare said at the November 10 meeting. We did not ask for a legal opinion from this person, and as far as Im concerned, this is his personal opinion written on government letterhead wasting taxpayer dollars. It is disingenuous to the people of our city to take this seriously and to do anything about it. Uthmeier again took aim at Pensacola on Monday after a national appellate court granted Florida the ability to enforce the Protection of Children Act. Introduced by DeSantis in 2023, the law prohibits children from attending any adult live performance. Advertisement Advertisement If youre exposing children to lewd conduct, youre on notice, Uthmeier tweeted after the legislative victory. Were watching, Pensacola. Council member Allison Patton noted at the November meeting that St. Petersburg is also hosting the show at a public venue but did not appear to have received any similar letter from Uthmeier. The Mahaffey is owned by St. Petersburg and privately operated by local businessman Bill Edwards. St. Petersburg City Council members Richie Floyd and Driscoll told the Times they were not aware of any letters but said City Council has received complaints from citizens. The city should be investing in programs that unite residents, not ones that mock traditions held sacred by many in our community, read a form letter sent to the city council by numerous members of the public. Advertisement Advertisement Driscoll and Floyd said that City Council does not have purview over what acts the Mahaffey decides to host, and that attempting to influence the theaters lineup would be inappropriate, if not illegal. The idea that we are going to cancel something because we dont like it is such a violation of the First Amendment, Floyd told the Times. All of this is an absurd conversation. Were not going to censor speech. The dismay of some constituents, they said, is also not grounds for them to attempt to cancel the show. They said not every show the Mahaffey hosts will attract everyone, and that the theater frequently hosts crude comedians without controversy. Advertisement Advertisement Im a Christian, Floyd said. Im not offended by (A Drag Queen Christmas) at all. They also said they found Uthmeiers description of the show to be far too negative. Ive always enjoyed drag shows, Driscoll said. Its an unique and wonderful form of performance art. Where can I get a ticket? she said. Thats where I stand. When the history of Floridas modern era of capital punishment is written, 2025 will be marked as a year that saw an unprecedented embrace of the death penalty. The state executed 19 prisoners this year the most since the death penalty was reinstated in the 1970s. Executions have been carried out in cases of defendants with intellectual disabilities and mental health issues,factors that previously would have prohibited the death penalty. At the same time, some state prosecutors are openly defying U.S.Supreme Court precedent as they seek capital punishment in cases of child sexual abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Ron DeSantis, who had gone years without signing any death warrants, averaged two a monthin 2025. Asked about the reason for the recent surge during a Jacksonville news conference last month, the governor said it comes back to the families of the murder victims. Theres a saying, Justice delayed is justice denied, DeSantis said. I felt that I owed it to them to make sure that this ran very smoothly and promptly. What DeSantis has said So far, DeSantis has carried out 28 executions during hisseven years in office. With a year to go in his tenure, he will leave office as the governor who executed the mostprisoners. It tookRick Scott all of his eight years in office to preside over 28 executions. Jeb Bush carried out 21. Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis said in Jacksonville that when he took office, his administration had to get our sea legs on the death penalty. A year into his tenure, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the prison system, halting executions, he said. Three and a half yearspassed with no executions. But then I think what happened was, you know, weve heard from a lot of the family members of the victims over the years, DeSantis said. And if you think about it, some of these crimes were committed in the 80s. And they wait, and theres (an) appeal in this and that. The death penalty could be a strong deterrent to crime if it is carried out swiftly, DeSantis said.He mentioned getting feedback from the family members of murder victims. I kind of felt like I may have been letting some of them down, DeSantis said. It wasnt intentional. There were a lot of other things that happened. So what were doing is, were doing it to be able to bring justice to the victims families. ... Sometimes theyll come to the office after and you can just see, after decades, the weight thats kind of been lifted because, you know, they never fully had closure. Advertisement Advertisement Maria DeLiberato, the legal and policy director for the group Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, questioned the governors explanation. She noted that the victims families in at least two casesthis year opposed the executions. The only thing we can point to is politics, DeLiberato said. Thats the only thing that is different. Hes sort of figured out that this is something that appeals to his base. Some executed after 4 decades The age of some cases is a notabletrait. The 19 men executed so far this year spent an average of about 31 years on death row. Bryan Jennings, who was executed in November, had been there longer than the others executed this year, having been sentenced to death 45 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement As of this month, 251 people remain on Floridas death row. All but one are men. One hundred fifty-four are white. Eighty-sixare Black. Ten are of other races. Tommy Zeigler, who many believe is innocent, has been there longer than anyone, having been sentenced in 1976. Many believe that Zeigler was wrongfully convicted in the slayings of his wife, her parents and a man at his family furniture store near Orlando. Litigation continues over DNA testing his defense believes will prove him innocent. Jennings was 20 in 1979 when he was accused in the Brevard County abduction, rape and murder of 6-year-old Rebecca Kunash. Jennings went to trial three times in the 1980s. Legal errors led tohis conviction and sentence getting repeatedly overturned. Mental disability, illness no bar A few of this years death warrants came in cases where defendants argued that intellectual disability prohibited the death penalty. Advertisement Advertisement David Pittman, condemned for a 1988 triple murder in Polk County, had a well-documented history of intellectual impairments. Federal case law in the decades since he was sentenced forbids the execution of people with such disabilities. Pittman was awaiting a full hearing on his own claims when the Florida Supreme Court, reversing an earlier decision, held that the bar against executing people with intellectual disabilities did not apply retroactively. He was executed in September. Lawyers for Victor Tony Jones, condemned for a double murder in Miami, also argued claims of intellectual disability. He, too, was executed this fall. The claims havent been limited to disability. Mental illness has been an issue as well. Advertisement Advertisement Jeffrey Hutchinson, a Persian Gulf War veteran convicted in the shotgun slayings of his girlfriend and her three children, argued on appeal that his exposure to chemical weapons in combat resulted in a diagnosis of Gulf War illness. He unsuccessfully sought clemency last year. He was executed in May. Death sought for sex crimes The Florida Legislature in 2023 tweaked the states death penalty statute to allow capital punishment in cases of child rape. That law runs afoul of well-established U.S. Supreme Court precedent, which forbids the death penalty for rape. In the 2008 case of Kennedy v. Louisiana, the high courts 5-4 majority ruled that the death penalty for crimes other than homicide or certain offenses against the state is unconstitutional. Advertisement Advertisement That hasnt stopped some state attorneys from seeking death in child sexual battery cases. In October, Palm Beach County prosecutors announced theyd seek death sentences for Josue Mendez Sales and Pablo Cobon Mendez, who are accused of sexually abusing a 6-year-old girl. Last month, prosecutors in Hernando County announced they would seek death for Nathan Douglas Holmberg, who is accused of raping a child, among other crimes. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier acknowledged the Kennedy ruling, but he said he believes the Supreme Court should overturn that decision. We believe that todays Supreme Court should reevaluate and reinterpret the law to allow this form of justice, Uthmeier saidduring a news conference in Hernando County earlier this year.Youre going to see a lot more of this. 2 Hillsborough cases saw executions Two Hillsborough County cases were among those ending in executions this year. Advertisement Advertisement Glen Rogers died in May, almost 30 years after he viciously stabbed to death Tina Marie Cribbs in a Tampa motel bathroom. Rogers, a drifter who traveled widely throughout the U.S., is believed to have killedin other states before he was arrested. Samuel Lee Smithers died in September for the killings of two women whose bodies were found in 1996 in a pond behind an east Hillsborough County home. The victims, Denise Roach and Christie Cowan,were sex workers in Tampa before they vanished. Smithers had no final words before he was put to death. The rest of the states executions came from outside the Tampa Bay area. As the roster of executed inmates grew, so too did the amount of litigation related to the lethal injection process. Of note was a lawsuit filed earlier this month by Frank Walls, who was executed Thursday for a 1987 Okaloosa County double murder. Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit, citing Department of Corrections records, claimed the state used expired drugs and lower doses in some executions than are required under the states lethal injection protocol. Walls attorneys accused the prison system of negligence and asserted that Walls could suffer severe pain akin to torture if he is executed. A federal judge quickly dismissed the case. As investigators work to find a motive behind the mass shooting at Brown University and the slaying of an acclaimed MIT professor, former classmates of the accused killer described him as a brilliant but exceptionally difficult student. Claudio Neves Valente, the 48-year-old suspect who police say was found dead Thursday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, was a top student but a disruptive personality in his native Portugal, recalled classmates on Friday. Neves Valente studied at Instituto Superior Tecnico along with Nuno Loureiro, the MIT professor he is now accused of shooting to death. The school confirmed to CNN that both men were students there between 1995 and 2000, and that Neves Valente studied for a degree in Technological Physics Engineering. Advertisement Advertisement That engineering course was full of gifted students, recalled classmate Felipe Moura but Neves Valente stood out, for good and bad reasons. Claudio was obviously one of the best, but in class he had a great need to stand out and show that he was better than the rest, Moura wrote in Portuguese in a Facebook post. Claudios attitude was unpleasant, he continued, often arguing with colleagues he didnt consider as brilliant as him (and who probably werent), he wrote. They were totally unnecessary quarrels, which did not help the class at all. Moura, who now teaches at a Lisbon university, did not respond to messages from CNN. A former classmate, who asked not to be quoted by name, confirmed that Mouras Facebook account was authentic. Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with Publico, a newspaper in Portugal, Moura echoed his impressions of Neves Valente as an aggressive classmate. He had a confrontational personality in class. In other words, the other good students would intervene, ask questions, [but] Claudio liked to say that he was the one who knew, Moura told the paper. Nuno Morais, another classmate, told Publico that Neves Valente and Loureiro were among the top students at the school but their personalities were starkly different. Claudio was one of the students with the best grades in the course. He was much more theoretical, Morais told the paper. Nuno was also a good student, he stood out less in terms of grades, but he was a more relaxed personand seemed to have a knack for slightly more applied subjects. Advertisement Advertisement After graduating in Portugal, Neves Valente enrolled at Brown University in 2000 as a graduate student in physics but did not finish the program. Moura said he stayed in touch with Neves Valente at the time and found that he was once again clashing with other students. I exchanged many emails with him at the time and saw that he maintained the same attitude as he told me of maintaining unnecessary conflicts with PhD colleagues in class, which he again considered far less capable than he was, Moura wrote on Facebook. I could tell that he wasnt enjoying being at Brown University. Scott Watson, a classmate at Brown, said Valente was socially awkward and that he became his only friend at the university. He struggled in the US, complaining bitterly that classes werent challenging and that the food was poor, Watson recalled. He would say the classes were too easyhonestly, for him they were. He already knew most of the material and was genuinely impressive, Watson, who is now a professor at Syracuse University, said in a statement shared with CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Watson said Valente could be kind and gentle but that he was also volatile as well. He often became frustratedsometimes angryabout courses, professors, and living conditions, Watson said, recalling that once he had to break up a fight between Valente and another classmate he often insulted. Moura said he tried to convince Valente to stay with the graduate program, but he left after one year. Claudio thought none of it was worth it, which was a waste of time and the others were all incapable, he said on Facebook. In an archived Brown website, Neves Valente appears to write to classmates that hes left the school permanently. The note, first reported by the New York Times, includes an email address to reach him and a cryptic note: The best liar is he who is able to fool himself. They are everywhere, but sometimes proliferate in the most unexpected places. Advertisement Advertisement A directory of physics graduate students at Brown from that time links to the website alongside a student email address for Neves Valente. The directory shows that he was assigned to room 122 at the Barus and Holley engineering building. Neves Valente carried out his shooting in room 166 in the same building last week, police say. Its unclear what Neves Valente did in the intervening years. Moura wrote on Facebook that he heard hed returned to Portugal to work for an internet provider; police say he received a visa and returned to the US in 2017, though it is unclear what he did for work. His last known address was in Miami, police said. His former classmates have been left trying to understand what could have motivated the brutal violence. Advertisement Advertisement I never expected he would be capable of such a thing, Moura wrote. CNNs Vasco Cotovio, Thomas Bordeaux, Julia Vargas Jones contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A former student was arrested Thursday on suspicion of holding up a weapon to threaten a student in the Ocean Springs High School parking lot, the district said. The former student arrived on campus to pick up a current student after dismissal, according to Trey Brennan, a district spokesperson. The former student ran into another current student, who the former student had a disagreement with. The district said the former student held up a weapon from inside his car. The district did not name the former student and would not say what kind of weapon he is accused of raising. Advertisement Advertisement Campus police reviewed video footage and arrested the former student Thursday evening. The former student faces a charge of possessing a weapon on school property. No one was injured. The incident happened after many students left campus, and the district said there was no ongoing threat to the school. Brennan said a few extra police officers were working Friday to ensure students feel safe on the last day of the semester. OSSD has zero tolerance for possession of weapons on school property, including objects intended to resemble a weapon, or any other instrument considered to be dangerous, the district said in a note to parents Thursday night. The safety of our students and staff remains the utmost priority for OSSD. A Meals on Wheels program that helps seniors in Fort Bend and Waller counties said it's postponing cuts that were days away from starting after the community stepped up. Helping those in need around Christmas is something Wanda and Andy Andrews know about. "It's very fulfilling, and that's how you find out how much need is out there," Wanda Andrews explained. After years of giving back, time has finally caught up. Advertisement Advertisement "Having raised five kids," Andy Andrews said. "Got 11 grandkids. Have seven great-grandkids, and we just do what we need, but I never realized we would be on the receiving end." Each week, the couple receives seven portions from the Fort Bend Meals on Wheels program. A lifeline, the couple said, is needed not just for the food, but company too. "We were thrilled, and they're the nicest people you would ever want to meet," Wanda Andrews said. But the friendly folks faced a dilemma when CEO Doug Simpson said nearly half of the federal funding was cut. "About a $800,000 cut in our budget, and that's significant," Simpson said. "We're not a huge organization, but that's a big cut." Advertisement Advertisement Two months ago, ABC13 highlighted the loss of money. A story, Simpson says, caused neighbors, companies, and governments to give. PREVIOUS STORY: Fort Bend Seniors says it will have fewer Meals on Wheels deliveries due to federal cuts "In our 51 years, we've never had a waitlist, and my goal is to never have a waitlist," Simpson said. "Never say never, but as of right now, we're not having a waitlist." While the organization is able to continue delivering meals, in order to keep the momentum going, Simpson said they still need assistance because after six months, there will not be enough money to keep seven meals a week going. Advertisement Advertisement "We're not at the finish line," Simpson explained. "We didn't finish anything. This is the first step along the way." They aren't the only ones. IM Houston said it lost federal funding too. Recently, it also said it was able to continue Meals on Wheels programs in Galveston and Harris counties, thanks to the community. A service officials believe is needed more than ever because of the price of goods. While the latest federal data shows the rising prices of goods has cooled from previous years, some items still remain high. Texas A&M economist Jorge Barro said the good news is he doesn't expect to see a steep increase in all goods soon. Advertisement Advertisement "If you look at specific components of the food category, you'll see we still have some pretty steep price increases, but broadly overall, I think it's much closer to normalized levels," Barro explained. To help keep the food coming, neighbors can donate to the Meals on Wheels program. A donation the Andrews know makes a difference. "Thank you," Andy Andrews said. An appreciation for how the community gave to keep seniors like them fed into the next year. For updates on this story, follow Nick Natario on Facebook, X and Instagram. Seattle police say a derelict, fuel-leaking boat was removed from Lake Union this month after weeks of warnings, daily checks and a multi-agency cleanup effort. According to the Seattle Police Department, its Harbor Patrol Unit towed away the 70-foot concrete-hull vessel, the Genesis IV, following a response that began in October and involved local, state and federal partners. The boat appeared on Oct. 12 along Lake Unions West Wall, an area typically limited to short-term, two-hour mooring. Advertisement Advertisement Harbor Patrol officers soon began receiving complaints from nearby businesses and community members, including online posts questioning why the vessel remained in place. On Oct. 15, officers issued a 72-hour notice instructing the occupants to move. The next day, the occupants attempted to relocate the boat using a small vessel, but Harbor Patrol stopped the effort, determining the tow was unsafe. Two days later, the occupants obtained a temporary mooring permit from the Center of Wooden Boats and told officers they could move the boat despite mechanical problems. Harbor Patrol then coordinated with the Department of Natural Resources and SPDs Legal Unit to seek authorization to remove the vessel. Advertisement Advertisement Standard impoundment at the harbor station was ruled out because the concrete hull could damage the wooden pier. The Legal Unit worked with Fishermans Terminal to identify an alternative solution. From mid-October through early December, officers conducted near-daily checks. During that period, police say the occupants did not maintain a valid moorage permit and were unable to tow the boat. Harbor Patrol issued multiple citations for moorage violations and for lacking vessel registration. On Nov. 11, officers served a 15-day derelict boat seizure notice under the state program. The following day, the citys Community Assistance Response & Engagement team checked on the occupants and discussed available resources. Advertisement Advertisement Police say occupants were repeatedly given opportunities to leave on their own, and CARE staff returned multiple times with food, hygiene items and medical supplies, also offering help securing shelter. Between Nov. 25 and Nov. 29, authorities reported a fuel leak of approximately 5 to 10 gallons near the boat. Harbor Patrol notified the Environmental Protection Agency, and containment booms were deployed with assistance from the Washington Department of Ecology to limit the spread. Police issued a citation related to the spill and continued daily checks, reminding occupants that seizure was pending. Advertisement Advertisement On Dec. 5, Harbor Patrol seized the Genesis IV under the states derelict boat program in a seven-hour operation. Community service officers arrived after the seizure to assist the occupants. Police estimate the fuel spill cleanup cost about $5,000. The impound fee is $1,660 per month, with the boat expected to be held for roughly two months. Disposal is projected at about $98,000, bringing the total estimated cost tied to the vessel to approximately $105,000. The future of a mega casino in Madera County is now uncertain. A Fresno appellate court dealt a major blow to the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians, ruling Tuesday that the approvals used to build the North Fork casino are no longer valid. The lawsuit pits North Fork against the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, which operates a casino resort in Coarsegold. Chukchansi believes North Fork's off-reservation project was void from the start, arguing a 2014 proposition that rejected the casino trumped prior state approval. Advertisement Advertisement The appellate court agreed. "The judgment is affirmed," the three justices wrote. The casino's plans called for 2,000 slot machines, 40 table games, and a 200-room hotel. There would be restaurants, a food court, and meeting rooms. The tribe planned to hire over 1,000 team members beginning in early 2026. Online, North Fork has posted regular updates, sharing the construction progress and teasing a summer opening. "We're working on a 64-acre lot," a project engineer said in a video posted to Facebook and Instagram. "And the building itself is going to be 264,000 square feet." Advertisement Advertisement Despite the ruling, construction appeared to continue on Friday. Action News saw several workers near the roof and dozens of trucks. In a statement to Action News, representatives wrote: "The state appeals court ruled on a narrow question of state law and expressly did not consider what effect, if any, the 2014 voter referendum had on the 2012 and 2016 federal approvals of the North Fork's project as a matter of federal law. Picayune Rancheria previously challenged each of those approvals in the federal courts and lost conclusively, providing North Fork the right to proceed with its project. North Fork will continue to comply with all applicable law, including the federal laws that govern Indian gaming, as it proceeds with construction of its project to benefit the regional economy and the lives of its more than 3000 tribal citizens." The project is already 20 years old, after North Fork's first request for approval in 2005. Advertisement Advertisement Now, litigation that has played out in courtrooms from California to Washington for years could extend even longer. North Fork can ask the California Supreme Court to hear the case. For news updates, follow Gabe Ferris on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Cultural & Historical Significance The name Biron carries significant cultural weight through its aristocratic French origins and literary prominence. As a surname of the French nobility, particularly the House of Gontaut-Biron, it represents a lineage of military leaders and diplomats dating back to the 16th century. The name gained broader cultural recognition through William Shakespeare's comedy 'Love's Labour's Lost,' where the character Biron (also spelled Berowne) serves as one of the King of Navarre's lords. Shakespeare's Biron is portrayed as witty, skeptical, and ultimately the most insightful of the noblemen, providing much of the play's philosophical depth and comic relief. This literary association has cemented Biron's place in Western cultural consciousness as a name representing intelligence, aristocratic bearing, and romantic complexity. The name's Christian associations stem from its use among European nobility who were traditionally devout Catholics, with several notable Biron family members serving in Crusades and supporting religious institutions. The name's journey from French aristocracy to English literature reflects the cultural exchange between France and England during the Renaissance period, making it a name that transcends national boundaries while maintaining its elite connotations. Throughout history, the name has been associated with leadership, diplomacy, and cultural patronage. A 22-foot totem pole now stands proudly in the front yard of Tom and Carolyn McKees residence in Port Orchard. The totem pole showcases the artistry of Seattle artist, Dylan Sanidad and took almost a year to complete. It began as a 26-foot, 4,000 pound old growth cedar from Alaska, which he shaped and carved with care. We had to bring it down on a barge, he described, explaining the intricate process involved in preparing the timber for carving. Advertisement Advertisement Sanidad honed his skills under the mentorship of his father, David Boxley, a renowned Native artist who has carved 87 totem poles over the past 45 years. I got to sit here working on my pieces, watching him do this, Boxley said, reflecting on his sons accomplishment. And I was just filled with pride because all the years of him working with me just came true. Boxley emphasized the importance of reviving his culture through art, stating, Ive had a lot of opportunity in my adult life to help revive a culture that was basically taken away from us. His dedication has now inspired the next generation to continue this cultural renaissance. Sanidad expressed his connection to the art form through lineage, saying, Just knowing that I had lineage that was linked to this art, I always wanted to know what else I was capable of. Advertisement Advertisement This desire to explore and honor his heritage is a driving force behind his work on the totem pole. Every totem pole not only reflects the artistry of the individual who created it, and also carries significant meaning. According to McKee, the motif of his familys pole tells the story of a young eagle learning to embrace its strength and responsibility, representing resilience, a core value in both their family and Native culture. McKee stated, I think I want my kids to let it represent the strength that weve taught them in our family. He emphasizes the importance of resilience, noting that life includes both challenging times and moments of triumph. Advertisement Advertisement It serves as a symbol of strength for the McKee family, and its story is fitting for the resilience of the native community as well. The totem pole was raised in a traditional ceremony, complete with a potlatch in October, celebrating the cultural heritage of Native tribes in the region. The McKees hope those who pass by their familys totem pole will reflect on the enduring legacy of Native artistry. Dec 19 (Reuters) - Alphabets Google and Apple have advised some employees on U.S. work visas to avoid international travel due to delays of up to 12 months for visa stamping appointments at embassies, Business Insider reported on Friday citing internal memos. Immigration law firms representing the companies said the delays stem from new social media screening requirements, warning that staff risk being stranded outside the U.S. if appointments are postponed, the report said. The advisory applies to holders of H-1B, H-4, F, J and M visas, according to Googles memo, which said some U.S. embassies and consulates face appointment delays of up to a year, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Google and Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The administration of President Donald Trump this month announced increased vetting of applicants for H-1B visas for highly skilled workers, including screening social media accounts. The H-1B visa program, widely used by the U.S. technology sector to hire skilled workers from India and China, has been under the spotlight after the Trump administration imposed a $100,000 fee for new applications this year. In September, Google's parent company Alphabet had strongly advised its employees to avoid international travel and urged H-1B visa holders to remain in the U.S., according to an email seen by Reuters. (Reporting by Ruchika Khanna in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Rajveer Singh Pardesi in Bengaluru; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, William Mallard and Diane Craft) Longtime Republican strategist Karl Rove is warning that President Donald Trump is making drastic mistakes that will result in the GOP losing its grip in Washington, D.C., in the 2026 midterm elections. In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal on Friday titled Alarm Bells Ring, Are You Listening? Rove said Trumps attitude toward the cost-of-living crisis and his sinking voter approval ratings on the economy should be a warning sign for the GOP. Mr. Trump despises Joe Biden, yet hes making the same mistake his predecessor made, Rove wrote. Telling voters not to believe their own lying checkbooks was politically insane. Mr. Trump is doing the same thing. Advertisement Advertisement Trumps approval rating on the economy has fallen drastically in recent weeks. A poll from AP-NORC released last week found just 31 percent of voters approve of Trumps handling of the economy. Trumps advisers have attempted to get the president to focus more on affordability and the economy, but Trump has rallied against even the word affordability, calling it a hoax that was started by Democrats and a Democrat scam. Karl Rove warned that if the Trump White House keeps making mistakes, the Republican Party will lose in next years elections. / Michael Kovac / Getty Images Rove also pointed to Trumps recent MAGA rally in Pennsylvania, which was supposed to focus on affordability, but instead featured Trump rambling about past grievances for 100 minutes. During that speech, the president also claimed Americans could cut back on costs if they didnt buy so many pencils. Rove wrote that The president did say he has no higher priority than making America affordable again, but seemed uninterested in offering further changes. Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps if during the rally the president had stayed on the issue at hand, he would have eventually offered something genuinely reassuring to voters. Instead, he spent most of his time on how hes ended eight wars, deployed the military to destroy drug runners, and cracked down on illegal immigration, Rove said. Rove, who worked in George W. Bushs administration as an adviser, noted there is time for the Trump White House to turn things around ahead of next years elections, but said Trumps current actions chew up valuable time that should be spent winning over tepid supporters or persuading anyone open to voting Republican. The presidents grotesqueries have to stop. His team has 10.5 months before voters decide the shape of his final two years as president. Every day matters, Rove wrote. It doesnt look good for the GOP next year. The White House is on the wrong track, he wrote. Times a-wasting. The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment. The U.S. House passed a bill this week removing federal protections for gray wolves in the lower 48 states. It directs the Department of the Interior to reinstate a 2020 rule that removed gray wolves from the endangered species list. Federal courts in California had blocked the rule in 2022, leaving the wolves under the protections of the Endangered Species Act. Additionally, the new legislation would prohibit the law from being reconsidered through judicial review. Advertisement Advertisement The science is crystal clear on this issue: gray wolves should no longer be on the endangered species list, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., who introduced and sponsored the legislation, said in a statement. We can no longer put farmers and ranchers in harms way by using taxpayer dollars to protect a species that has been fully recovered and that is destroying their livestock. It is time for the federal government to get out of the way and allow state and tribal wildlife agencies to manage this species. U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., talks to attendees before the first Republican primary debate for the 4th Congressional district seat being vacated by Ken Buck Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Fort Lupton, Colo. | David Zalubowski The Pet and Livestock Protection Act passed Thursday 211-204, mostly along party lines. In addition to Boebert, it had 37 additional signatories, which included Rep. Mike Kennedy, R-Utah, as well as representatives from several other Western states including Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Arizona, Oregon and Washington. Utahs four GOP House members voted for the bill. Advertisement Advertisement There are approximately 8,000 gray wolves in the lower 48 states, with more than 9,000 in Alaska. Estimates put around 2,600 in the northern Rockies, 4,700 in the western Great Lakes region, around 450 in the Pacific Northwest, and less than 30 in Colorado. Wolf protections have been a veritable rollercoaster, especially in the West, eliciting strong feelings from opponents and proponents for decades. The most recent legislation is another iteration of the longstanding debate about how wolf populations should be managed in America. The bill now moves to the Senate, where similar bills are already being considered. Does everyone agree? This Nov. 7, 2017, file photo, provided by the National Park Service shows a gray wolf in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo. | Jacob W. Frank Not all stakeholders believe that the science of the wolves recovery is so clear. The judge in the 2022 case over delisting, for example, wrote that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did not prove that wolf populations were actually recovered in its analysis prior to establishing the rule. Advertisement Advertisement The services analysis relied on two core wolf populations to delist wolves nationally and failed to provide a reasonable interpretation of the significant portion of its range standard, wrote Judge Jeffrey S. White, of the U.S. District Court for Northern California. White wrote that serious deficiencies in the federal agencys final rule weighed in favor of setting it aside. Some conservationists called on science, just like the sponsors of the bill, in denouncing passage of the Pet and Livestock Protection Act. Wolves are a keystone species whose presence on landscapes regulates animal populations and improves ecosystem health something the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has acknowledged for at least 44 years, Kelly Nokes, Western Environmental Law Center attorney, said in a statement calling for the Senate to reject the delisting effort. Allowing people to kill wolves in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana has already stunted recovery in those states. Applying this same death sentence to wolves throughout the contiguous U.S. would nationalize these negative effects, with potentially catastrophic ripple effects on ecosystems where wolves have yet to fully recover. Advertisement Advertisement One group, the Humane World Action Fund, reiterated a study that found there is broad support for wolf protection. It referenced a recent study that showed 78% of Americans wanted the wolves to retain their status. The results of this survey really demonstrate what we already knew that the vast majority of Americans, including those who live in rural areas in states with wolves, highly value them and want them protected, said Amanda Wight, senior program manager for wildlife protection at Humane World for Animals, an advocacy group that supported the study alongside the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Americans understand that wolves need those protections in place in order to fully recover and ... its clear that the people driving the negative narrative toward wolves represent a very vocal, but very tiny group of people. Yet, wolf populations have grown in recent years and there remains support for wolves to no longer be protected. Advertisement Advertisement When federal protections were first established for gray wolves in the Great Lakes region, populations were only in the hundreds. Today, there are well over 4,000 wolves across Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Despite this recovery, activist judges continue to ignore the science, leaving livestock and pets to be slaughtered and rural communities vulnerable, said Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wisc., a sponsor of the bill. The Pet and Livestock Protection Act reflects a commonsense approach that has been recognized across administrations of both parties, including Presidents Bush, Obama, Trump and Biden. The gray wolf has recovered, and Wisconsin should be allowed to responsibly manage a population that has exceeded recovery goals without interference from out-of-state judges. If you find yourself in need of last-minute ingredients for a Christmas meal, you may be out of luck unless you plan ahead: Few grocers expect to be open on the holiday. Christmas is a federal holiday, meaning business stops across most federal institutions and many private businesses, so you likely won't be able to run any errands requiring government action or documents, or conduct in-person banking. Let's take a look at what grocery chains and other major retailers will be open or closed on Christmas. Advertisement Advertisement Here's what to know about shopping on Christmas. Is Christmas a federal holiday? Yes, Christmas is a federal holiday in the United States. All federal offices, including courts, post offices, social security offices and others, will be closed. Is Christmas a state holiday in Michigan? Yes, Christmas is a state holiday in Michigan. State offices, such as the Secretary of State, will be closed and state employees will get the day off. Are banks open on Christmas? No. Christmas is one of several federal holidays, so banks and credit unions are not open. Christmas Eve is not a bank holiday, but specific banks may close branches early. ATMs at banks should remain operable. Will Whole Foods be open on Christmas? No, Whole Foods is closed on Christmas Day. Most stores will be open for modified hours Christmas Eve, check with your nearest location. Will Kroger be open on Christmas? No, Kroger will be closed on Christmas Day. Stores, fuel centers and pharmacies will be open until 5 p.m. Christmas Eve. Will Costco be open on Christmas? No, Costco is closed on Christmas Day. Will Meijer be open on Christmas? No, Meijer is closed on Christmas Day. Meijer stores will be open until 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Will Aldi be open on Christmas? No, Aldi will be closed on Christmas Day. Stores will be open for limited hours Christmas Eve, check with your nearest location. Will Sam's Club be open on Christmas? No, Sam's Club is closed on Christmas Day. Locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for plus members and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for club members on Christmas Eve. Will Target be open on Christmas? No, Target will be closed Christmas Day. Stores will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time on Christmas Eve. Will Walmart be open on Christmas? No, Walmart is closed on Christmas Day. Check with your local store for Christmas Eve hours. Will Trader Joe's be open on Christmas? No, Trader Joe's will be closed on Christmas Day, the company confirmed to USA TODAY. Will VG's be open on Christmas? No, all SpartanNash-operated corporate retail locations will close at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and all locations will be closed for Christmas. Will Family Fare stores be open on Christmas? No, all SpartanNash-operated corporate retail locations will close at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and all locations will be closed for Christmas. Will D&W Fresh Market be open on Christmas? No, all SpartanNash-operated corporate retail locations will close at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and all locations will be closed for Christmas. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Plan ahead for Christmas groceries. These chains will be closed It was four days after the Brown University mass shooting that Providence Police posted a photo of an unidentified individual writing, investigators are asking for the publics help in identifying and speaking to the individual shown in this photo who was in proximity of the person of interest. Now, a day after the Brown University mass shooter, Claudio Neves Valente, was found dead at a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, the Mayor of Providence is calling this individual they were looking for a hero. During the days after the shooting, authorities had detained a person of interest, in Coventry before letting him go, determining that he wasnt the one responsible for killing two students and injuring nine others on Saturday, December 13. Flowers and candles surround photos of Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old freshman from Brandermill, Va., and Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore from a suburb of Birmingham, Ala., in front of a Brown University gate in Providence, R.I., on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Leah Willingham) They had no identity of the person responsible, until a tip blew the case wide open. Advertisement Advertisement That following Monday, an MIT Professor in Brookline had also been shot dead in the foyer of his home. Mayor Brett Smiley had urged the public that there was no ongoing threat to the city of Providence, while the FBI Director was quick to say that both the mass shooting in Providence and the shooting of the MIT professor in Brookline was not connected. At this time, there seems to be no connection, FBI Special Agent Ted Docks said. Photos of the person of interest two hours before the shooting with a $50,000 were posted online in the following days and shared all over. A Reddit user would later say he recognized the individual Advertisement Advertisement Im being dead serious, the Reddit post said, according to court documents. The police need to look into a grey Nissan with Florida plates, possibly a rental. I know because he used his key fob to open the car, approached it, and then something prompted him to back away, he added. When his photo was posted by Providence Police, the Reddit user, known as John came forward. In an affidavit, John told officials he encountered Valente in the bathroom on the ground floor of the Barus Holley building just before 2 p.m. He described his clothing as flimsy, and his jacket baggy. John also told detectives that the man was wearing a large facemask covering the entire lower part of his face with glasses, and his complexion was weathered and he had cinnamon color complexion. Advertisement Advertisement John said he followed Valente out the bathroom and encountered him near the Rhode Island Historical Society where he saw him approach a grey or silver sedan with a Florida license plate. When Valente walked away, he observed two fanny pack style bags on the rear floorboard on the passenger side. It was then John described following Valente as a game of cat and mouse. When they encountered each other on George Street, John said the man ran in the opposite direction than slowed to a speed-walk where eventually they were standing two feet away from each other. This image taken from video posted by Providence Police shows Valente running from 'John.' Your car is back there, why are you circling the block? John said he asked. Valente responded, I dont know you from nobody, why are you harassing me? Advertisement Advertisement John could detect an accent. Once investigators were given the tip that pointed to the Nissan Sentra with Florida plates, they were able to figure out who rented the vehicle pretty quickly. Once they were able to positively identify a vehicle plate associated with him in the area of Providence, run that plate and find out if its a rental car in Boston, they were able to identify who had rented it and gather a positive identification on them pretty quickly, Retired Boston Police Superintendent Dan Linskey told Boston 25. Claudio Neves Valente was able to evade law enforcement for weeks, according to U.S. Attorney Leah Foley, as he reportedly cased the campus numerous times, used European SIM cards, and changed his license plates. Advertisement Advertisement This was very premeditated. He had a plan, and he did not want that plan to fail, Foley told Boston 25. Two 9mm pistols were recovered in New Hampshire with the body of Claudio Neves Valente, who committed suicide, according to the medical examiners office. Claudio Neves Valente The ATF and FBI, through the CSP lab, positively correlated one firearm with the gun used in the Brown University shooting, while the others matched to the murder of Nuno Loureiro. In a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, Mayor Brett Smiley wrote John is no less than a hero. His bravery, selflessness and stewardship on behalf of his community went far beyond what anyone could ever hope from a tip. I believe that our community is breathing easier today because of the extraordinary assistance John provided to our law enforcement agencies. I am writing to you today to request that the entirety of the $50,000 reward be issued to this incredible Providence neighbor. Advertisement Advertisement You can read the entirety of Mayor Brett Smileys letter here: Dear Director Patel, On Saturday, December 13, Providence, Rhode Island experienced the worst act of violence in our citys history. Following a mass shooting on Brown Universitys campus, six of our neighbors remain in the hospital and two will never return home to their families. While the events of the past six days have weighed heavy on our community, I am relieved that our neighbors can breathe easier today knowing that the individual responsible has been found and our community is safe. This individual was brought to justice last night thanks to the tireless dedication, selflessness and expertise of the local, State and Federal law enforcement agencies who spent nearly 130 consecutive, uninterrupted hours working to solve this case. I am immensely thankful to the Boston Federal Bureau of Investigations, under both your leadership and the direction of Special Agent Ted Docks for the instrumental partnership you provided to the Providence Police Department in getting us to this day and bringing justice to our victims and families. In addition to rigorous police work, progress in this investigation was made possible by the people of Providence. Our neighbors have showed the nation what makes our city so special. They have leaned on one another, supported each other and stepped up to provide our law enforcement officials hundreds of tips that ultimately led to discovering the identity of the individual who committed this heinous act. One individual amongst those who provided tips stands out above the rest: John. As discussed with the media last night, John is no less than a hero. His bravery, selflessness and stewardship on behalf of his community went far beyond what anyone could ever hope from a tip. I believe that our community is breathing easier today because of the extraordinary assistance John provided to our law enforcement agencies. I am writing to you today to request that the entirety of the $50,000 reward be issued to this incredible Providence neighbor." Mayor of Providence Brett Smiley This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW NEW YORK Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to sign a landmark artificial intelligence bill establishing New Yorks first guardrails for tech heavyweights to mitigate catastrophic risks. The deal comes after intense talks between the governor and sponsors Assemblymember Alex Bores and state Sen. Andrew Gounardes over the details. Hochul redlined much of the Responsible AI Safety and Education Act last week and replaced it with language largely matching a comparable California law, while the bills sponsors pressed to keep as much teeth in the legislation as possible. In its final iteration, the RAISE Act requires developers of the industrys most advanced AI tools, called frontier models, to report critical safety incidents within 72 hours and imposes a $1 million penalty for the first violation and $3 million for subsequent ones. It creates an oversight office within the Department of Financial Services to assess frontier models. Advertisement Advertisement New York is once again leading the nation in setting a strong and sensible standard for frontier AI safety, holding the biggest developers accountable for their safety and transparency protocols, Hochul said Friday in a statement. This law builds on Californias recently adopted framework, creating a unified benchmark among the countrys leading tech states as the federal government lags behind, failing to implement common-sense regulations that protect the public. New York finalized its AI safety law just before Californias SB 53 law goes into effect on New Years Day and as states are confronting President Donald Trumps executive order targeting state-level regulation of the fast-evolving AI industry. In New York, we defeated last-ditch attempts from AI oligarchs to wipe out this bill and, by doing so, raised the floor for what AI safety legislation can look like, Bores, a Manhattan Democrat and candidate for Congress, said in a statement. And we defeated Trumps and his donors attempt to stop RAISE through executive action greenlighting a Wild West for AI. New Yorks RAISE Act will regulate the largest players in the fast-evolving AI industry, and require safety protocols and reporting to prevent large-scale harm like the creation of bioweapons. The models that stand to be subject to enforcement include ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI; Claude by Anthropic; LLaMA by Meta; Gemini by Google; and Copilot by Microsoft. Advertisement Advertisement Hochul pushed for New Yorks approach to mirror Californias SB 53 law and help set a national standard on AI guardrails. Tech industry leaders have warmed to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who like Hochul is a Democrat, and the AI law he signed in September. What ultimately became law in California is laxer than earlier iterations of SB 53, which is known as the Transparency in Frontier AI Act. New Yorks RAISE Act will be stricter than Californias regulations, which give frontier model developers 15 days to report critical safety incidents and cap penalties at $1 million per violation. But its less stringent than what state legislators passed in June. As an example, the earlier version of the RAISE Act included penalties of up to $10 million for the first violation and $30 million for subsequent violations. Big tech oligarchs think its fine to put their profits ahead of our safety we disagree, Gounardes, a Brooklyn Democrat, said in a statement. With this law, we make clear that tech innovation and safety dont have to be at odds. In New York, we can lead in both. The negotiations between the governor and legislators were so fraught that it looked one week ago like the RAISE Act could be vetoed. Hochuls version of the RAISE Act returned to legislators last week as so-called chapter amendments included language from SB 53 and eliminated much of the bills original text, according to two people who viewed the document. The people who spoke with POLITICO for this article were granted anonymity to speak about sensitive negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Tech behemoths have lobbied for nationally consistent regulations rather than a state-by-state patchwork of laws. Bores has called for the same and applauded SB 53. But he has also said he sees the California law as a starting point or floor, not the ceiling for accountability for deep-pocked AI interests. Bores is a congressional contender seeking to succeed Rep. Jerry Nadler in Manhattan. Hes also a computer engineer who formerly worked for data tech firm Palantir and has staked his House bid on his fight against the unchecked growth of powerful tech companies. He is the first political target of the $100 million super PAC Leading the Future, which is funded by OpenAIs president and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. His own network of donors includes people affiliated with tech giants that compete with those companies. One of Bores chief rivals in the House race, Nadler protege and Assemblymember Micah Lasher, is a cosponsor of the RAISE Act. One Minnesota homeowner is ready for a legal war against her homeowners association over the right to grow native plants in her yard, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported. When Bonnie Scott moved into the Churchill Farms neighborhood, it had no landscaping rules governing native plants. That was a major draw for Scott, who removed the standard lawn around her home to plant short native grasses and wildflowers in the front yard and tall prairie grass sloping down to the pond in the backyard. Scott's intention was to attract beneficial and beautiful wildlife: lightning bugs, frogs, wood ducks, and pollinators. She also wanted plants that were low-maintenance, unlike turf grass. These are some of the biggest benefits of rewilding with native plants, along with their low water needs, which reduces the cost of keeping them healthy. Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, many HOAs react badly to changes that make homes stand out, even if they are not against the rules as written. Some homeowners have had to go as far as to change state law just to have a lawn like Scott's. In this case, the HOA pushed back strongly against the changes. Scott received advice to run her plan by the architectural committee, even though it involved no architectural changes, and once her native grass was installed, an unidentified party drove over it in a vehicle, leaving tire marks. After she installed cameras, another neighbor mowed part of her yard without permission and was eventually ordered to pay over $4,000 for the vandalism. Meanwhile, at a meeting that Scott said she was not informed about, the HOA created new landscaping rules that forbid the type of lawn she had. Based on those rules, she started receiving fines. Scott is mounting a legal challenge based on a new Minnesota state law that protects native lawns. However, the law as written only prevents cities and towns from outlawing native lawns; it doesn't cover HOAs. Scott hopes to generate case law that will clarify the issue and hopefully prevent associations like hers from enacting these bans. Advertisement Advertisement "Nobody wins in a lawsuit," she said, per the Minnesota Star Tribune. "But at this point, that law needs to be better." When an HOA is being more reasonable, it doesn't necessarily take a legal challenge to make a change. Instead, you can work with its internal processes to update the bylaws. 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 Barnes & Noble bookstore across from Tyrone Square Mall in St. Petersburg has served readers for more than three decades. Now its days are numbered, though no one will say exactly how many remain. BayCare Health System purchased the property at 2501 Tyrone Blvd. N. in January for $10 million. The nonprofit health care giant plans to convert the 15,800-square-foot building into a freestanding emergency room, part of a $30 million project approved through Pinellas County municipal bonds last August. The bookstore remains open for now. But whether Barnes & Noble will find a new home in St. Petersburg or leave the city entirely remains unclear. Advertisement Advertisement We are honoring an existing lease by the current tenant, said C. Todd Jones, BayCares chief strategy officer and chief ambulatory services officer. He didnt say when that lease expires or when construction would begin. BayCare spokesperson Mary Marandi said the health system knows the timeline but wont disclose it. We want to ensure Barnes & Noble has communicated the timeline with their team before we share any further details, Marandi said. We wouldnt be a good and responsible partner if we disclosed something that hasnt been shared internally on their end. Barnes & Noble spokesperson Janine Flanigan offered little clarity. Advertisement Advertisement We remain open with no imminent plans to close, and we look forward to continuing to serve our customers in the St. Petersburg store for as long as we are able, Flanigan said. She did not respond to questions about whether the company is searching for a new location in the city or when employees would be notified of the stores closing date. The Tyrone store opened in 1993 when the building was constructed. It is the only Barnes & Noble location in St. Petersburg. BayCare said the new emergency room will be affiliated with St. Anthonys Hospital in downtown St. Petersburg and will employ about 40 people. The existing structure will be repurposed rather than demolished. This marks the second time BayCare has purchased a Barnes & Noble property in Tampa Bay. In 2024, the health system bought a closed Barnes & Noble in Tampas Carrollwood neighborhood for $10.5 million to build an urgent care center. Advertisement Advertisement In that case, Barnes & Noble found a new location about a mile away. The company reopened in a former Bed Bath & Beyond space in April, roughly eight months after leaving its original Carrollwood store. Barnes & Noble has been expanding aggressively in Florida. The company opened a store in Palm Harbor last month its sixth Florida location this year and expects to open more than 60 stores nationwide in 2025. Whether St. Petersburg remains part of that growth strategy is the question customers are asking. The Tyrone store continues to host events, with story times and author appearances scheduled into March. Its website shows regular hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement The property sits on about 2 acres across from Tyrone Square Mall. It is less than a mile from BayCares existing urgent care center on 66th Street North and about 1.5 miles from HCA Florida St. Petersburg Hospital. James W. Holton, a St. Petersburg developer, built the structure and owned it through JWH Properties Inc. until selling to BayCare, according to the St. Pete Catalyst. Freestanding emergency rooms offer the same services as hospital-based ERs but are typically located in residential areas for quicker access. BayCares nearest freestanding ER is Bardmoor Emergency Center in Largo, affiliated with Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater. BayCare operates 16 hospitals throughout Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) said that Department of Justice officials may have obstructed justice with their partial and heavily redacted release of the Epstein files. On Friday, the DOJ released a trove of documents regarding deceased child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. However, DOJ officials said they need more time to release the remaining materials. Last month, Congress passed a bill that President Donald Trump signed into law, mandating that all files be released by Dec. 19, and with redactions only to protect the identities of victims. Instead, the DOJ released only some of the files, which were heavily redacted. Fox News reported on Friday that the DOJ had redacted the names of politically exposed individuals. Moreover, some of the images released feature redactions of people who seem to be adults. The release was overseen by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who previously served as a personal attorney for Trump, a former friend of Epstein. Over the summer, Blanche interviewed former Epstein associate and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in prison. Maxwell claimed that she never saw Trump do anything untoward. Shortly after the meeting, Maxwell was moved to a lower security facility, where she receives custom meals and is allowed to play with dogs. Advertisement Advertisement Khanna appeared on Fridays AC360 on CNN, where guest host John King asked if the congressman would take the release at face value. The deputy attorney general said hes received no orders from the president to redact documents to leave his name out of it and leave other names out of it, King said. Do you trust that? Khanna replied: Well, I dont know what the president has said, but what I do know is that [Blanches] production violates the spirit of the law, and it violates the letter of the law, and its a slap in the face of survivors. And so, look, they have underestimated this issue for six months. I dont get it. Just release the files, get it over with. The president can talk about affordability and the economy. Theyre the ones who continue to play these games that make this a bigger and bigger issue. And Congress is talking about possible impeachment. Theyre talking about inherent contempt for the attorney general or deputy attorney general. Any justice department official who has obstructed justice could face prosecution in this administration or a future administration. And the last word, like I said, is gonna be the survivors. Americans dont trust politicians that much. They trust those women, and they are going to be back on The Hill. And the country will hear from them. This summer, The Wall Street Journal reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi had told Trump in May that his name appeared in the Epstein files. Watch above via CNN. The post House Democrat Says Congress Is Talking About Possible Impeachment of DOJ Officials After Partial Epstein Files Release first appeared on Mediaite. Individuals named Caitland are often perceived as strong-willed, compassionate, and intellectually curious. They typically possess a natural leadership quality combined with deep empathy, making them effective in both professional and personal relationships. Caitlands are known for their integrity and moral clarity, often serving as moral compasses in their social circles. These individuals tend to be creative problem-solvers who approach challenges with both practicality and innovation. Their combination of traditional values and modern thinking makes them adaptable to various situations while maintaining their core principles. Caitlands often demonstrate remarkable resilience and the ability to navigate complex social dynamics with grace and wisdom. They are typically lifelong learners who value both education and practical experience. Dec. 19 (UPI) -- A federal judge has stopped the Trump administration from changing the conditions for allocating $3.9 billion in federal funds to homeless support programs. U.S. District Court of Rhode Island Judge Mary McElroy issued a preliminary injunction on Friday that stops officials with the Housing and Urban Development Department from significantly changing how the funding approved by Congress would be spent, NPR reported. "Continuity of housing and stability for vulnerable populations is clearly in the public interest," McElroy said while ordering HUD to abide by the prior funding requirements. Advertisement Advertisement The ruling applies to HUD's Continuum of Care program that provides funding for local non-profits and other organizations that help people who are homeless to learn about and access housing resources, according to Politico. A group of 20 states, 11 local units and several nonprofits sued HUD after its leadership in November revoked prior funding notices and changed how the funds would be distributed. The changes greatly reduce federal grants to permanent housing, which McElroy said likely go against the requirements set forth in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which mostly applies to educational opportunities for children. HUD officials said the new policies are intended to "restore accountability" and support "self-sufficiency" by focusing on the causes of homelessness, including "illicit drugs and mental illness." Advertisement Advertisement HUD officials also said they increased the total amount available from $3.6 billion to $3/9 billion. Opponents to the changes argue that they put 170,000 people at risk of losing their homes and the relatively sudden change in funding requirements makes it very hard for impacted programs to file new funding applications. Complicating the matter is the 43-day federal government shutdown that started on Oct. 1 and ended on Nov. 12. McElroy, who was appointed to the bench by President Donald Trump in 2019, said the plaintiffs are likely to win their case when she issued the preliminary injunction. Jean Wilson Brutus, a 41-year-old Haitian national in ICE custody, suffered a medical emergency and died just one day after he arrived at Delaney Hall in Newark, according to federal officials. Brutus is believed to be the first detainee to die at Delaney Hall since the troubled, privately run detention center opened in May. Its since been met with scrutiny and outrage as conditions inside including insufficient meals, lack of drinking water and freezing temperatures remain hazardous, critics claims. Brutus suddenly fell ill shortly after arriving at the facility on Dec. 11, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement on Friday. Emergency services were called and he was rushed to University Hospital in Newark, where he died from suspected natural causes the following day. Advertisement Advertisement ICE said he did not appear in distress when being admitted to Delaney Hall and had no medical history of cardiovascular issues. An Eyes on ICE volunteer who was visiting another inmate at the time said she overheard a person on a guards walkie talkie call for an ambulance, saying that someone in intake was having a seizure. Immediately afterwards, guards were instructed to switch their devices to a different channel, said Melissa Munoz, who uses an alias to continue visiting detainees without facing retribution. Witnesses also said the ambulance taking Brutus to the hospital was delayed for five life-saving minutes at the Delaney Hall gate as employees prioritized a van of newly detained people coming into the facility. Advertisement Advertisement Im furious that this has happened, said Alison Perkon, another volunteer with Eyes on ICE, who regularly pickets outside Delaney Hall. I have said repeatedly that someone was going to die here soon. (Last week), that fear was realized. Politicians and advocacy groups are now demanding immediate answers on what happened, as well as why it took a week for ICE to announce Brutus disturbing death. ICEs own policy requires the agency to inform the public of a detainees death by posting a news release on its website within two business days. Weve heard about ICE detainees across the country being denied treatment and medication. I want to know exactly what happened, the circumstances of this individuals confinement and treatment, and what care he did or did not receive, said New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver, who was arrested by federal agents in May while attempting to conduct a legally protected inspection of Delaney Hall. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker said that he for months has condemned the inhumane conditions at Delaney Hall and the mismanagement of this facility by its private operator, GEO Group, adding that he opposes private detention centers in any form. Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Homeland Securitys continued refusal to comply with appropriate oversight of this facility and the GEO Groups abuses are totally unacceptable, Booker said in a statement. There must be a clear accounting of what happened in this tragedy, and Delaney Hall must be closed so that this stain can be removed from our community of Newark. According to ICE, Brutus was undocumented and entered the United States on June 20, 2023 by way of the Hidalgo Port of Entry in Texas. He eventually settled in New Jersey, where he was arrested by the Elizabeth Police Department on criminal mischief charges four times between July 2023 and Nov. 19, 2025. Upon his most recent arrest, immigration officials lodged a detainer, alerting local police they intended to take Brutus into federal custody. He was released despite this, but was once again taken into custody on two counts of criminal mischief on Nov. 28, and then again released. He was finally captured by ICE on Dec. 11, the day before his death. Advertisement Advertisement Brutus was one of four men detained by ICE to die in custody across the country between Dec. 12 and Dec 15. The others were 39, 46 and 56 years old, and were being held in detention facilities in Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Their deaths were similarly announced past the two-day deadline. So far in 2025, at least 32 people have died in ICE custody, according to the agencys Death Notifications. That figure makes it the deadliest year for detainees in more than two decades. Thousands of immigrant drivers whose commercial drivers licenses are set to expire next month were left bewildered and disappointed when news spread that California was planning on reissuing the licenses only to learn federal regulators had not authorized doing so. Amarjit Singh, a trucker and owner of a trucking company in the Bay Area, said he and other drivers were hopeful when word of California's intentions reached them. We were happy [the California Department of Motor Vehicles] was going to reissue them, he said. But now, things arent so clear and it feels like were in the dark. Advertisement Advertisement Singh said he doesnt know whether he should renew his insurance and permits that allow him to operate in different states. I dont know if Im going to have to look for another job, he said. Im stuck. Read more: Feds threaten funding to California, seven other states over commercial driver's licenses for immigrants Singh is one of 17,000 drivers who were given 60-day cancellation notices on Nov. 6 following a federal audit of California's non-domiciled commercial driver's license program, which became a political flashpoint after an undocumented truck driver was accused of making an illegal U-turn and caused a crash in Florida that killed three people. Advertisement Advertisement The nationwide program allows immigrants authorized to work in the country to obtain commercial drivers licenses. But officials said the federal audit found that the California Department of Motor Vehicles had issued thousands of licenses with expiration dates that extended beyond the work permits, prompting federal officials to halt the program until the state was in compliance. This week, the San Francisco Chronicle obtained a letter dated Dec. 10 from DMV Director Steve Gordon to the U.S Department of Transportation stating that the state agency had met federal guidelines and would begin reissuing the licenses. In a statement to The Times, DMV officials confirmed that they had notified regulators and were planning to issue the licenses on Wednesday, but federal authorities told them Tuesday that they could not proceed. Read more: California's Punjabi truckers say theyre being harassed after deadly Florida wreck Advertisement Advertisement DMV officials said they met with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which oversees issuance of non-domiciled commercial drivers licenses, to seek clarification about what issues remain unresolved. A spokesperson for the Department of Transportation, which oversees the FMCSA, would only say that it was continuing to work with the state to ensure compliance. The DMV is hopeful the federal government will allow California to move ahead, said agency spokesperson Eva Spiegel. Commercial drivers are an important part of our economy our supply chains dont move and our communities dont stay connected without them, Spiegel said. DMV stands ready to resume issuing commercial drivers licenses, including corrected licenses to eligible drivers. Given we are in compliance with federal regulations and state law, this delay by the federal government not only hurts our trucking industry, but it also leaves eligible drivers in the cold without any resolution during this holiday season. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Why are California's Indian truck drivers disappearing during the holiday rush? Bhupinder Kaur director of operations at UNITED SIKHS, a national human and civil rights organization said the looming cancellations will disproportionately impact Sikh, Punjabi, Latino and other immigrant drivers who are essential to Californias freight economy. I've spoken to truckers who have delayed weddings. I've spoken to truckers who have closed their trucking companies. I've spoken to truckers who are in this weird limbo of not knowing how to support their families, Kaur said. I myself come from a trucker family. We're all facing the effects of this. Despite hitting a speed bump this week, Kaur said the Sikh trucking community remains hopeful. Advertisement Advertisement The Sikh sentiment is always to remain optimistic, she said. We're not going to accept it we're just gonna continue to fight. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Cyber group Handala claimed to have acquired the names of engineers involved in Israels drone programs, a day after threatening Israeli politicians. The Iranian-linked Handala hacking group issued a new threat on Saturday, claiming it had uncovered the identities of Israeli engineers allegedly involved in the development of drone programs, according to posts published on social media. Handala's statement came a day after threatening to carry out cyberattacks against senior Israeli politicians. Israeli officials have not issued an official response, and security sources stressed that the claims have not been verified. Advertisement Advertisement The group said it had published personal and professional details of individuals it described as key figures in Israels unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) development efforts within the IDF and defense industries. The group then placed a bounty of $30,000 on each of the named individuals. An Iranian flag is seen on a computer's CPU (illustrative) (credit: SHUTTERSTOCK) Handala publishes names of 14 alleged drone engineers In its statement, Handala claimed it had released the names and detailed profiles of 14 people whom it described as the minds behind Israels drone and UAV programs. The group alleged that these systems play a central role in Israels military operations. The hackers further claimed that Israels use of UAV systems has caused harm to civilians and constitutes violations of international law. As part of the move, the group said it had placed a bounty of $30,000 on each of the individuals named. Advertisement Advertisement No documents or independently verifiable evidence have been published to support the claims, and the source of the information remains unclear. Israeli authorities have not issued an official response. Handala's expanded cyber campaign against Israeli ticker The threat follows repeated attacks on Israeli politicians and the defense echelon. Handala put a bounty for information on over a dozen Israelis, who it claimed are developers of Patriot, Arrow, and David's Sling air defense systems. Similar to the attacks on drone engineers, the group offered a $30,000 bounty on information on Israeli engineers and technicians, listing their photos, names, credentials, email addresses, locations, and phone numbers. Advertisement Advertisement The attacks still have not been verified by security sources. A day earlier, Handala warned of hacking attempts against senior Israeli political figures, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Blue and White chairman MK Benny Gantz, Likud MK Tally Gotliv, and former defense minister Yoav Gallant. The group also ran an online poll asking followers to vote on the next target. Earlier in the week, former prime minister Naftali Bennett confirmed that his Telegram account was hacked after Handala claimed to have accessed Bennett's phone on Wednesday. The Department of Justices partial release of the Epstein files on Friday drew the scrutiny of CNNs Jake Tapper, who complained about just how much transparency the Trump administration was providing in compliance with the law. The Epstein Transparency Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump, required all of the files on the convicted sex trafficker to be released by midnight Friday, which wasnt expected to happen. The bills co-sponsor, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), claimed there would be consequences for the DOJ missing the deadline, and threatened on social media, Any person who attempts to conceal or scrub the files will be subject to prosecution under the law. CNN Justice Correspondent Evan Perez said that the heavy redactions will be a topic of conversation in Congress. Advertisement Advertisement One of the things I think were going to see going forward is the question of, why cant we see that? Why is that being redacted? Because this law is pretty clear that Congress meant for the public to see as much of this as possible. Tapper then pulled out his iPhone. Talk about blacking out. I dont know if I can get a close-up of my phone. This is one of the documents that the Justice Department released. Its 100 pages. This is what it looks like, I dont know if you can see. Its all black. Its just 100 pages of redaction. Thats the transparency were getting here. Perez continued, We understand, obviously, that there needs to be a protection of these victimsThe question is, what is behind those blacked-out pages? And is it something that DOJ is being overcautious about to protect what, I dont know or is this something that Congress has to maybe go back in and tell them that they need to release? Advertisement Advertisement White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson commented on X, This clearly says that it was redacted to protect victims. Ridiculous to demand the names of victims be shared publicly. In a second post, she wrote, Why do the sickos in the liberal media want a document called masseuse list, which was clearly redacted to protect victims, to be public? Why do the sickos in the liberal media want a document called masseuse list, which was clearly redacted to protect victims, to be public? pic.twitter.com/pAmipqoXxa Abigail Jackson (@ATJackson47) December 19, 2025 Watch the clip above via CNN. The post Jake Tapper Scrolls Through Blacked Out Epstein Files on Phone: Its Just 100 Pages of Redaction first appeared on Mediaite. Strange, isnt it? Each mans life touches so many other lives. When he isnt around he leaves an awful hole, doesnt he? Clarence Oddbody, Angel Second Class from "Its a Wonderful Life Most newspaper columnists I enjoy reading seem to have at least one column thats repeated on special occasions. Late journalist Charlie Faulks Christmas column Santas Whiskers is a classic and ran for decades in the Vicksburg Post. Advertisement Advertisement Today seems a good time to repeat my favorite Christmas story. Its a story about hope and humanity; a story about a prayer, a song and a 4-year-old girl with a whole lot of courage. Shes a legend of sorts in Vicksburg. When folks talk of the tornado of 53, they talk of that little girl who sang Jingle Bells. Id seen her in living black-and-white in an old photograph dark eyes stared at the camera, her head wrapped in heavy bandages, Santa by her bedside in the Vicksburg Infirmary. When doing a series of stories in 1993 for the Vicksburg Posts commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the tornado, I finally learned the little girls identity. Advertisement Advertisement Carole Ann Moses. Saturday, Dec. 5, 1953. Unseasonably warm. Downtown Vicksburg was busier than usual, thanks to the citys annual Christmas parade. Shoppers shopped. And over at the Saenger Theater, Carole Ann and 15 other children attending a birthday party watched a double feature. At 5:35 p.m., with no warning, it came. Gone in minutes, the twister left a trail of destruction 38 people died; 270 were injured; 1,200 were left homeless. At the Saenger, as Alan Ladd and his leading lady stood on the bow of a ship, the theater caved in. The next thing I knew we were underneath our seats. Everyone was crying. I was crying, but I stopped because my head hurt, said a 44-year-old Carole Ann in 1993. Advertisement Advertisement She said she made herself settle down. Then she prayed. At her insistence, the children held hands. The little girl next to her was dead, but Carole Ann didnt learn that until much later. Then the amazing 4-year-old led her friends in the singing of Christmas carols so the rescuers could find them under all the debris. Five hours later, rescuers following the strains of Jingle Bells, found the children, living and dead, and pulled them from the theaters remains. Carole Ann was taken to the Vicksburg Infirmary where, after brain surgery, she remained in a coma for two days. Doctors doubted shed live. Advertisement Advertisement Today Carole Ann Moses Robertson lives in Texas and is the mother of two sons. Ive always thought more of the little girl next to me who died than I think of my living through the tragedy, she said in a phone interview from Texas several years ago. When folks recall that long-ago December day, talk always turns to the little girl who may well have saved the lives of many of her young friends that afternoon. With a song and a prayer. And a whole lot of courage. Relief is finally coming soon to Johns Pass. The project to dredge Johns Pass took a step forward recently when Madeira Beach city commissioners voted to approve a contract with Bayside Dredging for almost $1.3 million. The city was awarded a state appropriation of roughly $1.5 million in 2023 to do the work. The grant work plan for the project highlighted the urgency, stating that the buildup had damaged infrastructure, threatened public safety, and cost the City of Madeira Beach a loss in valuable tourism dollars, in addition to posing significant public risks to recreational swimmers and commercial boaters. Advertisement Advertisement Thanks to an innovative solution by city staff, the work is also expected to be done within budget. Public Works director Megan Wepfer told commissioners during the Nov. 25 meeting that the original base bid required the city to pay high costs to haul the dredged material approximately 12,900 cubic yards of sand to the Pinellas County landfill. Instead, staff proposed an alternate bid to repurpose the material locally. The city recently acquired a 4.5-acre parcel at 555 150th Ave., and staff realized the property could serve as the ideal receiving site. After we acquired the property and after doing inspections at the new property, (Community Development director) Marci (Forbes) had a great idea that we would take the sand to that property and we would grade the property properly, because right now its not graded very well, Wepfer said. Advertisement Advertisement By using the sand, which contains too many shells for environmentally sensitive beach nourishment but is perfectly acceptable for site elevation, the city will avoid significant landfill fees. The Bayside Dredging alternate bid came in nearly $1.7 million less than the base bid, bringing the final cost to $1.29 million. After paying for the construction engineering and inspection services, the city should have still some money to spare, Wepfer said. Mayor Anne-Marie Brooks was quick to praise the staffs resourcefulness in navigating the multiyear project. Good job, because this has taken forever through no fault of yours, so Im happy to see it coming to an end. Business owners who spoke at the meeting emphasized how rapidly conditions have been worsening. The sand accumulation has dangerously narrowed the channel, increasing water current power and threatening local boats and commercial traffic. Advertisement Advertisement Dylan Hubbard, vice president and co-owner of Hubbards Marina, stressed the urgency during the public hearing. I just fully support moving forward on this as soon as we can to get the relief that Johns Pass desperately needs from that sand buildup underneath the bridge, Hubbard said. He said the problem is escalating due to external projects. Right now, were seeing the sand buildup at an exponential rate due to that beach renourishment project. ... The sooner this project can get rolling, the less sand will be there, Hubbard added. The project will officially remove sand accumulation on the north side of the Johns Pass inlet and the northern shoal, restoring necessary depth and flow to the waterway. Advertisement Advertisement The dredging is scheduled to begin in January, but Wepfer said the start date is dependent on the completion of Pinellas Countys existing dredging project near the channel, which is expected to wrap up by the end of December. The city has already received the necessary primary permits from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which have been active since the projects planning phases. The only remaining regulatory steps are securing the final modifications to those permits and obtaining a permit from Pinellas County to officially change the sand disposal site to the citys new property. A Joplin woman has been charged with one count of first-degree felony arson after a fire in the former Zahn Apartments, 320 S. Wall Ave., around 4:30 a.m. Friday. Jody Ragan, 54, Joplin, has been accused of trying to set fire to a door in an apartment in the building with a lighter. Police officers arrived at the apartment and assisted residents in evacuating the building while firefighters located and contained the fire. Advertisement Advertisement According to a Joplin Police Department statement on the incident, the Joplin Fire Departments Fire Marshall started an investigation into the cause of the fire after it was put out and concluded the fire was probably arson. Joplin police identified and detained Ragan as a suspect in the fire. The probable cause affidavit filed with the charges with the Jasper County Circuit Court said a door to one of the apartments had burn scars from two points of ignition likely caused by a cigarette lighter. Bond was set at $50,000 cash or surety. DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) Jordan confirmed Saturday that its air force took part in strikes launched by the United States on Islamic State group targets in Syria in retaliation for the killing of three U.S. citizens earlier this month. The U.S. launched military strikes Friday on multiple sites in in Syria to eliminate Islamic State group fighters and weapons in retaliation for an attack by a Syrian gunman that killed two U.S. troops and an American civilian interpreter almost a week earlier. The Jordanian military said in a statement that its air force participated in precise airstrikes ... targeting several ISIS positions in southern Syria, using a different abbreviation for the Islamic State group. Jordan is one of 90 countries making up the global coalition against IS, which Syria recently joined. Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. military did not say how many had been killed in Fridays strikes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based war monitor, reported that at least five people were killed, including the leader and members of an IS cell. The Jordanian statement said the operation aimed to prevent extremist groups from exploiting these areas as launching pads to threaten the security of Syrias neighbors and the wider region, especially after ISIS regrouped and rebuilt its capabilities in southern Syria. U.S. Central Command, which oversees the region, said in a statement that its forces struck more than 70 targets at multiple locations across central Syria with fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery, with the Jordanian air force supporting with fighter aircraft. It said that since the Dec. 13 attack in Syria, U.S. and partner forces conducted 10 operations in Syria and Iraq resulting in the deaths or detention of 23 terrorist operatives, adding that the U.S. and partners have conducted more than 80 counterterrorism operation in Syria in the past six months. Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump had pledged very serious retaliation after the shooting in the Syrian desert, for which he blamed IS. Those killed were among hundreds of U.S. troops deployed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition fighting the militant group. On Friday Trump reiterated his backing for Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who Trump said was fully in support of the U.S. strikes against IS. IS has not taken responsibility for the attack on the U.S. service members, but the group has claimed two attacks on Syrian security forces since, one of which killed four Syrian soldiers in Idlib province. The group in its statements described al-Sharaas government and army as apostates. While al-Sharaa once led a group affiliated with al-Qaida, he has had a long-running enmity with IS. As well as killing three U.S. citizens, the shooting near Palmyra also wounded three other U.S. troops as well as members of Syrias security forces, and the gunman was killed. The assailant had joined Syrias internal security forces as a base security guard two months ago and recently was reassigned while he was under investigation on suspicions that he might be affiliated with IS, Syrian officials have said. The man stormed a meeting between U.S. and Syrian security officials who were having lunch together and opened fire after clashing with Syrian guards. A Tulsa-based federal judge overseeing a two-decades-old lawsuit has held major poultry corporations financially responsible for phosphorus pollution in the Illinois River watershed. U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell issued his 33-page order on Friday, Dec. 19, which requires companies including Tyson, Cargill, George's, Simmons and Cal-Maine to fund decades of cleanup and imposes strict restrictions on waste application practices. This judgment has significant ramifications for the industry. These consequences underscore why we have focused on the importance of negotiations with the poultry companies before getting to this point, said Republican Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who has continued to pursue a lawsuit first filed by one of his Democratic predecessors, Drew Edmondson, in 2005. Advertisement Advertisement An email sent to a spokesman for The Poultry Federation a Little Rock, Arkansas-based, multi-state trade organization representing the poultry and egg industries seeking comment wasnt immediately returned. Spokespeople for Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, who has criticized Drummond for continuing to pursue the lawsuit, did not immediately return a text message seeking comment. Stitt visited with poultry producers in Adair County in far northeastern Oklahoma on Tuesday. The governor has said a ruling against the poultry companies ultimately would damage family farms in that part of the state. I want you to know Im standing with you, our chicken producers, over the big trial attorneys, because this is all about money, Stitt said Tuesday. You have followed your permits, youre protecting the environment, and if anyone breaks the rules, well enforce them but were not going to go back 20 years and punish an entire industry that has done things right. Attorney General Gentner Drummond is the latest person to hold that office to continue to pursue a state lawsuit against the poultry industry filed in 2005. Edmondson filed the lawsuit in June 2005 and each of his successors most of whom were Republicans carried on the case. Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit accused major poultry-industry players of polluting the Illinois River watershed, which covers parts of northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas, with poultry waste, which can be used to fertilize crops. Critics of that practice say the poultry waste can contaminate nearby rivers, aquifers and sources of drinking water. Frizzell sided with the state in January 2023, finding that phosphorus concentrations in streams and rivers of the (watershed) in Oklahoma are elevated beyond natural or background levels in violation of Oklahomas antidegradation standards for these waters. Attorneys for the defendants argued the information on which Frizzell based his 2023 decision was outdated and there has been a significant reduction in phosphorus levels since the time of trial. To address those concerns, Frizzell held an evidentiary hearing that started Dec. 3 to gather new information. He issued his findings in his June 17 ruling, saying the Illinois River watershed still is being damaged by poultry waste runoff. Frizzell again ruled against the poultry companies on Friday. Under his order, he will appoint a special master to oversee the judgment, and the poultry companies will be jointly liable for paying for the remediation, including costs of remedial investigation, planning, implementation and monitoring. The special master will serve for at least 30 years. Advertisement Advertisement The poultry companies will pay for the special master, Frizzell wrote, and will pay into an evergreen fund lasting at least 30 years. The starting balance of the evergreen fund will be $10 million. Frizzell established an immediate restriction of 120 pounds per acre STP (soil test phosphorus), a common benchmark in soil testing, to provide for land application of poultry waste in the Illinois River watershed. He also ordered the poultry companies to hold the contract growers harmless for the costs of handling the poultry waste and for any loss of income that may be attendant to the defendant taking over the responsibility for safe disposal of the poultry waste. Considering the balance of hardships between the State and the defendants, the court concludes that an injunction is warranted, Frizzell wrote. The State persuasively asserts that the hardship that will befall the defendants is that they like responsible businesses will bear the costs of: first, remediating the extensive damage theyve caused in the past; and second, managing more responsibly the poultry waste generated by their birds from this point forward. Though defendants call attention to the vested business interests of themselves, their contract growers, cattlemen, and hay farmers in the outcome of this litigation, both they and the public at large have an interest in the enforcement of the environmental claims on which the State has prevailed. Advertisement Advertisement Stitt has called for what he calls a commonsense settlement in the case. Frizzell noted in his ruling that he'd previously directed the parties to meet and attempt to reach an agreement with regard to remedies to be imposed in this action. But Frizzell noted that mediation attempt, with retired U.S. Circuit Court Judge Deanell Reece Tacha, did not succeed. Drummond encouraged the poultry industry to work with him. A robust poultry industry and clean water can and must coexist, he said. I remain committed to working with the poultry companies toward a resolution. I can help facilitate negotiations that achieve cleanup of the watershed while supporting Oklahoma farmers. Let's find a path forward together. I fervently believe there are solutions that will clean up our water while ensuring a strong and enduring poultry business in Oklahoma. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Judge holds poultry companies liable for Illinois River pollution Women named Colleen are often perceived as warm, approachable, and nurturing individuals with strong emotional intelligence. They typically possess a natural charm and social grace that makes them excellent communicators and mediators in group settings. Many Colleens demonstrate resilience and practical wisdom, combining traditional values with modern adaptability. Their personality often reflects a balance between being grounded and imaginative, with many showing artistic inclinations or creative problem-solving abilities. Colleens tend to be loyal friends and family members who value deep, meaningful relationships over superficial connections. They often exhibit a quiet strength and determination that serves them well in both personal and professional endeavors, while maintaining a gentle, compassionate demeanor that puts others at ease. Many people with this name are known for their reliability and consistency, making them trusted confidantes and team members. The name often carries expectations of kindness and emotional stability, and most Colleens naturally grow into these characteristics through their life experiences and personal development. X Screenshot Police in Columbus, Ohio responded to noise complaints when protesters in freezing temperatures blared music for hours outside a hotel hosting ICE officers but they were there to support the demonstrators, not to stop them. The social media account of political commentator @rooster_ohio posted video of the cacophony that included people banging on metal drums, writing, Columbus, Ohio said no sleep for ICE at the Embassy Suites hotel. Columbus, Ohio said no sleep for ICE at the Embassy Suites hotel. : @muniraforohiopic.twitter.com/irEqJGAp9G The Rooster (@rooster_ohio) December 20, 2025 Brandon Baker, who posted video to Facebook, wrote, This is just wild!! People are blaring music and sounding alarms to keep ICE from sleeping! Advertisement Advertisement Baker told The Columbus Dispatch, that the mostly electronic dance music with heavy beats began around 9 p.m. and didnt cease for hours. On the video, a woman can be heard exclaiming, This is crazy! This is amazing! adding, Theres a guy playing a trombone! Its important to recognize that Columbus is a melting pot and were not going to tolerate this kind of intolerance, Baker told The Dispatch. It was a good symbol and a good thing to see Columbus kind of fighting back against this group of individuals who have pretty much taken it upon themselves to terrorize people, he continued. If were so anti-terrorism in the United States, why are we allowing something like this to even happen? Advertisement Advertisement The video panned to Columbus police milling around outside the hotel, but they didnt attempt to stop the protesters. On Friday, Mayor Andrew Ginther (D) and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said, no city resources would be used to help federal agents in immigration enforcement operations, The Dispatch reported. A hotel employee told The Dispatch that they refunded a few guests who happened to be staying there along with ICE. ICE confirmed two arrests in Columbus after city leaders warned citizens of a possible increase in ICE activity throughout the city. These enforcement actions are part of ongoing efforts to uphold public safety and enforce federal immigration laws, an ICE spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement ICE described those arrested as the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, according to ABC6. One of those arrested had multiple prior charges, including criminal trespassing and drug-related offenses. In a separate court document, the man was charged with aggravated robbery for allegedly stealing sandwiches from a local store. The other detainee had a traffic citation for failure to control a vehicle and not wearing a seat belt, according to ABC6. The post Just Wild! Ohio Protesters Blare Music Outside Hotel Hosting ICE Officers As Police Look On first appeared on Mediaite. The Department of Justice released a portion of the vast trove of documents related to the federal governments investigation into Jeffrey Epstein on Friday, after months of infighting that tested the unity of the MAGA movement. The release comes after Congress passed a bill ordering the Justice Department to make all of its unclassified records related to Epsteins investigation and prosecution public by Dec. 19, despite initial objections from President Donald Trump and Republican Party leaders. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said that Fridays release would not include all material and the department would disseminate potentially hundreds of thousands more files over the next couple weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Trump had for months insisted that the push to release the files is a Democrat hoax, and he repeatedly targeted Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) two Republicans who led the charge in the House to release the files. But he ultimately signed that bill into law on Nov. 19 after an eleventh-hour reversal in which he urged Republicans to vote for the bill, leading to a near-unanimous vote in the House. The Senate then passed the legislation by unanimous consent. The law allowed the Justice Department to withhold certain documents, including those that include the personal information of victims, depict child sexual abuse or materials that would jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution, giving the department wide latitude to omit some material from the release. It specifically bars DOJ from withholding or redacting information on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity. Democrats and Republicans raised concerns that Trumps decision to ask Attorney General Pam Bondi to initiate an investigation into Epsteins ties to prominent Democrats amid the furor over his handling of the investigation could serve as cover for the exclusion of certain documents. Advertisement Advertisement The law also requires DOJ to provide Congress with a summary of all redactions made and a list of all government officials and politically exposed individuals named or referenced in the published materials. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released more than 20,000 pages of emails exchanged between Epstein and several prominent figures in politics, media, technology and Hollywood last month, ramping up pressure on the Trump administration to release its files related to the investigation. Epstein, who died in 2019 in a New York prison cell, faced various state and federal charges related to the sexual abuse and trafficking of dozens of underage girls as young as 14 over the course of two decades. The release also sparked heightened scrutiny of several individuals highlighted in the emails, including former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, who stepped away from his public commitments in the wake of the revelations. Summers told POLITICO in a statement following Congress release of his emails with Epstein that hes deeply ashamed of his actions and takes full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement But the new release from the Department of Justice could be far more expansive than just the emails obtained by the committee, potentially including investigatorial documents and evidence collected by federal agents and prosecutors. In the emails released by Congress, Epstein communicated with people close to Trump including his former adviser Steve Bannon and in several exchanges offered his thoughts on the president, including one email to Summers in which he remarked that there was not one decent cell in his body. Bannon, who collaborated with Epstein on a never-released documentary, has denied media-training Epstein and called for Trump to empower a special prosecutor to unseal documents related to the probe. In separate emails, Epstein wrote that Trump knew about the girls and referred to him as that dog that hasnt barked. Trump was once friends with Epstein, but the president has maintained for years that the two had a falling out decades ago. The president has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing associated with Epstein, and there has been no evidence to suggest his involvement. Advertisement Advertisement While Trump said during the 2024 presidential campaign that he would release more information on the investigation if reelected, DOJ concluded in a July memo that it found no basis to revisit the disclosure of the materials. That followed a firestorm of criticism from the Republican Party after Bondi provided MAGA influencers with declassified binders titled The Epstein Files: Phase 1 at a February White House event which contained little new information on the case. NEED TO KNOW Former Vice President Kamala Harris spoke about former President Joe Biden's decision to not push for the release of the Epstein files During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Harris said that the Biden administration didn't want to use their personal interests to influence the Department of Justice's actions "We strongly, and rightly, believed that there should be an absolute separation between what we wanted as an administration and what the Department of Justice did, Harris shared on Kimmel's show Kamala Harris is explaining the Biden administrations decision not to release the Epstein files while President Joe Biden was still in office. During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Wednesday, Dec. 17, the 61-year-old former vice president and 2024 presidential candidate was asked about Bidens decision not to release the files related to the late billionaire. Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump, who has appeared in multiple images and mentioned in details from the files, has denied any wrongdoing in connection to his relationship with Epstein, which he said ended around 2004. To give you an answer that will not satisfy your curiosity, we perhaps to our damage but we strongly, and rightly, believed that there should be an absolute separation between what we wanted as an administration and what the Department of Justice did, Harris shared on Kimmel's show. We absolutely adhered to that and it was right to do that. Harris said it was important to Biden's administration that The Justice Department would make its decisions independent of any political or personal vendetta or concern we may have and thats the way it worked. Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty President Donald Trump speaks at his inauguration while former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris watch on Jan. 20, 2025. President Donald Trump speaks at his inauguration while former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris watch on Jan. 20, 2025. Congress passed a bill in November giving the Trump administration 30 days to release addition information from its investigations into Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement The bill, titled the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed 427-1 in the House and was approved unanimously in the Senate before it was signed into law by Trump on Nov. 19. On Friday, Dec. 19, the 30 days will be up and the Trump administration is required to release the remaining Epstein files, only withholding or redacting documents that are classified, or that could identify victims or interfere with a federal investigation. Kimmel asked Harris if she thought that the president would, in fact, release all of the files on the deadline. Aaron Schwartz/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Kamala Harris and Joe Biden on Jan. 15, 2025. Kamala Harris and Joe Biden on Jan. 15, 2025. What he has done to treat the Department of Justice as his personal law firm is criminal in proportion to what its supposed to be and that its supposed to be an independent body that does justice, blindfolded in terms of for whom but for the country theyre supposed to operate without favor or fear, Harris replied. Advertisement Advertisement She added, So I dont know that they are going to do what theyre saying theyre going to do, which is release all of the documents that the American people have a right to see. Davidoff Studios/Getty Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump pose together in 1997. Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump pose together in 1997. Despite her condemnation of the Trump administrations practices since taking office in January, Harris did take a moment to acknowledge Republicans who have called for the files release. I will commend Republicans in Congress, those who have stood up to say, Release the files, she noted. 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. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson previously shared a statement with PEOPLE, claiming, "The Democrat hoax against President Trump has been repeatedly debunked and the Trump Administration has done more for Epsteins victims than Democrats ever have by repeatedly calling for transparency, releasing thousands of pages of documents, and calling for further investigations into Epsteins Democrat friends." Advertisement Advertisement Jackson added, "Its time for the media to stop regurgitating Democrat talking points and start asking Democrats why they wanted to hang around Epstein after he was convicted." Read the original article on People KEENE The first three homebuyers in the affordable-forever Both Meadow Trail project in Keene closed on their homes last week, marking an important step in easing the communitys housing shortage. Adirondack Roots, a nonprofit housing organization based in Elizabethtown, spearheaded development of the four-home development off Route 73. One home remains for sale. Were thrilled to bring these new, accessibly priced homes online, Caitlin Wargo, Adirondack Roots interim executive director, said in a press release. Home prices across our region have risen more quickly than peoples ability to afford them. This project helps middle-income buyers with good jobs live in the place where they work, which is vital to ensuring the long-term sustainability of our communities. Advertisement Advertisement Each of the two-bedroom, one-bath homes sold for $160,000. This below-market price was possible because of support provided by the New York State Office of Homes and Community Renewal and the Adirondack Community Foundation. In addition, a shared-equity homeownership model kept costs down. While buyers will own their homes, the land beneath is owned by the Adirondack Community Housing Trust. Homeowners will pay $300 yearly to lease the land, as well as property taxes. Should owners decide to sell, resale prices are capped under a formula that limits appreciation. In addition, future buyers must provide proof of income eligibility. Its a plan that made it possible for Alison Helm and her two children to finally make a permanent home in the North Country after three years of renting and staying with friends. Its really hard to settle in a place thats not your own, said Helm, a teacher assistant at Lake Placid Central School who moved to the area from Connecticut in 2022. While she came here for a fresh start, she said finding a place to live was a struggle. Its so difficult. You cant even find affordable rent, never mind to own. and I dont have two incomes, I just have me. Advertisement Advertisement She said she stuck it out because of the community. Its a really nice place to raise a family, Helm said. Its safe. I cant tell you how many people have looked out for me during this process. Joe Pete Wilson, Town of Keene supervisor, said places like Both Meadow Trail are critical to keeping people like Helm in the region. I hear so often from people who want to move here, who want to live here, but simply arent able to make it happen because housing is so scarce, Wilson said. Projects like this make Keene stronger, and Im grateful to Adirondack Roots for helping bring this to fruition. Advertisement Advertisement Emily Kilburn Politi, president of Adirondack Roots board of directors, credited several groups for their participation. These are the kind of creative solutions we need to address our regions chronic housing shortage, she said. Even though this model is new to the area, our partners on this project didnt hesitate to make it happen. Those partners included Champlain National Bank, which provided construction financing, and Arrow Bank, which worked through the intricacies of housing trust mortgages. The Keene Congregationalist Church and private donors supplied funds for landscaping, which was installed by East Branch Organics at a good-neighbor price. Over 30 applications were submitted to purchase the two-story modular units, which were made by Simplex Homes and constructed by ONeil Contracting of Bloomingdale. Advertisement Advertisement Our community thrives when we attract new residents, and its been frustrating to know many homebuyers who would love living here simply couldnt afford it, said Teresa Cheetham-Palen, a member of the Keene Town Council and chair of the Keene Housing Task Force. The seed for these homes began two decades ago when former Town of Keene Supervisor Tom Both sold this property to Adirondack Roots. It reflects a long-term commitment to maintaining a vibrant year-round community in Keene. Im excited to welcome our new neighbors. Helm, the proud owner of her first home, usually spends Christmas traveling to see family, but not this year. For once, we are in our own space, Helm said. And we dont have to move again. In Lee, et al. v. Trump, plaintiffs seek justice for President Donald Trumps alleged actions on Jan. 6, 2021, that led to the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol. Current and former members of Congress and police officers impacted by the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, returned to federal court in Washington, D.C., on Friday for a civil case that is seen as the last legal recourse to hold Donald Trump accountable for his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election. During Fridays hearing for Lee, et al. v. Trump, the plaintiffs argued against President Trumps legal claim that his actions leading up to the riot that killed five and injured nearly 200 police officers are protected by presidential immunity. Advertisement Advertisement Backed by the NAACP as co-counsel in the case, the plaintiffs argue that Trump conspired with right-wing extremist groups Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and others at a rally Trump hosted on Jan. 6, yards away from the White House, to prevent lawmakers from carrying out their constitutional duties and certify the 2020 election results. The rule of law means nothing if it does not apply equally, including to those who once held the highest office in the land, said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson. January 6th was not only an attack on Congress, it was also an attack on the voting rights of millions of Americans. The courts remain the only independent venue capable of establishing a factual, apolitical record of what occurred. We believe in this process, and we believe accountability will prevail. The case is being brought against Trump under the Ku Klux Klan Act, passed by Congress in 1871 during the Reconstruction Era, with the intent to combat the violence and intimidation faced by Black Americans and their white allies in the South. Following the Civil War, Black voters in the South came out in droves to the ballot box, electing a record number of Black Americans to Congress. However, that progress was undone by racial terror and intimidation, as well as the enactment of Jim Crow laws to suppress Black progress. This lawsuit is based on no one is above the law within the context of the legal framework of the [Ku Klux] Klan Act, which dates back to the time when there were those in this country who did not want Black people to have a voice or vote in Congress, former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, the lead plaintiff in the case, told theGrio. WASHINGTON, DC MAY 16: Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) arrives for a Congressional Progressive Caucus news conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 16, 2024 in Washington, DC.(Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) Lee, who is now the Mayor of Oakland, noted that the alleged actions to subvert the will of voters, particularly Black voters whose counties were targeted by the Trump campaign in states like Georgia and Pennsylvania, were another form of voter suppression and an attempt to deny Black people, Brown people, poor people, the right to vote. Advertisement Advertisement Two criminal cases against Trump related to his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election, one brought by the Department of Justice under President Joe Biden and another in Fulton County, Georgia, were dismissed after Trump was elected to a second term last year. We are quickly approaching the fifth anniversary of that devastating day, yet we have not seen any accountability for the president, the Proud Boys, and others who we allege were primarily responsible for the attack on our Capitol, said Demon Hewitt, president and executive director of Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, who is representing law enforcement officers a part of the class action lawsuit. Hewitt added, Instead, weve seen more than 1,500 pardons, politicians repositioning themselves to be apologists for the insurrectionists, and even the glorification of those involved. Former Congresswoman Lee was on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives as thousands of Trump supporters rampaged the U.S. Capitol, as she and her colleagues worked to certify the 2020 presidential election results. She and her colleagues hid away with their staff, fearing for their lives. The Oakland mayor said she thought a lot about the officers who risked their lives to protect members of Congress. Advertisement Advertisement We know what has happened with them, and so many are still traumatized, she shared with theGrio. Lee said Trump attempted to subvert the will of the American people, comparing him to the many dictators of the world. We see what dictators do abroad, and Ive been to many countries, and I know how dictators operate. I know the signs and his behavior and his policies are tracking, said the 79-year-old politician. I think the signs are very clear here as to what his motives are, and hes doing that through the policies and through his appointments and through his many ways of dismantling government. Despite what Trumps critics describe as his attempts to change the narrative about Jan. 6, including pardoning all defendants charged for their actions and characterizing the riot as a peaceful protest, Lee said, We know what happened on Jan. 6. Advertisement Advertisement The judiciary is the last resort that we have in this country to protect individuals and to protect our democracy, she added. No one, again, no one is above the law. More must-reads: According to the City of Leavenworth, the Village of Lights has returned and Christmastown celebrations are again in full swing, as local businesses welcome visitors back after recent storms. City officials said while holiday activities are underway, the community is still recovering from storm impacts and is asking visitors to be patient and help keep streets safe and accessible. The city emphasized that cooperation from visitors plays a key role in keeping traffic moving and ensuring emergency access during busy weekends. Getting to Leavenworth Drivers are advised to plan ahead before heading into town. Advertisement Advertisement Although U.S. Highway 2 remains closed, Leavenworth is still accessible via U.S. Highway 97 and Interstate 90. Travelers are encouraged to check real-time road conditions before leaving by using the live map from the Washington State Department of Transportation, as conditions and detours may change. Parking and traffic restrictions To maintain clear access for emergency vehicles during high-traffic periods, the city has implemented temporary parking and traffic restrictions that are being strictly enforced. Parking is prohibited on both sides of Pine, Ski Hill, Evans, Commercial, Burke and Cedar streets, with specific block details available on the citys website. Advertisement Advertisement In addition, left turns from Fir Street onto Chumstick Highway are not allowed as part of the citys traffic flow plan. Officials said these measures are designed to reduce congestion and ensure emergency responders can move through town without delay. Where to park Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of free parking and transit options. A free shuttle is available from the Wilkommen Park & Ride, located behind the Safeway store. From there, riders can take Link Transits Route 32 directly into downtown Leavenworth. Downtown parking remains available in designated city lots, with maps and locations posted online by the city. Questions and updates Those with festival-related questions can contact the Leavenworth Visitor Center at (509) 548-5807 or by email at info@leavenworth.org. Advertisement Advertisement Questions related to parking or traffic can be directed to tapp@cityofleavenworth.com or by calling (509) 888-0812. City officials noted that traffic revisions and detours remain subject to change as conditions evolve and are urging visitors to stay informed before and during their trip. The shortest day of the year when the sun arcs across the sky at its lowest point of the year is, at last, upon us. As the winter solstice comes and quickly goes on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 7:03 a.m. Pacific Time, we can officially look forward to longer days around Tacoma and South Sound. To test the effects of the solstice, Farmers Almanac recommends we channel Punxsutawney Phil: Stand outside at noon to catch your shadow it should be the longest such shadow one can cast at any point during the year. On the opposite end of the spectrum, on the summer solstice, your shadow should be almost unnoticeable. Advertisement Advertisement The weather wont quite care, however. The National Weather Service anticipates much more of the same for areas around Puget Sound. On the solstice itself, expect chilly temperatures that will max out around the mid-40s with scattered rain and frequent breezes in the lowlands. From the mountains perspective, NWS Seattle forecasts snow as low as the 1,500-foot elevation mark up to 2 feet could fall at both Snoqualmie and Stevens passes between Saturday afternoon and Monday night. Use caution if youre planning to travel across the Cascades, NWS warned in its Saturday morning report, especially on Interstate 90 and Route 12. Additonal road closures are already in place due to landslides and crumbling roadways, including on Route 2 between Skykomish and Leavenworth usually a tourist haven at this time of year for its European-inspired alpine charm. Meanwhile, on the coast, thunderstorms are possible through Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement The impact of a series of atmospheric rivers across Western Washington is still top-of-mind, although it appears the worst is behind us. NWS predicts that drizzly rain wont interfere with the overall downward trend being seen on most area rivers. Parts of the Chehalis and Skokomish rivers do not have dam regulation and thus remain under flood watch. Experts warn that extra-damp soils will not subside, leaving the risk of landslides high at least through the start of Christmas week. Longer days ahead after Tacoma winter solstice Rain aside, the sun will begin to shine a teeny bit longer in the waning days of December. As we look to the 2026 New Year, Tacoma and South Sound may thank the Earths tilt. On Saturday, with approximately 8 hours and 28 minutes of sun, the sun will set at 4:21 p.m. Twilight will cut off just before 5 p.m. Eek! Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, the day of the winter solstice, that sun will bless us with one more minute setting at 4:22 p.m. We have to wait until Tuesday night for a 4:23 p.m. sunset. The sun will see 4:30 p.m. just in time for the New Year, on Jan. 1, 2026. And then were off: Well surpass 5 p.m. sunsets on Jan. 25. By then, the region will already be soaking in longer days, though. That clock will exceed 9 hours of sunlight even earlier by Jan. 18. Just in time for the holiday season, one of the worlds wealthiest couples has exciting news to share: theyre giving $102.5 million in new grants this year, distributed among 32 nonprofits across the country through their philanthropic organization, the Day 1 Families Fund, according to ABC News. The money can be used for everything from kids toys and a warm winter coat to new clothes, preschool tuition, and temporary and permanent housing. Lauren Sanchez Bezos, who married Jeff Bezos this June, announced during a Dec. 1, 2025, appearance on Good Morning America appearance on Dec. 1, 2025, that the power couple has committed to donating $2 billion in grants to organizations that help people experiencing homelessness. Read More: If Bezos Wealth Was Evenly Distributed Across the US, How Much Would We Get? Find Out: 6 Subtly Genius Moves All Wealthy People Make With Their Money Since its 2018 founding, Day 1 has funded 280 awards totaling $850 million to nonprofits and civic groups in 50 states, including Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam, according to its website. Advertisement Advertisement Sanchez Bezos told Good Morning America that the $100 million theyve given this year makes a huge impact and helps families get moving in the right direction. Here is an inside look at the Bezos charitable giving for the 2025 holiday season. Community of Hope, Washington, D.C. One of the recipients, D.C.-based Community of Hope, which serves 1,600 households a year, told Good Morning America that Day 1 Families Fund has been transformative for families facing vulnerable and stressful times, said Kelly Sweeney McShane, the organizations CEO. McShane said they can use it for everything from homelessness prevention to shelter and housing with supportive services. Family Promise of Greater Indianapolis, Indiana Homeless shelter Family Promise of Greater Indianapolis, which announced it received $1.25 million on Dec. 1, 2025, told WTHR it will use the funds to house homeless families in central Indiana. ACCESS Women and Childrens Emergency Shelter, Cleveland, Ohio Another award recipient, ACCESS Women and Childrens Emergency Shelter, said they will use the $1.25 million grant to provide emergency shelter, permanent housing and support services to Summit County, Ohio, reported Cleveland.com. The Rest of the 2025 Recipients Day 1 announced the following 32 awards for its eighth annual Day 1 Families Fund, with a grand total of $102.5 million, to be distributed by the Funds trusted advisors. $5 Million Awards Union Station Homeless Services, Pasadena, California United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, Milwaukee Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, San Francisco, California Care Resource Community Health Centers, Inc., Miami Big Bend Cares, Tallahassee, Florida Community Crisis Services, Inc., Hyattsville, Maryland DuPage Pads, Wheaton, Illinois Emergency Family Assistance Association, Boulder, Colorado KCEOC Community Action Partnership, Inc., Gray, Kentucky St. Vincent de Paul Georgia, Atlanta Housing Families, Malden, Massachusetts Marys Place, Seattle YMCA of Central Ohio, Columbus $2.5 Million Awards Associated Ministries of Tacoma-Pierce County, Tacoma, Washington Chum, Duluth, Minnesota City Care, Oklahoma City City Rescue Mission, Oklahoma City Friendship Place, Washington, D.C. Friendship Service Center, New Britain, Connecticut LifeStyles of Maryland, Inc., La Plata Residential Youth Services & Empowerment, Honolulu The Coalition of Homeless Services Providers, Seaside, California WestCare Pacific Islands, Inc., Hagatna, Guam The Kitchen, Inc., Springfield, Missouri $1.25 Million Awards ACCESS Inc., Akron, Ohio Family Promise of Greater Indianapolis, Indianapolis Harford Family House, Aberdeen, Maryland Hermanos de la Calle, Key Biscayne, Florida Hope Harbor, Grand Island, Nebraska New Orleans Women & Childrens Shelter, New Orleans Tolowa Dee-ni Nation Mvn-dvn (Housing Division), Smith River, California Under 1 Roof, Dallas More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: A Look at Jeff Bezos Charitable Giving This Holiday Season WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. military has amassed an unusually large force in the Caribbean Sea and the waters off the coast of Venezuela since this summer, when the Trump administration first began to shift assets to the region as part of its anti-drug trafficking operations. In all, U.S. Southern Command says there are around 15,000 personnel operating in the area, in the largest military buildup in the region in generations. It is part of the Trump administration's escalating pressure campaign on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who has been charged with narco-terrorism in the U.S., and includes a series of strikes on alleged drug-running boats that have killed more than 100 people since early September. Advertisement Advertisement Here is a look at the ships, planes and troops in the region: Ships The Navy has 11 warships in the region the nation's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, as well as five destroyers, three amphibious assault ships, and two cruisers. The three amphibious assault ships make up an amphibious readiness group and carry an expeditionary unit of Marines. As a result, those ships also have on board a variety of Marine helicopters, Osprey tilt rotor aircraft and Harrier jets that have the capability of either transporting large numbers of Marines or striking targets on land and sea. The USS Ford has multiple squadrons of fighter jets as well as other aircraft and helicopters. Advertisement Advertisement While officials have not offered specific numbers, destroyers and cruisers typically deploy with a missile loadout that contains Tomahawk cruise missiles, which can strike hundreds of miles from their launch point. A U.S. Navy submarine also is operating in the broader area of South America and is capable of carrying and launching cruise missiles. Planes and drones A squadron of advanced U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II jets has been sent to an airstrip in Puerto Rico. The planes were first spotted landing on the island territory in mid-September. More recently, U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets were photographed flying out of Puerto Rico. Advertisement Advertisement MQ-9 Reaper Air Force drones, capable of flying long distances and carrying up to eight laser-guided missiles, also have been spotted operating out of Puerto Rico by commercial satellites and military watchers, as well as photojournalists, around the same time in September. It has been widely reported that the Navy also is operating P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft out of the region. In October, the military released a photo of a U.S. Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider, a heavily armed plane capable of firing its large guns with precision onto ground targets, sitting on the tarmac in Puerto Rico. There has been a multitude of other military aircraft that have temporarily flown through the region as part of military operations there. Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Air Force has repeatedly flown B-52 Stratofortress and B-1 Lancer bombers to the region in what the Pentagon has said were training flights. However, at least one such flight was dubbed a bomber attack demo in photos online. Recently, the U.S. military also flew a pair of F/A-18 fighter jets over the Gulf of Venezuela in what appears to be the closest American warplanes have come to the South American countrys airspace since the start of the campaign. The gulf is bounded by Venezuela and only about 150 miles (240 kilometers) at its widest point. The planes spent more than 30 minutes flying in the area. Troops Advertisement Advertisement All told, about 15,000 personnel are in the region, with nearly 10,000 being the sailors and Marines aboard the warships. U.S. Southern Command refused to offer any formal breakdown of the total figure, citing operational security. Lt. Col. Emanuel Ortiz, a spokesperson for Southern Command, said in an email that the total figure includes all military services and government civilians in support of this mission. The Pentagon has not offered specific numbers on how many drones, aircraft or ground crew are in the region, so their impact on that broader figure is unknown. Following the renewed delay in finalizing the free trade agreement between the European Union and four Mercosur countries, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called on Europeans on Saturday to show more courage and political will. "Unfortunately, Europe has not yet decided. The European leaders have asked for more time for additional measures to protect agriculture," Lula said at the Mercosur summit in the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguacu. He added that without the political will and courage from the leaders, it would not be possible to conclude the negotiations that have been ongoing for 26 years. Lula: Meloni ready to sign in January Only on Wednesday, Lula had issued an ultimatum to the EU: "If we don't do it now, Brazil will not make a deal as long as I am president," he said at a government meeting. Advertisement Advertisement However, the Brazilian president has now stepped back from this position. Lula said he had spoken with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the phone, and she assured him that she would be ready to sign at the beginning of January. "The agreement will be concluded, and I hope that it might be signed in the first month of the Paraguayan presidency [of Mercosur] by my counterpart Santiago Pena," said Lula. Pena is the president of Paraguay. Necessary majority in EU did not materialize The treaty was originally supposed to be signed at the summit in Brazil on Saturday. However, Meloni recently announced that she was not yet ready to agree to the planned agreement with the four countries Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, meaning that the EU majority required for signing would not materialize. Individuals named Conrad are typically perceived as reliable, thoughtful, and possessing strong leadership qualities. They often exhibit a natural authority and gravitas that inspires confidence in others, living up to the name's meaning of 'honest advisor.' Conrads tend to be methodical in their approach to problems, preferring careful analysis over impulsive decisions. They value integrity and are often seen as pillars of their communities or organizationsdependable, principled, and committed to their responsibilities. While sometimes reserved or serious in demeanor, Conrads form deep, lasting relationships and are fiercely loyal to those they trust. Their combination of intelligence, reliability, and moral strength makes them natural leaders who others turn to for guidance and support in challenging situations. This personality profile aligns with the name's historical associations with counsel and leadership, suggesting that names can sometimes become self-fulfilling prophecies as individuals grow into the characteristics their names suggest. A man who was found mentally incompetent to stand trial on murder charges stemming from the killings of an "American Idol" music supervisor and her husband inside the couple's upscale Encino home was ordered Friday to be committed to a state hospital. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Maria Cavalluzzi noted that Raymond Boodarian, 22, has refused to appear at the Hollywood courthouse and has not been communicating with his attorney. The judge noted that an order to involuntarily medicate Boodarian will remain in place. Advertisement Advertisement Boodarian -- who has remained behind bars since his July 15 arrest -- was charged July 17 with two counts of murder stemming from the July 10 slayings of Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca, who were both 70. He is also charged with one count of residential burglary with a person present. The murder charges include the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder during the commission of a burglary, which could carry a potential death sentence. He is also facing firearm allegations. Boodarian had been scheduled to be arraigned in a Van Nuys courtroom in August, but criminal proceedings were suspended after Judge Martin Herscovitz declared doubts about the defendant's mental competency "based on his behavior in court." The judge repeatedly asked Boodarian, "Can you hear me?" but the defendant never replied. Advertisement Advertisement The victims' bodies were found July 14 in the 4700 block of White Oak Place, south of Ventura Boulevard, during a welfare check prompted by a call from an acquaintance who had not heard from the couple in several days, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. They were found inside the home with multiple gunshot wounds. "In a matter of moments, this couple was senselessly killed in their own home as they returned from the grocery store," District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement shortly after the charges were filed. "This tragic shooting has shaken a Valley community and the notion that home should be our safe sanctuary. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their family and friends who are grieving this tremendous loss." At a meeting with more than 200 residents concerned about crime in the area, the district attorney said that the two were killed with their own gun. An "American Idol" representative confirmed the deaths in a statement, saying, "We are devastated to hear of Robin and her dear husband, Tom's, passing. Robin has been a cornerstone of the Idol' family since 2009 and was truly loved and respected by all who came in contact with her. Robin will remain in our hearts forever and we share our deepest sympathy with her family and friends during this difficult time." Advertisement Advertisement Police said surveillance video suggests the suspect entered the residence through an unlocked door, and the victims returned home and found the intruder inside. "A violent struggle ensued between them and the suspect," LAPD homicide investigator Lt. Guy Golan said. Detectives suspect that Boodarian was burglarizing the house while the couple was away and stayed for about 30 minutes before they returned home. Police said they identified Boodarian through the use of surveillance video from the couple's home. According to the LAPD, officers had initially responded around 4 p.m. July 10 to the home in response to the report of someone jumping the fence, but found no immediate signs of an intruder or a burglary. Advertisement Advertisement LAPD officials said an investigation would be conducted into the initial police response to the home and why officers did not detect an intruder in the home that day. As music supervisor, Kaye was responsible for securing licensing for songs performed by contestants on "American Idol." She began working on the show in 2009. Dec. 19A 46-year-old man accused of setting his ex-girlfriend's Riverside home on fire has been indicted. What was he indicted on? The charges: Jeremy M. Perkins was indicted in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court of two counts of aggravated arson and single counts of burglary and possession of criminal tools. What is he accused of doing? The fire: Perkins is accused of setting a house in the 100 block of Ellington Road on fire on Dec. 9. Advertisement Advertisement According to a Riverside police report, his ex-girlfriend and her children live at the house but were not home at the time of the fire, which was reported shortly before 4 a.m. A 911 caller said he heard glass break but didn't see anything when he checked outside. However, when he looked outside a few moments later he saw smoke and flames coming from the front of the house, as well as a red truck stopped outside his house. When he went outside the truck drove away, the report said. The fire also damaged a neighboring house's siding, the report said. The investigation: The woman who lives at the house said her ex-boyfriend, Perkins, had a red truck, and said things escalated between them after she started a new relationship, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Police found Perkins at a Beavercreek restaurant later that day with what said appeared to be burns on his face. According to court records, he had gasoline and a light on him. Officers took Perkins into custody and booked him in the Montgomery County Jail. What happens next? Arraignment: Perkins is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 23, and as of the time of writing remained in the Montgomery County Jail. Staff writer Kristen Spicker contributed to this report. A Wake County man who operated a service dog business for children with special needs pleaded guilty to 50 counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. This comes more than six years after the North Carolina Attorney General's Office started investigating complaints. Mark Mathis owned Ry-Co Service Dogs in Raleigh from 2008 to 2018 and claimed to sell specially trained service dogs to families with medical or developmental needs. In court, many of those families were there for Friday's hearing. They've been waiting years for this day as they filed complaints several years ago with the North Carolina Attorney General's office. Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said Ry-Con targeted families with special needs family members, often autistic children, who paid thousands of dollars for dogs that did not meet proper training, health, or care standards to be service animals. Victims paid between $4,500 and $16,710 for Briard breed dogs that Mathis said were trained to help people with disabilities. Mathis shut down his business in 2018. Maggie and Paul Vladyka bought a dog from Mathis several years ago for their child, McKenna, and said they felt it was important to be in court today. Maggie adds, "That's why I took her out of school early for her to be here. I really wanted the judge to see the community that he affected. I mean, my face is the face of the community somewhat, but it was her, it's her dog, and she was the one who was really affected by this, and I wanted someone to see that." McKenna is 16, and they still have Sven, the dog they bought from Mathis, but said it took thousands of additional dollars in training, just like several other families experienced. "We all kind of banded together and really wanted to stop this from happening to anybody else," Maggie said. After Mathis pled guilty, the judge sentenced Mathis but suspended his sentence. Mathis got 60 months of supervised probation. He must pay a total of $353,000 in restitution to 50 families who purchased a service dog. In court, Mathis did apologize to the families. He said, "I hope that this brings some comfort. I know that it can't erase all that you've gone through. I'm deeply sorry and deeply apologetic for all that happened, and I will make every effort to comply and do right by you through this work." Some of the victims said they weren't happy Mathis avoided jail time, but they wanted some type of closure. Maggie added, "I think what we wanted more now than the money was the justice and for him to really understand how he took advantage of a community that already has enough problems and doesn't have enough support, and that he's a part o,f ironically and he used that against us and he weaponized the love we have for our children." As part of the plea deal, Mathis paid $100,000 of that restitution on Friday; that money will go directly to the 50 victims. Mathis is banned from training or selling service animals. President Donald Trump threw his coveted MAGA support behind MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell (R) for Minnesotas next governor. Speaking at Fridays rally in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Trump called current Gov. Tim Waltz (D) corrupt and stupid, before praising Lindell for fighting to prove that the 2020 election was rigged. And you know whos running for governor? Mike Lindell! Do we like Mike Lindell? Trump asked to applause. Advertisement Advertisement Trump continued: That man suffered. That man suffered. He, what he did, what he went through, because he knew the election was rigged and he did it. He did it, I mean, he just did it as a citizen. Mike Lindell, Ill tell you what. Every time I introduced him, he got the biggest hand. I hope he does great. He deserves to do great. That man suffered. These people went after him. They went after his company. They did that with me too. But at least I knew what I was getting into. He was just a guy that said this election was so crooked. It was so rigged. He fought like hell. That guy deserves to be governor of Minnesota. Ill tell you right now. Hes a great guy, too. Through the years, Lindell has staked his MyPillow fortune on insisting that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. A federal judge ruled in September that Lindell defamed Smartmatic by falsely claiming that its voting machines helped rig the 2020 election. In a statement, an attorney for Smartmatic said the company will be seeking nine-figure damages from Lindell and MyPillow for spreading lies about the company. Three months earlier, a federal jury found Lindell guilty of defaming a former employee of Dominion Voting Systems by calling him a traitor who helped Joe Biden win the election. During that trial, Lindell claimed his continued fight to prove the election was stolen from Trump slashed his net worth from $60 million to $10 million in debt. Watch the clip above via Fox News. The post That Man Suffered! Trump Declares Mike Lindell Deserves To Be Governor of Minnesota first appeared on Mediaite. Its the busiest shopping season of the year and a time when many are trying to figure out where to ethically spend their money. Over the first year of Trumps second term, companies and institutions have fallen in line with the administrations anti-DEI and anti-immigration policies. As a result, people are supporting economic boycotts to show their discontent with the businesses capitulating to the president. Over the Black Friday weekend, the groups behind the No Kings protests the largest days of mass protest in recent memory put their weight behind a campaign called We Aint Buying It, calling on people to not shop at Target, Home Depot and Amazon during the marquee week of holiday deals. Advertisement Advertisement More than 220 organizations joined We Aint Buying It, the coalition said. The campaign reached millions of Americans, driving more than 40,000 to take a pledge to be a conscious consumer. Signs also point to people spending their money at smaller companies instead. Little Blue Cart, a directory of progressive small businesses, saw record-breaking traffic during the campaign period, the coalition said. Several prominent boycotts are still under way, and some new ones have launched, including one focused on Spotify for running ICE recruitment ads. These boycotts, especially targeted ones with specific demands, can get companies to relent: Disney, for example, reversed its decision to take Jimmy Kimmels show off the air after extensive, focused backlash from its supporters. Ultimately, organizers say the best practices for ethical spending and financially supporting your community are to shop small, shop local, reuse or thrift when you can, and consume less. During this period of crackdowns on immigrant communities throughout the US where businesses have had to close up or shorten their hours due to fears of ICE spending at or buying gift cards for immigrant-owned businesses also helps, organizers say. Some shoppers are choosing to support the businesses including big retailer Costco that have sued the Trump administration over tariffs they argue were illegally enacted. Others are donating or buying merch from colleges that havent acquiesced to the administrations demands. Advertisement Advertisement For reference, here are a few of the ongoing boycotts and why shoppers are choosing to spend their money elsewhere. Target A boycott of Target began earlier this year, led by Black activists, after the company rolled back its diversity efforts, which it had previously touted and which included programs that boosted Black-owned businesses. (Target has been boycotted by conservatives in the past over its support for the LGBTQ+ community.) The company has acknowledged the boycott is affecting the retailer. Home Depot As ICE raids and arrests continue across the country, some have protested against the home improvement store because agents have targeted day laborers who look for work in their parking lots, saying the company is complicit in allowing these arrests to happen on their property. The company has said it doesnt coordinate with federal agencies or know when these enforcement activities will happen. Amazon Some on the left have stayed away from Amazon for years, for a host of reasons treatment of workers, decimation of mom-and-pop businesses, cheap products and its billionaire ownership. In the second Trump era, Amazon donated $1m, and a host of in-kind services, to Trumps inaugural committee. Jeff Bezos, the companys owner, also attended the inauguration alongside other tech billionaires. Spotify The music streaming service is running recruitment ads for ICE, as are other streaming platforms. Boycotts call for people to cancel their Spotify subscriptions, stop streaming content on the platform, not post their Spotify Wrapped and protest outside the company until Spotify relents. (The company has defended running the ads.) Tesla When Elon Musk dismantled federal agencies, instituted mass firings and canceled aid and research programs earlier this year, activists turned toward his electric car company, organizing boycotts of the cars and protests at showrooms. The boycott has dinged company sales. Starbucks This one is not specifically related to the Trump administration, but the coffee giants workers are striking over stalled negotiations on their union contract. A trail in Bryce Canyon National Park is pictured in May 2024. (Alixel Cabrera/Utah News Dispatch) Saying that selling national parks was never on the table, Utah Sen. Mike Lee is no longer proposing a change to federal legislation that drew heavy criticism from conservation groups, his office said Friday. Lee, a Republican, had proposed removing part of a spending bill requiring that national park lands be maintained as federal lands. The Coalition to Protect Americas National Parks shot back, saying the move could green-light the selling off, transferring and giving away of national parks. Advertisement Advertisement Over the summer, Lee attempted to add a mandate for the sale of some public lands, excluding national parks and national monuments, to Republicans megabill. He backed down after outcry from hunting and recreation advocates. U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, participates in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on May 13, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) On Friday, Lee spokesperson Jordan Roberts said the senator filed a new amendment late Thursday that would keep intact the section he previously sought to remove. I categorically oppose selling national parks, Lee, chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement to Utah News Dispatch. Lee said the U.S. Department of the Interior had called his attention to the section at issue, saying it would permanently freeze Park Service boundaries, blocking routine land exchanges Congress has long approved, such as past legislation returning sacred lands near Denali to the Doyon Alaska Native Corporation. Advertisement Advertisement Lee continued: That was the concern. Selling national parks was never on the table. Some advocates see it as a repeat of recent history. Once again, Mike Lee is retreating with his tail between his legs after trying to make it easier to sell off and dispose of our public lands, said Kate Groetzinger with the nonprofit Center for Western Priorities. But given that the appropriations bill is not signed yet, were going to be keeping a close eye on it. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chimed in to defend Lee Thursday on the social media site X, saying Lee sought to take out a provision that would have unintended consequences for routine Park Service actions. Advertisement Advertisement Senator Mike Lee is not trying to sell Park Service lands or end the Park Service as we know it, the post reads. Those who are claiming that should know better and need to knock it off. Linda Mazzu, a retired superintendent at Bryce Canyon National Park, joined conservation groups in voicing concern Thursday. Mazzu said after layoffs and buyouts earlier this year, staffing at the park service is down 25%. The agency is also staring down $1.2 billion in cuts under the White Houses proposed 2026 budget. An undated photo provided by Linda Mazzu, a former superintendent of Bryce Canyon National Park Bigger shifts may follow. In May, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told a House budget panel that there is no plan to remove any of 64 crown jewel national parks. But he said some of the more than 400 other park service sites could be managed by state or local authorities. Advertisement Advertisement A draft of the Interior Departments strategic five-year plan listed the return of heritage lands and sites to the states and efforts to assess and right-size monuments among five key strategies for the agency. Mazzu said shes concerned about the future of smaller sites like Utahs Golden Spike National Historic Park, that are managed by the park service and less visited than Utahs Mighty 5 national parks. There are so many small places that might just be a historic house, Mazzu said. But it captures a huge part of the history of our country. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The Justice Departments long-awaited release Friday of documents related to the federal governments investigation into Jeffrey Epstein was perhaps most notable for what it lacked. Financial records, internal memos from prosecutors who investigated Epsteins alleged sex-trafficking ring, key material obtained from the searches of Epsteins palatial homes none of it figured prominently in the documents released Friday. Interested in records that would help explain how Epstein grew so wealthy? None to be found. Advertisement Advertisement Want to read emails from federal prosecutors deciding who to charge and, equally importantly, who not to charge during their 2019 investigation? Youre out of luck. Curious about the role of Maurene Comey, the prosecutor who co-led the probes into Epstein and his co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, before being fired without explanation in July? Nothing from her to see here. The department was obligated by law to release the entire universe of documents related to Epstein, the late convicted sex offender, and Maxwell, who was convicted of aiding and participating in his sex-trafficking ring, by Friday. The tranche made public represented only a fraction of the total material, which the government has said exceeds 300 gigabytes worth of data and physical evidence. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, estimated the production included only about 10 percent of the material in the departments possession. Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche promised Friday theres more to come, saying additional responsive materials will be produced as our review continues, consistent with the law and with protections for victims. The department hasnt provided guidance as to when it plans to release more documents, although Blanche indicated in a letter to Congress that production will be complete by the end of the year. There were some notable materials in Fridays document dump, including a photograph of former President Bill Clinton in a pool with Maxwell and another woman, whose face was obscured as part of the redaction process. There were videos of police interviews from the 2005 investigation of Epstein in Florida, as well as what appeared to be notes for an Epstein attorney to prepare for a conversation with Alex Acosta, then the top federal prosecutor in Florida who cut a sweetheart plea deal with Epstein. But most of the material disclosed Friday had either already been made public, was heavily redacted or simply didnt advance the public understanding of the many mysteries surrounding the Epstein saga. Many of those pushing for the release of the files expressed dismay and frustration with the outcome. Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), one of the sponsors of the bill ordering the department to make the documents public, told reporters he was disappointed in the quantity of files made public by the Justice Department and pushed for federal officials to set out a clear timeline for the release of all remaining documents. Khanna said lawmakers could eventually explore impeachment proceedings for Blanche and Attorney General Pam Bondi or even refer Justice Department officials for criminal prosecution if theyve engaged in excessive redaction or tampering. A spokesperson for the department didnt respond to a request for comment. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), the bills lead GOP sponsor, backed him up, saying the disclosure grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law that @realDonaldTrump signed just 30 days ago. Advertisement Advertisement And Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer slammed the disclosure. Simply releasing a mountain of blacked out pages violates the spirit of transparency and the letter of the law, he said in a statement. For example, all 119 pages of one document were completely blacked out. We need answers as to why. Gregory Svirnovskiy contributed to this report. Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF, has warned that babies and children in the Gaza Strip are dying from harsh winter weather, calling on Israel to ease its aid blockade as the military continues to violate the ceasefire and press on with its genocidal war. Citing the death of a 29-day-old premature baby, Said Asad Abedin, from severe hypothermia in southern Gazas Khan Younis, MSF said on Friday that winter storms combined with the already dire living conditions [are] increasing health risks. The death toll from extreme weather stood at 13 as of Thursday, according to Gazas Ministry of Health. Another two-week-old baby, Mohammed Khalil Abu al-Khair, froze to death without access to proper shelter or clothing earlier this week. Advertisement Advertisement Ahmed al-Farra, head of the maternity paediatric department at Nasser Medical Complex, said in a video update that hypothermia is very dangerous for babies. If nothing is offered for these families in the tents, for warming, for mobile homes, for caravans, unfortunately, we will see more and more deaths, al-Farra said. Children are losing their lives because they lack the most basic items for survival, Bilal Abu Saada, a nursing team supervisor at Nasser Hospital, told MSF. Babies are arriving to the hospital cold, with near-death vital signs. In addition to the growing number of deaths, MSF said its staff has recorded high rates of respiratory infections that it expects to increase throughout the winter, posing a particular danger to children under five. As Gaza is battered by heavy rains and storms, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians continue to struggle in flooded and broken makeshift tents, the organisation added. MSF calls on Israeli authorities to urgently allow a massive scale up of aid into the Strip. No letup in Israeli attacks Palestinian news agency Wafa, meanwhile, reported that Israeli forces demolished buildings, carried out artillery shelling and shot guns in areas east of Gaza City on Saturday morning, with more gunfire reported east of Khan Younis. Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, an Israeli strike on a shelter for displaced Palestinians killed at least six people. The Israeli military claimed to be firing on suspects. Graphic videos from the scene showed body parts and terrified civilians trying to carry wounded people out of danger. Military vehicles also descended upon the town of az-Zawiya, located west of Salfit in the occupied West Bank, where forces severely beat and injured a number of citizens and stormed homes, the agency said. I can still hear his tiny cries Heavy rain, high winds and freezing temperatures have battered Gaza in recent weeks, flooding or blowing away more than 53,000 tents that have served as makeshift shelters for displaced Palestinians. Advertisement Advertisement With huge swaths of buildings and infrastructure destroyed, streets are quick to flood and sewage overflows. Displaced families have sought refuge in the shells of partially fallen-down buildings despite the risk of collapse, with 13 buildings caving in across Gaza last week. The winter weather and Israels blocking of vital aid and mobile homes for shelter have proven deadly for children and babies. Late in the evening of December 13, Eman Abu al-Khair, a 34-year-old displaced Palestinian living in al-Mawasi west of Khan Younis, found her sleeping baby Mohammed cold as ice, his hands and feet frozen and his face stiff and yellowish, she told Al Jazeera. She and her husband couldnt find transportation to get to hospital, and intense rain made it impossible to make the trek by foot. Advertisement Advertisement After rushing Mohammed by animal-drawn cart to Red Crescent Hospital in Khan Younis at dawn, he was admitted to intensive care with a blue face and convulsions. He died two days later. I can still hear his tiny cries in my ears, Eman said. I sleep and drift off, unable to believe that his crying and waking me at night will never happen again. Mohammed had no medical problems, she added. His tiny body simply couldnt withstand the extreme cold inside the tents. Since the October 10 ceasefire took effect, Israel has continued to block the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip despite calls from a host of United Nations agencies, international organisations and other states for it to stop. Advertisement Advertisement The UN has said that Israel has prevented tents and blankets from reaching Palestinians, even as an estimated 55,000 families have seen their belongings and shelters damaged or destroyed in the storm. Dozens of child-friendly spaces have also been damaged, affecting 30,000 children, according to the UN. Natasha Hall, a senior advocate for Refugees International, told Al Jazeera that aid is entering Gaza in a trickle in part due to its opaque list of controlled dual-use items that has included nappies, bandages, tools, tents and other essentials. Its unclear how those could be used as weapons or any kind of dual use, Hall said. A man whose murder conviction was overturned in 2021 is now wanted in connection with two homicides in two states. Police across the East Coast are searching for 31-year-old Arkel Garcia, who authorities say could be anywhere between Florida and Philadelphia and should be considered armed and dangerous. Garcia was originally sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of killing 21-year-old Christian Massey in West Philadelphia in 2013. Police said at the time that Garcia shot Massey in the chest while attempting to steal a pair of Beats headphones. Advertisement Advertisement His conviction was later thrown out in 2021 after prosecutors argued the case had been tainted by the involvement of former Philadelphia homicide detective Philip Nordo. Nordo was found guilty of using his position to intimidate and groom male suspects and witnesses into sexual acts. The Philadelphia District Attorney's office requested that the court vacate his sentence, and a judge agreed. Massey's family said the decision devastated them. "I mean, we talk about all the time that the system doesn't work right or it's broken, and things like this really show that it is because dangerous people that you can prove are dangerous are still just walking around on the streets," Massey's cousin, Pebble Hill, said in an interview Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Garcia remained in prison for three additional years on a separate assault charge before being released last fall. Now, police say he is wanted in connection with two more homicides. On Nov. 12, investigators say Garcia robbed and killed 58-year-old David Weinkopff inside his apartment on the 4900 block of Stenton Avenue. Neighbors told police Weinkopff used a wheelchair. He was found with multiple cuts and bruises to his face and head. "So this is an individual that we consider highly dangerous due to his pattern of violence," said Robert Clark, a supervisory deputy U.S. marshal. Authorities in Florida say Garcia is also wanted for questioning in a Nov. 28 homicide in Fort Pierce. The 51-year-old victim died from blunt force trauma and smoke inhalation after his home was set on fire. Advertisement Advertisement "To be adjudicated for one homicide and then to commit two more homicides within 15 days, this is somebody that needs to be captured quickly," Clark said. "So now hearing what he's just done to another person that's a part of a vulnerable population. He was an older man. My cousin was a special needs young man. So it's just sad, and it just seems like this is what he does. He preys on vulnerable people," Massey's sister said. Garcia was last seen in St. Lucie County, Florida, on Nov. 29, according to the sheriff's office there. His last known address is believed to be on the 1800 block of W. Glennwood Avenue in Philadelphia. Police urge anyone who sees him to call 911 immediately. Massey's family said they hope the renewed attention will prompt prosecutors to reopen the 2013 case. The mayor of Toms River publicly called for the resignation of the district superintendent this week, escalating a long-smoldering and increasingly bizarre feud involving threats of lawsuits, personal insults, and even an accusation that one school board member was peeping into the home window of the schools chief. Mayor Daniel Rodricks statement demanding that Superintendent Michael Citta resign citing what he called Cittas indefensible push for a hefty pay raise prompted a defiant response from the schools chief. It also spurred an unusually sharp rebuke from the Board of Education, which accused the mayor of meddling in school matters beyond his authority. Advertisement Advertisement Go get your own house in order, Board President Ashley Lamb told Rodrick at a Wednesday board meeting, to applause. If youre going to come after Mike Citta, who is actually a man and a gentleman and an educational leader all things you are not you will have to come through me and the rest of this board," she said. The showdown threatens to upend governance in New Jerseys sixth-largest school system, a district already embattled by years of financial and administrative strain. Rodrick was present at the meeting, according to Lamb. He did not speak, but his behavior at the meeting prompted her spontaneous reprimand. Advertisement Advertisement He was clowning around in row two, putting on a show, she told NJ Advance Media. We have kindergarteners who behave better in meetings than this man was behaving. Rodrick, for his part, characterized the meeting as a complete stunt by the board. He said he didnt speak because of the presence of several dozen members of the teachers union, who he felt were applauding too often. I knew it would be a hostile crowd, he said in an interview. Toms River Regional School District Board President Ashley Lamb criticizes Mayor Daniel Rodrick, sitting in the audience. Rodrick frames his opposition to Citta as a matter of personal freedom. I have a constitutional right to not approve of your raise and to say so, he said. I dont lose my First Amendment rights just because Im mayor. Advertisement Advertisement A request for comment to Citta was redirected to his lawyer, Patrick Toscano, who alleged in an emailed statement that Rodricks interference was the result of personal animus and an insatiable thirst for power. Butting heads The mayors demand follows weeks of tension over a proposed contract extension that would see Cittas salary rise at least $33,000 over the next five years, a hike Rodrick criticized as outrageous given what he described as financial woes and poor student performance within the district. Citta, in turn, alleged in a Tuesday statement to the community that Rodrick has repeatedly overstepped his authority. I understand criticism. It comes with this role. It will not deter me, he said. What I will not accept is the distortion of facts or the injection of politics into our classrooms, our schools, or this Board of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Citta claimed that Rodrick has repeatedly muscled in on district business since 2021, when he turned Cittas hiring into a public spectacle. After the previous superintendents retirement, the Board of Education spent more than a year struggling to agree on a successor, with multiple failed votes as board members accused each other of manipulation and bias. At least one board member, Kathy Eagan, alleged Rodrick then a member of the township council attempted to interfere in the selection process. The stalemate prompted the board to start from scratch, eventually landing on Citta, whose appointment was approved in February 2022. Advertisement Advertisement It was hell, Ashley Lamb, who was then a board member, said of the process. Rodrick denied that hed worked against Cittas appointment while he was on the township council. A longtime educator, he has worked in his current position, as a assistant principal at Irvington High School in Essex County, since August. He was elected mayor in 2023, notching an 18-point margin of victory over his closest opponent. Under New Jersey law, school districts are separate legal entities from municipal governments, with independently elected boards that control hiring, contracts and budgets. Mayors and township councils have no formal authority over the vast majority of district operations. Advertisement Advertisement Ashley Lambs husband, Justin Lamb, who is also the townships outgoing council president, emphasized in an interview that Rodrick did not speak for him or the rest of the council. School boards should be free to do and carry on their affairs without interference from the council or the mayor, he added. That stupid letter School officials in Toms River have spent years grappling with shrinking aid and repeated intervention from the state. Since changes to New Jerseys school funding formula starting in 2018, the district has lost roughly $175 million in aid, prompting the layoffs of 250 staff members, program cuts and the sale of district property to close budget gaps. Advertisement Advertisement In July, the board attempted to file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy to avoid what Citta called the end of Toms River regional schools. The state blocked the move, forcing the district to impose a 12.9% property tax increase on residents instead. Toms River school rally in Trenton The current flare-up stretches back to October, when the Board of Education began discussing a new five-year contract for Citta. Its terms included an increase in his $219,300 salary for the 2024-2025 school year to $275,000, retroactive to July 1. If approved, the contract would see his salary eventually climb to $308,012 by the 2029-2030 school year. Citta defended the contract in his Tuesday statement, saying that it was a market place adjustment for a district of Toms Rivers size. He also pointed out that hed opted to freeze his salary for the last four years in response to the districts financial woes. Advertisement Advertisement The first salary bump in his proposed contract would make him the 32nd highest-paid superintendent in New Jersey, he said. Rodrick had put out his call for Citta to resign earlier on Tuesday, circulating a 400-word statement in which he called his proposed salary an indefensible attempt to fleece the taxpayers. (He was hired at Irvington at a $112,000 salary, according to the Asbury Park Press, and earns $70,000 as the mayor, he said.) He issued it, he told NJ Advance Media, in response to an Asbury Park Press report on Monday detailing a legal threat hed received from Toscano, the lawyer representing Citta and the school board. I was going to ignore that stupid letter until the Asbury Park Press called me about it, Rodrick said. Advertisement Advertisement That letter, dated Dec. 5, warned that Toscanos firm had been retained over certain improper, real and questionable political interference with BOE business, as well as curious law enforcement improprieties. Details of the alleged improprieties were not specified in the letter, but both Rodrick and the Lambs said it referred to the same incident: an allegation involving someone peering through Cittas windows. On Nov. 13, according to a police report obtained by NJ Advance Media, Toms River police responded to the superintendents home after he reported that someone had snuck onto his property and looked through his windows 10 days prior. Cittas son and his friend had seen the alleged peeper, who scuttled off as soon as they realized theyd been spotted, according to the police report. Citta identified the alleged peeper as Marisa Matarazzo, a school board member, the report said. Matarazzo is one of two board members, along with Paola Pascarella, who have ties to the township government. Matarazzo works for the Toms River building department, while Pascarellas stepson is the assistant township attorney. Both women have also backed Rodrick in his clashes with the district in recent weeks, but the mayor said they were doing so of their own volition. Marisa, shes got guts. And Paola Pascarella has guts, you know? Rodrick said. But I dont control them. Matarazzo, who did not respond to a request for comment, denied Cittas incredible and defamatory claim in a letter she and Pascarella sent to the State Ethics Commission on Nov. 25. You, sir, are a disgrace The Dec. 5 letter to Rodrick, which was also addressed to Toms River Police Chief Guy Maire, stated that Toscanos firm would be filing a notice of tort claim the precursor to a lawsuit and a litigation-hold demand, which is a formal instruction to preserve all potential evidence. The litigation-hold demand was issued Wednesday, according to Toscano. A notice of tort claim had yet to be filed as of Friday. Two words hard stop, Toscano said in his statement to NJ Advance Media, adding that Citta had grown tired of Rodricks bizarre political interference. The board continued that line of attack in its Wednesday meeting, the last of the year, in which outstanding students receive awards. As a result, the room was packed with kids and parents, according to Justin Lamb. It worked against the mayor, he said. I think (Citta) showed hes the better man in the room. Hes not afraid. Hes not going to cower down... I think the community is going to stick with (Citta). Toms River Regional Superintendent Michael Citta speaks at a Dec. 17 school board meeting. At the end of the meeting, a disgusted Ashley Lamb grew remarkably candid as she excoriated Rodrick, mocking him for thinking of himself as some sort of dragon that needs slaying. She alleged that Rodrick had called her last January, days after her election as board president, to tell her that if she wanted the position, she should have called him and asked him for it. I have no idea why I would have to call you and ask you for anything that has to do with this district, she said, because you dont work here and you dont run it and you dont own it. She made reference to Rodricks troubles with his previous employer, Middletown Township Public School district, which placed him on leave last December as it pursued tenure charges against him. District officials later said that an internal investigation had found Rodrick left students unattended to take personal calls and conducted Toms River business during school hours. Rodrick called the charges a political witch-hunt at the time, and filed a lawsuit against the Middletown school district last month. You, sir, are a disgrace, Lamb said. Thats why Middletown didnt want you. Lamb told Rodrick he was no more welcome in Toms River. What are you even doing here? she asked. Because nobody wants you here. Rodrick told NJ Advance Media that all of Lambs claims at the meeting were completely false, jabbing at the board as dishonest, greedy people. An formal effort to recall Rodrick was approved for signature gathering by the township in August. The organizers will need 25% of registered voters in Toms River just over 18,400 people to join the petition by Jan. 25 and force a special election. The board is set to assemble again around that time for its annual reorganization meeting. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Cultural & Historical Significance The name Crespin holds profound cultural significance rooted in early Christian martyrdom and medieval guild traditions. As the name of the 3rd century saint martyred with his brother Crispinian, it represents one of the most enduring stories of faith under persecution in Christian history. The brothers' choice to support their missionary work through shoemaking created a powerful cultural narrative about the dignity of labor and the integration of spiritual and practical life. Throughout the Middle Ages, shoemakers' guilds across Europe adopted Saints Crispin and Crispinian as their patrons, establishing feast days, processions, and charitable traditions that embedded the name in urban craft culture. Shakespeare's immortal 'St. Crispin's Day' speech in Henry V further cemented the name in Western cultural consciousness, associating it with courage, brotherhood, and national pride. This multifaceted heritage makes Crespin a name that bridges religious devotion, artistic craftsmanship, and literary tradition across centuries. The winter solstice officially in the Northern Hemisphere begins Sunday, December 21 at 10:03 am - EST. Its the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the longest day of the year and summer will start. As the sun reached its lowest arc in the sky, tribal nations across Turtle Island celebrate the winter solstice, a sacred turning point that carries teachings of balance, endurance and renewal. Please support our year-end campaign. CLICK HERE TO DONATE. Advertisement Advertisement 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. For many Indigenous peoples, the winter solstice is more than a date on the calendar. It is the shortest day and longest night of the year, a time when darkness pauses and the return of the light begins. The moment has been observed for millennia through ceremony, story and prayer, long before colonization disrupted traditional lifeways. The solstice reminds us that even in our darkest times, the light is still there, said an Ojibwe elder from northern Minnesota, who asked to be identified by first name only. It teaches patience and faith in the cycles of Creation. Advertisement Advertisement Among the Anishinaabe, winter is a season of storytelling, when the natural world rests and sacred teachings are shared indoors. The solstice signals a time to reflect on the past year and prepare spiritually for what lies ahead. Similar teachings are found among many Tribal Nations, each with their own distinct traditions tied to place, language and cosmology. In the Southwest, Pueblo peoples have long marked the solstice through ceremonial dances and prayers honoring the suns return. In Mesoamerican traditions, the solstice aligned with sophisticated astronomical knowledge, reflected in ancient structures built to capture the suns movement. Farther north, Plains and Woodland Nations recognized the solstice as a reminder of resilience during winters harshest days. Today, many Native communities continue these observances while adapting them to contemporary life. Some gather in community centers or homes, others at sacred sites, while urban Native citizens often mark the day through prayer, fasting or quiet reflection. The solstice also carries renewed meaning amid ongoing challenges facing Native communities, including climate change, threats to land and water, and the lasting impacts of historical trauma. For many, the return of the light is a powerful metaphor for survival and hope. Advertisement Advertisement As the sun begins its slow journey back toward longer days, the winter solstice stands as a reminder that time moves in cycles, not straight lines. For Native peoples, it is an affirmation of relationship to the earth, to the sky and to each other and a quiet promise that light, once diminished, will return. 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 A Shiprock man has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of a woman who was found outside a residence on Nov. 15 in northwestern New Mexico, federal prosecutors said. Harlan Joe, 21, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was arrested after officers responded to a residence in Shiprock and found a woman dead outside the home, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Mexico. Shiprock is a community within the Navajo Nation near the New MexicoArizona border. Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said the woman, who has not been identified, had obvious signs of abuse and trauma when officers arrived at the scene. According to prosecutors, Joe told investigators during an interview that he knew what he was doing and that it was wrong. They added that Joe engaged in a "day of drinking" before the alleged murder. Joe remains in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. He faces up to life in prison if convicted, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said the Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Advertisement Advertisement Rey Covarrubias Jr. covers grocery shopping, business and breaking news for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Email him at: rcovarrubias@azcentral.com, and connect with him on Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and X (formerly Twitter) at @ReyCJrAZ. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Shiprock, NM man charged after woman killed on Navajo Nation A Wake Forest woman has turned her passion for arts and crafts into a thriving small business, bringing custom wood and acrylic gifts to homes and Christmas trees nationwide. Donna Clayton, owner of Falcon Ridge Designs, began her journey during the COVID-19 pandemic, selling locally before expanding to Etsy. "I saw there were laser cutters out there," she said. "I'd never seen one, so I took the jump. I used the money I had made from vinyl and I bought my first laser -- that started all of it." Advertisement Advertisement Her living room now doubles as a home office, transformed to house her 1,000-pound laser cutter. SEE MORE NC MADE STORIES Among her top sellers is a delicate wooden Christmas ornament featuring North Carolina's state bird, the Cardinal. Clayton said she sells wholesale to businesses in tourist destinations. "Everyone goes on vacation, and they bring home an ornament from where they went to add to their Christmas tree" she said. In addition to ornaments, Falcon Ridge Designs offers personalized key chains, trivets, stickers, earrings, frames, and even a charcuterie board engraved with guides for food placement. Advertisement Advertisement Clayton designs many of the items herself and collaborates with other designers, prioritizing materials sourced from North Carolina and women-owned businesses. "'Because that's literally how we all grow," Clayton said. "I'm putting money directly back into the local community, putting money back in people's pockets to pay for their kid's things. That's super important to me, it's why I do what I do, it's for my kids." WASHINGTON Israeli officials have grown increasingly concerned that Iran is expanding production of its ballistic missile program, which was damaged by Israeli military strikes earlier this year, and are preparing to brief President Donald Trump about options for attacking it again, according to a person with direct knowledge of the plans and four former U.S. officials briefed on the plans. Israeli officials also are concerned that Iran is reconstituting nuclear enrichment sites the U.S. bombed in June, the sources said. But, they added, the officials view Irans efforts to rebuild facilities where they produce the ballistic missiles and to repair its crippled air defense systems as more immediate concerns. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to meet later this month in Florida at the presidents Mar-a-Lago estate. At that meeting, the sources said, Netanyahu is expected to make the case to Trump that Irans expansion of its ballistic missile program poses a threat that could necessitate swift action. A sign in Tehran on Dec. 7 features an image of a university student holding a model of a satellite carrier, alongside Persian script that reads, ''For a better Iran, its missile is on me; I will send it into orbit.'' (Morteza Nikoubazl / NurPhoto via Getty Images) (Morteza Nikoubazl) They said part of his argument is expected to be that Irans actions present perils not only to Israel but also to the broader region, including U.S. interests. The Israeli leader is expected to present Trump with options for the U.S. to join or assist in any new military operations, the sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Asked Thursday about a Dec. 29 meeting with Netanyahu, Trump told reporters, We havent set it up formally, but hed like to see me. Israeli officials have announced a Dec. 29 meeting. The Israeli government declined to comment. The Iranian Mission at the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment. The International Atomic Energy Agency and Iranian government corroborated the United States governments assessment that Operation Midnight Hammer totally obliterated Irans nuclear capabilities, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement. As President Trump has said, if Iran pursued a nuclear weapon, that site would be attacked and would be wiped out before they even got close. Israels plans to brief Trump on and give him the option to join possible additional military strikes in Iran come as the president is considering military strikes in Venezuela, which would open a new warfront for the U.S., and as he is touting his administrations bombing campaign against Irans nuclear program and success negotiating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement In an address to the nation on Wednesday, Trump said told Americans hes destroyed the Iran nuclear threat and ended the war in Gaza, bringing for the first time in 3,000 years, peace to the Middle East. The Israeli concerns about Iran come as Tehran has expressed interest in resuming diplomatic talks with the U.S. aimed at curtailing its nuclear deal, which could potentially complicate Israels approaching Trump about new strikes. The funding of Iranian proxies in the region also is top of mind for the Israelis, according to the person with direct knowledge of Israels plans. The nuclear weapons program is very concerning. Theres an attempt to reconstitute. Its not that immediate, this person said. Advertisement Advertisement The strikes the U.S. conducted in June against Iran, known as Operation Midnight Hammer, included more than 100 aircraft, a submarine and seven B-2 bombers. Trump has said they obliterated Irans nuclear enrichment sites, though some early assessments indicated the damage may not have been as extensive as the president has said. Israeli forces at the same time struck several of Irans ballistic missile sites. Israeli military strikes in April and October 2024 also damaged all of Irans S-300 air defense systems, the most advanced system the country operates, clearing the way for manned flights into Iranian airspace months later by dramatically reducing the threat to pilots. Unlike strikes on Irans ballistic missile program, direct U.S. military involvement was needed to significantly damage Irans nuclear sites as that required American-made 30,000-pound bunker-busting bombs. Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Trump hinted he might be open to returning to talks with Iran, while also warning Tehran against trying to reconstitute its ballistic missile or nuclear programs. He said Iran can try to rebuild its ballistic missile program, but its going to take them a long time to come back. But if they do want to come back without a deal, then were going to obliterate that one, too, Trump said. You know, we can knock out their missiles very quickly, we have great power. Prior to the strikes in June, the Israelis had presented Trump with four options for military action, according to the person with direct knowledge of Israels plans. Israeli officials laid out the options on a coffee table in the Oval Office, this person said. One involved Israel going it alone, another included limited U.S. support, a third was the U.S. and Israel conducting joint operations against Iran, and a fourth had the U.S. conducting the operation on its own, this person said. Ultimately Trump decided to approve a joint operation. The person with direct knowledge of Israels plans suggested Netanyahu may present Trump with a similar set of options during their Mar-a-Lago meeting. Advertisement Advertisement The fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas is also expected to feature prominently in the talks between Netanyahu and Trump, amid concerns both sides are failing to take action to carry out the next phase of the deal. Under the second stage of the agreement, Israel is supposed to withdraw its forces from Gaza, and an interim body is to assume authority over the Palestinian enclave instead of Hamas. An international stabilization force also is supposed to be deployed to Gaza. Trump could be less enthusiastic about new military action in Iran if there continues to be friction between U.S. and Israeli officials over Netanyahus approach to the ceasefire, two former Israeli officials said. Left unchecked, Irans production of ballistic missiles could increase to as many as 3,000 per year, according to the person with direct knowledge of Israels plans and former U.S. officials briefed on the plans. Advertisement Advertisement The threat of ballistic missiles, and the number of them that the Iranians could use in an attack, is Israels most immediate concern, said one of the former Israeli officials who has discussed the concerns with current Israeli officials. There is no real question after the last conflict that we can gain aerial superiority and can do far more damage to Iran than Iran can do to Israel, the official said. But the threat of the missiles is very real, and we werent able to prevent them all last time. A large volume of ballistic missiles would help Iran better defend its nuclear enrichment sites, the person with direct knowledge of Israels plans and one of the former U.S. officials briefed on the plans said. They said Israeli officials have the same concerns about Iran rebuilding its missile defense systems and funding and arming its proxies in the region, believing Tehran would then fast track reconstituting its nuclear program because it would better be able to defend its enrichment sites. CORRECTION (Dec. 20, 2025, 3:30 p.m. E.T.): A previous version of this article misstated the number of ballistic missiles Iran could produce. It is 3,000 per year, not per month. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Rail service on a busy NJ Transit line resumed early on Saturday, Dec. 20, hours after two trains collided in Montclair injuring 17 people, causing a derailment and suspending service through the night. Trains began traveling in both directions on the Montclair-Boonton Line rail service around 4 a.m., NJ Transit reported. Weekend ridership is expected to be high as New Jerseyans head into New York City for Christmas activities. The 17 injuries were considered "non-life threatening," a NJ Transit representative said. Six people - all crew members - who were transported to hospitals have been released, the agency said on social media Saturday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board completed their preliminary investigation Saturday morning to determine what caused the collision at 6:47 p.m. Friday near the Bay Street station, which led to a minor derailment. No additional information was available on the incident, an NTSB spokesperson said. The agency will issue a preliminary report in about 30 days that will detail what investigators found on the scene. The cause of the collision wont be issued until a more detailed final report, which could take months, the spokesperson said in an email. Witnesses said the trains bumped into one another near the intersection of Pine and Claremont. Check back for more on this developing story. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ Transit Montclair-Boonton Line rail service resumes after collision Two NJ Transit trains collided on the Montclair-Boonton Line Friday night, injuring 17 people, officials said. At around 6:47 p.m., the two trains made contact in Montclair west of Bay Street, NJ Transit officials said. The collision led to a minor derailment. Officials described the injuries as non-life-threatening. In a social media post, NJ Transit officials said the agencys chief executive, Kris Kolluri, and senior staff were at the scene of the collision. Advertisement Advertisement NJ Transit police are leading the investigation and officials are waiting for the National Transportation Safety Board to arrive to conduct their own investigation, officials said. The board confirmed late Friday that it had sent out a team of investigators. Our primary focus during this incident is the safety of our passengers, our employees and our first responders, NJ Transit officials said in a social media post. Montclair NJ Transit Rep. Tom Kean said he was aware of the incident in a social media post and that there were several reports of injuries. Police are at the scene and NJ Transit is investigating the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Service on the Montclair Boonton Line has been suspended in both directions and NJ Transit is cross honoring rail tickets on NJ Transit bus lines. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. NORWAY The Select Board considered a proposal Thursday to demolish two historic buildings that formerly housed the Advertiser Democrat at 1 Pikes Hill. Todd Truman, owner of the property and Turn Key Homes of Maine in Oxford, said the two white buildings facing Pikes Hill Road and visible from Main Street are beyond repair and pose a severe fire risk because of pervasive squatting and crime. The property is being broken into, and there are not good things happening there, Truman told the Select Board. Advertisement Advertisement Truman said people have been breaking into the buildings to use drugs and have removed boards and barriers meant to keep them out. He said they have also activated electrical systems not intended to be on, creating a fire hazard. Police have been called to the property multiple times, according to Truman. Interim Town Manager and Police Chief Jeffery Campbell said the Norway Police Department is aware of the situation at the buildings. Weve been in communication with them a number of times," Campbell said, "and we had people jump out the windows when we went there. Truman said he considered shutting off power to the buildings plagued by breakins but worries squatters might set fires inside, which could be catastrophic. Advertisement Advertisement The brick portion of the historic property was recently rehabilitated and brought up to code, Truman said. The other half of the building has been dilapidated for some time. Truman said it sits on stones rather than a foundation, and water from the abutting Pennesseewassee Stream regularly flows inside. The structure has dropped at least 3 feet in the middle, and the roof lines are visibly bowed from the road. Weve been wanting to do it for a while," Truman said. "It is just going to be an expensive process to tear it down. Truman said they likely would build another structure on the site after demolition is complete. Advertisement Advertisement We haven't really fully decided what we're going to do," Truman said. "Some sort of a retail space on the first floor and then maybe a residential or something like that. We want it to be a benefit to the town rather than a potential hazard. Newcomb said the next step is to send the proposal to the Planning Board to form a committee for the next steps of the demolition project. I delivered for the Advertiser. I remember roaming through the building in the 1960s, and it was a maze and in pretty rough shape back then, Select Board Chair Russell Newcomb said. If you build another building there, it would definitely be an improvement. In other business, the board voted to accept a memorandum of understanding for electric vehicle charging stations in downtown Norway. Advertisement Advertisement Prior to the meeting, the agreement with the Center for an EcologyBased Economy, or CEBE, in Norway was largely informal. The town owned and insured the chargers, while CEBE covered maintenance and daytoday operations. It would be nice for the general public to know this, Select Board Member Anita Hakala said. People have asked me whos paying for that electricity. It should be shared with the townspeople. Content warning: Discussions of abuse and sexual assault. Over the past year, I've asked both former inmates and people who've worked in corrections to share aspects of prison life that most people don't realize, or might never understand unless they experienced it firsthand. Because so many people who've worked in prisons also weighed in, it seemed only right to compile some of their experiences and shed light on what working in a prison day in and day out actually entails. Here's what they had to say: 1. "I worked in a state prison for 26 years. What I've learned is that 1) Respect works both ways. 2) Listening is more important than talking. 3) You have to treat each inmate as an individual; you can't lump them together as one. Remember, we work there, that's their home, so be mindful of that." South_agency / Getty Images "When I was promoted to sergeant, I was assigned to the worst living unit in the state. Fights and assaults happened daily, including staff getting assaulted. After two years with the right staff, we were able to change the culture of the unit. When I retired, we had gone five years without any incident occurring in the unit. Leadership is very important because we, as staff, set the tone for the living units and the institution as a whole, whether it be county, state, or federal." Anonymous 2. "I worked in a state prison for two years, and I loved my job. What I didn't like was what I saw, such as how some officers treated the inmates. I never had any problems with 'my guys' as I called them, and I like to believe it was because I always treated them as human beings. My motto was and still is: 'If you treat them like animals, they will behave as such.'" "I noticed the employees who had worked there forever were just stuck in their ways, never seeing things from the inmates' side. Bringing up ideas for improvement to create a better environment was never listened to. They thought that it was unnecessary to send inmates to reintegration halfway houses (so they wouldn't get completely thrown out into a world they wouldn't recognize anymore). Sometimes I look for these inmates on the state website, and most of them have ended up back in prison shortly after being released. That's pretty sad." Advertisement Advertisement Anonymous Related: 25 Deathtraps Um, I Mean Super Dangerous Designs That Someone Should've Been Fired For Making 3. "I was a corrections officer at a state prison for about 18 months. It was a tough existence for everyone. The 'police' were all the enemy, regardless of how they treated inmates. The physical situation was difficult. Officers are severely outnumbered. In my unit, there were two officers for 128 inmates on two tiers. At any given time, things could pop off. I've had urine and feces thrown at me. Been hit and had my life threatened." Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection "I've seen inmates get beaten because they did something that brought attention to their gang. And yes, our prison had gangs. They didn't wear colors, but they had distinctive tattoos. Female staff at a male prison had to be extra vigilant; male inmates could be especially cunning and manipulative. If the money was right, I may consider doing it again, but I certainly would not want to be on the other side of the cell door." Anonymous 4. "Prison staff here. We have a lot of control over jobs inmates receive, privileges, and even how long or short they stay. The best way to make it is to be chill, have a sense of humor, and use every program to your advantage. Also, be friendly to staff we did not put you there, we are just trying to support you during your time. Do your time, don't let time do you." Anonymous 5. "I worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons for 23 years. Some of the staff members can and are worse to deal with than the inmates. I've watched many young staff members over the years get 'turned' by manipulation from inmates. I've seen staff members dismissed and arrested for bringing in all types of contraband. Working in a prison environment is not for the weak or for those who have no moral compass. I've been retired for nine years now. I couldn't imagine the environment now with younger staff members and younger inmates." Anonymous 6. "I worked as a corrections officer for almost 11 years. Most of the corrections officers and people I worked with were often equally as bad as the inmates. The inmates, for the most part, just wanted to serve their time and return to their lives. But there were enough dirty guards who wanted to profit. It was super easy to tell who walks among you. COVID changed things for the worse. Less staff and no one wanted to work long overtime hours." Motortion / Getty Images/iStockphoto "The sexual harassment as a female officer sucks. You don't eat the food if you're smart. In a facility that takes inmates from the streets, there's always a ton of drug users who want to continue handling fentanyl. The inmates were getting worse with the crap getting smuggled in. There were bad fights among gangs. It was not worth it. I never had any issues with any inmates once they were released. They were always polite and thankful for the fair treatment that they received. My mom was right to say, 'Treat others how you want to be treated.' Inmates aren't the only ones doing time, especially when you work in a prison. All the overtime that is required is really wild." Advertisement Advertisement Anonymous 7. "Some people are very power hungry. They're just someone outside of work, but inside, they're there to determine how miserable certain inmates can be. It's shitty. ALSO how many people are dumb enough to sleep with inmates and think they won't get caught with a rape charge?" itssnaggletooth 8. "I worked in a women's prison. I always said, 'Going to work was like going to the theatre and not knowing what the featured film would be for the day (comedy, rom-com, suspenseful, dramatic, etc).' Get my point. Never a dull moment." JoJo Whilden / Netflix / Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection Anonymous Related: Crime Scene Investigators Are Revealing Their Most Bone-Chilling Cases, And I'm Genuinely Afraid To Sleep Tonight 9. "I consulted with women inmates at our state penitentiary. 1) The lifers wanted peace and quiet. They would descend on any fresh meat that caused disturbances because they didn't want guards cracking down on them, too. 2) They go 'gay for the stay.' It's more about affinity than actual sex. 3) Some women take testosterone, lift weights, grow beards, and tape their breasts. They apparently are in demand." "4) Actual fights/substantial injuries are rare, but slap fights and rolling around on the ground are more common. 5) They snitch on each other constantly with guards. And they definitely have sex with guards. 6) Mostly, it's like being back in high school with cliques." MidwestAmMan 10. "I worked at a state prison back in the '90s, where prisoners worked the fields when it was a plantation. Most inmates were there for life, and the majority of the inmates were Black. It was honestly like getting into a time machine every time you came through the front gate. When I was working there, there were approximately 5,500 inmates and 350 guards." WIN-Initiative/Neleman / Getty Images "There were good guards and bad ones, along with good inmates and bad ones as well. It all comes down to mutual human respect. Treat people the way you want to be treated, and you will do just fine, whether you are an employee or an inmate. As a guard, you learn to leave your own problems at home. Soon, you understand that these inmates can't do that. Everybody has good days and bad days. Keep the respect you would give any other human being." Advertisement Advertisement Anonymous 11. "I work at a maximum security prison [as a therapist]. It'sokay. Depends on what you like in your job and your personality. You have to be extremely assertive. Lots of punitive punishment (obvi) but even the therapists have to either write negatives or tickets You can't build too close a relationship. If you value connection in a therapeutic relationship, this isn't the place for you. You have to keep your patient as distant as possible." "You're not allowed to disclose a single personal thing about yourself. Not an opinion, not an experience, nothing. I highly value the ability to be my authentic self, and I can't be my authentic self there. I feel like I'm a robot. It's definitely not for me personally, but I won't s*** on it because a lot of people are successful in that environment and really like it. Just for me personally, I'm a very flamboyant, goofy dork, and I like to always be my authentic, flamboyant, goofy dork self." Character-Spot8893 12. "I used to work at a juvenile detention center a couple of years ago, but I was a case manager at the time. The for-profit system and lazy, crooked administration made it awful, as well as burnt-out and severely underpaid staff. However, I did like working with the kids. There were absolutely a few who just seemed unreachable, despite best efforts, but there were also a lot more who were just lost kids struggling." DragonImages / Getty Images "They were interesting to talk to, and felt amazing to help. It was hard, hard work; it often felt like two steps forward and one back at the best of times, but I do miss the kids. Some could be violent, destructive, and scary, though, when things didn't go their way. With some kids, it felt like it was just at the drop of a hat. A lot of trauma, usually. Tough gig, but when things work, it's pretty awesome. About four out of five times, though, they end up reoffending, or worse. Also, you can NOT reveal pretty much any private information, and have to be very careful." Advertisement Advertisement Wikeni Related: "She Died Fing Terrified She Was Going To Hell" 24 Of The Hands-Down Worst-Ever Things People Have Said When Someone Was Struggling 13. "I worked in a jail in mental health, and it was a challenge, especially feeling sometimes like you're standing between the deputies/corrections officers and the incarcerated people. I've seen plenty of naked people, have stood in pee doing suicide assessments, and have watched mentally unwell people eat and play with poop. The list goes on and on. And yet, there are plenty of days I miss it." "I've heard prison work is better than jail because the people have been sentenced and generally there for a chunk of time. In my opinion, jail mental health was about teaching grounding skills, listening, apologizing that the nurse practitioner hadn't adjusted their meds, and forwarding those requests on again. Hard work to say the least." Pineapplecheeks5 14. "It's a dating pool for the married and unmarried corrections officers. I could not count how many times someone started having an affair with a coworker." itssnaggletooth 15. "I worked in a prison substance abuse disorder treatment program for three years. I grew a lot as a clinician and met some really great clients. I wouldn't go back to working inside a facility like that, though. The lack of sunlight, vicarious trauma, long commute, and unrealistic job demands made me quit. It's hard to bring in a trauma-informed program to an environment that is not trauma-informed by design." Mindful Media / Getty Images [deleted] 16. "I've worked in many prisons across two states in Australia as a psychologist. I have a different opinion, clearly based on my country and experiences, but I have seen prison be a very rehabilitative experience for so many." "To remove people from their antisocial peers and environments, remove drugs (or as much/many as possible), and provide routine, structure, and good food, safety (for lots), and work on top of education and rehabilitation/treatment programs, means that they often are given the pause they need to reflect on their lives. Our prisons aren't perfect, and many come back, but overall, they're pretty good and can provide the opportunity to change lives." Advertisement Advertisement brainwise 17. "I was a correctional officer in Canada. I've worked in places with both male and female inmates, and I've worked in both maximum and low-medium security areas. For the inmates where I worked, the food wasn't the worst. Three meals a day with access in between meals to water, instant coffee, and any snacks they bought from the commissary. They had access to toiletries, pads, and tampons when they needed them for free and had access to buy brand-name stuff (toothpaste, lotions, shampoo/conditioner, etc) through the commissary." P_Wei / Getty Images "They could make phone calls through an approved list of family/friends. There were also spiritual care workers who tried to visit every unit once a week to spend time with the inmates in group settings and one-on-one. There were jobs available, and they were encouraged to get one, especially if they did not have family to send them any money (which most of them did not). Visits were allowed, but strip searches were required before returning to their unit." (Cont'd) "As a CO...it's not an easy job, and you learn fast that everyone has strong opinions on what you do without having any idea what it's actually like. I stopped telling family/friends/partners about my day because people either didn't understand, didn't want to understand, or tried to turn everything into some sort of debate. I can't speak for everyone, of course, but I've seen this happen to many others as well. Almost everyone I worked with started out on the job somewhat hopeful and wanting to make a difference." "You see a lot of shit that you can never unsee, and it's not long before the optimism fades. I've been called heartless before for cracking some jokes. But at work, we all did it; it's part of how you cope. COs don't get the support they need, and it is an incredibly thankless job. It's a revolving door of employees coming and going because many new staff members don't last more than a couple of years. I was there for about five or six years myself before moving on to do something else, still in a similar field, but I wanted more opportunities to move up in my career." jewelrider 18. "One of my very first jobs within my company was supply chain efficiencies at our state's maximum security prison, so I spent about 2.5 days a week working inside. So, I'm far from a guard or resident, but what struck me is how crazy regimented everything was from both sides, and how difficult it was just to get into the little conference room where they set me up." "I had to park, walk probably a quarter mile, get a badge, get wanded, then a metal detector, a quick interview to see if I had contraband or had close associates either as prisoners or guards, my work bag was inspected, then I had to wait for an escort. And once I was in the conference room, I couldn't just get up and go to the bathroom; I had to buzz someone and tell them that I was moving. What also got to me was how sterile everything was; it was metal, cinderblock, and paint." Advertisement Advertisement madisonpreggers Related: Travellers Are Dropping Their Most Unhinged "WTF" Flight Experiences, And Honestly, I'll Never Look At Planes The Same Way Again And lastly: 19. "Prison is dehumanizing and traumatic, no matter how many modern conveniences are available. I've worked in a juvenile correctional setting for the last five years. I've learned that the differences between right and wrong, good and evil are not as stark as we would like to believe. That good people can do bad things. That bad people can do good things. People are far more complicated than I ever could have imagined." Twenty47studio / Getty Images canquilt "I am so glad you said this. I am a juvenile probation officer, and it is SO complex. We do our hardest to keep kids OUT of the system, which nobody seems to ever believe. Detention and correction facilities are our LAST resort, but sometimes you just have to use them (at least that's our agency's philosophy). There isn't really a black-and-white answer to most things. As weird as it sounds, that's probably why I love my job. It's so challenging even if you see so much negativityit's worth the one positive you get every once in a while." Advertisement Advertisement ChunLeah Have you ever been incarcerated or worked in a prison? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments or at this anonymous form If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 (HOPE), which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here. The National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline is 1-800-950-6264 (NAMI) and provides information and referral services; GoodTherapy.org is an association of mental health professionals from more than 25 countries who support efforts to reduce harm in therapy. Also in Internet Finds: "Mama, Please Answer. I'm Using A Construction Workers Phone...": 15 Terrifying Voicemails That Stopped People's Hearts And Changed Their Lives Forever Also in Internet Finds: Absolutely No One Born Before 2010 Will Know What These Gen Alpha Slang Words Mean Also in Internet Finds: "I Have Never Left Anywhere Faster": People Are Sharing The Moment They Realized They Were In Danger, And It's Absolutely Terrifying Read it on BuzzFeed.com Authorities in New Zealand are working quickly to protect the Whanganui River after the destructive freshwater gold clam was confirmed in the country's Taranaki region, 1News reported. While the discovery is local, the issue has global relevance including in the United States. New Zealand leaders are urging their residents to act now to combat the gold clam, warning that "we need to take this seriously." What's happening? The Whanganui River Clam Response Group, led by the Horizons Regional Council, launched a prevention effort after freshwater gold clams were detected in the region. Similar to invasive mollusks found across U.S. waterways, these clams reproduce rapidly up to 400 juveniles per day, or 70,000 annually, according to the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network. Advertisement Advertisement Regional Council environmental manager Craig Davey told 1News that clams smaller than a millimeter can hitchhike on damp gear, including fishing equipment, boats, swimwear, and even pets. Because eradication has never been achieved overseas, authorities are reinforcing strict "check, clean, dry" requirements. "Everything that touches the water fishing and boating gear, equipment, swimwear, even the dog needs to be checked, cleaned, and dried," Davey said. Nga Tangata Tiaki o Whanganui chief executive Nancy Tuaine also stressed shared responsibility, per 1News, urging residents to help keep the clams out of local waterways. Why is this invasive clam species important? Gold clams overwhelm native freshwater species and disrupt natural filtration and habitat functions. They also clog pipes and water infrastructure, leading to costly repairs and service interruptions. Advertisement Advertisement The impact of other invasive clam species is also visible in the American West, where zebra mussels threaten water supplies and infrastructure along the Colorado River. In Texas, invasive apple snails have spread through parts of the San Antonio River, damaging native habitats and prompting expensive intervention efforts. These disruptions reduce water quality, harm fish populations, and strain systems that communities rely on impacts widely documented in invasive species reviews such as a study from the Delta Stewardship Council. What's being done about the invasive clam species? Authorities are increasing surveillance along the Whanganui River to detect new clam populations early. Prevention remains the most effective strategy, and according to 1News, officials recommend decontamination steps such as hot-water soaks, bleach or salt solutions, freezing gear overnight, and drying equipment and watercraft for 48 hours before entering another waterway. 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. Residents who spot suspected gold clams should photograph them, leave them in place, and report sightings to Biosecurity New Zealand. Advertisement Advertisement Although the response is unfolding in New Zealand, the situation offers a reminder for U.S. outdoor enthusiasts: Preventing invasive species whether they're gold clams, zebra mussels, or other damaging pests depends on careful cleaning, quick reporting, and community awareness. 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. Southwest Airlines is offering $67 one-way economy tickets on select domestic flights in a limited promotion it calls the "Trendiest. Sale. Ever." The airline says the deal is inspired by the viral "6-7" internet trend that has spread across social media, classrooms, and pop culture, especially among kids and teens. The discounted fares apply to flights within the continental United States on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Travel dates run from January 6 through March 4, 2026, according to the airline's terms and conditions. Tickets must be booked during a short window that closes on December 18, 2025, and travelers must purchase at least 21 days in advance. Southwest said the sale is a fun way to connect with younger travelers while still delivering value. Ashley Bain, a spokesperson for the airline, said the company has long believed in keeping its work serious but not taking itself too seriously. She explained that the airline wanted to lean into the trend while sharing a good deal with customers. According to FoxBusiness, the "6-7" phrase became popular after appearing in the viral song "Doot Doot (6 7)" by rapper Jamille Edwards, also known as Skrilla. Since then, the saying has shown up widely online and even made an appearance on "South Park." Dictionary.com later named "6-7" its word of the year, calling it a reflection of social trends that shaped the year. Southwest Airlines is hopping on a trend, offering $67 dollar flights (until tomorrow). @abc3340 pic.twitter.com/dl5mGUZjwy Ashonti Ford (@AshontiFordTV) December 17, 2025 $67 Southwest Tickets Have Restrictions While the sale price is eye-catching, there are limits. Southwest noted that seats, travel days, and routes are restricted, and fares may be higher during busy travel times and holidays. The $67 tickets are basic economy fares, which are nonchangeable and nonrefundable, except under the airline's standard 24-hour cancellation policy, ABC7 reported. Southwest confirmed that basic economy tickets under this promotion do not include checked bag fees, staying consistent with the airline's long-standing baggage policy. However, travelers should expect different experiences depending on when they fly. The airline plans to roll out its new assigned seating policy starting January 27, meaning passengers flying earlier in the sale period may still experience the final days of open seating. The promotion also comes during a period of change for the airline, as it tests new customer features and responds to shifting travel habits. Bain added that while the company jokingly hopes the "6-7" trend fades by the end of 2025, it is watching closely to see if it continues into 2026. Originally published on vcpost.com Individuals bearing the name Freman are often characterized by a strong sense of independence and self-reliance, reflecting the name's etymological roots in freedom and autonomy. They typically exhibit natural leadership qualities, preferring to chart their own course rather than follow established paths. This independent streak is balanced by a deep sense of responsibility and integrity, as their freedom is earned rather than taken, creating individuals who value both personal liberty and social obligation. Freman personalities tend to be resilient and determined, with an innate understanding that true freedom requires discipline and effort. They often demonstrate practical wisdom and problem-solving abilities, approaching challenges with a methodical yet innovative mindset. While they value their autonomy, they are not typically isolationist; rather, they form deep, meaningful relationships based on mutual respect and shared values. Their strength of character often makes them natural advocates for justice and fairness, particularly in situations involving inequality or oppression. A 2001 cold case murder has been closed after a Huron County jury found a Sandusky man guilty of the murder of his ex-wife. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] As News Center 7 previously reported, 50-year-old Paul Hicks was arrested in April on charges connected to the 2001 disappearance of his ex-wife, Regina Rowe Hicks. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement After a two-week trial, Hicks was found guilty on three counts of murder and one count of kidnapping, according to a spokesperson. You cannot outrun your past eventually, as this defendant has learned, your evil catches up to you, said Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. On Oct. 18, 2001, at around 8 p.m., Regina Rowe Hicks left her boyfriends house to pick up her son, but she never arrived. Four days later, on Oct. 22, her car was found in a pond at Section Line Road 30 in Willard with her body inside. Im grateful for the jurys discernment to finally right this wrong, said Yost. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A Brockton man has been charged after one person died, and another is injured, following a serious crash that occurred in Stoughton, the Norfolk District Attorneys Office announced. The crash occurred around 10:40 a.m. on Saturday, when Brockton police were attempting to stop a pick-up truck. A pursuit ensued, which led into Stoughton. The truck then collided with a sedan near the intersection of Pleasant St and Prospect St. As a result of the crash, the driver of the sedan, an 84-year-old Stoughton man, was pronounced deceased. The passenger of the sedan, a 78-year-old Stoughton woman, was transported by Stoughton fire to a local hospital with injuries. Her condition is unknown at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Following the crash, the driver of the pick-up truck, 26-year-old Jason Ortiz of Brockton, fled from the scene but was eventually found by authorities. Ortiz is being charged with the following: motor vehicle homicide leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury leaving the scene of an accident with property damage failing to stop for police Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Norfolk District Attorneys Office, the MSP Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, MSP Crime Scene Services Section, and Stoughton Police are investigating the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Ortiz is scheduled to be arraigned at Stoughton District Court on Monday. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW At least 71 civilians were killed during Operation Narnia, a series of strikes on Iranian nuclear scientists, about which the US was informed before it began. At least 71 civilians were killed by Israeli strikes during Operation Narnia, which was coordinated with the US, according to an investigation conducted by The Washington Post in a Wednesday report, as well as open-source investigative outlet Bellingcat. Operation Narnia consisted of several targeted IDF strikes against multiple nuclear scientists in Iran during the Israel-Iran War. Advertisement Advertisement Despite the extensive preparation and Israeli security officials affirming that all possible measures to limit civilian casualties, the operation was not flawless, The Washington Post wrote. They, as well as Bellingcat, found that one strike killed 10 civilians, including a two-month-old infant. They also confirmed that a strike targeting scientist Mohammed Resa Sedighi Saber hit his home in Tehran while he was absent, killing his 17-year-old son. Saber was later killed along with 15 civilians, including four minors, after returning home for his sons mourning ceremony, The Washington Post stated. Israels Mossad operation to eliminate Iranians top nuclear scientists is named Operation Narnia. (credit: screenshot via X/ section 27a copyright act) President Trump was informed in advance, prepared for IDF strikes Despite reports to the contrary, the US was well informed of Israels plans to strike Iran, the report added. Advertisement Advertisement Citing sources familiar with the matter, the US daily newspaper wrote that while Israeli leadership thought seeking a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear threat would have a beneficial effect on global public opinion, they were concerned President Trump might agree to a bad deal. On June 12, the deadline Trump had given for Iran to agree to a deal, despite US knowledge that Israel had decided to strike, the US leader continued to publicly state that he was unsure that such a strike might happen and that he preferred a diplomatic solution. Even after the operation began, the Trump administration offered what Iran didnt know was their final opportunity to agree to a deal before US firepower joined the campaign. The Washington Post reported that this deal included Iran discontinuing support for Hezbollah and Hamas and replacing all fuel enrichment plants with alternative facilities. A senior diplomat was cited by the newspaper as saying that Iran rejected the proposal shortly after it was offered through Qatari diplomats, and that Trump authorized the US strikes. A Penfield woman was arrested Friday, seven weeks after a 17-year-old boy suffered a serious head injury during a Halloween party where Monroe County sheriff's deputies encountered more than 100 young adults outside her home. Medina Bijelic, 49, on Friday, Dec. 19, was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child and endangering the welfare of a child, all misdemeanors, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Deputies were called to the woman's Penfield home on Oct. 31 several times. On the second visit - around 10:30 p.m., they were called to assist a 17-year-old boy who hit his head and was unconscious. In the first call, deputies were investigating a report that teens were throwing objects at vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Arriving deputies encountered more than 100 underage teens in the front yard and street. Inside the home, they saw "alcohol being consumed inside the home." Teens in the house told the deputies that the injured teens drank half a bottle of vodka and was smoking marijuana before he fell and hit his head. His blood-alcohol level was at .46%, which is more than five times the legal threshold for driving while intoxicated, deputies said. The teen that night was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the Sheriff's Office. He was later released, according to deputies, and is expected to fully recover. "Hosting underage parties with alcohol is dangerous and illegal. This young man could have easily died that night, Sheriff Todd Baxter said in a news release. The amount of alcohol present to allow one of our young adults to rise to that level of intoxication is nothing short of reckless and we will hold those responsible, accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Bijelic is expected to be arraigned on the misdemeanor charges in Penfield Town Court at a later date. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Medina Bijelic charged after teen injured at party in Penfield NY Several area high schools were named winners in PennDOTs annual Paint the Plow contest, which simultaneously highlights safe winter driving and showcases student art. As Channel 11 previously reported, students from 26 area high schools in three districts created artwork on snowplow blades under the theme Dont race. Allow some space. SEE ALL THE LOCAL WINNING DESIGNS In all, the public voted on more than 78 designs from across the state, and PennDOT officials just announced the local fan favorite winning designs: Advertisement Advertisement District 10: Keystone High School of Clarion County District 11: New Brighton Area High Schoolof Beaver County District 12: Yough Senior High School of Westmoreland County Two area schools also nabbed judges pick awards, selected by a panel of PennDOT representatives. In District 11, the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf of Allegheny County earned the recognition. In District 12, Central Westmoreland CTC of Westmoreland County got the award. Judges agreed that both entries stood out for their creativity and connection to the winter safety message. Now, the student-painted plow blades will be put into service on state-owned highways throughout the winter season. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW For many Americans raised in conservative Christian environments, faith once felt like a matter of personal conviction and community not overt political allegiance. But over the past decade, the boundary between belief and ideology has blurred. Adam Gray / Getty Images As religious leaders increasingly endorse candidates from the pulpit and worship music shares space with patriotic anthems, congregations have since fractured over public health measures, immigration, race, and the policing of cultural morality. A viral video by nurse and content creator Jen Hamilton, in which she reads Matthew 25 alongside a critique of MAGA politics, crystallized a conversation that had been percolating for years: When faith and ideology clash, some believers choose to walk away because of their convictions even if it costs them the communities that raised them. One commenter, reflecting on their own experience, wrote, I grew up Catholic but left the church because of the toxic views and opinions on morality. If most Christians were like you, I reckon Id go back. Advertisement Advertisement For many, the shift toward political entanglement has been disorienting, and for some, spiritually devastating. What once felt like a moral home can suddenly feel like a battleground. HuffPost spoke with former followers of MAGA Christianity about their experiences being a part of these communities and why they made the decision to step away from them. Early Lessons On Religion And Nationalism CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images Related: People Can't Stop Laughing At These Federal Agents Trying To Catch A Cyclist After He Yelled "F*ck Trump" Anna Rollins, author of Famished: On Food, Sex, and Growing Up as a Good Girl, recalled a childhood steeped in rules and expectations. Faith was the most important part of my life, she said. Being a good Christian, to me, meant following a lot of written and unwritten rules. Advertisement Advertisement Growing up Southern Baptist, Rollins said that Christianity was presented as nearly inseparable from Republican identity, with patriotic symbols and language woven throughout church life. Faith and freedom were often talked about in the same breath, she said. We often sang patriotic songs in church services, in addition to hymns. Nationalism was tightly woven in with Christianity. While Rollins experience highlights how easily politics and faith can become intertwined, Deirdre Sugiuchis reveals a darker edge of that overlap, where those same forces become controlling and even abusive, shaping a persons sense of safety and survival. Sugiuchi, a Georgia-based writer whose upcoming memoir Unreformed recounts her experience in a white evangelical reform school, illuminates how these pressures can escalate: MAGA Christianity is a cult. I know because I was in it, she said. Leaving isnt easy; it can take everything to break free. In her experience, she had to escape to survive, reflecting that many believers are effectively brainwashed and may not even recognize the influence shaping them. MANDEL NGAN / AFP via Getty Images Im terrified about the merging of politics and Christianity, said Sugiuchi. Over the years, shes spoken about these concerns and fears in essays and interviews. She warns that if people of faith remain silent, others risk being swept into systems of control, citing the rapid expansion of unregulated faith-based organizations and the use of religious freedom claims to undermine civil rights. Advertisement Advertisement And now, as an adult, we have a president whom many equate with God and surprise the White House, and the country, is literally being torn to pieces, she said. If there was one message I received in my formative years when it came to the intersection of faith and politics, it was simply this: Vote Republican. There was no other option, Cara Meredith, author of Church Camp: Bad Skits, Cry Night, and How White Evangelicalism Betrayed a Generation, told HuffPost. If you identified as Christian, you voted for the Republican Party; it was a matter of good and evil, of the side God clearly stood on and the side God clearly did not stand. Many people of faith and the non-religious alike note that whats often called MAGA Christianity isnt simply a political stance; it represents a distinct moral framework one that elevates obedience to authority and nationalism over the traditional Christian values of love, service and community. Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images Related: This Senator Just Shared A Hilarious Plan For Trump's Ballroom After He Leaves Office Critics say this shift subordinates Jesus teachings about caring for the poor, welcoming strangers, and standing with the marginalized to a political-tribal agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Amy Hawk, author of The Judas Effect: How Evangelicals Betrayed Jesus for Power and a self-described ex-vangelical Christ-follower, said Trumps treatment of women went against the ministry I was heading up at the time. I was praying for women who had been assaulted. It made no sense for me to support Trump. For Hawk, the embrace of Trumpism among white evangelicals became too great to ignore, ultimately pushing her family out of the church. Her experience reflects a wider dynamic within evangelical culture, in which political allegiance is often framed as a matter of spiritual fidelity. How The Cracks Started To Form NurPhoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images The same structures that fused faith and politics also created the conditions for deeper questioning, especially for those who turned to their religious texts and lifelong teachings in an attempt to reconcile contradictions. I really started questioning my churchs adherence to nationalism because I read the Bible, Rollins said. Reading Scripture made me see that Christianity was not about aligning oneself with a nation-state. Jesus was killed, in part, because people wanted him to act in [the] service of political movements. Advertisement Advertisement For Sugiuchi, the turning point came after years of trauma rooted in white evangelical extremism. At 15, she was sent to Escuela Caribe, an evangelical reform school, for failing to be a subservient adolescent female. There, she and her peers endured what she describes as near-unimaginable oppression, all justified as being for our own good, in the name of Jesus. That perception shattered in 2005, when she read Julia Scheeres memoir, Jesus Land, which recounted a similar experience at the same school. Horrified, Sugiuchi visited the campus and witnessed attempts to whitewash the abuse. Meeting a parent of a current student, she realized that her silence had contributed to continued harm. By keeping silent, other people were being abused in the name of religion, she says. As a survivor, its the cruelest way to abuse a child. It completely destroys your faith in humanity. With Scheeres help and that of others, Sugiuchi ultimately helped shut the school down. Today, she maintains her own faith practice but has no connection to organized religion. Advertisement Advertisement Even as Sugiuchi reclaimed a private, personal faith, the public face of American Christianity continued to evolve in troubling ways an evolution Tia Levings says can be traced directly to political influence. PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP via Getty Images Related: Mike Pence Revealed Dick Cheney's Reaction To January 6, And It Says A Lot Right now thats close to a perfect circle, she tells HuffPost. Levings calls it a malformation of the word Christianity, since Jesus was neither nationalist nor authoritarian. According to Levings, this distortion has persisted because many modern churches have done little to protect their congregations from nationalist influence, and because authoritarian parenting has shaped family life for over 50 years. The result, she explains, is that the meaning of being a Christian in America has fundamentally changed. Advertisement Advertisement Levings argues that MAGA Christianity is faith-based and built around a narrow evangelical worldview. She points to trauma bonding within churches, unaccountable pastors who accelerated the nationalist turn, generations raised without robust critical thinking skills, and a steady stream of misinformation that reinforces groupthink. Reflecting on why many Americans remain tied to these communities, Rollins said the pull is both ideological and emotional: Some people identify as MAGA because they have been taught that hyper-individualism, nationalism and white supremacy are the same as Christianity and I think this is tragic. But I also think that many people identify as MAGA because they do not feel compelled by the alternative. What Finally Made Them Leave Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images For many, leaving their faith community wasnt a decision made lightly; they wrestled for years with what it meant to remain faithful in a culture where religion and nationalism had become inseparably fused. Leaving costs nearly everything, said Levings. Although that loss may come as a gradual spiral, step by step. The twist is that theres so much hope and determination to live an authentic life that you realize youre worth the fight. Advertisement Advertisement Stepping away was not a rejection of Jesus, but a reclaiming of a faith that felt morally and spiritually coherent. Some experienced a sudden jolt of clarity: A sermon, a social media post, or a heated conversation that forced them to confront their dissonance. For others, the process was a slow erosion: a growing unease with the language of us versus them, a quiet question that eventually became impossible to ignore. My faith was forced to remain static, which made God very finite and small, Levings said. Life, by its very nature, requires growth and so did leaving. Hawk describes the shift as gradual. She never stopped loving Jesus she stopped recognizing him in the spaces that claimed his name. Advertisement Advertisement It started to feel like the church wasnt about faith anymore, she said. It was about fear and control, about who was in and who was out. For white evangelicals, I believe part of the waking up often happens to waking up to bigger issues of justice and privilege i.e., when white folks realize that theirs (which is to say mine) isnt the only story and perspective, Meredith said. Her process of disentanglement took 20 years. Meredith said some people choose to leave over monumental cultural events like the killing of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the insurrection at the Capitol, or the governments response to the COVID-19 crisis in Trumps first term and its current treatment of immigrants. But to me, it doesnt tend to be one big thing, she said, as much as it tends to be a series of lots of little things that make you realize, Hey, somethings not right. Meredith, who is also the author of The Color of Life: A Journey Toward Love and Racial Justice, explained how MAGA-aligned Christianity often reinforces systems that benefit white communities even as many congregants remain unaware of its racial and political implications. While some white evangelicals are beginning to reckon with both racial injustice and the influence of nationalist ideology in their churches, others turn a blind eye, trusting pastors unquestioningly. Merediths journey toward seeing the image of God in everyone underscores how ignoring racial realities, or dismissing progressive woke values from the pulpit, can perpetuate harm and marginalize voices seeking justice within the faith community. Theyre not questioning the influence of tyranny from the pulpit because how or why could a pastor lead them astray? GIORGIO VIERA / AFP via Getty Images Those who spoke to HuffPost cited common triggers for their disengagement: moral dissonance between Gospel ethics and political messaging, political trauma within congregations, concerns about racial and immigrant justice, and a growing loss of trust in church leadership. Hawk observes, In the ten years since Trump came on the scene, I have learned that white evangelical spaces dont follow Jesus as closely as they pretend to. In fact, there has been a mass indoctrination into the Republican Party that looks absolutely nothing like the Christ they claim to serve. I have learned that political power means more to many of them than actual truth. The Exit Costs Of Leaving MAGA Christianity Related: This Trump Supporter Posted A Viral Rant About Their Rising Insurance Bill, And It Completely Backfired SOPA Images / SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Meredith reflects on the consequences of leaving: When youre in, youre in. But when youre out, youre out. Youre cast to the side. She described the loss when the community that once supported you, praying for you, celebrating milestones, dropping off casseroles, watching your kids, just disappears: When that place, and perhaps even more, those people are gone, well, then theres a deep void that happens just not in your soul, but in your calendar and your text messages and your social media apps, too. Some have redefined their faith entirely, keeping what feels authentic and leaving behind what felt performative. Evangelical culture can be wonderful, when its led by truth, by mutual respect and by humility, said Hawk. Others have sought new ways to practice their faith, building communities outside politicized churches. Im still a Christian, Rollins said. I think that Christianity is a beautiful religion that speaks to the problem of evil but also offers hope and grace. I still hold on to a lot of what I learned about Christianity as a child, but Ive certainly deconstructed the prosperity gospel, the perfectionism, the white supremacy and nationalism, and the hyper-individualism that permeates so much of the Western church. Hawk said her faith now, outside of those spaces, is much freer. I dont care what anyone thinks of me, she said. My favorite verse now is Galatians 5:1, which I believe is an indictment against religious structures, rules, and conformance. Rollins hopes the broader church will confront its contradictions: I wish very much that the church would deconstruct nationalism, and would preach not just about personal morality, but about Jesus teachings regarding caring for the poor, the orphans and the foreigners. RUNSTUDIO via Getty Images For those who have left or are thinking about leaving their churches, the question of belonging looms large. Meredith says that the fear of losing that sense of belonging often keeps people tethered to spaces that no longer align with their beliefs. God, the power of belonging is so real, she said. There are two words I write in every copy of Church Camp that I sign: You belong. I desperately want people to believe that they belong not because of membership or participation in a religious institution but simply because theyre human. You belong, because youre human. Thats it. At the same time, Meredith encourages those questioning their faith to explore boldly: Dont be afraid to ask the big questions, to figure out what you really believe, to see if you might find or experience belonging outside of the circle of influence youve always called home. There are other places for you, both in and out of the church, Sugiuchi said. If you need to be part of a church, find a progressive church. Read up on religious trauma. Reach out to people who will support you. Read books like Empty the Pews: Stories of Leaving the Church. Know you are not alone. You can be free. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in In the News: Gavin Newsom's Response To Trump Adding His Name To This Government Building Is Going Viral Also in In the News: "Spreading My Legs And Grinding Up 2 Poles To Own The Libs": 32 Tweets Calling Out The Chaos Of Politics This Week Also in In the News: Donald Trump Hated His Time Magazine Cover... But He'll Probably Hate These 16 Photos Wayyyyyyyyyyyy More Read it on BuzzFeed.com The Rev. Joseph Stanley Jr. has had humanity on his heart lately as he has read and heard about the rapid increase in immigration enforcement in the Columbus area. Pastor of the Greater Twelfth Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus' South Linden neighborhood, Stanley decided to reach out to Ohio Rep. Ismail Mohamed, D-Columbus. Together, the two decided to host a Faith Leaders United press conference on Dec. 20 at Stanley's church on Cleophus Key Boulevard across the street from the Douglas Community Center to make it clear that faith leaders will not stand for what is going on in the community now. Rev. Joseph Stanley, pastor at Greater Twelfth Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus' South Linden neighborhood, speaks at a Faith Leaders United press conference on Dec. 20, at the church, where faith leaders and politicians addressed increased ICE activity in Columbus. The event addressed the increased arrests and enforcement activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and their associated Homeland Security Investigations agents that have been taking place in Columbus since at least Dec. 17, which also prompted responses from city and county officials, advocates and more. Advertisement Advertisement There were an estimated 15 to 20 ICE arrests each day in Columbus on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18, according to immigration attorneys and advocates, social media and news reports. On Dec. 18, an ICE spokesperson said in a statement that enforcement actions are part of "ongoing efforts to uphold public safety and enforce federal immigration laws." However, the agency has not provided specifics about those being arrested except for two men, one from Somalia and one from El Salvador, who have had criminal charges and were on final orders for deportation. On Dec. 19, two men were reported arrested by ICE agents at The Gardens Apartments on the city's Northeast Side, according to video, photos and information provided to The Dispatch. A video reportedly taken by a student Dec. 19 and provided to The Dispatch showed one woman who was identified as the mother of a student at Dublin Scioto High School being arrested by ICE and a second woman who had been speaking up for the first also taken into custody. Advertisement Advertisement The woman arrested has been identified in a GoFundMe account as Leonila Gonzalez. A friend of 18 years was raising money to get her legal representation through an immigration attorney. As of 10 a.m. Dec. 22 they'd raised more than $15,000. 'It is personal': Faith leaders, politicians address ICE activity Present at the press conference were leaders from a variety of faiths; Mohamed; State Sen. Hearcel Craig, D-Columbus; State Rep. Munira Abdullahi, D-Columbus; and State Rep. Latyna Humphrey, D-Columbus. "What we are experiencing right now is not theoretical but it is personal," Stanley told a group of about 60 assembled at the church. He prayed for compassion where there now is only policy. Advertisement Advertisement "We are gathered because members of our community are currently in fear," Stanley said. "As the pastor of a Black Baptist church, I want to be very clear: We are some of the first who should be standing up and locking arms with our brothers and sisters in this moment because this is not the first time we have been here." Advocates, attorneys say ICE activity escalated this week in Columbus Stanley brought up how Black residents know what it's like to be targeted, to be policed differently and, that while he respects the law, he knows everything legal is not always moral. Prior to the event, he said he hoped faith leaders could start a conversation in the community and encourage people to put aside their differences and address the issue humanity is facing. Advertisement Advertisement Mohamed spoke and gave tips to people on how to respond to ICE and also mentioned that many businesses are closed due to this activity and fear. "If we stand up now we can put an end to this," Mohamed said. He mentioned Trump calling Somali people, including an estimated 60,000 living in Columbus, the second-largest population in the U.S., "garbage" earlier this month. Mohamed said Trump's mind can't be changed, but he hopes to change the minds and hearts of residents, neighbors and the public who may not know what to do and could start believing the negative rhetoric. "It's a way to educate," he said of the event. "We're not garbage. We're good, decent Americans who care." Advertisement Advertisement Imam Horsed Noah, outreach director at Abubakar Assidiq Islamic Center, offered a prayer and comments. "We have been chosen by God almighty to stand up and speak truth to power and protect one another," Noah said. Ohio Rep. Ismail Mohamed, D-Columbus, speaks at a Faith Leaders United Press Conference on Dec. 20 where faith leaders and politicians addressed increased ICE activity in Columbus. The Rev. Derrick Holmes, senior pastor at Union Grove Baptist Church, spoke in support of Somali people. "Bigotry and hatred and prejudice will not be tolerated by the city of Columbus," he said. "Equity must never be contingent on ethnicity." Other community activists, faith leaders and politicians also spoke during the event. "Dignity, safety and justice belong to everyone," Stanley said. "Thank you for refusing to let fear have the final word." Anti-ICE protest planned for Saturday afternoon The Columbus Liberation Center also planned a mass meeting to "get ICE out of Columbus" at 4 p.m. on Dec. 20 at 1004 Parsons Ave. Several local organizations and leaders were involved in the event. Advertisement Advertisement Its clear that these ICE attacks, which follow President Donald Trumps despicable comments regarding our Somali neighbors, are meant to cause fear and terror," Olivia Rowland, an organizer with ICE Out of Cbus, said in a statement about the event. "This mass meeting will show that we are united, and we will fight back," Rowland said. "We wont stop until ICE is out of Columbus." Franklin County Commissioners respond Franklin County Commissioners issued a statement on Dec. 19 saying the board was aware of the increased federal immigration presence in recent days. The commissioners' board said they are "dedicated to fostering a welcoming and inclusive community where all individuals feel safe, respected, and valued. "We recognize that some community members may have concerns regarding their interactions with government agencies. Access to the essential services provided by the County will continue to be available to all eligible residents in environments that prioritize safety and security." Advertisement Advertisement The board corrected misinformation about the Franklin County Sheriffs office and said deputies "do not enforce immigration violations and are not involved in any ICE activities in Columbus, nor have they been asked to assist." Franklin County, the commissioners said, "remains committed to building a stronger, more inclusive community. We will continue to work diligently to create an environment where all residents feel valued, respected, and supported." Underserved Communities Reporter Danae King can be reached at dking@dispatch.com or on X at @DanaeKing. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Anti-ICE events hosted Saturday in Columbus after heightened activity The Phoenix Police Department has released new information in a Facebook post regarding a fatal shooting involving an officer. At about 11:24 a.m. on Dec. 7, Phoenix police received a report of an armed man in a neighborhood near 7th Avenue and Beardsley Road, the post said. Several minutes later, a second report was made claiming the armed man was now threatening to shoot someone, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Officers arrived on scene and began searching the area. One officer found the man, identified as Michael Frank Breuer, 75, holding the firearm and took cover behind his patrol car, police said. Despite commands given by the officer to drop the weapon, Breuer continued to walk toward the officer with his gun raised, according to police. The officer then shot him, police said. Body camera footage of the incident showed Breuer sitting down on the sidewalk before aiming his firearm at the officer a second time, according to the Facebook post. The officer fired his weapon again, separating Breuer from the gun. The officer then detained the man, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Breuer was taken to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries, police confirmed. Investigators later determined that Breuer had made both reports to police, according to the Facebook post. This incident was being investigated by the major incident division of the Department of Public Safety and will be reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. Additionally, an administrative investigation conducted by the Phoenix Police Department will determine whether the actions of the officers were consistent with department policy and the law, the Facebook post added. A Phoenix Police Department online dashboard reported 16 shootings by officers this year. Additionally, there have been at least 73 police shootings in Maricopa County so far in 2025. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix police shoot, kill man they say pointed gun at officer Residents of a neighborhood in Singapore are on high alert after a venomous snake was spotted in a playground. What's happening? According to Must Share News, the scaly interloper was found in a children's play area in Sembawang, a suburban town in Singapore's north region. It was identified as a black spitting cobra (Naja sumatrana), not to be mistaken for its similarly-named cousin, the black-necked spitting cobra (Naja nigricollis). Photo Credit: Facebook The sighting was reported to the authorities, but the animal had slithered away before it could be safely removed from the park. Residents were concerned about the danger the snake could have posed to children. Some were also worried about the park's cats and those who feed the stray felines. Advertisement Advertisement Chelsia Lee, who shared the images on social media covered by Must Share News, told the outlet, "I hope feeders will be more alert during this period when most snakes are likely to come out to seek warmth from the cold weather." Why is this concerning? Also known as the Equatorial spitting cobra, the snake is known for its primary defense mechanism: spitting venom into the eyes of attackers. Some species can hit their mark from a range of two meters with startling accuracy, so it's definitely not a good idea to get too close. However, the main danger comes from its bite. While fatalities are extremely rare, they have occurred, and those with underlying health issues are at greater risk. As development expands, with construction often pushing into green spaces, human-wildlife conflicts are more likely to occur. Moreover, as natural habitats are destroyed and food and water become scarcer, previously unobserved species may be forced into residential areas. What can be done? In most instances, and certainly with the black spitting cobra, the animals don't truly mean any harm to people and will only attack if they feel threatened. Indeed, snakes can play an important role in controlling rodent populations and reducing the spread of vector-borne diseases. Advertisement Advertisement It's typically a matter of raising awareness and informing loved ones about sensible precautions to take in an urban wildlife encounter. In the vast majority of cases, simply keeping your distance and being aware of your surroundings is more than enough to stay safe. 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. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. An airplane had a fiery landing in the northbound lanes of U.S. 65 past Valley Water Mill Road in Greene County this afternoon Saturday, Dec. 20, just north of Springfield. First responders were extinguishing flames from the aircraft at around 1:30 p.m, with reports of the crash coming in at roughly around the top of the hour. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a pilot made an off-field landing. There were no injuries were reported. Advertisement Advertisement MSHP Sergeant Mike McClure said the private plane was originally going to make an emergency landing at the downtown Springfield airport. A witness on scene told Ozarks First he saw occupants exit the aircraft after the crash. McClure said it appears engine trouble was the cause of the emergency landing. During the crash landing, the planes landing gear and the left wing were damaged. Flight records say the four-seat plane a 2008 Cirrus Design Corp SR-22 departed Memphis, Tennessee, and was enroute to Olathe, Kansas. Watch the video above to see first responders at the scene. More information will be provided as it becomes available. Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. Individuals named Giollabrighde are typically characterized by a deep sense of dedication, intellectual curiosity, and cultural awareness. The name suggests someone who is thoughtful and contemplative, often displaying patience for detailed work and a natural inclination toward learning and preservation. There's a strong element of service in their personalitythey tend to be reliable, loyal, and committed to their principles and communities. The historical association with scholars and monks indicates a personality that values wisdom, tradition, and the quiet pursuit of knowledge over more flamboyant achievements. This name also implies a bridge-building personalitysomeone who can connect different perspectives or traditions, much like the name itself bridges ancient Celtic and Christian influences. They often possess a quiet confidence and inner strength that doesn't need external validation. The connection to Saint Bridget suggests creative potential, particularly in areas like writing, teaching, or craftsmanship. There's often a nurturing quality to their character, combined with practical wisdom and the ability to provide guidance to others. While they may be reserved in large groups, they form deep, meaningful relationships and are often respected for their integrity and depth of character. The combination of service and devotion in the name's meaning creates a personality profile of someone who finds fulfillment in supporting others while maintaining strong personal convictions and cultural roots. Atlanta PD confirms two people were shot, prompting a police investigation on Interstate 285 South that has blocked two lanes of traffic near Cascade Road on Saturday evening. A police spokesperson said a male and a female sustained apparent gunshot wounds, but both were alert, conscious and breathing. They were both taken to the hospital for treatment. APD didnt disclose additional information about the victims, a possible suspect or the circumstances behind the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement The partial closure began a little after 5 p.m. A Channel 2 Action News photographer saw police cruisers at the scene after 6 p.m. A car with what appeared to be bullet holes in the windshield was seen on the side of the road amid the police response. The lane closure ended sometime after 9:30 p.m. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Police are investigating a shooting in Dayton Friday night. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Around 6 p.m. Dayton police and medics were called to the first block of Warder Street for reports of a person shot, according to a Montgomery County Regional Dispatch supervisor. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Information was not immediately available about the condition of the person shot. Police left the scene without confirming any additional information to News Center 7. We will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Credit: TikTok/kosmonavt_donbassa/cupuyc_kupull/elizabethcherv Elizaveta Chervyakova poses in front of a high-rise building in occupied Mariupol that is being rebuilt into a block of luxury apartments. She ignores the fact that the building was once home to hundreds of Ukrainians before it was obliterated by Russian bombs during Moscows three-month siege in 2022. As a strategic stronghold, Mariupol was heavily bombarded by Russian forces in 2022 - (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka In videos that garner thousands of views, the 21-year-old blogger paints a rosy picture of the coastal city returning to life as part of a Putin-era mega project of magical new apartment complexes, shopping centres and neighbourhoods. Advertisement Advertisement In an interview, Ms Chervyakova insists that the Russian-occupied city is not a ghost town and that she wants to dispel any myths that it is not a good place to live. But a Telegraph investigation has found she is one of a growing number of social media influencers who are becoming increasingly key to a co-ordinated Kremlin-led propaganda campaign to promote the Russification of the city and of life flourishing under Russian rule. Elizaveta Chervyakova says she wants to dispel any myths that Mariupol is not a good place to live - Instagram Moscows 85-day offensive against the city on the Sea of Azov killed between 20,000 and 88,000 civilians and damaged or destroyed 90 per cent of the citys residential buildings. Hundreds of thousands of people fled, leaving just 100,000 of its original residents. Since then, Moscow has poured billions of roubles into remaking the city in a Russian mould by 2025, a plan significantly behind schedule as a result of the scale of devastation its military inflicted. The local influencers are key to pumping out positive updates and pro-Kremlin narratives. Advertisement Advertisement Four influencers living in Mariupol explained how their aim was to show Vladimir Putins amazing development of the city and dismissed accusations of them being propagandists, instead presenting themselves as truth tellers. It is unclear if all the influencers receive direct funding or guidance from Russian authorities. None of those interviewed would discuss such a link. One blogger, Kirill Sazonov, is accused of selling properties that belong to Ukrainians who fled the war, a claim that he strongly denies. The houses he tries to sell are often older and found in poorer, run-down districts, clearly distinct from the new developments. Credit: TikTok/cupuyc_kupull Advertisement Advertisement Mr Sazonov, 37, originally from Donetsk, said the real estate business was good, growing gradually. Shrugging off the criticism he receives online, he said: If Im making videos, if Im popular, of course theres hate. The influencers fail to mention why the city needs to be rebuilt or the dire conditions the residents living under Russian occupation face. The remaining Ukrainians suffer from a chronic housing shortage, a collapsed medical system, a persistent water crisis and the absence of critical workers. b' 1912 Mariupol damage ' In her videos, Ms Chervyakova is determinedly upbeat and admiring of the changes the new city administration is making. Advertisement Advertisement The city is developing, she said. It has its challenges, but so does every cityYes, there are still some buildings that are still destroyed that spoil the view. As part of his mega project in Mariupol, Putin signed a decree in late November instructing officials to use media and internet resources, including social networks, video hosting sites, instant messengers and blogs to disseminate content aimed at strengthening civil unity in the occupied territories. The new blogging schools, opening across occupied territories that have the clear patronage of Russian-installed administrations, appear to be a result of this. The Donbass Media Center (DMC) opened a blogging school in Mariupol in September 2024, following similar schemes in the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk and later Melitopol. It offers free two-week courses for those aged 16-25 on how to build an audience on Russian platforms. Ms Chervyakova is a graduate. Advertisement Advertisement One of its instructors is Pavel Karbovsky, 24, who is known as Donbas Cosmonaut online. He has racked up millions of views online encouraging people to visit the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic, portraying Mariupol as a beach, food and clubbing destination. Pavel Karbovsky encourages people to visit the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic Mr Karbovsky, who grew up in Donetsk region, said his aim was to show the citys amazing development. He unequivocally states in his videos that Mariupol and Donetsk are part of Russia. Through his work at the DMC, a lot of talented kids have emerged thanks to us we taught them how to film, how to create great content, he told The Telegraph. Mr Karbovsky said he did not know whether it was funded by the Russian government but it would be cool if it was. His name appears on Ukraines unofficial database of enemies of the state accused of colluding with Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement The organisation that runs the DMC is partnered with Russia Land of Opportunities, a Kremlin-funded presidential programme that invests in bloggers throughout Russia and the new regions. Its 2025 winner was Irina Mishina, a pro-Russia blogger from occupied Luhansk, who said her goal was to show real life of our republic: not through politics or conflicts, but through peoples stories, through the revival of our cities, and through the eyes of our youth. Mr Sazonov, who also has ties to the DMC, has tens of thousands of followers and posts about reconstruction efforts in Mariupol and encourages Russians to invest in real estate. Credit: Telegram/cupuyc_kupull Advertisement Advertisement He posted videos from inside and outside a property believed to have belonged to Ukrainians who fled during their siege. Their belongings, including paintings on the walls and furniture, remain. The United Nations estimates that out of 38,000 homes identified as abandoned in the occupied territories, nearly 12,800 are in Mariupol. Experts argue that the overall goal is to seize the homes in order to facilitate the transfer of Russian citizens to the captured cities and towns. But behind the Potemkin facade, exiled city officials and human rights groups argue that just like the fake villages once built to impress Catherine the Great, it is little more than a propaganda exercise. b' Mariupol theatre ' The Mariupol Theatre was reduced to rubble following Russian shelling - Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters Elina Beketova, a fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), whose research focuses on occupied territories, said: All the bloggers appear to have been given the same task to emphasise the redevelopment work Russia is doing. Advertisement Advertisement The same information circulates on social media channels and it looks like the same co-ordinated effort to show how much better it is to live under Russian control than Ukrainian. Petro Andriushchenko, a former adviser to the Ukrainian mayor of Mariupol and the head of the Centre for the Study of the Occupation, said the overwhelming culture of surveillance in the occupied territories meant it is impossible to tell the truth in public. People think they are seeing independent opinions from bloggers on social media channels, but its impossible to be independent, he told The Telegraph. Every single person making content, blogs, vlogs, from the occupied territories is somebody under Russian control, he added, arguing that if they were not, they would be quickly detained or brought to heel. Advertisement Advertisement According to Yulia Gorbunova, a senior Ukraine researcher at Human Rights Watch, the social media campaign is part-and-parcel of Russian propaganda efforts to erase Ukraines history, replace its art, language and historical landmarks, and influence the young. The fabric of the city now twinned with St Petersburg has been fundamentally redesigned in a deliberate attempt to Russify Mariupol and its residents, she said. An apartment building, built since the invasion, bears a huge mural of a girl wearing the colours of the Russian flag - STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images Streets have been renamed, monuments removed, the tricolour flag drapes from buildings, only Russian-speaking television is shown, number plates have been changed and the Russian curriculum imposed on schools. On top of that, there is a whole range of occupation-related abuses, Ms Gorbunova said, including illegal home seizures, unlawful conscription of civilians into the Russian military, coercing remaining residents to obtain a Russian passport and the indoctrination, militarisation and deportation of children. Several months after capturing the city, Moscow produced a master plan for the city, which was widely discovered to be plagiarised from an outdated Ukrainian plan for 2016 and ignored the city-wide destruction caused by the Russian bombardment. Critics argued that it focused on just regeneration in the historic city centre and the Azovstal steelworks, instead of the levelled residential districts, where most lost their homes. Literally everything in the city is being updated from the master plan to the dog shelter, from transportation to bus stops, from the theatre to city parks and beaches, the statement said. Analysts have argued that this is not a long-term development plan but something more sinister: an attempt to pave over essential evidence of alleged war crimes. In 2024, a Human Rights Watch report said Russias refusal to allow independent investigators into the city before demolishing large swaths of it effectively erased the physical evidence at hundreds of potential crime scenes across the city. Dancing on the bones of murdered people But there are other long-term goals at play, indicated by the endless billboards advertising the city as a relocation destination and the incentives of cheap mortgage rates and higher salaries for Russian citizens. So far, analysts believe more than 50,000 Russians have relocated there, with the aim of pushing out Ukrainian residents. As Christmas approaches, many of the social media influencers have been showing redeveloped parts of the city lit up by festive displays. A 14-metre tree, drenched in lights, stands outside the new Mariupol Drama Theatre. They do not mention that it was rebuilt after being destroyed by two Russian bombs in 2022, killing an estimated 600 sheltering civilians. It remains one of if not the worst single atrocity of the entire war. Mariupols exiled city council said Russia was trying to restore the imaginary normality of life through attention to the holidays. It accused the occupying authorities of dancing and singing on the bones of the murdered people of Mariupol in a statement on Telegram. However, local Mariupol residents remember the truth, it added. Additional reporting by Lily Shanagher Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays. A woman whose dismembered remains were found decomposing in a bag by the side of a Queens highway went missing months before a city worker discovered her body, her cousin said in an exclusive interview with the Daily News. Christina Purdie, 27, was last seen alive at the end of May, more than two months before a city Department of Transportation worker found a bag containing her remains on the side of the Jackie Robinson Parkway near Vermont Place on Aug. 6, her cousin said. The citys medical examiner stated Christinas cause of death as homicidal violence, a ruling that indicates investigators believe she was murdered, but cannot determine how. Advertisement Advertisement Thank God that DOT worker found her on his route, said Geneva Purdie, 41. If he hadnt gone that way, she wouldnt have been found and wed still be asking, Where is she? Whats going on?' The mystery of Christinas disappearance ended in late August, when her family recognized the victims distinctive rose tattoo and jewelry from photos featured in news reports about the discovery of her remains, Geneva said. She was missing for two months. We were searching, asking everyone, the victims cousin told The News. When the newspaper article came out, they had posted her tattoo and her jewelry. We put the puzzle together. But knowing Christinas fate has brought little peace to her family, who still lack any insight into why the young woman was killed, how she died, or who took her life. Advertisement Advertisement We have no closure, Geneva said. We dont know if this is a serial killer or someone that was very close to her. (Is her killer) close to a family member? (Does her killer have) a target against the family? We have no closure and its frightening. Its scary, its heartbreaking. Geneva said her cousins life began to unravel after the death of her father, who succumbed to COVID in 2022, and she began working either as an escort or an exotic dancer. We were never OK with that, Geneva said. We were always telling her, You need get out of that business.' Advertisement Advertisement The young woman was living in a Brooklyn homeless shelter before she disappeared. Geneva said she had no idea her cousin was living in a shelter until after she died. All she had to do was reach out to me, Geneva said. Its like she slipped through the cracks and were trying to understand how. Toward the end of her life, Christina appeared to be turning things around, obtaining work as a home health attendant and applying for Section 8 housing, her cousin said. I think she was still doing that whole selling of her body and then she started working in home care, said Geneva. It was her way of getting out of that previous life she had had. Advertisement Advertisement Then Christina disappeared just days before her 27th birthday, Geneva said. Her birthday was around that time. Her mom posted on the computer, Hey if anyone knows where my daughter is, let her know happy birthday. She was so young. She was just starting her life. Its completely unfair that someone did this and took her life from her like it had no value. With Emma Seiwell and Thomas Tracy A Kentucky congressman said the Department of Justice's Dec. 19 release of some, but not all, of the Epstein files "grossly fails" to satisfy the law he co-authored. In a series of tweets on Dec. 19 and 20, U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie critiqued the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files. He suggested Attorney General Pam Bondi could face conviction for not releasing all records, echoing a sentiment of frustration expressed by his co-author of the law, Ro Khanna, D-California. In a repost of a video by Khanna, Massie said: "Unfortunately, todays document release by @AGPamBondi and @DAGToddBlanche grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law that @realDonaldTrump signed just 30 days ago." Unfortunately, todays document release by @AGPamBondi and @DAGToddBlanche grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law that @realDonaldTrump signed just 30 days ago. @RepRoKhanna is correct. https://t.co/gZQyQBUT4R Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 19, 2025 Massie also took a shot at Vice President JD Vance by reposting a four-year-old tweet where Vance advocated for the release of all the files. Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ's current release is apparent violation of a law, according to USA Today. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told Fox News on Friday morning he expects to release several hundred thousand more documents over the next couple of weeks. The law passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump mandated the wholesale release of all unclassified records, documents, communications and investigative materials related to Epstein in the Justice Department's possession within a 30-day period, which expires Dec. 19. I miss this version of JD Vance. https://t.co/iJCmypv5iW Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 20, 2025 The Massie-Trump public feud Massie who represents Kentucky's 4th District that covers much of Northern Kentucky and Trump have had an on-and-off feud over the years, which seemed to flip permanently on after Trump took office again in January. Trump has publicly called for Massie's ouster and is backing Republican Ed Gallrein in the GOP primary against Massie. Advertisement Advertisement Massie led the charge to publicly release the files. He side-stepped Republican leadership with a discharge petition that received its final signature Nov. 12. He also recently condemned Trump over his comments after the death of acclaimed director and actor Rob Reiner. "Regardless of how you felt about Rob Reiner, this is inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered," Massie said on social media. "I challenge anyone to defend it," he added. Enquirer reporter Jolene Almendarez contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie rips release, redaction of Epstein files Newly released police records provide insight into a chaotic domestic dispute between the Monroe Township fire chief and his wife and child. Gregory Lang, 43, was arrested and charged with two counts of domestic assault after police said he struck his wife and daughter on Dec. 3. The police records indicate Lang was at the New Richmond home of a 21-year-old fire department employee when a sprawling fight broke out between him, his wife, one of his children and the employee. Advertisement Advertisement Monroe Townships' three trustees did not immediately respond to emails regarding Lang's employment status or internal discipline. He is still listed as the fire chief, according to a township website. Monroe Township fire chief arrested: What happened? Lang was at the employee's home the night he was arrested, according to records from the New Richmond Police Department. She told police she was allowing her boss to stay there because he was having marriage problems. Lang's wife drove to the employee's home after checking her husband's location using an app, the report stated. She said she went to the home to confront Lang for cheating. Her two daughters also accompanied her. Lang's wife approached the front door with one of her daughters and when the employee opened it, a fight broke out between the two, according to the report. It is unclear how the wife entered the home, as an officer wrote that everyone's statements "conflicted greatly." Advertisement Advertisement "Everyone just started fighting," Lang's other daughter told police. She witnessed the fight from the car. As Lang's wife and the employee were fighting, police said the employee's dog bit the wife on the wrist and on the back of the leg. It also bit the daughter who accompanied the wife to the door. Lang stepped in and began grappling with his wife ended up on the floor of the home. The 15-year-old daughter who went with the Lang's wife to the front door told police she intervened because she saw her mom being choked by her dad. As she got involved, police said he slapped her open-handed across the face. Advertisement Advertisement Lang admitted the slap to officers, according to the report. He said he hit his daughter after she slapped him five times as he grappled with his wife. "She said he has 'severe anger issues' and two weeks ago cocked back his fist like he was going to punch her," according to an officer's summary of a conversation with the 15-year-old daughter. "She then said that her dad had punched a hole in the wall at work and said that he gets in her face and her mom's face and screams at them." The girl told an officer she thought Lang was trying to hurt her and her mom as they grappled. Lang did not have any anger-related work issues, according to a review of his personnel file. Advertisement Advertisement Lang's attorney, William Rapp, said he had no comment but noted the court previously modified Lang's no-contact order to allow him to be present with his wife and daughter at their request. He is set to next appear in court on Dec. 30 at 9:30 a.m. No charges have been filed against Lang's wife, the employee or anyone else involved as of Dec. 20. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Report shed lights on domestic dispute with Monroe Township fire chief By Nathan Layne Dec 20 (Reuters) - Extensive redactions and the limited number of documents released related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein angered some Republicans and did little to defuse a scandal threatening the party ahead of 2026 midterm elections. The Trump administration touted this week's release of a cache of Epstein-related files as a show of transparency, but a handful of Republican lawmakers and right-wing media figures joined Democrats in blasting Friday's disclosures as inadequate and possibly in violation of a law that prompted their release. Advertisement Advertisement While the criticism fell short of a broader party backlash, it underscored that the Epstein controversy was far from being put to rest and was likely to linger into next year, when Republicans will be fighting to keep control of Congress. The release of files, starting Friday and followed by a second, much smaller batch released Saturday, is intended to comply with a bipartisan law passed by Congress in November that mandated the disclosure of all Epstein files held by the Justice Department, despite a months-long effort to keep them sealed by U.S. President Donald Trump, who once counted Epstein as a close friend. The new disclosure represented only a fraction of the total data the FBI and Justice Department have said they possess related to Epstein and was heavily redacted, including several documents or 100 pages or more that were entirely blacked out. Also notable was the dearth of references to Trump, who had a well-publicized friendship with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s. Instead, the released files extensively featured former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat and political foe. Advertisement Advertisement ADDING TO CONTROVERSY Brian Darling, a Republican strategist and former Senate aide, said the limited disclosures would fuel conspiracy theories about Epstein as well as legitimate transparency concerns, potentially dampening turnout among Trump voters. "The heavily redacted disclosures of the Epstein documents added more fuel to the fire of controversy," Darling said. "This remains a political risk for all Republicans in swing seats going into the midterms." The U.S. Justice Department on Friday released some 300,000 pages of documents, photos, and other materials from the government's investigations into Epstein, who died by suicide in a jail cell in 2019 as he faced federal charges of sex trafficking of minors. Advertisement Advertisement The wealthy financier's history of hobnobbing with prominent figures has fueled speculation about whether anyone in his social circle was involved with his alleged sexual activity. One person, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, has been convicted on Epstein-related charges to date. The Epstein scandal resonates with much of Trump's base because it reinforces their belief in a corrupt establishment often labeled the "Deep State" willing to protect itself at all costs, a narrative Trump has repeatedly promoted. Rachel Blum, a political science professor at the University of Oklahoma, said the lack of fuller disclosures could erode support among some Trump backers, including young men who swung to him in 2024 in part over their distrust of government. "He's at risk of becoming the Deep State," Blum said. "I think this has the potential to damage his credibility more than a lot of the other scandals he's gone through." Advertisement Advertisement 'PEOPLE ARE RAGING AND WALKING AWAY,' MTG SAYS The Justice Department's initial disclosure fell short of the law's mandate that all investigative files involving Epstein be released by Dec. 19. The law allowed for records to be withheld or redacted if the information posed a threat to national security or identified victims of sexual abuse. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Friday that the deadline was missed due to the massive volume of data and the need for careful redactions to protect victims. He promised to release more files "over the next couple of weeks." Democrats criticized the administration for not releasing all the files and for the extensive redactions. Representative Ro Khanna of California, who co-authored the law requiring full disclosure, floated possible impeachment of Blanche and Attorney General Pam Bondi over the failure to release the files on time. Advertisement Advertisement Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky who worked with Khanna on the legislation, said he, too, believed that Bondi was in violation of the law, warning in a post to X that she and others could face criminal charges in the future when the Justice Department was in Democratic hands. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a House Republican who split with Trump last month over her efforts to compel disclosure of the Epstein files, cited the failure to release all the documents as well as the heavy redactions as among actions she considered inconsistent with Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. "People are raging and walking away," she wrote on X. Some conservative commentators also criticized the Justice Department's decision not to disclose more. Advertisement Advertisement Kyle Seraphin, a right-wing podcaster and former FBI agent, reposted an old X post by Bondi praising the Trump administration as the most transparent in history, saying, One gets the feeling that this is tongue-in-cheek at this point Owen Shroyer, a podcaster who was pardoned by Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol but has since become a critic of the president, said he believed the Justice Department was intentionally slow-walking disclosures. "They covered up the Epstein Files. No other way to put it now," Shroyer wrote on X after Friday's release. (Reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut; Editing by Sergio Non and Nick Zieminski) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s long-heralded food stamp reform is coming Jan. 1, but everyone's confused about how to implement it. Eighteen states have adopted restrictions on using food aid to purchase soda and other processed foods, prompted by the Health secretarys Make America Healthy Again agenda. The bans vary widely from state to state, and the absence of detailed guidance has left local officials, retailers and participants of the nations largest anti-hunger initiative struggling to determine which foods are still allowed. The Agriculture Department, which runs the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and oversees states plans, has yet to offer definitive enforcement guidelines and did not give a timeline on when it would provide guidance on the bans. Some states have already announced implementation delays amid a rush to define whats banned. Advertisement Advertisement Its just a classic government operation where theyve thrown this out there, and well-meaning though they may be, it's caused mass confusion, and it's making some retailers question whether they're going to stay with the program or not, said Joe Lackey, president of the Indiana Grocery and Convenience Store Association. Kennedys push for SNAP restrictions has won support from members of both parties and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. But the bans are expected to place a heavy burden on retailers and local economies already bracing for other changes to the nutrition program that serves 40 million Americans. Retailers could be required to ban as many as 120,000 food and drink items depending on the state, according to an estimate from the National Grocers Association. That could impose hundreds of millions of dollars in compliance costs for retailers each year, because the lists must be continually updated as manufacturers introduce new products and propose reformulations, said Stephanie Johnson, NGAs vice president of government relations and political affairs. There is little uniformity across the 18 states that have received waivers with respect to the products that will soon be SNAP-ineligible, said Olsson Frank Weeda principal Stewart Fried, whose firm represents retailers on SNAP issues at USDA and federal courts. Failure to comply could lead to at least a six-month disqualification of the store from SNAP for selling as few as one SNAP-ineligible item. Advertisement Advertisement On the flip side, interpreting the waivers too broadly banning too many items could also be termed discrimination against SNAP participants, which USDA also prohibits. Among the questions retailers are struggling to answer: Is a Gatorade a soda? Are granola bars candy? What about chocolate in the baking aisle versus chocolate in the candy aisle? Retailers are anxious about having to police what food aid participants buy and worrying that families will be embarrassed or angry when they discover what items they can no longer purchase with their benefits. "It is going to be such a nightmare for both the recipients to plan around this, but then also for these cashiers, said Gina Plata-Nino, interim SNAP director at the Food Research and Action Center. She also noted there have been few efforts to educate participants about the new restrictions. Advertisement Advertisement Staffing shortages at USDAs nutrition agency resulting from the Trump administrations layoffs and deferred resignation program and the departments out-of-date website have made it more difficult for companies and retailers to get answers about enforcement. The Department remains available to provide technical assistance and support, will issue guidance as appropriate, and looks forward to the commencement of some of these waivers in the coming weeks and months, USDA spokesperson Alec Varsamis said in a statement. Utah, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, West Virginia and Louisiana will implement bans in January, with more to follow in 2026. Oklahoma is the only state that has released an itemized list of foods that no longer qualify. Indiana, whose waiver takes effect Jan. 1, released charts about items that are banned just this week, including Gatorade, which is produced in the state. But Lackey says even that list has left questions. Advertisement Advertisement As retailers scramble to code their computers correctly to comply, a third-party company, NielsenIQ, confirmed it has begun selling a list of qualifying items to retailers, though its unclear if that list will meet USDAs standards. Some other states have sent letters to SNAP beneficiaries about the changes but even these offered scant details, according to copies obtained by POLITICO. Starting January 1, 2026, certain types of foods will no longer be eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits, reads a letter sent to Iowa SNAP households. This change is to make sure that the SNAP purchases meet the purpose of the program: extending your familys grocery budget so you can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being. The letter lists soda, including those with 50 percent less fruit or vegetable juice as well as candy, candy-coated items and chewing gum as ineligible. But the letter directs participants to another state agency or independent counsel for definitive guidance. Advertisement Advertisement In Utah, where the states waiver is narrowly tailored to limit soft drinks, retailers have had an easier time preparing for Jan. 1, said Dave Davis, president of the Utah Food Industry Association. Still, he acknowledged the bans will be a surprise for some participants next month, most of whom are likely to find out at the cash register in the absence of any vigorous education campaign. The changes come as retailers are preparing to implement a significant overhaul in stocking requirements to comply with a new Trump administration rule mandating that authorized SNAP retailers offer more food options. And the bans are set to take effect at a time when grocery stores and states are reeling from the aftershocks of the temporary pause in SNAP benefits during the government shutdown as well as sweeping cuts enacted as part of Republicans tax-and-spending law that are expected to cut millions of people from the program. Smaller retailers, such as convenience stores or gas stations, may opt out of SNAP altogether, explained Margaret Mannion, a lobbyist for the National Association of Convenience Stores. That could exacerbate food deserts in rural areas where a full-service grocery store may be 40 miles or more away. Advertisement Advertisement Roughly half of NACS members stores are operated by a single person who runs the cash register, handles bookkeeping and will be responsible for implementing the waivers. But Mannion said their members are in the dark about the new food bans. Are we going to get fined or get our license taken away? she said. Theres a whole lot of confusion. Nutrition experts disagree on how effective the waivers will be at achieving Kennedys stated goal of lowering rates of chronic disease. Some argue that it could help cut down on junk-food purchases, especially soda, but that it hinges on strong efficacy evaluation. Some point out that because SNAP is supplemental, participants will just use other money to buy soda or processed foods . Still others say banning certain foods from SNAP is illegal and may further stigmatize the program. Anti-hunger advocates are also worried that most states dont have a good method to evaluate whether the bans are working a required component of any approved waiver. [USDA] just haphazard approved this to get this out as a way to weaken the reach and the accessibility of the SNAP program and they dressed it up in sheeps clothing to say this is about health, said FRACs Plata-Nino, noting that several states said they planned to evaluate effectiveness of the bans using a federal nutrition education program known as SNAP-Ed that was defunded in Republicans tax-and-spending package. ZURICH, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Deals between pharmaceutical companies and Washington to reduce prices for medicines in the United States will likely push up the cost of new drugs in Switzerland, the CEO of Swiss pharma giant Roche was quoted as saying on Saturday. Under the deals announced on Friday, drugmakers including Roche's U.S. unit Genentech will slash prices on drugs sold to the U.S. Medicaid program for low-income people. The White House said the accords meant other countries could no longer use price controls to take advantage of U.S. innovation, and in an interview with Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, Roche CEO Thomas Schinecker said Washington's aim was for other wealthy nations to contribute more to innovation. Advertisement Advertisement Schinecker said the U.S. would look at the economic strength of other countries in determining where prices should be. If a country's gross domestic product per capita is above that of the United States, Washington would expect the price of medicines to be higher in line with greater prosperity, he said. This would not initially impact Switzerland, because drugs already available would not become more expensive, Schinecker said. But future prices would follow this system, he added. "For Switzerland, this would mean more; for Italy, less than in the U.S. All economies would make a relatively comparable contribution to investments needed for developing new therapies. Prices won't change overnight, but I'd expect it to happen gradually with each new launch over the coming years," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Swiss politicians have raised concerns about the prospect of medicine prices rising, but the pharmaceutical industry is a major driver of exports, employment and tax revenues. If Switzerland resisted putting up prices for new medicines, there could be knock-on effects, Schinecker noted. "Unfortunately, this would likely lead to further delays in introducing new medicines," he said. Denmark, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan, Canada and Switzerland are being used as reference points for U.S. drug pricing and Schinecker said Roche was in discussions with these countries. He also said he expected the pricing issue to feature in talks between Bern and Washington to formalise an agreement struck in November to lower U.S. tariffs on Switzerland. Advertisement Advertisement According to World Bank data, Swiss GDP per capita is higher than that of the United States when measured in both current U.S. dollar terms and the Purchasing Power Parity method. (Reporting by Dave Graham) Cultural & Historical Significance Hafthah occupies a significant place in Islamic cultural heritage, with its roots deeply embedded in the concept of preservation and protection. The name gained historical prominence through Hafsa bint Umar, one of the 'Mothers of the Believers' and wife of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Her most notable contribution was serving as the custodian of the first compiled Quran manuscript after her father Umar ibn al-Khattab's death, making her a living symbol of religious preservation. This historical association elevates the name beyond mere nomenclature to represent the vital Islamic duty of safeguarding revelation and tradition. Across Muslim societies, the name Hafthah embodies the cultural value placed on women as preservers of religious knowledge, family heritage, and moral values. In many traditional communities, women named Hafthah are often expected to carry forward the responsibility of maintaining religious practices and cultural rituals within the household. The name reflects the Islamic emphasis on 'hifdh al-'ilm' (preservation of knowledge) and 'hifdh al-nasl' (preservation of lineage). Contemporary Muslim parents who choose this name often do so to instill in their daughters the qualities of responsibility, trustworthiness, and the important role women play in cultural continuity and spiritual safeguarding. Rogers County made progress this past week on two long-term projects: its new annex building and its Better Together resource app. In a Dec. 12 special meeting, the commissioners approved a preliminary design layout and cost proposal for the annex building at 2020 Holly Road. The following Monday, they signed a license agreement with Apple so it can carry the Better Together app still in development in its digital store. The building, to be known as the Rogers County Annex, used to house an Oklahoma Department of Human Services office. DHS vacated the Holly Road building and moved into a new facility on Blue Starr Drive last July. Advertisement Advertisement In March, Rogers County bought the building from H&P Construction Inc. for just over $1.3 million. The county is working with two companies architect firm BKL and construction manager Lyle Building Group to move three county departments from the courthouse to the annex. "I don't think there's another building in Claremore that has that much square footage 22,400 square feet in that," said District 3 Commissioner Ron Burrows. "So, it came along at the right time, I believe. With that, [BKL] has been working diligently to meet the needs and expectations of planning, OSU Extension and the election board." BKL's senior interior architect, Connie Weber, brought to the special meeting a preliminary floor plan for the annex. According to the plan, the Rogers County Election Board will occupy nearly all of the west half of the rectangular building. Weber said just half of the building gives the election board 75% more space than it has in its building at 415 W. First St. Advertisement Advertisement The primary road-facing entrance opens into a long hallway; Weber said the entrance hall falls under the proposed election board zone so people have more room to queue inside when they come to vote early. "In the last election, [the election board] had a canopy out in the road, and a lot of people were undercover or in the elements," Burrows said. "This would at least put more people in the building." The Rogers County Planning Commission and Oklahoma State University Extension office will split the east half of the annex. Weber said each department will get its own entrance on the east side of the building. She said in the annex, both departments will have triple the space they have now. Advertisement Advertisement BKL reserved a small rectangle in the center of the building not for one of the tenants, but for the HVAC system and storage space for maintenance equipment. The commissioners voted in November to spend $35,000 to transfer the HVAC system from the ceiling to ground level because it had been leaking from above. "Originally we had the air units spread out all over, and then when we flipped everything, we were able to consolidate that," Weber said. "I think it'll be easier for [maintenance] too because they don't have to go into everybody's space to get to them." Doug Presley, director of the county maintenance department, told Weber maintenance might need more room. Presley said he might seek to hire someone to oversee the annex full-time, and they'd need an office there. The commissioners discussed buying a backup generator as an alternate to the project. Burrows said without any alternates, the county expects it will cost $4 million to get the building ready for occupants. Advertisement Advertisement In tandem with the annex project is the county's goal to expand the Rogers County Courthouse to accommodate growth, especially in District Attorney Matt Ballard's office. Justin Sessions of Lyle, the contractor, said he expects subcontractor bidding to begin next April and construction to kick off by late May or early June. "We've estimated this is six to eight months," Sessions said. "... It's very reasonable. It's an interior project. We're going to go after it aggressively we realize this is a linchpin project to be able to start in the courthouse." The Monday after approving the preliminary floor plan, the commissioners signed a developer program license agreement with Apple for its planned resource app. Rogers County has been pursuing a resource app since last September, when it received a $289,173 mental health grant from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. Advertisement Advertisement A Tulsa developer, Inhouse Web Services, presented preliminary ideas for a resource app to the commissioners the following month. This July, the county agreed to pay Inhouse a one-time sum of $45,250 and an annual $4,200 to develop the app. It will be called "Better Together" as a nod to Better Together in Rogers County, a group that maintains a guidebook of local resources and has held several resource fairs in Claremore. County spokesperson Diana Dickinson said the license agreement with Apple, which allows Inhouse to build the app with Apple software and offer it through its app store, costs the county $100. "As far as the download from Apple, it's going to be free for users, and this cannot be a revenue-generating app," Dickinson said. She said the county will reveal the app's logo around launch time in the spring. Current plans call for users to land on a page with three options: "Mental Health Resources," "Disaster Resources" and "I Need Help Now." Advertisement Advertisement District 1 Commissioner Dan DeLozier, who has been meeting weekly with Inhouse to discuss the app, said he's glad to be part of the project. "They're creating one simple place you can go to find help, whether you're feeling down, dealing with a disaster or just need to find a local food bank," DeLozier said. "Seeing it come together makes me feel really optimistic." Two Raleigh firefighters fresh out of the fire academy were thrown into the deep end earlier this month when their first active fire call turned into a massive two-alarm blaze at a downtown landmark. The fire started around 9:30 p.m. Dec. 1 on the roof of the Raleigh Convention Center. Investigators believe a mechanical malfunction near HVAC equipment sparked the fire. There were no events taking place at the time. Only a few staff members were inside the building, and no injuries were reported. Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters from Station One were first on the scene and knocked down the flames within about 30 minutes. For two of the first five firefighters to enter the building, it was their very first active fire, just three months after graduating from the academy. They say their training and teamwork took over in the moment. Jake Hughes, a firefighter with Engine 1, said the close bond within the department played a key role in the response to his first active fire. "We're family, so that trust is built through the training, and performing, so it's nice to be able to do that and to be able to share that with them and continue to do that going forward." Advertisement Advertisement Ian Meister, a firefighter with Engine 13, described relying on leadership at the scene. "I got to the scene, took whatever tools I could from the truck, and waited for direction from my captain, and I trusted him," Meister said. Takes a large group of people coming together for a common goal. Captain Rick Hufham, a 26-year veteran with Engine 1, praised the coordinated response. Captain Rick Hufham, a 26-year veteran with Engine 1, praised the coordinated response. "I'm very proud. The three units here worked just flawlessly, together on that fire. A well-oiled machine, it was so smooth." Fire officials say the quick response likely prevented a much larger disaster. Damage to the convention center is estimated at $2 million. Advertisement Advertisement Repairs and renovations are already underway. After canceling all events in December, a city spokesperson says some events are expected to return to the convention center's schedule in January. SEE ALSO | The Rink to close early for the 2025 season to support Raleigh Convention Center recovery efforts SUMNER Imagine working on a jigsaw puzzle with 1,000 pieces. Thats tough enough. Now add time limits for each step: an hour to finish the border, two hours to piece together the sky and so on. That is a lot like the process facing the RSU 10 Withdrawal Committee as it works through the 22 steps residents set in motion when they voted last month for Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner to pursue withdrawal from Regional School Unit 10. The committee met Thursday night for the second time. It plans to meet twice a month, rotating among the three towns. A member from the host town will chair each session, so as the meetings move, the responsibility will also shift. Advertisement Advertisement Thursdays meeting was at the Sumner Town Office. A lot more digging needs to be done, Erin Hinkley told other committee members as they discussed a proposed budget for a new school district made up of the three towns. Hinkley represents Buckfield and serves on the RSU 10 board of directors, based in Rumford. Much of Thursdays discussion focused on drafting a budget and hiring an attorney to represent the towns and the committee. The committee agreed to prepare a budget as a group rather than appoint a separate budget committee. All members should be working on the budget, Hinkley said. The committee then voted unanimously to hold a budget workshop (study session) after the business portion of its Jan. 8 meeting. Advertisement Advertisement We should not build our budget based on the RSU 10 budget, but base it on what we need and what we dont need, Hinkley said. Preparing a first-year budget is part of Step 8 in the Maine Department of Educations 22-step process. Step 8 requires the committee to negotiate a withdrawal agreement with the regional school unit board and submit the proposed agreement to the commissioner of education within 90 days after the committee is formed. The committee was formed Dec. 3. Several committee members noted the difficulties four towns faced in 2017 when withdrawing from RSU 10. Canton, Carthage, Dixfield and Peru withdrew and formed Regional School Unit 56. Those towns had comprised Maine School Administrative District 21 before merging in 2008 into RSU 10, the Western Foothills School District. Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner had comprised Maine School Administrative District 39 before that merger. Advertisement Advertisement Neal Austin of Buckfield, who was active in the petition drive to pursue withdrawal, agreed to prepare guidelines for his fellow committee members for their Jan. 8 budget workshop. The committee also set a timeline for hiring an attorney and approved the wording of a letter to be sent to three lawyers requesting proposals to represent the committee through the process. Responses are due back by Jan. 20. Hiring a lawyer is part of Step 8 in the process to negotiate a withdrawal agreement. Nicholas Tifft, a Hartford selectman and committee member, agreed to send the letter requesting proposals as soon as possible. The committee is working from a list of lawyers, including some who have represented towns that withdrew from school districts. Advertisement Advertisement Deb Frino of Sumner, who chaired the meeting, expressed concern that rumors about the process will grow in number and intensity in the towns and at the two schools Hartford-Sumner Elementary School and Buckfield Junior-Senior High School. Frino suggested the committee establish a connection with teachers and other staff members at the two schools. Its not us and them, she said of the staff members. I want it to be (all of) us. One suggestion was for staff members to write questions about the process and status to the committee, which would then hold a meeting with staff to answer them. Austin noted that if teachers contacted committee members by email, their questions, comments and replies would become part of the public record, archived with other committee documents and correspondence. Advertisement Advertisement Tifft suggested holding a meeting with staff members in March, after weve got our feet wet. In related matters, Frino agreed to serve as the committees contact with the Maine Department of Education, and Frino, Tifft and Liz Coombe of Sumner plan to serve as an asset committee to inventory all physical properties belonging to the two schools. Committee members said the issue of whether RSU 10 or the withdrawing towns own some assets may be part of the withdrawal agreement, which must be finalized within 90 days. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio decried the status quo with the Maduro government as intolerable as the Trump administration on Friday announced new sanctions on family members of the embattled Venezuelan leader. For months, the administration has carried out a campaign of deadly military strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific and mounting economic pressure against Caracas as part of what they have described as a war against drug trafficking. They have resisted saying that they are actively seeking regime change in Venezuela but have accused President Nicolas Maduro of being illegitimate and a narco-trafficker. On Friday, Rubio doubled down on those accusations. Advertisement Advertisement It is clear that the current status quo with the current Venezuelan regime is intolerable for the United States, Rubio said Friday when asked about comments from the White House chief of staff that Trump wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle. The status quo that they operate and cooperate with terrorist organizations against the national interest of the United States not just cooperate, but partner with and participate in activities that threaten the national interest of the United States, Rubio said at a press conference. So yes, our goal is to change that dynamic and thats why the president is doing what hes doing, he said. No one can argue that transnational criminality and terrorism in our hemisphere is not a threat to the national interest of the United States, he said. We reserve the right and have the right to utilize every element of national power to defend the national interest of the United States. Advertisement Advertisement US military forces have carried out scores of deadly military strikes against alleged drug vessels, killing over 100 people. Those strikes have come under extreme scrutiny by members of Congress. In an interview with NBC Friday, President Donald Trump did not rule out war with Venezuela. Earlier this week, the US president announced a total and complete blockade of sanctioned oil tankers coming to and leaving from Venezuela. He has repeatedly threatened land strikes in the country. Neither Trump nor Rubio has committed to informing Congress ahead of time about that potential act of war. On Friday, the Treasury Department announced new sanctions on Maduros family members the second round against his relatives in as many weeks. Officials have argued that their campaign of punitive financial tactics and controversial and deadly military strikes is to stop drug trafficking, not necessarily to oust the regime in Caracas. Last week, the administration hit three of Maduros nephews with sanctions, including the two so-called narco nephews who were granted clemency in October 2022 as part of a prisoner swap for Americans detained in Venezuela. The third nephew, Carlos Erik Malpica Flores, was sanctioned for being a member of the Venezuelan government. Advertisement Advertisement The latest round of sanctions target Maduros sister-in-law and other relatives of Malpica Flores. Maduro and his cronies have devastated Venezuelas economy and continue to threaten our regions stability, State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement. The Trump Administration is committed to disrupting the network of individuals who prop up Maduro and his regime. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com FORT COVINGTON The Salmon River Central School District Board of Education said it has launched an investigation into the conduct of school administrators following allegations of student mistreatment in the district. In a statement to media Thursday, the board said that earlier this week, it was made aware of allegations from parents concerning restraint and seclusion in the form of wooden boxes used as calming stations at district schools. The board said it has now launched an independent investigation to be conducted by a law firm, which began Thursday, to objectively review the circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement The board is also cooperating with a New York State Department of Education investigation. After learning of the allegations, the board at its Dec. 17 meeting reassigned Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stanley Harper to home duties, pending the full investigation. Salmon River Director of Special Education Allen Gravell, St. Regis Mohawk School Principal Alison Benedict and elementary school teacher Karrie Haverstock were placed on administrative leave by the district until further notice, the board said. The board has also been informed the representatives from NYSED Office of Special Education will be conducting a monitoring site visit this week to confirm the removal of all boxes. Advertisement Advertisement The state DOE will also conduct a subsequent site visit to ensure alternative, appropriate calming spaces are available for students that comply with state regulations, the board said. The entire Salmon River Central School District Board of Education expressed its deepest regret for the situation, and vows to support meaningful, actionable changes to ensure that situations like this never occur again. The Board of Education extends its sincere apology to our students, families and community members who have been deeply affected by the ongoing situation. We recognize the pain, concern and distress these events have caused, and we are truly sorry for the harm and trauma this has resulted for our community, Board President Jason Brockway said in a statement. We want to be clear: The circumstances surrounding these allegations do not reflect the values and standards of care that guide this district. The Board of Education is committed to ensuring that every student is treated with dignity, respect and compassion, and that our schools are safe, supportive environments for all learners. Advertisement Advertisement We acknowledge how this situation has evoked very deep emotions. We understand that, for many in our community, this incident has reopened historical wounds and trauma connected to the mistreatment of Native children. We hear you. We are humbled by the public response, and we feel the pain and fear expressed by our community. Brockway said this investigation will be thorough, impartial and taken with the utmost seriousness, and the district will fully cooperate with the state DOE investigation . The Board is fully committed to accountability and to implementing corrective actions as warranted by the findings, Brockway said. We will continue to keep the community informed throughout the investigation process, recognizing that rebuilding trust requires sustained action, not words alone. Advertisement Advertisement Out of caution for student and staff safety, classes at Salmon River schools shifted to remote learning Thursday to allow time for the investigation to begin. State Sen. Dan Stec said he was appalled about the news of Salmon River Central School Districts timeout box and reached out to local and state officials about the matter. This week, I have been in contact with St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Chief Mike Connors and have spoken at length with state Education Commissioner Betty Rosa. I appreciate the state Department of Education taking immediate, decisive action and reiterated that the actions of Salmon River school officials is utterly unacceptable, Stec said in a statement. The use of restraint and seclusion in schools should not have ever happened. There must be a thorough investigation and accountability, and Ive been reassured by Commissioner Rosa that that will happen. CEO of Tesla and SpaceX Elon Musk leaves the stage holding a chainsaw after speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel and Convention Center on Feb. 20, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) There is an old saying that if the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Its probably also true that if the only tool you have is a chainsaw, everything looks like it needs to be cut. Many of us remember an image of Elon Musk wielding a chainsaw, celebrating the many triumphs of the Department of Government Efficiency. Yet, often the actions taken by DOGE proved to be less than triumphant and only rarely led to efficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Unless youre one of those people who knows how to use a chainsaw to carve a bear statue out of a tree trunk, the chainsaw isnt known for its precision. In the case of DOGE, its accomplishments didnt lead to efficiency so much as they often led to court where many of its actions were overturned. Despite the departments dubious history, according to two candidates for the Republican nomination for governor of South Dakota, a DOGE-like entity is just whats needed to cut the fat in state government. Election 2026 News and commentary on statewide races and ballot questions. Read the latest> One thing that were focusing on is doing a South Dakota DOGE, actually cutting state expenditures and then passing that savings on to property taxpayers, Speaker of the House Jon Hansen told KELO. Advertisement Advertisement Not to be outdone, Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden told KELO, There is abuse. I guarantee it. And my DOGE is going to find it. Lets just take a moment to consider this. Both candidates believe there is waste in government. Both believe he is the guy to root it out. Both seem to think that they can cut enough fat out of state government to offer some relief to property taxpayers. So they have both chosen to cut the state bureaucracy by wait for it adding to the bureaucracy with a new Department of Government Efficiency. Unless they repurpose a state department that already exists, these candidates will be adding to the states expenses before they can start whittling away at any fat in the budget. The state departments that would appear in the crosshairs of Doeden or Hansen already get a pretty good going-over by the Legislature. During the legislative session, each department is quizzed twice once in the House and once in the Senate about its intentions for the coming year. Advertisement Advertisement Then the Appropriations Committee weighs in, ultimately deciding how much money the department needs. Calling for the creation of a DOGE clone is an insult to legislative oversight. Its notable that the other two candidates for the Republican nomination, Gov. Larry Rhoden and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, have yet to get on the DOGE-for-South Dakota bandwagon. Too often in Republican primaries, voters are given a choice of candidates who agree with each other on major issues. Finding a way to cut property taxes, through a DOGE-like entity or some other way, will give voters a distinct choice in the primary. If, to fulfill some campaign promise, Doeden or Hansen must create their own version of DOGE, the new governor would do well not to follow the Musk/Trump model. If we learned anything from watching the slash and burn techniques employed by DOGE, its that chainsaws are best left to lumberjacks. Government waste should be cleared away with a scalpel. Too often, South Dakotas GOP candidates for governor act as if following the example set by President Donald Trump marks the sure path to victory. Maybe thats true in heavily red South Dakota. However, following the example the president set with DOGE is just a sure path to chaos. Dec. 19SANTA FE Former New Mexico congresswoman Yvette Herrell's nomination to a Trump administration post was confirmed this week by the U.S. Senate, despite both of her home state senators casting "no" votes.Herrell was appointed by the president in June to be an assistant secretary for congressional relations in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and her nomination was bundled together with about 100 other nominees for a final confirmation vote.On a party-line vote, the U.S. Senate voted 53-43 late Thursday to confirm the nominees. New Mexico's two U.S. senators Ben Ray Lujan and Martin Heinrich joined other Senate Democrats in voting against the nomination package.A Lujan spokeswoman said Friday the second-term senator voted for Herrell's nomination in the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry after Herrell expressed a willingness to work with him on issues affecting New Mexicans, but could not support her on the Senate floor due to how the nominations were bundled together."As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Lujan will work with anyone to deliver for New Mexico farmers, ranchers, producers, and families," said Lujan spokeswoman Seiichiro Nakai. "At the same time, he will hold the Trump administration accountable for breaking the law, ignoring Congressional communications, and making life more expensive for working families." In her new Trump administration job based in Washington, D.C., Herrell will hold a key post in a federal agency that employs nearly 100,000 people and oversees the U.S. Forest Service and other departments.She said in a statement Friday it was a "tremendous honor" to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, while also expressing gratitude to Trump and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins."I look forward to hitting the ground running in this position as we work to deliver on President Trump's priorities for American agriculture," Herrell said in a statement.The Republican Party of New Mexico also released a statement supporting Herrell's confirmation, saying she will act as a key link between Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture leaders in her new position."Her deep roots in southern New Mexico give her a firsthand understanding of the agricultural, rural, and economic issues facing our state, making her exceptionally well suited to serve in this role," said state GOP chairwoman Amy Barela. Ad Herrell, a Republican and former state legislator, served a single term in the U.S. House of Representatives after winning election to the southern New Mexico-based 2nd Congressional District seat in 2020.However, she was ousted from Congress by Democrat Gabe Vasquez in 2022, and lost again in a tight rematch in the 2024 general election.The seat has been one of the nation's most hotly-contested districts in recent years, but became more favorable to Democrats after being redrawn during redistricting in 2021. Under the state's new congressional map, the 2nd Congressional District includes Albuquerque's South Valley and stretches south to the state's southern border with Mexico.Since leaving Congress, Herrell has worked as a real estate broker in Alamogordo. She also owns an ice and water vending machine company but pledged to transfer ownership of the company to a family business if confirmed, according to a public financial disclosure report.Meanwhile, Herrell is not the only New Mexican to be appointed to a key Trump administration post.Former New Mexico congressman and state GOP chairman Steve Pearce was appointed last month to run the federal Bureau of Land Management.His appointment drew immediate criticism from environmental groups, but support from Republican senators. A confirmation vote for Pearce's nomination has not yet been scheduled.Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on Twitter at @DanBoydNM or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com. Update SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) The Shelter-in-Place Order in Salt Lake City has been lifted, according to Utah Highway Patrol. Officials have reportedly identified the suspect, who remains at large. No further information is currently available. Original Post SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) has issued a Shelter-in-Place Order in Salt Lake City due to a police incident. The order applies to the area within 1.5 miles of 1300 East Parkway Ave., 2445 South, Salt Lake City. Advertisement Advertisement Police have issued the following requirements of the order: Remain indoors. Do not attempt to leave the area until the all-clear is given. Secure all doors and windows. Stay away from exterior openings. According to UHP, they received a call about a reckless driver and a police pursuit of the driver ensued shortly thereafter as the driver refused to stop. The vehicle came to a stop, and the driver then fled on foot around 1300 East Parkway Ave. A Shelter-in-Place is in effect in the area, which also applies to local schools. They were instructing parents on how to pick up the kids, so its not a complete lockdown, UHP said in a statement. It is an ongoing investigation. Unknown if the suspect has weapons. Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as more information becomes available. Latest headlines: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that they would be removing unhealthy foods from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in several states next year. Its part of the Trump administration's larger Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, and according to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, this change will help restore SNAP to its true purposenutrition. To learn more about what this shift in benefits means for you, keep scrolling. A look at the changes coming to SNAP in 2026 On December 10, Secretary Rollins issued a press release detailing how she and the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had approved SNAP food-choice waivers submitted by governors in Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee under the MAHA initiative. In doing so, they have limited the amount of unhealthy foods people on SNAP in those states can buy, a change Rollins says will reverse the chronic diseases epidemic that has taken root in this country for far too long. Americas governors are answering that call with courage and innovation, offering solutions that honor the generosity of the taxpayer while helping families live longer, healthier lives, the Secretary of Agriculture continued in her written statement. With these new waivers, we are empowering states to lead, protecting our children from the dangers of highly processed foods, and moving one step closer to the Presidents promise to Make America Healthy Again. Advertisement Advertisement Also supporting the initiative is Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD. This administration is taking a whole-of-government approach in our battle against obesity and chronic disease. By partnering with states on meaningful initiatives, such as todays SNAP waivers, we answer President Trumps call to Make America Healthy Again, Dr. Oz wrote in a statement. I applaud Secretary Rollins, Secretary Kennedy and the partnering governors for their bold actions to improve Americans health and wellbeing. Getty Five days after the initial press release was shared with the public, the USDA released a map showcasing which other states had submitted a SNAP Food Restriction Waiver at some point throughout the year. This included Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and West Virginia. In that map, the USDA also revealed which unhealthy foods would be restricted for SNAP users in each state, and while most of them do differ, one common item is soda and sweetened beverages. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is designed to support the nutritional needs of those struggling to put food on the table, and this waiver will help to ensure that more Coloradans participating in SNAP have access to healthy foods, Colorado Governor Jared Polis said in a statement. Because many local grocers make stocking decisions in part based on SNAP eligibility, Im confident that this waiver will also help reduce food deserts in Colorado by reducing shelf space for soda and increasing it for other nutritional food products eligible for SNAP. Advertisement Advertisement Each state's SNAP restrictions will begin on a different date, and you can view that here. A look at the foods normally covered by SNAP On average, SNAP households receive about $332 per month, which works out to roughly $177 per person. Larger households can receive up to $574 or more depending on family size and income. Normally, those funds cover fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, poultry, dairy products, breads, cereals, snack foods, nonalcoholic beverages, seeds and plants. They do not cover alcohol, food and drinks containing controlled substances, vitamins, medicines, supplements, live animals, pet foods, cleaning supplies, paper products, cosmetics and hygiene items. And even though some of what's covered under those funds is expected to change in 18 states come 2026, the amount of money one receives isnt. Getty By encouraging families to purchase healthy, nutritious foodand not junk foodwe ensure federal taxpayer dollars are used to their maximum benefit and keep South Carolina at the forefront of the effort to Make America Healthy Again, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said in a statement. Thank you to President Trump and Secretary Rollins for approving our light-touch, common-sense approach to strengthen the SNAP program by promoting healthier outcomes. For more news, keep scrolling! $1,776 Warrior Dividend Checks Coming for 1.45 Million Military FamiliesHeres Who Qualifies Will President Trump Bring Australias Retirement Plan to the U.S.? Heres What to Know An Emergency Lifeline: The $200 Social Security Bonus Seniors Could Soon See in Their Checks Individuals named Hart are often perceived as strong, noble, and independent, reflecting the characteristics of the stag that inspires their name. They typically exhibit natural leadership qualities, confidence, and a protective nature toward those they care about, much like the stag who guards his herd. There's often an air of dignity and grace about them, combined with a quiet strength that doesn't need constant validation. Many Harts display a deep connection to nature and spirituality, showing sensitivity and intuition alongside their apparent strength. They tend to be goal-oriented and persistent, able to navigate challenges with the same determination a stag shows in surviving the wilderness. Beyond their strong exterior, those named Hart often possess a contemplative side and value authenticity in relationships. They may appear reserved initially but form deep, lasting bonds with those who earn their trust. Their independence doesn't mean isolationrather, they choose their companions carefully and maintain those relationships with fierce loyalty. The spiritual symbolism of the name often manifests as a search for meaning and purpose in life's journey. They typically handle responsibility well and are often looked to as stabilizing forces in their families or workplaces. While they can be competitive when necessary, they prefer harmony and will often seek peaceful resolutions to conflicts, embodying the stag's symbolic association with peace in heraldic tradition. A San Bernardino County man was arrested on suspicion of producing and distributing sexually explicit images involving a child. Eric Brandon Hagar, 53, of Yucaipa, was arrested by agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with help from the Riverside County District Attorneys Office and the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department. Hagars arrest stems from an investigation into images that depicted the sexual abuse of an unidentified child. The photos had circulated online for nearly two decades before HSI investigators successfully identified the victim. Advertisement Advertisement In 2025, HSIs Cyber Crime Center and Child Exploitation Investigations Unit began investigating the case and were able to track down Hagar, who is allegedly responsible for the images. Eric Brandon Hagar, 53, of Yucaipa, is seen in a booking photo from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Hagar is suspected of producing and distributing the sexually explicit images over 20 years ago, when he was in his 30s, authorities said. On Dec. 18, Hagar was arrested for alleged violations of federal child exploitation laws, including the production of child pornography. Hagar is also under federal investigation for additional offenses, including distribution of child pornography, enticement and coercion of minors and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. Advertisement Advertisement HSI is releasing Hagars photo in the interest of public safety, as investigators believe there may be additional, unreported victims in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, authorities said. Anyone who may have been victimized by Hagar, or who has information related to the case, is urged to contact the HSI Riverside Field Office at hsiriversideceig@hsi.dhs.gov. 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. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) announced Friday that she was suspending her bid for New York governor and would also be retiring from Congress. Her stunning announcement came shortly after Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a fellow ally of President Trump, jumped into the primary. While spending precious time with my family this Christmas season, I have made the decision to suspend my campaign for Governor and will not seek re-election to Congress. I did not come to this decision lightly for our family, she wrote in a post on social platform X. Advertisement Advertisement However, as we have seen in past elections, while we would have overwhelmingly won this primary, it is not an effective use of our time or your generous resources to spend the first half of next year in an unnecessary and protracted Republican primary, especially in a challenging state like New York, she added. Stefaniks announcement, which came just as the Justice Department released files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, took political observers by surprise. She was long seen as the likely front-runner in the GOP primary, having built a reputation in Congress as one of Trumps fiercest defenders. Stefanik made clear in her announcement that she would also be forgoing a run for her seat in New Yorks 21st Congressional District. Her decision likely clears the way for Blakeman to receive the GOP nomination, avoiding creating an unnecessarily messy primary between the two Republicans as the GOP looks to defeat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) next year. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who once worked for the congresswoman, lauded her former boss in a statement on X. Advertisement Advertisement Elise Stefanik has been an incredible advocate for the people of her district in Upstate New York, and she will always be a true friend to President Trump, Leavitt wrote. On a personal note, Elise is my former boss. She is a great leader, and an even better person. We love you, @EliseStefanik! Meanwhile, Hochul campaign spokesman Ryan Radulovacki suggested in a statement that Stefanik had merely read the writing on the wall about her candidacy. Elise Stefanik has finally acknowledged reality: If you run against Governor Kathy Hochul, you are going to lose, he said. Stefanik has long been seen as a rising star within the party, at one point serving as the House Republican Conference chair. Her combative questioning with university presidents over antisemitism during a House hearing went viral on social media, prompting Democrats and Republicans alike to criticize the responses from the college professors and urge them to be fired or resigned. Advertisement Advertisement Trump initially tapped her to be his ambassador to the United Nations, but the White House later withdrew her nomination amid concerns that her confirmation could complicate the already narrow House GOP majoritys ability to pass key parts of its agenda. Stefanik last month formally launched a bid against Hochul, while Blakeman jumped into the race earlier this month. Trump declined to make an endorsement, lauding both of them. A Siena College Poll released this week showed Hochul leading Stefanik by 19 points in a hypothetical head-to-head, while the governor holds a 25-point lead over Blakeman. Republicans quickly coalesced behind Blakeman after Stefaniks announcement that she was dropping out. Advertisement Advertisement Elise Stefanik will remain a leader in our party and a powerful voice for our principles. We respect her decision and thank her for her efforts, New York GOP chair Ed Cox said in a statement. Bruce Blakeman has my endorsement and I urge our State Committee and party leaders to join me. Bruce is a fighter who has proven he knows how to win in difficult political terrain, he added. Radulovacki of Hochuls campaign suggested that the governor was ready for whomever she raced, saying Governor Hochuls message to him or whichever lackey Trump picks to run against her is simple: Bring it on. Updated: 4:54 p.m. ET Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, a top ally to President Donald Trump, announced Friday afternoon that she would suspend her campaign for governor of New York, and also not run for reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives, just months after she launched a bid to try to flip the governorship currently held by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. "I am truly humbled and grateful for the historic and overwhelming support from Republicans, Conservatives, Independents, and Democrats all across the state for our campaign to Save New York," Stefanik wrote in a post on X. Will Waldron/Albany Times Union via Getty Images) - PHOTO: Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership, Elise Stefanik is joined by state GOP lawmakers during a news conference where she spoke in opposition to Gov. Kathy Hochul, June 9, 2025, at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. "However, as we have seen in past elections, while we would have overwhelmingly won this primary, it is not an effective use of our time or your generous resources to spend the first half of next year in an unnecessary and protracted Republican primary, especially in a challenging state like New York." Advertisement Advertisement She also cited wanting to spend more time with her son. County GOP leader Bruce Blakeman announces run for New York governor, taking on fellow Trump ally Elise Stefanik Since launching her bid for governor in November, Stefanik had consolidated support from many of New York's local Republican county parties behind her, but she faced a primary opponent in Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who announced his own bid. Trump, whom Stefanik has supported, had declined to endorse either candidate thus far, calling both Stefanik and Blakeman "fantastic." "First of all, he's a friend. She's a friend. These are two great people running in a way I hate to see them I'm running against each other, Trump said earlier this month. Francis Chung/EPA/Shutterstock - PHOTO: President Donald Trump shakes hands with Rep. Elise Stefanik during a bill-signing event to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 US Olympic ice hockey team in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, December 12, 2025. Stefanik was first elected to represent New York in the House in 2014, and was at the time the youngest woman to ever win a seat in Congress. She became a rising star in the GOP and joined House leadership in 2021 as chair of the House Republican Conference. Advertisement Advertisement Trump tapped her to be his U.S. ambassador to the United Nations shortly after his election victory in November 2024, praising her in a statement to ABC News as "an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter." But months later, Trump said he was asking her to withdraw her nomination, citing razor-thin margins in the Republican-controlled House. Stefanik said she was "proud to be a team player" and step aside. Trump and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reacted to Stefaniks announcement. Elise is a tremendous talent, regardless of what she does. She will have GREAT success, and I am with her all the way! Trump posted on his social media platform Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Leavitt, who served as Stefaniks communications director following Trumps 2020 election loss, called Stefanik an "incredible advocate" and a "true friend to President Trump." "Elise Stefanik has been an incredible advocate for the people of her district in Upstate New York, and she will always be a true friend to President Trump. On a personal note, Elise is my former boss. She is a great leader, and an even better person. We love you, @EliseStefanik!" Leavitt posted on X. ABC News' Lalee Ibssa contributed to this report. The Supreme Court of Canada is deliberating a case that could shape the way sentences are handed down in cases where both the offender and victim are Indigenous, which some Nunavut lawyers say could have ramifications for the Inuit-majority territory. The court is hearing a 2021 case from Halifax, in which both the offender and victim are Mikmaw. Harry Arthur Cope pleaded guilty to assaulting Brittany Sack, his on-and-off partner, and he was sentenced by a provincial court to five years in prison in 2023. But he appealed his sentence, saying the judge hadnt properly considered the Gladue principles. Advertisement Advertisement Those principles stem from a 1999 Supreme Court ruling that was intended to address the over-incarceration of Indigenous people by requiring courts to consider the unique circumstances of Indigenous offenders during sentencing such as the impacts of colonization, residential schools and intergenerational trauma and look at alternatives to jail. The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal reduced Copes original sentence, but Crown attorney Erica Koresawa took the case to the supreme court. A 2019 amendment to the Criminal Code required courts to give primary consideration to deterring violence against Indigenous women a response to the recommendations of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Koresawa argued the appeal courts sentence didnt appropriately consider that piece of legislation. Effectively, this case looks at how to balance sentencing options when both the victim and offender are Indigenous, so any resulting directive would have repercussions for an Inuit-majority territory like Nunavut. Advertisement Advertisement Curtis Joseph Mesher, who specializes in criminal law at Tulugaq Law, said this case is a Canadian-first. There hasn't yet been a case that really kind of shows if there is a hierarchy at all between them, what takes precedence denunciation over the principle to avoid incarceration, given the incarceration crisis of Indigenous peoples, he said, adding that can also include Indigenous women who offend. Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. All nine justices heard the His Majesty the King v. Harry Arthur Cope case. They have not said when they will render a decision. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) According to Statistics Canada, between 2009 and 2021, 86 per cent of those accused of killing an Indigenous woman or girl were themselves Indigenous. First Nations, Metis and Inuit women and girls are also six times more likely to be killed than non-Indigenous women and girls. And among all of Canadas jurisdictions, Nunavut had the greatest proportion of Indigenous people in custody in 2023, at 92 per cent, according to a Canadian government database. It's followed by the N.W.T., Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Yukon. Setting a directive for Gladue reports The 1999 Gladue decision also stated that specialized pre-sentence reports, now known as Gladue reports, should provide background on Indigenous offenders. Advertisement Advertisement These are used in several Canadian jurisdictions, including in Yukon which has trained Gladue report writers. Nunavut does use them in theory. But Mesher says there are very few writers in the territory, and he has not seen a Gladue report submitted in a Nunavut court in his career so far. However, Gladue factors are often incorporated during sentencing and bail hearings. Mesher believes this Supreme Court case could also affect the way Gladue reports are delivered. It may have a profound effect on how the procedure of sentencing goes in Nunavut when most of our offenders and most of our victims are Indigenous and we don't have the resources to properly highlight that according to the Canadian Criminal Code, he said. Curtis Joseph Mesher of Tulugaq Law believes this Supreme Court case involving an Indigenous offender and victim emphasizes the need for individualized approaches towards sentencing. (Joana Draghici/CBC) Tara Qunngaataq Tootoo Fotheringham, president of the Amautiit Nunavut Inuit Women's Association, says she has seen some judges in Nunavut dismiss the need for Gladue reports, citing they understand most Nunavummiut suffer from intergenerational trauma. Advertisement Advertisement There's not just this carte blanche idea that when you're dealing with Inuit offenders, that they all have come from the same trauma because that's not true, she said. False dichotomy While Fotheringham supports the intent of the Gladue principles, she says shes deeply concerned theyre being misapplied in a way that unintentionally minimizes or excuses violence. When Gladue factors are elevated in a way that overshadows accountability, proportionality, and public safety, the result is not justice, it is harm, she said. Amautiit rejects the false framing that Inuit women must choose between supporting Gladue, demanding safety and accountability. We can and must have both. Tara Qunngaataq Tootoo Fotheringham, president of the Amautiit Nunavut Inuit Women's Association, says there is a false dichotomy at play that Canadians must choose between protecting Indigenous women and girls from violence at the expense of the over-incarceration of Indigenous men. (Jaison Empson/CBC) Mesher agrees the case isn't about one or the other, and it reinforces the need for Canada to maintain an individualized approach to sentencing. Advertisement Advertisement That has been a hallmark of the Canadian justice system for decades, that there is that freedom to tailor things specific to the offence that the judges heard and the circumstances of everything that has happened in front of them, he said. Stephen Shaddock, the director of policy at Nunavuts Justice department, says Gladue principles are applied in the territorys correctional facilities and community justice initiatives. He also acknowledges the need to reduce the over-incarceration of Indigenous people, as well as protecting victims of gender-based violence. This means ensuring offenders have access to counselling and treatment to take responsibility for their actions, while also providing preventative and other supports for potential victims and survivors, such as protection orders and victim services, he wrote in a statement. Looking outside the courtroom Even as a lawyer, Iqaluit's Anne Crawford doesnt believe changes in the judicial process will adequately protect Indigenous women. Advertisement Advertisement "Women in Nunavut often state that they don't feel they're getting the protection of the law that other people are because Indigenous offenders are getting extra consideration," she said. She says because few cases of violence actually end up in the courts, she'd rather the focus be on solutions outside the courtroom. We're great at determining guilt and innocence and figuring out the facts and spending all kinds of money on lawyers. But where are the resources at that moment when the family is ready to make a change, she said. Anne Crawford, who's practiced law in Nunavut for more than three decades, says she hears from women who do not feel they are protected by the law. (Jordan Konek/CBC) Fotheringham also doesnt believe incarceration is the answer, and agrees the answer has to lie in more resources to help people heal. We want to have healed homes in Nunavut where people can actually get the support for the whole family. Because when an offender offends, they don't just impact themselves, they impact their family, she said. Representatives for victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein condemned the US Department of Justice on Friday for only partially releasing investigative documents while at least one survivor said she felt redeemed by the documents. The documents were released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandated the disclosures by 19 December. The law allows for records to be withheld if they threaten current investigations, disrupt national security or identify Epsteins victims. The initial disclosure, however, did not appear to be in keeping with this law. Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, said the justice department would not release all its files on Friday, despite the deadline and the files published on Friday afternoon did not appear to be comprehensive. I expect that were going to release more documents over the next couple of weeks, Blanche said in an Fox News interview. Advertisement Advertisement Top lawmakers responded by threatening legal action in the face of this violation of federal law. Spencer Kuvin, an attorney representing Epstein survivors, said in a statement after the release that it was no great surprise the justice department was failing to meet the deadline. Unfortunately, the Department of Justice has dragged its feet regarding these documents for the last 18 years so the victims dont expect much by way of openness or honesty, Kuvin said. These young women have been lied to and repeatedly denied justice by system that was meant to protect them. The public need to demand more and continue to require accountability. Gloria Allred, a lawyer who has represented more than 20 Epstein survivors, told CNN after the disclosures that the justice department had repeatedly failed victims. Advertisement Advertisement There was resistance by this administration to releasing the Epstein files, she said. The question is, is there a coverup. What are they hiding? What is in there that perhaps some powerful people would not like revealed? Survivors are fighting to have the release of all the files [because] they want accountability. If there are rich, powerful, famous men who engaged in or assisted in or conspired to sex traffic underage girls, they want to know who those people are. They want to know what the evidence against them was. Jess Michaels, an Epstein survivor who has been pushing for the disclosures, said on MS Now that she was highly emotional, but glad the justice departments obfuscations were now so apparent to the public: Im also feeling strangely validated, because in plain sight, and even with an act of Congress, were seeing the exact same delays, negligence, corruption, incompetence that weve seen consistently and have been advocating about. So theyve actually proved our point. However, Jennifer Freeman, an attorney representing Maria Farmer, an Epstein survivor, said in an email shortly after the files were published that the fact that some of them were finally being made public was a day of triumph and tragedy for Maria and so many survivors. The records, she said, confirmed that Farmer had reported the crimes of Epstein and his confidante, Ghislaine Maxwell, to the FBI in 1996. Advertisement Advertisement Had the government done their job, and properly investigated Marias report, over 1,000 victims could have been spared and 30 years of trauma avoided, Farmer said. After several years of asking for her records, the government finally released at least some of them today. Freeman highlighted a document from the files that she said verified Farmers original complaint. On CNN, Freeman read a statement on behalf of Farmer, saying: Thank you for believing me. I feel redeemed. This is one of the best days of my life. Of course, its mixed with the fact that Im devastated about all the other girls who were harmed because the FBI didnt do their job Im shedding tears of joy for myself, but also tears of sorrow for all the victims. Farmer, an artist, was among the first to report Epstein and Maxwell for sexual crimes in the 1990s. Trump signed the legislation mandating the Epstein file disclosures after months of waffling in his support of releasing these files. While Trump had vowed to release these files on the campaign trail, his justice department repeatedly failed to deliver on this promise, largely releasing documents that had already been in the public domain. Advertisement Advertisement The justice department faced backlash when it announced in July that there was no Epstein client list and claimed: While we have labored to provide the public with maximum information regarding Epstein and ensured examination of any evidence in the governments possession, it is the determination of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted. The Wall Street Journal reported that the presidents name was in these files at multiple points. Trump has denied any knowledge of, or involvement in, Epsteins crimes, and has emphatically denied any wrongdoing. Its not news that Epstein was a member of the Mar-a-Lago club, because its the same club Donald Trump kicked Epstein out of for being a creep, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, previously said. These stories are tired and pathetic attempts to distract from all the success of President Trumps administration. Lauren Hersh, national director of anti-trafficking non-profit World Without Exploitation, said prior to the disclosures: There are hundreds of thousands of files to go through which speaks to how horrendous the Epstein crimes truly are. We want to make certain that our government is operating in good faith, making sure that survivors are shielded, those who have caused harm are exposed and the wheels of justice move swiftly, Hersh added. Its long overdue for the public to see the depths of pain and injustice. Dec. 20MITCHELL As Mitchell firefighters buzzed around at a fire call earlier this month, one figure among the activity stood out as he watched the professionals work their magic. Dante Thuringer is a senior at Mitchell High School with an interest in firefighting and emergency medical services as a career, and he has been working with the Mitchell Fire Department recently as part of the World of Work program through the school. "It started with the question of World of Work. It was just something I was interested in," Thuringer told the Mitchell Republic. "And I was like, man, I really wanted to give it a shot and get some great work experience in medicine and firefighting. I wanted to see what was up with it and just see if it was something I wanted to do with my future." Advertisement Advertisement The past three months have shown Thuringer that, yes, this career might just be for him. Through the World of Work program, the experience students gain in different careers helps them find a path where their strengths, interests and values are needed in the workplace. World of Work helps students see that no matter what their skill set is, every skill set is valuable and every person has a place in their community and in the workforce that is needed, according to the program website. For Thuringer, the experience began with classwork and was followed by spending time every other day working with firefighters and emergency medical technicians at the Public Safety Building on First Avenue. There, he helps with tasks like checking ambulance inventory, learning about the equipment and vehicles and even hopping on board for the occasional emergency call. He's not an actual firefighter or EMT, so he stands back and lets the actual professionals handle the most serious work. But he follows instructions, jumps to tasks when requested and keeps his eyes and ears open as he watches how experienced emergency responders go about their work. Advertisement Advertisement It's all an eye-opening experience, he said, and both the fire and medical services are interesting, but he has given special attention to working with the ambulance crews. There are more medical emergencies than fire calls, he said, and therefore more chances to see those crews in action. "I've been studying mainly the EMS part. In our fire station and with modern fire prevention, you don't really get too many of the fire calls. So I like to help them do inventory, which means I can familiarize myself with the different drugs that we carry and what they're used for," Thuringer said. "Then I get to go on calls and help out a little bit when I can." He takes part with his mentors when those calls come in, and he takes his cues from them. Medical emergency calls can sometimes be intense experiences, so the crews determine in advance if a particular call is inappropriate for a student to take part in. But when a call could provide a good learning experience such as a patient transport to Avera Queen of Peace Hospital he rides along in the back of the ambulance like any other EMT. In all he's been a part of about 40 calls during his time in the program, and between the nature of the work and the fact he's helping his fellow community members, he is finding that a future in emergency services could be for him. Advertisement Advertisement "It definitely gets a little intense, but I love it, personally. I like something that keeps me grounded and in there. I like the pressure. It makes me stay focused," Thuringer said. "And I love being able to help my community. I think that's really important. It's something that we should all try and get involved with in some way or another." Shannon Sandoval, chief of fire and EMS services for the Mitchell Fire Department, said the department has hosted several World of Work students over the years, and some of his staff themselves were part of the program when they were in high school. When it comes to exposing students to their work, Sandoval echoes the explanation that his crews make sure Thuringer isn't taking part in anything he isn't comfortable with or anything too dangerous. But it's heartening to see a student respond to the experiences that he can help with, and he has been impressed with Thuringer's attitude while on the job. Even with new experiences, Thuringer is ready to go and willing to take on new tasks. Sandoval said even new professional employees have a learning curve, but Thuringer embraces those same challenges with focus and determination. Advertisement Advertisement "He has been fully integrated with each of the three shifts, and I've never heard a bad thing about him. Every time I walk out there, he's doing something. He actively engages with our folks, and that's all we ask. Even if he's not comfortable, that's OK, because he always has a smile on his face," Sandoval said. "But even with a new employee, we just don't know how our job can affect people. Because it's not a normal job." The department's experience with Thuringer is an example of why Sandoval likes collaborating with the Mitchell School District with the World of Work program. Finding good firefighters and EMTs can be a challenge, particularly in rural South Dakota, and exposing new candidates to the field is not always easy unless they join a department or training school. World of Work is a chance for students to dip their toe into the water and see if they like the temperature. "We have seen direct benefits from that. Because really, in our field, there are not many opportunities for you to have exposure to it unless you get a job. So we're thrilled that we get to work with the Mitchell School District," Sandoval said. "And we would love to continue that in the future." Advertisement Advertisement Suzanne Skinner, the World of Work adviser at Mitchell High School, is grateful for the willingness of the Mitchell Fire Department and many other businesses and organizations in the community to allow a student to work with them. She has 36 students taking part this semester and another 31 set to join up for the spring semester at places like Trail King, Ed's Pet World and the County Fair bakery, among many others. The program provides a valuable window through which students can see if a particular career fits their personality and their interests. That can make a huge difference in a student choosing a particular education or work path after high school. "The big thing for the students is that reality check of what happens behind the scenes. What is appropriate dress? What is enough initiative? What are the good questions to ask? It just gives them that extra insight. (A job isn't necessarily) what we see on the surface," Skinner said. "The thing I see most is growth and confidence, and they see that too. They're put in situations where they have the opportunity to talk to people who are adults and professionals and it gives them a chance to build their own confidence in dealing with those situations." Through his hard work and focus, Thuringer, the son of Nick and Sarah Thuringer, has also earned the confidence of his guides at the fire department. On a recent morning at the station, the senior was the only one present in the truck bay as he spoke with a visitor and staff at the station were busy in a training session. Sandoval said it isn't common practice to leave a student unattended, even when not out on a call, but they knew he would stay on task and not waste his time. Advertisement Advertisement Thuringer said the entire experience has been a revelation, and he has learned a lot since integrating himself into the department. Though not an official member of the crew, he said he felt welcomed and encouraged by everyone. "They're amazing at what they do. They're all very respectful, very kind. They're great people to learn from," Thuringer said. "I've learned tons this past semester, and they've been open and willing to explain and show me cool stuff. I mean, they're great people. They're modern day heroes." There's a chance Thuringer could be riding a fire truck or ambulance again in the future, but he has another stop before that happens. He has enlisted in the Air Force and is looking forward to training with an emphasis on becoming a pilot. Should he earn his wings, he may consider working in emergency services in another capacity. Flying an air ambulance. Advertisement Advertisement "Once I get back, I really, really would like to do something EMS related, like maybe a fixed wing or rotor wing pilot. They are the people that fly planes maybe to pick up somebody at the Mitchell airport and take them to Sioux Falls in an airlift," Thuringer said. "I would love to do that." Thuringer wrapped up his World of Work stint with the department earlier this week, but he plans to also take part next semester at an autobody shop. It's another personal interest for him, and he's looking forward to what his time there will reveal. But based on his time with the Mitchell Fire Department, he knows it will be another beneficial, learning experience. He said he appreciates what World of Work has done for him, and he knows other students could find as much insight into a career as he has by taking part. "I urge (students) to just try as much as you can to get in that class. You get tons of good experience," Thuringer said. A new nonprofit organization has been formed to support the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaskas long-term vision through philanthropy and community partnerships. The Tlingit & Haida Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will serve as the Tribes philanthropic arm. Its mission is to strengthen tribal communities through resources that advance education, wellness and self-determination. Please support our year-end campaign. CLICK HERE TO DONATE. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Governed by a board of directors, the foundation will mobilize resources, steward charitable investments and build partnerships focused on community priorities. When you support the foundation, youre investing in the future of our people, said Jamie Gomez, executive director of the Tlingit & Haida Foundation. Every donation directly advances the work we are doing like expanding educational pathways and cultural revitalization efforts through our Education and Cultural Immersion campuses or investing in programs that promote wellness and honor our values. The foundations first major capital campaign will focus on the Juneau Tribal Education Campus, a 12-acre project centered on education sovereignty and cultural revitalization. The campus is envisioned as a place-based learning environment that honors Indigenous knowledge systems, strengthens environmental stewardship and supports the continuation of Tlingit and Haida cultural heritage. Advertisement Advertisement Tribal leaders say the initiative reflects the Tribes long-standing commitment to reclaiming tribal land and creating spaces where culture is lived, not just preserved, while supporting healing, identity and opportunity for future generations. The foundation will lead major capital campaigns that advance the Tribes long-term vision while also supporting smaller, community-based fundraising efforts that address immediate program needs. These include the annual Elders Winter Care Package project, Back-to-School Backpack distributions, youth wellness and enrichment activities, and other programs requiring financial support. 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 Williamsville Junior High principal Clay Shoufler and the Family Guidance Center of Springfield have received the 2026 IPA Reaching Out & Building Bridges Award for their partnership in implementing the Too Good for Drugs prevention program. The Illinois Principals Association presents the award, which is sponsored by Horace Mann Companies, according to a community announcement. The Reaching Out & Building Bridges Award recognizes principals or assistant principals and community agencies for their efforts in creating partnerships that benefit schools and students. A focus on decision-making and goal setting Shoufler partnered with Kristen Errett, prevention program manager at the Family Guidance Center, to bring the Too Good for Drugs program to Williamsville Junior High, according to the announcement. The program allows trained prevention specialists to deliver structured, research-based lessons focused on healthy decision-making, goal setting and substance abuse prevention. Advertisement Advertisement The program is offered free to the school district. Through the partnership, students gain valuable skills in resisting peer pressure, managing emotions and making responsible choices skills that align with the districts focus on educating the whole child and supporting its mission to foster safe, healthy and informed students. Williamsville Junior High School principal Clay Shoufler and the Family Guidance Center of Springfield received the 2026 Illinois Principals Association Reaching Out & Building Bridges Award for their partnership on the Too Good for Drugs prevention program. We are taking intentional steps to ensure the 'Too Good for Drugs' program remains a consistent part of our prevention efforts, Shoufler said. We coordinate annual scheduling and ensure smooth delivery of programming for each grade level and collaborate with the Family Guidance Center team to align the lessons with our existing health and wellness curriculum. This makes the program an integrated, rather than supplemental, component of student learning. Additionally, program outcomes and student feedback are shared with district leadership to highlight the positive impact, reinforcing the value of continued participation. By fostering strong relationships, maintaining program visibility and aligning goals with our districts whole-child initiatives, we are building a sustainable framework to keep this vital partnership active for years to come. State winners to be recognized in October State winners will be recognized at the awards ceremony during the 2026 IPA Education Leaders Annual Conference, which will be held Oct. 18-20. "The Too Good for Drugs program has had a positive impact on our students," Shoufler said. "We are grateful for the support of the Family Guidance Center and look forward to continuing our partnership for years to come." Advertisement Advertisement This story was created by Dave DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: IPA honors Williamsville Junior High partnership Individuals named Jenevieve are often perceived as compassionate, intuitive, and community-oriented, reflecting the name's meaning of 'woman of the people.' They tend to be natural caregivers with strong emotional intelligence, able to understand and support others effectively. The name suggests someone who balances traditional values with modern perspectives, often displaying creativity and adaptability in various situations. Jenevieves are typically seen as reliable and trustworthy individuals who value deep connections with family and friends. These individuals may possess a quiet strength and resilience, much like their namesake saint, enabling them to navigate challenges with grace and determination while maintaining their caring nature toward those around them. The modern spelling variation often indicates parents who value both tradition and individuality, which may translate to a personality that respects established values while feeling comfortable expressing unique perspectives. Jenevieves are often drawn to helping professions or creative pursuits where they can make meaningful contributions to their communities while expressing their distinctive identity. A trip to North Korea isn't like visiting any other country, especially if you're a culinary tourist who loves to explore. It won't be like eating your way through Italy or searching out the best meals in Ireland with Rick Steves. Instead, you'll be sticking to a tightly curated experience. North Korea is infamous for its strict control over visitors. To even set foot in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea's official name), you must be part of a tour group with a detailed, set-in-stone itinerary which is approved by the North Korean government. For dinner, you don't get to just wander down the street for some Korean BBQ and kimchi. Meals are arranged by government-approved guides at pre-selected restaurants, hotels, and grocery stores like the Kwangbok Supermarket and Department Store in Pyongyang. Everyday citizens rely on state-distributed food rations and have access to small, state-run grocers that sell staples like rice and produce. Visitors touring the country have a different selection of shopping available - they're primarily directed to tourist-focused grocery stores which sell North Korean-made items and souvenirs, though a few local supermarkets are available. Kwangbok Supermarket and Department Store in Pyongyang is at a strange intersection of the two, a place where you'll find a good selection, luxury, and freedom in your shopping experience. It's expensive, extravagant (comparatively), and the only mall like it in the country. But tourists who have been there say it feels "deceptive" and a bit too scripted to represent a true North Korean grocery shopping experience. Read more: Employees At Mexican Restaurants Tell Us The Customer Orders They Hate The Most Premade meals, grocery items, and more at North Korea's Kwangbok Department Store A hand holding a Korean cookie in a supermarket aisle - 4kclips/Shutterstock North Korea's Kwangbok Supermarket and Department Store is one big building with three levels, a children's play area, and a food court where you can get all sorts of dishes (if you go, first brush up on what to expect and order at Korean restaurants). The entrance is a lobby lined with ice cream and snacks shelves (possibly something like these 25 tasty Korean snacks). Once inside, you'll find sections that sell clothing, electronics, and the only place in the country to exchange currency to the Korean won visitors pay with European euros, American dollars, or Chinese renminbi everywhere they go except for inside Kwangbok. There's a supermarket with aisles of full shelves that look a bit like a standard grocery store. Prices at Kwangbok are high according to visitor reports a loaf of bread can cost up to $70 (for tourists, anyway). Advertisement Advertisement A tour of North Korea will be full of some of the nation's most iconic foods like ramyeon, the Korean comfort food that's more than a trend. If you can put up with the tight monitoring and strict rules, you may enjoy yourself. Just don't let that trip to Kwangbok Supermarket and Department Store set your expectations for how grocery shopping really goes for North Koreans. For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter and add us as a preferred search source. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout. Speaking at a rally on Friday night, President Donald Trump bragged about his demand that the U.S. government give him a huge payout, and said he would be the ultimate arbiter of whether he will receive the money. In October, The New York Times reported that Trump was demanding that the Department of Justice pay him $230 million as compensation for the two federal investigations into his activities. Trump submitted claims through an administrative process that is often a prelude to a lawsuit. The complaints, which were filed in 2023 and 2024, cite the FBIs execution of a search warrant at his Mar-a-Lago residence in 2022, and the bureaus investigation into possible ties between the presidents 2016 campaign and the Russian government. Speaking in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Trump suddenly spoke of a $1 billion sum that he claimed he would give to charity were he to receive it. Advertisement Advertisement We have all the evidence, Trump claimed. And we have to do something about it. We have to do something about it. Its illegal and disgusting. You know, I brought a lawsuit, and Im winning the lawsuit. Theres only one problem. Im the one who has to settle it. In other words, I am suing, and Im the one thats supposed to settle it. He added: Theres never been a case like this. Donald Trump sues the United States of America. Donald Trump becomes president. And now Donald Trump has to settle the suit. I hereby give myself $1 billion. Actually, maybe I shouldnt give it to charity. Maybe I should keep the money. No? A lot of people say do it. I dont wanna do it. But whatever happens, its all going to good charities. Is that ok? All going to good charities. But isnt that a strange position to be in? Ive gotta make, Ive gotta make a deal. I negotiate with myself. Watch above via C-SPAN. The post Trump Brags About Suing the Government and Declares, I Hereby Give Myself $1 Billion first appeared on Mediaite. At a rally in North Carolina on Friday, President Donald Trump joked that he is awarding himself $1 billion from the federal coffers. What Happened: Trump made a bold claim about his demand for a substantial payout from the U.S. government. He emphasized that he would be the ultimate decision-maker on whether he will receive the money. During the rally in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Trump mentioned a $1 billion sum, which he claimed he would donate to charity if received. Advertisement Advertisement He stated, I hereby give myself $1 billion. Actually, maybe I shouldn't give it to charity. Maybe I should keep the money. "We have all the evidence, and we have to do something about it. It's illegal and disgusting. You know, I brought a lawsuit, and I'm winning the lawsuit. There's only one problem. I'm the one who has to settle it. In other words, I am suing, and I'm the one that's supposed to settle it," Trump said while addressing the gathering. Also Read: Heres Why 20 States Are Taking Donald Trump To Court Over A Little-Noticed H-1B Visa Fee Change Earlier, The New York Times had reported that Trump was seeking $230 million from the Department of Justice as compensation for two federal investigations into his activities. Advertisement Advertisement These investigations, initiated in 2023 and 2024, were related to a search warrant executed at his Mar-a-Lago residence in 2022 and a probe into potential links between his 2016 campaign and the Russian government. Trump further added that he was in a unique position, having to negotiate with himself over the settlement of the lawsuit he initiated. Why It Matters: Trumps audacious claim of assigning himself $1 billion is a significant escalation from his previous demand of $230 million from the Department of Justice. This move comes amidst ongoing federal investigations into his activities. The outcome of these investigations and Trumps bold demand could have far-reaching implications for the former President and his ongoing legal battles. Advertisement Advertisement Read Next Trump Recounts Story Involving Wife of Congressman Who Was Shot, Says I Know Many Wives Who Would Not Even Be Crying' Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga: This article Trump Claims Victory Over Government, Jokes He's Awarding Himself $1 Billion originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. President Donald Trump took a moment out of his speech Friday night to take a jab at his former MAGA buddy Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), or as he likes to call her, Marjorie Traitor Brown. And then you have Marjorie Traitor Brown, I call her ... because green turns to brown under stress, Trump said to a rally crowd in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. News: Parkland School Shooting Survivor Dies Nearly 8 Years After Massacre Greene has drawn backlash from the president in recent months over her criticism of the Trump administrations handling of several key issues, including the release of Jeffrey Epsteins case files and the recent government shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with CNNs Kaitlan Collins, Greene warned Republicans they may be headed for a disappointing outcome in the 2026 midterm elections and that Trumps grip on the party is loosening. What the hell happened to her? Trump asked the crowd in North Carolina. She... must have been a stone cold liberal. Shes on CNN now all the time. Can you believe it? The president then claimed the falling out with Greene stemmed from his not returning her calls and the Georgia Republican being neurotic. Ive got a family. I said, Talk to my family too. You cant call a president every single day and then when the president doesnt call you back, she goes around saying, He doesnt call me back, Trump said. President Donald Trump rails against his former MAGA buddy Marjorie Taylor Green, calling her a "stone cold liberal" Getty Images You know, you can only go so far once a month, once every week or two weeks but you cant, you know, highly neurotic. Her, not me, but Im neurotic too. I think Im probably very neurotic too, Trump said. I always say controlled neuroses is good. Being neurotic, no good. But if its controlled, thats OK. Gives you some energy. Advertisement Advertisement Trumps dig against the ex-MAGA firebrand also comes ahead of Greenes recently announced resignation from Congress. He claimed Greene dropped out because I wasnt going to endorse her, and the person I would have endorsed was going to kill her in the polls. So she dropped out, and then they talk about how brave she is. No, brave would be to stay... its one of those things, but she dropped out, Trump said. I cant believe that people can change so much, but you cant go from being a strong conservative to a stone cold liberal, unless you were lying. Related... Read the original on HuffPost Donald Trumps name has been added to the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, just one day after his hand-picked board members controversially voted to rename the arts venue, the first time a national institution has been named after a sitting US president. Workmen added metal lettering to the buildings exterior on Friday that declared, The Donald J Trump and the John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. Today, we proudly unveil the updated exterior designation honoring the leadership of President Donald J Trump and the enduring legacy of John F Kennedy, the centre said on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Family members of former President Kennedy, who was killed by an assassins bullet in 1963, as well as historians and Democratic lawmakers, have criticised the move, saying only an act of Congress could alter the name of the centre, which was designated as a living memorial to Kennedy a year after his assassination. The Kennedy Center was named by law. To change the name would require a revision of that 1964 law, Ray Smock, a former House of Representatives historian, told the Associated Press (AP) news agency. The Kennedy Center board is not a lawmaking entity. Congress makes laws, Smock said. A smile lights the face of President John F Kennedy as he is cheered during a speech to a Democratic Party rally in Milwaukee, US, in 1962 [File: AP Photo] The AP reports that the law naming the centre explicitly prohibits the board of trustees from making the centre into a memorial to anyone else, and from putting another persons name on the buildings exterior. Kerry Kennedy, a niece of former President Kennedy, said in a post on social media that she will remove Trumps name herself when his term as president ends. Advertisement Advertisement Three years and one month from today, Im going to grab a pickax and pull those letters off that building, but Im going to need help holding the ladder. Are you in? she wrote on X. Three years and one month from today, Im going to grab a pickax and pull those letters off that building, but Im going to need help holding the ladder. Are you in? Applying for my carpenters card today, so itll be a union job!!! pic.twitter.com/ZLPhd7fU31 Kerry Kennedy (@KerryKennedyRFK) December 19, 2025 Naming a national institution after a sitting president is unprecedented in US history. Landmarks such as the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and indeed, the Kennedy Center were all named after the deaths of the renowned US leaders. Kennedys grandnephew, former Congressman Joe Kennedy III, also said the Kennedy Center, like the Lincoln Memorial, was a living memorial to a fallen president and cannot be renamed, no matter what anyone says. The Kennedy Center is a living memorial to a fallen president and named for President Kennedy by federal law. It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says. https://t.co/VpZhNvx7So Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) December 18, 2025 Trump claimed on Thursday that he was surprised by the renaming of the Kennedy Center, even though he personally purged the centres previous board after calling it too woke. Advertisement Advertisement He has also previously spoken about having his name added to the centre and appointed himself chairman of the centres board earlier this year. Trump has sought to rein in the Kennedy Center since the start of his second term as part of an assault on cultural institutions that his administration has accused of being too left-wing. President Trump on Friday told supporters that Democrats will shut down the government over health care in January, after Affordable Health Care (ACA) tax credits are set to expire going into the new year. The problem is that Democrats will shut down the government because they are beholden to the insurance companies, Trump said at a rally in Rocky Mount, N.C. So I dont know what they can do about it, but theyll probably close down the government. Its so simple. Trump claimed Democrats demanded the deep increase in ACA premiums spiking next year. He said he wanted credit for referring to the ACA as the Unaffordable Care Act. Advertisement Advertisement But it was always no good, but now its really gone, Trump said. Remember, I didnt do this. This is ObamaCare, this is ObamaCare. This isnt Trump. But you dont need it. Trump referred to health insurance companies as big monster companies. He said Americans will have great health care at the right price, and youre going to have it. He touted that he will meet with insurance company leaders and maybe well have the same help with the health companies, with the pharmaceuticals and the drug companies, that we have. So rather than just saying, Were not going to deal, maybe theyll give us a deal by cutting prices by 50 percent, and maybe this makes sense, the president continued. Trump also promoted TrumpRX, a forthcoming direct-to-consumer platform that the administration says will let patients buy drugs at lower prices and bypass working with insurance companies. Advertisement Advertisement The rally was part of a series of stops Trump plans to make across the country ahead of the 2026 midterm elections to sell his administrations success to voters. Republicans hope relying on Trump will help them keep their majorities in both the House and the Senate. The worry is that Trump not being on the ballot could impact those majorities. When President Trump is on the ballot, Republicans tend to do well. When hes not on the ballot, Republicans dont do as well, Matt Terrill, a Republican strategist who served as chief of staff on Secretary of State Marco Rubios 2016 presidential campaign, previously told The Hill. The rally campaign kicked off in Pennsylvania last week, with Trump crediting White House chief of staff Susie Wiles for saying he needed to start campaigning. Democrats could have the momentum to use the Jan. 30 government funding deadline to force Republicans to make concessions on federal health care spending, as they did during the 43-day shutdown between October and November. Sen Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) warned that the fight is not over after Republicans failed to pass a bill to extend the ACA subsidies. Advertisement Advertisement An estimated 4.8 million Americans will lose their health care coverage in 2026 due to the expiration of the ACA subsidies. Over 20 million will see their monthly health care costs skyrocket. 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. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. On Thursday, the board of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts voted to rename the center the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. Weirdly, the board of the center, mostly picked by President Donald Trump, does not seem to understand that a memorial center is named for someone who is deceased, and thus the new name implies that Trump is dead. By Friday, Trumps name was physically added to the building at the behest of his handpicked board. Dont be fooled by the absurdity of Trumps vanity and the obsequiousness of these government officials: This is not at all an innocuous move. American political culture has long rejected the idea that sitting officer holders, or even living persons, should be honored with buildings or institutions named for them, or have their names and faces on currency, coins, or postage stamps. This sort of behavior is alien to a republic and a democracy. It is common, however, in dictatorships. Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Francisco Franco had heir faces on stamps, currency, and coins during their respective despotic reigns. Josef Stalin appeared on numerous stamps while he was the dictator of the Soviet Union and renamed a major city Stalingrad, after himself. Kim Jong-un sometimes appears on North Korean stamps. Advertisement Advertisement The first United States stamps featured Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, many decades after their deaths. Our coins reflect this tradition as well, with Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John F. Kennedy, Dwight Eisenhower, Susan B. Anthony, and Sacagawea getting their faces on coinage posthumously. The tyrannical Confederate government, on the other hand, put its leaders on stamps and currency, breaking with the long United States tradition of not honoring living people in these ways. The traditions around the naming of buildings and institutions in our democracy have been similar. And the names are often the result of nonpolitical, bipartisan decisions. Our nations capital was called the District of Columbia until 1802three years after the death of George Washingtonwhen the city of Washington was chartered. By this time Washington was seen as the father of our country, but his political party, the Federalist Party, was no longer in power. The Democratic-Republican Party of Thomas Jefferson supported the name change. Dulles airport in Washington was named for the deceased Republican Secretary of State John Foster Dulles during the Democratic administration of Kennedy. When it opened, there was talk about changing the name, but the Kennedy administration kept it. Mayor Fiorello La Guardia was responsible for the creation of New York Municipal Airport, which opened in 1939. Shortly before he died of cancer, and after he was no longer mayor, the city named the airport for him. Similarly, Congress renamed Washington National Airport for Ronald Reagan in 1998, long after Reagan had left politics, and four years after he had announced that he was suffering from Alzheimers diseaseand with Democrat Bill Clinton in the White House. OHare International Airport in Chicago was named for Edward Henry Butch OHare, the first Navy pilot to win the Medal of Honor, who died in combat in 1943. Cultural institutions are often named for those who donated to them, were leaders of them, or used their influence to create them. The Smithsonian is named for James Smithson, a British scientist who endowed the museum with a gift in his will. Chicagos Field Museum of Natural History began in 1893 but was renamed in 1905, a year before its main benefactor, Marshall Field, passed away. New York Citys Hayden Planetarium was named for a banker, Charles Hayden, who funded its creation, and passed away two years after it opened. Which brings us to the Kennedy Center. The idea of a national cultural center had bounced around American politics for three decades before President John F. Kennedy pushed for legislation to create it, using both public and private money. The center opened in 1971, nearly eight years after JFK was assassinated. It was formally named the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. Richard Nixon, a Republican, was president when it opened. In fact, Kennedy had beaten Nixon in the 1960 presidential election, but Nixon did not try to change the name. He did attend a performance there in the Eisenhower Theater, which also opened in 1971. Bipartisanship and honoring deceased leaders were etched into the building, literally. Advertisement Advertisement Now Trump has physically etched a different, more sinister tradition into its walls. The bottom line here is simple. For nearly 250 years the United States has not honored sitting political leaders by naming buildings or cultural institutions for them. Presidents have never appointed a board to an institution and then pressured that board to rename the institution for the president. Presidents have not signed bills, or issued executive orders, to name things after themselves. Dictators, emperors, fuhrers, czars, kings, and dear leaders do such things, because it makes them feel good, powerful, and strokes their fragile egos. Presidents of a republic do not act in this way. It is unseemly, it is childish, and it is thoroughly un-American. But it is also a warning of a path we must not continue to travel down. President Donald Trump dedicated a portion of his speech at a Friday rally to dissing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) just days before shes set to leave Congress. At a rally in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Trump slammed Greene as a stone cold liberal and highly neurotic, claiming their relationship dissolved because he didnt call her back enough. Greene recently announced her resignation from Congress following months of rising tensions between her and party leadership. Shes grown more critical of Republicans on issues like affordability, healthcare, and the Epstein Files. The congresswoman said she was resigning to avoid a hateful primary from the president. Advertisement Advertisement Trump hit Greene with the nickname Marjorie Traitor Brown because green turns to brown under stress. What the hell happened to her? She must have been a stone cold liberal, shes on CNN now all the time. Can you believe it? And it was only because I couldnt call her back, he continued. He continued: You know, I have 218, 219, it changes, but we have 200-and-some-odd congressmen and women. I have 53 senators. Ive 212 countries. Ive got a family, Ive got to talk to my family too. You cant call a president every single day and when the president doesnt call you back, she goes around saying, He doesnt call me back. I said, Marjorie, I just cant call you back, Im sorry. And I wouldnt call her back and she goes onto a rant, He wont call me back anymore. Trump slammed her as high neurotic and dismissed people calling her brave for leaving Congress. He acknowledged he would have endorsed someone who would kill her in the polls. Then they talk about how brave she is. No, brave would be to stay and, you know, its one of those things, he said. Watch above via CSPAN. The post Trump Slams Stone Cold Liberal Marjorie Taylor Greene: What the Hell Happened To Her? first appeared on Mediaite. The Supreme Court refused to intervene Friday in a battle concerning immigration judges speech restrictions, for now, snapping the Trump administrations months-long winning streak on the courts emergency docket. It marks the first time since the spring that the court has rejected one of the administrations emergency appeals. No justice publicly dissented, but the order left the door open for the government to try again once the case progresses further. At this stage, the Government has not demonstrated that it will suffer irreparable harm without a stay, the one-paragraph order reads. Advertisement Advertisement The case stems from restrictions on what immigration judges can say publicly. The restrictions require the judges, who are part of the executive branch, to obtain prior approval for speeches when the subject directly relates to their official duties. The National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ) claims the policy violates the First Amendment. Those free speech issues werent yet before the justices, however. The Trump administration went to the Supreme Court to try to halt an order allowing the lawsuit to proceed before a federal district judge. The administration argues it must go before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), a specialty body that oversees certain federal employee disputes. That question poses wider implications for other federal workers cases, too. Solicitor General D. John Sauer told the justices the lower ruling would indefinitely thwart the MSPB. The answer to such prolific contravention of the Courts precedents should not be to wait and see just how much instability will ensue, Sauer wrote in court filings. Advertisement Advertisement The lower court had acknowledged the MSPBs purview. But in allowing the lawsuit to proceed, it pointed to President Trumps firing at the board that left it for some time without a quorum, saying it raises serious questions about whether the MSPB continues to function as intended. The NAIJ told the Supreme Court to deny the administrations request. The Supreme Court was right to reject the governments request for a stay of proceedings, Ramya Krishnan, senior staff attorney at the Knight First Amendment Institute, which represents NAIJ, said in a statement. It should also quickly reject the governments soon-to-be filed cert petition, Krishnan said, referring to the administrations expected ask that the justices take up the case on their normal docket. The restrictions on immigration judges free speech rights are unconstitutional and its intolerable that this prior restraint is still in place. Advertisement Advertisement Fridays order marks a rare loss for the Trump administration on the Supreme Courts emergency docket. The administration has filed 32 emergency applications with the justices since Trump retook the White House. Its a staggering number the administration says is a result of federal district judges overstepping their authority to block Trumps agenda, while the presidents critics say it reflects him acting lawlessly. Several of the applications remain pending or were withdrawn, but the Supreme Court has almost always sided with the Trump administration in those decided so far. Updated at 4:18 p.m. EST Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Cultural & Historical Significance Juba holds deep cultural significance in West African traditions, particularly among the Ashanti people of Ghana. As a day name, it follows the Akan tradition of naming children based on the day of the week they were born, with Monday-born children receiving this name. This practice connects individuals to their birth circumstances and creates a spiritual bond with the specific energies associated with that day. In Ashanti cosmology, each day of the week has particular characteristics and spiritual influences, making the name more than just an identifier but a reflection of one's place in the cosmic order. The name also carries historical weight through notable figures like Juba II, the educated Berber king who ruled Mauretania and contributed significantly to scholarship and architecture. In African-American history, the name gained prominence through the famous 19th-century dancer known as 'Master Juba,' who revolutionized dance forms and helped create what would eventually become tap dance. This dual heritageboth African roots and diaspora significancemakes Juba a name that bridges continents and centuries, representing resilience, cultural preservation, and artistic innovation. Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Coast Guard led another seizure of an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela on Saturday after President Donald Trump declared a blockade of Venezuela. The U.S. Navy and other federal entities participated in the seizure of the oil tanker, which is not among those sanctioned by the federal government, the Wall Street Journal, CBS News and CNN reported. Armed U.S. personnel on military helicopters descended onto the tanker's deck during the early morning hours on Saturday and seized it, Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem said in a social media post. In a pre-dawn action early this morning on Dec. 20, the US Coast Guard with the support of the Department of War apprehended an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela. The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund... pic.twitter.com/nSZ4mi6axc Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) December 20, 2025 No one aboard the oil tanker resisted, and the United States seized it for carrying sanctioned Venezuelan oil. Advertisement Advertisement The seized tanker displayed a Panamanian flag and was carrying Venezuelan oil that it was to offload in Asia. Much of Venezuela's oil is shipped to China, which has privately owned teapot refineries that often buy and refine illicit oil from Venezuela, Iran and other sanctioned nations. The president on Tuesday ordered a "total and complete blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers as they enter or leave Venezuelan waters. Saturday's raid shows the blockade could affect any vessel that carries Venezuelan oil, as affirmed by Noem. The United States on Wednesday seized a sanctioned oil tanker after it departed a Venezuelan port and diverted it to Texas, where Trump said the United States could keep the oil in its hold. Advertisement Advertisement That tanker, The Skipper, was flying the flag of Venezuela's neighbor, Guyana, officials for which said the vessel is not among those registered there. Such activities are typical of a shadow fleet that uses deceptive tactics to hide where respective vessels are located and transport illicit oil, which often benefits Iran, Russia and other sanctioned states. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government called The Skipper's seizure an act of "piracy" and "robbery" and said the blockade is a "grotesque threat" that violates international law, according to CBS News. Maduro's regime accuses the United States of trying to "appropriate the oil, land and minerals of the country through gigantic campaigns of lies and manipulations." Advertisement Advertisement The blockade and tanker seizures are in addition to U.S. military strikes on alleged drug boats carrying illicit drugs destined for the United States and Europe. Both tactics are efforts to isolate the Maduro regime, which Trump seeks to force out of power by depriving it of its primary revenue sources. Ukraine says it supplies its troops with nearly 1,000 interceptor drones a day. It's a major milestone for the anti-Shahed tech, which was still being developed in early 2025. Ukraine's defense ministry said it's been working with over 10 interceptor manufacturers. Ukraine's defense ministry said on Thursday that it has been supplying its troops with roughly 950 interceptor drones every day since the beginning of December. In its statement, the ministry said these drones were specifically to "counter enemy Shahed-type UAVs." Advertisement Advertisement Reaching nearly 1,000 daily delivered interceptors is a significant milestone for the production of such drones, which were largely still in prototyping stages at the start of the year. These interceptors are first-person-view drones designed to fly into and destroy enemy aerial systems, typically using explosives or direct impact. A typical interceptor drone flies with four motor-powered propellers, but unlike the usual quadcopters, it is often shaped like a bullet or a rocket. Initially built to destroy high-flying reconnaissance craft, they've since been evolved by Ukrainians to take down long-range attack drones at a low cost primarily as a response to Russia launching large waves of Iranian-designed Shaheds this year. "These systems strengthen protection against drone terror while preserving resources for intercepting cruise and ballistic missiles," Ukraine's defense minister, Denys Shmyhal, said in Thursday's announcement. Advertisement Advertisement The defense ministry also said it's been working with more than 10 interceptor manufacturers and has placed more orders for next year. For Ukraine, interceptors must be fast enough to chase down drones such as the Shahed-136, which flies at a typical speed of 115 mph, while remaining cheap so that Kyiv's troops can sustainably use hundreds of them a day. Russia has recently been attacking with roughly 5,500 Shahed-type drones a month. Some Ukrainian drone makers have also been attempting to develop interceptors that can catch the Geran-3, the Russian version of the jet-powered Shahed-238, which can reportedly fly at an estimated 230 mph. Ukraine's new production capacity comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in November that his country was producing roughly 600 to 800 interceptors a day, falling short of his initial goal. Advertisement Advertisement In July, Zelenskyy had set a production target of 1,000 interceptors a day. Ukraine's volunteer movements directly sponsor some interceptor drones for select military units, though their quantity is often limited compared to the scale of what the Ukrainian government provides. For example, deliveries of the Wild Hornets' Sting, a $2,500 interceptor, were mostly sponsored this year by the Sternenko Foundation, a local crowdfunding organization. Read the original article on Business Insider An Ohio high school graduate and Brown University Student was on campus on Dec. 13 when a gunman opened fire. Mason High School graduate Ramya Rajan said getting into Brown was a dream come true, according to our news partner, WCPO. It was actually a year from Saturday that I got in, said Rajan. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement She made friends at the university, despite not knowing anyone else who was attending. Rajan said her freshman year of college took a turn on Saturday when a gunman went into the Engineering and Physics building and opened fire. Nine students were injured in the attack, and two students were killed. The two students who died were identified as 18-year-old Ella Cook and 19-year-old Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov. Rajan said she sprinted to her dorm room and sheltered in place with her roommate after receiving a text message from her friend that there was an active shooter. We barricaded our door, and closed our windows and turned off our lights, Rajan said. Advertisement Advertisement Rajan and her roommate sheltered in place for more than 12 hours, she said. As she was in her dorm room, she said she felt helpless and was trying to find information online about what was happening, said it was hard with a lot of misinformation that was being spread around. It was just very terrifying and at the same time, I was worried for a lot of my friends, Rajan said. A freshman study session was taking place in the classroom where the shooting happened, Rajan said. Rajan said, I had several friends who were in the room and several friends who were in the vicinity. She said she knew Umurzokov and had saw him earlier in the day. She described him as kind and compassionate. Advertisement Advertisement He made an effort to remember my name the first time we met, and I know when college starts, its such a blur as to all of the people that youre meeting, Rajan said. Learning of his death was hard, she said. He wanted to be a neurosurgeon since he was 8, and the world lost what would have been an amazing neurosurgeon, Rajan said. Rajan said that shes practiced active shooter drills in school since seventh grade. Many of her friends are international students and were not prepared for what happened. It was a uniquely American experience, I guess, that we had, and its something that is such a big thing here that isnt as prevalent in other places, Rajan said. Advertisement Advertisement She said it was jarring that some people didnt know what to do in this situation. Even with the training from school, Rajan said the real experience was still hard to prepare for. When its right there, and its your friends and this new family you have, its devastating, Rajan said. She is back home in Mason after catching the first flight she could the day after the shooting. Rajan plans to return to Brown University in January, but said that campus life wont be the same. Its going to be hard to start next semester, to know that two of our classmates, they werent able to see the first snow and they wont be able to realize their dreams, Rajan said. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The wind howled outside the Oneida County courthouse as David Kingsley stood before Judge Robert Bauer and was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the beating death of Robert Brooks. Brooks, an incarcerated individual transferred to Marcy Corrections Facility on Dec. 9, 2024, was brutally beaten with his hands cuffed behind his back by corrections officers while in custody. He died as a result of his injuries the next day. An autopsy was conducted by the Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office and, in February, Brooks' death was ruled a homicide. Three of the four corrections officers charged in the case who had not taken a plea deal with the special prosecutor have gone to trial: David Kingsley, Mathew Galliher, and Nicholas Kieffer. Advertisement Advertisement Kingsley was found guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter while Galliher and Kieffer were acquitted. David Kingsley stands with his lawyer at sentencing on Dec. 19. Family delivers victim impact statements Robert Brooks Jr., Brooks son, and Jared Ricks, Brooks brother, had a chance to deliver a victim impact statement directly to Kingsley. Brooks Jr. said he remembered watching his father being beaten and feeling like he was stuck in a horror movie. Ricks said the number of lives affected by the death of his brother has been unthinkable and that the actions of the corrections officers at Marcy robbed Brooks of his life, liberty, and happiness. I pray that the court imposes a sentence severe enough to tell correctional officers that they cannot treat incarcerated individuals like animals and I pray that this court imposes a sentence severe enough to tell incarcerated individuals that their lives matter, Brooks Jr. said. Prosecution pushes for maximum sentencing Onondaga County Assistant District Attorney Jed Hudson said that Kingsley, from the very beginning, was there carrying Brooks by his feet, wrenching Brooks up by the neck, and holding Brooks by the neck against the wall with Nicholas Anzalone. Advertisement Advertisement With his entire 300-pound frame, he lifted a 140-pound restrained man off a table by his throat, Hudson said. And for no reason. Hudson requested the maximum sentence against Kingsley. It was Mr. Kingsleys right to go to trial, but Mr. Kingsley made Mr. Brooks family sit in a courtroom, surrounded by people they didnt know, and watched Robert Brooks die, Hudson said. Kingsley alone, of every major player who inflicted horrible injuries on Robert Brooks, insisted on taking responsibility for what he did. Defendant apologizes for his actions When asked if he had anything to say to the court, Kingsley apologized for his actions that day. Advertisement Advertisement Id like to express my sincerest condolences to the Brooks family for the tragic loss theyve suffered, Kingsley said. I know nothing I say or do can change the outcome. All of the events that happened over the last three days of Robert Brooks life should have never happened. Every single incident was senseless. Kingsley was sentenced to an indeterminate time to life in state prison for second-degree murder and 25 years for first-degree manslaughter. Investigation: Utica Police Department investigating fatal shooting Retirement: Oneida County Legislature Chairman retiring after 45 years Fire: DOCCS investigating fire at Marcy Correctional Advertisement Advertisement After the sentencing, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said he felt Kingsleys apology was sincere, but ...far too late. Every defendant reacts differently when theyre sentenced. Some stay silent. I think Mr. Kingsley reflected on the gravity of the situation and it may have been the first time it dawned on him. I dont think he joined the New York State Department of Corrections to become an animal. But someone has to address the issue of what happened here and what changed him to have such utter and abject disregard for a fellow human beings life. Fitzpatrick added that everyone involved who laid hands on Robert Brooks and physically beat him is now serving a substantial prison sentence. Reflecting on that, Fitzpatrick admitted that when meeting with Brooks Jr. for the first time, Brooks Jr. didnt expect anything other than resignation and probationary sentences. Advertisement Advertisement This is the first case in my memory where a New York State corrections officer has been convicted and sentenced for killing an incarcerated individual, Fitzpatrick added. This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Oneida County corrections officer sentenced to life in prison The United States rejected shipments of Indonesian shoes after discovering radioactive content inside, The Star reported. What happened? U.S. authorities detected Cesium-137 contamination in footwear manufactured at a facility in the Cikande area of Banten. This plant operates about five kilometers away from a steel operation that officials have identified as the problem's origin. Indonesia's radiation response team said customs rejected one shipment roughly 30 days before another arrived back on Oct. 29, accompanied by an FDA alert about contamination. Advertisement Advertisement This shoe problem adds to the export troubles Indonesia has already faced. According to The Star, U.S. authorities had blocked shrimp and clove products after discovering the same substance. An industrial furnace for steel production at PT Peter Metal Technology created the contamination. Tests showed the radioactive material in exported goods came from waste generated during this company's operations. Health agencies screened 1,561 workers and community members for contamination. Nine tested positive for exposure and got medical attention before going back to their homes. Why is this contamination concerning? Cesium-137 poses real health risks to anyone who encounters it. Exposure can harm cells and raise the chances of developing cancer. Advertisement Advertisement The problem started when radioactive scrap metal entered Indonesia's industrial supply system. During furnace operations, the tainted material released radioactive particles that drifted to nearby factories, including the shoe manufacturer. Nuclear facilities can help fight climate disruption by generating electricity without carbon pollution, and they work day and night regardless of weather conditions. However, this contamination case demonstrates why radioactive materials need careful oversight. When safety systems fail and handling protocols break down, workers face exposure risks, and entire communities can suffer. Customs in the Netherlands found the radioactive problem in Indonesian sneakers before the shrimp issue became widely known. Testing on some shoe boxes revealed readings of 110 nSv/h against a normal environmental baseline of roughly 20 nSv/h. Advertisement Advertisement "Oh, that's already resolved, it's done. Nikomas Gemilang, right? There's already a letter from Bapeten confirming clearance; no problem," Taufik Bawazier, director general for chemical, pharmaceutical, and textile industries at the Industry Ministry, said, per The Star. What's being done about this contamination? If you buy products made overseas, you can check for safety recalls through the FDA's website or the Consumer Product Safety Commission. These agencies post alerts when contaminated items are discovered. Contact your representatives and ask them to support stricter safety standards for imported materials. Better screening at ports can stop radioactive substances from entering supply chains in the first place. 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 US struck multiple targets in Syria on Friday that the US military tied to ISIS as retaliation for the recent attack that killed two American service members there, according to two US officials. I am hereby announcing that the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible, President Donald Trump later wrote on Truth Social. Roughly 70 targets were hit in the operation, the two US officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Dubbed Operation Hawkeye, a reference to the fact that the two US soldiers killed were from the Hawkeye State of Iowa, the strikes hit dozens of targets the military connected to ISIS including infrastructure and weapons storage sites across Syria, one of the officials said. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the strikes a declaration of vengeance, in a post on X late Friday afternoon. This is not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance, he wrote. The United States of America, under President Trumps leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people. After the attack on December 13 that killed the two soldiers and a civilian interpreter, US and partner forces conducted 10 operations resulting in the death or detention of around 23 people, that official added. Those operations also yielded intelligence from electronics gathered during the operations that provided information contributing to targeting for the strikes, according to the same US official. Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of American troops continue to be deployed to Syria as part of the US longstanding mission to combat ISIS, a mission that began when ISIS rapidly took control of a large chunk of Syria and Iraq in the mid 2010s. Subsequently, US and partner operations, paired with a change in regime in Syria, largely eliminated that territorial control. The goal of Operation Hawkeye is to deliver a big blow to ISIS remnants in Syria and their ability to pose a threat to US forces in the region, the same official told CNN. Partner nations, including Jordan, joined the US in the strikes, the official said. The Jordanian Armed Forces confirmed its participation in the strikes on Saturday, saying it did so to prevent extremist organizations threatening the security of Syrias neighbors especially after the ISIS terrorist organization reconstituted itself and rebuilt its capabilities in southern Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Trump said on Friday that the US is striking very strongly against ISIS strongholds in Syria, a place soaked in blood which has many problems, but one that has a bright future if ISIS can be eradicated. The Government of Syria, led by a man who is working very hard to bring Greatness back to Syria, and is fully in support, he added. While the Trump administration has vowed retaliation against ISIS in the wake of the December 13 attack, CNN has reported that Syrias Ministry of Interior Affairs said the attacker had been a part of Syrias Internal Security service. US and Syrian officials acknowledged to CNN that the gunmans ties to ISIS are not entirely clear-cut; ISIS has not claimed responsibility for the attack. The two US service members killed in Syria were identified this week as Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa. They were killed while engaging hostile forces in Palmyra, Syria, the US Army said. Both soldiers were assigned to the Iowa National Guards 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division. Advertisement Advertisement Three additional Iowa National Guard members were wounded in the attack and evacuated for further medical treatment. Our priority right now is supporting the families of our fallen and wounded soldiers, Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborne, adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard, previously said in a statement. The entire Iowa National Guard grieves for this terrible loss, and we stand together to support the soldiers and their families. Roughly 1,800 Iowa National Guard soldiers began deploying to the Middle East earlier this year as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, a release from Gov. Kim Reynolds office said. This story has been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Dec 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday it has authorized the marketing of six Altria-owned on! PLUS nicotine pouch products, through a pilot program aimed to fast-track reviews of such products. The authorization was the first under the pilot program that the FDA launched in September, and applies to six on! PLUS nicotine pouches, which are manufactured by Helix Innovations LLC, an Altria joint venture for the global on! PLUS nicotine pouch portfolio. The company had applied for premarket authorization for the products in June 2024. Advertisement Advertisement The decision allows the mint, tobacco and wintergreen-flavored pouches, offered in 6 mg and 9 mg nicotine strengths, to be legally sold to adults in the United States. The FDA said its decision was based on evidence that the products contain lower levels of harmful chemicals, posing a lower risk of cancer and other serious health conditions compared to other smokeless tobacco products. The authorization applies only to the specified products and not to other Helix offerings. Nicotine pouches, which users insert under the lip, are the fastest-growing category of tobacco products in the U.S., and are generally considered among the lowest-risk smoking alternatives given they do not involve inhalation and do not contain tobacco. Earlier this year, 20 Zyn products, owned by Philip Morris became the first in the nicotine pouch category to receive market authorization from the FDA in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Zyn products were approved in January, more than five years after the company first submitted its application. Tobacco companies have invested heavily in developing and marketing alternatives to cigarettes as demand for these products grows. "on! PLUS will resume taking new orders for retail accounts in Florida, North Carolina and Texas and on e-commerce soon," Altria said to Reuters. Nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood and impulse control, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Reporting by Sanskriti Shekhar and Juveria Tabassum in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona) The US military launched airstrikes against dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria on Friday in retaliation for an attack on US personnel, two US officials said on Friday. The attacks come after Donald Trump vowed to hit back after an attack last weekend in Syria by a suspected Islamic State member. A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, described the strikes as a large-scale response that included targets across central Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Trump said on social media that the Syrian government fully supported the strikes and that the US was inflicting very serious retaliation. US Central Command said the strikes hit more than 70 targets across central Syria, adding that Jordanian fighter jets supported the operation. Syria reiterated its steadfast commitment to fighting Islamic State and ensuring that it has no safe havens on Syrian territory, according to a statement by the foreign ministry. Two US Iowa national guard members and a civilian interpreter were killed on Saturday in the central Syrian town of Palmyra by an attacker who targeted a convoy of American and Syrian forces before being shot dead, according to the US military. Three other US soldiers were also wounded in the attack. Advertisement Advertisement There are currently 1,000 US troops in Syria, posted with the mission to prevent the resurgence of IS in the region. Defense secretary Pete Hegseth suggested attacks against IS would continue. This is not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance, Hegseth said on social media. The United States of America, under President Trumps leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people. Hegseth added: Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue. He offered no other details about the strikes. He said the strikes targeted ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites and that the operation was OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE. Advertisement Advertisement The Americans killed last weekend were the first US casualties in the country since the fall of the dictator Bashar al-Assad last year. They were supporting counter-terrorism operations against the Islamic State when they were attacked by a lone gunman, per officials in both countries. The Syrian interior ministry has described the attacker as a member of the Syrian security forces suspected of sympathizing with Islamic State. On Thursday, Trump signed a law repealing a final batch of crippling economic sanctions on Syria, which were imposed to punish Assad for human rights abuses during the countrys civil war. After Assad was ousted in a December 2024, advocates pushed to have the sanctions lifted. Syrias government is led by former rebels who toppled Assad last year after a 13-year civil war, and includes members of Syrias former Al-Qaida branch who broke with the group and clashed with IS. Syria has been cooperating with a US-led coalition against Islamic State, reaching an agreement last month when President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited the White House. The United States military hit the ISIS [ISIL] thugs in Syria, President Donald Trump has said, a week after two US soldiers and an interpreter were killed in Syrias Palmyra city. In a speech Friday evening in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Trump said he ordered a massive strike on the terrorists that killed our three great patriots last week. It was very successful. It was precision, the president added. We hit every site flawlessly and we are restoring peace through strength all over the world. Advertisement Advertisement Jordans air force also carried out strikes as part of the operation in southern Syria, the army confirmed Saturday. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told the AFP news agency that at least five members of ISIL were killed in eastern Syrias Deir Az Zor province, including the leader of a cell responsible for drones in the area. A Syrian security source told AFP that the US strikes targeted ISIL cells in Syrias vast Badia desert including in Homs, Deir Az Zor and Raqqa provinces, and did not include ground operations. Trump separately wrote on his Truth Social platform that Syrias government, which was formed after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024, was fully in support of the US military operation. Advertisement Advertisement Syrias Ministry of Foreign Affairs also repeated its commitment to combatting ISIL and said it invites the United States and member states of the international coalition to support these efforts. The Syrian Arab Republic reiterates its steadfast commitment to fighting ISIS and ensuring that it has no safe havens on Syrian territory, and will continue to intensify military operations against it wherever it poses a threat, the ministry said in the statement shared on X early on Saturday. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said earlier that US forces had targeted ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites, adding that the attack was named Operation Hawkeye Strike. This is not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance, Hegseth said in a post on social media. Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue. Advertisement Advertisement Al Jazeeras Ayman Oghanna, reporting from Damascus, said the strikes hit central and northeastern parts of the country. Local sources in Palmyra and Raqqa told Al Jazeera they heard the sounds of fighter jets and huge explosions throughout the night. One US official said the operation struck 70 targets holding ISIL infrastructure and weapons. US deploys fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery The US militarys Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for operations in the Middle East, said it deployed fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery to launch more than 100 precision munitions targeting known ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites. It did not provide further details on the exact locations or casualties. Advertisement Advertisement CENTCOM said that the Jordanian Armed Forces also supported with fighter aircraft, a claim that the army backed in the day following the strikes. The army participated to prevent extremist organisations from exploiting these areas as launching pads to threaten the security of Syrias neighbours, it said in a statement. In February 2015, ISIL burned a Royal Jordanian Air Force pilot alive in a cage in Syria after capturing him when his plane crashed a few months earlier. The gruesome killing which was captured on video and claimed to be in response to Jordans role in the US-led coalition against ISIL shocked Amman, which pledged that his blood will not be shed in vain. A Swedish man was eventually sentenced to life in prison in July of this year for his role in the pilots death. Advertisement Advertisement This weeks operation came as Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is trying to rehabilitate his image and the image of Syria, said Al Jazeeras Oghanna. US authorities considered al-Sharaa to be a terrorist as recently as last month, when the US Department of the Treasury removed him from the Specially Designated Global Terrorist list ahead of a meeting with Trump. Al-Sharaa wants the world to know Syria is no longer safe haven for ISIL and hes also trying to transform his own image in the eyes of the world, Oghanna said. This latest episode, however, puts more pressure on the new Syrian government, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, the US and Jordan to work more closely together in eradicating the ISIL threat, Oghanna said. Last weekend, three Americans two US National Guard members and a civilian interpreter were killed in Palmyra by an attacker who targeted a convoy of US and Syrian forces before being shot dead, according to the US military. Advertisement Advertisement Three US soldiers were also wounded in the attack. The US blamed that attack on ISIL and promised to retaliate. About 1,000 US soldiers are stationed in Syria as part of a years-long operation targeting the remnants of ISIL forces in the region. A US-led coalition has also carried out air strikes and ground operations in Syria targeting ISIL suspects in recent months, often with the involvement of Syrias security forces. An agreement on cooperation was reached last month when al-Sharaa met with Trump at the White House. Although it was unclear whether Syrian defence forces took part in the US operation, the Syrian government appeared to have signed off on it, Al Jazeeras Rosiland Jordan reported earlier from Washington, DC. Advertisement Advertisement The US does consider it important to try to help Syria move beyond the Assad regimes years of dictatorship, Jordan said. In order to do so, getting rid of what the US considers a national security threat members of ISIL is part of helping Syria move into its next phase as a sovereign country, she said. ISIL captured Palmyra in 2015, at the height of its military ascendancy in Syria, before losing the city 10 months later. During that time, it destroyed several ancient sites and artefacts while using others to stage mass killings. ISIL was vanquished in Syria in 2018 but still carries out sporadic attacks without controlling any territory inside Syria. Earlier this month, Syria marked one year since the ousting of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad, but the war-ravaged nation continues to face stiff security and economic challenges as it seeks to rebuild and recover after 14 years of ruinous civil war. Individuals named Kaelee are often perceived as compassionate and nurturing, with a strong sense of responsibility toward others. They tend to be organized and reliable, embodying the 'keeper of the keys' symbolism through their trustworthiness and ability to manage important matters. Their purity of intention often manifests in genuine relationships and ethical decision-making. Kaelees typically possess a creative spirit and adaptability, allowing them to navigate various social situations with grace while maintaining their core values and integrity. These personality characteristics often make Kaelees natural caregivers and community builders. They approach life with sincerity and dedication, whether in personal relationships or professional endeavors. The combination of organizational skills and emotional intelligence enables them to excel in roles requiring both structure and compassion. While they may be reserved initially, once trust is established, they form deep, lasting connections built on mutual respect and shared values. Their inherent sense of duty often drives them to take on leadership roles where they can positively influence their communities. KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) The white dome of Boudhanath rises like a silent guardian over the chaotic sprawl of Nepals capital, Kathmandu, crowned by a golden spire that pierces the sky. Painted on each of the spires four sides are the benevolent eyes of the Buddha wide, calm, and unblinking said to see all that unfolds below. Those eyes have served as a symbol of sanctuary for generations of Tibetans fleeing the Chinese crackdown in their homeland. But today, Tibetan refugees are also watched by far more malevolent eyes: Thousands of CCTV cameras from China, perched on street corners and rooftops to monitor every movement below. This intense surveillance has stifled the once-vibrant Free Tibet movement that had resonated around the world. Nepal is just one of at least 150 countries to which Chinese companies are supplying surveillance technology, from cameras in Vietnam to censorship firewalls in Pakistan to citywide monitoring systems in Kenya. This technology is now a key part of Chinas push for global influence, as it provides cash-strapped governments cost-effective, if invasive, forms of policing turning algorithms and data into a force multiplier for control. Advertisement Advertisement The irony at the heart of this digital authoritarianism is that the surveillance tools China exports are based on technology developed in its greatest rival, the United States, despite warnings that Chinese firms would buy, copy or outright steal American designs, an investigation by The Associated Press has found. For decades, Silicon Valley firms often yielded to Beijings demands: Give us your technology and we will give you access to our market. Although tensions fester between Washington and Beijing, the links between American tech and Chinese surveillance continue today. For example, Amazon Web Services offers cloud services to Chinese tech giants like Hikvision and Dahua, assisting them in their overseas push. Both are on the U.S. Commerce Departments Entity List for national security and human-rights concerns, which means transactions with them are not illegal but subject to strict restrictions. AWS told AP it adheres to ethical codes of conduct, complies with U.S. law, and does not itself offer surveillance infrastructure. Dahua said they conduct due diligence to prevent abuse of their products. Hikvision said the same, and that they categorically reject any suggestion that the company is involved in or complicit in repression. Advertisement Advertisement Chinese technology firms now offer a complete suite of telecommunications, surveillance, and digital infrastructure, with few restrictions on who they sell to or how theyre used. China pitches itself as a global security model with low crime rates, contrasting its record with the United States, said Sheena Greitens, a political scientist at the University of Texas at Austin. Its got a set of solutions that its happy to share with the world that nobody else can offer, she said. (But) theyre certainly exporting the tools and techniques that are very important to authoritarian rule. The AP investigation was based on thousands of Nepali government procurement documents, corporate marketing material, leaked government and corporate documents, and interviews with more than 40 people, including Tibetan refugees and Nepali, American and Chinese engineers, executives, experts and officials. Advertisement Advertisement While thousands of Tibetans once fled to Nepal every year, the number is now down to the single digits, according to Tibetan officials in Nepal. In a statement to AP, the Tibetan government in exile cited tight border controls, Nepals warming ties with China and unprecedented surveillance as reasons for the drastic plunge. A 2021 internal Nepali government report, obtained by AP, revealed that China has even built surveillance systems within Nepal and in some areas of the border buffer zone where construction is banned by bilateral agreements. In a statement to AP, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied coercing Western companies to hand over technology or working with Nepal to surveil Tibetans, calling it a sheer fabrication driven by ulterior motives." Attempts to use Tibet-related issues to interfere in Chinas internal affairs, smear Chinas image, and poison the atmosphere of China-Nepal cooperation will never succeed, the statement said. The Nepali government and the Chinese-controlled Tibetan authorities did not respond to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Under pressure, many Tibetans are responding the only way they can: Leaving. The Tibetan population in Nepal has plunged from over 20,000 to half that or less today. Former activist Sonam Tashi gave up protesting years ago. Now 49, today he's just a father trying to get his 10-year-old son out before the net pulls tighter. The boy was born in Nepal but has no document proving he is either a refugee or a citizen, a result of Chinese pressure. Tashi described how those considered likely to protest are picked up in advance around key dates like March 10, which marks the 1959 Tibetan uprising, or July 6, the Dalai Lamas birthday. In 2018, Nepal's police magazine confirmed that it was building predictive policing, which allows officers to watch peoples movements, identify in advance who they think will protest and arrest them preemptively. There are cameras everywhere, Tashi said, sitting on a bus winding toward the Indian border. There is no future. Advertisement Advertisement They gave us all the hardware After China crushed a Tibetan uprising in 1959, thousands fled across the Himalayas to Nepal, carrying only what they could: Religious paintings, prayer wheels and the weight of families left behind. Their exodus, led by the charismatic Dalai Lama, captured the American imagination, with Hollywood films and actor Richard Geres congressional appeals putting Tibet in the spotlight. Washington trod a careful line, defending the rights and religious freedom of Tibetans without recognizing independence. Today, the future of the Free Tibet movement is in question. Without refugee cards that grant basic rights, Tibetans in Nepal can no longer open bank accounts, work legally or leave the country. Advertisement Advertisement Cameras are now everywhere in Kathmandu, perched on traffic lights and swiveling from temple eaves. Most link back to a four-story brick building just a few blocks down from the Chinese embassy, where officers watch the country in real time. The building hums with the low breath of cooling fans. Inside, a wall of monitors blinks with feeds from border towns, busy markets and clogged traffic crossings. Officers in crisp blue uniforms and red caps sit in the glow, scanning scenes. Beneath the screens, a photo published in a Nepali daily shows, a sign in English and Chinese reads: With the compliments of the Ministry of Public Security of China. Their reach is vast. Advertisement Advertisement Operators can track a motorbike weaving through the capital, follow a protest as it forms, or patch an alert directly to patrol radios. Many cameras are equipped with night vision facial recognition and AI tracking able to pick a single face out of a festival crowd or lock onto a figure until it disappears indoors. The system not only sees but is learning to remember, storing patterns of movement, building a record of lives lived under its gaze. A 34-year-old Tibetan cafe owner in the city watched the city change in quiet horror. Now you can only be Tibetan in private, he said. He and other Tibetans in Nepal spoke to AP anonymously, fearing retaliation. The first cameras in Boudhanath were installed in 2012, officially to deter crime. But after a Tibetan monk doused himself in petrol and set himself ablaze in front of the stupa in 2013, police added 35 night vision cameras around it. The Chinese embassy in Kathmandu worked closely with the police, said Rupak Shrestha, a professor at Simon Fraser University in Canada who studied surveillance in Nepal. He said the police received special training to use the new cameras, identify potential symbols associated with the Free Tibet movement and anticipate dissent. Advertisement Advertisement In 2013, a team of Nepal Police officers crossed the northern border into Tibet for a seemingly straightforward mission: Collect police radios from Chinese authorities in Zhangmu, a remote border town, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Kathmandu. A truck was loaded with equipment and a few handshakes later, they were driving back to Kathmandu. The radios made by the partly state-owned Chinese firm Hytera looked like walkie-talkies but ran on a digital trunking system, a scaled-down mobile network for police use. Officers could talk privately, coordinate across districts, even patch into public phone lines. The entire system radios, relay towers, software was a $5.5 million gift from China. They didnt give us the money, recalled a retired Nepali officer who made the trip. They gave all the hardware. All Chinese. He remembered not the border guards but the tech sleek, reliable, and far ahead of anything theyd used before. He spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive internal discussions. Advertisement Advertisement He said Nepal had initially considered buying the technology from the U.S. and only wanted to deploy the system in its two biggest cities. Hytera was a fraction of the cost and performed comparably, but China also wanted coverage near the border with Tibet. Nepal acquiesced. They installed the technology in Sindhupalchowk, a border district with a key road to China used by Tibetan refugees. We understood their mindset, the retired officer said. A secure border. A police envoy from the Chinese embassy began making regular visits to the Nepal Police headquarters. Hed chat over coffee, flip through brochures from Chinese companies. Hed say, You want anything? the retired officer recalled. China began donating tens of millions in police aid and surveillance equipment, including a new school for Nepals Armed Police Force. Hundreds of Nepali police traveled to China for training on policing and border control, according to Chinese government posts. Ahead of a summit of South Asian leaders in 2014, among the goods on offer were ones from Uniview, Chinas pitch for an all-seeing eye. The company was the Chinese surveillance business of what was then Hewlett Packard, or HP, before it was spun off in a 2011 deal. Since 2012, Uniview has been selling mass surveillance solutions to the Tibetan police, such as a command center, and developed cameras that track ethnicities such as Uyghurs and Tibetans. Uniview installed cameras in Kathmandu for Nepals first safe city project in 2016. It started with the citys roads, then went up across the capital in tourist areas, religious sites, high-security zones like Parliament and the prime ministers home. The cameras didnt just record. Some could follow people automatically as they moved. Others were designed to use less data, making it easier to store and review footage. Hewlett Packard Enterprise, or HPE, a successor company to HP that sells security solutions, has no ownership in Uniview and declined to comment. Hytera and Uniview did not respond to requests for comment. Nearly all the cameras installed in Nepal are now made by Chinese companies like Hikvision, Dahua and Uniview, and many come bundled with facial recognition and AI tracking software. Hikvision's website and marketing materials advertise camera systems in Nepal linked via Hik-Connect and HikCentral Connect, cloud products that rely on Amazon Web Services. Hikvision sells to the Nepali police and government, and a template for Nepali tenders indicates CCTV cameras procured for the government are required to support Hik-Connect. In return for Beijings support, top Nepali officials have thanked China repeatedly over the years, promising never to allow anti-China activities on Nepali territory. The Nepali police head offices arent far from the now-forlorn Tibetan reception center, which used to shelter tired, hungry Tibetans fleeing across the border. The building is nearly empty. The gates are locked. Those who do escape, like Namkyi, arrested at 15 for protesting Chinese rule, often have to wait for weeks confined indoors until theyre smuggled out again to the Tibetan capital in exile in India. Silence has become survival. They know they are being watched, she said. Even though we are free, the surveillance cameras mean were actually living in a big prison. From clients to competitors From the start, U.S. companies eager for Chinas vast markets exchanged technology for entry. Many were required to start joint ventures and research operations in China as a precondition for being allowed in. Dozens, if not hundreds, complied, transferring valuable know-how and expertise even in sensitive areas like encryption or policing. Little by little, Chinese companies chipped away at the lead of American tech companies by luring talent, obtaining research, and sometimes plain copying their hardware and software. The flow of technology continued, even as U.S. officials openly accused China of economic espionage and pressuring American companies for their technology. China is by far the most egregious actor when it comes to forced technology transfer, Robert D. Atkinson, then-president of a think tank focused on innovation, warned Congress in a 2012 hearing. American tech resistance came to a final, definitive end later that year with Edward Snowdens revelations that U.S. intelligence was exploiting American technology to spy on Beijing. Spooked, the Chinese government told Western firms they risked being kicked out unless they handed over their technology and provided security guarantees. After companies like HP and IBM agreed, their former partners became their fiercest global competitors and unlike American firms, they faced few questions about the way their technology was being used. Companies like Huawei, Hikvision and Dahua have now become global behemoths that sell surveillance systems and gear all over the world. American technology was key to this: - Uniview, the Chinese AI-powered CCTV camera supplier, supplied the first phase of Nepals safe city project in 2016, installing cameras in Kathmandu. Uniview was carved out of California-based HPs China surveillance video business. - Hytera provided data infrastructure for the Nepali police, such as walkie-talkies and digital trunking technology, which enables real-time communication. Earlier this year, Hytera acknowledged stealing technology from U.S. company Motorola in a plea agreement, and had acquired German, British, Spanish, and American tech businesses in their growth phase. - Hikvision and Dahua, Chinas two largest surveillance camera suppliers, sell many of the cameras now in Nepal. They partnered with Intel and Nvidia to add AI capabilities to surveillance cameras. Those ties ended after U.S. sanctions in 2019, but AWS continues to sell cloud services to both companies, which remains legal under what some lawmakers call a loophole. AWS has advertised to Chinese companies expanding overseas, including at a policing expo in 2023. - Chinese tech giant Huawei has become one of the worlds leading sellers of surveillance systems, wiring more than 200 cities with sensors. In Nepal, they supplied telecom gear and high-capacity servers at an international airport. Over the years, the company benefited from partnerships with American companies like IBM, and has been dogged by allegations of theft including copying code from Cisco routers wholesale, a case which Huawei settled out of court in 2004. Huawei said it provides general-purpose products based on recognized industry standards. Intel has said it adheres to all laws and regulations where it operates, and cannot control end use of its products. Nvidia has said it does not make surveillance systems or work with police in China at present. IBM and Cisco declined comment. Policing gear maker Motorola Solutions, a successor company to Motorola after it split, did not respond to requests for comment. U.S. technology transfer to Chinese firms has mostly stopped after growing controversy and a slew of sanctions in the past decade. But industry insiders say its too late: China, once a tech backwater, is now among the biggest exporters of surveillance technologies on earth. Few realized the U.S. shouldnt be selling the software to China because they might copy it, they might use it for these types of surveillance and bad stuff, said Charles Mok, a Hong Kong IT entrepreneur and former lawmaker now living in exile as a research scholar at Stanford. Nobody was quick enough to realize this could happen. The great big eye in the sky Inside a 15th-century monastery in Lo Manthang in Nepals Mustang district, light slants through wooden slats, catching motes of dust and the faded faces of bodhisattvas. Crumpled notes of Chinese currency lie at the feet of deities in the walled city along the Tibetan border. Here, shops stock Chinese instant noodles and cars with Chinese plates rumble down mountain roads. A gleaming white observation dome just inside Chinese territory looms over the city. Visible from 15 kilometers (9 miles) away, its trained on the district that has long been a refuge for Tibetans, including a guerrilla base in the 1960s. The dome is just one node in Chinas vast 1,389-kilometer (863-mile) border network with Nepal a Great Wall of Steel of fences, sensors and AI-powered drones. Chinese forces have barred ethnic Tibetans from accessing traditional pastures and performing sacred rites. They have pressured residents of Lo Manthang to remove photos of the Dalai Lama from shops. And a China-Nepal joint command mechanism meets several times a month on border patrols and repatriations, according to a post by the Chinese-run Tibetan government. The result is that the once-porous frontier is now effectively sealed, and Chinas digital dragnet reaches deep into the lives of those who live near it. In April 2024, Rapke Lama was chatting with a friend across the border on WeChat when he received an invitation to meet. He set out from his village and crossed into Tibet only to be arrested almost immediately. Lama believes his WeChat exchange was monitored; Chinese police appeared with unsettling precision, as if they knew where to look. After accusing him wrongly, he maintains of helping Tibetans flee into Nepal, the police seized his phone, which had photos of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan music. Then came months in a Lhasa prison, where isolation and inadequate medical care hollowed him out. Lama did not return to Nepal until May 2025, gaunt and shaken. He later said he entered Tibet to harvest caterpillar fungus, valued in traditional Chinese medicine. Another friend who crossed the border remains in custody. Even now, Im scared, Lama says. He wears masks when wandering the streets, he says, because of that lingering fear. The Chinese observation dome is a giant symbol of the same fear, towering over the border. Its the great big eye in the sky, said a 73-year-old Tibetan hotel owner in Nepal, who spotted the installation during a trip near the border last year. For Tibetan refugees, Nepal has become a second China. __ Associated Press journalists Niranjan Shrestha and Binaj Gurubacharya in Kathmandu, Manish Swarup and Rishi Lekhi in New Delhi, Ashwini Bhatia in Dharamshala, India, and David Goldman in Washington contributed to this report. - Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org or https://www.ap.org/tips/. CNNs Jonathan Reiner said he was profoundly disturbed by President Donald Trumps White House address this week. Trump gave a nearly 20-minute speech on Wednesday night in which he rehashed many of his previous talking points about the economy and immigration, while also disparaging his predecessor multiple times. While the content of the speech was nothing new, the president spoke in a loud and halting tone that prompted social media users to question whether there is something that is newly wrong with him. According to Reiner, a cardiologist and professor of medicine and surgery at George Washington University, the answer appears to be yes. Advertisement Advertisement On Thursdays edition of The Lead, host Jake Tapper read some posts from Reiner the previous night. The doctor posted, Im seriously concerned about the health of the president, and also, No one should be happy to see the president like this. He looks unwell. Dr. Reiner, what specifically was it about President Trump that you found so concerning watching him last night? Tapper asked. Especially in the context of, you know, he gives outrageous speeches and has been for years. Reiner replied that Trump had a manic cadence that was very disturbing: Well, it wasnt the content. I thought the content was just standard fare that weve become accustomed to. But it was the way it was delivered. It was delivered with a manic cadence, almost a frantic cadence. It was as if you felt like you were listening to a podcast on 2x. And that kind of manic delivery was very, very disturbing. Very pressurized speech. And as the address went on, his cadence of his remarks became quicker. And weve never seen the president like that. He seemed almost frantic. And it was disturbing to watch. It was disturbing because hes the commander-in -chief. Hes not just the head of the government. Hes the commander in chief of the greatest armed forces this world has ever seen. And it was disturbing to see him with such an almost uncontrolled cadence. Tapper responded by pointing to a video of Trump from earlier in the day in which the president again appeared to have difficulty keeping his eyes open. Reiner responded: So, hes done this several times now in the last few weeks. Hes fallen asleep in a crowded Oval Office. And hes also fallen asleep at cabinet meetings with people talking directly to him. And thats whats called increased daytime somnolence. And there are a lot of things that can do that. Sometimes people with sleep apnea, people who wake up many times during the night and dont get restorative sleep have that. Thats treated typically with CPAP or CPAP mask. Weve never been told the president has sleep apnea. So, but its jarring to see the president go from basically asleep in the Oval Office to, you know, really this rapid-fire pace during basically a 30 minute speech that he gave in 18 minutes. Reiner reiterated his point that no one should be happy to see that, and added that the White House should be more forthcoming about Trumps conditions, which include a bruised hand and swollen ankles. Watch above via CNN. The post Weve Never Seen the President Like That: CNN Medical Analyst Calls Trumps Manic White House Speech Very Disturbing first appeared on Mediaite. VIRGINIA BEACH After a multi-familiy structure fire on Malibu Palms Drive, eight apartments were affected, leaving 12 adults and nine children displaced, according to a news release from the Virginia Beach Fire Department. Friday at 9:03 p.m. VBFD went to the fire reported in the 3600 block of Malibu Palms Drive, which is off of Virginia Beach Boulevard. At the site, there was heavy black smoke and flames visible from the second floor of a two-story apartment building. At 9:16 p.m., the fire department requested additional resources. Advertisement Advertisement After using hose lines, there was water on the fire by 9:12 p.m., the fire was brought under control at 9:35 p.m. and it was declared out at 10:01 p.m. There were no injuries reported. Multiple pets were saved from several apartments, including four cats and one dog. Eight apartments were affected in total, four on the first floor and four on the second. This has left 12 adults and nine children displaced. The American Red Cross was contacted to assist with temporary housing. The origin and cause of the fire are still under investigation. Xami, who lived through South Africas apartheid, offered invaluable testimony on the misuse of that term against Israel and the deep sense of kinship many indigenous nations feel toward Jews. As the sun set over the Old City walls in Jerusalem, the Aish World Center in the Old Citys Jewish Quarter partnered with Jerusalem NGOIndigenous Bridges to host a special intercultural event last month. The guest of honor was Regent Xami Thomas of the Khoi Nation of South Africa. Regent Xami, who lived through South Africas apartheid, offered invaluable testimony on the misuse of that term against Israel and the deep sense of kinship many indigenous nations feel toward the Jewish people. Advertisement Advertisement Rabbi Daniel Rowe of Aish opened the evening by highlighting the significance of allies such as Regent Xami. Regent Xami. (credit: Princess Joy Cochoqua) Jewish people are an indigenous nation constantly under attack, he said. To have friends who bravely stand with us is a powerful honor. I remember as a child hearing about boycotts against apartheid South Africa. To now see those same accusations weaponized against us is painful, but evenings like this give hope. Ateret Shmuel, executive director of Indigenous Bridges, stressed the urgency of indigenous solidarity at a time of skyrocketing antisemitism worldwide. One of the main antisemitic narratives today is the lie that Jews are colonial white settlers who dispossessed indigenous peoples. Regent Xamis presence here dismantles that falsehood, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Shmuel explained that around the world, Jews are frightened and often afraid to speak openly. Meanwhile, communities showing up strongest in support are other indigenous peoples. Those who understand what indigenous truly means, defined by Shmuel as peoples whose ethnogenesis, culture, and history emerge from a land long before colonial contact recognize our story, she said. We are Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael. You cannot sever that connection. She also noted that although the United Nations originally included Jews as an indigenous people, the definition was later altered in ways that excludes Jewish sovereignty. The UN now defines indigenous as a minority that is oppressed. That standard is deeply problematic, Shmuel said. Regaining stewardship of your ancestral land does not make you any less indigenous. Regent Xami, the main speaker, spoke about apartheid as someone who endured its brutality, describing accusations against Israel as deeply offensive and historically inaccurate. He emphasized the growing divide between the ANC government and the many South Africans who feel solidarity with Israel. Regent Xamis message of ethnic survival Regent Xami has a message about the real battles insideSouth Africas war of perception and was happy to enhance his points in an interview with In Jerusalem. Advertisement Advertisement It is important to note that, similar to attempts worldwide to eradicate the definition of Jewish peoplehood, Regent Xamis own ethnic group, the Khoi, has historically experienced forced attempts to change the definition of who they are. Descending from one of Southern Africas original tribes, first the Dutch and then the apartheid government of South Africa lumped his people as colored alongside a swath of others, including Indians and descendants of mixed marriages or rapes, in order to forcibly remove the people from history. The very term colored was imposed on us to try to remove our identity and our connection to the land which the whites took by force, he said. Regent Xami was born on the slopes of Lions Head in Cape Town and now resides in the northernmost suburb of Cape Town, in a neighborhood called Atlantis, largely populated by descendants of the Khoi. His tribal name, Xami, or Lion, reflects this lineage and destiny. His family descends from the inland Inqua, a subtribe of the Khoi, while his wife comes from the Cochoqua subtribe and is a direct descendant of Odesoa, an important Khoi chieftain. Before the Europeans arrived, the Khoi and the San indigenous peoples lived across southern Africa with a distinct culture, land-based spirituality, and a legacy preserved through rock art rather than written texts. The Portuguese were the first Europeans they encountered and were originally defeated in the 1510 Battle of Salt River. A century later, the Dutch arrived as traders, then as conquerors. They seized land, took livestock, pillaged communities, and imposed systems of forced labor that slowly stripped the Khoi of their ancestral rights. Advertisement Advertisement First came the Afrikaners originally 17th- to 18th-century European colonialists and then the British, each intensifying the dispossession. Epidemics such as smallpox, which were brought by European ships, destroyed entire communities, driving many Khoi inland and away from their lands near the port. Under apartheid, the regime encoded the colored designation, a derogatory term, in the infamous Population Registration Act, making the designation official state policy. God is a tribalist, Regent Xami said. We were meant to have our land and identity. But the government wanted us to disappear. The land that once belonged to the Khoi was seized by force; none of it was freely handed over to settlers. End of apartheid Freedom finally came with the end of apartheid when Nelson Mandela became South Africas first Black president. The moment was historic and transformative. Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, nearly 30 years later, Regent Xami laments that the hopes invested in Mandelas party, the ANC, have not been realized. Once commanding 80% of the electorate, the ANC has lost more than half its support and recently fell below 50%, forced into its first coalition government in history. Worse still, Mandela did not remove the term coloreds from the daily lexicon, and it is used to this day. Khoi youth visit the Jewish Museum in Cape Town, South Africa. (credit: Princess Joy Cochoqua) The decline accelerated after South Africa took Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of genocide. The majority of South Africans are Christians, Regent Xami noted. They read in the Bible how God gave the land to the Jewish people. They know Israel has a right to defend itself. The Khoi leadership, including Regent Xami, publicly distanced themselves from the South African governments ICJ action, and Regent Xami believes he represents the majority of the grassroots people of South Africa. Misusing the word apartheid Regent Xami spoke with unusual moral authority and emotion as one who has lived history. He is one of the few global voices who can describe apartheid from lived experience. Thus, when he watches activists and governments casually accuse Israel of apartheid, he responds with a clarity that could only be derived from decades of life experience. Advertisement Advertisement The real apartheid was violent, he insisted. It was written into law. It was enforced with murder, with forced removals, with segregation in every aspect of life. Below are the symptoms of the real apartheid that he listed, followed by the experience found in Israel: No justice under law: Courts were used to preserve white supremacy. In contrast, Israels Supreme Court includes Arab justices and has often intervened to protect Arab rights. Segregated beaches and public spaces: Our best beaches were for whites only. Israels beaches and parks are open to all. Limited education: Schools for people of color were dilapidated, overcrowded, and designed to suppress ambition. Israel has Arab doctors, engineers, professors roles unthinkable for people of color under apartheid. Segregated transportation: Black South Africans could sit only in specific parts of buses. In Israel, all nationalities ride together. Military exclusion: That is impossible in a true apartheid state, he said. Here in Israel, you have Muslim/Druze officers commanding Jewish soldiers. He sees the appropriation of the term apartheid as part of a broader global movement to morally delegitimize Israel. They want to break down the moral barrier, using terms devoid of their original meaning, he warned. If they can paint the Jews as evil, then they believe they can justify destroying them. He also spoke about the Christian and Arab perspectives, often marginalized in the current conflict: Many Arab Christians he knows side with the Jewish people openly, pointing to the scriptures themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Nazareth and Bethlehem, once majority Christian, are now dominated by forces hostile to Israel, a shift Regent Xami sees as part of a regional trend: Lebanon, too, once a Christian-majority nation, is now controlled by jihadist groups. When you talk about colonialism, point your finger elsewhere, he said. Not at Israel the only nation living in its original homeland. A message for South Africa Turning toward his homeland of South Africa, Regent Xami directly addressed President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC government: If you want to know if God is real, look at the Jews. Otherwise, they would have been wiped out centuries ago. From Regent Xamis religious worldview, Israel is not only a nation but a divine testament. The survival of the Jewish people, he argued, confirms the existence of God. You are on the wrong path. You must repent. You are not just fighting Israel, you are fighting 3,000 years of testament found in the scriptures. Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, he called on the current coalition government of South Africa to implement the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) both in regard to the Jewish people and to stop its own internal discrimination practices against the Khoi. He warned that the ANCs 40-year period of dominance mirrored biblical cycles, and that its time was ending. The party, he said, had traded integrity for foreign funding and political alliances with Middle Eastern actors who have encouraged its anti-Israel posture. More dangerously, he said he believed that the ANC has opened South Africas doors to Hamas-linked networks. You are taking the side of the losing team, he said. There is real genocide happening in Nigeria and Sudan, yet you accuse Israel, one of the most democratic nations on Earth. For Regent Xami, South Africas salvation lies not in elite politics but in grassroots education. Many young people, he said, have been indoctrinated by intellectuals and politicians deeply hostile to Israel. But ordinary South Africans, especially Christians, who still make up the majority of its people, are naturally sympathetic to Israel when given the facts. Advertisement Advertisement His activism includes speaking at the site of the Supernova music festival Oct. 7 massacre site, appealing to Christian South Africans to confront the reality of terrorism and the values that Israel represents. He urges leaders to remember that South Africa itself brings schoolchildren to Holocaust museums to show them the consequences of antisemitism and the immense contributions of Jewish civilization. Look at what the Jewish people have given the world, he said. Even the constitutions of Israels enemies contain parts of Mosaic law. Without the Jewish people, our world would be unrecognizable. Looking toward the future According to Jason Watson, deputy executive director of Indigenous Bridges, the message is one of hope for Israel in a time of struggle. What stood out was Regent Xamis call to recognize Israel as a rare success story of indigenous decolonization. He contrasted it with his own tribal nation, where unity and opportunity are far more fragile, and urged Jewish attendees to treasure the strength they have here. It is important for Israelis to protect what they built and to stay united against enemies, a key message of the night and the theme. Coming from someone whose own nation lacks the stability Israel has achieved, it carried real weight, Watson said. Rudy Rothman, a participant at the event, was inspired by the concept of using such events to bring about the Jewish value of tikkun olam (repairing the world) and to take the Jewish experience and use it as a strength to help others. We happened to be one of the only peoples to receive liberation at this level. We are clearly a success model for indigenous people around the world, especially those suffering due to colonialism, he said. Examples, such as the revival of the Hebrew language, are inspirations for indigenous peoples around the world, and Israel is in a position to help others. Israel, as a liberated country, has a responsibility to help indigenous communities to achieve their own freedom, Rothman said. As for Regent Xami Thomas, much work needs to be done in terms of educating South Africans about the real Israel and also for advancing Khoi educational needs, combating centuries of oppression. Regent Xamis email is admin@mkksa.org. A weekly selection of opinions and analyses from the Arab media around the world. The collapse of the Muslim BrotherhoodAkhbar el-Yom, Egypt, December 13 Since a number of its leaders fled abroad, the Muslim Brotherhood appears to be living in an isolated bubble, detached from reality. Its media messaging and the activity of its online committees point to a clear state of confusion rooted in false assumptions, while its organizational cells are showing signs of collapse both inside and outside the country. No one disputes the scale of the economic and social challenges confronting Egypt, yet the Brotherhood insists on peddling falsehoods and inflammatory rumors rather than engaging with these challenges as issues requiring realistic solutions. History shows that the chaos such groups seek to ignite leads only to devastation, and that societies pushed into the unknown rarely recover unscathed. Advertisement Advertisement The Brotherhoods discourse remains imprisoned by the same conspiratorial mindset that has dogged the organization since its founding. Nearly 15 years after the January events, the group has failed to comprehend the profound transformations the state has undergone, or to recognize that Egypt is a firmly rooted state, unmoved by fabricated reports or voices broadcasting from abroad, drawing its resilience from established institutions and deep historical foundations. This is a reality the group has consistently failed to grasp, persisting in dealing with the state through the narrow logic of an organization rather than the responsibilities of governance. The Brotherhoods gravest mistake was its belief that power could be exercised from the Guidance Bureau, the Brotherhoods highest executive body, instead of through official state institutions. This miscalculation marked the beginning of its unraveling, followed by an escalation in terrorist operations that ultimately backfired, turning the group into both a security and intellectual liability at home and abroad. As terrorist attacks increased, so too did the cohesion between the public, the army, and the police, and the states resolve to confront violence decisively became unmistakable. Advertisement Advertisement The Brotherhood did not stop there, instead seeking backing from abroad and adopting a narrative that portrayed Egypt as a country in turmoil. Reality, however, proved far sturdier than propaganda transmitted from exile. Egypt consolidated its regional and international standing, built one of the strongest military forces in the region, and preserved the unity of its territory. In contrast, the Brotherhoods overseas maneuvers resembled little more than desperate bids for relevance, yielding a steady erosion of international sympathy and prompting many countries to designate it a terrorist organization. Internally, the January events marked a critical turning point, granting the group an opportunity to govern but exposing the fragility of its project and the poverty of its political vision. With the fall of figures from its historic leadership generation, and the disintegration of internal cohesion under the weight of judicial rulings and factional splits, it became evident that the organization had lost its center of gravity and had nothing substantive left to offer. Advertisement Advertisement In hindsight, January can be seen as both the beginning and the end of the Brotherhood: the start of a rapid ascent and the conclusion of a dramatic collapse, bringing to an end illusions that had persisted since its inception. The group entered power under the banner of preaching, and exited under the stigma of terrorism, taking with it the claims of virtue it long promoted and that many had accepted at face value. Today, the Egyptian state continues to press forward despite ongoing challenges, while the Brotherhood remains trapped in the rhetoric of the past, incapable of reading a reality that no longer acknowledges its presence. Displaced girls from El Fasher sit on the ground with toys in their hands, in a displacement camp in Al-Dabbah, Sudan, November 15, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/EL TAYEB SIDDIG) Forgotten Sudan is on the brink of famineAn-Nahar, Lebanon, December 13 Sudan is living through one of the darkest chapters in its modern history, as a devastating war tears the country apart and reshapes the daily lives of its people through fear, hunger, and mass displacement. According to the latest World Food Program reports, approximately 21.2 million Sudanese are now suffering from acute food insecurity, a figure that reflects not only a lack of food but also a profound collapse of health systems, social welfare, and basic protections. The country is rapidly edging toward the abyss of widespread famine, while waiting for assistance feels like struggling to breathe amid an unrelenting storm. Advertisement Advertisement Despite aid reaching nearly four million people each month, the gulf between surging needs and available resources continues to widen. The challenge is no longer confined to procuring food supplies, but to ensuring that humanitarian organizations can physically reach those in need within a landscape fractured by violence and destroyed infrastructure. Relief experts warn that Sudan has become one of the most dangerous and complex environments for humanitarian operations worldwide, where every mission carries extraordinary risk. In Darfur and Kordofan, airstrikes by aircraft and drones obstruct the movement of aid convoys, while the constant shifting of control over towns and roads sharply escalates the dangers on the ground. Compounding the crisis is a severe shortfall in international funding, limiting the World Food Program and its partners ability to expand transport, distribution, and cash assistance networks lifelines for millions of displaced people and families pushed beyond exhaustion. United Nations officials caution that the current funding gap could soon deprive millions of civilians of aid, reviving the specter of famine across vast swaths of the country. Yet the food crisis represents only one dimension of a broader national tragedy. Mass displacement is accelerating at an alarming pace, with fears of even larger waves should fighting spread to regions such as the Nuba Mountains. With more than 12 million people internally and externally displaced since the war began, Sudan now ranks among the worlds largest humanitarian crises, a stark testament to the rapid erosion of its social fabric and collective resilience. Sudan today stands on the edge of total breakdown, yet rescue remains possible if the political will can be summoned. Advertisement Advertisement Crises are not acts of fate, and what Sudan is enduring is the product of human decisions that can still be changed. In a world already overwhelmed by disasters, Sudans agony will stand as a defining test of whether the international community can uphold human dignity when everyday existence itself becomes a struggle for survival. Abdel Moneim Suleiman Translated by Asaf Zilberfarb. All assertions, opinions, facts, and information presented in these articles are the sole responsibility of their respective authors and are not necessarily those of The Media Line, which assumes no responsibility for their content. NASA has released a stunning new map of the cosmos, one that the agency says could help scientists solve some of the universes longstanding mysteries. Taken using the agencys SPHEREx space telescope, the first all-sky map simulates the instruments three-dimensional view of the sky, including the burnt red cosmic dust, electric blue hydrogen gas and white, blue and green stars. The panoramic view captures these and dozens of other colors using the telescopes ability to see infrared wavelengths of light, which are invisible to the human eye. Advertisement Advertisement The colors allow astronomers to measure the distance from the telescope to hundreds of millions of galaxies, with the maps three-dimensional view measuring how the galaxies captured are distributed across the universe. Redder galaxies are farther away and closer ones appear blue, as light stretches or retracts, in a phenomenon known as redshift. Scientists will use this data, collected since the telescopes launch into low-Earth orbit in March, to study how galaxies have changed over the universes nearly 14 billion-year history and potentially learn more about how key ingredients for life were made in our Milky Way galaxy. NASA's SPHEREx mapped the entire sky in 102 infrared colors to reveal the different features of the cosmos. Blue stars and hydrogen gas, green and white stars and red cosmic dust are seen in this panoramic view. (NASA/JPL-Caltech) While not visible to the human eye, these 102 infrared wavelengths of light are prevalent in the cosmos, and observing the entire sky this way enables scientists to answer big questions, NASA explained in a release, including how a dramatic event that occurred in the first billionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second after the big bang influenced the three-dimensional distribution of hundreds of millions of galaxies in our universe. While the James Webb Space Telescope can see in infrared light, as well, its scope is thousands of times smaller. This SPHEREx image shows a selection of the infrared colors primarily emitted by stars and galaxies (NASA/JPL-Caltech) To date, no mission has mapped the entire sky in as many colors as SPHEREx. Advertisement Advertisement The SPHEREx telescope - also known as the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer - is currently orbiting roughly 400 miles above Earth. It circles Earth approximately 14.5 times a day, taking about 3,600 images along one circular strip of the sky, and constantly shifting to capture the entire sky in 360 degrees. An artist's conceptual image shows NASA's SPHEREx telescope orbiting in space (NASA/JPL-Caltech) It will complete three more all-sky scans during its two-year mission, collecting data on more than 450 million galaxies and more than 100 million stars in the Milky Way. SPHEREx is a mid-sized astrophysics mission delivering big science, NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory Director Dave Gallagher said. Its a phenomenal example of how we turn bold ideas into reality, and in doing so, unlock enormous potential for discovery. A wanted felon was arrested Friday night after a police pursuit was stopped and the suspect tracked to a neighborhood, Georgia State Patrol said. Georgia Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officers started a traffic stop on a black Chevrolet Camaro with a fake tag on Interstate 20 near Flat Shoals Road, police said. During the stop, the driver provided a false name and date of birth before the officers identified him as a wanted felon. Advertisement Advertisement Police told the suspect to get out the vehicle, but he drove away from the scene at high speeds. Police pursued him on I-20 West and onto Moreland Avenue, where officers had to call off the chase because of the presence of an unrestrained child in the front passenger seat, GSP said. After the pursuit was ended, the suspect drove into a residential area, specifically to the intersection of Toney Drive and Glendale Drive, where he parked and turned off the vehicles lights. The Atlanta Police Aviation Unit continued to track the suspect, who later arrived at a home on Chestnut Hill Circle, surrounded by law enforcement units from GSP, DeKalb County PD and Advertisement Advertisement Following announcements made over the vehicle PA system, the suspect eventually got out the vehicle and surrendered. The suspect, who has not yet been identified, was arrested and taken to Dekalb County Jail, where he awaits further legal proceedings, GSP said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A Washington State Patrol trooper was killed Friday evening while responding to a collision in Tacoma, according to a statement from the agency. Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting, 29, died on duty. Trooper Guting was standing outside of her patrol car investigating a two-vehicle collision when she was struck just before 7:30 p.m. on southbound State Route 509 near milepost 2, south of the Port of Tacoma, the statement read. Individuals on scene rendered aid, but the trooper ultimately succumbed to her injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Traffic on local law enforcement scanners begin buzzing at 7:28 p.m. Friday with an officer down alert, and calls for assistance. The driver of the vehicle that hit Guting remained at the scene and was not arrested, said Chris Loftis, WSPs director of public affairs. Following the incident, both directions of 509 were closed for hours between Interstate 705 and Port of Tacoma Road. The sky has poured rain on us all for the past two weeks, and with this loss, now tears flood our souls, said State Patrol Chief John Batiste. My heartfelt condolences go out to Timothy, Taras extended family, her friends, her academy classmates, to District 1 Captain Gundermann, and his entire team. Advertisement Advertisement Born in Hawaii, Guting joined the State Patrol in 2024. She was assigned to District 1, the Tacoma area. Prior to joining the agency, she served in the Army National Guard. She married her husband Timothy in 2019 at the state Fire Training Academy. The Tacoma Police Department is taking over the criminal investigation of the incident, the WSP news release stated. No arrests had been made as of Saturday afternoon, said police spokesperson Shelbie Boyd. COURTESY WSP Washington State Patrol Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting COURTESY WSP Washington State Patrol Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting A Washington State trooper who was born and raised in Hawaii was killed in the line duty in Tacoma Friday night. Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting, 29, was standing outside of her patrol car investigating a two-vehicle crash when she was struck by another vehicle just before 7 :30 p.m. on State Route 509, south of the Port of Tacoma, according to the Washington State Patrol. People at the scene rendered aid but the trooper died from her injuries. officials said. Advertisement Advertisement According to the State Patrol, Guting was born on July 19, 1996, to Russell and Cheryl Hirata in Honolulu and she graduated from Mililani High School in 2014. She enlisted in the Army National Guard later that year, where she served honorably as a Signal Intelligence Analyst until Oct, 21, 2022, WSP officials said in a news release posted on social media. Her dedication to service and commitment to her duties were evident throughout her eight-year military career. Since 2019, she was married to Timothy Guting, who is a deputy state fire marshal in Washington state. Seattle radio station KOMO reported that the driver involved in the crash stayed at the scene and that no one was taken into custody. The Tacoma Police Department is investigating the crash. Advertisement Advertisement WSP has made arrangements to bring Gutings family in Hawaii to Washington for Gutings funeral services, KOMO reported. My heartfelt condolences go out to Timothy, Taras extended family, her friends, her academy classmates, to District 1 Capt. (J.J.) Gundermann, and his entire team, said WSP Chief John R. Batiste in the news release. We will never forget Badge #720Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting, he said. The sky has poured rain on us all for the past two weeks And with this loss, now tears flood our souls. This was the 34th time in WSPs 105-year history that an officer died in the line of duty, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement See more : 1 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . A suspected drunk-driver smashed into a fortunately-empty Minnesota State Patrol squad car in Minneapolis Friday evening. The collision was reported just before 10 p.m., when a state trooper was responding to a two-vehicle crash on eastbound I-94 and Franklin Avenue. While the trooper was attending to the crash, a Toyota Camry smashed into the squad car, a collision that was captured on MnDOT cameras and shared on social media by MN Crime. MINNEAPOLIS: MnDOT traffic cameras captured a Trooper's squad car being struck by a driver on westbound I-94 near Franklin Ave. just before 10:30 p.m. The Trooper is uninjured and one person in the other vehicle is reported to have leg pain. The Trooper was assisting on an pic.twitter.com/c8Vqo3WcRK MN CRIME (@MN_CRIME) December 20, 2025 The Camry driver, a 24-year-old St. Paul man, was booked into Hennepin County Jail for suspicion of DWI-criminal vehicular operation. Advertisement Advertisement One of the passengers in the Camry suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The state trooper was unharmed. Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change. This story was originally published by Bring Me The News on Dec 20, 2025, where it first appeared in the MN News section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Individuals named Kami are often perceived as compassionate and spiritually inclined, with a natural warmth that draws others to them. They tend to be intuitive and empathetic, often serving as confidantes and peacemakers in their social circles. Their connection to nature and beauty, suggested by the floral associations of related names, often manifests in creative expression and appreciation for aesthetics. Kami's are typically adaptable and resilient, able to navigate challenges with grace and determination. They possess a quiet strength that combines traditional values with modern perspectives, making them effective communicators who can bridge different viewpoints. Their spiritual sensitivity often leads them to careers or activities involving caregiving, teaching, or creative arts where they can express their innate compassion and understanding of human nature. This combination of emotional intelligence and practical resilience makes them valued members of their communities. WATERVILLE Interim City Manager Cornell Knight reviewed the City Councils 2025 goals Tuesday at its final meeting of the year. These goals are effectively the same every year, falling in four or five broad types, Councilor Thomas Klepach, D-Ward 3, said. The categories include income inequality, the housing crisis, tax policy and infrastructure and public works. The council divided 16 major goals into four categories: assessment and learning, community improvement, capacity building and communication. Advertisement Advertisement This year, major efforts focused on a housing study and rent control discussions. All work this year was affected by the Trump administrations federal funding and Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, cuts. These changes created a lot of uncertainty going into budget season, Klepach said. At the same time, Klepach said Northern Light Inland Hospital announced it would close. The decision shifted the councils focus to paramedicine and emergency medicine programs, which are expected to remain priorities in the years ahead. Waterville hopes its paramedicine program will become a model for Maine and other rural communities. Advertisement Advertisement Along with these disruptions, instability in the city managers role has made it difficult to complete goals. Knight has done a fantastic job, Klepach said, but weve had six different city managers in the five years Ive been on the council, and that makes longterm planning difficult. Another major issue is limited capacity. The city needs a larger staff to manage its growth. The number one goal for next year needs to be setting up the city manager for success, Klepach said. Everything else is predicated on making sure Nick Cloutier is set up with all the resources he needs to actually get things done. Advertisement Advertisement Cloutier signed a contract in November to become the city manager in Waterville. Cloutier, 41, now serves as Scarboroughs town assessor and director of special projects. He is scheduled to begin his new role at Waterville City Hall on Jan. 5. With greater stability in the city managers role, the goal is stronger oversight of all aspects of administration, particularly grant writing and updates. Last years turmoil brought budget cuts, but Klepach said he hopes reviewing the budget in the new year will help switch out of austerity mode into maintenance mode. The council is expected to set its 2026 goals in early January and ratify them later that month. As Christmas approaches, Christians across the world are preparing to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Jesus. However, you may be wondering how the holiday exactly came to be. With no confirmation of Jesus' birth and no mention of Christmas itself in the Bible, when did the holiday celebration start? And why is it celebrated in December? Here's the story of how Christmas came to be celebrated on Dec. 25. Was Jesus really born on Dec. 25? A vintage nativity on the floor under a decorated Christmas tree with lights behind it. The Bible does not specify the date when Jesus was born. Due to the Bible's mention of shepherds tending their flock, which suggests the spring lambing season, many scholars believe Christ's birth actually happened some time in the spring, according to the Biblical Archaeology Society. Advertisement Advertisement Around 200 C.E., Christian teacher Clement of Alexandria wrote about various dates proposed as Jesus' birth by different Christian groups, mentioning March 21, April 20, April 21 and May 20. When was Christmas determined as Dec. 25? The first official mention of Dec. 25 as Jesus' birthday is found in a mid-fourth century Roman almanac, says the Biblical Archaeology Society. One belief of how Dec. 25 was chosen is that early Christian scholars determined the date of Jesus' birth by calculating the time from his death. Around 200 C.E., Tertullian calculated that Jesus was crucified on March 25 of the Roman calendar. At the time, scholars believed that Jesus' conception and death would happen on the same day, since both are essential for salvation, explains U.S. Catholic magazine. If March 25 was also the date of conception, the date of birth would be nine months later, on Dec. 25. Advertisement Advertisement In the East, the same method led early scholars to the date of Jan. 6 nine months after April 6, the day of Jesus' death according to the Greek calendar. The Armenian Church still celebrates Christmas on Jan. 6 today. However, another theory says that the origin of Christmas was actually borrowed from pagan celebrations. According to this theory, early Christians purposefully chose Dec. 25 the date of the Roman feast of the birth of the sun god Sol Invictus to encourage the spread of Christianity and Christmas through the pagan Roman world, explains the Biblical Archaeology Society. Need some holiday spirit? Fun things to do in Rhode Island When was Christmas first celebrated? The tradition of Christians celebrating Christmas in December started around 312 A.D., after Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity. The first recorded celebration of Christian Christmas on Dec. 25 was in 336 A.D. under Constantine's rule. Advertisement Advertisement Christmas was officially declared a federal holiday in the United States by President Ulysses S. Grant on June 26, 1870. Lianna Norman of the USA TODAY Network contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Why is Christmas on Dec. 25? A brief history of the Christian holiday From car tires slashed, car windows busted, and fish oil doused in cars, several tenants of one landlord in Tacoma, Qifan Shi, say these are Shis attempts to intimidate them and force them out of their home. Jaylene Landreth says her issues started after she missed rent at her Tacoma home. She had given birth three weeks before the start of the month and she says her FMLA (paid family leave) was late. On the eighth of the month, she found there was no running water to her home. Advertisement Advertisement We had no running water in a home with a three-week-old baby and two six-year-olds, Landreth said. Landreth is one of a dozen current and former tenants as well as neighbors KIRO 7 spoke to about Shi. We found 29 properties in Pierce County and Federal Way under Shis name. Assessor records from King and Pierce County showing the total purchase price for all properties is more than $8.8 million. All tenants told KIRO 7 Shi had them pay in cash. Youre supposed to drop your money off, Landreth said, saying she never got a receipt for her over $2,000 in rent each month. When her water was turned off, she reached out to her property manager and Tacoma Public Utilities. Logs from TPU she gave KIRO7 showed she was up to date on her bill and that TPU hadnt turned off her water. Advertisement Advertisement We let [Shi] know we will be taking legal action for not having running water, Landreth said, which Washington law allows them to do. After that, the water became the least of her worries. A few days later, she and her husband say they heard someone at the electrical box. They scared them off and found the box charred and a message written on a piece of plywood. You have 24 hours to move out, it read. That same night, my driver window of my GMC was broken out. The next night, all of the wires to my home giving us power, heat, lights, and a stove. All of those were cut, Landreth said. She moved her family out to a relatives house in East Pierce County. Before she did, she moved her security camera to one of the outlets in the house that still had power. Later that week, she got a notification from the camera, opening it up to see a man who does maintenance for Shi inside her home, but to her, it didnt seem like he was there to fix the water. Advertisement Advertisement They walked into my living room, looked right up at my camera. And then a minute later, all of my cameras--all three of my cameras-- go dead, Landreth said. They had removed my front door. They had removed the windows in both of my childrens bedrooms and in my living room and my bedroom. They returned to their relatives home, thinking they were safe. Over several days the next week, cameras on the home they were staying at caught a person smashing their windows, slashing their tires, and throwing a brick that had quit written on it through their window. Its chilling to know that someone can find you 40 minutes away from where you are, Landreth said. Earlier this year, another woman told KIRO 7 that a brick was thrown through her window, reading Im back around, just after she had a dispute with Shi over trying to remove a tenant from a home she was renting. Advertisement Advertisement They asked that I say he tried to sexually assault me, the woman said, pointing out when she refused, Shi started getting more threatening and he started making me feel that I wasnt going to be safe in the home. She called out from work, took videos of her things, and waited until a friend could help her move. I lived in complete fear for three days, the woman said. Dozens of police reports KIRO 7 News reviewed have been made at Shis properties and two protection orders have been filed against him from former tenants. In one of the protection orders, the court notes [Shi] sent individuals to [tenants] home to turn off [tenants] water. Advertisement Advertisement KIRO 7 tried to call Shi several times to ask about the tenants issues. He didnt agree to a phone or in-person interview. When KIRO 7 attempted to ask questions of him at his home, Shi ran away, jumping in a car and speeding away. Tacoma police say they have a case into Shi, but cannot comment on open investigations. The city of Tacoma reports its Tax and Licensing office is also looking into Shi. Landreth moved out of her relatives home after the incidents in front of their home, relying on a housing voucher to stay in a motel. With that running out, she and her kids are facing homelessness and hoping people can support them. Advertisement Advertisement A GoFundMe has been set up to help. You should be able to like find a rental, have it be a safe space. Maybe youre late on rent. Yeah, thats annoying, I understand. But like, life happens. There are routes that you go down to handle that the proper way, Landreth said. A woman with a criminal history spanning multiple California counties was arrested after she allegedly stole at least five peoples wallets and made fraudulent purchases at 10 different businesses over six weeks in San Luis Obispo County. Lauren Johnston was arrested on Dec. 10 and charged by the SLO County District Attorneys Office with 29 felonies in six separate cases going as far back as late October, according to court records. In most cases, Johnston, 34, was charged with allegedly stealing peoples personal belongings and identifying information potentially including drivers licenses, credit cards and other access cards such as Health Savings Account cards and medical insurance cards to commit petty theft by way of fraudulent purchases at stores and gas stations. Advertisement Advertisement Johnston first allegedly committed identity theft on Oct. 26 and used stolen information to make fraudulent purchases from an ampm convenience store and a Chevron gas station in Paso Robles, according to court records. On the same day, she allegedly stole the personal property and identifying information of another individual and used that information to make fraudulent purchases at a Taco Bell, Walgreens and Grocery Outlet in Atascadero. A little over a week later, on Nov. 3, Johnston allegedly stole a third persons identifying information and personal property from their locked car and reportedly used that persons credit card to make purchases at MaLus Kitchen in Atascadero. Johnston was then charged with petty and grand theft for allegedly stealing over $950 worth of property from another person on Nov. 19. Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 26, she allegedly stole the identifying information and personal belongings of yet another victim. She also allegedly used the stolen information at Smart & Final, Jack in the Box and Wayside Liquor & Deli in Paso Robles. Finally, on Dec. 10, Johnston allegedly stole a bag, glasses and other personal items amounting to more than $950 from someones car and used their information at a Circle K in Atascadero. She also allegedly shoplifted at the Circle K and an Arco in Paso Robles. Johnston was being held without bail as of Thursday. Her next court appearance will be on Jan. 27. The Atascadero Police Department reminded residents to always lock their vehicles, be vigilant and protect their personal information. Advertisement Advertisement If you have any information regarding the suspect, or have been a victim of credit card fraud, please contact the Atascadero Police Department at 805-461-5051. Lauren Johnston was arrested on Dec. 10, 2025, and charged by the SLO County District Attorneys Office with 29 felonies in six separate cases going as far back as late October. She is accused of stealing at least five peoples wallets and making fraudulent purchases at ten different businesses over six weeks. (San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office) Suspect has a criminal record across California According to her statewide criminal record, this is not the first time Johnston has been accused of burglary and identity theft. In 2014 and 2015, she was convicted of misdemeanor petty theft, felony vehicle theft, felony identity theft, and first- and second-degree burglary in Sacramento County, according to court records. She was also convinced of fraudulent possession of personal identifying information in Placer County. In 2010, she was previously charged in SLO County with five felonies and two misdemeanors of grand theft and use of access cards, possession of controlled narcotics, possession of burglary tools and concealment of stolen property, but the charges were dismissed, according to district attorney case records. Advertisement Advertisement Johnston allegedly committed the recent crimes in SLO County while released from custody for a felony charge in Monterey County filed on Nov. 13, though court records do not show the specific charge. All cases carry an enhancement due to her ongoing case in Monterey County, but if convicted it would apply only once. In a July 26, 2017, letter from the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office recommending Johnston be denied parole for her earlier convictions, Deputy DA Stephanie Maroun called her a well-established violent felon and a habitual thief. The letter describes six previous cases in Sacramento County for which Johnston was convicted, similar to the allegations against her in SLO County. Advertisement Advertisement According to Marouns letter, Johnston was prowling around neighborhoods and businesses in 2014 searching for unlocked cars she could break into to steal purses, identification cards, check books, credit cards and gift cards. She then used the credit cards to make thousands of dollars of fraudulent purchases and ATM withdrawals, Maroun said. In one case, Johnston allegedly broke into someones car and stole their purse from the front passenger seat when the owner was standing just 25 feet away, Maroun said. In another case, she allegedly broke into someones home and stole electronics and over $6,000 worth of jewelry. She also allegedly burglarized another residence while out on bail for the previous felony cases, stealing five handguns, a car and a credit card she later used to buy clothes for her court appearance that day, the letter said. Johnston has had multiple opportunities to show this community that she is going to change her ways, Maroun said in the letter. However, every chance has ended with another person becoming a victim to her greedy ways. Inmate Johnston has shown time and time again that she is unwilling to conform to the laws of society and will always find a way to victimize innocent citizens. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) A woman is turning a political stunt many called cruel into a cause for good. In the run-up to the Albuquerque mayoral runoff, homeless people in the International District were seen wearing sweatshirts that said I love Tim Keller. U.S. Postal Service carrier in Albuquerque talks about his busiest time of year The Republican Party of New Mexico accused the Keller campaign of handing them out. Mayor Keller blamed a supporter of his opponent, Darren White. White said he didnt know who was responsible. Advertisement Advertisement Now one woman, Carrie Chavez, is responding with sweatshirts of her own. But these say, I love New Mexico. Chavez said money raised from selling these sweatshirts will go to Gods Warehouse, which provides food and resources to the homeless. I wanted to take something that has become a negative influence and turn it into something positive for our community, said Chavez. If youd like to purchase a sweatshirt, send an email to Ilovenmsweatshirt@gmail.com. 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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Police said a woman was in the hospital fighting for her life after being shot by someone she knows. Investigators said it happened before 7 p.m. Thursday in the Alief area at Ashford Casa Bella Apartments on Beechnut Street near Cinnamon Lane. Police said a man was taken into custody after the shooting later that night. According to the Houston Police Department, he's facing an aggravated assault charge, along with a charge of being a felon in possession. Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement said when they arrived, they found a 42-year-old woman shot multiple times in the lower portion of her body. They also said the victim told them who shot her before she was rushed to the hospital. Investigators say shortly after the shooting, they received a call about a suspicious person with a weapon nearby and took the man into custody in connection with the woman's shooting. Law enforcement remained tight-lipped about the man's identity, though they did confirm that the suspect and victim are in a relationship. Neighbors who spoke to ABC13 said they hope she will survive. For updates on this story, follow Daniela Hurtado on Facebook, X and Instagram. A woman was killed Friday night after being struck by a driver who fled the scene in the Feltonville section of Philadelphia, according to police. The crash happened around 9 p.m. at Whitaker and Wyoming avenues. Police say the victim, a 63-year-old woman, was crossing Whitaker Avenue at Wyoming Avenue within the crosswalk when the vehicle struck her. The driver stopped to look at the victim, but then fled the scene, continuing northbound on Whitaker Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement The victim was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her identity has not yet been released. The striking vehicle, a 2012 white Infiniti M37, was found unoccupied in the area of A and Louden streets. Police seized the vehicle for further investigation, but have not yet found the driver. The investigation is ongoing with the Crash Investigation Division. Anyone with information is asked to call 215-686-TIPS. The iconic adage a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma coined in 1939 by Winston Churchill, the famous British statesman, has been used to describe all sorts of mysteries over the years. In fact, theres no shortage of mysteries in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where long-standing stories of vanished personsor the locations of old cemeteries persist. One unsolved Smokies mystery involves an 80-year-old piece of government art. During the Great Depression, the Federal Art Project, a Works Progress Administration program designed for unemployed artists, created 14 beautiful posters featuring iconic scenes from several national parks and monuments. One of the posters featured Great Smoky Mountains National Park and was entitled Naturalist ServiceSo That You May Enjoy the Smokies All the More. Estimates are that 50 to 100 copies of each WPA poster were printed and shipped to their respective National Park Service sites years ago. Today, originals of most of the WPA posters have been found, but not the Smokies posternot even in park archives. In 2010 Doug Leen visits Bandelier National Park, one of the parks depicted in a series of rare WPA posters created by artists working for the Federal Art Project. As to why we don't have a copy in the archives, it's impossible to say, said Michael Aday, librarianarchivist at the Collections Preservation Center in Townsend, Tennessee. Interpretive programming didn't begin in the park until 1939, so if the posters were received before the park was ready to conduct naturalist programs, they may have been stored and lost, forgotten about, or destroyed. Advertisement Advertisement The mystery persists to this day. However, a relentless sleuth has been searching for missing posters from the Smokies and Wind Cave National Park, and hes been at it since the 1970s. Hes Doug Leen, 79, a retired dentist and former seasonal park ranger at Grand Teton National Park. Leen has made it his mission to find original specimens of all 14 WPA National Park Service posters and donate them to the park service while also making reproductions for the public to acquire and enjoy as distinctive park art. Leen began his search when, as a park ranger, he found an original WPA poster featuring Jenny Lake Museum in a Grand Teton National Park storage building. Learning that it was headed for the trash bin, he took it home, where it has remained framed and displayed in his residence ever since. Employees at Cole Graphic Solutions in Tacoma, Washington, print a reproduction of the Everglades National Park historic poster. When I first discovered the Grand Teton print, I immediately suspected it was part of a larger collection with more parks, he said. But where were they? The design and quality of printing was unique, and I thought there must be more to be found. I immediately became obsessed with this puzzle and began a lifelong journey to find all the printsto rebuild this set of lost art. In the 1990s, Leen contacted the curator at the Jenny Lake Museum about anunrelated anniversary event and casually mentioned his old poster. The curator promptlyinformed him that it was rare indeed, part of the Depression-era poster series. That information led him to research how it had been made and by whom. Through contacts with park service archivists and searches of federal records, Leen discovered that the poster had been designed and produced in an NPS museum laboratory in Berkeley, California, by WPA artists and graphic illustrators. These artists sent offers to park service locations to create publicity posters for them. Fourteen sites agreed. The reproduction Smokies poster started with an incomplete black-and-white slide of a scene from Newfound Gap Road toward Chimney Tops and progressed to color studies in paint. The final poster benefitted from a trip to the Smokies by Leen to determine the colorization. Designers started work in 1938, using a silk-screening process that produced rich colors and textures showcasing features of the parks and monuments. Upon completion, the posters were shipped to each respective location before production ended during World War II. Extra copies were shipped to the US Mint in San Francisco, and around 1951, the remainder were sent to the participating parks and monuments, becoming their last-known whereabouts. Advertisement Advertisement Interestingly, the WPA posters were never intended to be sales items; rather, they were created to promote rangernaturalist talks, walks, and programs. Most of them contained a blank area where information about programs could be added by hand. The posters were silk-screened onto untreated cardboard, so they were subject to deterioration, which no doubt contributes to their scarcity today. Doug Leen stops along the trail during his days as a seasonal ranger at Grand Teton National Park. Armed with his research, Leen, then still working as a dentist, began a nationwide search for the posters, a passion project that has led him all over the US. His efforts ultimately resulted in the discovery of 13 black-and-white negatives of the original WPA postersincluding a Smokies poster depicting Newfound Gap Road and the Chimney Topsin the archives of the NPS Harpers Ferry Center in West Virginia. Leen traveled there and got copies, realizing that the negatives could help him reproduce some of the posters. He started a business calledRanger Dougs Enterprises in Seattle and hired staff skilled in the silk-screening process the original WPA artists used. His company then embarked on making reproduction WPA posters and modern replicas. In the early 1990s, Leen decided to reproduce the Smokies WPA poster using the black-and-white negative hed found at Harpers Ferry. He made a print and then pondered how best to add color to the image. Having never been to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, he finally decided hed have to visit. Doug Leen holds his reproduction Smokies WPA poster in front of the Seattle office of his business, Ranger Dougs Enterprises. So, I drove thousands of miles to the Smokies to get a feel for the colors on Newfound Gap Road with the Chimney Tops in the background, Leen wrote in his 2023 book Rediscovering the WPA Poster Art of Our National Parks. I surmised that the colors would be of a crisp fall day with fog just lifting. I took photographs and, when I got home, used them to select the colorization for my reproduction Smokies poster. Advertisement Advertisement Leen started by making a large print from the negative. The reproduction Smokies poster started with an incomplete black-and-white slide of a scene from Newfound Gap Road toward Chimney Tops and progressed to color studies in paint. The final poster benefitted from a trip to the Smokies by Leen to determine the colorization. I needed to visualize how the colors would balance and to see how many silk-screens would be needed for the design, he said. I actually finger painted the black-and-white print model as the image developed. I would stand back now and then and squint to see how the image looked as I worked in the colors. If everything clicked and the colors worked, my staff and I would complete the painting and write up a recipe for the inks to be used on six silk-screen applications. Then it was off to the races with the printing. So, what happened to those original Smokies WPA posters? Were they actually shipped to the Smokies? Did they degrade through use, never get used at all, or were they thrown away? Why didnt even one make it into the park archive? Leen doesnt know the answers, nor does anyone else, it seems. Leen and his staff created a stunning, blue-and-orange-tinted copy of the Smokies poster, but hes still itching to find an original, offering a $10,000 reward to any person who can deliver a good-quality, authentic Smokies or Wind Cave WPA poster. The reproduction Smokies poster started with an incomplete black-and-white slide of a scene from Newfound Gap Road toward Chimney Tops and progressed to color studies in paint. The final poster benefitted from a trip to the Smokies by Leen to determine the colorization. That kind of dogged dedication has earned Leen considerable attention. Hes been profiled in numerous periodicals over the years, and even The New York Times ran a feature story about him in 2020, dubbing him The Ranger of the Lost Art. Today, his business creates and publishes over 65 poster designs and other products, including the reproduction Smokies poster, which is available at park visitor centers and the Smokies Life website. Advertisement Advertisement And still, Leen keeps searching, following the advice of famous Smoky Mountain writer Horace Kepharthimself a seekerwho, 112 years ago, titled the first chapter of his classic book Our Southern Highlanders: Something Hidden; Go and Find It. Ranger Doug is out there trying. Learn more about Doug Leen and how to purchase his work at RangerDoug.com. Two Smokies posters are available at SmokiesLife.org. An earlier version of this story was originally published in the fall 2025 issue of Smokies Life Journal, a twice-yearly magazine that is the primary benefit of joining Smokies Life. To read more stories like this while supporting Great Smoky Mountains National Park, visit SmokiesLife.org/Membership and become a Park Keeper. Arthur Butch McDade is a native Tennessean, author, and retired Smokies park ranger. Hes the author of Old Smoky Mountain Days and The Natural Arches of the Big South Fork and a prolific author of articles featured in a variety of newspapers and magazines. McDade lives with his wife and their rescued dogs and cats in Sevierville, Tennessee. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Word from the Smokies: Search for vanished Smokies poster A Washington State Patrol trooper was killed Friday evening while investigating a crash along State Route 509 in Tacoma, the agency confirmed. The Washington State Patrol said Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting, 29, was standing outside her patrol vehicle while looking into a two-vehicle collision when she was struck by another vehicle just before 7:30 p.m. The crash happened on southbound SR 509 near milepost 2, south of the Port of Tacoma. Advertisement Advertisement People who were already at the scene tried to help the trooper, but she later died from her injuries. The Tacoma Police Department is leading the investigation into what happened. According to the Tacoma Police Department, there has been no arrest yet, however, the incident is still under investigation and there could be an arrest in the coming days. Trooper Guting had recently begun her career with the Washington State Patrol. She joined the agency as a trooper cadet in January 2024 and later graduated with the 119th Trooper Basic Training Class. She was officially commissioned on Oct. 30 and was assigned to District 1 in Tacoma. Advertisement Advertisement Her death marks the 34th time in the agencys 105-year history that a Washington State Patrol trooper has been killed while on duty. Taras loss is deeply felt within the WSP family, the agency said, noting the impact on her husband, Timothy. He works as a deputy state fire marshal at the WSP Fire Training Academy in North Bend. Trooper Guting was born July 19, 1996, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Russell and Cheryl Hirata. She attended Mililani High School in Mililani, Hawaii, graduating in 2014. Shortly after, she began a career of public service by enlisting in the Army National Guard on Oct. 22, 2014. Advertisement Advertisement She served for eight years as a signal intelligence analyst, completing her military service honorably on Oct. 21, 2022. The Washington State Patrol said her dedication and commitment were evident throughout her military and law enforcement careers. She married Timothy on Aug. 21, 2019, at the Fire Training Academy. Washington State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste shared condolences following her death. My heartfelt condolences go out to Timothy, Taras extended family, her friends, her academy classmates, to District 1 Captain Gundermann, and his entire team, Batiste said. We will never forget Badge #720 Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting. The sky has poured rain on us all for the past two weeks, he added. And with this loss, now tears flood our souls. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has responded with sharp criticism to Russian President Vladimir Putin's demands for new elections in his country. "It is not for Putin to decide when and in what format elections take place in Ukraine," he said at a press conference in Kiev during a visit by Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro. He promised that Putin would not be able to influence a possible vote on the future Ukrainian president. The criticism was triggered by Putin's statements on Friday at his annual press conference, where he not only once again demanded presidential elections in the neighbouring country he invaded and criticized the current Ukrainian leadership as illegitimate, but also insisted that Ukrainians living in Russia should participate in the vote. Advertisement Advertisement Putin said there are between 5 million and 10 million Ukrainians in Russia. There are no diplomatic missions of Ukraine in Russia, where citizens abroad would normally vote. Putin's election official, Ella Pamfilova, said that the Russian authorities could organize the voting there. No elections in Russia and occupied territories "Ukrainian citizens who are in Ukraine in the Ukrainian-controlled areas will vote," Zelensky said in response. Only there could honest and transparent elections be guaranteed, he said. In addition, there is the usual practice of voting in foreign missions. Advertisement Advertisement "In the areas not controlled by Ukraine, no elections can be held because it is clear that they would be conducted there as Russia always does," he said, referring to international criticism of the questionable fairness of elections in Russia. Individuals named Krynn typically exhibit a remarkable blend of strength and tenderness, embodying the 'caring and loving' description that often accompanies this name. They tend to be deeply empathetic, with an innate ability to understand and respond to the emotional needs of others. This natural compassion is balanced by a quiet inner strength that allows them to provide steadfast support during difficult times. Their loving nature manifests in consistent, practical care rather than dramatic gestures, making them reliable pillars in their families and communities. Krynns often possess excellent listening skills and intuitive understanding, making them sought-after confidantes and advisors. They approach relationships with genuine interest and commitment, valuing deep connections over superficial interactions. While gentle in demeanor, they demonstrate remarkable resilience when protecting or advocating for those they love. Their caring disposition is typically accompanied by strong organizational skills and practical wisdom, allowing them to translate their compassionate feelings into effective action. This combination of emotional intelligence and pragmatic capability makes Krynns particularly effective in caregiving roles, educational settings, and community leadership positions where both heart and hands-on approach are required. Janell Shah is a wandering biologist who calls Yakima Valley home. She finds wonder and whimsy in nature and the mundane. Looking for a break? Test your knowledge of this week's news from the Yakima Valley. In contemporary naming practices, Linton maintains a position as an uncommon but respected choice that appeals to parents seeking traditional roots without overwhelming popularity. The name has never reached the top rankings in English-speaking countries, preserving its distinctive quality while remaining familiar enough to be easily recognized. Modern usage shows a preference for Linton among educated, often literary-minded families who appreciate its connection to 'Wuthering Heights' and its crisp, professional sound. Recent decades have seen some increase in its use as a middle name, where it pairs effectively with both classic and contemporary first names. The name's steady but limited usage suggests it will remain a sophisticated, slightly academic choice rather than becoming a trendappealing particularly to those who value heritage, intelligence, and understated elegance in a name. Its cross-cultural adaptability through figures like Linton Kwesi Johnson has also given it broader appeal beyond its English origins. Amid the leadership tussle in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the Congress high command has told both him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that it will summon them at an appropriate time. He reiterated that the party leadership issue is an internal matter and that he would abide by the high commands decision. In this feature, we take a look at a Pan-Indian superstar who shares a rare and enduring connection with the armed forces. Alongside a remarkable film career spanning decades, the actor has also rendered active military service and received several national honours. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticised the Centres decision to rename MGNREGA, likening the new title to a Bollywood film and objecting to the removal of Mahatma Gandhis name from the scheme. He also raised concerns over the schemes revised funding structure, reviewed snowfall preparedness across the region, and reiterated his consistent stance on governance and statehood. Dynamic history of East Asian cattle demonstrates prehistoric civilization exchanges: study Xinhua) 09:56, December 20, 2025 CHANGCHUN, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Researchers have created an extensive genetic map of the origin and migration of domestic cattle in East Asia, offering new evidence of early exchanges among ancient civilizations along the ancient Silk Road routes. The findings, conducted by Professor Cai Dawei of Jilin University and researchers from Seoul National University and dozens of archaeological research institutions in China, were published online on Friday (Beijing Time) in the journal Science. The research team analyzed 166 ancient bovine samples collected from dozens of archaeological sites across China, spanning nearly 10,000 years. The work produced one of the world's largest and most complete time-series genomic datasets of ancient cattle from East Asia, according to Cai. The study shows that domestic cattle in East Asia did not arise from a single origin. Instead, they emerged through a gradual process marked by repeated external introductions and deep genetic integration with local populations. "Cattle have long played a central role among agropastoral societies across East Asia," said Cai, who also noted "genomic studies elsewhere reveal a complex evolutionary history involving multiple dispersal events and widespread admixture." As early as 5,000 years ago, during the late Neolithic period, taurine cattle had reached the Yellow River basin, the heartland of ancient Chinese civilization, where they interbred with local wild aurochs, forming early domestic cattle populations with distinct regional characteristics, the researchers found. However, early cattle in the Xinjiang region carried genetic influences from Western taurine and South Asian indicine, suggesting multiple introductions into East Asia. These genetic traits gradually spread eastward into the Yellow River basin, shaping the genetic structure of cattle in northern China from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age, according to the research. "The evolutionary history traced in the study not only outlines how cattle spread across East Asia but also mirrors long-standing networks of cultural interaction between eastern and western Eurasia," said Cai, adding that the findings provide new insights into cross-continental human migration, technological diffusion and early exchanges among civilizations. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Kou Jie) Facilitation for sending disaster relief items from Switzerland to Sri Lanka The Mission of Sri Lanka wishes to thank all those who have contributed donations towards Rebuilding Sri Lanka following the disaster caused by Ditwah Cyclone in Sri Lanka. In response to the many inquiries and requests regarding material assistance, the Mission is making arrangements to facilitate sending such disaster relief items to Sri Lanka from Switzerland in the coming days. This will be strictly restricted to the items identified by the Disaster Management Centre of Sri Lanka, available at https://donate.gov.lk/urgent-relief-supplies-needed-for-sri-lanka/ Anyone wishing to send any of these items to Sri Lanka, is kindly requested to hand them over to the Mission at the following address by 12 noon, on Monday 29th December 2025. Where : Mission of Sri Lanka, 56, Rue de Moillebeau,(5th Floor),1209 Geneva. When : on or before 29 th December 2025 (by 12 noon) Please note that the Mission will accept only the items identified by the Disaster Management Centre, and therefore you are kindly requested to limit donations to these items. Please call one of the following numbers, established for this relief effort, before delivering the items to the Mission. +41779384435 - Sinhala/English +41779098969 - Tamil/English Your generous support at this critical moment is greatly appreciated. Mission of Sri Lanka in Switzerland 19 December 2025 Cultural & Historical Significance In Hawaiian culture, the name Maiele carries deep significance rooted in the oral traditions that have preserved Hawaiian history, genealogy, and cultural knowledge for centuries. The ability to speak eloquently was highly valued in traditional Hawaiian society, particularly among ali'i (chiefs) and kahuna (priests/experts) who needed to communicate effectively in formal settings, negotiations, and ceremonial contexts. The name reflects the Hawaiian emphasis on mana'o (thoughts, ideas) expressed through 'olelo (language), where skillful speech was seen as both an art form and a practical necessity for leadership and cultural preservation. Throughout Hawaiian history, individuals gifted with eloquence played crucial roles in maintaining the oral histories, genealogical chants (ko'ihonua), and mele (songs/poetry) that form the foundation of Hawaiian identity. Even during periods when the Hawaiian language was suppressed, the value of eloquent speech remained central to cultural resilience and revival efforts. The name Maiele thus represents not just a personal quality but a cultural imperativethe ongoing transmission of knowledge and values through the power of well-chosen words. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the United States is grateful for Pakistans willingness to consider joining a proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza. Individuals named Malloy are often perceived as natural leaders with a strong sense of responsibility and integrity. They tend to possess an innate authority that commands respect, combined with a protective nature toward those in their care. This aligns with the name's meaning of 'noble chief,' suggesting someone who is decisive, principled, and capable of guiding others through challenging situations. Their leadership style typically blends traditional values with practical wisdom. Beyond their authoritative qualities, Malloys are frequently described as loyal, family-oriented, and deeply connected to their roots. They exhibit a quiet strength and resilience that helps them overcome obstacles, often displaying remarkable perseverance in pursuit of their goals. While they can be traditional in their outlook, they also possess the adaptability to navigate modern complexities. Their combination of steadfastness and practical intelligence makes them reliable partners, dedicated family members, and effective community leaders who inspire trust through consistent action rather than empty promises. The name Maram carries rich symbolic meanings that extend beyond its literal translation of 'aspiration.' Symbolically, it represents the human journey toward self-realization and the eternal quest for meaning that defines our existence. In metaphysical terms, Maram symbolizes the soul's inherent desire to transcend limitations and reach toward higher states of being. The name embodies the concept of 'tawakkul' in Islamic spirituality - the balance between earnest striving and trust in divine will. It represents the flame of hope that guides individuals through darkness and the inner compass that directs one toward their true purpose. In psychological symbolism, Maram signifies the integration of conscious desires with subconscious drives, creating a harmonious pursuit of fulfillment. The name also carries environmental symbolism, evoking images of a guiding star or distant mountain peak - visible destinations that inspire movement and growth. In relationship contexts, Maram symbolizes the aspiration for deep, meaningful connections and the continuous effort required to nurture them. Ultimately, the name represents the beautiful tension between what is and what could be, celebrating the human capacity to imagine and work toward better futures. Cultural & Historical Significance Mearr is a name deeply rooted in Irish linguistic tradition, carrying the poignant meaning of 'bitter' or 'sorrowful.' This reflects the Irish cultural practice of naming that acknowledges life's hardships while celebrating resilience. In Irish storytelling tradition, names with melancholic meanings often symbolize depth of character and the ability to transform suffering into strength. The name appears in regional folklore from western Ireland, particularly in Connemara and Kerry, where it's associated with women who displayed remarkable fortitude during times of hardship. Historically, such names served as reminders of the complex Irish experience, where joy and sorrow are intertwined in the national consciousness. The name embodies the Irish philosophical approach to life that recognizes bitterness as an essential part of the human experience, much like the bittersweet quality for which Irish literature and music are renowned. It represents a cultural acknowledgment that true wisdom often comes through navigating difficult emotions and experiences, and that strength is often born from adversity. This naming tradition connects modern bearers to centuries of Irish cultural resilience. Cultural & Historical Significance Melisenda has deep roots in medieval European nobility, particularly within Crusader kingdoms. The name gained prominence through Queen Melisenda of Jerusalem, daughter of Baldwin II, who ruled during the 12th century and was known for her intelligence and political skill. Her reign marked a significant period in the Kingdom of Jerusalem's history, and she was celebrated for her patronage of religious art and architecture. The name spread through royal connections across Europe, appearing in various forms in French, Spanish, and Italian noble families. In Spanish culture, Melisenda carries echoes of medieval romance and courtly love traditions, often associated with noble women of grace and influence. The name's persistence through centuries reflects its aristocratic heritage and the enduring appeal of its melodic sound. While less common in modern Spain than other traditional names, it maintains a presence in literature and historical contexts, serving as a bridge to Spain's medieval past and its connections to broader European nobility. Individuals named Mide are often characterized by their intense curiosity and deep emotional depth, living up to the name's meaning of 'thirsty' through their constant pursuit of knowledge and experience. They tend to be highly intuitive and perceptive, with a natural ability to understand complex emotional landscapes and connect with others on a profound level. This emotional intelligence combined with their innate curiosity makes them excellent listeners and lifelong learners who are always seeking to expand their understanding of the world around them. Mides typically possess a strong sense of independence and determination, reflecting the legendary queen who shares their name's mythological roots. They approach life with passion and intensity, whether in personal relationships, professional pursuits, or creative endeavors. While they can be deeply sensitive, they also demonstrate remarkable resilience and the ability to overcome challenges through their persistent nature. Their 'thirst' often manifests as a drive to make meaningful contributions and create positive change in their communities. Individuals bearing the name Moketaveto are typically associated with a personality characterized by deep wisdom, exceptional patience, and strong diplomatic abilities. They often exhibit natural leadership qualities that emphasize consensus-building and community harmony over personal ambition. These individuals tend to be thoughtful and measured in their actions, considering multiple perspectives before making decisions. Their strength lies in their ability to remain calm and principled even in the face of adversity, drawing on inner resilience and cultural heritage for guidance. Socially, those named Moketaveto are often seen as peacemakers and mediators who can bridge differences between conflicting parties. They typically possess strong communication skills and the ability to listen deeply to others' concerns. Their personality is marked by a profound sense of responsibility toward their community and a commitment to preserving traditions and cultural values. While they may appear reserved initially, they often demonstrate warm hospitality and genuine concern for others' wellbeing. The historical weight of the name often inspires bearers to develop qualities of courage in advocating for justice and peace, even when such positions require personal sacrifice or standing against popular opinion. Women named Nearra are often perceived as deeply intuitive and emotionally attuned individuals who value close relationships and meaningful connections. They typically exhibit a natural ability to understand others' feelings and needs, making them excellent confidantes and supportive friends. Their 'nearest' quality manifests in their tendency to be present and available for loved ones, often serving as the emotional anchor in their social circles. Nearras are frequently described as having a calming presence and a genuine interest in the wellbeing of those around them. They tend to be thoughtful decision-makers who consider multiple perspectives before acting, and they often demonstrate remarkable patience in challenging situations. Their strength lies in their ability to create safe spaces where others feel heard and understood, while maintaining clear personal boundaries that reflect their self-awareness and emotional intelligence. This combination of empathy and wisdom makes them natural peacemakers and trusted advisors in both personal and professional contexts. Cultural & Historical Significance Padric is an Irish name derived from the Latin 'Patricius,' meaning 'noble' or 'patrician,' and serves as a variant of the more common Patrick. The name carries deep significance in Irish culture, particularly through its association with Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who brought Christianity to the island in the 5th century. Throughout Irish history, the name has been borne by numerous poets, writers, and political figures who contributed significantly to Irish cultural and national identity. The name Padric and its variations became particularly prominent during the Irish Literary Revival and the struggle for Irish independence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Figures like Padraic Pearse used the Irish form of the name as a statement of cultural pride and national identity. The name continues to represent a connection to Irish heritage, linguistic tradition, and the enduring spirit of Irish nobility and leadership that transcends social class. It symbolizes the preservation of Irish language and culture against historical pressures of anglicization, making it a powerful marker of ethnic and cultural identity for many Irish families. Those named Sauville typically exhibit a unique combination of grounded practicality and creative vision. Like the willow trees that inspired their name, they demonstrate remarkable resilience and adaptability, able to weather life's storms while remaining firmly rooted in their values. They often possess a deep appreciation for tradition and natural cycles, combined with innovative thinking that allows them to find novel solutions to complex problems. Sauvilles are frequently described as patient cultivators - whether of relationships, projects, or ideas - understanding that meaningful growth requires careful nurturing over time. Their strength lies in their flexibility; they know when to stand firm and when to bend, making them excellent mediators and strategic thinkers. Many display a quiet confidence and observational wisdom, often noticing details others miss. These individuals tend to excel in fields that balance technical knowledge with creative application, from environmental science and architecture to education and community leadership. Written by Olu Famous Cross section of dignitaries at the event The graduates waiting patiently for their certificates Pastor Isaiah E. (L), Prof. Osmond O. (R) and other guests The second graduation ceremony of the International Women School of Ministry - IWSOM - took place on Saturday the 22nd of May 2010, amidst excitement, glamour and razzmatazz. The event attracted personalities of various disciplines such as Pastors, Bankers, Politicians, Captains of Industry and members of the Academia, who all made enormous contributions to the programme.By midday when the events proper commenced, the auditorium of Harvesthouse Intl Church (HIC), venue of the ceremony, was almost filled to capacity with guests, facilitators, families and friends of the graduating students. While intimating the gathering of their journey with IWSOM, leaders of each group took time to give graphic details of their tasks and how they were able to affect humanity positively.Judging from their mind-boggling presentations and the responses of guests in the hall, it became evident that IWSOM is indeed championing a worthy course that should be supported by individuals and organisations of like minds. From the Slum to the Ghetto, Prison to Hospital, the groups visited, interacted, trained, fed, played with and provided succour to the sick, hopeless, hapless and down-trodden in several parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.However, the impact made by Group A in a local settlement known as Karamajiji Community in the Lugbe axis of the FCT was so fundamental that it attracted weighty applause from dignitaries and guests present. The groups leader further disclosed that she and her mates had decided to take their mandate to a higher dimension by registering an NGO that will render similar services but on a broader spectrum. This statement was applauded by all and further endeared the group to the hearts of many.In his charge to the gathering entitled Workers In The Vineyard, Engr. D. Adeniji, a top Federal Civil Servant, spoke glowing on the importance of women in every society, adding that they are a special creature from God. He went ahead to enumerate some key roles that women played before, during and after the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ, and quoted copiously from relevant chapters of the Holy Bible to back his assertions. He advised all to shun every act of self-adulation, stressing that humility should be the hallmark of a Christians life. He encouraged the facilitators of IWSOM to keep up the good work and wished them well in their endeavours.There was a brief music presentation by a gospel artiste called Bro. Ben, after which the events anchor, Pastor Isaiah Emmanuel called on the Coordinator of IWSOM, Pastor Sam Oye, to give his key note address. The man of God, who is also the President of Springtime Intl Leadership Foundation, started by analyzing the goals, objectives and achievements of the institution from its inception in September 2009 till date. Change in all strata of society, he pointed out, is what IWSOM represents. He advised the gathering to dedicate themselves more to positioning the psyche of the next generation in a more positive direction, rather than spending time criticising our present political leaders.As a result of the quality of training offered to students in the Ministry, Pastor Sam informed the congregation that Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ghana and London were already yearning for the presence of IWSOM. He disclosed that plans are in motion to introduce an Advance Diploma Course for the Ministry and called on people of goodwill to contribute to the sustenance of the dream. He concluded his well articulated address with one of the several quotes of Mother Teresa on Love.The cutting of cake was jointly done by Pastor Sam Oye, students, dignitaries as well as the Registrar of IWSOM, Deacon Kayode Alonge. Awards of recognition were presented to Pastor Israel Abam, Pastor Sam Oye, Pastor Isaiah Emmanuel and Prof. Osmond Onyenka for their meritorious services. Thereafter, certificates of graduation were presented to the students accordingly.In a brief speech at the event, Pastor Israel Abam, who is the Senior Pastor of Guiding Light Assembly (Abuja Worship Centre), said he was surprised at the low fees students were paying to receive such quality education at IWSOM, adding that he would support the Ministry to continue. He said the programmes impact is visible on the few women that had attended it from his Church and promised to send more students next session. He gave thumbs-up to Group A for their effort in Karamajiji Community, which he said he never knew existed and promised to contribute to their project in the area.In a chat with AbujaEvents, Prof. Osmond Onyeka, the Dean of Academics FEDCAM Abuja, saluted the efforts of Pastor Sam Oye in human development issues, describing him as a special gift to the next generation. He decried the level of mediocrity among people in positions of authority in the country, adding that if everyone should focus on what he could do to change the system, a lot of things will be better in the country. The US trained Professor of Integrated Medicine disclosed that he is one of the facilitators of IWSOM and that he is prepared to give up his possessions to support take the Ministry to greater heights.While speaking with AbujaEvents also, leaders of the Five Groups namely Sis. Ene Ben-Uloko (Group A), Sis. Oluwakemi Ranti (Group B), Sis. Rose Austin (Group C), Sis. Helen Ufuoma (Group D) and Sis. Chimdi Okpara (Group E), all gave kudos to the convener of IWSOM for what they unanimously described as a great and lofty idea. They recalled their individual experiences while executing their various tasks with delight and gave gratitude to God for the opportunity it afforded them to torch lives, meet new friends and contribute their little quota to the good of society.The event has come and gone, but its certain that the beautiful memories will be etched in the memory of everyone, especially the active participants, for a long, long time. Individuals bearing the name Stevenson are typically characterized by a unique blend of intellectual depth and practical wisdom. The name's association with literary greatness and engineering achievement suggests a personality that balances creative imagination with analytical precision. Stevensons often display strong problem-solving abilities, approaching challenges with both innovative thinking and methodical planning. The 'crown' symbolism inherent in the name's etymology frequently manifests as natural leadership qualities, though this leadership tends to be thoughtful and inclusive rather than authoritarian. Socially, Stevensons are often perceived as reliable and principled, with a strong sense of personal integrity. They tend to value meaningful relationships and demonstrate loyalty to family and close friends. The adventurous spirit associated with Robert Louis Stevenson's works may appear as curiosity about the world and willingness to explore new ideas and experiences. Many exhibit excellent communication skills, whether through writing, speaking, or other forms of expression. There's often a contemplative quality to their nature, combined with practical competence that makes them effective in both creative and organizational roles. This combination of traits makes Stevensons well-suited to professions requiring both vision and execution. Cultural & Historical Significance Tarin emerged as a modern feminine name in English-speaking countries during the late 20th century, particularly within Christian communities seeking names that blend Celtic heritage with contemporary appeal. The name combines two significant cultural elements: 'Tara' from the ancient Irish Hill of Tara, the legendary seat of High Kings and spiritual center of Ireland, and 'Erin,' the poetic name for Ireland itself. This fusion creates a name that honors Irish Christian heritage while maintaining a modern, accessible sound. In Christian contexts, the 'high hill' symbolism connects to biblical imagery of mountains as places of revelation and closeness to God, while the Irish connection reflects the deep Christian traditions of Ireland dating back to St. Patrick. The name represents a bridge between ancient Celtic spirituality and contemporary Christian identity, making it particularly meaningful for families with Irish ancestry or appreciation for Celtic Christian traditions. Its usage reflects the modern trend of creating names that preserve cultural identity while adapting to contemporary naming preferences. Women named Vappu are often characterized by their vibrant energy, social consciousness, and resilient nature. The name's association with spring and renewal tends to manifest in personalities that are optimistic, growth-oriented, and capable of inspiring positive change in their communities. Vappus typically demonstrate strong leadership qualities combined with a deep sense of social responsibility, often championing causes related to equality and justice. Their connection to May Day traditions suggests individuals who value community welfare and collective action, while maintaining their distinctive personal identity. The warrior connotations of the name's meaning contribute to perceptions of Vappu as determined, principled individuals who stand firm in their convictions. They often exhibit what Finns call 'sisu'a special kind of perseverance and courage in facing challenges. At the same time, Vappus tend to be socially engaging, enjoying gatherings and celebrations much like the festive atmosphere of Vappu itself. This combination of strength and sociability makes them natural community builders who can both lead and connect with others authentically. Individuals named Victorio are typically perceived as natural leaders with strong determination and competitive spirits. They often exhibit charismatic personalities that draw others to them, combined with a strategic mindset that helps them navigate challenges effectively. These traits stem from the name's meaning of 'conqueror,' which tends to manifest as ambition, confidence, and a drive to overcome obstacles. Victorios are usually resilient in the face of adversity, showing remarkable perseverance when pursuing their goals. They tend to be protective of their loved ones and communities, often taking on leadership roles in group settings. While they can be assertive and decisive, many Victorios also develop strong diplomatic skills, learning to balance their competitive nature with empathy and understanding. This combination of strength and sensitivity makes them effective in both personal and professional relationships, often excelling in fields that require both determination and interpersonal skills. Individuals named Wakanda are often perceived as possessing deep intuition, spiritual awareness, and a natural magnetism that draws others to them. They tend to be contemplative, wise beyond their years, and exhibit a quiet strength that others find comforting and inspiring. Their connection to the name's meaning often manifests as creative problem-solving abilities and unconventional thinking patterns that can seem almost magical in their effectiveness. Wakanda-named individuals typically demonstrate strong empathy and emotional intelligence, allowing them to understand and connect with people on profound levels. These individuals often serve as peacemakers and mediators in conflicts, using their innate wisdom to find solutions that benefit all parties. While they may appear reserved initially, they possess inner resilience and determination that enables them to overcome significant challenges while maintaining their spiritual centeredness and compassionate nature. The name carries expectations of moral integrity and spiritual leadership, often inspiring bearers to develop these qualities throughout their lives. Their presence tends to have a calming effect on others, and they frequently find themselves in roles where they can guide, heal, or inspire those around them through both words and example. Individuals named Waldmunt are typically perceived as natural protectors with a strong sense of duty and responsibility. They often exhibit leadership qualities combined with a deep-seated need to safeguard those in their care, whether family, community, or principles. This protective instinct manifests as loyalty, reliability, and a willingness to stand against injustice. Waldmunt personalities tend to be strategic thinkers who approach challenges methodically, weighing risks before acting. They often possess an inner strength that others find reassuring, making them natural crisis managers and trusted advisors. While they can appear reserved initially, their commitment to those they protect is unwavering. This combination of strategic thinking and protective loyalty makes Waldmunt individuals particularly effective in roles requiring both strength and wisdom. Their sense of duty often extends beyond personal relationships to broader community or professional responsibilities, where they excel as organizers and defenders of established systems. People with this name typically demonstrate remarkable consistency in their values and actions, earning respect through their reliability rather than flashy displays of power. They are often the steady hand in turbulent times, providing both practical solutions and emotional stability to those around them. Women named Yasmina are often perceived as graceful, elegant, and possessing natural charm that draws people to them. They tend to be diplomatic and gentle in their approach to others, much like the delicate jasmine flower that gives the name its meaning. Yasminas are typically known for their strong sense of aesthetics and appreciation for beauty in all forms, whether in art, nature, or human relationships. They often exhibit nurturing qualities and emotional intelligence, making them excellent mediators and compassionate friends who create warm, welcoming environments. While they may appear delicate, many Yasminas possess inner strength and resilience that allows them to weather challenges with poise. Their communication style is usually refined and considerate, and they have a natural ability to create harmonious environments wherever they go. The name suggests someone who values tradition while embracing modernity, balancing cultural heritage with contemporary perspectives. Yasminas are often creative individuals with a keen eye for detail and a love for artistic expression, whether through visual arts, writing, or other creative pursuits. They tend to be loyal friends and devoted family members, prioritizing meaningful relationships in their lives. In the course of my meditation last week, I checked everywhere for a good material that could help to condense Nigerians problems and prospects into street value (reason best known to me). Sad as this may be, top on the possible options was Eedris Abdulkareems controversial but popular hip-hop track titled: Nigeria Jagajaga. I observed that the music aptly summarized the present realities in virtually all facets of our nation. National economy, educational and health facilities, public infrastructures, etc., are dilapidating with reckless abandon such that one is forced to wonder if life can ever get better for the average citizens of this potentially great nation. What beats my imagination, however, was the flamboyant manner in which the drums were rolled out to celebrate our 50 years of independence despite the wide spread poverty and despair across the land; coupled with the madness that resulted in the untimely death of innocent Nigerians in a blast that left our security apparatus and personnel helpless. My reason was that 50 years after the demand for self rule was achieved (without sweat and blood), this countrys leaders have not been able to get their fundamentals right. The stuffs that were promised by our ancestors over 50 years ago (road, water, electricity, etc., etc.) are the same garbage we are still getting from the present crop of politicians in form of manifestos in todays fast-developing world. What a Good People of a Great Nation! Last Friday, October 1, 2010, while many scrambled to partake in the golden jubilee charade in commemoration of our 50th birthday, I chose to pitch my tent with the few that stayed neutral. I remained indoors, wishing for divine intervention in the fortunes of my dear country - Nigeria.The stuffs that were promised by our ancestors over 50 years ago (road, water, electricity, etc., etc.) are the same garbage we are still getting from the present crop of politicians in form of manifestos in todays fast-developing world. What a Good People of a Great Nation! In the spirit of Golden Jubilee, permit me to chronicle the genesis of this country; catalogue the exodus into wilderness; and chart a course to the proverbial Canaan. Nigeria is said to be a mere geographic expression because it was formerly a conglomerate of several ethnic groups, each occupying a geographical enclave with different cultures, traditions, religions, etc. It is also an incontrovertible fact that Nigeria is of British making due to the annexation of Lagos by its agents in the year 1861. After the successful annexation, Britain used the Crown Colony of Lagos as a base from where she spread her tentacles to the hinterlands of what later became the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But actual Colonialism commenced after the 1884/1885 Berlin Conference, during which areas like the Oil Rivers protectorate and a few others were proclaimed. In the year 1898, several hitherto autonomous ethnic groups were, without due consultations, lumped together and was christened Nigeria by Miss Flora Shaw, a Correspondent of The Times who later got married to Sir (Lord) Fredrick Lugard. On January 1, 1900, the protectorate of Northern and Southern Nigeria were constituted and the two were later amalgamated in the year 1914, with Lord Lugard as the first Governor-General of Nigeria. The amalgamation year thus mark the beginning of Nigerias woes. Acting on instructions, Lord Lugard established the Nigerian Council that has 36 members - 23 European official members and 13 non-official members out of which 7 were still Europeans with only 6 Nigerians. Whats more ridiculous is that while the 7 European non-official members were assigned to oversee important businesses like shipping, banking and mining, the microscopic 6 Nigerians were assigned to oversee trivial issues such as chieftaincy. The Clifford Constitution of 1922 further ridiculed Nigeria and Nigerians. It was a clear reflection of Divide and Rule policy due to its isolation of the Northern Province from other parts of Nigeria. It further ensured that the then Legislative Council is dominated by Europeans and also excluded the few Nigerians from the all-important Executive Council. There was the Richards Constitution of 1946 which was the result of pressures from a few nationalists to Sir Bernard Bourdillon, the Governor-General between 1935 to 1943. But that Constitution also had its defects since it made no attempt to change the existing European-dominated executive council, and, worse yet, Nigerians were not consulted during its drafting. It also committed a huge catastrophe by dividing Nigeria into three unequal sizes by making the Northern region bigger than the Western and Eastern regions put together, thus fanning the embers of tribalism and sectionalism in the country (which still holds sway till date). The Macpherson Constitution of 1951 also created several crises in the fabrics of our nation that led to the Kano riot of 1953 as well as the motion by Chief Anthony Enahoro for Nigeria to be independent by 1956. The many defects of that Constitution resulted in the 1953 Constitutional Conference during which agreements were reached to provide for greater regional autonomy as well as the removal of powers of intervention by the centre. On its part, the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954 was criticised for its inability to allay the fears of marginalisation raised by the minority ethnic groups. The 1956 London Constitutional Conference that was supposed to right the wrongs could not hold due to allegations made by Chief E. O. Eyo, the Chief Whip in the Eastern House of Assembly, that Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Premier of the Eastern region, had converted public money to his private use through the African Continental Bank (ACB). Although the conference later held between May 23 and June 26, 1957, it could not achieve much due to high level acrimony among some Nigerian nationalists. However, the September 29 to October 27, 1958, London Constitutional Conference was very fruitful as it considered fundamental issues such as self-determination and independence. Some of the resolutions reached at that conference led to the general elections of December 1959 which saw Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa of the NPC emerge as Prime Minister with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe of the NCNC as Ceremonial President. Another conference also took place in Lagos between July 25 and 26, 1963, resulting in Nigeria becoming a Federal Republic on October 1, 1963. In my opinion, the foregoing captures the genesis of our dear country. Nigerias exodus into wilderness could be ascribed to reasons for the disruption of the first Republic on January 15, 1966, via a very bloody military coup that led to the death of some prominent Nigerians including Alhaji Balewa, Sir Ahmadu Bello (Premier of Northern region), Chief S. L. Akintola (Premier of Western region), Chief Okotie Eboh (Minister of Finance), etc. In a nationwide broadcast after the coup, the ring leader, Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogu said: The aim of the Revolutionary Council is to establish a strong, united and prosperous nation free from corruption and internal strife. My reason for taking time to itemise the much I know of Nigerias history from 1861 to 1966 is because I want you to note the reason for the first military intervention in governance and also appraise the current trends in the political and social landscape to ascertain if weve actually learnt anything - 50 years into independence. In a nationwide broadcast after the coup, the ring leader, Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogu said: The aim of the Revolutionary Council is to establish a strong, united and prosperous nation free from corruption and internal strife. My reason for taking time to itemise the much I know of Nigerias history from 1861 to 1966 is because I want you to note the reason for the first military intervention in governance and also appraise the current trends in the political and social landscape to ascertain if weve actually learnt anything - 50 years into independence. This year of Golden Jubilee (Year 2010 when Nigeria became 50) should be a period for sober reflection rather than one for merry-making as is presently the case. I hold this view because a good number of the wrongs that made Major Nzeogu and his gang to strike in the first republic are still very much with us. Electoral malpractices, embezzlement of public funds, kidnapping, brigandage, and the likes are gradually becoming a way of life for our people. As the nation mark another independence anniversary, the media is awash with congratulatory messages to persons who attain political power under questionable circumstances. Whats more intriguing is that those sending some of these messages are the very persons who should condemn the wrongs being perpetuated by the political elite. But such wont happen since many of our political, traditional and religious leaders are more interested in what they can get from the system, instead of what they should do to save it from collapse. Nevertheless, for our journey to the proverbial Canaan to be successful, all hands must be on deck to work things out. We must learn to speak in one accord and stop the infighting. Citizens and civil society groups must begin to fashion and sponsor programmes that would transfer the billions of dollars being derived from Crude Oil into tangible dividends. The era of white elephant projects must become history. From available statistics, Nigeria has the necessary human and mineral resources to deal with poverty. Our local, state and federal roads should meet global standard; our schools and health care facilities should deliver quality services; electricity and shelter should be adequate, sufficient and affordable. Those countries where some of us are running to for comfort did not fall from heaven. They were carefully planned and built by human beings like us through commitment. We can do same here; yes, we can. There are enough resources to go round and impact the lives of each citizen positively if only we can defeat political tyranny and corruption. PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 20: Dr Raj P. Narayanam, Founder & Executive Chairman of Zaggle Prepaid Ocean Services Limited ("Zaggle"), has been recognised as one of Hurun India's Top 200 Self-Made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2025, a prestigious recognition celebrating India's most influential founders who have built scalable, future-ready enterprises. Dr Raj's entrepreneurial journey spans over 25 years and is characterised by resilience, reinvention and an unwavering commitment to building enduring institutions. From his early entrepreneurial venture, eYantra, to founding and scaling Zaggle into a leading, listed and proudly profitable spend management and SaaS-led FinTech platform, ranked among the top-performing IPOs and delivering strong returns to investors, the journey has been shaped by both defining milestones and formidable challenges. Like most entrepreneurial paths, it has involved moments of doubt and uncertainty, met with perseverance, discipline and long-term conviction. This recognition by Hurun India serves as a testament to Dr Raj's long-term vision, leadership philosophy and ability to build innovation-led businesses that create sustainable value for customers, stakeholders and the broader ecosystem. Commenting on the recognition, Dr Raj P. Narayanam, Founder & Executive Chairman, Zaggle, said: "The last 25 years of my entrepreneurial journey have been nothing short of a rollercoaster, from the early days of eYantra to building Zaggle. There were moments of doubt, tough questions and times when the road ahead felt uncertain. Being recognised among Hurun India's Top 200 Self-Made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia makes every struggle, sacrifice and sleepless night feel truly worthwhile. This is one of the most prestigious honours I have received, and I accept it with deep humility. I am profoundly grateful to every colleague, partner, mentor, friend and well-wisher who has walked this journey with me. Your belief and support have been the pillars that kept me going." Under Dr Raj's leadership, Zaggle has emerged as a category-defining player in spend management, enabling organisations and CFOs to drive cost efficiency, compliance and financial control through technology-led solutions. The recognition further underscores Zaggle's strong governance, innovation-driven culture, and global growth ambitions. About Zaggle Prepaid Ocean Services Limited (Zaggle) Founded in 2011, Zaggle (BSE: 543985 & NSE: ZAGGLE) is a category-leading spend management company with a strong technology-led value proposition and a diversified user base. Operating in the business-to-business-to-customer (B2B2C) segment, Zaggle is among a select group of players with a comprehensive suite of financial technology products and services. Zaggle is one of India's top issuers of prepaid cards, collaborating with 19 banking partners to drive its card offerings. The company also boasts a diverse portfolio of SaaS products and an extensive network of touchpoints. As of September 30, 2025, the company has issued more than 50 million prepaid cards, serving more than 3.5 million users across industries. Zaggle's enterprise network spans banking and financial services, technology, healthcare, manufacturing, FMCG, infrastructure and automobiles. For more information, please visit: https://www.zaggle.in/ (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.) Curiosity took me into the world of mentoring and its importance to the journey of young enterprising individuals who have all it takes to turn their fortunes around but would rather remain in one spot, practicing the art of testing the microphone. What people in this category are failing to realize, sadly, is that the so-called microphone loves being tested and usually plays along with anyone who relishes such unproductive venture. Before now, I too held the erroneous belief that it is difficult to succeed without a mentor until recently when I stumbled on some startling facts to the contrary. Over 85% of the great success stories you see or hear are made by individuals who summon the courage and sense to break away from family, friends and mentors (for awhile) and diligently work on their dreams. You should take your chances with life; make your mistakes; learn real life lessons; and make progress (in the process) before settling down for mentoring. Until youre able to assert yourself as a good material, your so-called friends or mentors will barely tolerate your presence. In the emerging scenario, you would require more than just one source of income or talent to make consistent and significant progress. Learn to take independent actions and stand by your successes and failures. Your friends and mentors will welcome you warmly and grant you necessary assistance if they notice signs of appreciable progress in your life. Do not be in a hurry to pass me for an advocate of one-man show or, worse yet, a swank that doesnt have regard for other peoples wisdom. Far from it! No doubt it helps a great deal to utilize others experiences while making your journey from want to wealth. The problem I observed, however, is that many bright chaps are unconsciously abdicating their rights to independent thinking and planning to cling onto seemingly successful people in the guise of mentor/protege relationships. What these young men and women may not know is that even nature abhors lack of personal responsibility.In case you dont know; majority of your close allies will doubt the veracity of your dream, especially if it is BIG.The fear of failure is a myth, like all other fears, and it takes personal responsibility to quash it. I know my weaknesses and Im stupendously working on taming each of them. No human can help you as much as you can help yourself in this regard. Anyone that is afraid of failure is not yet ready for success.One truth I must tell you is people wont really take you that serious unless they can perceive signs of genuine evolution in your life. Take it from me; you cannot lay claim to have a true friend or mentor (yet) except you consciously build yourself into reckoning and could be perceived from a distance as a valuable asset. You mustnt be seen as one of the several lazybones whore only interested in taking without contributing anything.Successful people are busy building structures for their anticipated growth and they hate to associate with mediocre, neither do they want to be slowed down by drifters. Wake up friend; break away from mediocrity if you want to be successful. Your ability to force your relevance in either the work place or business environment is key - very crucial - to your advancement in the days ahead.Change your tactics to measure up with the demands of the moment. If its necessary for you to be incommunicado with some of your friends and mentors (for awhile) as you commit to work out your lifes blueprint; please do! God will not come down from heaven to plan for you. Your friends and mentors wont abandon their own pursuit for your sake. Gather yourself together! Sit down on your desk and begin to plot financial graphs; fine-tune your money-making strategies; set clear and achievable goals. Start learning how to effectively run a proper business system. No matter how much you are earning from your job or small business, if you are not working towards setting up a viable business system, then youre critically endangered.Peep into the exploits of the leaders of the industry you desire to venture into. Get to know what they are doing right, and what needs to be improved. Merge these with your own skill, knowledge and thoughts to blaze a new trail. Nothing is new anywhere! Time, discipline, solid system, persistence and the ability to project originality are the factors thatll help you carve a niche in the big league. Put these in place and, I can assure you, the right people will naturally gravitate towards your direction.While working on getting your acts together, all those you are looking up to as mentors should, henceforth, be seen as sources of inspiration. Study their lifestyle and general characteristics. Do not socialize with them; avoid all forms of sentimental attachment. Respect them but keep your distance. Talk to them only when absolutely necessary.Bother less about what people will say concerning you. If you are occupied with how to satisfy humans, greatness may be far from your doorstep. Some people will show you love in the open but thoroughly criticise you in the secret. Dont be distracted! Keep doing it; just keep doing it. Soon, even your mistakes may define a unique style that others would begin to borrow from. Your courage and integrity should be unwavering. So you must kick off a process to develop your skill, wisdom and stamina.While failure is an orphan, success usually has several relatives. What this translate to is that there is no discrimination whatsoever against distinction.But the odds against you are quite enormous, I must tell you. So start today to retrace your steps. Once again, stop testing the microphone; utilize it maximally and profitably. Work towards changing your limiting thoughts and find something worthwhile to do and youll be amazed how much you can get done in a few months. VMPL New Delhi [India], December 20: Set up your dream clinic with Bajaj Finserv Doctor Loan designed for medical professionals--covering infrastructure, equipment, and operations with quick approvals and flexible terms. Launching your own medical practice marks an exciting milestone- a chance to create a space that reflects your values and the kind of care you want to deliver. From finding the right clinic location to setting up infrastructure and assembling your team, every decision shapes the foundation of your success. While the initial medical setup requires planning and smart financial choices, the right financing makes the journey smooth and rewarding. Specialised doctor loans provide that tailored support - quick access, doctor-centric terms, and seamless processes- so you can establish your clinic confidently from day one. Compared to a generic Loan for Professionals, these solutions are designed specifically around the realities of medical practice. How doctor loans help you start up and scale The doctor loans from companies like Bajaj Finance match your professional journey with flexibility and speed- transitioning seamlessly from vision to thriving clinic. Unlike rigid general loans with slow approvals and mismatched terms, the Bajaj Finserv Doctor loan handle irregular early earnings from building your patient base, keeping setup efficient and stress-free. For instance, a young dentist can use the doctor loan to fund a custom chair and digital X-ray system- an important set-up, to start consultations confidently within weeks. In such instances, Bajaj Finserv Doctor Loan serves as your reliable partner, tailored for ambitious medical professionals. Advantages of Bajaj Finserv Doctor Loan Bajaj Finserv Doctor Loan aligns with your real-world needs, respecting your packed schedule, demanding workload, and fluctuating early cash flow. Their streamlined digital applications, rapid approvals, and full transparency let you prioritise patients over paperwork. Key features: When you combine high sanction amounts with flexible repayment and fast processing, the loan becomes a practical tool that supports you from the very beginning of your practice. How it eases your setup journeyPicture returning after years of training, ready to craft a modern clinic that inspires trust: sleek interiors, advanced diagnostics, skilled team. Prime locations, modern machines, digital records, and operational costs add up fast, but Bajaj Finserv Doctor Loan up to Rs. 80 lakh equips you to function without compromising. The Flexi Hybrid Term Loan suits startups perfectly: tenure splits into interest-only EMIs initially for easy early repayments, then you can pay principal and interest as cash flow stabilises. You get to withdraw any amount from your sanctioned limit as needed, pay interest only on utilised amounts, and part-prepay anytime with no extra charges, making it ideal for unpredictable growth. Starting your medical practice is an exciting leap forward, and Bajaj Finserv Doctor Loan provides the strong foundation you need. T&C 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 AI Governance Guidelines, released in early November 2025, do not allow unrestricted deployment of high-risk AI systems and instead adopts a risk-based, evidence-led and proportional governance approach, Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada informed Rajya Sabha. The India AI Governance Guidelines were released on November 5, 2025. It provides a comprehensive national framework to ensure the safe, responsible, and inclusive development of Artificial Intelligence in the country. "The Guidelines recognise that AI is a major driver of economic growth and social change. At the same time, it can also pose risks to individuals and society. Some of these include bias, discrimination, unfair outcomes, exclusion, and lack of transparency," as per the information submitted by the minister in Rajya Sabha on Friday. "The Guidelines do not allow unrestricted deployment of high-risk AI systems. It adopts a risk-based, evidence-led and proportional governance approach." Safeguards are outlined to address risks to individuals and society. The Guidelines state that sectoral regulators will remain responsible for enforcement and oversight within their legal mandate. The Guidelines are designed to be agile and flexible. They are principle-based and not prescriptive. Their purpose is to support responsible AI adoption without stifling innovation. "They do not introduce new statutory mechanisms such as independent audits, appeals, or new oversight bodies. Instead, the Guidelines rely on existing laws. These include the Information Technology Act, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, and sector-specific regulations. The Guidelines state that a new horizontal AI law is not required at this stage, in line with the overall approach of Government." India is democratising the development and usage of technology. The focus is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for solving real-world problems and ultimately improving lives across various sectors. The Minister said that the government has taken a balanced and pragmatic techno-legal approach towards its regulation. India's AI strategy has been formed after studying legal frameworks around the world and extensive consultation with stakeholders. "India combines legal safeguards with technological solutions, rather than relying only on laws or market forces. The Government is funding R&D projects at premier institutions such as IITs to develop AI tools for deepfake detection, privacy protection and cybersecurity. This approach reflects India's belief that effective AI governance must be supported by practical technical interventions. This will ensure that innovation continues without compromising the safety, trust and rights of citizens," as per the information submitted by the the minister in the Rajya Sabha. (ANI) India ranks among the top countries globally in AI skill penetration, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Rajya Sabha, citing Stanford AI Index Report 2025, India. As per the report quoted by the Union Minister, India leads the world in AI talent acquisition, with an annual hiring rate of about 33 per cent. India has also seen AI talent concentration grow more than threefold since 2016. India's Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy is based on the vision of democratising technology. It aims to address India-centric challenges and create opportunities and jobs in AI. AI-specific jobs span multiple sectors such as IT, manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, governance, etc. As AI adoption deepens across these sectors, the demand for skilled professionals is also rising. "Government of India recognises this and has aligned its AI initiatives in this direction. This is also reflected in global assessments about India's AI workforce," the Minister submitted the information in Rajya Sabha. According to industry estimates, Minister Vaishnhaw said, India's AI talent base is expected to more than double by 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate of around 15 per cent. India's growing AI talent base is also reflected in global developer participation. As per global data on GitHub AI projects by geographic distribution, India was the second-largest contributor worldwide in 2024, accounting for 19.9 per cent of all AI projects. "This underscores the depth of India's AI developer ecosystem. It also validates the Government's focus on large-scale AI skilling, research and innovation under the IndiaAI Mission," the minister said. Various initiatives of the Government of India supporting the development of AI talent pipeline include supporting 500 PhD scholars, 5,000 postgraduates and 8,000 undergraduates for AI-related work. As many as 27 IndiaAl Data and AI Labs are established in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities through NIELIT to conduct coursework in AI, data curation, annotation, cleaning and applied data science; 174 lTIs and Polytechnics across 27 States/UTs have been approved to set up additional IndiaAl Data and AI Labs. The government, in collaboration with NASSCOM, is equipping learners with cutting-edge skills essential in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape including AI, Big data and Cloud computing. Courses have been aligned with National Occupational Standards (NOS) and National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). Over 500+ courses and 2000+ digital fluency pathways are offered on the platform. So far, 16.29 lakh+ candidates have enrolled/trained in various courses. A free national-level foundational course, "YUVA AI for ALL" has been launched to create mass awareness and basic AI literacy. As per NASSCOM's report, India possesses the world's largest digitally skilled talent pool and has the capacity to reskill and develop 8-10 million professionals in AI-related services by 2030. "The government is adopting a whole-of-government approach to AI skilling and workforce development. Through the IndiaAI Mission and related platforms, it is working with Ministries, State Governments, educational institutions and industry to build AI skills," as per the information submitted by Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw. (ANI) PNN Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], December 20: A 31-year-old cybersecurity professional from Ahmedabad, like many young office workers across the country, spent most of his day on a chair, back-to-back meetings, deadlines, and a lifestyle that allowed everything except movement. What began as a mild ache slowly grew into a silent burden, until one morning his body refused to straighten. He arrived at IndoSpine Hospital bent forward, struggling to walk, frightened that his professional life and financial stability were at risk because his spine could no longer support him. His story is not an exception; it is a growing socio-economic reality. India's working population now spends 8-12 hours a day sitting, often without breaks, proper posture, or ergonomic setups. For many, health takes a back seat as productivity becomes the priority. In this case, clinical evaluation and imaging revealed a severe disc herniation compressing vital nerves, a condition made worse by years of uninterrupted sitting. After discussing medical findings and evidence based options, the spine team recommended lumbar decompression with pedicle screw fixation, an accepted procedure selected purely based on clinical need and the goal of preventing long-term neurological harm. The transformation began just hours after surgery. For the first time in weeks, he stood upright relieved, steady, and hopeful. Over the following days, his posture improved and his confidence returned. With physiotherapy guidance and strict ergonomic corrections, he resumed his daily routine, now acutely aware of how work-related habits had pushed his body to the edge. Speaking about the case, Dr. Tarak Patel, Chief Spine Surgeon at IndoSpine Hospital, shared, "This is the story of thousands of young Indians who work long hours in chairs. Their spine pays the price long before they realise it. Our role is to diagnose responsibly, communicate clearly, and choose treatment based solely on the patient's clinical condition." The patient, who wishes to remain anonymous, said, "I always thought back pain is normal when you work long hours. But the day I couldn't stand straight, I realised how serious it had become. Standing upright after surgery felt like getting my life and my career back on track." His parents added, "We never imagined that office work could lead to something this severe. Watching him walk upright again was an emotional moment for us." This case shines a light on a bigger issue, poor spine health is silently affecting productivity, mental well-being, and family life for millions of office workers. Ignoring symptoms or delaying evaluation can have long-term consequences. The spine doesn't break in a day. It bends, warns, whispers and finally says "Enough." Listening early can change the outcome entirely. Disclaimer: This press release is for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult a doctor before taking any decisions. (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.) Wht Now, a leading NGO and national awareness movement dedicated to combating cybercrime, cyber harassment, sextortion and all forms of online abuse, has entered into a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Maharashtra Cyber to jointly strengthen preventive education, digital safety literacy and public awareness initiatives across the state. According to company information, the MoU signing ceremony was attended by Yashasvi Yadav, IPS, Additional Director General of Police, Maharashtra Cyber, Government of Maharashtra, along with Neeti Goel, renowned restaurateur and Founder of Wht Now; Akshat Khetan, Co-Founder of Wht Now and Founder of AU Corporate Advisory and Legal Services; and Nivedita Shreyans, Co-Founder of Wht Now and Director at Pillai Institute. Emphasising the importance of the collaboration, Akshat Khetan stated, "Cyber risk today extends beyond technology; it has become a social and legal challenge. This partnership focuses on prevention, awareness and empowering citizens with the right tools to stay safe in the digital ecosystem." According to company information, the collaboration represents a significant step towards building a safer digital environment through joint awareness campaigns, capacity-building programmes and extensive community outreach initiatives across Maharashtra. Speaking on the vision behind Wht Now, Neeti Goel said, "Wht Now was established to support and amplify the voices of victims of online abuse. Collaborating with Maharashtra Cyber enables us to expand our reach and create meaningful, on-ground impact through education and awareness." Nivedita Shreyans added, "Awareness and education are the strongest defences against cyber threats. Through this partnership, we aim to equip youth and vulnerable communities with the knowledge needed to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly." According to company information, the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to empowering citizens, strengthening digital trust and fostering a safer, more resilient online ecosystem across Maharashtra. (ANI) NewsVoir New Delhi [India], December 20: MediaTek, the world's leading fabless semiconductor company, powering nearly 2 billion connected devices a year, hosted its Tech Day 2025 in Bangalore, themed 'Innovation, possibilities, and imagination in every chip' with a focus on the latest technologies from MediaTek across its premium and flagship Dimensity lineup. Representatives from media, tech analysts and key retailers from OPPO and Vivo were also present for insightful discussions on the next frontier of technology. MediaTek showcased its latest Dimensity 9500 SoC, reinforcing the company's leadership in high-performance mobile computing. MediaTek Dimensity 9500 is a 3rd gen All Big Core CPU design, combining a 4.21GHz ultra core, industry's first support for 4-channel UFS4.1, MediaTek Imagiq 1190, three premium cores, Arm G1-Ultra GPU and four performance cores. MediaTek also spotlighted some of the latest collaborations across its Dimensity portfolio, including flagship 5G smartphones from the OPPO Find X9 series and the vivo X300 series and high-performance smartphones in the premium Dimensity 8000 series. On the sidelines of the event, Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India, said, "At MediaTek, we believe that truly brilliant technology is about more than just creating products; it's about delivering incredible experiences that positively impact people's lives. Our mission is to push the boundaries of possibility and transform the world around us. We are continuously expanding our R&D capabilities in India, bringing innovative advancements to make everyday life easier. Furthermore, India is an important market to our long-term vision, and we're committed to enabling consumers and developers in the country with innovative, secure and energy-efficient technologies that address the evolving needs of an increasingly digital-first world." The event also witnessed an interactive panel discussion, titled 'Chipset Intelligence at the core of tomorrow's photography and imaging experiences' which was moderated by Anuj Sidharth, Director Marketing and Communication India and SEA Region, MediaTek India. It included expert panellist such as Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India, Faisal Kawoosa, Chief Analyst, Techarc and professional photographer Aman Chotani. The panelists shared insightful views around the emerging trends in smartphone imaging, the impact of advanced chipsets on photography and how innovations in MediaTek's chipsets are empowering device manufacturers to deliver next-generation imaging and AI capabilities. Faisal Kawoosa, Chief Analyst, Techarc said, "Flagship smartphones have entered an era where customer delight is driven less by headline specifications and more by sustained, real-world performance. Our latest analysis clearly shows that the processor has become the single most critical determinant of premium user experience, influencing speed, efficiency, gaming, camera performance, and long-term reliability. MediaTek's Dimensity portfolio particularly the Dimensity 9400, sits at the epicentre of this shift by delivering a rare balance of raw performance, energy efficiency, and optimisation at scale. As AI-led experiences become mainstream, MediaTek's ability to translate advanced silicon innovation into tangible, everyday user delight positions it strongly at the heart of emerging flagship and premium smartphone trends." The event witnessed product showcases and insightful interactions around the latest technologies and innovations: - Smartphones - The MediaTek Dimensity flagship family includes the MediaTek Dimensity 9500, 9400+, 9400, 9400e, and 9300+ SoCs. - Latest Flagship chipset - MediaTek Dimensity 9500 features a third-generation All Big Core CPU and 12-core Mali G1-Ultra GPU, setting new benchmarks in on-device AI, console-grade gaming, and power efficiency. - Smart Devices - MediaTek is a market leader in various verticals, including digital TVs, smart speakers, Wi-Fi routers, ARM-based Chromebooks, smart projectors like the Lumio Arc 5 and 7, and other smart home products. - Highlighted emerging consumer technology trends for 2026 offering insights into how advancements in AI, connectivity, and smart devices are set to shape the digital experiences of tomorrow. Anuj Sidharth, Director Marketing and Communication India and SEA Region, MediaTek India said, "India holds strategic importance for MediaTek, serving as both a key market and vital talent hub, underscoring MediaTek's role in making incredible technology experiences more accessible. We are continuously expanding our R&D capabilities in India and delivering innovative advancements that make everyday life easier. As the world's leading mobile SoC provider, including in India, MediaTek is enabling the next wave of intelligent, on-device AI experiences. At the MediaTek Tech Day event, we highlighted the Dimensity 9500 chipset as a major breakthrough in on-device AI, camera performance, and efficiency, empowering OEM partners to deliver premium experiences worldwide" MediaTek offers chipsets across its diverse portfolio for various verticals that includes smartphones, Smart TVs, Chromebooks, Wifi solutions, IoT devices, automotive, data centers, asic, among others. The MediaTek Technology Day is an interactive platform to showcase the latest innovations that are reshaping everyday life. Tech Day emphasizes MediaTek's commitment to making advanced technology accessible to consumers, thereby enhancing and enriching our daily lives and making us smarter. (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.) Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys (IMFA) is set to become India's largest and the world's sixth-largest ferro chrome producer following its acquisition of Tata Steel's Kalinganagar ferro chrome plant, which is expected to be completed by January 2026, Subhrakant Panda, Managing Director of Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys (IMFA) told ANI. Panda said the strategic acquisition, funded entirely through internal accruals, will take IMFA's total capacity beyond 500,000 tonnes per annum, significantly enhancing its competitive positioning in the global ferrochrome market. "We signed the definitive agreement for the strategic acquisition in November 2025. We are in the process of seeking necessary permissions and approvals as well. We expect sometime in January 2026 to close the deal," Panda said. The acquisition aligns perfectly with IMFA's ongoing expansion plans. "We were already one of the leading producers of ferro chrome in the country. We are also putting up a greenfield project in Kalinga Nagar, so the proposed acquisition is a very nice strategic fit," Panda explained. He added that the combination of existing capacity, greenfield expansion, and the acquisition takes the company beyond the half-million-tonne mark, making it the largest producer in India and the sixth largest globally. The Kalinga Nagar plant's strategic location offers significant logistical advantages. "It is close to our mines, close to the steel plants in the Kalinga Nagar area, and Paradeep port for export purposes," Panda noted, adding that these factors will improve the company's cost competitiveness and operational efficiencies. The MD quantified the expected cost advantages from the integrated operations. "Our blended cost of production is expected to improve noticeably when these units are commissioned. I would expect something in the range of Rs 2,000-3,000 per tonne as the advantage," he said. IMFA plans to scale up output significantly over the next 12 to 18 months. The company's greenfield plant at Kalinga Nagar, featuring two furnaces that will add 100,000 tonnes per annum, is also progressing on schedule. "We expect to commission the first furnace by June 2026 and the second furnace shortly thereafter. We will be scaling up to full capacity by the end of calendar year 2026," Panda revealed. Currently, more than 90 percent of IMFA's output is exported, primarily to Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Europe. With the expanded capacity, the company plans to reorient its market strategy. "We will be exporting about 60 to 70 percent overall, and the balance will be supplied to the domestic market," Panda said, adding that the company will continue to meet the requirements of its long-term customers in Korea and elsewhere. In line with its expansion plans, IMFA is also focusing on sustainability. The company is signing up for about 120 megawatts of hybrid renewable energy with two leading suppliers. "By the end of 2026, when all of this is online, I would expect about 35 to 40 percent of our energy consumption to come from renewable sources," Panda said. IMFA was among the first companies to set up a coal-based captive power plant more than 30 years ago, and is now transitioning toward cleaner energy sources as it expands its manufacturing footprint. The acquisition and expansion come at a time when global demand for ferro chrome, a key ingredient in stainless steel production, remains robust, positioning IMFA for significant growth in the coming years. (ANI) PNN Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], December 20: Flying Officer Tanishq Agrawal has been honoured with the prestigious Sword of Honour for his outstanding performance at the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) 2025, held at the Indian Air Force Academy in Dundigal. The parade marked the successful completion of training for cadets of the flying and ground duty branches of the Air Force. Tanishq Agrawal is an alumnus of IPS Academy, where he studied in the Fire and Safety Department. He completed his course in 2022 from the Fire and Safety branch of IPS Academy Institute of Engineering & Science. After graduating, he worked as a Fire and Safety Officer at Reliance Dahej. Along with his job, he cleared the SSB examination and secured selection into the Indian Air Force. Recently, he successfully completed all phases of his training and has now been commissioned as a Flying Officer. In recognition of his excellence during training, Agrawal has been awarded the prestigious Sword of Honour at the graduation parade. A total of 244 flight cadets -- including 215 men and 29 women -- were commissioned into the Indian Air Force as Flying Officers at the ceremony. The event featured a grand marching parade, general salute, and an impressive fly-past by PC-7, Hawk, Kiran, and Chetak aircraft. The Akash Ganga skydiving team and the Air Warrior Drill team further captivated the audience with their spectacular performances. Congratulating him, IPS Academy Chairman Mr. Achal Choudhary and Principal of the Institute of Engineering & Science, Dr. Archana Choudhary, extended best wishes to Tanishq for a bright and successful future. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.) PNN New Delhi [India], December 20: Zonair3D, a European clean-air technology company, officially unveiled its advanced air purification solutions for the Indian market at a press meet held today at India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi, against the backdrop of India's growing air pollution and public health crisis. The press briefing was attended by leading medical experts including Dr. Roman Dutta, Vice Chairman, MS (Surgery), Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, and Dr. Mahindra Singh, Senior Consultant - Pain Medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Also present was Ashok Arora, Chief R&D, ZONAIR3D India. During the event, Royden Correa, Chief Executive Officer, ZONAIR3D Projects India Pvt. Ltd. (Z3D India), demonstrated ZONAIR3D's medical-grade air purification technology and outlined the company's long-term vision for India. Experience Centres Announced in Delhi and Mumbai Addressing the media, Correa announced the launch of ZONAIR3D Experience Centres one in Mayapuri, New Delhi, and another in Mumbai, with plans to establish multiple centres across India. "These Experience Centres are designed to let people see, feel, and measure the impact of truly clean air," Correa said. "We are inviting hospitals, institutions, corporates, and consumers especially those dealing with health concerns to experience our technology through free demonstrations." He further emphasized that ZONAIR3D is offering open demonstrations to organizations and individuals seeking firsthand exposure to certified clean-air environments. Medical Experts Highlight Health Risks of Air Pollution Speaking at the briefing, medical experts highlighted the serious health implications of prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter, especially PM2.5 and smaller particles, which are strongly linked to chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and heightened risks for children, pregnant women, and the elderly. The doctors stressed that while pollution source control is critical, effective indoor air purification has become an essential preventive health measure in India's current environment. Proven Global Technology with Indian Focus Founded in 2006, ZONAIR3D develops advanced air purification systems capable of delivering zero-particulate medical-grade air for homes, hospitals, vehicles, and public spaces. The company's innovation was inspired by the founder's personal battle with lung disease and later gained global recognition for its "bubble" clean-air technology. ZONAIR3D has collaborated with humanitarian organizations such as Doctors Without Borders to provide surgical-grade air in conflict zones and counts global luxury brands and elite athletes among its international clients. The technology received the Best European Clean Technology Award in 2021. The systems feature long-life filters lasting up to four years and are supported by localized after-sales service in India. The company also announced plans to begin manufacturing and R&D operations in India by mid-2026 to address local pollution challenges more effectively. Clean Air as a Fundamental Right The press meet concluded with a shared message from speakers and company leadership: clean air is not a luxury, but a fundamental human right. "Through ZONAIR3D, our goal is to make certified clean air accessible so people can experience the quality of air we all deserve to breathe, we view clean air as preventive healthcare rather than a lifestyle product" Correa added. When health and life are involved, claims are not enough. Prevention must be measurable, transparent and real About Zonair3D India Zonair3D India operates through Zonair Projects India Pvt. Ltd. (Z3D India) and represents the company's strategic expansion into the Indian market. The India operations focus on introducing certified medical-grade air purification solutions tailored to the country's severe indoor air quality challenges across healthcare, institutional, commercial, and residential environments. Zonair3D India is establishing Experience Centres in New Delhi and Mumbai to enable institutions, hospitals, and consumers to experience and evaluate clean-air environments through live demonstrations. The company is also strengthening local service infrastructure and plans to initiate manufacturing and R&D operations in India by mid-2026, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the market. "The company positions clean air as preventive healthcare rather than a lifestyle product." (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.) Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], December 20: The Department of Mathematics at IPS Academy, Institute of Science and Research, organised the inauguration of the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) Cell along with a seminar on the topic "The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Current Developments of Mathematical Cosmology - A Future Perspective." Inaugural CeremonyThe inaugural ceremony was graced by distinguished guests including Prof. Arunkumar Bhisam from Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban (South Africa); Dr. S. K. Tiwari, Head & Dean of Science, Vikram University, Ujjain; Dr. R. K. Tiwari, Professor & Head, Department of Mathematics, APS University, Rewa; Principal Dr. Premlata Gupta; Head of Department Dr. Pradeep K. Joshi; faculty members; and a large number of students. Indian Knowledge System (IKS) CellSpeakers described the establishment of the Indian Knowledge System Cell as a significant initiative aimed at connecting ancient Indian scientific thought, mathematical traditions, astronomical knowledge, and cultural heritage with modern research approaches. Seminar HighlightsDuring the seminar, Prof. Arunkumar Bhisam explained how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is contributing to the evolution of new research dimensions in mathematical cosmology. He stated that AI-based applications are accelerating precision and deeper analysis in cosmological models, dark matter-dark energy studies, cosmic microwave background data interpretation, and the simulation of astronomical structures. Dr. R. K. Tiwari emphasised that in the near future, AI-based algorithms will revolutionise large-scale data processing and research methodologies in mathematical cosmology. Students showed keen interest in the subject and actively participated by asking insightful questions. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. S. K. Tiwari highlighted that "Green AI" is not only about reducing energy consumption; it also includes smart and efficient computing systems, algorithm optimisation, the use of renewable energy, and transforming data centres into eco-friendly establishments. AcknowledgementsIPS Academy President, Architect Achal Chaudhary, and Vice President, Yogendra Jain, congratulated the faculty on the success of the programme. The event was successfully organised under the guidance of Principal Dr. Premlata Gupta and Head of Department Dr. Pradeep K. Joshi. The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Amita Joshi. (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.) The result was very horrible and is one of the reasons students perform woefully in internal and public examinations declaration of state of education (in Ekiti) as a moral emergency zone Before now, there is a sense of proud that come with being identified as someone from Ekiti State - some of you already know that yours truly hails from the fountain of knowledge. But all that is now becoming history as the ones glorious fortress is fast becoming a shadow of its self.If not, how else would one explain the massive failure of some Secondary School Principals during a promotion examination conducted by the state government recently? The troubling development was revealed by Governor Kayode Fayemi on Thursday while addressing participants at a youth empowerment seminar in Ado-Ekiti. This is how he described the situation: .The governor painted another gory picture when he disclosed that the case of graduates from the states institutions is worse, adding that most of them who apply to be enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force did not do well in the examination. The commissioner of police in the state, according to Governor Fayemi, even expressed shock at the performances of those who participated in the exercise from the state.Anyway, not to worry, I heard the governor is putting a system in motion to tame the ugly tide. He has called for the Lets see how far that would go in salvaging the situation. The discussions focused on transparent and inclusive financing, AI-enabled governance, ease of doing business, future-ready regulatory reforms and strengthening India's global economic leadership. The session was attended by Secretaries and senior officials of Finance and Corporate Affairs Ministries, Chairperson of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and top officials of Income Tax Department. Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran was also present. "Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. @nsitharaman, along with Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Shri @hdmalhotra, chaired the Chintan Shivir of the Ministry of Finance @FinMinIndia and Ministry of Corporate Affairs @MCA21India, at Hampi in Vijayanagara district, Karnataka, today," Ministry of Finance said in a post on X. Harsh Malhotra, MoS, Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways and Ministry of Corporate Affairs, said the Chintan Shivir in Hampi brought together senior officers of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to deliberate on India's growth roadmap towards Viksit Bharat by 2047. "Under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, and guided by Hon'ble Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Smt @nsitharaman, discussions focused on transparent and inclusive financing, AI-enabled governance, ease of doing business, and future-ready regulatory reforms--turning compliance into a driver of growth and strengthening India's global economic leadership," he said in a post on X. (ANI) The Kerala government has announced that police honours will be accorded at the funeral of veteran Malayalam actor, scriptwriter and filmmaker Sreenivasan, who passed away on Saturday. Sreenivasan''s final rites will be performed on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at his residence in Udayamperoor, Kandanad, Ernakulam. "Government have learnt with profound grief the demise of Shri Sreenivasan, renowned Malayalam actor, scriptwriter and filmmaker. He had won numerous awards, including a National Film Award (Best Film on Other Social Issues - Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala) and six Kerala State Film Awards," read an advisory from the Secretary to the Government. In a mark of respect to the departed artist, the District Collector has been requested to arrange for wreaths to be placed on behalf of the state government. Also, the Commissioner of Police has been instructed to make arrangements for police honours, including a bugle salute, during the funeral. Veteran Malayalam actor, screenwriter, director and producer Sreenivasan passed away on Saturday at the age of 69. Speaking to the media, actor and screenwriter Renji Panicker shared that Sreenivasan''s mortal remains will be taken to his residence and later to the Town Hall for the public to pay homage. Public viewing is set to be held at 1 PM. https://x.com/ANI/status/2002251693480915314 News of Sreenivasan''s passing triggered a profound wave of grief, with celebrities, political figures, and fans offering heartfelt tributes on social media. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan offered his tributes and honoured Sreenivasan''s cinematic legacy. "The passing of Sreenivasan is an irreparable loss to Malayalam cinema. What we are losing is a talent who rose to leading positions across every domain of filmmaking. Very few filmmakers have succeeded, as he did, in bringing the life of the common man to the silver screen and in guiding the audience, through humour and reflection, to levels of awareness he intended. Sreenivasan stepped into cinema by breaking several long standing conventions," CM Vijayan said, as per a press release from the Chief Minister''s Office. Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar condoled the veteran actor''s passing and said, "His iconic performances and timeless contributions will be remembered forever. Condolences to his bereaved family. May his soul attain mukti." Many other state ministers also come forward to condole Sreenivasan''s passing, reflecting on his iconic film journey. (ANI) Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday said that film is a mirror of society, and through cinema, various aspects of social life, including good, bad, past, present, and even the future, can be showcased on screen to create awareness among people. The Chief Minister said this while inaugurating a programme titled 'Tripura Culture and Heritage Land' at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan on Friday. The event was organised by the Tripura Film and Television Institute (TFTI) and the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs. Through this programme, certificates were awarded to students who passed the 2024-25 academic year of the Tripura Film and Television Institute, as well as to artists of various categories who received recognition from the state government. Addressing the programme, the Chief Minister said that students studying at TFTI, or who have graduated from it, should consider contributing positively to society by emphasising their creativity. "The state government has made efforts to make the state's Film and Television Institute the best film and television institute in the entire North Eastern region. To that end, work is also underway to identify a location for building TFTI's own infrastructure," he said. Saha stated that there is no shortage of talent among the state's children. "Efforts should be made to establish themselves by utilising this talent. The state government will stand by them in this regard. Among Northeastern states, Assam and Manipur are far ahead in producing films in regional languages. The children of our state should also continue their efforts to take the state's film industry forward through their own talent, along with government support," said Dr Saha. He further said that if there is talent, money will never be a barrier. "The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, always says that students and youth are the future of the country. All plans are being implemented, keeping students and youth in mind. Children of this section should always try to give their best for the country and society," he added. The Chief Minister said the state government is implementing various schemes for the welfare of people from all walks of life and is also considering ways to ensure financial independence by enabling them to complete courses across subjects at TFTI. During the event, Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, Secretary PK Chakraborty, Vice-Chancellor of the Kolkata Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute Samiran Dutta, Advisor of the Tripura Film and Television Institute Biplab Goswami, Vice-Chairman of the State-level Cultural Advisory Committee Subrata Chakraborty, Director of the ICA Department Bimbisar Bhattacharya, and others were present. (ANI) Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu visited various border villages and a BSF Border Outpost in the Sepahijala District on Friday. The Governor first visited Dayal Para ADC village and interacted with residents at the Jaljalaya SB School ground. He inquired about the implementation and progress of various Central and State Government schemes. The villagers apprised him of their grievances and problems. They also expressed happiness that a Governor was visiting their village for the first time. Next, the Governor proceeded to Kulubari Purba Para JB School, run by the ADC. He visited and inspected the school. Governor Nallu also inspected the Dayal Para ADC village office to review ongoing work and visited the Auushman Arogya Mandir. Subsequently, the Governor visited the Boxanagar BOP of the 49th Battalion BSF. He was welcomed by Commandant Ajit Kumar, who briefed him on border-related issues and security within their jurisdiction. The Governor then proceeded along the border road to Border Fencing Gate No. 185 A at Nagar Village under Kalshimura Gram Panchayat. There, he interacted with residents and inquired about various government schemes. During these interactions, Governor Nallu stated that he had undertaken an initiative to visit border villages across the state to assess the implementation and progress of different government schemes. As part of this effort, he had come to the Sepahijala district. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared border villages as "Vibrant and First Villages." The Governor noted the government's comprehensive development initiatives to provide all-weather roads, electricity, improved basic infrastructure, and livelihood support through agriculture and horticulture in these areas. He urged villagers to enrol in health insurance under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, ensure Aadhaar registration for children under five, and encourage school dropouts aged 18 and above to learn to drive and undertake skill development training under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme to become self-reliant. He also urged parents and teachers to enrol children in Eklavya and Navodaya schools to ensure quality education. Later, the Governor visited the Kamalnagar Primary Health Centre along the border road. He interacted with doctors and health staff, and inspected the Allopathy OPD, Dental OPD, ABPMJY Desk, and the health laboratory. His next stop was the Basundhara Bahumukhi Samabay Samiti Limited, a women's Self-Help Group run under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) and the TRLM. The President, Mukta Nahar, briefed him about the Samiti's activities and presented him with a memento and locally made products. Finally, the Governor proceeded along the border fencing road and visited Border Fencing Gates No. G-29 to G-32, including an unfenced area, which he accessed on foot in the NC Nagar border sector. BSF officers briefed him on the challenges faced in fencing work. He also visited the NC Nagar Border Outpost (BOP) of the BSF, where he was welcomed by DIG VK Kasna and Commandant of the 81st Battalion, Rakesh Sinha. The Governor interacted with BSF jawans, applauding them for keeping the border safe and secure, and noted that the BSF is the nation's first line of defence. Throughout the visit, MLA Tofajjal Hossain, District Magistrate and Collector Siddharth Shiv Jaiswal, the SDM of Sonamura, and officers from all line departments were present. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will become the first Prime Minister to offer homage at Swahid Smarak Kshetra, a site dedicated to Bir Swahids of the Assam Movement. In a post on X, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote, "The Swahid Smarak Kshetra stands as a lasting tribute to our Bir Swahids of the Assam Movement. On Sunday, Adarniya @narendramodi Ji will be the first Prime Minister to offer homage at this sacred site. Hear the thoughts of the family of a braveheart." https://x.com/himantabiswa/status/2002052738730070309 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Assam on December 20 and 21. On December 21, at around 9:45 AM, the Prime Minister will pay tribute to martyrs at Swahid Smarak Kshetra in Boragaon, Guwahati, according to an official press release. Sarma's X post also shared the video of a "member of Assam Movement martyr Bedela Bordoloi" from Dharamtul in Morogaon district, who expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister and the BJP government for providing Rs. 5 lakh assistance to each martyr's family and for the construction of a Swahid Smarak Khetra constructed at Boragaon to preserve the memory of the martyrs. In the X post video, the member said, "Namaskar, I am a member of the family of Assam Movement martyr Bedela Bordoloi, from Dharamtul in Morogaon district. Under the leadership of the Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP government first honoured the martyrs by providing Rs. 5 lakh in financial assistance to each martyr's family. Furthermore, on 10th December of the current year, a Swahid Smarak Khetra was constructed at Boragaon to preserve the memory of the martyrs. We express our heartfelt gratitude to the government, and the martyr families are extremely happy." Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Assam on December 20 and 21. On December 20, at around 3 PM, the Prime Minister will arrive in Guwahati, where he will conduct a walkthrough and inaugurate the New Terminal Building of Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport. He will also address the gathering on the occasion. On December 21, at around 9:45 AM, the Prime Minister will pay tribute to martyrs at Swahid Smarak Kshetra in Boragaon, Guwahati. After that, he will travel to Namrup in Dibrugarh, Assam, where he will perform Bhoomi Pujan for the Ammonia-Urea Project of Assam Valley Fertiliser and Chemical Company Ltd. He will also address the gathering on the occasion. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the new terminal building of Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati, marking a transformative milestone in Assam's connectivity, economic expansion and global engagement. The newly completed Integrated New Terminal Building, spanning nearly 1.4 lakh square metres, is designed to handle up to 1.3 crore passengers annually and is supported by major upgrades to the runway, airfield systems, aprons, and taxiways. India's first nature-themed airport terminal, the airport's design draws inspiration from Assam's biodiversity and cultural heritage, centred on the theme "Bamboo Orchids". According to the official press release, the terminal makes pioneering use of about 140 metric tonnes of locally sourced Northeast bamboo, complemented by Kaziranga-inspired green landscapes, japi motifs, the iconic rhino symbol and 57 orchid-inspired columns reflecting the Kopou flower. A unique "Sky Forest", featuring nearly one lakh plants of indigenous species, offers arriving passengers an immersive, forest-like experience. According to the official press release, the terminal sets new benchmarks in passenger convenience and digital innovation. Features such as full-body scanners for fast, non-intrusive security screening, DigiYatra-enabled contactless travel, automated baggage handling, fast-track immigration and AI-driven airport operations ensure seamless, secure and efficient journeys. The Prime Minister will visit the Swahid Smarak Kshetra to pay homage to the martyrs of the historic Assam Movement, a six-year-long people's movement that embodied the collective resolve for a foreigner-free Assam and the protection of the State's identity. Later in the day, the Prime Minister will perform Bhoomipujan of the new brownfield Ammonia-Urea Fertiliser Project at Namrup, in Dibrugarh, Assam, within the existing premises of Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corporation Limited (BVFCL). Furthering the Prime Minister's vision of Farmers' Welfare, the project, with an estimated investment of over Rs. 10,600 crore, will meet fertiliser requirements of Assam and neighbouring states, reduce import dependence, generate substantial employment and catalyse regional economic development. It stands as a cornerstone of industrial revival and farmer welfare. (ANI) An FIR has been registered against BJP leader and National In-Charge of the party's IT Cell, Amit Malviya, at the Narendrapur Police Station under the Baruipur Police Station, alleging that his social media post threatened communal harmony and the sovereignty of India. According to the complaint received on Friday by Narendrapur Police Station, All India Trinamool Congress leader and State General Secretary and Spokesperson Tanmoy Ghosh accused Malviya of posting an "incendiary statement" on the social media X platform on December 19. The complaint references a specific post, claiming it amounted to "formal instigation against communal harmony" and posed a "substantial threat" to the country's sovereignty. The complainant further alleged that the post constituted a direct insult to West Bengal, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The letter urged the police to initiate strict legal action against the BJP leader under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and any other applicable laws. Police sources confirmed that the complaint had been received and acknowledged by Narendrapur Police Station. However, officials said no FIR has been registered to date and that the matter is under preliminary examination. Further action, officials said, will be taken after the complaint and the social media post in question are reviewed. In the X post against which the FIR was filed, Amit Malviya stated that the ongoing vandalism in Dhaka, Bangladesh, was a "warning". He noted that this is "how societies unravel when extremism is appeased, and lawlessness is normalised." In reference to incident, he stated that, "It is also why the trajectory of West Bengal under Mamata Banerjee is deeply worrying." In the end, he said, "Culture, free expression, and democracy cannot survive where mobs rule, and the state looks away." The X post stated, " Last night, Islamist mobs vandalised Chhayanaut Bhavan, a historic institution and a cornerstone of Bengali arts and culture in Dhaka. The pattern unfolding in Bangladesh is unmistakable: attacks on media houses, journalists, and cultural centres, carried out under Islamist pressure and intimidation. This is a warning. This is exactly how societies unravel when extremism is appeased, and lawlessness is normalised. It is also why the trajectory of West Bengal under Mamata Banerjee is deeply worrying. Years of political patronage, erosion of institutions, and selective silence have pushed Bengal onto a dangerous path. If Mamata Banerjee's decrepit regime continues beyond 2026, the consequences for Bengal will be irreversible. Culture, free expression, and democracy cannot survive where mobs rule, and the state looks away." https://x.com/amitmalviya/status/2001918718289625098 The development adds to the ongoing political tensions between the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and the Bharatiya Janata Paty, with leaders from both sides frequently trading accusations over social media conduct and alleged attempts to disturb communal peace, as the West Bengal elections in 2026 approach. Further details awaited. (ANI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister has held a meeting with Union Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Patil to discuss key issues related to the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in the Union Territory. During the meeting on Friday, the Chief Minister raised the issue of early release of pending Central funds to clear work-done claims and to restart several stalled JJM schemes, many of which are at an advanced stage of completion. He emphasised that timely financial support is crucial to ensure the uninterrupted progress of drinking water supply projects in rural J&K. The Chief Minister assured the Union Minister that the J&K Government will ensure the timely execution of works, close monitoring at all levels, and the achievement of targets set under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Reiterating the government's commitment to the "Har Ghar Jal" initiative, he said the administration remains focused on providing safe and adequate drinking water to every rural household in the Union Territory. The Chief Minister also sought continued support and cooperation from the Central Government to accelerate implementation and ensure the successful completion of JJM projects.J&K Minister Javed Rana and senior officials attended the meeting. Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday demanded an apology from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the recent hijab row, saying that the incident was unacceptable and deserved an apology. His remarks came after a video surfaced showing Chief Minister Kumar attempting to remove a woman's hijab during a government event in Patna. Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said, "Forget that she was a Muslim woman, that she was wearing a hijab; how can it ever be right to lay hands on any woman in this manner, to touch her clothes? What right did he have to touch a woman's clothes? And then to forcibly remove a Muslim woman's hijab like that. The woman doctor has said that she no longer wants to work, so Nitish Kumar should realise his mistake and apologise to the woman doctor." Meanwhile, Union Minister Giriraj Singh defended Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over a viral video showing him attempting to remove a woman's hijab, saying he did so as a guardian. Speaking to reporters, Giriraj Singh instead questioned the woman for covering her face while collecting her appointment letter from the Bihar CM. Earlier, a complaint was lodged at the Kaiserbagh Police Station in Lucknow against Nitish Kumar and Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Sanjay Nishad in connection with the viral hijab video that triggered outrage with political leaders across party lines, condemning Nitish Kumar's actions. The complaint was submitted by Samajwadi Party leader Sumaiya Rana, accompanied by her lawyers, seeking the registration of an FIR and strict legal action against the two leaders. (ANI) Opposition BRS and BJP stepped up their attack on the ruling Congress over the recently concluded Gram Panchayat elections in Telangana, with BRS Working President K T Rama Rao challenging Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to prove public support through by-elections and BJP leaders claiming significant rural gains and anti-incumbency against the state government. BRS Working President KT Rama Rao alleged that the Chief Minister first claimed Congress's performance in local polls as a blessing reflecting 66 per cent support for his government, but quickly took a U-turn by stating that Gram Panchayat elections are contested on local issues and caste equations, not on government performance. "The CM claimed Congress won 66% in local polls and called it a blessing for his government. Yet, within five minutes, he took a U-turn, stating local polls are fought on local issues and caste, not government performance. Mr. Chief Minister, if you truly believe the people are with you, accept my challenge: Make those 10 MLAs you 'bought like cattle' resign. Let us go for the by-elections. The people will decide who has the real strength and who has the real percentage," Rama Rao said. In Nirmal, BJP leader Alleti Maheshwar Reddy claimed that, of the 128 Sarpanch posts in the Nirmal constituency, the party-backed candidates won 80. "We have won over 213 Sarpanch so far for the first time. Similar results will prevail in the upcoming MPTC ZPTC elections. We will fight to form a government in the state... We will definitely work hard the same way and ensure that we form a government in the state... The state government has a lot of anti-incumbency due to their failure in fulfilling the promises they made during elections and scam and corruption charges," he said, adding that the party felicitated all the Sarpanch and Deputy Sarpanch in the district along with the state BJP President, MLAs and district cadres. Telangana BJP President N Ramchander Rao said the party organised the felicitation of all the elected Sarpanch and Deputy Sarpanch in Nirmal district, where over 210 Sarpanch were elected under BJP backing. "BJP has organised the felicitation of all the elected Sarpanch and Vice Sarpanch in Nirmal district, where over 210 Sarpanch were elected...It has pushed back Congress and BRS. People in Telangana are now recognising BJP, while earlier we used to have very less representation in local bodies... We have crossed 1000 Sarpanch elections in the state. BJP is being accepted in the state's rural side... This is the beginning of the winning spree of BJP in Telangana," he added. (ANI) Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh on Friday distanced himself from "Shri Ram was Muslim" remark made by party MLA Madan Mitra, asserting that there was no question of the party or its leaders not respecting Lord Ram. Speaking to reporters, Ghosh said that he was unaware of what Madan Mitra had said or intended to convey. He stressed that Lord Ram is revered by all and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicising Lord Ram. "I do not know what Madan Mitra said and what he wanted to say. We all respect Lord Ram. The BJP markets Lord Ram politically. Lord Ram is our God. There is no question of not believing in him," Ghosh said. His remarks came after Madan Mitra sparked a political row with a statement questioning Lord Ram's identity. In the speech, delivered in Bengali, Mitra said, "What was Ram's surname? Shri Ram was Muslim," triggering sharp reactions from the BJP, which accused the TMC of insulting Hindu beliefs and hurting religious sentiments. Reacting strongly, BJP in West Bengal took to social media to criticise the ruling party. "@AitcOfficial leaders cannot help but insult Hindu Gods and Hindu beliefs it seems. Now, TMC MLA Madan Mitra says Lord Ram was a Muslim, not Hindu. This continuous abuse of our culture and history is not a slip of tongue! Rather it is a not-so-subtle message to illegal Bangladeshis, that the TMC is the most Hindu Birodhi party, and therefore represents their beliefs. Thankfully, in a few more months, such anti-Hindu leaders will no longer be in power," BJP's West Bengal's X post read. https://x.com/BJP4Bengal/status/2001588889170116904 Meanwhile, in another incident, a sharp political debate erupted over Sanjay Singh's statement in Parliament on Friday that invoked the name of the Hindu God Ram. Sanjay Singh defended his "Ram ke naam mein charitra hona chahiye, warna haram mein bhi Ram likha hua hai (There must be character in the name of 'Ram,' otherwise the word 'Ram' is also found within the word 'Haram' (forbidden/unethical)") statement by saying it was just a reiteration of a quote used by the late former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee himself in response to Ram Vilas' claim that his name contained 'Ram'. He took a jibe at the BJP, saying the party should hold a press conference and apologise for the "sin" committed by former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee for making the statement in the first place. (ANI) During the operation, police arrested 156 accused, registered 60 new FIRs, apprehended 44 absconding and violent criminals, and arrested eight accused under the Arms Act. According to Haryana Police, in Dadri, police seized 3 kilograms of silver, 22 grams of gold and jewellery worth approximately 8 lakh. A car and mobile phones were also seized from the accused. In Nuh, the police recovered 1.50 lakh in cash and a motorcycle. Across the state, police seized 10,12,400 cash in various cases. Additionally, the police also confiscated 90,000 during anti-gambling operations. In Gurugram, Haryana Police arrested 17 absconders alone. During its search operation at 55 hotspots, police seized seven motorcycles and one scooter. In Faridabad and Sonipat, four violent criminals were apprehended from these districts, respectively. Moreover, as part of anti-narcotics operations, Haryana police recovered 3.5 kg of cannabis from Faridabad. In Ambala, police seized four mobile phones, a silver chain, a ring, anklets, and a motorcycle, while in Sonipat, a bus and a motorcycle were confiscated. Overall, 11 motorcycles, one bus, one scooter, and one car were seized across the state for their use in criminal activities. Taking strict action against illegal liquor and narcotics, police recovered 3.87 kg of cannabis, 163 grams of heroin, 22 grams of charas, 52 bottles of foreign liquor, 399 bottles of country liquor, and 50 litres of illicit liquor. Based on technical analysis and intelligence inputs, the Safidon City Police arrested an absconding accused who had earlier obtained bail in a murder case under Section 302. In Panipat, teams from the Industrial Sector-29 and Israna police stations, acting on intelligence, conducted raids and caught three accused red-handed with 32 bottles of illegal liquor and cash. Police have registered cases under the Excise Act, and further action is underway. (ANI) Some of my mates have more than three kids today... So people should keep their fingers crossed and pray for Funke Akindele to meet the bone of her bone and the flesh of her flesh and not somebody else You dont have to let inferiority complex overwhelm you. If God says you are the right person for me, then nothing will stop it Hey guys, I guess you all know this popular actress who became a household name after one of her movies -- became an instant hit, recording sales of millions of copies. But that's not the gist today. Right now, beautiful Nollywood/Yoruba actress, Funke Akindele, is looking forward to getting married to her "Mr. Right" and she needs it badly.The babe is not getting any younger, but bachelors seem to be looking the other way. Below is what she told a reporter in a recent true confession interview: ".To all those guys who are scared of approaching her for marriage, Miss Funke has this to say to them: .Ok now, you guys have heard from the horse's mouth... Be bold and courageous; stop being afraid and approach the babe if you're interested. Please, she need a husband. Polling commenced on Saturday in Washim for the election of 32 Municipal Councillors and the Municipal President of the Washim Municipal Council. Voters began arriving at polling stations early in the morning to exercise their democratic right. The Maharashtra State Election Commission announced elections to 29 Municipal Corporations across the state, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Earlier this week, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said it was not appropriate for municipal bodies to operate under administrators for an extended period in a democratic system. "I am very happy that the State Election Commission has announced the elections. We welcome this decision. In a democracy, it is not appropriate for a municipal corporation to be run by administrators for an extended period. We are confident that the people will give us a mandate after seeing our development work," Fadnavis said. Speaking on seat-sharing and alliances, the Chief Minister said the ruling Mahayuti alliance is working to contest the elections together in most places across the state. "We are trying to contest the elections as a Mahayuti, and the Mahayuti will be in place at most locations. In one or two places, there will also be an alliance between the NCP and the BJP," he added. Referring specifically to Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, Fadnavis said discussions with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar have already taken place and indicated that both parties may contest separately in the region. "Ajit Pawar and we cannot contest the elections together in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Both of us understand politics well enough to know that if we contest together, it benefits a third party, and we do not want to allow that to happen. We will contest against each other, but it will be a friendly fight," he said. The Chief Minister further stated that Shiv Sena will largely remain part of the alliance across most locations in the upcoming civic polls. Elections to major civic bodies, including the BMC and PMC, will be held on 15 January and counting on Jan 16. (ANI) She sought blessings at the temple, one of the most revered pilgrimage sites dedicated to Lord Hanuman and a destination that attracts devotees from across the country. During her visit, the Chief Minister performed rituals and interacted briefly with temple authorities and devotees. Security arrangements were in place during her visit to the temple. Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday flagged off new electric buses and an interstate bus service from ISBT (Inter-State Bus Terminal) in the national capital. The new interstate bus service, Delhi-Dharuhera, aims to enhance connectivity between the two cities. During the event, the Delhi CM described the service as critical to inter-state connectivity. She said that electric buses are the most effective way to eradicate pollution. During the event, the Delhi CM described the service as critical to inter-state connectivity. She said that electric buses are the most effective way to eradicate pollution. She also informed that the university bus service, which was shut down during the previous government, has been restarted. The CM also highlighted other initiatives, including the construction of new automatic testing centres and a new pink card system for women, which will allow them to travel for free. She claimed that vehicles were roaming across Delhi "without pollution certificates". CM Rekha informed that updated automatic testing centres are being built in Nand Nagri, Tehkhand, and Burari. (ANI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has expressed concern over rising violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh following the murder of Hindu youth Deepu Chandra Das. Calling the situation distressing, the CM said such incidents against Hindus should not be happening. Speaking to reporters, CM Sai said, "What is happening to Hindus in Bangladesh is very sad. This should not be happening." Earlier today, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged the Centre to take cognisance of the increasing violence against Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist minorities after the murder of Hindu youth Deepu Chandra Das in Bangladesh. Vadra pointed at the brutal killing of religious minorities in Bangladesh. In a post on X, she said, "The news of the brutal murder by a mob of Hindu youth Deepu Chandra Das in Bangladesh is extremely alarming. In any civilised society, discrimination, violence, and murder based on religion, caste, identity, etc., are crimes against humanity. The Government of India should take cognisance of the rising violence against Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist minorities in the neighbouring country and firmly raise the issue of their safety with the Government of Bangladesh." Spokesperson for the Government of Assam, Piyush Hazarika, condemned the barbaric act. In a post on X, he said, "The horrific lyn*hing of Dipu Chandra Das, just 90 km from Assam's border, is a tragedy. We condemn in the strongest terms the barbaric act of publicly burning a man alive and pray for his Sadgati. This incident is also a stark reminder of the dangers posed by demographic shifts. We have seen how targeted threats and propaganda can escalate into real-life violence. Protecting our people, culture, and territorial integrity is now a national priority, especially as Hindus are becoming minorities in several districts of the region. Assam sits on a ticking time bomb making vigilance, awareness and action all more imperative." Hazarika made the comments while responding to a journalist's post on the incident. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has strongly condemned the brutal murder of a young Hindu man named Dipu Chandra Das in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, in Bangladesh. "Yesterday (18 December) around 9:00 pm in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, a group of miscreants brutally beat to death a garment worker named Dipu Chandra Das on allegations of so-called blasphemy. They then hung his body from a tree and set it on fire, provoking actions that undermine communal harmony," the largest minority group of Bangladesh said in a statement. As protests spread across the country following Osman Hadi's death, Inqilab Moncho urged the public to refrain from violence, vandalism and arson. (ANI) Delhi Police on Saturday denied receiving any complaint regarding the alleged assault of Ankit Dewan by an Air India Express pilot at Delhi airport Terminal 1, stating that no such matter has been reported to the police station either by Dewan or by the airline. The Delhi Police further stated that the matter came to light through social media. The police said that once they receive a written complaint from the victim, they will initiate appropriate legal action. "With reference to a social media post posted on platform X by an Ankit Dewan, alleging physical assault by an Air India Express pilot at Terminal-1 of the airport- No such matter has been reported to the police station either by Ankit Dewan or by the airlines. The matter has come to the knowledge of the police through this social media post. Whenever a written complaint is received by the victim, in this regard, appropriate legal action will be taken," said Delhi Police. Earlier, passenger Ankit Dewan alleged that an Air India Express pilot physically assaulted him at Delhi Airport Terminal 1. Dewan said he and his family were directed to use the PRM security check, as they were travelling with a four-month-old baby in a stroller. He claimed that airport staff were cutting in line ahead of him, and when he pointed it out, the pilot allegedly asked whether he was uneducated. As a result, a verbal scuffle ensued, after which the pilot physically assaulted him, alleged Dewan. "@AirIndiaX today one of your pilots, Capt. Virender Sejwal, assaulted me physically at T1, Delhi Airport. Here are the facts of the matter,: Me & my family were guided to use the security check that the staff uses (also the PRM check), because we had a 4 month old baby in a stroller. The staff was cutting the queue ahead of me. On calling them out, Capt. Virender, who himself was doing the same thing, asked me if I was anpadh (uneducated), and couldn't read the signs that said this entry was for staff. A verbal scuffle broke out. Not able to excercise restraint, the AIX pilot proceeded to physically assault me, leaving me bloody. The blood in the photograph (first comment) on his shirt is also mine," said Dewan. Following the incident, Dewan claimed that he was forced to write a letter stating that he would not pursue the matter further. He also questioned Delhi Airport over the alleged mismanagement of the situation and raised concerns with Delhi Police about why he was unable to lodge a complaint. "How can @DelhiAirport get away with such mismanagement, combining staff entry with passengers carrying infants, creating chaos at a sensitive security area? I thought Airports were safe places! I was forced to write a letter stating that I will not pursue this matter further ... It was either write that letter, or miss my flight and throw the 1.2 lakhs holiday bookings down the drain. @DelhiPolice, why can't I file a complaint after coming back? Must I sacrifice my money too, to seek justice? Will the CCTV footage disappear in the 2 days till I make it back to Delhi?," added Dewan. Later, Air India expressed regret over the incident and condemned the pilot's behaviour. In a tweet, the airline stated that the pilot has been removed from his official duties and said that appropriate action will be taken pending a thorough investigation. "@ankitdewan We profoundly regret this incident at Delhi Airport, involving one of our employees who was traveling as a passenger on another airline. We extend our heartfelt empathy for the distress it has caused, and strongly condemn such behaviour. The concerned employee has been removed from official duties with immediate effect, and appropriate action will be taken pending thorough investigation. While we refrain from public comments while due process is followed, please be assured this matter has our highest attention. We remain fully committed to provide due cooperation to law enforcement authorities to ensure a fair and thorough process," said Air India Express. (ANI) Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh on Saturday attended the first Coordination Committee meeting of Textile Research Associations at Vigyan Bhawan here. The meeting focused on strengthening coordination among various textile research bodies and enhancing research-driven innovation in the textile sector. The Minister highlighted the importance of research and technology in enhancing the competitiveness, sustainability, and global reach of India's textile industry. Senior officials from the Ministry of Textiles and representatives of various Textile Research Associations were present at the meeting. Earlier, Giriraj Singh criticised the TMC MPs for their 12-hour sit-in protest in parliament premises over the passing of Viksit Bharat G-RAM-G Bill. He called the protests a political play, not intended to benefit labourers. "Only those who have nothing to do with labourers will protest against the VB-G RAM G Bill 2025. Only those who have to do politics will protest against it," he said. "Is it wrong to offer a 125-day guarantee instead of a 100-day guarantee? This is in the interest of labourers. Those who are opposing it are enemies of labourers. They can sit for 12 days or 12 hours, but this fact is that this is for the betterment of the labourers," he added. This comes after members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) began a 12-hour sit-in dharna (protest) against the passage of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee For Rozgar & Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill. The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on December 18 and the Rajya Sabha on December 19 amidst uproar from the opposition party. The Government maintains that the bill is introduced with improved conditions compared to the MGNREGA Bill. One highlight is the increase to 125 guaranteed workdays, up from 100. (ANI) A major accident occurred on Friday at a solar panel manufacturing factory in Nagpur when a water tank collapsed. The tragic incident claimed the lives of six workers from Bihar. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed deep anguish over the incident and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families. He also assured the families of the deceased that all possible assistance would be provided. "The incident in which 6 workers lost their lives in an accident at a company in Butibori MIDC, Nagpur, is extremely tragic. I pay my heartfelt tribute to them. In this incident, 9 workers were injured, and their treatment is underway. I pray at the feet of God that they recover soon. I am in contact with the Nagpur District Collector, and they are also coordinating with the relevant agencies. The state government will provide financial assistance of 5 lakh rupees to the heirs of the deceased. In addition, the concerned company will provide 30 lakh rupees to the heirs of the deceased, and the company has also agreed to provide 10 lakh rupees to the injured along with the cost of treatment," the Maharashtra CM said. Local administration and police teams have reached the site and are engaged in relief and rescue operations. The bodies of the deceased have been sent to the hospital for post-mortem, while an investigation has been launched to ensure the safety of other employees at the factory. According to Nagpur Superintendent of Police Harsh Poddar, the accident occurred while the workers were working on a construction project near the water tank at the Awada company, which manufactures solar panels. The water tank collapsed, trapping them beneath. Out of those injured, three of sustained serious injuries. According to officials, the workers are receiving treatment at various private hospitals."The labourers were working on a construction project near the water tank when it collapsed, trapping them underneath," Nagpur Superintendent of Police said. Police and the fire brigade arrived at the scene soon after receiving information about the incident, and further investigation is underway. (ANI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two more absconders in Maharashtra's Dinesh Pusu Gawade murder case. The wanted accused, both members of the banned CPI (Maoist) terrorist organisation, have been identified as Raghu alias Pratap alias Irpa alias Muddella alias Sailu of district Nizamabad, Telangana, and Shankar Mahaka of district Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. Dinesh Pusu Gawade was abducted and brutally murdered by CPI (Maoist) members in November 2023 in Gadchiroli on suspicion of being a police informer and a member of the RSS. The crime was committed in furtherance of the organisation's conspiracy to spread terror among local villagers and to threaten them against sharing any information regarding Naxal activities and movements with the security forces. NIA, which took over the investigation from Gadchiroli Police in October 2024, had earlier chargesheeted four other accused, Doba Wadde, Ravi Pallo, Sattu Mahaka, and Komati Mahaka, in the case. Investigation in the case RC-03/2024/NIA/MUM is continuing, and NIA is working to unearth the entire conspiracy behind the dastardly killing and to arrest the remaining absconders. In another development, the Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court at Patiala House on Friday further extended the custody of Dr. Bilal Nasir Malla for seven days in connection with the Delhi Blast Case. On the other hand, the court remanded the accused, Shoyeb, to five days' judicial custody. Both Accused were produced after expiry of their NIA custody. Principal District and Session Judge (Special NIA Judge) extended the custody of Bilal Nasir Malla till December 26. Accused Shoyeb has been remanded in judicial custody till December 24. The hearing was conducted in a closed courtroom. On Monday, the special NIA judge remanded both accused to NIA custody for 4 days. During the hearing, the special NIA judge allowed an NIA application seeking permission to collect handwriting samples from Bilal Nasir Malla. Thereafter, the handwriting samples were obtained before a magistrate. The next day, his voice samples were also obtained with the court's permission. A total of 15 people were killed and over two dozen others injured in the Delhi blast that occurred around 7 pm on November 10 in a moving Hyundai i20 car driven by one alleged suicide bomber, Umar Un Nabi. NIA has forensically established the identity of the deceased driver of the vehicle-borne IED as Umar Un Nabi, a resident of Pulwama district and Assistant Professor in the General Medicine Department at Al Falah University at Faridabad. The anti-terror agency has also seized another vehicle belonging to Nabi. The car is being examined for evidence in the case, in which NIA has so far questioned 73 witnesses, including those injured in the blast that rocked the national capital. (ANI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday announced the beginning of the Martyrdom Week in Sikh history, starting from 06 Poh, and paid tribute to Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his family. In a post on X, Mann recalled that Guru Gobind Singh Ji, along with his family, left Sri Anandgarh Sahib on this day, describing the period as a symbol of unparalleled sacrifice and inspiration for humanity. https://x.com/BhagwantMann/status/2002201788783730861?s=20 " Today, from 06 Poh, the Martyrdom Week of Sikh history is about to begin. It was on this very day that the all-sacrificing, Tenth Master, blessed Guru Gobind Singh Ji, along with his family, had left the fort of Sri Anandgarh Sahib. The Mughal and hill kings' army commander came to Guru Sahib and pleaded with him to leave Anandgarh and depart, taking an oath that if Guru Sahib vacated the fort along with the forces, he would not say anything to anyone, and their war would end right there. Guru Sahib did not trust them and initially refused, but at the insistence of the Singhs, Guru Ji left the fort along with his family," he said. Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also paid tribute to Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh, the young sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, remembering their martyrdom for faith and religion. "Today, we remember the martyrdom of Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, the sons of the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, who at the tender ages of nine and six, sacrificed their lives for their faith and religion, refusing to succumb to any pressure. We pay homage to their sacrifice. To ensure that their heroic story is known to future generations and to commemorate their martyrdom, Prime Minister Modi declared December 26th as Veer Bal Diwas in 2022," he told reporters. Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, gave the world the Khalsa Panth and is known for his ethics. (ANI) BJP Leader Keya Ghosh, on Friday, commented on Trinamool Congress MLA Madan Mitra's remarks that Lord Ram was a Muslim, not Hindu, saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party doesn't need to learn about Hinduism or Hindutva from him. Speaking to ANI, Ghosh said, "Mamata Banerjee's government and her MLAs understand that Muslim votes are shifting away from them. That's why they have adopted this tactic of appeasement by insulting Hindutva and Lord Rama." Calling TMC MLA's statement an election tactic, Keya Ghosh said, "For elections, they will stoop to any level, and Madan Mitra's statement is the biggest example of this." Further in her statement, she questioned TMC MP Dola Sen about the Trinamool Congress's role in the freedom struggle and reiterated the BJP founders' relentless efforts in the independence movement. In response to the opposition's protest against the recently passed VB-G RAM-G Bill in Parliament, Ghosh said the bill's name is merely an acronym, adding that the name of Lord Ram hurts the opposition party. She stated that Mahatma Gandhi is an ideology, dismissing allegations over the renaming of MGNREGA. "TMC has a problem with this bill because they can no longer use their job card and fool the labourers, as the legislation provides 125 days of labour and requires geo-tagging," Ghosh said. "TMC has had issues with everything that is for the welfare of the underprivileged, whether it is demonetisation, CAA, or VB-G RAM-G Bill," she added. Blaming West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the state's underdevelopment, Keya Ghosh said the CM had promised double the number of jobs in 2021, but now people are unemployed. Citing the gang rape of a tribal woman in West Bengal, Ghosh slammed Mamata Banerjee for the lack of women's security in the state, calling it "a government for rapists." (ANI) The Rouse Avenue court on Saturday ordered to release Christian Michel James from custody in the alleged money laundering case linked with Augusta Westland chopper deal case. James will remain in custody in the CBI case. A similar bail application is pending in CBI case. James had sought release from the custody on the ground that he has completed the maximum sentence of 7 years in custody in money laundering case. He was granted bail by the Supreme Court in CBI case and by the Delhi High Court in Money laundering case. On being informed of the court's decision Michel said that he was happy and that there were good judges. He also said that he is working on organising his travel documents. Earlier, Special Judge (CBI) Sanjay Jindal, after hearing initial submissions by the counsel for accused Christian Michel James, sought a reply from the CBI. CBI is to file its reply on December 22. During the hearing, advocate Aljo K Joseph submitted that the investigation has not been completed in the last 12 years. Christian Michel James has been in custody for the past seven years; the investigation into his involvement remains pending. Premier agencies are investigating the case. The court asked, "What do you want? Under what conditions can he be released from Jail?" Counsel for James said that it is the duty of the court that no person shall remain in custody after completion of the sentence in any case. During the hearing, James stated that he would participate in the trial if released from custody. Counsel for the accused also said that Christian Michel James was extradited to India in December 2018. He has already undergone the maximum sentence for the allegations against him. On the other hand, Senior Advocate D. P. Singh, Special Public Prosecutor for the CBI, opposed the submissions and contended that the accused cannot be released, as there is apprehension that he may run away if released from custody. On this point, counsel for the accused recorded a statement that Christian Michel James will participate in the trial if released from custody. James, a British national, has been granted bail by the Supreme Court and the High Court. The courts had imposed the condition of furnishing bail bonds of Rs. five lakh in each case and surrendering his passport. He has not furnished the bail bond, and his passport expired during the period of his custody in the case. This is a case related to the Rs. 3,600 crore Augusta Westland helicopter deal, which was registered by CBI in 2013. It is alleged that in order to enable the supplier to get the bid, the flying height of the helicopter was reduced. It is alleged that in this deal Rs. 200 crore kickback was paid. (ANI) Motivation From Olu Famous To succeed in todays crowded marketplace, you MUST build your stuffs to be irresistible to the consuming public. Your products/services should saturate your industry such that people would remember you at the speed of light whenever they are in need of what you possess... Go; make a bold statement! ___________________________ To move into the top echelon in your industry; you MUST take out time to learn and master the art of persuasion and negotiation. Develop the ability to collect your clients money in exchange for goods/services and still have them thank you for doing a good job... We all live by selling something! ___________________________ To be successful in any venture, you must develop your selling power. A lot of individuals are strong in the purchasing terrain but are stupendously weak in the field of sales. I tell you, no one makes it to greatness that way. You must possess a good selling power before you can make it to the league of champions in your industry... Buy less, Sell more! The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a compounding order dated on 06.11.2025 u/s 15 of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA), in the case of Janapriya Townships Private Limited, which has resulted into termination of investigation against the company for these contraventions of provisions of FEMA, 1999, read the official statement. The said order has been passed by the RBI after issuance of "No Objection" by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED). In this case, based on the credible information received, an investigation was taken up by ED for the following contraventions of FEMA, 1999, for which RBI has done compounding: - Delay in reporting receipt of foreign inward remittances towards issuance of shares to a person resident outside India under Para 9(1)(A) of Schedule 1 to FEMA 20, amounting to Rs. 64.66 Crore. Delay in submission of Form FC-GPR after issue of shares to a person resident outside India under Para 9(1)(B) of Schedule 1 to FEMA 20, amounting to Rs. 13.20 Crore. Delay in filing of 'Annual Return on Foreign Liabilities and Assets' for seven financial years under Paragraph 9(2) of Schedule 1 to FEMA 20, read with A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 45 dated March 15, 2011. The case was under investigation, and the company applied to the RBI to compound the said contraventions under FEMA, in accordance with Section 15 of the Act. On the RBI's reference, the ED issued no objection to such compounding, in line with the true spirit of the Act. Accordingly, the RBI, based on the ED's no-objection, has compounded the said contraventions vide a compounding order dated 06.11.2025, with a one-time payment of Rs 1,68,160. (ANI) Odisha Police on Saturday detained members of Odisha Youth Congress who were staging a protest against the state government over the alleged gang rape of a minor girl in Bhubaneswar's Dhauli area on December 10. The protestors attempted to "gherao" the residence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, demanding swift action against the incident and holding the government accountable. During the protest, one of the detained protesters said, "We demand the immediate resignation of Mohan Charan Majhi." Earlier, BJD Mahila Morcha President Snehangini Chhuria on Wednesday strongly criticised the BJP-led Odisha government over the alleged gang-rape of a minor girl near Dhauli in Bhubaneswar, claiming a rise in crimes against women in the state. Speaking to ANI, Chhuria said the incident was not an isolated case and claimed that several such crimes had occurred in recent months. "The gang rape near Dhauli is not an isolated case. In Bhubaneswar, there have been 28 cases of gang rape and rape in the last two months. Nowhere are women safe under the BJP-led Odisha government. Odisha has become a hub of sexual assault against women," she alleged. Slamming the BJP government over the incident, BJD chief and former Odisha Chief Minister said Barbarism and anarchy have crossed their limits and that the state capital is becoming unsafe. "Criminals are fearless, and the government is losing credibility. How much more distorted does law and order have to become before the government wakes up? The government's incompetence in preventing crime is instilling fear in the general public. The BJP government's failure to ensure a safe environment for women in the capital exposes its gross negligence and insensitive conduct. The government must take strict measures to ensure women's safety from criminal tendencies. Not after the incident occurs, but the government must be proactive in preventing it beforehand," Patnaik wrote on X. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday announced plans to establish rescue centres for bears and other wild animals in the state. Speaking about the initiative, Dhami said, "We have a rescue centre for tigers and leopards in Ramnagar, where many tigers and leopards have been rescued. Similarly, rescue centres will also be established for bears and other wild animals." He added that a comprehensive strategy to implement these schemes would be formulated within the next two weeks. "A strategy will be formulated to implement these schemes fully within two weeks. For this, the Forest Department will be provided with nets, cages, tranquilliser guns, etc. An additional amount of Rs 5 crore will also be allocated to ensure the availability of these resources and to prevent human-wildlife conflict effectively," the Chief Minister said. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke with Union Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav over the phone on Friday to discuss the increasing incidents of human-wildlife conflict in the state. Earlier today, CM Dhami first formally inaugurated the MB Food Processing Plant in the Bugghawala area. Afterwards, he visited the mushroom processing plant, where the second plant was inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. On reaching the mushroom plant, the Chief Minister was welcomed by workers and local people with a shower of flowers. After the inauguration, the Chief Minister inspected the plant's arrangements and gathered information about the production process. During the visit, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that rapid progress has been made in Uttarakhand in agriculture, horticulture, and food processing. He said that innovations such as mushroom production in Haridwar are connecting local people to employment and creating new opportunities for self-employment. The Chief Minister said, "Government is giving the highest priority to the agriculture sector and has launched schemes such as the State Millet Mission, Apple Mission, and Green Growth." He made it clear that the objective of these missions is to increase farmers' incomes, connect them with businesses, and make the state more economically prosperous. (ANI) The Rouse Avenue court on Saturday ordered the release of Christian Michel James from custody in a money laundering case linked with the AgustaWestland chopper deal case. Though he will remain in custody in the CBI case, a similar application is also pending in the CBI case. Special Judge (CBI) Sanjay Jindal ordered the release of Christian Michel James under the provisions of Section 436A CrPC. The court has ordered the jail authorities to release Christian Michel James on December 21 if he is not in custody in any other case. James had sought release from custody on the grounds that he had completed the maximum sentence of seven years in custody in the money laundering case. He was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the CBI case and by the Delhi High Court in the Money laundering case. His application in the CBI case is coming up for a hearing on Monday. Christian Michel James was extradited from Dubai on December 4, 2018. He was arrested by the CBI. He was remanded in CBI custody. Thereafter, he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on December 22, 2018. It is a case related to the Rs 3,600 crores deal of AgustaWestland helicopters for VVIPs. It is alleged that in order to enable the supplier to get the bid, the condition of flying height was reduced. It is also alleged that Rs 200 crore kickback was paid. Former Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi is also an accused. The CBI had registered a case in 2013. The ED had also registered a case. James, a British national, has been granted bail by the Supreme Court and the High Court. The courts had imposed the condition of furnishing bail bonds of Rs. five lakhs in each case and surrendering his passport. He has not furnished the bail bond, and his passport expired during the period of his custody in the case. This is a case related to the Rs. 3,600 crore AgustaWestland helicopter deal, which was registered by the CBI in 2013. It is alleged that in order to enable the supplier to get the bid, the flying height of the helicopter was reduced. It is alleged that in this deal, Rs. 200 crore kickback was paid. (ANI) Goa Police has initiated the process for issuance of an INTERPOL Blue Corner Notice against UK national Surinder Kumar Khosla, an accused in the nightclub fire incident that claimed the lives of 25 people, officials said on Saturday. Surinder Kumar Khosla is the owner of the property on which the unauthorised structure housing the nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane was functioning. According to the police, this step is being taken to ascertain the accused's whereabouts and to secure his presence for investigation. Earlier, a Goa court on Wednesday granted 5-day police custody of Luthra brothers - Saurabh and Gaurav, co-owners of 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub. Goa Police presented the accused before the Mapusa Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court after they were arrested at Delhi airport on Tuesday, after being deported from Thailand, where they fled after the blaze. The Luthra brothers underwent medical examinations before being produced in court. A Delhi court on Tuesday granted the Goa Police a 48-hour transit remand of the accused after they landed at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi. Speaking to reporters, advocate Vishnu Joshi, representing a victim's family, said the further court proceedings will take place after the end of the remand period. He said, "Yesterday, they were brought from Thailand to Delhi, and after arriving in Delhi, they were formally arrested by the Goa Police at the airport. After the arrest, they were brought to Goa this morning on Delhi transit remand. Thereafter, they were presented before the concerned court, and a further 5 days of remand were granted. Any further proceedings will take place after the end of their remand period, when they will be produced in the court on December 22." The fire at the Arpora nightclub on December 6 that claimed 25 lives led to criminal proceedings against the club owners over alleged negligence and violation of mandatory safety norms. (ANI) Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi on Saturday condemned the lynching of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh, stressing that if someone does something wrong to anyone, they should be punished severely. However, Azmi also demanded justice for minorities in India, alleging that Muslims who fought for freedom are now being called "Traitors". Speaking to reporters, Abu Azmi said, "Whether it's a Hindu or a Muslim, if someone does something wrong to anyone, they should be punished severely... wherever it happens, to whomever it happens, we should condemn it, but shouldn't I first condemn what's happening in my own country? In my country, those for whom Muslims fought for freedom and who have never betrayed the country, are now being called traitors... What kind of justice is this?" Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor raised his voice against the mob lynching of a Hindu man, named Dipu Chandra Das, in Bangladesh over alleged blasphemy. In a post on X, Tharoor wrote, "An unbearably tragic incident amid the mob rule that is raging across Bangladesh. While mourning the loss of this poor Hindu man at the hands of unspeakable criminals, I appreciate the condemnation issued by the Government of Bangladesh..." The Bangladeshi interim government also condemned the incident. "We wholeheartedly condemn the lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh. There is no space for such violence in the new Bangladesh. The perpetrators of this heinous crime will not be spared," the interim government said in a statement. The condemnation of the Mymensingh lynching came as the Bangladesh interim government led by Muhammad Yunus on Friday issued its first detailed response to the broader unrest in the country, urging citizens to resist acts of mob violence. The appeals from both the interim government and minority rights groups come against the backdrop of escalating unrest following the death of Inqilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman bin Hadi. Meanwhile, Abu Azmi also slammed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for allegedly attempting to remove a woman's hijab during a public event went viral on social media. Abu Azmi further said, "What he did is absolutely wrong. I strongly condemn it. A man holding the position of Chief Minister is doing this; a case should be filed against him." The CM's act has drawn sharp reactions from students, college authorities and political leaders across the country. PDP leader Iltija Mufti on Friday lodged a police complaint against CM Nitish Kumar for pulling down the veil from a woman doctor's face. (ANI) Paying tribute to Assam's first Chief Minister, Sarma described Bardoloi as the architect of modern Assam, crediting him with playing a decisive role in preventing the state from being merged with East Pakistan during the grouping plan. "From one statesman to another! A proud moment for Assam today as a grand statue of our first Chief Minister Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi is unveiled by Adarniya Narendra Modi ji on the premises of Guwahati Airport. Shraddheya Bardoloi dangoriya was the architect of modern Assam and played a key role in saving Assam from merging with East Pakistan as part of Grouping," CM Himanta wrote on 'X'. Sarma further said that the people of Assam owe their present-day identity and progress to Bardoloi's unwavering leadership. "We exist today as proud Bharatiyas due to his unflinching efforts and we owe a lot to his leadership in giving rise to an aspirational Assam. This statue, crafted by the legendary sculptor, Late Ram Sutar ji is a befitting tribute to the great leader and its placement right at the entry point to the gateway of South East Asia makes it even more special," the 'X' post added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the new terminal building of the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Assam. Being accompanied by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, PM Modi inaugurated the terminal designed to accommodate 13.1 million passengers annually and it will set a new benchmark for sustainable and technological operations in India. Meanwhile, in a post on X, the Civil Aviation Minister praised the airport's architecture, noting that its immersive design beautifully showcases Assam's pristine natural treasures. (ANI) Amid renewed speculation about power sharing in Karnataka, state Deputy CM DK Shivakumar has reiterated that he will travel to New Delhi once the Congress party high command calls him, along with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Shivakumar was speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Saturday when he was asked whether he and the CM would visit Delhi to meet the Congress party high command. "I won't travel to Delhi secretively. I will travel with the CM when the High Command calls us. We will inform you (media) if we are travelling," DK Shivakumar said. Earlier on December 19, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah firmly rejected claims of a "two-and-a-half-year" power-sharing agreement, asserting that he remains the CM. Addressing repeated questions and interruptions from the Opposition regarding his tenure, Siddaramaiah clarified that no such arrangement exists and that he will remain Chief Minister until the party high command decides otherwise. "First, the people must bless us. Then the legislators elect the leader in the Legislative Party meeting, and after that, the high command decides. That is all I have said. Even now, I am the Chief Minister, and I will remain the Chief Minister until the high command decides otherwise," Siddaramaiah stated. Speculation over whether DK Shivakumar would be appointed CM by the Congress high command persisted for a few days, until the party clarified the matter after the two leaders met for breakfast at each other's residences and held a joint press conference to demonstrate party unity. Earlier, DK Shivakumar dismissed speculation about the nature of his dinner meeting. Shivakumar said, "Who said? There was no dinner meeting or anything. I had gone for a dinner to my former DCC president to pay respect, they contributed a lot to Karnataka, Belgavi. So to honour them, I went along with my friends. There is no other politics." Meanwhile, BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy alleged that in the tussle between CM Siddaramiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar over the top post, the state's interests have been ignored. (ANI) Congress MP and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor, on Saturday strongly condemned the violence in Bangladesh triggered by the death of Inqilab Moncho convenor Sharif Osman Hadi, leading mobs to vandalise the public property and lynch a Hindu man. Tharoor, expressing concern over the situation, advocated for peace and democracy in the neighbouring country. "Such mob rule should not prevail. The Parliamentary Standing Committee has also said that we want good relations with Bangladesh, and peace should be maintained there," he said. "Elections are also going to be held there in February, and we want democracy to return there, but the way the situation is going there is very concerning... Such a situation is not good for both countries; we want peace there," he added. Earlier in the day, Shashi Tharoor raised his voice against the mob lynching of a Hindu man, named Dipu Chandra Das, in Bangladesh over alleged blasphemy. In a post on X, Tharoor wrote, "An unbearably tragic incident amid the mob rule that is raging across Bangladesh. While mourning the loss of this poor Hindu man at the hands of unspeakable criminals, I appreciate the condemnation issued by the Government of Bangladesh..." Further in his post, he questioned the Bangladeshi regime about actions against perpetrators and measures to prevent such incidents. The Hindu man, Deepu Chandra Das, was lynched and burned by a mob in Mymensingh in Bangladesh following allegations of blasphemy amid widespread unrest in the country. Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested seven people in connection with the lynching of a Hindu youth in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, the Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, stated in an X post. The arrested suspects are Md. Limon Sarkar (19), Md. Tarek Hossain (19), Md. Manik Mia (20), Ershad Ali (39), Nijum Uddin (20), Alamgir Hossain (38), and Md. Miraj Hossain Akon (46). The unrest in the country was triggered by the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, who was allegedly shot by two masked assailants in Dhaka, infuriating mobs to target media institutions and minorities. (ANI) Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Saturday extended greetings to the people of Ladakh on the occasion of Losar, the traditional Tibetan New Year, and participated in the cultural celebrations marking the festival. Sharing a post on X (formerly Twitter) Rijiju wrote, "On the auspicious occasion of Losar (New Year), I extend my warm greetings and best wishes to the people of Ladakh. May the New Year usher in happiness, prosperity and peace for all. Tashi Delek & Julley!" The post was accompanied by a video showing the Union Minister dancing to the rhythmic beats of the traditional dhol and trumpet along with students and faculty members of the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS). https://x.com/KirenRijiju/status/2002330967097397371 Rijiju was in Ladakh to attend the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony of the Traditional Arts Academic Block at the CIBS. During the event, he interacted with students and staff, joining them in cultural performances. Losar marks the beginning of the New Year according to the Tibetan lunar calendar and is one of the most important festivals for Tibetan Buddhists. Celebrated across Ladakh, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan and parts of Arunachal Pradesh, the festival symbolises the victory of good over evil and the renewal of hope. The festival spans a week or two, blending religious ceremonies with vibrant cultural festivities. Meanwhile, Rijiju on Friday emphasised that the bills passed in the Winter Session of Parliament will play a major role in taking India towards the dream of "Viksit Bharat." He further stated that the discussions on "Vande Mataram" have stirred the spirit of patriotism. Rijiju said that after the discussions on the electoral reforms, the long-standing questions of the general public were answered with utmost clarity, further attacking the opposition for "falsely accusing" the Election Commission of India and electoral reforms. The Union Minister highlighted that this was the first time that the Election Commission and electoral reforms were separately discussed, outlining the readiness of the central government for any future deliberations. Moreover, speaking on the passing of VB-G RAM G Bill, Rijiju expressed happiness and assured an end to corruption and more transparency. (ANI) I guess you guys remember Akolade Arowolo, the man who allegedly killed his banker-wife, Titilayo Omozoje, and is being held at the Ikoyi Prison in Lagos? Well, information I scoop from a reliable source is that he attempted to take his own life inside the prison last week by drinking an acidic substance. It was gathered that sequel to the incident, Akolade was rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, where he is still recuperating. Anonymous sources at the hospital confirmed that he indeed ingested a harmful acidic substance. From the tests conducted, we discovered that Akolade took a substance with high acidic content. As I am speaking to you, he has just undergone a surgery because his stomach cannot retain solid food. So, we had to pass a tube through it so that he can eat , said an insider source. You may wish to know that Akolade is undergoing trial for the alleged murder of late Ttilayo at a Yaba chief magistrate court in Lagos. The next hearing comes up on October 26. Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda addressed the 21st annual convocation ceremony of King George's Medical University (KGMU), in Lucknow on Saturday. The Union Health Minister congratulated the graduating students and commended KGMU for its contribution towards advancing medical science education and patient care in India. "KGMU is ranked 8th in the 2025 NIRF rankings and 12 of its faculties have been listed in the top 2% scientists by Stanford University, which is a remarkable achievement", he stated. Highlighting the remarkable progress achieved in India's healthcare and medical education sector over the past decade, Nadda noted that while the country had only one AIIMS at the end of the past century, today there are 23 AIIMS institutions across India, reflecting the government's commitment to expanding quality healthcare and medical training to every region, read an official statement from the health ministry. He further informed that in the last 11 years, the number of medical colleges in the country has increased from 387 to 819. Similarly, undergraduate medical seats have risen from 51,000 to 1,19,000, and postgraduate seats from 31,000 to 80,000. Nadda added that till 2029, under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an additional 75,000 seats will be added across both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, of which more than 23,000 seats have already been added in one year. He also mentioned that today there are 1.82 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs operational in the country which are providing comprehensive primary care services to the people. He also informed that more than 62 crore people, accounting to over 40% of India's population are being provided with health coverage up to Rs 5 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat - PMJAY scheme, the largest health coverage scheme in the world. The Union Health Minister said that "basic education is everyone's birthright but professional education is a privilege that the society bestows on only a few". Highlighting that the government spends between 30-35 lakh for every MBBS student, he urged the new doctors to shoulder more responsibilities towards society as they embark on their professional careers. Concluding his address, Nadda urged the graduating students to actively contribute to academics and research, and to uphold the prestigious legacy of KGMU through excellence in their professional and ethical conduct. He encouraged them to remain lifelong learners and innovators, committed to advancing medical science and serving society with compassion. Multiple other dignitaries, including Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Deputy Chief Minister and Uttar Pradesh Minister of Medical education, medical, health, and family welfare Brajesh Pathak, Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Kumar, UP Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh, and Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India Ajay Kumar Sood were also present. Congratulating the young doctors on their achievements, Brajesh Pathak said, "for more than 120 years, KGMU has stood as a beacon of medical education, research and service to humanity." He also highlighted the progress achieved in the medical sector in Uttar Pradesh, stating that, "there were only 17 medical colleges in the government sector and 23 in the private sector in 2017 which has increased to a total of 81fully functional medical colleges in the state today." "Today, all 75 districts have dialysis facilities and CT Scan machines available, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been set up through NHM in population clusters of more than 5,000, and tertiary facilities have been strengthened through additional ICU beds", he said. On this occasion, 81 students and one faculty member were honoured for their outstanding academic, clinical and research achievements in various medical courses, and faculty categories. The awards include gold and silver medals, certificates of merit, book prizes, cash awards as well as awards for the best thesis and best resident. In addition, a senior faculty member was conferred with a special honour for outstanding contributions to medical and allied disciplines. (ANI) BRS Working President KT Rama Rao has said that the 'Urea App' is a clear sign of the Congress government's incompetence and accused the ruling party of acting with a vendetta against rural areas. Speaking at the Athmiya Sammelanam of newly elected BRS Sarpanches, Upa-Sarpanches, and Ward Members of Tandur in Telangana Bhavan, Hyderabad. KTR remarked that the public has taught a fitting lesson to the Congress government, which has been deceiving all sections of the state for the past two years. He lashed out at the Congress for systematically weakening the agricultural sector and obstructing the implementation of welfare schemes. KTR criticised the Congress government for "sidelining crucial farmer-centric schemes" such as Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, and the Loan Waiver. He further alleged that the government has disrupted the essential electricity supply for farming, causing immense distress to the rural population. He noted that the growing dissatisfaction in villages is a direct result of the government's lack of sincerity toward the farming community. Addressing the issue of fertiliser distribution, KTR vehemently opposed the new mobile application system for urea supply, labelling it an "Anti-Farmer policy." He termed the initiative the "Urea App Drama," claiming it is a conspiracy to hide the long queues of farmers from the world's view. He argued that a government unable to provide fertilisers directly at shops is now attempting to deceive farmers with a mobile app to mask its own failures. KTR reminded that during the 10-year tenure of the KCR government, farmers never had to stand in queues for fertilisers. He attributed the current urea crisis to the Congress government's lack of basic planning and vision. "If the Congress had the same love for farmers that KCR has in his heart, these problems wouldn't exist. But this government lacks both love and sincerity," KTR remarked. He urged the government to stop its attempts to "hide the queues" and instead focus on the actual problem. He demanded that the state government immediately supply the required amount of urea to farmers and stop creating unnecessary hurdles. He called on the administration to work with genuine commitment for the welfare of the farmers rather than complicating their lives with such "app dramas." KTR further emphasised that the powers and funds of local bodies are constitutionally guaranteed to the Sarpanches. He clarified that government funds are public money, not the personal property of any leader, and that representatives should act as "Dharmakartas" (trustees). He highlighted that under the BRS regime, 'Palle Pragati' transformed villages, earning Telangana 30 percent of national awards, whereas development has now come to a halt under Congress. He concluded by encouraging the 67 newly elected BRS Sarpanches in Tandur to stand firm and fight for the people's rights against the government's failures. The meeting was attended by former ministers Srinivas Yadav, Gangula Kamalakar, as well as Karne Prabhakar, former MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy, and other key party leaders and activists. The meeting saw the participation of senior leaders, including former ministers Srinivas Yadav and Gangula Kamalakar, and former MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy. (ANI) The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Chandigarh Police is continuing its probe into the suicide case of Haryana cadre IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar. As part of the investigation, the SIT has been recording statements of Haryana IAS and IPS officers whose names were mentioned in the suicide note. In this connection, the SIT questioned former Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapur a few days ago. The late IPS officer had made serious allegations against Kapur in his suicide note. So far, the SIT has recorded statements of 11 out of the 14 IAS and IPS officers named in the suicide note. The team is preparing to issue notices to record statements of the remaining three officers. Following the emergence of his name in the suicide case, Shatrujeet Kapur was removed from the post of DGP by the state government. He was earlier sent on a two-month leave after the case came to light. A day before the completion of his leave, the government relieved him from the post late at night. Kapur has since assumed charge as the Chairman of the Haryana Police Housing Corporation. On October 7, a senior IPS officer was found dead at his private residence in Chandigarh with a gunshot wound. His service weapon, an eight-page "final note," and a will were recovered from the scene. Senior IAS officer Amneet P Kumar, the wife of the late IPS officer, had made some serious accusations against Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor and Superintendent of Police (SP) Rohtak Narendra Bijarnia. Kumar's wife has filed a written complaint to the police, where she stated that her husband had been facing caste-based discrimination, mental harassment, and humiliation for a long time. She also claimed that before his death, her husband had left behind a suicide note. (ANI) Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari on Saturday slammed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the incident in which he allegedly attempted to remove the hijab of a Muslim woman during a public function earlier this week. Speaking to the media in Dhanbad, Irfan Ansari said he would not tolerate any form of indecent behaviour or discrimination. He also offered a government job to the doctor in Jharkhand, stressing that he will take action against anyone who engages in such behaviour. "I have made a decision; if such indecent behaviour happens to anyone, I will step forward... You have harassed her. There is outrage among the people, and in that context, I said that if such a girl comes to Jharkhand, I will welcome her. I will give her a government job. I will give her the posting of her choice. I will give her a salary of Rs 3 lakh, and I will give her a government flat... We will not allow caste discrimination here, and we will take action against anyone who engages in such behaviour... There is outrage among the doctors," he said. The controversy erupted after a video from a public event showed Bihar CM Nitish Kumar touching the hijab of a Muslim woman doctor, drawing sharp criticism from students, doctors and political party leaders. Earlier on Friday, reacting to the episode, the woman's classmate, Bilkis Parveen, termed the act wrong and stressed the importance of consent. "No one has the right to touch someone without their consent," she said, while confirming that the woman doctor would be joining duty at Sadar Hospital on December 20. However, the college administration defended the Chief Minister, dismissing allegations of misconduct. Government Tibbi College & Hospital (GTCH) Principal Dr Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman said the incident was being misrepresented and denied that the hijab was being forcibly removed, noting that the incident was unnecessarily being "blown out of proportion". (ANI) Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) Chief Mukesh Sahani on Saturday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and their allied parties were engaged in ending democracy. He said the election results were being influenced by money, and that people needed to ponder whether they wanted democracy in the country. Speaking to reporters, Mukesh Sahani said, "We joined Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Voter Adhikaar Yatra. The BJP and their allied parties are engaged in ending democracy. Baba Saheb Ambedkar gave everyone in this country the right to vote. In the Bihar elections, the BJP came up with a scheme at the last moment and started depositing Rs 10,000 into women's accounts. If elections are being manipulated in this way, then it is better to stop the polls. Through this, they had swayed the people's mandate in their favour in Bihar. Now the people of the country need to think whether they want democracy in the country or not. We will fight strongly against this." On December 14, Congress held a 'Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod' rally at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, heightening the party's campaign against alleged electoral irregularities. The party intensified its campaign over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. Congress leader and LoP, Rahul Gandhi, during his speech at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, vowed to change the 'CEC and Other Election Commissioners Bill, 2023' and to take action against the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioner Sukhbir Sandhu, and Vivek Joshi once the Congress returns to power. The Congress leader had said, "Remember these names: Sukhbir Sandhu, Gnyanesh Kumar, Vivek Joshi. The Election Commission is working with the BJP. Narendra Modi ji has changed the law for them and said that the Election Commissioner can do anything but no action can be taken against them. Don't forget that you are the EC of India, not Modi's EC. We will change this law and take action against you. Because we are fighting for the truth." (ANI) Rajya Sabha MP Sukhedu Sekhar Roy, in a letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday, drew attention to the deaths of seven elephants, including four calves in Assam, noting that such incidents recur due to trains exceeding speed limits in designated elephant corridors. Roy noted that at 2:17 AM on December 20, the Sairang-New Delhi Anand Bihar Express struck a herd of elephants crossing their ancient forest path in Hojai district, Lamding Division, North Frontier Railway. He described these deaths not as accidents but as the result of human negligence, pointing out that speeding trains have become a recurring threat to elephants and other wildlife. "You are aware that 8(eight) elephants including a calf crushed to death in the wee hours (2.17 AM) today, the 20th December'25 by speeding Sairang-New Delhi Anand Bihar Express while a herd of elephants were crossing their ancient forest path in Hojai district of Assam under Lamding Division of North Frontier Railway. Such accidents have become a man-made menace in the natural habitats and corridors of elephants in particular and other wild animals in general as they are being killed every year by speeding trains in some parts or the other in the country," Roy wrote in his letter. Roy reminded that, despite Supreme Court orders since 2014 (Re: Shakti Prasad Nayak vs. Union of India) mandating strict speed limits in elephant corridors, especially at night and subsequent government directives, the situation has not improved. The court had ordered speed limits of 45 kmph in Assam and in specific sections of North Bengal, yet monitoring remains inadequate. No penal action has been taken against railway officials who neglect these rules. "You are also aware that in several cases since 2014, the Hon'ble Supreme Court (Re: Shakti Prasad Nayak Vs. Union of India) mandated inter alia for introduction of speed limits on Passenger and Goods Trains in the elephant corridors across India, in pursuance whereof Government of India reportedly directed for cap of 45 kmph for all trains in most vulnerable sections from 6 PM to 6 AM and in some highly sensitive stretches of Siliguri-Alipurduar in North Bengal at 30 kmph from 5 pm to 5 am and 45 kmph in Assam from 6 pm to 6 am," the letter said. "Despite the mandatory order of the Hon'ble Apex Court and the subsequent directions of the Government of India, situation has not improved at all due to reckless driving of speeding trains in the elephant corridors across the country and abysmal failure of monitoring of train speeds by the concerned officials as also for not initiating any penal action against the errant drivers and divisional managers who wilfully neglected and deliberately failed to maintain the speed limit as per Supreme Court's orders and Government directives. In my considered view, the instant incident of killing eight elephants in Assam by Rajdhani Express is not an accident at all, but result of deliberate attempt to flout orders of Supreme Court and the Government," he added. Roy called the incident a "crime against wildlife" and an act of defiance against judicial and government orders. He demanded that responsibility be fixed and strict action taken against the train driver and railway officials to prevent further such tragedies. "It's a crime against wildlife, it's a crime of defying judicial and departmental orders and a case of development without humanity. The question is how many more will die? I would, therefore, demand in the interest of safety of nation's wildlife that accountability is fixed for this preventable crime and appropriate action is initiated against the concerned driver and other railway personnel forthwith to avoid recurrence of reckless driving of trains causing such deaths to hapless elephants and other wild animals," the letter said. (ANI) Haseen Mastan Mirza, daughter of late underworld don Haji Mastan, has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking justice in a case of alleged abuse and property theft. She claimed that her maternal uncle's son, whom she was forcefully married to in 1996, raped her, abused her, and stole her identity to claim her property. She has also alleged that the person was also married 8 eight times before her. Haseen, who claims to be the daughter of the late don Haji Mastan, was a minor at the time, alleges she was pressured into the marriage and suffered immense trauma, attempting suicide three times. "I have requested Amit Shah, Modi ji, so many things are happening, rape, murder, every day, some or the other thing is happening. Just like it has happened with me, rape, attempt to murder, there was child marriage, my property was taken, and my identity was concealed. So I had said that if the law is strict, then the people will be scared of committing crimes," Haseen Mastan Mirza told ANI. Haseen's appeal comes after a video she posted on Instagram last week, highlighting her ongoing struggle for justice, in which she again appealed to PM Modi and Amit Shah, saying she has not received justice for years. She praised PM Modi's triple talaq law but requested stricter laws for immediate justice in such cases, adding that the religious law was being misused in Islam. "The triple talaq law is very good; that was a good law made by PM Modi, I was there at that time. In Islam, the triple talaq was being misused. The way Modi ji passed the bill, and the blessings of women are with him that he relieved them of such a law," she said. The case pertains to alleged rape, attempt to murder, and stealing her property against the person she was allegedly forcefully married to, who was her maternal uncle's son in 1996. Talking about her ordeal, she said that she has received little support as an adult, and during her time of being allegedly abused, she was just a kid. "I want the person who has done so much crime, has raped a child, left her to die...Even the police were asking, 'What were you doing then?' Today I am an adult, and no one is supporting me; back then, I was a kid. When I was thrown out of the house, no one supported me," she said. The case has sparked attention, with Haseena seeking support and protection. Haji Mastan, a notorious Mumbai underworld figure, died on June 25, 1994, of cardiac arrest. She further expressed sadness and appealed to the people not to drag her father's name, as this is her personal case, which happened two years after her father's death. "Firstly, I want to say that I feel really bad when I see my father being called like this, when I see such headlines. Ofcourse, I am his daughter, so name is taken, but I feel bad when there are such comments, but I am a daughter later, but he is Haji Mastan, I follow him, his ethics, however he lived his life," she said. "But this is not my father's story; it is not that I am his daughter that this is happening. This has happened after his demise. All this has happened. They say he has earned money that way and in other ways. But he has done good work his whole life, that is why I am standing in front of you safely. People have tried to kill me before," she added. Talking about her alleged forceful marriage to her relative, she added, "I had a child marriage, my identity was concealed, I was raped, and there was an attempt to murder. I was married to my maternal uncle's son. This incident happened in 1996. He raped me for property. I found out two years later that my father had passed away. I also attempted suicide three times. A law should be made that provides immediate justice!" She said that she was put under immense pressure to accept the marriage, with her mother being pressured too. As she was being kept away from her family, she had not even realised that her father had died, only finding out about it 2 years later. "At that time, I was alone, the whole family was on my head, asking me what had happened. I had said that I would go to my baba (father), but two years later, I got to know he had passed away. After that, I thought there was no option at all. I ran away to a friend's house, and the next day I came back home. Mom cried, and I cried. After month one, my mom was pressured again," she said. Haji Mastan Mirza, born in Tamil Nadu, was an underworld don in Mumbai. His main business was connected to real estate and maritime smuggling. He is said to have worked with another mob boss, Dawood Ibrahim, and to be connected to other underworld figures. He was known to be a businessman and a "deal-maker" too. He was also known to be meeting with various Bollywood actors. (ANI) Former YSRCP MP Margani Bharat strongly criticised Pawan Kalyan, stating that instead of honouring election promises, he is functioning as a political contractor to serve Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Minister for Human Resources Development of the state, Nara Lokesh. Addressing the media on Saturday in Rajahmundry, Bharat said Pawan Kalyan has shown no "seriousness or accountability" as a minister and has "failed" to stand with the people. He accused Minister Nara Lokesh of holding roadshows with land grabbers, sand smugglers, and anti-social elements, thereby signalling open support for illegal activities, while merely inaugurating projects developed during the YSRCP (Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party) regime without initiating a single new development programme in the last one and a half years. Bharat said," Unable to answer questions about governance failures, Lokesh has resorted to personal abuse against YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, which reflects political bankruptcy and a lack of respect for democratic values. " He highlighted "unfulfilled promises", including women's financial assistance, mounting fee-reimbursement arrears, and the privatisation of government medical colleges, calling them a betrayal of public trust. He also condemned Pawan Kalyan's "irresponsible" threats over job card removals instead of questioning Chandrababu Naidu, stating that both leaders have "abandoned" their pre-election commitments and are "intimidating dissenters". Margani Bharat asserted that Pawan Kalyan has reduced himself to "doing contract work" for Chandrababu Naidu and Nara Lokesh and challenged him to prove his worth through real development and by securing central funds rather than indulging in "rhetoric and threats". Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Saturday addressed a gathering after participating in the foundation-laying ceremony of the "Amarajeevi Jaladhara" project held at Peravali in the Nidadavole Assembly constituency of East Godavari district. According to a release, Rs 7,910 crore is being spent across five districts in the state on the construction of Water Grid projects under the Amarajeevi Jaladhara initiative. Through these projects, the government is committed to meeting the water needs of 1.21 crore people over the next 35 years. "Some YSRCP leaders are openly issuing threats, saying they will return to power and 'settle scores.' They are intimidating contractors by threatening to jail them for carrying out development work. To all of them, there is only one message: the Yogi Adityanath-style treatment is the right answer. If the government is determined, even strong Naxalism has been crushed before. If such hired rowdies continue to issue threats, they should think about what their situation would be if the government takes firm political decisions," Kalyan alleged. Kalyan added, "Criticism is natural in a democracy, but it must be constructive. Crossing limits and indulging in irresponsible statements will not be tolerated; if boundaries are crossed, those boundaries will be erased." The Andhra Deputy CM further questioned the opposition, stating, "Some leaders have stooped so low in politics that they tried to incite divisions among small children in Pithapuram in the name of caste. Is this how a decent human being behaves? Are there no other ways to do politics? Those who resort to such acts should feel ashamed." Kalyan further said, "Due to the negligence of the previous government, when the Jal Jeevan Mission deadline ended in 2024, thousands of crores meant to meet drinking water needs remained unused. With the scheme's deadline expiring, those funds were wasted. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and I went to Delhi. We held discussions with senior leaders at the Centre and successfully convinced them to extend the Jal Jeevan Mission project deadline." He emphasised that Andhra Pradesh is receiving thousands of crores today because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's support. "With his full cooperation and the vast experience of N Chandrababu Naidu, we can take the state forward on the path of development. Whether it is road construction or works being carried out under the Amarajeevi Jaladhara program, strict action will be taken if there is any compromise in quality," Kalyan added. (ANI) Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday said that compared to 2023, the overall crime rate has decreased sharply till November 2025. Saha said this after attending a review meeting on law and order at Pragna Bhawan in Agartala on Saturday, with senior Tripura Police officials, OCs, and SDPOs. Saha said that, regardless of what is done, the delivery system starts at the police station. "We have 90 police stations and nine women police stations. Initially, I said there was a time when political leaders had close ties with Officers-in-Charge, which led to insubordination. We have to break the ice. I have never called any OC. Earlier, we saw that those who ruled the state for 35 years enjoyed such privileges. We have asked them to properly maintain their role happily, as police personnel also belong to this society," he said. Saha, who is also the state's Home Minister, said the uniform is an ornament for police personnel and must be respected. "There was a time when police officers used to be identified by political colour. Why should such a thing happen? We will identify good officers based on their work. I never interfere in police work. Based on news reports, I hold meetings with the SP and DM every fortnight and ask them about the clarifications," he said. He also asked OCs to check the number of FIRs filed each day and to verify that they are correctly written. "If any police personnel look different or feel unwell, we can send them for counselling. We have also discussed the proper submission of charge sheets to ensure justice is not delayed. Physical fitness among police officers is very important. Exercise is needed every day," said Saha. Saha stated that crime rates across all categories have significantly decreased. For crimes against the human body, there were 1,385 in 2023 and 753 through November 2025. "In 2023, it was 412; now it is 275. Crime against women was 791 in 2023 and 627 in 2025 till November. We have also discussed NDPS cases. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have stated that there will be zero tolerance for this. Overall, the number of crime cases was 5,002 in 2023 and 3,386 through November 2025, marking a sharp decrease. If everyone works together, we can build a New India and a New Tripura. The present government will not compromise on law and order. We have also discussed Bangladesh-related issues. We are keeping a close eye on communal elements, touts, etc. We will not allow such activities," he added. During the meeting, DGP Anurag, Chief Secretary JK Sinha, and others were present. (ANI) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised the country's role as a peacemaker, highlighting its engagement in various global conflicts, including India-Pakistan, Russia-Ukraine, and Sudan. Rubio credited President Donald Trump for stopping the India-Pakistan conflict, a claim previously made by Trump. In a press conference, Marco Rubio highlighted the US's efforts to promote peace globally, citing Trump's involvement in resolving conflicts like India-Pakistan and Russia-Ukraine. "We remain engaged around the world, including in conflicts that perhaps are not central to everyday life in America. But the president has made it a priority to be a peacemaker. And so you've seen us engaged, whether it's Russia, Ukraine, or India and Pakistan, or Thailand and Cambodia, which is an ongoing challenge, or the tragedy we see now in Sudan, or the potential for further strife in South Sudan, and that's falling apart. We are always looking for opportunities, if possible, to serve as mediators that help prevent war or end conflicts. And obviously, in many of these cases, you can get people to the table and agree, and then there's the implementation process," he said. Rubio defended the Trump administration's strict immigration policies, stating it's a sovereign decision to ensure the country's safety and security. "The US remains one of the most generous countries in the world...but we do have a right, like every sovereign country does, to know who you are...We have a right to make sure you're not going to come to this country and impose a burden on our social safety network," he said. He also pointed out Trump's focus on Venezuela's drug trafficking, calling it a significant threat to the US. "Until US President Donald Trump started doing something about these narcotrafficking links, nobody disputed that Maduro and his regime were in cahoots with narcotraffickers -- not to mention the fact that they unleashed Tren de Aragua... That's what Trump has been focused on," he said. "The single most serious threat to the United States from the Western Hemisphere is from transnational terrorist criminal groups, primarily focused on narcotrafficking... There's one place that doesn't cooperate -- and it's the illegitimate regime in Venezuela," added Rubio. He emphasised the need for Hamas to be disarmed for Middle East peace and the US's role in mediating international conflicts, prioritising national interests, and stressed that peace won't prevail if Hamas attack Israel. "Everyone wants peace... If Hamas is ever in a position in the future that they can threaten or attack Israel, you're not gonna have peace. You're not gonna convince anyone to invest money in Gaza if they believe another war is going to happen in 2-3 years," said Rubio. He emphasised the US's unique position to mediate the Russia-Ukraine war, prioritising national interests in its foreign policy. Rubio said, "It's not our war... but there's only one entity on Earth that can actually talk to both sides and figure out whether there's a way to end this war peacefully, and that's the United States." Rubio said that US foreign policy was aimed at serving its national interests. "The core principle behind our foreign policy needs to be our national interests... We are in favour of foreign policies that will make America safer, or stronger, or more prosperous -- hopefully all three, but at least one of those," he said. (ANI) I heard the suspect had confessed that a 3x9 magnitude of improvised explosive device was smuggled into the University premises with the help of a Muslim faithful three days ago and was deposited in a yet to be identified hostel. The notice asking students to evacuate the premises was signed by Mrs. C.M Ojomo, the institution's acting Registrar. For more gist Click Olu Famous Blog > For more gist Click This Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin has ordered the immediate closure and evacuation of the institution. This move is because an Islamic young man suspected to be a member of Boko Haram was arrested by men of the Nigerian Police Force. The suspect identified as Yusuf Danlandi was found with explosives along Ugbowo New Lagos road. India's Ambassador to Estonia, Ashish Sinha, has highlighted the significant role Prime Minister Narendra Modi can play in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, noting that PM Modi's "personal connections" with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy provide a rare sense of optimism in the world. "His personal connect with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy both give a lot of hope to the leaders in this part of the world for a very positive, constructive and strong role to be played by PM Modi," Ambassador Sinha told ANI. Describing PM Modi as the "tallest world leader of the time," the Ambassador emphasised that India's consistent message of peace is resonating deeply within the Baltic region. He recalled PM Modi's pivotal conversation with the Russian leadership, which set the tone for India's neutral yet proactive stance. "This is a message that Prime Minister Modi told President Putin for the first time. This is not the era of war, this is the era of dialogue and diplomacy," Sinha remarked. "He has already said that 'this is not the era of war' and this has brought a lot of hope in this part of the world." "Estonia firmly believes that's the way forward," he said, adding, "Estonia feels that the resolution of the situation should guarantee lasting peace. It should not be just a quick fix because they are very sceptical of the peace being long-lasting or not." Beyond global security, Ambassador Sinha detailed his priorities for deepening the specific ties between India and Estonia. He identified digital transformation as a key area where both nations can learn from one another, despite their differences in size. "My job is to further India-Estonia bilateral relations in multilateral fora," Sinha stated. "It's a good relationship, and it has all the potential and elements of a very strong relationship." "Though Estonia is smaller than India, they have certain advantages in the digital transformation of public services," Sinha remarked. "We have digitally achieved milestones in terms of transforming things. There's something that we can offer to Estonia and something that Estonian companies can offer to Indian companies." Further, the Indian envoy highlighted the growing educational linkages, noting that Estonia has become an important destination for Indian students seeking higher education. "Estonia is an important destination for Indian students for pursuing higher education," he said, adding that his interactions with students reflected a positive experience. "I met the students here and they were perfectly happy, especially with the supervisors they have. This is another area of cooperation which can further increase," the Ambassador said. Sinha also pointed to Estonia's economic outlook and its interest in expanding trade with India. "Estonia is a small country and needs a bigger market for whatever it produces. They view India as a large market," he said, indicating the scope for greater commercial collaboration between the two sides. Emphasising the strength of people-to-people connections, the Ambassador noted the presence of Indian professionals working in Estonia, which he said adds to the depth of the relationship. "A lot of Indians also work in Estonia, so that connection is strong," he said. Looking ahead, Sinha outlined the sectors likely to drive future trade growth. According to him, "Trade and commerce will be mostly on these tech-related areas, a bit of agriculture," reflecting Estonia's strengths in technology and India's large and diversified market. (ANI) Nepal's Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki has rejected claims of attempts to postpone the election slated for March next year. Addressing the nation on the completion of 100 days of her six-month tenure, which ends after the conduct of elections, Karki reiterated that the polls will be held on the stipulated date and that the government has been working towards it. In a recorded address to the nation released on Saturday, the interim Nepal Premier described the March election as the only sure way to provide stability to the nation and usher in a new era. "There is curiosity and confusion in the minds of some people. Those who have been asking, 'Is the country really heading towards elections? Can the government guarantee peace and security?' Today, from this platform, I want to make it clear to the country and the world, the election to the House of Representatives to be held on Falgun 21, 2082 (March 5, 2026) is no longer just an agenda; it is the only sure way to provide stability to our country and usher in a new era. I want to assure you that rumours of postponing or stopping the elections are completely baseless and misleading. This government is as determined as a rock to hold the elections on time, in a fair and fearless environment," Karki said. Further adding, she said, "The government has completed all preparations for the election on its part. We have left no stone unturned in terms of security. The 'Integrated Election Security Plan' has been approved, and the mobilisation of the Nepal Army has been ensured." Karki became the Prime Minister after the Gen Z uprising in September toppled the KP Sharma Oli-led government. President Ramchandra Poudel formed the interim government with the mandate of holding House elections within six months. "Elections are not about winning or losing; they are a campaign to win democracy and good governance. Elections are the legitimate way to fulfil your desire for a corruption-free society and a well-governed government. I would especially like to say to our 'Gen Z' youth, express your anger and dreams on the ballot now. Street protests raise questions, but ballots provide solutions. The state protects your every vote," the interim Premier of the Himalayan nation said. The protest of September 8, which was in defiance of a social media ban and corruption, led by youths, the Gen Z, turned into a bloodbath after police opened fire on protesters who had marched to Parliament. In Kathmandu alone, 23 protesters, mainly youths, were gunned down by the police. The next day, on September 9, violent mobs burnt private and public infrastructure, businesses and properties. A total of 76 people have been confirmed dead till date. The post-mortem reports of those killed in police firing in the Kathmandu Valley stated death due to bullet injuries to the head and chest. During protests, police are only allowed to fire below the knee to control the situation. Police had also used some lethal weapons to crack down on protesters, following which former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak stepped down from his post. However, Oli remained adamant about not resigning despite rising pressure. Appointed as Interim Prime Minister on September 12, Karki had recommended to the President the dissolution of Parliament and called for elections on March 5, 2026. One hundred days since her appointment, Karki, in her address, stated that the country has returned to the path of peace after the tragic incidents of September 8 and 9. She recalled that those who died during the protests have been declared martyrs. "Today, more than 18.1 million Nepalis hold the key to changing the destiny of their country. The participation of 114 political parties in this process proves how strong the roots of our democracy are. Despite differences in ideologies, we all stand together to guide the country forward," Karki said. Political parties have expressed serious concerns over poll security, particularly due to thousands of inmates who fled several prisons and arms looted during the September unrest. In the last week of November, Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal told National Assembly members that 723 weapons had been recovered. Of the 14,554 prisoners and detainees who escaped or fled prisons and detention centres during the Gen Z protests, 9,697 were brought back. Addressing these concerns, Prime Minister Karki said that of the 1,342 weapons looted during the movement, the majority have already been recovered. According to her, a total of 465 damaged police offices were brought back into operation, making the security system robust. The interim Prime Minister concluded her speech by calling upon all Nepalis to exercise their franchise, highlighting it as "a national ritual that opens the door to change". "Let us celebrate the upcoming election on Falgun 21 (March 5, 2026) as a national ritual that opens the door to change. Let us take the country in a new direction by binding ourselves in the thread of national unity. This election will begin a new, clean and golden chapter in Nepal's politics." (ANI) Former Indian High Commissioners to Bangladesh have expressed serious concern over the ongoing protests in the country, pointing to weak governance, the role of extremist elements, and risks to Indian diplomatic personnel and establishments. The remarks follow a surge in unrest sparked by the death of Inqilab Moncho leader Osman Hadi, which has led to widespread mob violence and threats against Indian personnel. Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, who served as India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, highlighted that the current instability is being exploited by radical elements. "Governance is very weak. So people are taking advantage," Chakravarty stated. "These right-wing forces, criminals, and the Islamist forces are taking advantage of the situation." Echoing these concerns, former High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das described the unfolding events as "shocking." "What happened is very, very unfortunate," Das said. "In fact, we have seen government advisors justifying mob violence, justifying the presence of these mobs. These are forces that have clearly been unleashed by the government, which is now unable to control them." Referring to attacks linked to the unrest, Ganguly Das said the developments were alarming. "So what happened is very, very shocking, and the attack on Indian diplomatic establishments is absolutely unacceptable," she said. She further underlined India's immediate priorities in the current situation. "I think the first priority for India right now will be the safety and security of our staff, our High Commissioner, our Assistant High Commissioner, and all our personnel there," she said, highlighting the need to ensure the protection of Indian officials and missions in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) claimed that the violence following Hadi's killing was part of a conspiracy to create uncertainty ahead of Bangladesh's parliamentary elections, scheduled to be held in February next year. Sharif Osman Hadi was shot at close range on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw in Dhaka's Bijoynagar area. On December 15, Hadi was flown to Singapore by air ambulance for advanced treatment, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Following his death, protests broke out in the capital of Dhaka, as the activists called for justice for their slain leader. There were several waves of protests on Friday, even as Hadi's body arrived in the capital city. While the Inqilab Moncho has called for its cadres to maintain peace during the funeral procession on Saturday, Dhaka continues to be tense. (ANI) A special court of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday has sentenced former Pakistan PM and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years of imprisonment in the Toshakhana-2 case, as reported by Dawn news. The sentences mentioned that the old age of Imran Khan, along with the fact that Bushra Bibi is female, has resulted in a "lenient" and a lesser punishment, Dawn reported, citing from the court's order copy. Both of them were fined Rs16.4 million. According to the law, a failure to pay the fines will result in additional jail time. Citing the court order copy Dawn reported that it said, "This court, while passing sentences has considered the old age of Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, as well as the fact that Bushra Imran Khan is a female. It is in consideration of both said factors that a lenient view has been taken in awarding lesser punishment." According to Dawn, the case involves the purchase of an expensive Bulgari jewellery set which was gifted to Imran by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit in May 2021 at a throwaway price. It further reported that the verdict was delivered by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand during a hearing held at Rawalpindi's Adiala jail, where Imran is imprisoned. Imran was sentenced to a total of 17 years in prison. He was awarded 10-year rigorous imprisonment under sections 34 (common intention) and 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Pakistan Penal Code, and seven years under Section 5(2) (criminal misconduct by public servants) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, as per the report by Dawn. It was futher noted that his wife, Bushra Bibi was also sentenced to a total of 17 years' imprisonment under the same provisions. It added that the benefit of Section 382-B (period of detention to be considered while awarding sentence of imprisonment) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was "hereby given to the convicts". After the verdict, Imran and Bushra's legal teams indicated their intention to challenge the decision before the high court. The duo were indicted in the case last year in December. Dawn further noted that earlier this year in October, Imran and Bushra Bibi denied all allegations in case, and termed it a fabricated and politically motivated attempt to disqualify the former Pak PM from politics. As per Dawn, recording his statement under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) before a special court, Imran Khan had rejected the prosecution's narrative in the case. He alleged that the entire case was "malicious, fabricated, and politically engineered". He further contended that he did not qualify as a "public servant" under the Pakistan Penal Code, arguing that even in his capacity as prime minister, he was unaware of the specific details of the gift, which he said was presented to his wife. Dawn further mentioned that the PTI founder maintained that due process was followed in accordance with the Toshakhana Policy 2018 and said the gift was reported to the PM Office protocol section, assessed, and legally retained after payment was deposited into the national exchequer. "We complied with the Toshakhana Policy in letter and spirit," he said. (ANI) Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested seven people in connection with the lynching of a Hindu youth in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, the Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, stated in an X post. https://x.com/chiefadvisergob/status/2002252927008911464?s=46 The arrested suspects are Md. Limon Sarkar (19), Md. Tarek Hossain (19), Md. Manik Mia (20), Ershad Ali (39), Nijum Uddin (20), Alamgir Hossain (38), and Md. Miraj Hossain Akon (46). RAB-14 carried out operations at different locations and arrested the suspects. . The victim, Dipu Chandra Das (27), a garment worker and follower of Sanatan Dharma, was beaten to death on December 18 in Bhaluka area of Mymensingh district. According to police, the killing was allegedly triggered by accusations of blasphemy. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, the country's largest minority organisation, strongly condemned the murder, describing it as a brutal act that threatens communal harmony. "Yesterday (18 December) around 9:00 pm in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, a group of miscreants brutally beat to death a garment worker named Dipu Chandra Das on allegations of so-called blasphemy. They then hung his body from a tree and set it on fire, provoking actions that undermine communal harmony," the council said in a statement. "The Council has strongly condemned and protested this heinous incident and has demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and the assurance of exemplary punishment," it added. The interim government also condemned the lynching in strong terms. "We wholeheartedly condemn the lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh. There is no space for such violence in new Bangladesh. The perpetrators of this heinous crimine will not be spared," the government said in a separate statement. The condemnation came as the interim administration issued its first detailed response to the wider unrest that has followed the killing of political activist Sharif Osman bin Hadi earlier this month. In a broader appeal, the government said it "strongly and unequivocally" condemns all forms of violence, intimidation, arson and destruction of property, warning that such actions could derail Bangladesh's democratic transition. "We strongly and unequivocally condemn all acts of violence, intimidation, arson, and destruction of properties," the statement said. "This is a critical moment in our country's history. We cannot and must not allow it to be derailed by those few who thrive on chaos and reject peace," it added. Referring to the political roadmap ahead, the government said the upcoming elections and referendum are "not merely political exercises, but a solemn national commitment." "This promise is inseparable from the dream for which Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi gave his life. Honouring his sacrifice demands restraint, responsibility, and a firm commitment to reject hatred," the statement said. "To the journalists of The Daily Star, Prothom Alo, and New Age: we stand with you. We are deeply sorry for the terror and violence you have endured. The nation has witnessed your courage and tolerance in the face of terror. Attacks on journalists are attacks on truth itself. We promise you full justice," it said. (ANI) The Baloch National Movement (BNM) has denounced the alleged enforced disappearance of Shafiq Zehri, father of Baloch activist Mahzaib Shafiq, describing the incident as part of a broader pattern of collective punishment aimed at families in Balochistan who seek justice for their missing loved ones, The Balochistan Post reported on Saturday. The Balochistan Post reported that in a media statement, BNM Chairman Naseem Baloch said Mahzaib Shafiq has become "another victim of Pakistan's state policies" due to her peaceful and lawful efforts to seek the recovery of her uncle, Rashid Hussain. Instead of addressing the family's demands, Naseem alleged that security forces intensified their actions by abducting her father and subjecting him to enforced disappearance. As cited by The Balochistan Post, Naseem emphasised that the case was not an isolated incident but part of what he described as a systematic approach in which state institutions target entire families to suppress dissent and silence demands for justice. He stated that families who speak out for their missing relatives are often met with further repression rather than legal solutions. The Balochistan Post further quoted the BNM chairman as saying that Mahzaib Shafiq's struggle reflects the broader reality faced by many Baloch women, who are compelled to become the primary voices for their families amid enforced disappearances, threats, and alleged state violence. According to the report, Naseem said that instead of responding to appeals for the safe release of Rashid Hussain, authorities allegedly chose to retaliate by forcibly disappearing Mahzaib's father. He described the disappearance of Shafiq Zehri as a violation of international human rights law and claimed it highlighted the use of collective punishment as a policy in Balochistan. The Balochistan Post reported that Naseem concluded by warning that the incident underscores a harsh reality in Balochistan, where even peaceful demands for justice can place entire families at risk. (ANI) Residents of Azam Warsak, a remote area of Birmal tehsil in Lower South Waziristan district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on Friday launched a long march to protest what they described as a deteriorating law and order situation, Dawn reported. According to Dawn, the march included tribal elders, youth, members of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), as well as political and social activists. The protesters marched toward Wana, where they later held a sit-in to press the authorities for concrete action to address security and public safety concerns. As reported by Dawn, the demonstration disrupted traffic movement in the area, prompting police to adopt precautionary measures. Barbed wire was installed at key points, and police personnel were placed on high alert to prevent any untoward incident. District police officials told Dawn that these steps were taken purely in the interest of public safety. The report further revealed that the sit-in continued for nearly three hours before representatives of the protesters and the district administration entered into negotiations. During the talks, protesters submitted a list of 10 demands, Dawn said. Participants raised serious concerns over repeated incidents of bomb blasts, targeted killings, and indiscriminate firing in Birmal tehsil, particularly in the Azam Warsak area. According to the report, protesters said the persistent insecurity had created widespread fear and uncertainty among residents, severely affecting daily life and economic activity. They noted that the security situation had steadily deteriorated over the past year, leaving people feeling unsafe even inside their homes. The demonstrators, as reported, demanded immediate and effective measures to restore peace in Birmal and Azam Warsak. They also called for an end to the forced evacuation of civilian houses in the Kaza Panga area and sought the immediate return and rehabilitation of displaced families. Additionally, Dawn reported that protesters urged security forces to refrain from occupying civilian properties and to stop indiscriminate firing, as well as the use of drones and quadcopters over populated areas, marketplaces, and agricultural land. (ANI) The Permanent Mission of India, along with several partner countries, marked the second World Meditation Day at the United Nations Headquarters on Friday with a high-level event focused on inner peace and global harmony as per press statement. The programme was organised by the Permanent Mission of India in collaboration with the missions of Andorra, Mexico, Nepal and Sri Lanka, which together form the core group behind the World Meditation Day initiative. The event took place at the Trusteeship Council Chamber at the UN and saw participation from diplomats, experts, spiritual leaders and members of civil society. Renowned spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar delivered the keynote address at the event and led the audience through a guided meditation session. Several other speakers spoke about the importance of meditation in daily life and its growing relevance in today's fast-changing world. Yogmata Keiko Aikawa and Sister BK Gayatri from the Brahma Kumaris organisation shared their experiences of practising meditation and promoting it globally. LP Bhanu Sharma, co-founder of Nepal's Jeevan Vigyan Foundation, spoke about efforts to provide practical education in yoga and meditation. Academics and scientists also addressed the gathering. Lasantha Chandana Goonetilleke of Rutgers University and John Hagelin, a physicist and the International President of the Global Union of Scientists for Peace, discussed meditation as an instrument that can enhance our potential to address contemporary challenges. The event was attended by nearly 700 people, reflecting growing global interest in meditation and mental well-being. India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Harish Parvathaneni, highlighted India's civilisational understanding that at a very fundamental level, transforming oneself brings about transformation in the external world, and that inner peace begets external peace in the world. Permanent Representatives from Nepal, Sri Lanka and Andorra, along with a representative from Mexico, also spoke at the event. These countries were part of the core group that worked together to finalise the UN resolution on World Meditation Day. World Meditation Day was officially declared by the United Nations General Assembly on December 6, 2024, through Resolution A/RES/79/137. The resolution was adopted unanimously, recognising meditation as a practice that promotes well-being, peace and harmony. December 21 is now observed annually as World Meditation Day. The first World Meditation Day was celebrated at the United Nations Headquarters on December 21, 2024. The second edition continued the focus on encouraging mindfulness and inner balance as tools for addressing global challenges. (ANI) Baloch activists worldwide are commemorating the fifth anniversary of Karima Baloch's death, honouring her legacy as a political and human rights activist. On social media platform X, the Baloch National Movement (BNM) paid tribute, stating that the Baloch nation will never forget her "unwavering struggle and sacrifices." BNM also announced a seminar in her honour, where political activists, intellectuals, writers, and close companions will discuss her life, struggles, and enduring legacy. In a post on X, BNM Footages announced, "The Baloch National Movement will host a seminar honouring Shaheed Banuk Karima Baloch. Political activists, intellectuals, writers, and close companions will share their reflections on her life, struggles, and enduring legacy. The seminar will take place at Greenwich Borough Hall, London, on December 20, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, on the occasion of her martyrdom anniversary." Karima Baloch is remembered by many as a symbol of courage and resistance. The Baloch National Movement (BNM) also announced that Zrumbesh Publications will release a special issue in her honour, available in PDF format on December 20 via the Zrumbesh Publications Telegram channel. Political and human rights activist Ilyas Anwar Baloch stated, "Five years on, Karima Baloch remains a symbol of courage and resistance. Her voice for Baloch rights was silenced, but her struggle lives on. We remember, we resist, we demand justice." Karima Baloch, who served as the first female chairperson of the Baloch Students Organisation (BSO), was last seen on December 20, 2020, and her body was discovered submerged near the Toronto waterfront on December 22. In 2016, she gained international recognition when she was included in the BBC's 100 Women list for her political activism advocating for Balochistan's independence from Pakistan. Her death, however, remains controversial. While Canadian authorities ruled it as "non-criminal," her family, along with several politicians and activists, including the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), have alleged that she was murdered by the Pakistani state, prompting calls for further investigation. Despite the debate surrounding her death, Karima Baloch continues to be remembered as a figure of resilience, courage, and resistance by Baloch activists worldwide. (ANI) Sri Lankan MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, General Secretary of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), has raised urgent concerns about the situation facing the Tamil community in Sri Lanka during his visit to Tamil Nadu. Ponnambalam told ANI that the purpose of his visit to Tamil Nadu is to meet with leaders of political parties. He further described the situation facing the Tamil people as both "grave and urgent." He emphasised that the international perception of peace following the end of the civil war in 2009 masks a deeper, ongoing crisis of displacement and cultural erasure. "The purpose of our visit to Tamil Nadu is to meet with all the leaders of political parties in Tamil Nadu and with leading non-partisan civil society leaders and to brief them with regard to the grave and urgent situation that the Tamil people face," Ponnambalam stated. The Jaffna legislator highlighted what he termed "colonisation projects" aimed at shifting the demographic balance of traditional Tamil-speaking regions. He argued that these efforts are not merely administrative but are designed to systematically transform Tamil areas into Sinhalese-majority regions. "We are losing our land. Colonisation projects are taking place where Tamil-speaking areas are being systematically demographically changed into Sinhalese areas," he said. According to Ponnambalam, this transformation extends to the cultural and religious landscape. He accused the Sri Lankan state of weaponising archaeology to justify the destruction of Hindu heritage sites in favour of Buddhist structures. "Culturally, our identity is being changed. Several temples, Hindu temples are being destroyed and Buddhist viharas are being built on the basis that those Hindu temples were actually Buddhist and that the Tamils have destroyed ancient Buddhist sites and therefore now they are reclaiming, which is a complete lie," Ponnambalam remarked. Beyond cultural and land rights, the MP criticised successive administrations--including the current government--for failing to address the economic devastation left by decades of conflict. He argued that the refusal to officially recognise the North and East as "war-affected" has stifled the recovery of the local population. "And after the end of the war, it's been 16, 17 years, there has been no government, including the present government, that has understood the grave situation, the economic situation of the war-affected people," he noted. Ponnambalam further contended that the state has neglected to implement necessary "protectionism" or targeted economic policies to bridge the wealth gap between the war-torn regions and the rest of the country. "They have not recognised that it is a war-affected area. They have not done any protectionism to try and bring those people's economic power on par with the rest of the country," he added. (ANI) Well, in my Never say Never attitude, yours truly will wait for an official reaction from either party before I say anything on this matter Most Nigerians, especially the over 70 percent that are struggling day and night to make ends meet in the midst of abundant crude oil money, will not be happy with Senate President David Mark if this report turns out to have any semblance of truth in it. In fact, someone said it would further confirm the insinuations that our political leaders are reaping us off.According to a report monitored onSources in the know have informed that actress Chika Ike got a jeep from Senate President David Mark. The actress who used to be married but now separated is still as bubbly as ever. She is said to be very close to senate president, David Mark. It couldnt be confirmed if what they share was a romantic affair but they are very close friends.Sources close to the actress revealed to us that the senate president recently bought her a Range Rover Sport worth N15 million. She also recently opened a fashion accessory boutique which has also been linked to the support from the third citizen of the country... External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday highlighted how Indian talent and skill-set have played a pivotal role in shaping the national brand of the country, as with increasing globalisation, Indian talent has met demands worldwide. He made the remarks at the 22nd Convocation of the Symbiosis International (Deemed University) in Pune. Speaking to graduating students, EAM shared how, in his conversations abroad, there has been praise for the diaspora. "The old stereotypes about India are steadily being put behind. But this evolution in our image is an undeniable reality. Hard figures vouch for this transformation. Among them, the growing number of global capability centres in India, the increasing demand for Indian talent and skills abroad, and the individual successes of people. And this extends equally to us as a collective. Perhaps more than others, India is today defined by its talent and by its skill. All that has helped to shape our national brand." Jaishankar highlighted that with the rebalancing of the world's perception of India, "Very much more positively and very much more seriously than before. The reasons for that are that both our national brand and our individual reputations have improved considerably. We are regarded today by the world as people with a strong work ethic, with an aptitude for technology, who espouse a family-centric culture." Jaishankar highlighted how, with great vision and leadership, India can make a great impact on the world. "By doubling down on Make in India, more of our products can make their mark beyond our shores. Add to that design in India, research in India, innovate in India, or deliver from India, and the same holds true for services as well. Conversely, we will remain a mere market for others if we are less than successful in our efforts. We have to upgrade our infrastructure, develop our human resources, and adopt and pursue the right policies. But more importantly, it requires vision, it requires leadership and it requires execution, all of which we fortunately have today." He also spoke to the students about India's steady rise, especially in the past decade, amid a challenging international landscape. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2002303382552490046?s=20 Jaishankar encouraged the students to step forward with confidence into the global workplace as India assumes a bigger role in the world and wished all graduating students from over 40 countries success in their future endeavours. (ANI) The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has released its latest weekly brief, highlighting key developments in advocacy, commemoration, and urgent human rights alerts concerning Uyghurs in East Turkistan. The brief expressed growing concern over the waning international attention to the Uyghur genocide. It highlighted that Senior political leaders in the U.S. and Europe have largely remained silent, while previously vocal Muslim-majority countries, including Turkey and Indonesia, are no longer speaking out. Experts cited in the brief attribute this decline to competing global crises, such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and to China's efforts to control narratives through surveillance, cultural messaging, and economic pressure. The brief also commemorated the 30th anniversary of the passing of Uyghur politician Isa Yusuf Alptekin. On 14 December, WUC, the Isa Yusuf Alptekin Foundation, and civil society partners held a ceremony in Istanbul honouring Alptekin and other Uyghur activists. Related events continued at WUC headquarters in Munich. WUC President Turgunjan Alawdun also attended the London launch of Imprisoned Souls: Poems of Uyghur Prisoners in China, a collection of works by 25 imprisoned or disappeared Uyghur intellectuals that reflects both suffering and resilience. The organisation further raised alarms over the deportation risk facing Guan Heng, whose 2020 covert footage of Xinjiang internment camps provided crucial evidence of abuses. WUC urged U.S. authorities to halt deportation proceedings and ensure his asylum claim receives a full evaluation. Advocacy efforts continued at a high-level forum in Ankara, where WUC representatives highlighted the Uyghur issue to Turkish leaders and Turkic organisations, marking a rare inclusion of Uyghur voices in such discussions. The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) is an international organisation that represents the interests of the Uyghur people, a predominantly Muslim Turkic ethnic group from East Turkistan, also known as Xinjiang in China. Headquartered in Munich, Germany, WUC works globally to raise awareness, lobby governments and international organisations, and document human rights abuses. (ANI) The resolution respectfully appealed to US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use their good offices and global influence to promote dialogue and facilitate a peaceful settlement of the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, with the paramount objective of safeguarding innocent civilians and ensuring regional stability. The participants underscored that the protection of civilians and the preservation of regional stability must remain the paramount objective of all diplomatic efforts. Earlier in the day, conference participants held a brief and peaceful assembly near the venue, displaying placards carrying messages of peace, non-violence, justice and global harmony. The orderly and dignified demonstration reflected the collective commitment of jurists and writers to the principles of international law, humanitarian values and peaceful coexistence among nations. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Adish C. Aggarwala, President of the International Council of Jurists, emphasised that law, dialogue and moral leadership must prevail over conflict and violence. He said jurists, writers and intellectuals bear a solemn responsibility to raise their voices for peace, particularly at moments when innocent human lives are at stake, and the rule of law faces grave challenges. The conference concluded with a unanimous call for restraint, sustained diplomacy and strict adherence to international humanitarian norms, reaffirming the resolve of the global legal and literary community to work collectively towards a peaceful, just and harmonious world order. (ANI) Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 17 years in prison in the Toshakhana-2 corruption case, sparking public outrage and concerns about the judiciary's credibility. Speaking with ANI, residents and journalists in Lahore and Peshawar questioned the court's decision, citing a lack of evidence and alleged political motivations. A resident of Lahore, Hamid Riaz Doger, said, "The judiciary has become so weak that the public no longer has any confidence in its rulings. Recently, on May 9th, many people were sentenced. Many of them weren't even present at the scene, yet they were sentenced to 10 years in prison. In the Toshakhana 2 case, the court has sentenced Imran Khan and his wife to 17 years of imprisonment. The truth is, the courts can say whatever they want, and our rulers can say whatever they want, but the public has no confidence in these courts or these sentences." The case involves allegations of undervaluing a Bulgari jewellery set worth over PKR 71 million, received from the Saudi Crown Prince. Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were sentenced under sections related to criminal breach of trust and corruption. A resident of Lahore, Zaki Ullah Mujahid, said that the courts' decision has eroded the public's trust in the justice system. He said, "I believe this is a spectacle that has eroded public trust in Pakistan's democracy and its institutions. If we want to move our country forward, then every institution and every individual must play their role within the framework of the constitution and the law...The forceful way in which this matter is being pursued is certainly not commendable." Journalist Raheel Mauvia questioned the intent behind the verdict, asking if the sentence would have been the same if Imran Khan was a government favourite. He said, "The sentences to Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan today have two aspects. One is that these sentences were based on the merits of the Toshakhana case: an expensive set worth approximately seven crore rupees that was undervalued and acquired from the Toshakhana for only 50 per cent of its value. From this perspective, the punishment is justified." Mauvia added that if the verdict was due to management's dissatisfaction with the couple, then it was wrong. "The second aspect is what the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and its supporters are raising questions about the system, asking whether this sentence would have been given if Imran Khan had been a favourite of the system. So, if this sentence is based on the merits of the Toshakhana case, then it's fine. But if it's an expression of resentment and anger due to Imran Khan's recent disagreements with the system, then it's a different matter altogether," he added. A journalist, Mohsin Bilal, supported the court's decision, citing the Toshakhana case as a clear crime. He said, "The set, worth over 70 million rupees, was a gift from Saudi Arabia. But it was acquired for approximately 6 million rupees. Not even half of its value. This is also a misuse of authority. Imran Khan was the Prime Minister. Bushra Bibi was the First Lady. This decision has been made in accordance with the law and the constitution. Some PTI supporters will say that Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan refused to bow down. Imran Khan is giving the establishment a tough time, so they turned it into a political case and sentenced them. But this is absolutely not a political case. This was a decision based on merit. The case was genuine," he said. A resident of Peshawar, Abdul Hakeem, said that such cases should be heard in an open court. He said, "The sentence given to Imran Khan in the Toshakhana Case 2 is, in my opinion, a political case. And as his lawyer, Safdar, said, they weren't even heard...And secondly, cases of this kind should be heard in open court." A resident of Peshawar, Abdul Jameel, said that Imran Khan has been sentenced several times. The situation is such that the party with a good relationship with the establishment will come to power. He said, "This isn't the first time he's been sentenced. He's been sentenced many times before, and after each sentence, a new case opens up. Then a 10 or 20-year sentence is given. The fundamental point is that whichever party has a good relationship with the establishment, that party will come into power, and this is absolutely not good for the people of Pakistan. The focus should be on development. Education and other such things should be discussed. But our democracy is very weak in Pakistan." A resident of Peshawar, Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, said that the public should decide the punishment for offending it. He said, "If a person can come to power through votes, then the punishment should also be decided by the people. The people should decide whether this is better for us. If someone else is making our decisions, then this is very wrong." A resident of Peshawar, Falak Zaib, said, "This is a very wrong thing that has happened. We request our Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to take action on this...We will fight. He is our leader. Our Khan Sahib is our heart, our life. Do something for him." The verdict announced concerns a case involving allegations of undervaluing a high-value Bulgari jewellery set, reportedly worth more than PKR 71 million, which was received from the Saudi Crown Prince. The valuation was also confirmed by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reported by Geo News. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder was sentenced to a total of 17 years in prison. He was awarded 10 years' rigorous imprisonment under Sections 34 (common intention) and 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Pakistan Penal Code, and seven years under Section 5(2) (criminal misconduct by public servants) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, according to a Dawn report. It was further noted that his wife, Bushra Bibi, was also sentenced to a total of 17 years' imprisonment under the same provisions. (ANI) FUKUOKA, Dec 20 (News On Japan) - A man arrested in connection with the stabbing of two people in Fukuoka has told investigators that he intended to kill multiple members of the idol group HKT, according to sources close to the investigation. Yamaguchi Naoya, who is unemployed, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a male staff member at the HKT48 Theater in Fukuoka City in the left chest with a kitchen knife on December 14. Investigative sources say Yamaguchi has since made statements to the effect that he thought about killing several HKT members and that he targeted a location with weak security. Police have confirmed that Yamaguchi was seen loitering around the area from the day before the incident and are treating the attack as a premeditated crime, continuing their investigation into the circumstances leading up to the stabbings. Previously: HKT48 Groupie Taken Into Custody for Attempted Murder Source: FNN Gwyneth Paltrow's decision to poke fun at the Coldplay kiss cam scandal is now being called out by the woman at the center it: ex-Astronomer HR chief Kristin Cabot. I was such a fan of her company [Goop] which seemed to be about uplifting women. And then she did this. I pic.twitter.com/QJMZDLL4qo Variety (@Variety) December 18, 2025 Thank you for your interest in Astronomer. pic.twitter.com/WtxEegbAMY Astronomer (@astronomerio) July 25, 2025 Ex-Astronomer HR chief Kristin Cabot recently spoke to The Times about the Coldplay kiss cam scandal and called out Gwyneth Paltrow for making fun of it.Astronomer hired Gwyneth Paltrow as its temporary spokesperson for an online ad which cheekily avoided the scandal.I was such a fan of her company [Goop] which seemed to be about uplifting women, Cabot told the publication. And then she did this. I thought, How dare she after the beating she got for all the conscious uncoupling stuff. What a hypocrite. Cabot got rid of all her Paltrow-backed Goop products as a result. Since the discovery of vast oil reserves in Guyana around a decade ago, the South American countrys oil industry has grown significantly following investment from several international oil majors and the beginning of offshore production. As Guyana begins to see the revenue from its black gold, the government is reinvesting some of the money in renewables to diversify the energy mix and strengthen the countrys energy security. Guyanas government aims to achieve 80 percent renewable energy in the electricity grid by 2040. In February, the United Nations (UN) in Guyana announced the launch of the Just Energy Transition (JET) Seed Funding Initiative with financing from the Joint Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Fund. The initiative will provide funding to help Guyana undergo a green transition by implementing its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030. Investments will be made in expanding Guyanas renewable energy capacity and promoting sustainable mobility. The UN will also provide technical and policy support. The initiative will support the development of three solar-powered EV charging stations in strategic locations and the delivery of a technical training programme to develop a Guyanese workforce in the renewable energy sector. The UN aims to use the initiative to empower youth, women, and marginalized groups and ensure equitable access to opportunities. The UN Development Programmes Officer-in-Charge, Nadira Balram, stated, The anticipated impact of this initiative is far-reaching. This initiative will create jobs and new economic opportunities. By equipping a new generation of technicians with specialised skills, we are fostering a workforce that is prepared for the transition to a green economy. At the national level, the President of Guyana, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, said in a recent interview with The New York Times Magazine that Guyana is using its newfound oil revenues to drive a green transition. Guyana is a new oil producer, but we are using the resource to finance our energy transition, to build resilient infrastructure, to support the region that we are in, to invest in livelihood options that will keep our forest standing, which stores many gigatonnes of carbon, said Irfaan Ali. Were investing in solar farms, hydro, natural gas, wind and biomass, all aimed at transitioning to a low-emission energy grid. We are building off-grid systems, solar farms, and wind farms for the hinterland community, where the Indigenous people live. One of the renewable energy industries that Guyana is looking to advance is solar power. Several companies have shown interest in the countrys solar potential, with multiple new solar projects expected to launch in the coming years. The government has gradually been expanding its solar energy capacity, with around 4.8 MW of solar power having been installed under the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Home Energy Systems. The off-grid solar power project launched in 2023 and aims to expand clean electricity access in the hinterland and riverine communities of the country that do not have access to the national grid. The government aims to supply and deliver 30,000 solar PV home energy units as part of the scheme. In August, the Guyana Energy Agency commissioned a 0.6 MW grid-forming solar farm on the island of Leguan, at a cost of $1.4 million. The project will include a 1.2 MWh battery energy storage system. This follows the installation of a similar solar power system on Wakenaam Island in 2023 and is aimed at providing rural populations with greater energy security. In November, the Indian green energy firm Oriana Power Limited announced it had been approved by the Guyana Energy Agency to develop a solar energy project in Guyana consisting of the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of a 3 MW grid-tied solar PV system at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. The contract is valued at almost $2.5 million, and it is expected to be completed within three years. In July, the government commissioned a 1.5 MW hydropower project, the Kumu plant, in Lethem. This follows the development of the 0.7 MW Moco Moco Hydropower Plant. While Guyanas hydropower projects are relatively small-scale, the gradual development of the industry demonstrates the governments commitment to diversifying Guyanas energy mix. Prime Minister Mark Phillips stated, From 2020 to now, weve delivered 14.5 megawatts of renewable energy through solar and hydro projects. Todays commissioning of the 1.5 MW Kumu Hydropower Station builds on that foundation, expanding our renewable energy portfolio while improving quality of life for residents in Region Nine. Guyana has transformed from a little-known South American country that was highly dependent on fossil fuel imports less than a decade ago to a growing global oil power. The exploitation of its oil resources is allowing the government to increase spending on green energy to diversify the countrys energy mix from the outset, a feat that has not been possible in most oil-rich countries. Meanwhile, additional technical and funding support from the UN is expected to help Guyana diversify its energy mix and enhance its energy security in the coming years. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Taiwan opposition lawmakers announce plan to impeach Lai Ching-te Xinhua) 10:04, December 20, 2025 TAIPEI, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan opposition lawmakers from the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) announced a plan to impeach the region's leader, Lai Ching-te, at a press conference held in Taipei on Friday. The action followed Lai's statement to support Cho Jung-tai, chief of the island's executive body, in refusing to countersign amendments to a government revenue allocation law, passed by the legislature earlier. Fu Kun-chi, KMT's caucus convener in the legislature, said at the press conference that since Lai took the office of Taiwan's leader in May last year, he had been selling out the island's interests and trampling on democracy. All KMT and TPP lawmakers decided to step forward and speak out for the 23 million people on the island, Fu said. "Lai must be ousted." "We will officially submit a proposal to impeach Lai," announced TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang at the same press conference. The opposition will also hold public hearings across the island to explain why the impeachment is necessary and how Lai's actions stalled the enactment of the amended law and thus withheld funds that should have been used for local development and well-being of people, he said. An impeachment motion against the leader or deputy leader of the Taiwan authorities must first be proposed by at least one half of the total legislature members and approved by a two-thirds majority, and then submitted to the judicial body for review. The KMT and TPP hold 52 and eight seats in the island's 113-seat legislature, respectively, compared with 51 seats held by the Democratic Progressive Party, as a result of a legislature election in January 2024. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Kou Jie) What would you do if, after many years of leaving a flamboyant lifestyle devoid of basic financial discipline, you are now unable to put food on the table and most of your friends and associates have deserted you like someone with a plaque? What category of job will you apply for or what sort of business will you venture into, knowing that you didnt lived according to acceptable norms and standards in the past? Would you resort to easy virtues? Or, alternatively, can you summon courage to pick up whats left of your battered credibility and begin a new phase that would restore your dignity? Well, my guess is anyone who has gotten a grasp of the fact that life is in seasons will settle for the latter. But that doesnt seem to be the case with popular Lagos socialite, Sekinat Williams, who - according to a report I monitored on MordernGhana - has resorted to selling her body for money. Sekinat, whos already in her late forties, was also said in the report to be running a prostitution ring right inside her residence in the Ikeja area of Lagos, where she supply ladies of easy virtues to male patrons for between N3,000 and N5,000. The lady was also alleged to be having it rough with her landlady at the moment due to her inability to pay the house rent, hence the decision to turn the place into an improvised brothel and make some fast cash. The uptake of utility-scale battery storage has grown significantly in recent years as more countries switch to renewables. Battery storage ensures that grids powered by less reliable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, can continue to deliver a stable supply of clean energy through the day and night. The battery storage boom of recent years has been driven largely by the falling costs of lithium-ion batteries, which have made it possible for utilities worldwide to invest in more batteries. The cost of batteries has fallen by around 90 percent in the last 15 years, as commercial production has expanded. China is currently the worlds biggest battery producer, but several other regions are developing their manufacturing capacity, such as Europe, India, and the United States. Energy storage additions worldwide are expected to break another record this year, driven by China and the U.S. Global annual energy storage deployment (excluding pumped hydropower plants) is expected to reach 92 GW in 2025, which is 23 percent higher than in 2024. China will contribute more than 50 percent of this capacity increase, while the U.S. will account for around 14 percent. The U.S. contribution of energy storage is impressive, given the difficult year faced by the wind and solar energy industries under the Trump administration. BloombergNEF expects cumulative energy storage capacity in 2035 to reach 2 terawatts, at eight times higher than the level in 2025. In the United States, battery expansion has been met with mixed success. It is still difficult to convince utilities in certain areas of the country to invest in battery storage. Meanwhile, policymakers are often lukewarm about the technology due to safety concerns. Some local governments have even banned big batteries over safety fears. For example, compared to the speed of renewable energy expansion, the pace at which batteries are being rolled out in the Southeast remains slow. However, in California, which previously asked residents to reduce their power usage during times of peak demand, battery storage capacity has risen by roughly 30 times since 2018, contributing to greater grid stability. California, Texas, and Arizona alone account for around 80 percent of all U.S. battery storage capacity. Now, across the U.S., storage capacity outnumbers gas power in the queues for future grid additions by a factor of 6.5, according to data compiled by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Several U.S. energy companies that have invested in battery power have been developing their capacity for several years, betting on the future demand in various regions. The storage developer Eolian began developing projects around major metro areas in the western U.S. starting in 2016 and putting the queue positions in that then became operational in 2025, the firms CEO, Aaron Zubaty, said. This includes the 200-MW coastal battery site at a substation in Portland, Oregon. Moves like this have helped the United States to achieve its 35 GW of battery storage by 2025 goal, despite widespread scepticism. In addition to the United States, battery storage capacity is expanding in various other markets, as governments better understand the benefits of boosting renewable energy reliability. In Mexico, experts believe the countrys battery storage capacity could expand significantly in the coming years. Enrique Garduno, the CEO of the energy equipment company Skysense, said that Mexico will likely experience the storage boom in 2027, 2028, and 2029, driven by regulatory updates, rapid renewable energy growth, and the maturation of storage technologies. Skysense currently runs almost 200 MWh of storage capacity and expects to roll out an additional 300 MWh by 2026. Garduno explained that Its a very open government that is genuinely listening to the private sector. In addition, We are buying, installing and selling storage systems at less than half the price of three or four years ago. Skysense has partnered with Chinas BYD Energy Storage to expand its capacity, and BYDs MC Cube-T BESS platform will power the technology. The firms North America Vice President of Sales, Oscar Su, stated, Expanding into a high-potential region such as Latin America is a key step for us We bring nearly 30 years of battery R&D and the worlds largest power battery production capacity. Meanwhile, there are high hopes for Indias battery storage sector, but more needs to be done to attract investment. The South Asian country has seen record-low bids to develop its battery storage systems, with a lack of economic viability as well as safety risks potentially deterring investors. India is aiming to double its renewable energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030, but without a rapid growth in its battery storage capacity, it will be unable to provide a reliable power supply without continuing to rely heavily on fossil fuels. There has been a battery storage boom in certain parts of the world, as governments and energy companies invest in expanding capacity to support a green transition. However, some parts of the world are lagging, which could cause the shift away from fossil fuels to renewable alternatives to be slower than anticipated unless greater investment is made in the sector. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com A 58,000-ton oil tanker called the Mikati was ploughing through the waters of the Indian Ocean one day when it got some bad news from faraway Brussels: it had been added to a list of sanctioned vessels in Russias shadow fleet. The story of the Mikati, currently passing through the English Channel, illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of the European Union sanctions regime that now includes some 600 ships. The EU listed the Mikati in July, following a similar decision by Britain in November last year. Built in 2003, its advanced age makes it a typical shadow fleet vessel -- as does the behavior that preceded its designation. Suspicious Behavior According to data provided to RFE/RL by Windward, a maritime intelligence company, the Mikati went through a series of name changes, was sold to an anonymous owner, and repeatedly turned off its AIS location transponders in the period before it was sanctioned. This latter is regarded as a dangerous shipping practice by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and is only permitted under special circumstances. The Mikati also changed the flag it was registered under, switching to Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone's government outsourced management of its ship registry to a private company based in Cyprus, Windward analyst Michelle Bockmann told RFE/RL, adding that the country was the flag registry of choice for shadow vessels. Taken together, these indicators were evidence enough to get the Mikati blacklisted. The EU included the Mikati in its 18th sanctions package against Russia on July 18. It had an immediate impact. Two days later the ship arrived in waters off Kochi, home to one of Indias largest oil refineries. But it did not unload the full cargo it had picked up in Russias Barents Sea port of Murmansk a month earlier. The Mikati pauses off the coast of India on July 29. "The EU has now the ability to sanction ports in third countries for what they call the frustration of EU restrictive measures," said economist Benjamin Hilgenstock. Its not clear if there was a hitch or if the Mikati was following pre-arranged plans. Sometimes ships are sanctioned when they're already under way, so someone will have to give the buyer a call and ask if the deal is still on, Benjamin Hilgenstock, a senior economist at the Kyiv-based KSE institute, told RFE/RL. They may be told we need to figure this out first, so maybe wait a bit -- or well take your oil but only if you give it to us for a little less money, he added. The Samoan Connection In any case, something was stirring behind the scenes. On July 25, the Mikati changed its registered owner and commercial manager, moving from Azerbaijan to Samoa, a nation of some 200,000 people in the South Pacific not known for having a thriving shipping industry. The company listed, Alga Oceanic Ventures, appears to have no Internet presence. Its address is a business complex called La Sanalele, where its neighbors have included another shipping manager, Faleola Nexus Ltd, operator of an oil tanker named Orion -- sanctioned by Britain and Ukraine for illicit trading in Russian crude. Another neighbor was a Taiwanese company called Pro-Gain Group Corporation that was sanctioned by the United States in 2018 in connection with illegal dealings in North Korean coal and oil. The Mikatis sudden ownership switch was followed by a new voyage, north along the coast to Mangalore. There, on August 3, it signaled that it had unloaded. The 11-day delay was probably related to its sanctions and having to get new insurance, Bockmann said. That's a really good example of how EU sanctions are disruptive. But they have very little teeth. Indeed, despite sanctions, the Mikati unloaded its oil and stayed in service. Sanctioned vessels cant visit EU ports or get Western insurance and have trouble finding professional crew. But they maintain the right of innocent passage through international waters. An October study by kpler, a trade analytics company, found that Russia has sustained its crude exports despite the logistical challenges posed by the recent escalation of sanctions targeting shadow fleet tonnage. EU vs US Sanctions Sanctions imposed by the US Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) were deemed considerably more effective than by the EU. This data set shows that India is OK with accepting European- and UK-sanctioned vessels, but they don't want to accept the OFAC-sanctioned vessels. And probably this shows that India is a bit more reluctant to find themselves in prospects of secondary sanctions by the US, kpler analyst Panagiotis Krontiras told RFE/RL. The kpler data details reductions in productivity, measured by the fall in kilometers traveled and tons of cargo carried, for ships under each sanction regime. For the US, there was a 70 percent average decline, for the EU -- 30 percent. EU Sanctions Envoy David OSullivan told RFE/RL that sanctions are always a bit leaky and it was always possible to find examples of a vessel that has nonetheless continued to operate. But, he added, our figures show that once a vessel is sanctioned, it drops its ability to carry Russian oil by about 73 percent. Furthermore, while OSullivan estimates the EU has now sanctioned two-thirds of Russias shadow fleet, OFAC has hit around 40 percent, according to kpler data. While the EU has repeatedly added new vessels this year, OFAC has not added any since January. The US Treasury did not respond to a request for comment. In any case, while the Mikati has continued sailing, it has not been very productive. Windward data shows that after unloading in Mangalore, it sailed through the Suez Canal and anchored at Port Said for a week in August -- where it picked up oil in a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer from another blacklisted tanker, the Noctis. Such transfers are not illegal but are a frequent practice for evading sanctions. The Mikati engages in a ship-to-ship oil transfer with another sanctioned vessel, the Nocturnis, off the coast of Egypt on August 22. 'Loitering' Off China The Mikati took the oil to Ningbo, China, arriving on September 29, but didnt discharge it until October 15. Again, the reason for the delay isnt clear. Bockmann noted that it remained loitering around the port area for a protracted period of time, part of a pattern of highly uneconomic behavior. Again, this is typical of sanctioned vessels. Once you're sanctioned, you have two choices: either go Russia-India or Russia-China. And that's why there is this huge productivity drop, said kpler analyst Krontiras. An unsanctioned vessel would seek to pick up new cargo somewhere rather than traveling home empty on whats known as a ballast leg. But now they don't have this option...they have to go back to Russia, pick up another cargo, and this is a very long ballast leg, said Krontiras. The Mikati did just that. Windward data also shows it once again switched off its transponders between December 10-12, near Russias main Baltic crude export port, Uts-Luga. On December 18, it was heading southwest through the English Channel. Destination likely India or China, or even STS. No indication, noted Bockmann. By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Observers suggest the push for deliberate legal standards may stem from concerns that emerging technologies could unintentionally erode the government's ability to retain control over the flow of information and political discourse in a repressive political system. The proposal comes as Tajikistan, despite having a digital infrastructure that lags behind neighbors like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, has announced a 15-year plan for AI development and proposed a regional AI Center in Dushanbe. Tajik officials are advocating for a regional mechanism in Central Asia to legally regulate new technologies, including AI, to ensure "digital security" and a balance between innovation and legal control. Tajik officials are proposing the creation of a regional mechanism in Central Asia to legally regulate new technologies, including artificial intelligence. Tajikistan, along with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, have announced government programs to develop their respective countries IT/AI sectors. Kazakhstan has gone so far as to establish a Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, while Tajikistans digital infrastructure at present lags far behind its Central Asian neighbors. Speaking at a regional forum in Bishkek on December 10 dedicated to digital issues, Shohnazar Kholnazarzoda, the deputy head of Tajikistans Communications Service, said AI development would benefit from unified legal standards in Central Asia to ensure digital security. The main topic of the forum was the search for a stable balance between innovation and its legal regulation, according to a statement issued by the Tajik Communications Service. Tajikistan features one of the most repressive political systems in the world, according to watchdog group assessments. Some observers saw Kholnazarzodas comments as an appeal for a more deliberate approach on regional AI development to ensure that the emergence of new technologies does not have unintended consequences, such as eroding a governments ability to retain control over the flow of information and political discourse. Even if Tajik leaders have concerns about AI, they seem eager to embrace new technologies. In an address to the nations legislature on December 16, Tajik leader Emomali Rahmon announced the creation of a National Corporation for Artificial Intelligence with authorization to formulate a sectoral development plan for the next 15 years. At a November meeting of Central Asian leaders, Rahmon proposed the creation of a regional AI Center based in Dushanbe. By Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Selecting the right citizenship by investment programme requires careful evaluation of multiple factors, from investment thresholds to visa-free travel benefits. With numerous countries offering such programmes globally, understanding the nuances through a citizenship by investment country comparison becomes essential for making an informed decision that aligns with your personal and business objectives. Caribbean Nations Caribbean nations dominate the citizenship by investment landscape, with programmes in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, and Saint Lucia. These island nations typically offer the fastest processing times, ranging from three to six months, alongside minimal physical presence requirements. Most Caribbean programmes require no residency before or after obtaining citizenship, making them ideal for busy professionals. The Caribbean region generally provides visa-free access to 140-150 countries, including the United Kingdom, Schengen Area, Singapore, and Hong Kong. However, Grenada uniquely offers E-2 Treaty Investor Visa eligibility for the United States, giving it a distinct advantage for entrepreneurs seeking American market access. Saint Kitts and Nevis, operating the worlds oldest programme since 1984, provides conditional visa-free access to Canada. European Nations European options present different value propositions. Maltas programme grants full European Union citizenship, providing the right to live, work, and study anywhere in the EU. This opens doors to 27 member states and offers significantly broader lifestyle and business opportunities than Caribbean alternatives. Portugal and Greece offer residence programmes that can lead to citizenship after several years, combining investment with genuine European integration. Investment thresholds vary considerably across programmes. Caribbean options typically start from 100,000 to 250,000 USD for single applicants through government fund donations, with real estate investments beginning around 200,000 to 400,000 USD. European programmes demand higher investments, often exceeding 500,000 EUR, reflecting the greater benefits of EU membership and access. What To Consider When Comparing Citizenship By Investment Programmes Processing complexity differs notably between regions. Caribbean programmes generally feature straightforward applications with clear criteria and predictable timelines. European programmes often involve more extensive documentation, longer processing periods, and stricter residency requirements. Some, like Malta, require genuine links to the country through residence periods before citizenship approval. Family Inclusion Family inclusion provisions represent another critical comparison point. Most Caribbean programmes accommodate spouses, dependent children, parents, and sometimes siblings on single applications. European programmes typically have more restrictive family inclusion rules, often limited to immediate family members. Understanding these differences becomes crucial when securing citizenship for extended families. Tax Obligations Tax implications require careful consideration in any citizenship by investment country comparison. Caribbean nations typically impose no taxes on worldwide income, capital gains, or inheritance for non-residents. European countries maintain more complex tax systems, with obligations varying based on residence status and income sources. Professional tax advice becomes essential when evaluating programmes from a wealth management perspective. Background Checks Due diligence processes have intensified globally following international pressure for programme integrity. All reputable programmes now conduct thorough background checks, verify fund sources, and maintain strict compliance standards. However, the depth and duration of these checks vary, affecting processing timelines and application complexity. Passport Strength Passport strength continues to evolve, with visa-free access agreements changing periodically. Caribbean passports consistently provide strong travel freedom for their investment level, whilst European passports typically offer the most comprehensive global access, including visa-free entry to the United States and Canada. Work With An Advisor The optimal programme depends entirely on individual circumstances. Business professionals requiring swift processing and minimal commitments often favour Caribbean options. Those seeking European residence rights and long-term integration lean towards EU programmes. Families prioritising American business opportunities find Grenada particularly attractive. Working with experienced immigration consultants proves invaluable when conducting a citizenship by investment country comparison. Professional advisors provide current information, strategic insights, and tailored recommendations based on your specific goals, budget, and timeline. Their expertise helps navigate the complexities and identify the programme that genuinely serves your objectives rather than simply the one with the most attractive marketing. source: primal 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: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The gap between rich and poor has reached historic highs. According to the World Inequality Report 2026, released in recent weeks, the richest 10% of the global population now receive 53% of all income and own a staggering 75% of all wealth. The poorest half of humanity, meanwhile, receive just 8% of income and own 2% of wealth. Looking at these stark figures, it is easy to assume such extreme inequality is a guaranteed recipe for revolution. If people are struggling to survive while a tiny elite prospers, you'd think they would eventually rise up. However, history and data tell a more complex story. Many deeply unequal societies remain politically stable for decades, while others with moderate inequality erupt into chaos. Why does economic grievance boil over in some places but not others? As geopolitical tensions risefrom the "Gen Z uprising" in Asia to civil unrest in the Middle Eastunderstanding the trigger for conflict is urgent. Our new study, published in the Scottish Journal of Political Economy, suggests inequality alone is rarely enough to drive instability. Instead, we found a crucial accelerant that transforms economic grievance into political action: the internet. The missing link For years, political scientists have debated the link between inequality and conflict. Some studies found a strong connection; others found none. To help solve this puzzle, we analyzed data from more than 120 countries from 1996 to 2020. We looked at income inequality (measured by the Gini index) and paired it with political stability scores from the World Bank. We then introduced a third variable: how much of the population uses the internet. We found digital connectivity acts as a moderator. This means the internet changes how inequality affects society. In countries with low internet access, higher inequality does not lead to higher political instability. In fact, we found that in such relatively unconnected societies, inequality is sometimes associated with greater stability. This may be because marginalized groups lack the information to compare their lives with others, or the tools to organize effectively. The tipping point Our analysis identified a specific "tipping point." We found income inequality begins to significantly drive political instability only when roughly more than 50% of the population uses the internet. In highly connected societieswhere more than half the population is onlinethe relationship between inequality and unrest becomes positive and significant. This pattern holds true even when we control for other factors that usually cause conflict, such as youth unemployment, corruption and excess profits from natural resources (such as oil rents). We also robustly tested these findings using data on actual conflict-related deaths, rather than just perception-based stability scores, and the results remained consistent. So, why can internet connection fuel conflict? Why does the internet make inequality so combustible? Our research points to two main mechanisms: information and coordination. The visibility of wealth Before the digital age, a person living in poverty might compare their living standards only to their immediate neighbors. If everyone around you is poor, your situation might feel normal, or at least tolerable. The internet destroys this isolation. It provides a window into the lives of the wealthy, both domestically and globally. Social media platforms act as a relentless showcase of luxury, creating a sense of "relative deprivation." When citizensparticularly young, underemployed men and womencan see the vast gap between their reality and the lives of the elite on social media, it generates psychological strain. Grievances move from abstract statistics to visceral, daily reminders of what they lack. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Lowering the cost of protest Feeling angry is one thing; doing something about it is another. Historically, organizing a mass movement was dangerous, expensive and slow. The internet, specifically through social media and encrypted messaging apps, solves the collective action problem. It drastically lowers the coordination costs for dissatisfied citizens. We have seen this play out repeatedly. During the Arab Spring of 2011, Facebook was used to help mobilize protesters against regimes in Egypt and Tunisia. In Iran, social media was vital in spreading the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement of 2022, allowing citizens to bypass state media blackouts. Just months ago in Nepal, a country where about 56% of the population uses the internet, what began as protests over a social media ban quickly escalated into a nationwide anti-corruption movement. This resulted in dozens of deaths, substantial economic disruption and the resignation of the prime minister. In these contexts, the internet did not create the grievance. Inequality, corruption and repression did that. But the internet provided the spark and the fuel that turned grievance into fire. Grappling with inequality As the World Inequality Report warns, wealth concentration is rising while public wealth stagnates. At the same time, global internet use continues to climb, reaching nearly 71% of the global population in 2024. As more developing nations cross the 50% digital threshold, governments can no longer rely on lack of awareness or lack of coordination to maintain order in unequal societies. Some regimes may be tempted to shut down the internet to maintain stability. However, our research suggests a different path. If governments want to ensure political stability in the digital age, they cannot simply police the internet. They must address the economic grievances it reveals. Policies that reduce income disparities such as progressive taxation, investment in public services and control of corruption are no longer just economic ideals. They are security imperatives. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: (From left) Walid Saad and Alexander DeRieux present their novel eQMARL framework at the opening of Academic Building One in Alexandria. Credit: Luke Hayes for Virginia Tech Any time you use a device to communicate informationan email, a text message, any data transferthe information in that transmission crosses the open internet, where it could be intercepted. Such communications are also reliant on internet connectivity, often including wireless signal on either or both ends of a transmission. But what if twoor 10, or 100, or 1,000entities could be connected in such a way that they could communicate information without any of those security or connectivity concerns? That's the challenge that Alexander DeRieux, a Virginia Tech Ph.D. student and Bradley Fellow in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, under the advisement of Professor Walid Saad, set out to tackle using quantum entanglement. In short, they used the unique properties of quantum bits, or qubits, as a method of transmitting information. "When you look subatomically, atoms don't exist in isolationthey vibrate. Those vibrations affect other atoms close by," said DeRieux. "Entanglement effectively leverages the fabric of the physical space around us and how atoms are intrinsically linked with each other." Quantum entanglement in disaster scenarios Drawing on current events, DeRieux's team, based at the Institute for Advanced Computing in Alexandria, examined the potential for drones fighting wildfires or being employed in other disaster relief scenarios where wireless signal may be disrupted. The team's novel framework, dubbed eQMARL (entangled quantum multi-agent reinforcement learning), showed a marked improvement in performance using quantum entanglement over both classical computing and non-entangled quantum baselines. The work is published on the arXiv preprint server. "We developed the technology and the framework, and then we thought of the application where it can be used," said DeRieux. "What we developed is effectively a learning scheme that exploits the fact that when you do something to one half of the qubit pair, it does something to the other one. We don't necessarily care what it does, just that change happens." DeRieux and his team demoed their research at the grand opening of Academic Building One in Alexandria back in February, though he cautioned at the time that a deployment for a drone disaster response might still be 10 to 15 years away. But with advancements on both the mathematical side and the real world testing side in the intervening months, quantum's potential applications are coming quickly into focus. Potential impact on communication and AI "While the promise of quantum technologies is widely recognized, how they can fundamentally reshape artificial intelligence and communication systems remains an open question," said Saad. "Our research addresses this challenge by exploiting intrinsic quantum properties, such as entanglement, to design learning and communication frameworks that move beyond classical limits while establishing principled co-design approaches in which quantum and classical technologies operate together as a single, coherent system." Quantum entanglement offers a range of potential applications because it opens the door to secure communications without relying on fiber optic or wireless networks. Consider a hospital that needs to share medical records. The open internet presents a host of cybersecurity issues that could be circumvented by avoiding the explicit transmission of such information. While our wireless and artificial capabilities (AI) continue to grow in new and exciting ways, there are limits to classical computing that quantum transcends. "Those algorithms are just effectively solving an existing problem in a quicker way. They're not necessarily redefining the way we solve that problem," said DeRieux. "We wanted to research what other types of advantages quantum can give you that are uniquely quantum, that you can't get with the type of tech that's in your smartphone." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. How quantum entanglement works So how exactly do these two entangled qubits communicate? Essentially, their change in state can be measured and determined by the corresponding effect on the entangled qubit. When drones experience their environment, including through audio or video, that information gets encoded onto the qubit. Because you can fit so much more information on a qubit, such as amplitudes and phases, simply communicating those changes of state provides a wealth of information. The way that all gets unpacked on the other end is no different than in current, classical systems, and the processes all pull from well-established quantum physics. Think of photons as tiny, spinning balls. To entangle them, one must fire one photon very close to another one. In so doing, one can encode information into the state of both photons by modifying the way the little ball spins, essentially putting the two in lockstep. Once entangled, any modification to one will also happen to the other, no matter how far apart they arefrom opposite ends of the same swarm, to opposite ends of the galaxy. In fact, this possibility was tested earlier this year on the International Space Station. Future applications and possibilities As quantum computers continue to shrinkfrom entire rooms, to the size of a station wagon, to more condensed versions that fit on a napkinthat range of potential applications grows exponentially. Whether the quantum supremacy breakthrough comes next week or next decade, the groundwork that DeRieux and Saad have laid could be applicable to anything from federated learning, to data security, data representativeness, AI compression, and less energy-intensive AI. "We have essentially written an instruction book that says, 'Yes, this is something you can actually do in entanglement, that proves you can do something uniquely quantum that you cannot do classically,'" said DeRieux. Publication details Alexander DeRieux et al, eQMARL: Entangled Quantum Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning for Distributed Cooperation over Quantum Channels, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2405.17486 Journal information: arXiv Officials confirm care of nine former tourist show dolphins reported abandoned in Cancun Hotel Zone tank Cancun, Q.R. Environmental authorities have confirmed the care of nine dolphins by Dolphin Discovery. They made the public confirmation Friday after touring the facilities in response to social media videos posted by concerned citizens who claimed they had been abandoned. The nine mammals were found earlier this week inside a hotel aquarium once used for tourist shows. In January of this year, the hotel show was fined by federal authorities for numerous animal and permit violations, which led to it being shut down. Oscar Rebora, the State Secretary of Ecology and Environment, confirmed their finding Friday. In a posted video, he explained that they became aware of the situation through concerned citizen videos posted on social media. Images of the alleged abandonment of nine dolphins still inside the tanks of the aquarium were shown on social media. Oscar Rebora said that although the social media complaints pointed a finger at Ventura Park, the responsible company for the dolphinarium is Dolphin Discovery. Authorities toured the facilities after reports of abandoned dolphins left inside the closed tourist attraction. December 2025. On Friday, the Secretaria de Ecologia y Medio Ambiente said he, along with other state and federal environmental officials, went to the site where they confirmed nine dolphins in the tank. The location of the Dolphin discovery tank is next to Ventura Park in the Cancun Hotel Zone, he said, but it is not Ventura Park. Ventura Park was pointed out but its not them, its Dolphin Discovery, he confirmed. Based on the videos shared on social media, we acted immediately, going to the site with Profepa (Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection). That dolphinarium was closed with precautionary measures in place, but the company is responsible for the care of the nine dolphins found, he said. During their tour, they also found Mincho, the same dolphin that was injured during a show the year before. After the injury, the dolphin was put back to work before the recommended recovery time by a veterinarian. Oscar Rebora confirmed through a visit that the dolphins belong to Dolphin Discovery not Ventura Park. With that, the government established the Mincho Law to verify that tourist show animals have veterinary care, food and responsible personnel. This does not mean they will remain there, Rebora said. Five months after the Mincho Law was enacted, and at the governors instruction, a responsible transition and their relocation in accordance with the law will be guaranteed with permanent monitoring throughout the entire process. After the videos were released on social media, Dolphin Discovery issued a statement assuring that the dolphins that live in the Dolphin Cancun aquarium continue to be under the permanent care of a team of veterinarians and marine mammal specialists. They added that Dolphin Cancun in the hotel zone temporarily suspended its operations, however, the dolphins continue to receive daily care, as is the case in all the groups habitats. Riviera Maya News serving Quintana Roo Mexico since 2014 Your online newspaper Passenger found with unlicensed gun inside Cancun International sentenced to prison Cancun, Q.R. A plane passenger caught with an unregistered gun inside Cancun International has been sentenced. The Attorney General of the Republic (FGR) said they obtained a conviction against a person for carrying an unlicensed firearm. The FGR, through its Specialized Regional Control Prosecutors Office in the state of Quintana Roo, obtained a conviction against Humberto M for the crime of carrying a firearm without a license. According to the FGR (Fiscalia General de la Republica), members of the National Guard detained a person at the FBO (Fixed Base Operator) Terminal of the Cancun International Airport where private general aircraft land. When entering his suitcase in the X-ray machine, a firearm and two magazines were detected in his luggage, so he was placed at the disposal of the Federal Prosecutors Office in the state, they said. According to the FGR, Humberto M was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for carrying a firearm in Mexico without a license. With these actions, the FGR reaffirms its commitment to society for the investigation and prosecution of federal crimes, they said. Riviera Maya News serving Quintana Roo Mexico since 2014 Your online newspaper After thorough investigation, she was arrested for the second time this year (the first was in June) on drug charges, including selling hard core substances to "young folks". The police in Alabama made the arrest after executing a search warrant on her home. Police Chief, Jimmie Gardner, said: Our young folks and others are being harmed by her activities. If you are selling it to them, you are just another criminal, regardless of your age . The police boss further disclosed that there has been series of drug-related problems in the community and they noticed a substantial amount of traffic coming out of her house. " It looks like everybody loved hanging out with grandma Ola, and now we know why ," he added. Mama Ola Mae Robinson may look like someone whose food you'll love to taste, thinking that it will come with the natural taste of your village kitchen. But according to police, any food you eat in her house might give you more than you bargained for. ABOUT THIS BEFORE & AFTER HOME TYPE: Apartment PROJECT TYPE: Kitchen STYLE: Scandinavian SKILL LEVEL: Professional RENTAL FRIENDLY: No Related: How To Use a Level When you hear that a kitchen is a blank space, you probably assume that its minimally furnished but still has the basics (cabinets, counters, appliances). But in some areas, blank space means, quite literally, blank space. In Germany, for instance, its common for rental units to come without a kitchen meaning the renter whos moving in literally has to build their own from scratch, or pay extra to keep the previous renters kitchen for themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When DIYer Hillary and her husband, Pat, moved into their apartment, they found themselves in just that scenario. The space where the kitchen would be was totally empty, meaning theyd have to create their own. Since our apartment is a new build, we did not have the choice to buy [an existing kitchen], but were happy to be able to fully customize our kitchen to our needs, Hillary says. That said, she knew she wanted to make sure that the project cost them less than $10,000 total, including the appliances. With a hard budget in mind, the couple scouted out options before ultimately landing on IKEA, which Hillary says was the most affordable and we liked the finishing options since our style leans Scandinavian. Planning the design was a major part of the reno. Hillary used IKEAs layout tools to map out her ideas for her dream kitchen before discussing with a kitchen designer at the store. She recommends the same for anyone else whos planning to buy an IKEA kitchen and says you should come with questions, too. The designer helped Hillary and Pat trim costs throughout their space by cutting out any unnecessary upgrades and suggesting that the couple build the island which wouldnt need to be plumbed or wired themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oak veneer cabinets warm up the space. Hillary and Pat werent fans of the gray tiled floors, which Hillary says made the space feel cold. To warm it up, the couple went with oak veneer cabinets topped with marble countertops. The new appliances are also from IKEA; the range hood, which has a vintage vibe, is a favorite statement piece. Pros installed the lower cabinets (and countertops and appliances), but Hillary and Pat decided to skip out on buying uppers. Instead, they installed their own floating shelves something Hillary says was surprisingly easy and took less than an hour in total. The shelves themselves were made by a local woodworker. A DIY island adds even more storage. Another thing Hillary and Pat DIYed themselves? The island, which also came from IKEA. Choosing to do that project on their own saved them about $1,000 in labor costs. Unfortunately, it wasnt quite as easy as the floating shelves. Building the island was the hardest part, Hillary says. We were surprised how there were pieces that we had to cut on our own and it wouldnt have been possible without a power saw. The IKEA manual shows that a regular saw is possible, but it would have taken literally hours to cut manually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peel-and-stick tiles bring a little color. Hillary found her peel-and-stick tiles while visiting family in Singapore, and knew they were the perfect way to bring a little color to the kitchen. However, she was hesitant to apply them straight to the wall in case they caused damage on removal they do live in a rental, after all! Hillary came up with an ingenious plan that helped minimize any repairs the couple would need to do later. Im really proud of how I came up with the idea to install a MDF backing for the tiles to stick on, she says. The MDF backing is installed with a nail gun and super easy to remove and patch if we ever moved out. Now, the kitchen is anything but a blank space. The oak veneer cabinets, subtle marbled countertop, and vertically stacked blue tiles work really well together to create a warm and inviting kitchen! Hillary says. Were also happy with our decision to not add upper cabinets but opt for floating shelves instead, as it keeps the space open and bright. And best part? Hillary and Pat came in well under their initial budget; they spent 6,700 (approximately $7,048 USD) in total. Im proud of myself for designing the IKEA kitchen the way I did, from the placement of each cabinet and also choosing when to use drawers versus cupboards, Hillary says. Everything is easily organized and just makes sense which is really important for a kitchen! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inspired? Submit your own project here. Further Reading Create Your Own Interior Design Mood Board | Apartment Therapy Martha Stewarts Elaborate 6-Step Method Is the Best for Removing Red Wine Stains 90 Best Practical Gifts for When You Have No Idea What To Buy Sign up for Apartment Therapy's Daily email newsletter to receive our favorite posts, tours, products, and shopping guides in your inbox. Gabfest Reads is a monthly series from the hosts of Slates Political Gabfest podcast. This month, David Plotz talks with Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia and author of The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things That Last. They discuss how purpose, civility, and trust can power collaboration at scale and how those same principles can help rebuild the institutions that connect us. This partial transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity. David Plotz: Your book came out interestingly at a time when Wikipedia faces arguably the most significant challenges to its authority since its early days. Your co-founder who was at Wikipedia for a minute in the earliest part of Wikipedia, has urged a reformation, abolishing what he calls blacklists of sight of sources. You have a lot of conservativesTed Cruz has been attacking Wikipedia for its ideological bias; Elon Musk, of course, has started Grokipedia, which is his own AI-powered alternative to Wikipediahow does Wikipedia maintain trust with a concerted ideological assault being leveled against it? Jimmy Wales: Yeah, no, I think it is a real challenge. And my first hat tip to Elon is, thanks for helping my book sell more, because I think its keeping me in the news, and people are very interested in this whole discussion and debate. First of all, I think one of the things that we always have to do when we get criticism or proposals for reform or change or whatever, is take it seriously. To say, Okay, hold on. Is this right? and if it is right, because theres something we should fix and change and so forth. So the idea that we have blacklists or should eliminate that, its a very confused objection. Yes, there are some sites that you cannot post on Wikipedia because they have malware, SPAM, et cetera. Were not going to change that. There are some sites that we regard as very poor sources because they are very poor sources, and you should always try and find a better source. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was one think tank that put out a thing saying, Well, now Wikipedia has banned all conservative sources. And its like, well, okay, if you think the Wall Street Journal is a left-wing communist mag, then yeah, maybe so. But actually, most people who look at the list of sources and the list of cautions around different sources would say, Oh, actually, this isnt terrible. Could it be improved? Yeah. Are there ways, elements on the list that we need to look at? But also, keep in mind the list is only a guideline. Its advice to editors that summarize past discussions and things like this. And for certain things, like if we think about our entries on medical topics, its like, okay, well why do we treat the New England Journal of Medicine with more respect than we treat a social media influencer? Well, were not apologizing for that, thats actually meaningful. Tabloid newspapers who are touting the latest cancer scare or whatever is not really as good as more peer-reviewed, thoughtful research. I think that sort of thing, broadly, I think were in the right place. Details? Yeah, lets have a discussion. What are some things we should change? Advertisement Advertisement David Plotz: But can Wikipedia survive? If all information is somehow now coded in a partisan fashion. If theres no consensus that there can be something fair and trustworthy, can Wikipedia survive? Jimmy Wales: Well, I mean, clearly we can survive. Weve got a budget and weve got reserves and weve got community members, and well just carry on doing what we do because were Wikipedians and its our hobby and we love it, so we can survive. I do think the broader question is still valid. If we say, Okay, what does it mean if our information ecosystem is broadly becoming more partisan and politicized in ways that are unfortunate? And that we have what ended up being political signaling around issues that have nothing to do with politics. Advertisement My favorite example here is masks and masking. The actual science and the question of masks is, in a hospital setting, healthcare-trained healthcare professionals wearing an appropriate N95 mask, theres clear evidence that reduces transmission. So people on the subway wearing a cloth, random mask, half-assedly, in a public health setting, was it really helpful? The evidence is not as clear. This is not a political topic. This is just like, Oh, okay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it became politicized partly because first we were told, Dont wear a mask. Dont bother about masks, because they didnt trust the public not to panic and go out and buy them. And then a few months later, its like, No, everybody has to wear a mask, mandatory everywhere. That reduced trust, and then it became politicized. It was a nice flag on your faceor notto show that you either were of the left or of the right on these issues. And Im like, Yeah, lets all, everybody please relax a notch or two! Not everything is political. Sources say the sack was as a result of salary dispute between the company's management and staff. Before now, the customer care staff were being paid N 65,000 monthly, but the new management slashed the salary to N 35,000. Their reason is that customer care workers in India are paid $200, and that only managers earn as much as N 75,000 per month. Hence, they could not pay "mere" customer care agents as much as what an Airtel manager earns in India. The latest now is that if you call Airtel customer care centre, it will be picked by somebody in Ghana and the only languages available to customers are English and Pidgin... Airtel is however denying the news. While Nigerians were busy on how to celebrate the nation's 51st Independence Anniversary last week, Airtel, one of the major Telecoms company in the country, had entirely different plans. The company which is now owned by Indians sacked about 3,000 Nigerians on its payroll on Friday - all members of the customer service department. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Judges around the country have begun to show a simmering fury at the conduct of federal agents, including those carrying out the increasingly brutal immigration crackdowns in predominantly blue cities nationwide. At the same time, many of the same judges have begun to balk at being extravagantly and shamelessly deceived by Justice Department lawyers defending that conduct in their courtrooms. On Thursday, another federal district court judge, Gary R. Brown, lit into the Trump administration for effectively torturing immigrants in a manner that shocks the conscience. His 24-page ruling also castigated both Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and government lawyers for submitting evasive and demonstrably false claims to the court under oath. Brown, a Donald Trump appointee, also raised the serious possibility of imminent contempt proceedings against those who lied to him. On this weeks Slate Plus bonus episode of Amicus, co-hosts Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discussed lower court judges escalating efforts to hold government officials accountable for shameless fabrications, contemptuous behavior, and egregious violations of immigrants constitutional rights. A preview of their conversation, below, has been edited and condensed for clarity. Dahlia Lithwick: This picks up themes from our main show with the ACLUs Lee Gelernt, who warned us that during Trump 1.0, the lawyering could be sloppy, but it at least conformed to norms and basic rules of truth. Now the obligation of candor is simply gone, and lying to a judges face is a-OK. Can you tell us what happened in Judge Browns court? Mark Joseph Stern: Judge Brown explained why he ordered the release of Erron Anthony Clarke, a noncitizen whom ICE detained even though he legally entered the country and has no criminal record whatsoever. ICE accused Clarke of overstaying his visa and arrested him. Brown wrote that agents may have arrested him without securing the necessary charging documents or identifying probable cause, then fudged the paperwork to obscure the fact that they acted before they had lawful authority to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But set that aside. ICE then locked Clarke up at the Central Islip federal courthouse, placing him in a tiny cell designed for one person along with eight other men. They had no access to bunks, bedding, soap, showers, toothbrushes, or clean clothes. The cell was literally freezing cold. The lights stayed on 24 hours a day. The detainees had to sleep on the floor, crowded around an open toilet that reeked of urine. Related From Slate Republicans Have Found a New Kind of U.S. Citizen They Cant Accept Read More Clarke challenged his detention, arguing due process violations. When it first appeared that Judge Brown was going to release him, ICE transferred him to a different facility in Newark. Brown still ordered him released immediately. ICE blatantly defied the order, holding Clarke overnight. Brown then demanded more information about Clarkes confinement. On Thursday, he said that what ICE provided was preposterous, rank hearsay, evasive and demonstrably false, and filled with material misstatements. He accused ICE agents of lying repeatedlyquite possibly to make it seem like Clarke spent less time in torturous conditions than he did, or to cover up its effort to evade the courts orders by transferring him to other locations. Brown also said that ICE refused to provide key details about the holding cell at the Islip courthouse. He warned that ICE has started exploiting these holding cells to cram multiple detainees into tiny spaces for long periods, subjecting them to what is essentially torture. Advertisement Advertisement Brown asked for a photo of the Islip cell, but ICE would not even provide it on the grounds that doing so would create privacy concerns for detainees. He was having none of this. As he wrote on Thursday: After nearly 35 years of experience with federal law enforcement in this judicial district, encompassing service as a prosecutor and a judge, I have never encountered anything like this. ICEs seeming disregard of procedural requisites, combined with the chillingly brutal conditions of confinement to which Petitioner has been, and presumably would continue to be subjected, cries out for immediate remedy. And so he found that there were extraordinary circumstances here that required him to grant bail and release Clarke. Advertisement I want to unpeel the onion for one quick second. Its not just the horrifying misconduct on the part of ICE. Its the lying. And in that sense, it feels again like were back in Judge James Boasbergs courtroom with a judge who is confronted with blatant misrepresentations. According to Brown, ICE claimed that it moved Clarke from a facility to another in eight minutes, but its a 35-minute drive. So unless theres an ICE rocket ship we dont know about, these are just blatant falsifications. It does raise this question, which is the same question Judge Boasberg is exploring in D.C.: Is there some possibility that there could be consequences? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yes, there are. This was not just a cri de coeur against ICE. There is a real possibility of consequences. Judge Brown ordered counsel for ICE to tell him why he shouldnt enter an order of contempt as punishment for ICEs defiance of his orders. That means he is strongly considering contemptmaybe civil, maybe criminalagainst ICE agents who lied to him repeatedly and conspired to defy his orders. Crucially, Judge Brown isnt just considering contempt because of conduct that occurred outside his courtroom. Hes looking at ICEs defiance of his own orders by lying to him in declarations submitted to his court, lies evidently abetted by DOJ attorneys. That actually takes this beyond Judge Boasbergs saga, because this seems to involve cut-and-dry, eminently demonstrable perjury. I know there are a lot of hurdles that Brown would have to overcome to bring a contempt proceeding with teeth, but I do think he has a good reason to try. This case could easily escalate into the next judicial attempt to hold people accountable who absolutely need to be in order for us to protect the rule of law. If you decline to pay the agreed rent of the house you hired for an upward of twelve months in the Nigeria of today, what else do you expect from a landlord who has bills to pay? Nothing but a quit notice, especially if there's no prior agreement between you and the owner of the property that you should help him keep his money in a safe custody. Continue to read the current fate of Fred Amata... First Tracks Cumberland has announced that its Saturday, Dec. 20 card will have a later post time of 12:15 p.m. due to power outages affecting the area. New Lasix times have been distributed via the tracks text alert system. The Au Revoir retirement ceremonies will follow the same sequence as originally planned, with horses arriving 75 minutes later than the regular post time. (First Tracks Cumberland) Kinh Bac breaks ground on $437 mln industrial park in northern Vietnam province Thai Nguyen By Hai Yen Sat, December 20, 2025 | 5:46 pm GMT+7 Kinh Bac City Development Holding Corp (HoSE: KBC) on Friday broke ground on the VND11.5 trillion ($437.06 million) Phu Binh Industrial Park project in Thai Nguyen province. Phu Binh will span 675 hectares across Phu Binh, Tan Hoa, and Kha Son communes. The first phase will cover 190 hectares. The industrial park is strategically located along the planned Ring Road No. 5 connecting Thai Nguyen to Hanoi as well as neighbouring Hai Phong city, Phu Tho, Ninh Binh, Hung Yen, and Bac Ninh provinces. It lies about 10 km from the Hanoi-Thai Nguyen Expressway, 40 km from Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, and 130 km from Hai Phong port, positioning it to serve both domestic and export-oriented manufacturers. Groundbreaking ceremony for Phu Binh Industral Park project in Thai Nguyen province, northern Vietnam, December 19, 2025. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency. The project has a 50-year operating term from the date of investment approval, with construction scheduled to be completed within 60 months from land handover. The industrial park is planned as a manufacturing and logistics hub for Vietnams northern midland and mountainous region, targeting high-tech industries, processing and manufacturing, energy production, and new materials. Illustration of Phu Binh Industrial Park in Thai Nguyen province, northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of KBC. The project is expected to support Thai Nguyen provinces industrialization strategy by leveraging its proximity to Hanoi and key transport corridors. Local authorities say the industrial park has already attracted interest from foreign investors, supported by corporate income tax incentives for projects in disadvantaged areas, land rent exemptions, and streamlined administrative procedures. Thai Nguyen, 80 km from Hanoi, is home to Samsung Electronics Vietnam Thai Nguyen (SEVT) plant, which recorded a profit of KRW2 trillion ($1.37 billion) on a revenue of KRW29.04 trillion ($19.82 billion) in January-September, down 0.46% but up 10% year-on-year, respectively. The province has 12 industrial parks, including six operational ones attracting 188 foreign-invested projects worth over $11 billion in total, according to provincial authorities. Bac Kan and Thai Nguyen provinces were merged in July to form the new Thai Nguyen which neighbors Bac Ninh, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Phu Tho, Tuyen Quang, and Hanoi. On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), Kinh Bac City Development shares KBC closed Friday at VND34,300 ($1.3) apiece. The World Bank Group has officially opened its new, energy-efficient offices here, which will serve as the hub for its Caribbean operations. The building brings the Banks Caribbean team together in one physical space, which will strengthen the institutions presence and support in Jamaica and the wider region. If I asked you (the reader): do you think most people can be trusted? Would you answer yes o Posole reminds me of Christmas Eve when my Tata makes a big pot for all of us to enjoy before we change into pajamas and open gifts. It also reminds me of New Year's Eve, when my best friends mom always makes us the spiciest posole in the world. Its so spicy, I have to eat at least three pieces of bread for relief. The same can be said for Erika Munozs family. Munoz, who owns Seis Kitchen with her husband Jake, said Jake grew up eating posole, and so have her kids. Its one of her daughters favorite foods. The first time that I had posole was with my husband at one of his family's homes on New Year's Eve, Munoz said. They brought out the menudo and posole at midnight. For those unfamiliar, posole is a traditional Mexican soup made with hominy, pork and red chile. Depending on what ingredients you use or how spicy you want it, posole broth can be red, white or even green. At Seis, the posole is based off a family recipe. When making it, Munoz said they let the pork femur stew for hours to get all the minerals and gelatin to release, creating the gelatinous bone broth. Then they add the typical ingredients, which include the hominy, pork, onion, garlic, and oregano. Lastly, they add a bit of spice from their chile base, turning the soup a deep red color. Its then ready to be served, along with a flour tortilla, lime and cabbage. The whole process takes a minimum of four hours, Munoz said. Low and slow is exactly how they cook it at Humo Cocina Mexicana, too. Owner Ramon Contreras learned the secret to making a warm, comforting bowl of pozole (the Spanish spelling) from his mom back in Hermosillo, Sonora. He and his family would indulge in the savory soup every Christmas and Dia de la Virgen. "It's perfect for the cold weather," Contreras said. Using all local ingredients, Monge spends four to five hours slowly cooking the soup to ensure maximum flavor. When it's ready, they serve it in a big bowl along with lime, radishes, cabbage, onion and a piece of buttery toast. One bite and you'll be instantly transported to your grandma's house. "People say it has very good flavor, that it reminds them of their nana's," Contreras said. Like Seis and Humo Cocina Mexicana, there are many restaurants in Tucson that also serve the cozy soup, each putting their own twist on the traditional recipe. If youre looking to indulge in some posole this holiday season, below are just a few places you can go to satisfy your craving. Birrieria Guadalajara 304 E. 22nd St. Dont be fooled, this little restaurant packs a big punch. Not only is Birrieria Guadalajara known for its tasty birria, but many people are also fans of their posole. When researching what places to feature here, Birrieria Guadalajaras posole was a recurring recommendation. For $9.50, you can try its beloved red posole just in time for the holidays. Tito & Pep 4122 E. Speedway Tito & Pep puts its own vegetarian twist on the classic soup. This James Beard semifinalist restaurant offers a green vegetable posole. The dish includes the usual hominy, in addition to asparagus, snap peas, roasted poblanos and spring onions. This option is a perfect choice for those who want to enjoy the deliciousness of posole but without the pork. Seis Kitchen 130 S. Avenida del Convento; 1765 E. River Road; 9740 N. Oracle Road Wintertime only means one thing: Seis posole is back. For an extra kick, ask for a side of their habanero salsa. It adds the perfect amount of spice for those who prefer a spicier broth. The best part: You can pair your posole with their house-made horchata. That sounds like my dream meal. Calle Tepa 6151 E. Broadway For more than a decade, Calle Tepa has been a staple for posole lovers. It offers the classic red posole sure to hit the spot on a Sunday morning. You can get the soup in a cup for $6 or a bowl for $13. But lets be honest, were always getting the bowl. Humo Cocina Mexicana 6671 N. Thornydale Road Rejoice Marana friends: Now you don't have to drive miles and miles to get good posole. Humo Cocina Mexicana has a red posole on its menu that comes with all the delicious fixings: cilantro, onion, radishes, lime and a piece of toasted, buttery bread. Tania's Mexican Food 2856 W. Drexel Road If you Google posole in Tucson, you'll see rave reviews about Tania's Mexican Food pop up. At this south-side restaurant, you can get the beloved soup in various sizes: small, pint, quart, and gallon. You'll be the most popular person at the Christmas party if you show up with a gallon full of tasty posole. Tumerico 2526 E. Sixth St. This local favorite is another hotspot for posole. Unlike other places, Tumerico makes its posole with carrots and potato, serving it with tortillas, lime and poblanos. Tumericos posole is popular among customers, so you may want to get there early. When I called during lunchtime, it was already sold out. Jalisco Restaurant & Tortilleria 425 W. Irvington Road Jalisco Restaurant & Tortilleria is another place you can enjoy a big, warm bowl of posole. On its Facebook page, it advises you run and don't walk when it comes to placing your posole order for the holidays. Delicias Mexican Grill 4581 S. 12th Ave. You can always count on Delicias Mexican Grill for delicious posole. Its bowl of red posole comes with cabbage, onions, radishes, bread and your choice between a tostada or tortilla. A call to Tucson police about a runaway 11-year-old girl prompted a five-month investigation that led to the arrest of several men in a child sex-trafficking case, authorities say. Samuel Noel Talavera, 22, a member of the military, is accused of connecting four Tucson men with the child for sex. The sex acts were to be video taped and sent to Talavera, a Tucson police news release says. The investigation into the trafficking and sex assaults began in Aug. 2025 when officers responded to a call about a missing 11-year-old girl, police said. The girl's father told police that he woke up and she was gone, leaving her phone behind. Although she returned the next day, police searched the girl's phone and learned about the her communications with a man who was facilitating meet-ups with a least four other men. On Dec. 16, Talavera, who is stationed in North Carolina, was extradited to Pima County and booked into the Pima County jail on suspicion of child sex trafficking, being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor and fraud. Bind was set at $1 million. Also arrested on suspicion of sexual conduct with a minor were Tucson residents: Ricky Evan Rodriguez, 20; Nathanial Maximus Alvarez, 20; Marcos Rene Lopez-Martinez, 24; and Saul Alejandro Murillo-Morales, 24, police said. On a recent December day, Mark Latino and a handful of his workers spun sheets of vinyl into tinsel for Christmas tree branches. They worked on a custom-made machine that's nearly a century old, churning out strands of bright silver tinsel along its 35-foot length. Latino is the CEO of Lee Display, a Fairfield, California-based company that his great-grandfather founded in 1902. Back then, it specialized in handmade velvet and silk flowers for hats. Now, it's one of the only companies in the United States that still makes artificial Christmas trees, producing around 10,000 each year. Tariffs and trees Tariffs shone a twinkling light this year on fake Christmas trees and the extent to which America depends on other countries for its plastic fir trees. Prices for fake trees rose 10% to 15% this year due to the new import taxes, according to the American Christmas Tree Association, a trade group. Tree sellers cut their orders and paid higher tariffs for the stock they brought in. Despite those issues, tree companies say they aren't likely to shift large-scale production back to the U.S. after decades in Asia. Fake trees are labor-intensive and require holiday lights and other components the U.S. doesn't make, said Chris Butler, CEO of the National Tree Co., which sells more than 1 million artificial trees each year. Americans are also very price-sensitive when it comes to holiday decor, Butler said. "Putting a 'Made in the U.S.A.' sticker on the box won't do any good if it's twice as expensive," Butler said. "If it's 20% more expensive, it won't sell." Americans prefer fake trees About 80% of the U.S. residents who put up a Christmas tree this year planned to use a fake one, according to the American Christmas Tree Association. That percentage has been unchanged for at least 15 years. Mac Harman, the founder and CEO of Balsam Brands, which sells hundreds of thousands of Balsam Hill trees each year, said Americans tend to set up their trees on Thanksgiving and leave them up for weeks, which can dry out fresh-cut trees. Others prefer fake trees because they're allergic to the mold spores on real trees, he said. Americans also like convenience; 80% of the fake trees sold each year have the lights already strung on them, Butler said. That preference is one reason artificial tree production shifted away from the U.S., first to Thailand in the early 1990s and to China about a decade later. Winding lights around the branches is time-consuming and tedious, Harman said. "Where are we going to get 15,000 people in America who want to string lights on Christmas trees?" Harman said. Labor-intensive work It takes an hour or two to make an artificial Christmas tree, from molding and cutting the needles to tying branches together and attaching the lights, Butler said. Workers in China, where 90% of fake trees are made, are paid $1.50 to $2 per hour, he said. Harman said the workers who wrap the lights on Balsam Hill's trees are so efficient, "it's like watching an Olympian." One of Balsam Brands' Chinese partners employs 15,000 to 20,000 people; another in Indonesia has up to 10,000, he said. Many are seasonal workers, since orders for Christmas decor slow down between October and February. Balsam Brands, which is based in Redwood City, California, studied whether it could make faux trees in Ohio during the first Trump administration, when President Donald Trump threatened but eventually delayed tariffs on imported Christmas decor, Harman said. The company hired consultants and considered automating some work. But it concluded a tree that currently sells for $800 would cost $3,000 if it was made in the U.S. Harman said Balsam couldn't even find a U.S. company to make the pair of gloves it includes in each box for fluffing out branches. American-made trees Lee Display employs three or four people for most of the year, adding more during the holiday rush to help with installations and displays. About half its business is making custom displays for companies such as Macy's, while the other half is selling directly to consumers. Latino said he likes that he can produce an order quickly instead of waiting for it to ship from overseas. "You have more control over it. I like to think that everything here is either my fault or my mistake or my careful planning and skill," he said. The tariffs still affected Lee Display. Latino's son James, who leads business development and marketing, said the company didn't import lights or decorations from China this year and relied on items it already had in stock. It's getting low on lights, so next year it will have to pay more to import them, he said. Responding to tariffs Some artificial tree companies are branching out so they're less reliant on China. National Tree Co., which is based in Cranford, New Jersey, moved some manufacturing to Cambodia in 2024, and could source all its trees from outside China by next year if it wanted to, Butler said. But diversifying their suppliers didn't make those companies immune from the impact of tariffs either. In April, the Trump administration threatened a 49% tariff against products from Cambodia. That rate was eventually reduced to 19%. Tariffs on artificial trees from China also bounced around but now average 20%, according to the American Christmas Tree Association. Butler said his company imported fewer trees this year and also raised prices by 10%. He said he used a lot of the money to offer customer discounts since demand was weak because of consumer worries about the economy. "It's a discretionary item. People say, 'I can wait one more year,'" Butler said. Balsam Brands cut its workforce by 10%, canceled travel, froze raises and even stopped serving lunch in the office once a week to absorb the impact of tariffs, Harman said. It also raised tree prices by 10%. Harman said his sales are down 5% to 10% this year in the U.S. but up 10% or more in Germany, Australia, Canada and France. That tells him tariffs have decreased U.S. demand. "If a merry Christmas is measured in how many decorations people put up, by that measure it's going to be a slightly less merry Christmas," he said. Popular actor, Ayo Badmus, will not forget in a hurry the just concluded Salah celebration as it was the day he was beaten black and blue by a group of hoodlums suspected to be political thugs in the Oshodi area of Lagos. More degrading is that fact the unfortunate incident happened in the presence of his wife . The Story: the actor accompanied by his wife and young brother went to pay ace-Cinematographer, Tunde Kelani, a visit during the Salah holidays when... The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) have signed a 250 million USD syndicated financing package to promote sustainable agriculture in Vietnam and support women-owned small- and medium-sized enterprises (WSMEs). According to ADB, to realise its goal of becoming one of the worlds top 15 agricultural exporters by 2030, Vietnam will need substantial capital, estimated at nearly 100 billion USD. The newly signed 250 million USD loan package represents part of the solution to this challenge. The financing package is a joint effort by multiple international institutions, with ADB acting as the lead arranger. It comprises 100 million USD from ADBs ordinary capital resources; 20 million USD from the Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for the Private Sector in Asia (CANPA); a 50 million USD syndicated parallel loan from Japan International Cooperation Agency; and a 80 million USD syndicated commercial parallel loan from several other banks. The package will provide sub-loans to agribusinesses engaged in sustainable agricultural production, climate adaptation, and resource efficiency. It will also help BIDV develop new financial products that promote green and inclusive lending, enhance credit assessment for agriculture, and expand access to finance for WSMEs in rural areas. The financing is accompanied by technical assistance that will strengthen BIDVs capacity in environmental and risk management. It will enhance the skills of BIDV staff and clients to identify and capitalise on sustainable agriculture investment opportunities, and raise awareness of sustainable agriculture finance. This transaction represents an important milestone in ADBs partnership with BIDV and in promoting climate-smart, inclusive growth in Vietnams agriculture sector, said ADB Country Director for Vietnam Shantanu Chakraborty. By blending commercial and concessional capital and providing technical assistance, this project will help strengthen BIDVs capacity to serve farmers and agribusinesses, especially women entrepreneurs, while supporting Vietnams transition toward a green and resilient economy. BIDV Executive Vice President Pham Vu Thien Nga said BIDV will strengthen its support for customers in developing sustainable agricultural models and expand access to finance for women and business owners in rural areas, thereby contributing to the Vietnamese economys inclusive and resilient economic growth./. VNA The Thai Hai Ethnic Stilt House Ecological Reserve lies on the same route as Nui Coc Lake and Tan Cuong tea cultural space. Nearly two decades ago, Nguyen Thi Thanh Hai, now 62, who was passionate about Tay culture, founded the village. She bought 30 traditional stilt houses from Tay and Nung communities in Dinh Hoa and relocated them to the village site. More than buildings, she envisioned a living, breathing community. She persuaded families of Tay, Nung, and Kinh origin to join her. Today, around 200 people live together under a rare social system: meals and belongings are shared, income is pooled into a communal fund, and nobody is richer or poorer than anyone else. Le Thi Hao feels fulfilled living in the village. Photo: Linh Trang Elderly care as a community mission Le Thi Nga, deputy head of Thai Hai Village, said 30 elderly residents currently live in the village. A dedicated healthcare team provides medical support, and three daily meals are served at a common dining house, tailored to seniors nutritional needs. Despite their age, many elders remain actively involved in the villages tourism operations. They teach traditional crafts, greet visitors, and share cultural insights. Teachers, artisans, and guides in retirement Le Thi Hao, once a middle school teacher in the former Gang Thep district of Thai Nguyen City, moved to Thai Hai with her husband 17 years ago upon retirement. Here, she learned bamboo basket weaving from other elders. Today, she teaches this craft to younger villagers and tourists alike - gladly sharing every bit of knowledge she has. Im always at the communal dining area, welcoming guests and explaining how our village works, she said. We dont worry about money or what to cook. We all eat together, and the food is delicious and nutritious. Everyones happy - from kids to elders. When someones sick, the village takes care of it. I feel strong and deeply content. Each villager has a role: one manages livestock, another handles farming, others welcome tourists or prepare herbal medicine. Elders help preserve traditional crafts and welcome tourists to the village. Photo: Thai Hai Village After completing all required formalities, the Red River Scenic Boulevard Investment Project was officially launched on December 20 by a consortium of developers including Dai Quang Minh, Van Phu, MIK Group, THACO, T&T Group, and Hoa Phat. National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and Hanoi Chairman Vu Dai Thang present the investment decision to the developer consortium Leaders perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the Red River Scenic Boulevard project With a total projected investment of approximately USD 35.2 billion, this is one of 234 major projects simultaneously initiated across 34 provinces and cities, in celebration of the upcoming 14th National Party Congress. An ambitious public-private partnership for Hanois future Planned under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, the Red River Scenic Boulevard project spans 11,000 hectares, stretching from Hong Ha Bridge to Me So Bridge, across 19 wards and communes of Hanoi. It includes an 80km scenic traffic axis, 3,300 hectares of parks and recreation zones, and 2,100 hectares of cleared land for urban redevelopment and resettlement. The project is subdivided into four independent subprojects, each with a specific focus. Subproject 1: The left-bank scenic boulevard This section will run through Me Linh, Thien Loc, Vinh Thanh, Dong Anh, Bo De, Long Bien, and Bat Trang. Key components include the Ta Hong Boulevard, designed with 4 to 10 lanes over 35.78km, a 29km riverside scenic road, four landscape park clusters totaling 2,250 hectares, and 29km of river embankments on the left bank. Subproject 2: The right-bank scenic boulevard Stretching from Hong Ha Bridge to Me So Bridge, this subproject spans nine wards and communes, including O Dien, Thuong Cat, Dong Ngac, Phu Thuong, Hong Ha, Linh Nam, Thanh Tri, Nam Phu, and Hong Van. It will include the Huu Hong Boulevard with 8 to 10 lanes over 44.82km, a 19km riverside scenic road, four park clusters totaling 1,004 hectares, and 30km of river embankments on the right bank. Subproject 3: Underground metro line This 42km underground metro will run parallel to the right bank of the Red River, covering nine wards and communes. The metro line is designed to integrate seamlessly with Hanois broader urban rail network, contributing to a modern, long-term transportation infrastructure. Subproject 4: Resettlement urban areas Architectural rendering of the Red River Scenic Boulevard Investment Project The Red River Scenic Boulevard, a future symbol of Hanois identity and sustainable growth This component focuses on high-rise resettlement apartments, located within the project's boundaries to ensure on-site relocation and urban renewal. A symbol of sustainable urban development This scenic boulevard project aligns with Hanois master plan, particularly the Red River Zoning Plan, and reinforces the capitals vision for sustainable, high-quality urban development. The project will not only complete a strategic transport axis, but also enhance the urban space along both riverbanks, creating a modern, eco-conscious, and symbolic urban landscape for Hanoi. A long-term vision with cultural sensitivity The boulevard is expected to reshape the riverfront with green spaces, resilient infrastructure, and culturally embedded design, placing residents at the heart of the transformation while preserving and celebrating the Red Rivers historic and cultural heritage. Upon completion, the scenic boulevard will stand as a central green axis linked to creative culture, acting as a driver of socio-economic growth and symbolizing Hanois vision of Civilization Identity Creativity. Targeted for completion by 2030 The project is expected to be completed and inaugurated by February 3, 2030, to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Its political and social significance goes far beyond infrastructure. It represents a vision for a new era of development for Hanoi and the nation. A transformative milestone for Hanoi The groundbreaking ceremony marks the beginning of one of Hanois largest urban infrastructure endeavors in decades. It promises to build a new identity for the capital along the Red River, integrating green space, culture, and economy - laying the foundation for the citys sustainable future. Ngoc Minh Vu Thi Thuy, former CEO of Nhat Nam Real Estate The Peoples Procuracy of Hanoi has issued indictments prosecuting a number of tycoons who used fraudulent schemes to appropriate trillions of dong from numerous investors. One notable defendant is Vu Thi Thuy, chairwoman of the board and CEO of Nhat Nam Real Estate Trading Investment JSC. Vu Thi Thuy, CEO of Nhat Nam Real Estate, is accused of mobilizing 43,314 investment cooperation contracts in 2020-2023, with a total amount of VND9.113 trillion. Of this sum, Thuy used more than VND4.144 trillion to repay principal for contracts. The remaining nearly VND5 trillion (from a total of 39,814 contracts involving 13,980 victims) was allegedly appropriated by the chairwoman of Nhat Nam Company and her accomplices and used for personal purposes. Together with accomplices, after fraudulently appropriating nearly VND5 trillion, Thuy invested VND40.8 billion in Ngoi Sao Company, VND99 billion in Nhat Nam Son Tay Company, VND450 billion in Song Da Nhat Nam Company, VND98 billion in Song Da Invest Company, and VND88 billion in Nam Nhat Khang Company. She also used VND191 billion to contribute capital to acquire 30 percent of the shares in Song Da 1.01 Company. In addition, Vu Thi Thuy used the legal entity of Nhat Nam Company to purchase 30 land plots from local residents in My Duc District (former), Hanoi, worth about VND3040 billion; 26 land plots in Thanh Hoa worth VND20 billion; 40 50-year land plots in Dak Lak registered under the names of Nhat Nam Company and Mai Thanh Tung (Thuys ex-husband) worth VND24 billion; and five land plots in Tay Ninh worth VND3.7 billion. Nhat Nam Company also bought eight perennial crop land plots in Phu Quoc worth VND67 billion. Thuy also bought 38 villa plots worth more than VND300 billion in her name and invested VND100 billion in a project in Luc Ngan, Bac Giang (former). Investment in real estate Another tycoon who was imprisoned after committing crimes to appropriate billions of dong from many investors is Than Van Thoai (born 1984, former General Director of BBA Global JSC). Along with Ho Quoc Anh (born 1990, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BBI Company, currently wanted), tycoon Thoai was prosecuted for the crimes of using computer networks, telecommunication networks, and electronic means to appropriate assets and money laundering. The indictment alleges that from September 2021 to June 11, 2024, Thoai and his accomplices supplied and issued the digital cryptocurrency CBP, mobilizing capital in the form of multi-level, multi-tier, multi-branch marketing. The accused lured many investors by promoting, holding seminars, panel discussions, and sharing introductions about the CBP coin, offering attractive commission policies, controlling and imposing prices, approving withdrawal orders, and manipulating the price of the CBP cryptocurrency. This caused many victims to believe that the CBP coin had real value and would yield high profits. As a result, investors transferred money to the accused to buy and sell digital currency according to instructions, and then had it all appropriated. The investigation agency issued a notice to search for victims in the case, but so far only 33 victims have reported and denounced Thoai and his accomplices for appropriating money through calling for investment in the CBP cryptocurrency on the Speeding.vip exchange. The amount of money Thoai and his accomplices have appropriated from the victims is over VND45 billion. Investigation documents show that after collecting big money from investors, Thoai used the money to invest in real estate in Hoa Binh (now Phu Tho province). Thoai became acquainted with Truong Van Ha and asked Ha to find and purchase production forest land in Phu Tho for investment and the implementation of the Future City project. Thoai entrusted Ha with gathering land from local residents, and once the land was purchased, Thoai would decide who would be named on the Certificate of Land Use Rights and instruct Ha to complete the transfer procedures to that person. According to the indictment documents, Thoai gave Ha over VND106 billion (of which over VND44 billion belonged to Thoai, and the rest belonged to others) to buy land. Ha used over VND69 billion to purchase a total area of 538,540 sqm of production forest land and completed the transfer procedures to the ownership of the subjects. The remaining amount was used by Ha to buy other land and for personal expenses. T. Nhung Pham Hong Quat, Director General of the Agency for Startup and Technology Enterprises On December 12, the Techfest social open innovation: promoting nationwide innovative entrepreneurship workshop was held in Hanoi. The event was part of the National Innovation Startup Festival (TECHFEST Vietnam 2025). The event for the first time was organized in an open-space format, featuring a wide range of activities such as seminars, competitions, technology experience zones, and initiatives to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation across Vietnam. Inspiration from Saint Giong In his opening remarks, Pham Hong Quat, Director General of the Agency for Startup and Technology Enterprises under the Ministry of Science and Technology, referred to the image of Phu Dong Thien Vuong - Saint Giong, who defeated foreign invaders and then ascended to the heavens. This figure has long symbolized the Vietnamese spirit of rising up. Saint Giong is special because when he heard the kings call, he volunteered to fight the enemy. With the support of the villagers and simple equipment, using nothing more than bamboo from the countryside as weapons, the boy demonstrated extraordinary strength. This image has become a powerful source of inspiration for the Vietnamese peoples aspiration to rise up and overcome challenges, and to address social problems, Quat said. He noted that Vietnam is entering a phase of rapid population aging, similar to South Koreas situation about five years ago when it hit the aging bottom. Other pressing challenges include environmental pollution, flooding, pollution-related diseases, and rapid urbanization. Addressing these issues requires new solutions from the startup and innovation community. When lessons, models, and solutions are shared, the quality of life of each citizen can improve thanks to the positive values jointly created by society. Open social innovation is, therefore, not just a trend, but a requirement to address social problems and challenges through new technologies, new business models, and a connected innovation startup ecosystem. The technology startup community must be closely linked with the open innovation community to solve real social issues, Quat emphasized. 4 pillars of open innovation At the workshop, Nguyen Phuong Linh, Director of MSD United Way Vietnam, noted that innovation cannot exist in isolation. It can only grow within an ecosystem where stakeholders depend on and complement each other to create shared value. A strong ecosystem is not one with the most organizations, but the one where organizations are best connected. To be strong, an ecosystem must be open; to achieve sustainable innovation, data and community are essential, Linh said. Open innovation is built on four main pillars: open connection among key ecosystem stakeholders; innovation for all, opening opportunities, voices, real-world experimentation, and real-time engagement; data and community data as the foundation of inclusive innovation; and future human resources, with people always at the center of all innovation. Innovation is not only based on advanced technologies, but on the ability to create new spaces where people can participate, be heard, and co-create solutions. When an elderly person in a rural area, a woman with disabilities, or a student from a remote region can contribute data and feedback, the ecosystem becomes not only smarter but also fairer and more humane, addressing root causes and moving toward sustainable development. Innovation is not just about how many patents are created, but about how many lives are changed. Only real connections, grounded in real data and real needs, can lift Vietnams innovation startup ecosystem to new heights. At that point, relationships are no longer just win-win, but win-win-win, with many beneficiaries, Linh shared. TECHFEST Vietnam 2025, themed nationwide innovative entrepreneurship a new growth driver, took place from December 12 to 14 in the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian zone in Hanoi. This is the first year the event has shifted from a traditional conference hall format to an open-space model, allowing the public to experience technology in a more direct and vivid way. Speaking about TECHFEST Vietnam 2025, Pham Hong Quat said that all activities were held along the pedestrian streets, making use of every available space, from cafes and restaurants to the Nhan Dan Newspaper hall, enabling people to easily engage. This approach both inspires a nationwide entrepreneurial spirit and helps the public see how technology is applied in production and business. At the same time, international guests had the opportunity to experience the culture of Hanoi, witness the creativity of Vietnamese people, and explore solutions that Vietnam is contributing to addressing challenges both domestically and across the region. Hoang Hiep On December 20 in Phu Quoc special zone, Visit Vietnam was officially unveiled at the conference Visit Vietnam Connecting Data, Shaping the Future of Tourism, co-organized by the National Data Association (NDA), the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), Sun Group Asias leading tourism developer and Visa, the worlds leading digital payments technology company. Visit Vietnam is unveiled at the conference Visit Vietnam Connecting Data, Shaping the Future of Tourism (Photo: Sun Group) This marks the first time Vietnam has introduced a national-level data platform dedicated to tourism, an important milestone in the countrys digital transformation, especially as the tourism sector celebrates 20 million international visitors in 2025. At the event, Sun Group showcased the first development version of Visit Vietnam, demonstrating how the platform collects, processes, and visualizes real-time tourism data. According to the rollout plan, the platform will be fully operational by Q2/2026. Colonel Ha Nam Trung, Deputy Director of the National Data Centre, emphasised: We are laying the first building blocks for a national data ecosystem, where every ministry, business and locality can participate and benefit. With initiatives like Visit Vietnam backed by the determination of government, enterprises, experts and the public, the tourism sector will be one of the first to see tangible outcomes from digital transformation. Visit Vietnam is endorsed by the Government, with the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) and the National Data Association (NDA) serving as coordinating partners. The platform is developed and operated by Sun Group, while Visa contributes international payment data, spending behavior insights and global security standards, enabling the platform to approach the benchmark of smart-tourism nations. A trusted national tourism data infrastructure Visit Vietnam is designed as a unified data backbone for government authorities, businesses and travelers. At its core is a real-time national tourism map that allows authorities to monitor visitor density, manage demand flows and identify operational risks early. The national tourism data platform Visit Vietnam is scheduled for full operation in the second quarter of 2026 (Photo: Sun Group) Parallel to this, the platform serves as a centralised digital marketplace where travel agencies and service providers can present products, update information and reach travelers through an official national channel while actively contributing to and benefiting from the sectors shared data ecosystem. Businesses are supported with smart management tools that allow them to update offerings, track demand by segment, and understand market needs with far greater accuracy. A key advantage of Visit Vietnam comes from Sun Groups extensive network of destinations across the country, a rich source of operational data covering tourism, leisure and hospitality. Once standardized and integrated into Visit Vietnam, this ecosystem forms a living data model that strengthens the platforms forecasting capabilities for the entire industry. Advanced market analytics for businesses At the deeper data layer, Visit Vietnam develops advanced market-insight reports combining real-time operational data with Visas international payment datasets. This enables tourism businesses to identify high-value markets, spending trends, seasonality patterns, and behavioural shifts supporting product optimisation and more effective marketing strategies. For the first time, Vietnamese tourism enterprises have access to a standardized, continuously updated analytical tool to drive growth based on data instead of intuition. AI Travel Assistant a smart digital companion Beyond data infrastructure, Visit Vietnam also functions as an AI-powered travel assistant accompanying travellers throughout their journey. Using national-level data and smart recommendation algorithms, the assistant allows visitors to build personalised itineraries, book services, manage their trip in one interface, access real-time destination updates, and receive crowding, weather or operational alerts, all within a single unified platform. A demo website (Photo: Sun Group) When the data powering the platform is accurate (built on the national data infrastructure), comprehensive (enhanced by payment and behavioral insights from strategic partners such as Visa), clean (standardised, validated and quality-checked), and live (continuously updated in real time), travelers are supported to enjoy an ideal, seamlessly planned journey in Vietnam. Alongside Visa, NCB (National Citizen Bank) plays a strategic role in enhancing payment experiences on Visit Vietnam. At the conference, NCB CEO Ta Kieu Hung presented the banks digital payment solutions under the vision Shifting from transactions to experiences: turning payments into a national competitive advantage in tourism. Among these, iziPay, developed in partnership with NDA and Visa, will be integrated into Visit Vietnam, enabling visitors to book and pay for services instantly within the platform. Sun Group and Visa sign a strategic partnership agreement (Photo: Sun Group) During the conference, Sun Group and Visa signed a strategic partnership agreement, affirming a long-term commitment to combine Visas global technology and analytics capabilities with Sun Groups nationwide tourism ecosystem jointly integrating into the Visit Vietnam platform. The partnership aims to accelerate digital transformation, enhance the travel experience and strengthen Vietnams competitiveness and sustainable tourism growth. Pham Van Thuy, Deputy Director of VNAT (Photo: Sun Group) Pham Van Thuy, Deputy Director of VNAT, stated: Visit Vietnam is not simply a booking tool, it represents a shift in development mindset. It is how we prepare for the future of tourism, a future built on data, technology and AI. With data as the foundation, Vietnams tourism sector will be better positioned to attract high-value markets and move closer to its ambition of becoming a leading destination in the region./.VNA Under the amended PIT Law, recently passed by the National Assembly on December 10, individuals engaged in production and business activities with annual revenue of VND500 million or less are not required to pay PIT. This is also the threshold at which business households are exempt from value-added tax (VAT) and PIT when switching from the lump-sum method to self-declaration, with tax payment from January 1, 2026. Hoa Tue Tam, a grocery shop owner in Bach Mai Ward, Hanoi, said his annual sales revenue is estimated at nearly VND1 billion a year. When the tax-free threshold for business households is raised to VND500 million in 2026, the amount of tax payable will be reduced significantly, helping business households like ours feel more secure in doing business, Tam said. However, he is still worried that once revenue exceeds VND1 billion, business households like his will have to use electronic invoices along with accounting books. How can we comply properly with regulations on documents, accounting books, and issuing electronic invoices when we are not familiar with them and can easily make mistakes? he said. We hope to receive support so that sales can be conducted quickly and efficiently, avoiding errors. If mistakes occur, there will be penalties, which really worries me, he said. Tam expressed hope that state agencies will provide support during the first one to two years so that small business households have time to get used to declaration procedures. If mistakes occur, he hopes they will not be penalized, because grocery households have large capital but very small profits. Le Thi Duyen Hai, Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam Association of Tax Consultants, said that when the National Assembly finalized the taxable revenue threshold for business households at over VND500 million per year from January 1, 2026, business households will know which category they fall into and what tax procedures they must follow. Business households can feel reassured about most current tax regulations. Households with revenue of VND500 million or more will only have to pay VAT at a rate calculated on revenue. The new and beneficial point for business households is that they only have to pay tax on the portion exceeding VND500 million. If they fall under the category required to declare and pay tax, the tax amount will be calculated as a percentage of revenue depending on the business sector, similar to the method currently applied, Hai explained. Regarding electronic invoices, Hai said regulations remain as stipulated in Decree 70, meaning only households with revenue above VND1 billion per year are required to use invoices, while those below VND1 billion may use them voluntarily if they see fit. Pressure reduced but penalties still high Regarding concerns about penalties raised by business households, Hai said that under previous regulations, the behavior of not issuing invoices or issuing them at the wrong time was subject to very heavy penalties, calculated per violating invoice. However, under Decree 310 (effective from January 16, 2026), penalty regulations have been changed in a more progressive way. Authorities will consider it a single violation with aggravating circumstances based on the number of invoices, rather than adding up fines for each invoice as before. Penalty levels remain high, possibly reaching millions or tens of millions of VND, but the new calculation method significantly reduces pressure compared to the past. Meanwhile, lawyer Truong Thanh Duc, Director of Anvi Law Company, said regulations on administrative penalties in the tax field need to be reconsidered. According to him, current penalty levels are high relative to the revenue scale and income of business households. Penalizing late declarations is reasonable, but penalties should be limited to reprimands or warnings of a few tens or hundreds of thousands of VND, rather than fines of millions, which he considers too heavy. At the same time, policies need to be designed carefully to avoid situations where people try to circumvent the law by splitting business household scales among family members names to enjoy lower tax rates. Nguyen Le The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 19 held a conference to review five years of implementing Vietnams plan for the UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). The event was attended by about 100 delegates from ministries and 31 localities, and representatives of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Vietnam. In her opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang stressed that Vietnam has consistently upheld a people-centered approach, considering the protection of migrants security, safety, and lawful rights and interests as a top priority in policy formulation and implementation. Noting that international migration is facing increasingly complex challenges, especially amid unpredictable regional and global developments, cybercrime, online fraud, and the rise of human trafficking for forced criminal activities, the Deputy Minister said that a more adaptive and innovative approach is needed. This should be based on closer inter-agency coordination and deeper international cooperation to reduce migrants vulnerabilities and address migration challenges more effectively. At the conference, participants agreed that the implementation of the GCM action plan has brought about positive changes in promoting safe and regular migration, preventing irregular migration, combating cross-border human trafficking, and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of migrants. Commending Vietnams efforts, the IOM chief of mission suggested that the country consider registering as a champion country for GCM implementation at the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), scheduled to take place in May 2026 in New York. Concluding the conference, Hang thanked ministries, agencies, and localities for their close coordination, as well as UN agencies, international organisations, and stakeholders for their active support in implementing the plan. She highlighted several priorities for continued close cooperation in the time ahead, including improving policies and legislation to meet new-phase requirements; completing the development of a migration database; enhancing the quality of international cooperation; protecting the lawful rights and interests of vulnerable groups; preventing irregular migration and cross-border human trafficking; and strengthening timely information sharing with relevant countries to better protect citizens. Within the framework of the conference, leaders of the ministry presented the foreign ministers certificates of merit to collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements in implementing the GCM action plan during the 2020-2025 period./. VNA Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang and US Acting Assistant Secretary of State Fleet White co-chaired the 14th Vietnam - US Political - Security - Defence Dialogue in Washington, D.C. on December 18. The annual mechanism aims to review and set orientations for political, security, and defence cooperation, enhance mutual understanding, build trust, and drive the stable and substantive development of Vietnam - US relations. Both sides reflected on the state of bilateral relations after 30 years of diplomatic ties and two years since elevating to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, noting sustained positive progress. Vietnam reaffirmed its view of the US as one of the leading strategic partners and welcomed increased US cooperation and contributions to regional peace, stability and development. The US side described the Vietnam-US ties over the past three decades as a model in international relations, evolving from former adversaries to comprehensive strategic partners. The host reiterated its desire to further boost mutually beneficial cooperation based on respect for Vietnams independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political system, while expressing support for an independent, strong, prosperous, and resilient Vietnam. The two sides highlighted key recent achievements, including sustained all-level exchanges and contacts, especially at senior and ministerial levels; enhanced law enforcement collaboration, efforts against transnational crime, responses to non-traditional security challenges, and the effective rollout of projects to remedy war consequences and search for US servicemen missing in action (MIA). The US side thanked Vietnam for its active MIA cooperation and reaffirmed its commitment to expanding dioxin remediation and unexploded ordnance clearance projects, alongside stepping up new initiatives to support information collection and DNA identification technologies for missing Vietnamese soldiers. The co-chairs commended current bilateral political, defence and security mechanisms as vital platforms for information sharing, difference management and advancing practical, sustainable cooperation on issues of shared concerns. Building on the achieved outcomes, they agreed to further deepen cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework and gradually expand cooperation into promising areas such as defence industry, capacity building for maritime law enforcement, specialised coordination in crime prevention, and high-technology controls. On global and regional security issues, they underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight; refraining from the use of force or threat to use force, and settling disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Both sides reaffirmed the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the regional architecture. Concluding the event, the two sides agreed to further maintain and uphold the dialogues effectiveness; step up the exchange of all-level delegations and consultations, especially at high levels; and effectively roll out the agreed cooperation areas, thereby contributing to advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the practical benefit of both peoples, and for global and regional peace, stability, and development. On the occasion, Giang met with President of the International Republican Institute Daniel Twining, representatives of the National Democratic Institute, and Co-Chairs of the Communist Party USA Joe Sims and Rossana Cambron to brief them on preparations for the 14th National Party Congress and discuss orientations for future party-to-party cooperation. The delegation also engaged several US organisations, businesses, and scholars to share views on bilateral, global and regional issues of common interest./.VNA New plan aims to remove barriers for disabled people in Wales The Welsh Government has published its Disabled Peoples Rights Plan, a 10-year commitment to ensuring disabled people can take part fully and equally in every part of life in Wales. The plan sets out practical actions and long-term goals to tackle barriers in employment, transport, education, healthcare, housing, independent living, digital access, and public services. Developed with the input of people with lived experience through the Disability Rights Taskforce, the plan responds to real challenges disabled people face in daily life. Following a public consultation, new areas were added, including Parents and Unpaid Carers, Digital Inclusion, and Climate Change. A framework has been created to track progress and measure impact. The Welsh Governments Disability Disparity Evidence Unit will monitor delivery, while an External Advisory Board, led by disabled people, will provide independent advice and guidance. The plan also includes measures to improve employment opportunities. David Chaffey, Disability Inclusion Officer for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said: My own lived experience has provided first-hand insight into the barriers disabled people can face when accessing services. Im proud to work for an organisation that believes inclusion is about creating the right environment for everyone to succeed, and the support and adjustments Ive received have enabled me to thrive in my role and contribute to making our workplace more accessible for others. I very much welcome the Disabled Peoples Rights Plan. A clear national commitment to equality and inclusion is essential: it sets expectations, drives accountability, and sends a powerful message about the value of disabled peoples contributions in all areas of life. The Welsh Government will promote available support through its Claim Whats Yours campaign in January, including a 100 cost-of-living payment for people on the Council Tax Disabled Band Reduction Scheme who also receive Council Tax Reduction. Professor Debbie Foster, Co-chair of the Disability Rights Taskforce, said: This Plan is the culmination of five years work. It began in 2020 with the groundbreaking Locked-Out report, which I authored and co-produced with disabled people during the pandemic. Its hard-hitting recommendations prompted the Welsh Government to establish a Disability Rights Taskforce. This novel initiative put disabled peoples voices and lived experience at the centre of the policy debate. As Taskforce co-chair, nominated by disabled people, I am extremely proud of what we collectively achieved. The Plan takes this foundational work forward over the next 10 years and I look forward to continuing to play a part in this. What disabled people in Wales now need is a public cross-party declaration of their commitment to this Plan and the resources needed to implement it. Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, added: We are committed to ensuring that disabled people can participate in Welsh society on an equitable basis, free from barriers, and to creating an inclusive and accessible environment for all. This 10-year plan represents our commitment to true inclusion and participation. I thank the Disability Rights Taskforce and everyone who contributed to the consultation, ensuring the plan is grounded in lived experience. We must now all work together to make sure the plan succeeds and that the values of accessibility, inclusion, and co-production are central in all that we do. Pendine Park celebrates 40th anniversary with festive hampers for staff Hundreds of care home staff have been given festive hampers as part of the organisations 40th joint Christmas and anniversary celebrations. Pendine Park opened just before Christmas in 1985 when the couple launched Gwern Alyn care home in Wrexham with just 10 staff and 14 residents. Four decades on, the organisation has grown into a major provider with nine homes in Wrexham and Caernarfon, 440 beds and more than 860 employees. Founders Mario Kreft MBE and his wife, Gill, recently joined staff and residents for a joint Christmas and anniversary celebration, where more than 800 workers received a hamper as a gesture of gratitude from the couple. They said that the December day 40 years ago when they opened the doors to their first care home would be forever etched in their memory. The last 40 years have been mostly joy, and its been about really getting to know people and their families, said Gill. But of course it is tinged with some sadness, the pandemic was very difficult for us, the staff and the families. The contribution of the staff has been monumental, genuinely unbelievable, and we are humbled every single day by the work they do. Our staff are extraordinary, weve probably had nearly 6,000 staff in those 40 years and nearly 6,000 residents, its incredible really, added Mario. Among those congratulating Gill and Mario on reaching the 40th anniversary was Wrexhams Member of the Senedd, Lesley Griffiths MS. She said: Marking 40 years is an outstanding achievement and I warmly congratulate Mario, Gill and everyone at Pendine Park. Their inspiring story is one of vision, compassion and hard work, and the impact they have had on social care in Wrexham and beyond is immense. For four decades Pendine has provided specialist support that genuinely enhances peoples lives, ensuring dignity, comfort and opportunity for every resident. Im delighted to celebrate this milestone with them. Clwyd South MS Ken Skates, who is also the Welsh Governments Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, also passed on his congratulations. He said: For 40 years Pendine Park has raised the bar and set the standard for social care in Wales, and that success reflects Mario and Gills unwavering commitment and forward-thinking approach. Pendine has not only delivered exceptional care but has also been a major local employer, offering secure and meaningful work to generations of staff. They truly are an extraordinary couple whose contribution to our region cannot be overstated. Mario and his then fiancee Gill decided to open a care home because they both had elderly grandparents and were unable to find anywhere that met their own high standards. They bought and converted Gwern Alyn, a red brick Victorian villa, and got married in a marquee in the grounds, with all the residents and staff invited to the celebration. In 1989 they bought a 12-acre site on Summerhill Road on the outskirts of Wrexham and have now opened fire care homes there. They also bought Hillbury House, next door to Gwern Alyn, which was already a care home being run by the Sisters of Nazareth. Expanding further, they opened a state-of-the-art care home, Bryn Seiont Newydd, in Caernarfon in 2015. Cindy Clutton, who manages Gwern Alyn and Hillbury and has worked for Pendine for 25 years, said it was a privilege to play a role in the success of the organisation. She said: I think the journey has been amazing, and we are all proud to play a part in the story. Its important to celebrate occasions such as the 40th anniversary because we are so proud of Gill and Mario and what they have done, not just for Pendine but for the care sector as a whole. They are totally committed and that flows down to our staff who are passionate about care and are extraordinary people. Gwern Alyn resident Beryl Fowler presented flowers to Gill to mark the 40th anniversary. Beryl said: I was so pleased to be able to present the flowers to Gill because we are so proud of this remarkable couple. They are exceptional and the staff here are wonderful, they are so loyal and caring. According to Mario, it was important for staff and residents to mark the 40th anniversary and their contribution to the success of the company and said providing more than 860 Christmas hampers to the staff was a token of appreciation for all their hard work He said: Our anniversary parties this year have been combined with our Christmas parties we like to party at Pendine. We have done the hampers for many years. We have three local suppliers for the products in the hampers Majestic Wine, Village Bakery and Gerrards Bakery and they make a lovely hamper for the staff and its gone down incredibly well. UK Government accused of contempt in heated Senedd debate The UK Government has been accused of ditching Pride in Place for a know-your-place attitude and treating Wales with contempt in a fiery Senedd debate. Rhun ap Iorwerth led the criticism, warning the will of the electorate has been flagrantly ignored by at best inertia and at worst a concerted attempt by UK ministers. The Plaid Cymru leader pointed out that more than a third of Labour Senedd members sent a letter to Keir Starmer, accusing the prime minister of rolling back devolution. The letter, which was signed by 11 backbenchers, described a decision to impose policy on Wales as ranging from deeply insensitive to a constitutional outrage. Their attack on Sir Keirs government was prompted by the Pride in Place scheme which gives money to Welsh councils for town centre improvements a wholly devolved area. Contemptuous Calling for Wales to be treated equally, they wrote: Why is the UK Government directly funding Welsh councils to fix bus shelters, reopen park toilets and provide bins? Leading the Plaid Cymru debate, Mr ap Iorwerth criticised the contemptuous attitude of successive governments in Westminster whether red or blue. He accused Jo Stevens, the Welsh secretary, of failing to stand up for Wales around the UK cabinet table and campaigning against Labour policy on devolving the crown estate. Mr ap Iorwerth told the Senedd: And now we learn the UK Government is bypassing devolution altogether with its Pride in Place funding. He warned: It appears as if the much vaunted respect agenda between the Welsh and UK Governments only works one way: Westminster will do as it wants, Wales will do as its told. Extreme agenda James Evans, for the Conservatives, described arguments about the devolution settlement as tiring and distracting from challenges faced by the people of Wales. He said: While politicians in this chamber argue over powers, structures and the constitution, hard-working people across Wales are asking a fair and simple question: what has the devolution of powers here actually delivered for me? After more than two decades of devolution, the Welsh Government already has extensive powers; the problem is not a lack of powers, the problem is a lack of results. Mr Evans warned people are losing faith in devolution due to a tired Labour government, propped up by Plaid Cymru pushing their left-wing, extreme socialist agenda. He argued: There is nothing wrong with money going directly to those who can do the most, local authorities know their communities far better than ministers in Cathays Park. Know your place Labours Mike Hedges described Plaid Cymru policy as one of salami-slicing to independence by demanding powers until theres nothing left to devolve. Mr Hedges, who was among the letters signatories, pointed to Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that Wales is a net beneficiary of the union to the tune of 12bn to 15bn a year. Adam Price, the ex-Plaid Cymru leader, said: In July 2024, a Labour UK Government came into office promising change but, as far as devolution is concerned, weve had the opposite. He told the chamber Welsh ministers were unable to point to a single example of new powers having been transferred to the Senedd by the UK Government. Mr Price pointed out that the Tory UK Government devolved powers over energy, rail, and income tax whereas Labour has delivered no new powers at all. He said: Its not Pride in Place, its know your place as far as democracy is concerned. Tortuous Alun Davies, a former minister who put his name to the letter, warned a report on devolution by former PM Gordon Brown has been gathering dust. Its a tragedy for the Labour party, he said, adding: It is not fair that Wales is treated the way it is. Jane Dodds, the Liberal Democrats leader in Wales, backed the Labour backbenchers as she criticised the non-devolution of the crown estate, policing and criminal justice. Responding to tonights (December 17) debate, Huw Irranca-Davies pointed to slow and steady progress on devolution over decades tortuous as it has sometimes been. The deputy first minister, whose responsibilities include constitutional affairs, stressed Welsh Labour was taking forward devolution of water regulation, youth justice and probation. We continue to be the government and the party of devolution, he said. In the final voting time before the Christmas break, Senedd members rejected the Plaid Cymru motion 37-13 before passing the Welsh Governments amended version. Mr ap Iorwerth accused Labour backbenchers of capitulating and being whipped into line. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter UPDATE 12/12/25: Friends in Service Helping (F.I.S.H.) is asking the public for donations to help those affected by the apartment fire in the Gardnerville Ranchos area. They are accepting food, toiletries, clothing, and monetary donations. Used beds, bedding, large furniture, and used undergarments are not accepted at this location. You can bring all donations to the FISH Thrift Store located at 1561 U.S. 395 North in Minden, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Anyone being impacted by the fire can go to the FISH store on December 20th until 3 p.m. to pick up clothing and supplies for the weekend. FISH may ask for ID to ensure assistance is provided to those directly impacted. You can also take donations to the Douglas County Community & Senior Center until FISH reopens on Monday. Gift cards can also be donated at the Douglas County Community Center to assist those impacted by the fire. 7 P.M. UPDATE: Residents in the Pollen Court area who were forced to evacuate due to an apartment complex fire in the Gardnerville Ranchos area late Friday morning can now return to their homes. People are advised to use caution as fire crews and equipment are still operating in the area, according to a post from Douglas County on Facebook. Some homes in the area may remain without power for the time being. ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Multiple people in the Gardnerville Ranchos area are without a home after a fire spread through an apartment complex due to the heavy winds. It broke out along Pit Road near Tillman Lane around 11:30 a.m. Pollen Court and Pit Road are closed. Kimmerling Road is closed at Bing Road. Tillman Lane closed at Kimmerling Loop South and Wheeler Way. The East Fork Fire chief tells 2 News Nevada that about 10 units are damaged, and that people in 15-20 units are displaced due to smoke. The Red Cross has set up a temporary evacuation center set up at the Douglas County Community & Senior Center (1329 Waterloo Lane in Gardnerville). Volunteers will initially provide snacks and blankets to evacuees while additional needs are assessed. Residents can also call 1-800-RED-CROSS for assistance. Please do not bring evacuated animals to the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Douglas County Animal Services has established an animal evacuation trailer at the Douglas County Community & Senior Center for house pets. Some community members who live nearby, saw the flames up close. "Collectively, we ran over to where the fire was starting and saw that it was there. There was a tree that was blazing, and we didn't know what it was, but we just started knocking on all the doors, making sure that everybody was out of those units," said Mike Jarrett, who lives in the complex next to where the fire was. "We went around and evacuated all our tenants and said, you know, we need to be safe. We need to get everybody out of here and everybody cooperated." English News Digital technology revitalizes Jingdezhen's ancient porcelain tradition Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 18 Decembre 2025 In recent years, the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Institute has introduced three innovative restoration techniques: 3D-printed pattern infill, transparent material infill, and porcelain-to-porcelain restoration. These methods aim for meticulous, craft-level excellence, ensuring that historical ceramic artifacts are restored to their former glory. By Wang Dan, People's Daily Imagine creating a unique piece of pottery without any prior experience in ceramics. What is the solution? Today, a ceramic 3D printer can bring your creative vision to life. At a ceramic 3D printing experience center in the Taoxichuan cultural and creative block in Jingdezhen, east China's Jiangxi province, digital files are used to layer clay, crafting intricate porcelain objects. Jingdezhen, recognized globally as China's porcelain capital, is witnessing a revitalization of its traditional ceramics industry, propelled by the seamless integration of digital technology. The shift from conventional manufacturing to smart manufacturing, where age-old techniques meet modern advancements, allows Jingdezhen ceramics to preserve the warmth of its historic kilns while embracing a future that is intelligent and personalized. "Jingdezhen porcelain is famous worldwide, but it's largely the work of master artisans. Would this place really embrace new technology?" This question led American ceramic artist Michael May to Jingdezhen over a year ago. After traveling to more than 20 countries, he decided to settle here, drawn by the city's potential to merge tradition with technology. In May's studio at the Taoxichuan cultural and creative block, visitors are greeted by a towering ceramic jar, its surface adorned with petal-like impressions made by 3D-printed stamps. The piece exudes a luminous, flowing quality. May's work is a testament to the harmonious integration of modern technology with traditional ceramic art. "First, you translate the design into a digital drawing, then upload it into a program, which feeds it into the 3D printer," May explained. Previously, creating unconventional ceramic shapes was constrained by time-consuming and labor-intensive methods, often yielding unsatisfactory results. However, 3D printing has expanded the boundaries of possibility, vastly enhancing both creativity and efficiency. Today, May not only creates art in Jingdezhen but also teaches courses that use new technologies to redefine ceramic art. "I initially thought Jingdezhen might resist new technology," May said. "But I was surprised to find 3D printing factories everywhere, even in rural villages where you can rent equipment." The city's openness and inclusiveness ultimately convinced him to remain and continue exploring new creative horizons. At the showroom of Micro Ceramic Technology (Jiangxi) Co., Ltd., also known as Cerawei, located in Jingdezhen's Changnan New Area, rows of uniquely shaped ceramic products created via 3D printing are neatly displayed. "3D printing enables designers to quickly transform ideas into physical products. It's a critical bridge between concept and realization," said Huang Wancheng, the company's general manager. "Some designs are too complex for traditional handcrafting, but 3D printing allows us to bring them to life. Our printing technology can maintain dimensional accuracy within 0.2 millimeters," Huang added. While enabling personalization, 3D printing is also driving the ceramic industry toward standardized production. "In the past, it might have taken 30 days to move from design to mass production," Huang noted. "Now, 3D printing has shortened that cycle to around three days." Advancements are also evident in materials. Jingdezhen Lanyinzi Ceramics Co., Ltd., a high-tech enterprise in the Jingdezhen High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, combines intangible cultural heritage with modern materials. "We've created a 'digital glaze color database' containing more than 300 traditional glaze formulas," explained Zhao Lei, the company's general manager. "Through an intelligent proportioning system, we've raised color replication accuracy to 99 percent. This has transformed ceramic color matching from a skill based on experience to a standardized and precise process." By refining traditional glazes, the company has increased the thermal stability of high-temperature monochrome glazes by 40 percent. With more than 60 design patents, a 12,500-square-meter smart manufacturing base, and an annual production capacity of 1.2 million pieces, Jingdezhen's ceramics industry continues to thrive. In 2024, Jingdezhen's advanced ceramics industry generated an output value of 25.32 billion yuan ($3.59 billion), marking a 111.16 percent year-on-year increase, and driving the total ceramic industry output to surpass 90 billion yuan for the first time. Digital technology is also playing a crucial role in preserving Jingdezhen's ceramic cultural heritage, supporting research, revitalization, utilization, and collection across a wide range of contexts. "These samples were all chosen from ceramic shards unearthed during archaeological excavations," said Tong Yuting, a researcher at the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Institute. "We first document the archaeological information and create 'gene samples,' extracting core data such as shape and decoration, along with extended information from museum collections, historical records, and academic research, to build a comprehensive database." In recent years, the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Institute has introduced three innovative restoration techniques: 3D-printed pattern infill, transparent material infill, and porcelain-to-porcelain restoration. These methods aim for meticulous, craft-level excellence, ensuring that historical ceramic artifacts are restored to their former glory. Wu Lang, president of the Jingdezhen Ceramic Research Institute, noted that the deep integration of digital technology not only enhances the preservation of traditional ceramic techniques but also injects new energy into the inheritance and innovation of this ancient cultural heritage, allowing the millennium-old ceramic tradition to shine anew. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Reading China's modernization through 50,000 kilometers of high-speed rail New landscape of opening up reflected in world's first port to handle 1.4 billion tons 'Food banks' mirror China's new approaches to food conservation Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News Guangzhou's transformation reflects China's commitment to high-quality development Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 16 Decembre 2025 Looking ahead to the "15th Five-Year Plan" period (2026-2030), China is set to further harness scientific and technological innovation as a key driver of development, energize its economy through the new development paradigm, and consolidate strength through coordinated regional strategies. The momentum behind high-quality development continues to gather force. By People's Daily reporters Cities serve as vital engines of modernization and provide a compelling lens for understanding the trajectory of Chinese modernization. Two recent developments in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province, exemplify this transformation. In the first ten months of 2025, Guangzhous total import and export volume surpassed 1 trillion yuan (approximately $141.55 billion), setting a record for the period. Simultaneously, a Nature Index supplement ranked Guangzhou sixth among the worlds top ten science cities, ahead of the San Francisco Bay Area. In the first 10 months of this year, the city's total import and export value exceeded 1 trillion yuan ($141.55 billion), hitting a record high for the same period. Around the same time, the newly released "Nature Index 2025 Science Cities" supplement ranked Guangzhou sixth among the world's leading 10 science cities, surpassing the San Francisco Bay Area in the United States. From an ancient trading hub to an emerging center for scientific innovation, Guangzhou's transformation reflects China's growing confidence and momentum in driving high-quality development. Scientific and technological innovation, as the core driver for developing new quality productive forces, is increasingly becoming the principal engine of growth. Cities with robust innovation capabilities and dynamic ecosystems, such as Guangzhou, are at the forefront of this shift. The city's achievements in marine science offer a vivid example. For the 15th National Games, the ceremonial flame was ignited using natural gas hydrates, or "combustible ice," extracted from the deep sea. This was made possible through collaboration among research institutes, universities, and enterprises. The Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey provided critical deep-sea engineering expertise; companies developed high-efficiency solar tracking systems; and China's largest scientific research vessel, the Meng Xiang, meaning "Dream" in Chinese, delivered the remarkable feat of extracting and utilizing marine energy. Guangzhou is forging a path where innovation and industrial development are mutually reinforcing. From Nansha Science City to the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City, a strategic innovation corridor now links 30 percent of the city's universities and research institutes, 51 percent of its high-tech enterprises, and 74 percent of its unicorn companies, forming a powerful engine for future growth. Major breakthroughs often involve extended timeframes, significant risk, and considerable complexity. Therefore, aligning a well-functioning market with a proactive government is crucial. Guangzhou continues to enhance its foundational innovation systems to build a resilient innovation ecosystem. Entrepreneurial success stories underscore this environment. He Xiaopeng, chairman of Chinese automaker Xpeng Motors, recalls receiving vital support from Guangzhou's Tianhe district during his first startup. When launching XPeng, he again chose Guangzhou, where the company has grown into a leading player in China's new energy vehicle industry. In the first 10 months of this year, the number of newly registered businesses in emerging fields such as low-altitude economy, aerospace, future networks and quantum technologies, deep-sea and deep-space exploration, and intelligent unmanned systems, all grew by more than 100 percent. The rapid rise of emerging and future-oriented industries affirms the strength of Guangzhou's innovation ecosystem and industrial potential. Openness and mutually beneficial is foundational to Chinese modernization. Guangzhou is enhancing institutional innovation to foster high-level opening up. In Nansha district of the city, the newly launched "Offshore Link" service platform and a supporting "white list" mechanism are streamlining cross-border financial transactions for key enterprises. Since the establishment of the Nansha Area of the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, 45 of its institutional innovations have been replicated nationwide, reinforcing its status as a reform testbed. At the same time, Guangzhou is deepening supply chain collaboration. Guangzhou-based automaker GAC Group is expanding into Western Europe with its intelligent cockpit technologies, while Guangzhou refrigerator manufacturer Wanbao is equipping refrigerators bound for Africa with battery backups to address power outages. In the first 10 months of this year, Guangzhou's trade with the EU and ASEAN grew by 23.9 percent and 31.1 percent respectively, while trade with Belt and Road partner countries and BRICS members both increased by over 20 percent. Diversifying markets has unleashed new momentum for Guangzhou's foreign trade. Across China, inland provinces are gaining unprecedented access to global markets: the Yangtze River's "Golden Waterway" has provided Jiangxi province in eastern China with a vital maritime route, while the China-Europe freight train service has transformed Shaanxi province from a landlocked hinterland into a new frontier of opening up. As China builds a unified national market, institutional barriers are being dismantled, and logistical bottlenecks are being steadily overcome. Geographic limitations no longer define a city's potential -- each can enhance its competitive advantages and drive growth by expanding opening up. This dynamic underpins the stability of China's economic fundamentals, the persistence of its growth momentum, and the enduring resilience of its economy. This transformation reflects a broader structural shift: major cities and urban clusters are emerging as the primary spatial engines of China's development. This year, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster ranked first globally in the Global Innovation Index 2025 report released by the World Intellectual Property Organization. With strong physical, institutional, and people-to-people connectivity, the three cities do not operate in isolation but as part of an integrated and collaborative innovation ecosystem. A modern metropolitan cluster is rapidly taking shape in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Looking ahead to the "15th Five-Year Plan" period (2026-2030), China is set to further harness scientific and technological innovation as a key driver of development, energize its economy through the new development paradigm, and consolidate strength through coordinated regional strategies. The momentum behind high-quality development continues to gather force. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Reading China's modernization through 50,000 kilometers of high-speed rail New landscape of opening up reflected in world's first port to handle 1.4 billion tons 'Food banks' mirror China's new approaches to food conservation Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News Preventing the resurgence of Japanese militarism: a shared commitment to upholding justice Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 16 Decembre 2025 Today, China is embarking on a new journey toward the full realization of a great modern socialist country, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable. China remains firmly committed to the path of peaceful development and will always be a force for peace, stability, and progress in the world. In collaboration with peace-loving countries and peoples, China will work to thwart any attempts to resurrect militarism or fascism, protect the outcomes of World War II and the postwar international order, and make greater contributions to the noble cause of peace and development for humanity. By Zhong Sheng, People's Daily On Dec. 13, a national memorial ceremony was held to honor the victims of the Nanjing Massacre. During this solemn occasion, eighty-eight youth representatives read a peace declaration, reaffirming their commitment to remembering history and safeguarding peace. On the same day, China's Central Archives released a batch of declassified archives transferred from Russia, including Soviet interrogation records of members of Japan's Unit 731 during World War II. These newly available records shed light on the dark history of Japanese militarism, particularly the atrocities committed against the Chinese people during the war. Among these, the Nanjing Massacre and the inhumane use of bacterial warfare stand as some of the most egregious crimes in human history. The newly released files reveal the involvement of more than 200 individuals in the crimes committed by Unit 731, including 12 war criminals who publicly confessed to violating international conventions and conducting bacterial warfare. These documents not only corroborate the existing records at the Unit 731 site in China but also reinforce the historical truth with undeniable evidence, further exposing Japan's bacterial warfare efforts as a premeditated, state-sponsored crime. The international community has long rendered a just verdict on the aggressive acts of Japanese militarism. Legal frameworks established through instruments such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation established the basic principles of the postwar international order, explicitly stipulating provisions against aggression, the punishment of war criminals, and the elimination of militarism. Furthermore, both the International Military Tribunal for the Far East and the Nanjing War Crimes Tribunal delivered definitive legal findings on the Nanjing Massacre, cementing Japan's militarism as a historical stain -- an assessment that will not change with the passage of time. However, Japan has yet to offer a genuine reckoning of its historical accountability. Right-wing forces in the country have continuously sought to overturn the historical verdicts, and recent developments indicate growing signs of militarism's revival. Since taking office, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has launched serious provocations on the Taiwan question -- an issue central to the postwar international order -- while seeking to revise the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, relax restrictions on arms exports, and escalate defense spending. These moves signal a troubling shift toward militarism, undermining the outcomes of World War II and challenging the postwar international order, demanding heightened vigilance from the international community. To forget history is to betray it; to deny responsibility is to invite its repetition. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, and upholding historical justice while preventing the resurgence of Japanese militarism represents a shared imperative of all forces in the international community committed to global justice. Encouragingly, we are witnessing increasing international solidarity in safeguarding historical memory. For instance, Russia transferred vital historical archives to China, while young French citizens have donated photographs revealing the destruction wrought by Japanese bombings of Shanghai and the atrocities committed against civilians during World War II. Additionally, Japanese scholars have provided color scans of personnel records from the Japanese Imperial Army's germ-warfare Unit 8604, which carried out bacterial warfare in South China. These contributions are heartening, as more countries and individuals join the efforts to defend historical truth and uphold human justice. "There is nothing shameful about acknowledging history; the true shame lies in pretending it never happened." "Avoiding historical truth keeps us forever trapped in the shadow of militarism." Japanese right-wing politicians must heed these voices of conscience, reflect deeply on their history of aggression, confront the harmful legacy of militarism, and pursue a path of peaceful development that fosters trust with Asian neighbors and the international community. The establishment of the National Memorial Day for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre and the act of revisiting the Chinese nation's painful historical memories are not intended to perpetuate hatred, but to learn from the past and open up a better future. Today, China is embarking on a new journey toward the full realization of a great modern socialist country, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable. China remains firmly committed to the path of peaceful development and will always be a force for peace, stability, and progress in the world. In collaboration with peace-loving countries and peoples, China will work to thwart any attempts to resurrect militarism or fascism, protect the outcomes of World War II and the postwar international order, and make greater contributions to the noble cause of peace and development for humanity. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) Dans la meme rubrique : < > Reading China's modernization through 50,000 kilometers of high-speed rail New landscape of opening up reflected in world's first port to handle 1.4 billion tons 'Food banks' mirror China's new approaches to food conservation Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) In the chilling silence of the Mashhad Intelligence Department, the sound of a telephone ringing is a rare bridge to the outside world. On the night of December 14, 2025, that bridge materialized for the family of Alieh Motalebzadeh. The call was short, the speakerphone was on, and a security agent stood over her, monitoring every syllable. Advertisement Through the crackle of the line, Motalebzadeh, a renowned journalist and womens rights activist, delivered a message that was less a greeting and more a desperate medical bulletin. She had been beaten during her arrest. She was being held in a facility run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Most critically, she was a breast cancer survivor being denied the life-saving medications required to keep her illness in remission. Motalebzadeh is just one of at least 39 individuals swept up in a violent crackdown on December 12, 2025. Their crime was attending a memorial service for Khosro Alikordi, a human rights lawyer who recently died under suspicious circumstances. But as the gates of Vakilabad Prison and the Soroush Detention Center closed behind them, the narrative shifted from a story of political protest to a race against biological time. Advertisement Among the detainees is Narges Mohammadi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate whose name has become synonymous with the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. Her arrest was not a standard procedure; it was an assault. According to her family, Mohammadi was struck repeatedly on the head and neck with batons by plainclothes agents. The violence was so severe that she had to be rushed to an emergency room twice within the first 72 hours of her disappearance. During the assault, agents reportedly whispered a chilling psychological blow: We will put your mother into mourning. In the vocabulary of the Iranian security apparatus, this is not just an insult; it is a direct death threat. Advertisement Mohammadi now faces charges of cooperating with Israel a capital offense often used to justify the physical elimination of high-profile dissidents. For a woman already suffering from heart complications exacerbated by years of intermittent incarceration, the combination of physical trauma and the denial of specialized care transforms her detention into a slow-motion execution. The cruelty of the Mashhad crackdown is perhaps most visible in the cases of Alieh Motalebzadeh and Pouran Nazemi. Their stories highlight a recurring tactic of the Iranian state: the use of medical neglect as a form of torture. Advertisement Motalebzadehs daughter has taken to social media to broadcast her mothers plight, noting that after three days of enforced disappearance, her mother appeared physically broken. The assembly and collusion charges leveled against her ignore the reality that her primary struggle is no longer political; it is the battle to access the chemotherapy and radiotherapy follow-up care that keeps her alive. Similarly, the sister of activist Pouran Nazemi has issued a frantic warning. Nazemi suffers from severe kidney and liver disease. During a previous stint in prison, she suffered a cardiac arrest after being administered medication she was known to be allergic to. Today, she sits in a cell without access to her specialized prescriptions. The responsibility for the health and life of my sister lies with the mercenaries of the Islamic Republic, her sister wrote in a statement that has echoed across Iranian digital networks. Advertisement Because the Iranian state-controlled media remain silent on the conditions of these women, the truth has emerged through the digital resistance of their children and siblings. On Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), families are posting updates that often disappear after 24 hours due to platform settings or state-pressured deletions. Marzieh Adinehzadeh, whose 17-year-old brother was killed in the 2022 protests, now posts about her father, Ali Adinehzadeh, who was also arrested at the memorial. He suffers from heart disease and has been prohibited from making calls. These families are not just mourning the dead; they are fighting to prevent the list of martyrs from growing. They represent a network of grief that the state is desperately trying to dismantle by targeting everyone from Nobel winners to grieving fathers. Advertisement The walls of Irans prisons are porous when it comes to courage. As news of the Mashhad arrests reached the womens ward of Evin Prison in Tehran, political prisoner Sakineh Parvaneh announced a hunger strike. In a letter smuggled out of the prison, she noted the bitter irony: The state claims to honor the families of martyrs, yet they arrested Javad Alikordi the brother of the slain lawyer while he was still in mourning. From Qezel Hesar Prison, activist Ahmadreza Haeri also raised his voice, condemning the thugs who attacked Alieh Motalebzadeh. The voice of truth will not be drowned out by the barking of your unleashed dogs, he wrote. This cross-prison solidarity underscores that the detainees in Mashhad are not alone, even if they are in solitary confinement. The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has called on the U.N. high commissioner for human rights and the international community to demand the immediate release of these 39 individuals. The charges propaganda against the state and disturbing public opinion are the standard tools of a regime that views a funeral as a threat to national security. However, for the women left in the dark in Mashhad, the legal terminology matters less than the arrival of a pharmacy bag or a doctor. As every hour passes without medication for Motalebzadeh or Nazemi, and as Narges Mohammadi remains in an undisclosed location following a head injury, the international communitys silence becomes a form of complicity. In the struggle for human rights in Iran, the human is often lost in the rights. But for the families waiting by the phone for a monitored call, the issue is simple: They want their mothers and sisters to come home before their bodies give out under the weight of a state that fears their grief more than their words. Image: Ninara via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. A recent survey of American Christian clergy found that a surprising percentage are Democrats compared to laity populations that are much more Republican. This ideological distortion is consistent with larger national patterns that imply the moral superiority of leaving the Republican party with a higher education -- including a theological regimen of study. A popular elite narrative during the Christmas season is for churches to set up nativity scenes aiming at demonizing ICE agents and the larger political agenda of immigration enforcement. Advertisement Immigration Customs and Enforcement is an important component of law enforcement in the United States. This agency disrupts a range of violent global agendas including drug and human trafficking. Both criminal agendas are worth billions of dollars to international cartels. These agendas kill hundreds of thousands of Americans and enslave tens of thousands of people in the form of human trafficking. Since 2020, nearly half a million Americans have died from drug overdoses. In 2025, increased anti-drug enforcement has reduced the death toll by more than 25%. Saving tens of thousands of lives through law enforcement would, in a life-loving polity, be a point of celebration and not demonization. Despite the abhorrent nature of human slavery, the American elites lament that there are not enough people being paid low wages in the U.S. to perform tasks such as crop gathering and building construction. Even though Americans -- and especially Republicans -- sacrificed tens of thousands of lives trying to stop human slavery, the rhetorical demonization of ICE is increasingly popular. In the popular telling of our elite, ICE agents are cruel, heartless figures who want to violently attack innocent children and women. These narratives ignore and refuse to acknowledge the victims of criminal aliens within the United States. An illegal immigration wave that brought millions of largely unknown individuals into the United States is refigured as unassailable Christian charity and compassion. The demonization of law enforcement by our Jacobin elite is not a new rhetorical theme. But the amplification by church leadership is somewhat novel. Putting baby Jesus in zip ties places the Christmas story as a polemic against the Trump administration and its immigration law enforcement. Here in Dallas and elsewhere, individuals have been motivated by these narratives to attempt to kill ICE agents. Despite the virtues signaled by many Christian pastors across the United States, the demonization of law enforcement is not consistent with the teaching and praxis of Jesus. In fact, Mary and Joseph conformed to difficult imperial mandates compelling them to move and register in the hometown of Joseph. Herod is the dark evil figure of the Christmas story, and the elite theology of American Jacobins cast ICE agents as his evil enforcers. But Jesus did not demonize the Roman soldiers that dominated the legal landscape of Judea. In fact, an arguable cause to his ultimate demise was to publicly praise a Roman soldier as having the greatest faith in all of Israel. This certainly did not sit well rhetorically with an elite itching to throw off the Roman Empire. Paul in the book of Romans told Christians, many of whom were compelled to perform as human fodder in stadiums -- that all governance is installed by God. Paul urged Christians to accept the authority of the state as a necessary vehicle for the larger cause of Gods justice. As Jesus was brutalized by Roman soldiers who whipped him, mocked him and crucified him, he did not return the brutality with criticism or rejection. The harsh terms of criticism wielded by Jesus were reserved for those elites who made a habit of publicly posing as self-righteous. When Jesus disciples raised a sword to cut off the ear of elite law enforcement, Jesus rebuked them, healed the victim and told all his disciples that his kingdom would not come by a sword. Advertisement In the same way that they rallied the public toward violence against police in the summer of 2020, our elites seek to rally the public toward violence against ICE officers. This is plainly unethical and in contradiction to the kingdom Jesus came to announce. It is possible to be compassionate toward both immigrants and ICE agents. These Christian churches turning nativity scenes into polemics against ICE know better and they know that Jesus is not the height of their affections. It is also rhetorically fascinating that these churches are not challenged as Christian nationalists. Their intertwined political and partisan convictions mixed with Christianity are welcomed by a stalwart set of journalists and academic arbiters into the American public sphere. Christmas and its incredibly compelling story about the birth of Jesus should lead us all into the rhetorical posture of the wise men from the East. They had to exercise the rhetorical discernment to understand the political winds blowing in the foreign land of Judea. They recognized that Herod did not truly want to worship Jesus. They did not lead an overthrow of Herod. They directed their minds to a celebration of the truth and not a self-absorbed view of their own power. All of us can learn again from that timeless story as we watch Jesus in zip ties and shepherds dressed up as ICE agents to provoke us to grab another political sword. We are called by our intellectual culture to violently attack ICE agents. That is not the path to Jesus kingdom. Advertisement Dr. Ben Voth is professor of rhetoric and director of debate at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He is the author of several academic books regarding political communication, presidential rhetoric, and genocide. Image: Roger van der Weyden As 2026 approaches, marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Americans are preparing to commemorate a quarter millennium of national sovereignty. It is worth remembering that our freedom was not secured by words alone. It was forged through sacrifice, resolve, and a willingness to confront tyranny with decisive force tempered by wisdom. Advertisement Fireworks have always been a fitting metaphor for American freedom. They celebrate independence, but they also remind us that liberty has always been costly. The challenge of leadership is knowing when decisive action can prevent even greater loss. President Trumps June 2025 military strikes against Irans key nuclear facilities -- deploying bunker-busting munitions against the hardened enrichment sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan -- were not merely tactical. They were an act of statecraft aimed at preventing a far larger and bloodier conflict. By significantly degrading Irans nuclear capability, the United States potentially averted a future regional war that could have required a massive ground presence and cost tens of thousands of American lives. Advertisement History offers a sobering reference: Approximately 58,000 Americans lost their lives in Vietnam. Those sacrifices were not in vain, but they underscore the human toll of indecision, incremental escalation, and unclear objectives. Vietnam reminds us what prolonged, grinding warfare demands of a nations sons and daughters. President Trumps decision embodied a different wisdom: limited, overwhelming force at the right moment can spare the nation decades of attrition. This is prudence informed by history, not recklessness. Advertisement That is why President Trump compared his decision to President Trumans choice to end World War II with atomic force -- a comparison that unsettled many but rests on a hard truth. Truman authorized those bombings to avoid a projected invasion of Japan costing over one million American casualties, based on brutal losses at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Leadership sometimes requires the least terrible option among terrible alternatives to save lives. Americas military decisions often shape the global order in ways that only become clear later. Vietnam is often misportrayed as a defeat; it was costly and traumatic, yet geopolitically crucial. By containing communist expansion during the Cold War, the U.S. created space for Asian nations to develop independently, enabling the rise of the Asian Tigers (South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong) and stability in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Sovereign states, protected within democratic alliances, proved resistant to coercion. The free world owes an enduring debt to those who paid the price. Advertisement Today, an evolving axis of authoritarian threats -- sustained by China, Russia, and rogue regimes like North Korea -- seeks to undermine the Western order through proxies, coercion, and asymmetry. Iran serves as a key destabilizing proxy. Yet the Iranian people reject this: Persistent protests signal widespread longing for self-determination, echoing Americas 1776 declaration of sovereignty and unalienable rights. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and allied movements draw thousands of expatriates to global rallies calling for democratic reform -- evidence that the mullahs grip is contested and an alternative exists. Free nation-states remain the antidote to empire. Advertisement Israel stands on the front line. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rightly framed the struggle post-Hamas atrocities as civilization versus barbarism. Decisive, lawful aggression can prevent greater violence; weakness invites war, strength deters it. The principle extends beyond battlefields. Trumps campaign against fentanyl trafficking -- through interdictions and pressure -- made it riskier, saving lives without endless confrontation. Advertisement Between his administrations, the world grew more peaceful because adversaries recalculated: Strategic strength, credibly enforced, preserved peace by convincing enemies escalation would fail. History teaches that freedom is rarely granted by despots -- it must be claimed and defended with wise decisiveness. As Americans approach our 250th anniversary, and as peoples worldwide yearn for liberty, recall John Stuart Mill: War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things A man who has nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. Freedom requires courage. Fireworks remind us that independence -- in 1776 Philadelphia or in nations seeking it today -- comes at a price. The highest leadership ensures that price is never higher than necessary. Rev. Jim Harden, M.Div., is the CEO of CompassCare Pregnancy Services and lives outside Rochester, NY with his wife and ten children. He writes on medical ethics, executive leadership, and pro-life strategy. CompassCareCommunity.com. Read more of his reports. Image: Spurekar/Flickr Advertisement Free speech is a hallmark of American culture and constitutionalism, and alternative media such as podcasts, operate under these privileges. But are some of them crossing the line, and working against national security during a time when the U.S. is in an effective war against internal political coalitions which opened the Southern border to a mass illegal invasion, combined with foreign states that are directly opposed to U.S. and Western stability, such as Iran, as well as regimes in Latin America like Venezuela that serve as a concentrated staging area against U.S. interests? And of course, there is China, which often seems to represent a pragmatic trading partner, but is in fact, conducting an unprecedented build-up of full-spectrum war capability. Advertisement Some podcasters such as former federal judge Andrew Napolitano, trades on his former judicial credentials, but his constant theme with interviewees consists of endless speculative criticism of President Trump, and the entire apparatus of U.S. military operations. He does this while linking it to negative messages of broad U.S. decline. His podcast sponsor is a commercial firm that markets gold coins, so apparently creating uncertainty is a narrative that he seems to exploit in what should be to him, a conflict of interest. Advertisement Moreover, when otherwise respectable and distinguished former U.S. military and intelligence officers join a popular podcast with an Iranian professor broadcasting from Brazil, and share experienced insights into U.S. government organization and methods, is that a wise use of free expression? Why is University of Chicago political science professor and frequent podcast guest John Mearsheimer making funded trips to China, telling the Chinese that they are the rising superpower of the world, surrounded by fawning Chinese college students, and receiving a welcome befitting a pop star while using the occasion to agitate against U.S.-Israel relations? He is joined by Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs who in his earlier career, officially advised Russia to use shock therapy to upend its economy, but which only upended Russian society, and opened the door to corruption. Advertisement These professors, former government consultants, and federal employees, have formed a loose network of advisors and media opportunists, who seem to consider themselves de facto representatives of a more enlightened foreign policy, but which is directly counter to official U.S. positions, undermining global confidence, and also stoking anti-American and anti-Israel sentiment. Free speech is an important part of our society, but some media podcasters may be crossing the line, and creating an instance of what Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes called the most vital prohibition to unbridled speech: the verbal creation of a clear and present danger. Advertisement Constructive criticism is one thing; marketing doubt, creating fear and inciting prejudice during a broad national defense footing, is another. Image: Pexels // Pexels License Advertisement Matthew G. Andersson is a former aerospace CEO, and worked in Russia and eastern Europe. He has testified before the US Senate and is a graduate of the University of Chicago. Leadership at the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) under former chief Pamela A. Smith (who announced on Dec. 8 she would step down at years end) reportedly deliberately suppressed or distorted crime statistics in the nations capital to lower public-facing crime rates, according to a 22-page interim report from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The Committee opened the inquiry on Aug. 25, 2025, after reports suggested that crime statistics were being manipulated downward. Advertisement Oversight majority staff conducted eight transcribed interviews with seven experienced acting MPD district commanders and one suspended commander. There are seven geographic policing districts in the District of Columbia, and the district commanders report directly to the highest levels of the MPD. The Committee anonymized interviewees to protect them from retaliation. District commanders consistently testified that Chief Smith created a toxic management culture, resulting in officers suffering frustration and exhaustion and a fear of retaliation by Smith. Commanders feared public humiliation for reporting bad news to Smith, particularly about any rise in public crime statistics. As a result, public-facing crime statistics were not reliably reported, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement One district commander said that the goal at the end of the year is to have the lowest crime possible to report out to the mayor and the city. He stated that the department manipulated the numbers: Advertisement By pressuring her command staff to alter classification for the sole purpose of artificially reducing crime numbers reported out to the public, Chief Smith incentivized the manipulation of crime numbers, which do not adequately account for the crime taking place in D.C. Aside from the manipulation of the crime numbers, the chiefs behavior also materially affected the morale of current officers and the hiring of new ones. The district commanders spoke of retaliatory transfers and demotions for those who did not present her with favorable crime statistics or who, in Chief Smiths judgment, questioned her actions. As a result, retention of experienced officers and district commanders became more difficult, and district commanders said adverse conditions during her tenure also hampered training and recruitment. Advertisement What did commanders tell the Committee? The report states that district commanders described leadership priorities as shifting toward reducing the specific crimes that appear in the public Daily Crime Report (DCR) a public-facing dataset limited to nine felony categories and using classification practices to keep incidents out of those reportable buckets. The nine felony categories are homicide, sex abuse, assault with a dangerous weapon (ADW), robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, theft from auto, theft (other), and arson. Advertisement Chief Smith required that major incidents be elevated and discussed before they were formally classified in MPDs system so that the classification and, thus, the statistics, could be influenced upfront. The report argues that this requirement diverted time from investigations and crime-fighting. The report also highlights that in recent years, intermediate categories were created for offenses that district commanders said could shift incidents into non-DCR classifications. For example, leadership pressured officers to move assault with a dangerous weapon (ADW) into endangerment with a firearm. The report notes that endangerment with a firearm is not publicly reported the way ADW is. Other DCR offenses were also downgraded to non-DCR labels. Commander B below described cases that read like a burglary but were classified as unlawful entry and theft instead, explicitly noting that unlawful entry doesnt hit the DCR status of burglary. The report also states that district commanders said intermediate offenses (e.g., felony assault) are not in the DCR and could make reported ADWs drop even if violence does not. PIC The environment was also chaotic and unpredictable, according to the district commanders, resulting in transfers and, in one case, early retirement of a guy who had a stellar career. Chief Smith not only moved and demoted officials, but she also created an atmosphere of unpredictability. One commander spoke to the capriciousness of Chief Smiths personnel practices and that she even declared it would be better for commanders to make something up than not have an answer. The crime briefing system during Smiths tenure changed significantly from that of the former chief of police, Robert J. Contee . One district commander explained that Contee used the weekly meetings as a way to assess crime with his executive team and kind of have a group think. Chief Smith, however, insisted upon daily updates while degrad[ing] communication, collaboration, and morale. Moreover, outside the crime briefings, Smith had a closed-door policy and did not speak directly with district commanders. Other police departments manipulate crime stats, too MPD is not the only police department to have documented instances of downgrading or misclassification of crimes. In 2013, the New York Police Department (NYPD)s 81st Precinct faced allegations that victims were discouraged from filing reports or that reports were not properly filed, among other issues. An internal review confirmed manipulation of crime stats. In 2014, the Office of the Inspector General of the City of New Orleans audited the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) on its reporting of forcible rape and reported that 46% of tested offenses were misclassified as sexual battery, miscellaneous, or unfounded. Miscellaneous misclassifications were not captured in UCR reporting. A 2012 Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) crime data audit reported 5,307 under-reported incidents during a targeted audit with aggravated assaults being coded downward. Also in 2012, according to local reporting, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) found a measurable error rate in classifying assaults. Again, such misreporting affects UCR reporting. Why manipulate crime stats? Police departments sometimes massage crime statistics to control the public narrative and reduce reputational damage. Reported crime trends in big-city policing can trigger investigations, demands for changes in leadership, budget cuts, and unwanted external interventions. Leadership may believe that better numbers help with recruiting, retention, and public cooperation. However, in this case, district commanders described the opposite effect. When promotions or leadership standing are tied to week-to-week numbers, commanders and supervisors may feel strong pressure to show a decline in crime stats, creating incentives to downgrade or suppress reporting. Local crime stats are used to track and report crime data nationwide, so accuracy is important. The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program is the FBIs long-running national system for collecting police-reported crime statistics using standardized definitions and counting rules so crime data can be compared across agencies and over time. Under UCR, Part1 (Index) offenses are the ones most used for trendlines. Agencies can reduce reported totals by steering incidents into non-index categories or dispositions. Image via Raw Pixel. People's Daily Online holds "AI Night in Xi'an," demonstrating AI empowered future of media industry 12:55, December 20, 2025 By Deng Nan, Zou Xing, Bai Ge ( People's Daily Online "AI Night in Xi'an," an event highlighting China's advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and their applications in real life, was held by People's Daily Online on Dec. 18 in Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, a city where traditional culture and modern technology harmoniously coexist. The event brought together company representatives, experts and scholars from across the AI industry. Through an immersive and scenario-based fusion of art and technology, presented in a highly technological, intelligent, and futuristic digital format, the event vividly showcased cutting-edge achievements and technological breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, presenting innovative practices of "AI+" empowering different industries. The event began with the song "Welcome" by China's Central Conservatory of Music's AI music composition department. The song was performed by the Shaanxi Provincial Song and Dance Troupe Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the robot "Zhiyin." Baize, People's Daily Online's AI presenter, appeared alongside a human host to create a dreamlike atmosphere where reality met virtuality. Kuafu, an AI robot, performs tai chi with pupils on stage. (People's Daily Online/Zou Xing) At the event, students from Northwestern Polytechnical University used brainwave devices to control drones; the robot "Kuafu" from Xi'an University of Technology practiced Tai Chi with students; and the "Xunxiao" robot from Xi'an Jiaotong University demonstrated its ability to roast tea leaves. As the lights dimmed, an actor portraying the famous Italian traveler "Marco Polo" came on stage. Wearing mixed-reality (MR) equipment from the Xi'an Museum, the "ancient traveler" had a conversation with artifacts that appeared to come to life. "People can see artifacts without travelling, while history can instantly touch people's hearts," said Li Yan, director of the Xi'an Museum. She noted that the walls of museums have vanished thanks to AI, opening a "time portal" for the public. "Marco Polo" and the audience were also able to experience the "tastes of Xi'an" firsthand by wearing scent-releasing devices that let them smell the aromas of local delicacies, which included pita bread soaked in lamb soup, chili oil, kiwifruit, pomegranates, and more. The technology is similar to a smell printer, creating a "scent library" that preserves the flavors of time. The event also featured the signing of an agreement to establish a collaborative "Dreamland" AI Education and Application Center between Xi'an Jiaotong University and People's Daily Online. By joining forces with leading universities' research and development departments and talent pools, the mainstream media can quickly disseminate and integrate resources, paving the way for innovative technology to be transformed and applied. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Kou Jie) Among the most obvious and glaring indicators of the political divide is the issue of self-defense. Normal Americanslargely but not exclusively Republicansare in harmony with Americas Founders who understood self-defense is a natural, unalienable, God-given individual right which forms the basis of the Second Amendment. If every American doesnt have a right to self-defense, a right government does not grant and cannot revoke, what other right matters? If ones continuing existence depends on size, strength and aggression, were degenerating to another dark age. Advertisement The police cant protect anyone and cant be sued when they dont. Because Normal Americans understand the Second Amendment and why the Founders wrote it, theyre comfortable with citizens keeping and bearing arms. They understand that right isnt limited to handguns, nor does it have anything to do with target shooting, hunting or militia membership. They know the primary reason for the Second Amendment is to allow Normal Americans to deter tyranny, and if necessary, to defeat a totalitarian government. Advertisement Graphic: Glock 43X. Author. Advertisement That, even more than the historic record, the Second Amendment and the Supreme Courts Heller, McDonald and Bruen decisions, makes Democrat heads explode, because they intend to become that totalitarian government. Thats why theyre always trying to disarm Normal Americans. Those with anti-liberty/gun intentions tend to be, though not exclusively, Democrats. They dont recognize unalienable rights and call those who believe fundamental rights come not from government but from God, Christian Nationalists, which is not a complementary label. Their faith is in themselves and the one-party state they labor to create. They reject the Second Amendment and the rest of the Constitution because both protect individual rights and limit the powers of government, the powers they want to exclusively, eternally wield. Advertisement Individuals have rights; governments have powers. The Bondi Beach massacre and the Brown University attack starkly reveal the differences in these philosophies and their consequences. When an attack happens, the police will virtually never be there in time. Attackers will have considerable time to kill. If citizens are universally disarmed by law or are obeying gun-free zone signs, theyll be unable to fight back. Australia is essentially a gun-free zone; so is Brown University. Advertisement The police would love to be able to stop a shooter, but even if theyre present, which was reportedly the case at Bondi Beach, they may do nothing which gave the killers a free-fire zone for from 10-20 minutes. At Uvalde, some 300 officers allowed a 70+ minute free fire zone. At Brown, they had no role in stopping the attack. In any attack, someone must call the police. A dispatcher must assimilate the information and dispatch the call. Officers must race to the scene--if any are available. In some places, the nearest officer might be an hour away. When they arrive, they must orient themselves and close with the attacker or attackers without getting killed before they can do any good. And in all that time, unarmed innocents are dying. Or even worse, as happened at Bondi Beach, the police, who are rushing into a dangerously ambiguous situation, might shoot an innocent. Advertisement Normal Americans given this indisputable set of facts want willing citizens to go armed. They trust their fellow citizens with motor vehicles, which are far more deadly than guns. Theyre willing to extend that trust to guns as well. Do away with gun-free zones, to be sure, but to deter attacks, and to limit damage when they occur, the only sane, effective solution is allowing honest Americans the means to save their own lives and the lives of others. If theyre present when an attack occurs, they know precisely who the good and bad guys are and theyre able to quickly end the attack. Democrats see things very differently. Just as officials in Australia and Rhode Island did in the immediate aftermath of those attacks, American Democrats reflexively want to disarm Americans. Despite the failure of near-absolute gun-banning laws and regulations, they demand even more, and more punitive, anti-liberty/gun laws. Normal Americans want everyone, Democrats included, to have the ability to defend their lives, the lives of those they love and even strangers. Democrats want everyone, except their publicly funded security, disarmed. Normal Americans want mass murderers dead and fellow Americans alive. Democrats want mass murders to have free-fire zones and want Normal Americans dead. What other result can their disarmament policies bring? Become a subscriber and get our weekly, Friday newsletter with unique content from our editors. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. What is the world coming to? Advertisement According to the New York Post: A German woman was handed down a harsher sentence than a convicted rapist after she called him a disgraceful rapist pig. Advertisement Maja R, 20, was jailed for a weekend after she was found guilty of defaming the man, who was one of nine attackers who had gang-raped a 15-year-old girl in a Hamburg park four years earlier, according to reports. The man had only been given a suspended sentence and served no time in prison due to his age, the New Zealand Herald reported. Advertisement Deutschland ist tot. Und bose. Ms. Maja sent the rapist messages via WhatsApp, including one that read, Arent you ashamed when you look in the mirror? She also apparently called him a disgraceful rapist pig and a disgusting freak. Advertisement Disgraceful rapist pig? To describe someone who took part in a gang-rape of a 15-year-old girl? That is far too mild of an epithet, far too polite. How about satanic monster? Will the German authorities now want to jail me? Back when I was in school, a very popular saying was, Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Today, insane authorities are claiming words may hurt more than rape. According to the Post: Advertisement A court spokesperson told local media that Maja R.s hostility was emblematic of the countrys lingering anger over the rape case, even four years later. A German court was worried about Maja R.s hostility?! After a teenager was gang-raped?! If the German people truly no longer wished to be complicit with evil, they would rise up and vanquish their pathetic and immoral leaders, through the ballot box, peaceful protests, or continual shaming. Advertisement The spokesperson added that the case had reached a new, worrying level of intensity, and described the criticism as a targeted attack on the rule of law. Criticism of a gang-rape is a targeted attack on the rule of law?! What about the gang-rape itself?! Meine liebe Gott in Himmel, is gang-rape not an attack on the rule of law?! The Post article also noted that calling someone an idiot in Germany can result in a prison sentence of up to two years. Idiots. Every one of the disgraceful rapist pig supporters and disgusting freaks that were involved in this monumental miscarriage of justice should be ashamed to look in the mirror. The end result of a society in which criminals are considered victims -- and are treated better than those they have raped, robbed, and murdered -- is too obvious to require elaboration, as Paul Harvey might say. What kind of society values the entitled more than the grateful? What kind of society values those who loot, rape, and destroy more than those who create, protect, and build? Answer: the kind of society that is destined to be destroyed in the very near future. Image: Pixabay // Pixabay License Virginias statuary representation in the U.S. Capitol changed this week. Out went Robert E. Lee. In, to stand alongside George Washington, came Barbara Rose Johns. Advertisement Barbara who? Barbara Rose Johns, a mid-20th-century girl who fought school racial segregation in the Commonwealth. Advertisement Every state traditionally has two statuary representatives in the Capitol. I am not sure Johns would have been my choice, but the removal of Lee certainly would have been. Why? Because a country ought not to honor traitors. Advertisement Ill admit bias: as a New Jerseyan, who considers himself after 27 years a Virginia resident only because Richmonds tax fangs are hard to extract, I have always deplored the Old Dominions Lee cult. The U.S. Constitution is clear. To prevent injustice, Article 3, section 3 defines treason clearly. Treason is levying War against [the United States] ... or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. Thats just what Lee did. He was a United States Army officer who resigned his commission and, to serve Virginia, fought the United States. Advertisement St. Thomas More captured my sentiments when, in A Man for All Seasons, he tells Richard Rich, a former friend whom the king promised a position in Wales: It profits a man nothing to gain the whole world if he should lose his soul...but for Wales, Richard? Ah, you say, but Lee did it out of principle, out of love for his home state. Sorry, that doesnt wash. He fought for a state in rebellion against the country, led out of the Union by racists who wanted to create a country where blacks would not be legal human beings. Where Dred Scott was good law. If thats principle, keep it. Advertisement But Washington was a slaveholder, and they left him in the Capitol! Yes, but Washington fought for the United States. Lee fought against the United States. Its not just about slavery, but loyalty. (For the same reason, Mississippi ought to evict Jefferson Davis.) But he was heroic and honorable in defeat. Nice of him. And would you give the same credit to Lee if he had succeeded, managing to shepherd Dixie to an independence where slavery would have been legal? If the South resisted racial integration for the next 110 years within the United States, what would have happened if it was left to its own devices? Advertisement One social media post in the post-statuary removal encomia to Lee pointed to the 1993 film Gettysburg. The writer observed that, just 32 years ago, Lee received a respectful, even heroic, depiction that elicited no cultural or political backlash. The question is not whether Lee received such depictions. The question is, did he deserve them? I doubt the 3,155 Union dead at Gettysburg would have called him a hero. I doubt the 14,500+ Union wounded there would afford him respectability. They died as Lincoln said a few months later so that a nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal could endure, so that nation might live. It was that nation Robert E. Lee fought. But Congress restored Robert E. Lees citizenship in 1975 by almost unanimous margins, and Gerald Ford even signed the bill! That may be true, but ask yourself: Why did Lees contemporaries men who knew the living man better than Jerry Ford see fit to strip him of that citizenship in the first place? Was it merely a question of misplaced papers as was argued in the 1970s or a recognition that making war against the country of which one was a citizen might make forfeiture of that citizenship an appropriate response? No doubt Lee apologists will speak of the generous pardon Lincoln wanted to offer the South. On that point, Ill also go out on a limb: Lincoln and Johnson were wrong. Indeed, Id argue that Reconstruction real Reconstruction ended too quickly. A culture does not change rapidly. The fact that the South reverted to Jim Crow as soon as it was returned to its own devices suggests that the indulgence of Lee and his fellow traitors was at least in part responsible for the continued racial segregation of the South, whose effects dragged on more than a century. Against that historical horizon, I would not regret had Reconstruction continued. Indeed, the men of Lees times had a better sense of justice. They gave Robert E. Lee what his treason deserved: a front lawn with the graves of patriots buried on it. You can still see it: Arlington National Cemetery. Nowhere in the North is there a Benedict Arnold Highway. Connecticut doesnt call him a favorite son. They dont measure him by his historical context or impact. Had Arnold succeeded, there would also not have been a United States. But wasnt the South doing in 1860 what we all did in 1776? No. Dixie was not the 13 colonies redux. First, the 13 colonies agreed there would be no partial separation: We all hang together. Lack of unanimity would have ended their effort. Second, they were founding a nation where none existed, going from dominated colonies to a sovereign country. The South wanted to split a nation. Third, the spirit of 1776 appealed to natural law principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The rebels of 1860 appealed to positive law their peculiar institution and were ready to sacrifice a nation and human dignity to it. Washington fought to create a nation, Lee to end one. Only the South, with its fixation on its Lost Cause, honors Lee. And much of that adoration is 20th-century, an anachronistic patron to segregation. For these reasons, the man does not deserve to stand in the Capitol of the country he wanted and fought to leave. A single West Virginian who resisted Richmonds treason and stood with the Union is worth a mountain of Robert E. Lees. If national loyalty means anything, why does Robert E. Lee get a pass? As a conservative, I find the cult of Lee bizarre: historical acquiescence in a failed effort that, nevertheless, its defenders still think was right and that would have ended the America they want to make great again. Image: Ron Cogswell via Flickr, CC BY 2.0. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been pictured lying across the legs of five people in an image released in a huge dump of files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. In the undated photo, convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell appears to peer down and smile at the former prince, who is smiling with his eyes closed and his head near a womans lap. The photograph was taken at the royal residence of Sandringham. Maxwell the former girlfriend of Epstein, who is currently serving 20 years in prison for her role in a decade-long scheme to sexually exploit and abuse minor girls with him can be seen standing beside another woman. All six people apart from Maxwell and the former Duke of York have had their faces redacted in the image, which is a photograph of a picture in a frame. Andrew was stripped of his royal titles in November by the King following controversy over his links to Epstein. He strenuously denies any wrongdoing. In a previously issued statement, he said: At no stage during the limited time I spent with him did I see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction. The photo released by the US Department of Justice appears to show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor reclining across the laps of five people (PA Media) A trove of documents, including court records, footage and images, was uploaded on Friday night to the US Department of Justice website, which held users in a queue as it experienced an extremely high volume of search requests. Former Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson also featured in the newly released files. In one photo, she is seen sitting on a sofa next to a woman whose identity has been redacted. In another image, she is smiling at the camera while posing on a street, again with a woman whose identity has been shielded. In the latest documents, there are also multiple images of former US president Bill Clinton lounging in a hot tub, as well as Epstein with a host of celebrities and high-profile figures, including Michael Jackson, Richard Branson, Mick Jagger and Lord Peter Mandelson. Being photographed or mentioned in the files is not an indication of wrongdoing, and many of those featured in the latest release have previously denied knowledge of Epsteins crimes. Andrew was stripped of his royal titles in November by the King (AP) The data dump came after US deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said several hundred thousand documents would be released ahead of a legal deadline. He said the need to protect the victims of sex offender Epstein meant thousands more would be released after the deadline, over the coming weeks. The US Department of Justice was legally obligated to make all files related to the investigation into Epstein public by midnight on Friday following the passing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Sarah Ferguson also featured in the newly released files (DOJ) The paedophile financier was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan, New York, in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide. Among the hundreds of photos included in the files are also undated photos of Maxwell standing outside the door of 10 Downing Street and posing with Mr Clinton and actor Kevin Spacey. Many of the photos and documents are heavily redacted, prompting criticism from US lawmakers and lawyers for Epsteins victims. Richard Branson appears with Epstein in a newly released photo (DOJ) Congressman Thomas Massie, a Republican who pressed for the law forcing the disclosure, said: Unfortunately, todays document release by AG Pam Bondi and DAG Todd Blanche grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law that Donald Trump signed just 30 days ago. Andrew has faced allegations, which he strenuously denies, that he sexually assaulted a teenage Virginia Giuffre after she was trafficked by Epstein. He paid Ms Giuffre, a woman he has claimed never to have met, to settle a civil sexual assault claim in 2022. US politicians have criticised him for his silence after he missed a deadline last month to respond to their request to sit for an interview about Epstein. Jeffrey Epstein (left) and Bill Clinton (center) in a photo released by the justice department on Friday. Photograph: Department Of Justice/Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock (Photograph: Department Of Justice/Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock) A spokesperson for Bill Clinton accused the White House late on Friday of using him as a scapegoat after pictures of the former president with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as with a young woman in a pool, were included as part of congressionally ordered release of government files. The White House hasnt been hiding these files for months only to dump them late on a Friday to protect Bill Clinton, the spokesperson said in a statement on X. This is about shielding themselves from what comes next, or from what theyll try and hide forever. So they can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isnt about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be, the statement added. Related: Epstein files: which royals, politicians, musicians and actors are in the photos? It continued: Even Susie Wiles said Donald Trump was wrong about Bill Clinton, it said, referring to comments made by White House chief of staff to Vanity Fair in which Wiles acknowledged that Clinton had not been on Epsteins Caribbean island despite repeated claims by Trump to the contrary. Clinton has long maintained that he cut ties with Epstein around 2005, before the disgraced financier pleaded guilty to solicitation of a minor in Florida. In the statement, Clintons spokesperson Angel Urena said: There are two types of people here. The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships with him after. Were in the first. No amount of stalling by people in the second group will change that. Everyone, especially MAGA, expects answers, not scapegoats. The photographs released on Friday show Clinton in an underground swimming pool with Maxwell and a woman whose facial features have been redacted, as well as at a dinner with Mick Jagger, Epstein and other public figures. The picture of Clinton in a swimming pool was later posted on X by the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, with the caption Oh my! and a red-faced emoji. Slick Willy! @BillClinton just chillin, without a care in the world. Little did he know , Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, posted to X. Epstein visited the White House at least 17 times during the early years of Clintons presidency, according to White House visitor records cited in news reports. He later travelled with Epstein on the financiers private jet in the years after he left office in 2001, including to Asia and Africa, on trips related the Clinton Global Initiative. Clinton has never been formally accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. But Trump has repeatedly made insinuations about the relationship between Clinton and Epstein. Last month, he called for the justice department and the FBI to investigate Jeffrey Epsteins involvement and relationship with Bill Clinton, part of a long-running campaign to characterize the Epstein scandal as an issue uniquely connected to Democrats. The justice department photo dump comes as both Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and presidential candidate, are scheduled to give depositions to the House oversight committee over their ties to Epstein. The depositions, originally scheduled for last week, have been pushed to 13 and 14 January. The committees chair, James Comer, has threatened to hold contempt proceedings if the couple do not sit for depositions on those dates, Politico reported. Victim Sundeep Guhman (Met Police) The murder of a British Asian prisoner by a racist gang member, after they were put in the same cell, has prompted a coroner to contact the Government over the need to prevent more deaths. The Ministry of Justice has said it is leaving no stone unturned to make British prisons safe following the horrible act of violence. Sundeep Ghuman died in February 2020 after he was violently assaulted with a table leg by a member of the so-called Racist Army of Woolwich at HMP Belmarsh. Stevie Hilden was sentenced to life in prison for Mr Ghumans murder in 2022. The killing took place 11 days after Hilden and his cousin were placed in Mr Ghumans triple cell. Stevie Hilden (Met Police) A coroner has now raised concerns about the incident to the Secretary of State for Justice and Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, as well as to the Governor of HMP Belmarsh Jenny Louis, in a Prevention of Future Deaths report. Coroner David Manknell KC found fault in Belmarshs handling of Hildens cell sharing risk assessment (CSRA). Mr Mankell found that many working at the prison, including senior management staff, were unaware that Belmarsh had a policy which meant racist prisoners should be marked as high risk and should only be placed in cells with prisoners of the same ethnicity. Following an inquest into Mr Ghumans death, it was found that Belmarsh failed when carrying out Hildens CSRA assessment in 2019 after he moved to the prison from HMP High Down. The inquest concluded that if the assessment was carried out correctly, Hildens history of racist and violent behaviour would have been noted and he would not have been placed in the same cell as the British Asian, and Mr Ghumans death would have been avoided. Mr Mankell stated that Belmarshs operation of the CSRA process was a matter for concern, as well as the lack of operational understanding as to how prison staff should treat prisoners who have been marked with an active alert for racism. He found that the prison officer who carried out the SCRA for Hilden was aware of the racist alert, but because it was old and there was no concern apparent when he spoke to Hilden, he disregarded it. Mr Mankell stated: The lack of understanding of how an active alert for racism should be approached when assessing suitability cell sharing creates a risk of future fatal events. An unstructured approach and lack of training creates a risk that, as in this case, staff may inappropriately disregard an active alert for racism, leading to potentially fatal racist violence. The coroner also raised concerns about the risk of violence and the prevalence of drug usein particular synthetic cannabinoids known as spicethroughout Belmarsh more generally. Mr Mankell found that prison officers accepted there would be regular incidents of violence between prisoners as many of them were serving sentences for violent crimes. He also found that a very significant proportion of Belmarsh prisoners were spice users. He said: The evidence overall was that HMP Belmarsh has widespread levels of violence by prisoners against other prisoners, and seemingly ubiquitous levels of spice use in the prison. This seems to be at a level where staff do not consider that they can always take robust action and formal measures when this occurs. In those circumstances, I have a concern that the prison may not currently be capable of providing a safe and secure environment for prisoners accommodated there, and that there is a risk of future deaths from drug use or violence. In response to Mr Mankells report, a Prison Service spokesperson said: This was a horrible act of violence, and our thoughts remain with Mr Ghumans family at what continues to be a difficult time for them. Were leaving no stone unturned to make sure our prisons are safe. Were investing 40m nationally to boost security through more CCTV, control room upgrades and other security measures, while increasing the number of full searches to intercept dangerous contraband that fuels violence behind bars. The Ministry of Justice said HMP Belmarsh continues to work to address any prison issues based on reporting and intelligence to ensure they never happen again, and it is also attempting to cut the flow of drugs into British prisons through the use of X-ray body scanners, detection dogs and restricted fly zones. I was a British PoW tortured by Russia; this is how Ukraine and the West can win this war Captured and sentenced to death by Russia, tortured and a witness to war crimes, a young man from Nottingham spent months waiting for the executioner in a Russian prison, unable to cry. I so desperately wanted to, I was trying to force myself to let some emotion out, he recalls. But because I was too terrified in that place, I wasnt able to cry. In five-and-a-half months of captivity, I never cried once. There was moments where I wanted to, but I just physically couldnt. This is Aiden Aslin, a survivor of Russian war crimes himself, speaking to The Independents World of Trouble podcast. His extraordinary life has taken him from working as a carer in Newark, Notts, to fighting with Kurdish militia against militants from the so-called Islamic State in Syria, to vicious street fighting under air attack in Ukraines besieged Mariupol. Post captivity, he is now back in Zaporizhzhia in eastern Ukraine and back in the Ukrainian army, which he joined before Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Reflecting on his adopted countrys chances of triumphing in Vladimir Putins brutal war, which has ground on for nearly four years, he is optimistic. I think Russia can be beaten, he says quietly. I think we have got the means to exhaust their economy. Obviously, it is not an overnight thing. At some point, it is going to give. People in Russia are saying that you should end this... The grasp is weakening. There are a lot of things showing that Russia is becoming a lot more destabilised. Aiden Aslin in a courtroom cage in Donetsk, Ukraine, in June 2022 (Supreme Court of Donetsk People's Republic) Aslin is not alone in taking up in arms for a country not his own. Thousands of foreign volunteers joined Ukraines fight after the Kremlin ordered troops to topple the democratically elected government in Kyiv and try to return Ukraine to the status of a Russian colony. But few were part of Ukraines forces before Putins full-scale invasion. Aslin, now 31, was among those who had already answered a call that came from within to fight what they saw as injustice. He was first prompted to leave the UK to fight abroad when he saw on television the massacres of Yazidis by Isis extremists in Syria in 2014, who went on to attempt genocide against the community and enslave hundreds of women. I never had any interest in going to Syria. But this was a defining moment in my journey where I decided I could continue to stay at home or stand by my beliefs and morals and actually do something when other people wont. I felt there was a sense of injustice that the West wasnt doing enough to try and prevent the atrocities that were being committed. He joined the Kurdish Peshmerga; a ruthlessly efficient militia supported by the US, UK, France and others with special forces troops, and bombers, in the fight against Isis. After three years, Aslin, a combat veteran at the age of 23, returned to the UK but, by 2018, the sense of injustice that propelled him to Syria drove him to Kyiv, and a recruiting office where officers were bewildered by the arrival of a British volunteer. Aslin said the Ukrainians were bewildered when he turned up at the army recruitment office (The Independent) After passing training, he joined Ukraines marines and got his marine parachute wings. By February 2022, he was manning a frontline position with Russian forces outside the Ukrainian-held city of Mariupol on the Black Sea coast when word came that a full-scale invasion had started. It was, he says, a relief after the waiting. But the sheer scale of the Putin advance meant his unit was forced back into the Ilych steelworks, close to the famed Azovstal works where other Ukrainian units were making their last stand in the face of a Russian ground and air onslaught. You lived like mice, you stay underground as much as you can, he says. You try to avoid going above ground because of the aviation and artillery. But I remember in the first initial weeks of the encirclement we had a lot of artillery that we were shooting back at the Russians. Soon the Ukrainians and Aslins marine unit were surrounded. The territory was getting smaller; it got to the point where we didnt have anything to shoot back with. By the first week of April, one of the neighbouring units ended up surrendering, without telling us anything. And it just exposed our entire right flank. Surrender became inevitable, and when Aslin became a prisoner of war, he expected to be shot on the spot. There were times when that may have felt like a release from what was to follow: a British citizen accused by Russia of fighting as a mercenary. On his capture, he was beaten, and he knew worse would follow. Aiden Aslin served in the Ukrainian army before the full-scale invasion of February 2022 (cossackgundi) Taken to the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk, he was confronted by a Russian in a blue uniform. He said something to me in Russian, and he had the thickest accent and stank of alcohol, he recalls. Me being me, I politely asked him if he could repeat what he said because I didnt understand. As soon as I said that he beat me with a police baton. Initially I got hit across the forehead and then I fell to the floor, hit a few more times, and then I felt myself getting hit on my left shoulder. At the time I thought it hit me on my left shoulder, but it turned out it actually stabbed me. Weeks and then months of torture followed. At one point a Russian interrogator stopped his attacks and lit a cigarette. He asked me, do I know who he is? And I was like, no. And he says, Im your death. He asked do you want a beautiful death or do you want a quick death? And obviously I wanted a quick death. And he said, no, youre going to have a beautiful death. I was fully expecting to be murdered at that point. [But then] this Russian came in and said, stop, stop, youre going to kill him. I knew it must have been bad if his superior had to stop him. Accused of terrorism at a Russian court martial, Aslin faced a death penalty if convicted, alongside fellow British volunteer Shaun Pinner and Moroccan Saadoune Brahim. They were assigned a lawyer but knew they would not get anything close to a fair trial. And in the run-up to the case being heard, Aslin began to crack. Captive Aiden Aslin was shown on Russian state television in April 2022 (Russian state TV) Held in a pre-trial facility, beatings became routine. On one occasion, Russian officials put bags over the heads of the prisoners who they then forced to crawl, roll and slither along the corridors while they were thrashed. Starved and kept in overcrowded cells, Aslin was forced to learn the Russian national anthem and sing it every morning word perfect. When the guards shouted Putins name, they had to stand up in their cells and shout: President of the world! At one stage during his incarceration, Aslin heard a man in the next-door cell being dragged out, beaten and tortured. As his body weakened, the mans screams faded. And when he was dragged back into his cell, the whipping continued but the victim fell silent. Prisoners sharing the cell screamed for help and shouted that the man was not breathing. It took 10 minutes for a guard to look in before he then went away. Another 10 minutes went by, and no doctor or medic was summoned until it was too late. The prisoner was dead. After a three-day sham trial, Aslin was found guilty, and the death sentence was passed. Even then, depressed and bereft of hope, having been sent back to prison, he still could not summon the emotional power to cry. He was too afraid. Unknown to him, Russia had realised there was value in keeping this foreign prisoner alive. He was paraded for interviews with collaborators working for the Moscow media, including the British propagandist Graham Phillips, now being investigated by the Met Police over alleged war crimes. But this propaganda kept him partly protected. On film, Aslin could not appear too badly bruised. The months went by, and he had no idea that he would end up on a list for PoWs to exchange. He, and others, were swapped for Russian prisoners in a deal brokered by the intelligence services of both sides, and with the help of Saudi Arabia, he was flown to the kingdom in September 2022. Aslin returns to his home in Newark in September 2022 (Tom Maddick/SWNS) But it was not until he saw British officials and knew he was safe that he could finally shed a tear. I was able to cry, and there was no fear of being beaten, he says. It was such a relief, emotionally and physically, because its something I had been wanting to do for such a long time. Aslin returned to the UK, but his home and his heart remained in Ukraine. He travelled to eastern Ukraine in November 2023 and signed back up with the military in January 2024. He continues to serve in Ukraines armed forces, where he will stay until the war is over. Looking at history, he finds comfort for Ukraine in the examples of Afghanistan, the Soviet Union and even Napoleon: On previous occasions throughout history, the defender has, most of the time, ended up winning. Jack Tudor produced an inspired ride as Deep Cave got up in the final stride to pip Leave Of Absence in the Howden Silver Cup Chase at Ascot. Trained in Wales by Christian Williams, the seven-year-old had won at the Grand National meeting last season and returned to action this term with a win at Bangor. Up 10lb for those wins he had to prove he had improved again and he was ridden with confidence by Tudor. Dropped out in the rear, he still had plenty of horses in front of him turning into the straight as Rex Dingle on Leave Of Absence appeared to have stolen it. As the leader just drifted of the rail, however, Tudor did not need to be asked twice to go for a daring run and he was rewarded with a win by a head. We thought it was a little bit of a rush to get him to the Becher Chase and we thought this was the obvious race when working back from the National, said Williams. He only went up 4lb for winning at Bangor and he might not end up getting in, but theres no real panic with him as hes only a young horse and the youngest horse in this race. I told Jack to take his time on him and if he lacks experience today then there will be another 100,000 chase he can run in after Christmas. You need good owners to be able to give those instructions. I dont think we knocked him about too much last year before Aintree, he came to us from France and didnt have much of a break and had two bad falls round Auteuil. He jumped the big fences well but had two crunching falls at the easier ones, so obviously Bangor was a great place to start off at. He probably lacked a little experience early in the race here but Jack took his time and gave him a great ride producing him at the right time. He went on: We try to appreciate days like this which we probably didnt three or four years ago and when the family comes racing with me now its special and to get a winner makes it even better. "People were seen leaving their offices in a hurry to avoid being caught in any eventuality," a source told Olufamous.com But the FCT Police authority have dismissed the car bomb threat as a hoax. After thorough check, the police anti-bomb unit said nothing was found in the said car. They say people should go about their activities without fear. There is heavy tension in the Wuse 2 area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as a bank security alarm around AP Plaza was said to have gone off after a suspicious car was parked overnight in the area. Brett Wigdortz is co-founder and CEO of edtech startup Tiney, the UKs largest childminder agency. Brett Wigdortz is recalling a Unesco conference on brain development he attended in Paris last year and admits today that he didnt understand half of it. However, the key takeaway for the CEO and co-founder of childcare startup Tiney was that every second person was showing evidence that everything we know about brain development was wrong it is those first three or four years that are really important. Wigdortz is a New Jersey-born entrepreneur who has lived in London for over 20 years. In 2002 he founded Teach First in which King Charles is a patron to address teacher shortages in disadvantaged areas. In just over 15 years, he grew the business into the UK's biggest graduate recruiter with 75m in revenues before stepping down as CEO in 2017. Read More: 'Omaze wouldn't be here today if I hadn't flatlined for over four minutes' Wigdortz now fronts app-based Tiney, which aims to create a new generation of micro-entrepreneurs by providing early years training and support for people who want to work in pre-school education as childminders and, he says, earn a good income as an educator. Why Im excited about childminding is that its an old-fashioned word for what is really an exciting career and no one had reimagined it for the 21st century, he adds. I have been involved in education for nearly 25 years and more and more I realise that early years is where its at." King Charles, then Prince of Wales, meets young people as patron of Teach First. (Joe Giddens, PA Images) There is a lot of data and scientific evidence and if you really want kids to succeed you need to give them a good early years education and support. Maybe people didnt understand that in the past. Growing up, Wigdortz was a competitive swimmer and lifeguard in Jersey Shore for six summers. He notes discipline and attention to the job, while every month he either saved a life or helped a swimmer who would otherwise be in trouble. For a 16-year-old thats a fair bit of responsibility, he admits. After completing a masters in economics at University of Hawaii, Wigdortz worked as an associate for McKinsey across Asia and London. He was soon encountering challenges with Teach First. Namely that graduates werent thinking about teaching at a disadvantaged school, or that it was a possibility. Wigdortz sought to change mindsets. He says: A lot of it was just the belief that the children from the lowest income background can succeed at a high level and great leaders can have a real leadership impact. Read More: Whats Your Dream? Why Simon Squibb is sharing his business knowledge for free Teach First raised 12m a year from the private sector and is regarded now as the single biggest employer out of Cambridge and Oxford. People trusted us and wanted to invest in a story, Wigdortz says of his time at the helm. We were able to do that very well. Spool forward to Tiney and Wigdortz has a similar story to divulge. By the turn of the century there were around 80,000 childminders in 2000; 25 years later there were 22,000. But, seven years prior to attending the Paris conference, he knew how pivotal early years education was with little focus on the sector. Is there a way to use tech to really improve this profession? he thought. Brett Wigdortz is focused on getting people to retrain for careers in early years. Wigdortz founded Tiney with Edd Read and John Newbold, the startup launching in December 2019 before COVID and a challenging two years dealing with changing regulations for small business owners. The company had received over 4,500 enquiries before lockdown and over 12,000 from March 2020. It adheres to a strict government process in approving childminders for its revenue-share and operating system model. Tiney, which employs around 45 staff, says it currently has an 80% market share as a childminding agency and is the fourth largest provider of childcare in England. Given the guidelines and safeguarding, other competitors have fallen by the wayside while Tineys CEO says that his company is one of the most successful childminding businesses in the world. The firm is now responsible for around 40% of all new childminders in England who otherwise wouldn't have joined the profession, and Wigdortz says that Tiney is bringing on board about 50 childminders per month. He would like to grow the number to 200 monthly recruits. Former PM David Cameron listens to Brett Wigdortz of Teach First, far left, during a meeting to operate recruitment on "name blind" basis in addressing discrimination. (Nick Ansell, PA Images) There are no problems finding parents interested in childminding, says Wigdortz. Because of the new government funding into the sector, our childminders are earning 80% more than two years ago; 3,700 per month on average, although some are earning much more, whereas previously it was under 2,000. There are lots of people out there who would love this job but in their head they are not thinking that childminding is a possibility. People who want to work from home have flexibility, want to be an educator, like working with kids and want to be an entrepreneur." Read More: 'We lost 50kg between us and now own a 35m meal prep business' Even the name, it sounds like something your grandmother might do thats very passive. But we are seeing that it is an exciting career, that cant be AId out, you can make a good living and live anywhere in the country. We return to the shift in mindset four years into Teach Firsts launch when it realised graduates who had come across the company were now considering teaching. We haven't got there yet with Tiney but its where we want to get to, says Wigdortz. There are over 1m people in England who are taking care of small children, either working in school, nursery or nannying." "I want all those people to at the very least to think whether they could become a childminder. CEO Says: Brett Wigdortz on... Leadership I would always describe to our teachers that it is leading people to a place they need to get to, that they dont know they need to get there or sometimes that they dont want to get there. That is great teaching leading a classroom of kids and leading to a place they need to get to. Lessons I started Teach First only in secondary schools and I say it was one of the biggest mistakes we made as we should have started earlier. If the whole goal is to change peoples lives, there would be a much bigger impact in primary schools. Read more: Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android This photograph showing Epsteins desk, with a photo of Mr Trump visible inside a drawer, appears to have been removed from the department of justices website At least one photograph of Donald Trump has been removed from the Epstein files amid accusations of a cover-up. The US department of justice released more than 13,000 files concerning the deceased paedophile on Friday night, but large swathes were not released or heavily redacted and no major revelations emerged. Dumped online without any captions or context, the documents contained chilling signs of the depravity of the former financier, including statements that he demanded ID checks to ensure his victims were under the age of 18. But much of the material had already appeared in the public domain and, after more than 24 hours, there was no light shed on the behaviour of the elite men drawn into Epsteins circle. One photograph showing Epsteins desk, with a photo of Mr Trump visible inside a drawer, appeared to have been removed from the department of justices website on Saturday with no explanation. The photograph of Epsteins desk shows a photo of Donald Trump inside a drawer It was one of at least 16 documents that disappeared from the DoJ website. The missing files, which were available on Friday but could no longer be accessed by Saturday, included images of paintings depicting nude women, and one showing a series of photographs along a credenza and in drawers, including one of Mr Trump, alongside Epstein, Melania Trump and Epsteins long-time associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The justice department did not say why the files were removed or whether their disappearance was intentional. However, in a post on X late on Saturday evening, it said: Photos and other materials will continue being reviewed and redacted consistent with the law in an abundance of caution as we receive additional information. Online, the unexplained missing files fuelled speculation about what was taken down and why the public was not notified, compounding long-standing intrigue about Epstein and the powerful figures who surrounded him. What else is being covered up? Democrats on the House oversight committee pointed to the missing image featuring a Trump photo in a post on X, writing: What else is being covered up? We need transparency for the American public. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, the Democrat and Republican congressmen whose jointly authored bill forced the documents publication, said they were considering legal action over an incomplete release, with too many redactions. Measures could include pursuing the impeachment of Pam Bondi, the attorney general, Mr Khanna said. Suhas Subramanyam, a Democrat on the oversight committee, said: Im furious, I think they broke the law. They have clearly released about a fraction [of the files]. It seems they may have redacted some of them to protect certain political people, and certain political enemies were highlighted. The episode deepened concerns that had already emerged from the justice departments much-anticipated document release. The tens of thousands of pages made public offered little new insight into Epsteins crimes or the prosecutorial decisions that allowed him to avoid serious federal charges for years, while omitting some of the most closely watched materials, including FBI interviews with victims and internal justice department memos on charging decisions. Before Fridays release, Mr Massie said he would be able to tell whether all the documents had been released judging on whether they included the names of at least 20 men accused of sex crimes. Mr Massie said he had spoken with Epsteins victims lawyers and collectively they know there are at least 20 names of men who are accused of sex crimes in the possession of the FBI. If we get a large production on Dec 19 and it does not contain a single name of any male who is accused of a sex crime or sex trafficking or rape or any of these things, then we know they havent produced all the documents, he added. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Senate leader, accused the Trump administration of trying to cover up the presidents ugly past by not releasing the full files. Mr Trump pictured with Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2000 - Davidoff Studios/Getty This just shows the department of justice, Donald Trump and Pam Bondi are hell bent on hiding the truth, the Senate minority leader said. He added: This is nothing more than a cover-up to protect Donald Trump from his ugly past. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in 2028, said on X: Now the cover-up is out in the open. This is far from over. Protecting a bunch of rapists and paedophiles because they have money, power, and connections. Bondi should resign tonight. Jess Michaels, one of Epsteins earliest victims, added: They are proving everything we have been saying about corruption and delayed justice. What are they protecting? The cover-up continues. In a letter to Congress, Todd Blanche, the justice departments number two official, said that many redactions were made to protect the identity of victims. Never in American history has a president or department of justice been this transparent with the American people about such a sensitive law enforcement matter, said Mr Blanche, the presidents former personal lawyer. Other redactions covered material that could interfere with ongoing investigations, documented child sexual abuse, or were protected by legal privileges not specifically waived by the legislation, including internal department of justice deliberations. Nude bottom redacted Mr Blanche insisted the DoJ had not redacted the names of any individuals or politicians unless they were a victim. He promised to release more of the files in the next two weeks. Under the Epstein Transparency Act, Ms Bondi must inform Congress of the reasoning behind any redactions within the same time frame. Amid growing criticism of the redaction process, US media outlets noticed that a black square had even been placed over Epsteins nude bottom. One of the files, titled Grand Jury NY, contained 119 pages all entirely blacked out. Mr Trump initially fought the release of the Epstein files but about-turned amid pressure from within his own party and when it became clear he would not be able to defeat a Congressional drive towards publication. Todd Blanche, a senior official in the justice department and seen with Mr Trump defending him at his trial last year, has promised to release more documents - Michael M. Santiago/Getty In the weeks before the release, he ordered the department of justice to investigate links between Epstein and prominent Democrats including Bill Clinton. The former president was featured heavily in the first release of documents, with new photographs showing him lying back in a jacuzzi beside a figure whose face has been covered with a black box. He is also seen swimming in a pool with Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for trafficking teenage girls to Epstein. Supporters of Mr Trump leapt on the images. Oh my! said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, in a post on X. We did see something [in the files], added spokesman Abigail Jackson, sharing the image of the hot tub. Just not what you wanted. The Trump administration has been accused of trying to turn the focus on to Bill Clinton A spokesman for Mr Clinton suggested that the release had been orchestrated to distract attention from Mr Trump. The White House hasnt been hiding these files for months only to dump them late on a Friday to protect Bill Clinton, said Angel Urana. Implying that the release instead sought to protect Mr Trump, Mr Urena continued: This is about shielding themselves from what comes next. Everyone, especially Maga, expects answers, not scapegoats. Mr Clinton featured heavily in the files issued on Friday The presidents name was mentioned relatively rarely in the documents. The images released of him were already in the public domain, including one where he and his wife Melania stand near Epstein and Maxwell. Mr Trump was close friends with Epstein for years, prompting speculation he was fighting the release of the files amid fears over potential revelations about his behaviour. On Friday night, the president refused to answer questions about the release during a speech on the economy, saying he did not want to soil proceedings. The released documents largely dealt with three police investigations into Epstein. First, a Palm Beach police inquiry from 2005. Then a probe by federal prosecutors in Florida that ended with Epsteins 2008 plea deal, in which he was handed a notably soft sentence. And finally the 2019 inquiry by prosecutors in Manhattan that was cut short when Epstein died in prison. Julie Brown, the Miami Herald journalist whose investigation led to the renewed inquiry in 2019, described the document release as really a lot of nothing. Its just material that is either dated, that we already knew about, or heavily redacted, she told the BBC. A lot of these redactions dont even make sense, she added. CNN reported earlier this week that the task of redaction was overwhelming the department of justices lawyers, with each handling thousands of files. In some cases, young women appeared in the documents naked and with their faces unblurred, sparking criticism. The Trump administration might redact more than is necessary in an attempt to meet the deadline for publication, legal specialists told CNN. A spokesman for Mr Clinton, seen here with his arm around a woman, said the former president was being made a scapegoat In a post on her personal Substack, Ms Brown noted that two well-connected sources have said they know of more men implicated in Epsteins crimes. Earlier this week, Maxwell filed a petition claiming she was being unfairly imprisoned because some 25 men had settled civil cases with Epsteins victims and none of them have been prosecuted. Under the legislation passed on Nov 19, granting a month for the full publication of the files, the attorney general is bound to inform congress of the reasoning behind any redactions within 15 days. Chris J Ratcliffe/AFP via Getty Images So after two grim years of brazen racism, incitement, assault, vandalism and murder, the boys in blue are finally cracking down on the Gaza mob, arresting those who bellow for a global intifada and tightening restrictions on protests outside synagogues. Well, Ive got news for them. Its going to take far more than that. It is never comfortable to argue for further restrictions on freedoms of speech and assembly. But our old laws and attitudes are simply inadequate to deal with the catastrophe that has been brought upon society by generations of elites. Policing is a kind of magic trick, with just 146,000 bobbies responsible for a population of 70 million. A mass uprising would quickly call their bluff. To avoid anarchy, therefore, most people must behave peacefully most of the time, allowing officers to focus their efforts on the criminal minority. This depends upon the general embrace of social norms, civic duty and consideration for other citizens. Sadly, these standards of behaviour have been diluted significantly in modern Britain. There are various reasons for this, including the decline of faith; the rise of social media; the inability to construct a decent replacement for the traditional way of life that was blown up in the Sixties; progressive experiments in education; and the lamentable growth of welfarism, which has encouraged people to feel entitled to live for free on the backs of their fellows without shame. This has led to the growth of antisocial behaviour, widespread shoplifting and other criminality in pockets of the country. In addition, particularly when it comes to the importation of anti-Semitism from Pakistan and other Muslim lands, the deterioration of our social fabric can be ascribed to two further factors: mass immigration and the dogma that was imposed to enable it. When Tony Blair entered Number 10 in 1997, annual net migration stood at 48,000. In the 25 years that followed, it added almost 100 times more people to the population than it had in the previous quarter-century, with almost a million newcomers arriving on these shores in 2023 alone. The pace of the influx led to the mushrooming of subcultures, whose members felt little duty towards the mainstream. It also meant that British values such as, for example, a distaste for the hatred of Jews were unable to percolate into them. Such rapid demographic and cultural transformation would not have been possible without pressuring existing citizens into accepting the doctrine of multiculturalism, under which everything foreign must be elevated and everything British despised. This partly explains why so few people are willing to stand up for the Jews these days. Ours has become an atomised and etiolated population that has largely forgotten its peoplehood, history, values and sense of self. Without the foundations of cultural unity, deep social bonds, shared values and love of country, the benign climate that supported light-touch policing has been fading away. Accordingly, whether on the streets or in Parliament, on university campuses or on social media, we are now seeing the mobilisation of radicals who are bent upon exploiting our freedoms in order to overturn them. Lets not mince our words: the Muslim Brotherhood is active in Britain, striving covertly to build a sharia state by increments. Progressive extremists, meanwhile, are doing all they can to subvert the West, whether by rallies, vandalism, sabotage, intifada or brainwashing. These problems, which successive governments brought upon themselves (not to mention the country), can only be addressed by way of a muscular clampdown. If we do not defend this open society then one day, there will be nothing left to defend. Never Again? How the West Betrayed the Jews and Itself, by Jake Wallis Simons, is out now An aide to Ed Miliband dismissed the claims as nonsense - Adriano Machado/Reuters Ed Milibands allies are plotting to depose Rachel Reeves and install him as the next chancellor, The Telegraph has been told. The Energy Secretary, who is popular among MPs on the soft Left of the Labour Party, is said to have used a recent speech in the Commons on the cost of living to audition for the role. Rebel Labour backbenchers believe the Prime Minister will be so weakened following the local elections in May where the party is predicted to suffer heavy losses that they will be in a position to extract major concessions. The soft Left are hoping that if the May locals dont go well, they will use that as a point of leverage to get what they want out of the PM, one Labour MP said. One of the ideas being discussed is putting Ed in as chancellor. Friends of Mr Miliband are keen to highlight that he has experience in the Treasury, having worked there during Gordon Browns time as chancellor. In 2004, Mr Brown made Mr Miliband chairman of the Treasurys Council of Economic Advisers, with responsibility for directing the UKs long-term economic planning. He stood down from the role to run as an MP in 2005. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, has been under fire over tax rises - Lucy North/WPA POOL/GETTY The Energy Secretarys allies also point out that, in opposition, Mr Miliband gave Sir Keir Starmer lessons in economics, described by one source at the time as a masterclass in how Labours approach traditionally differs from that of the Tories. An aide to Mr Miliband described the claims as nonsense, insisting that he is entirely focused on making Sir Keirs government a success. Earlier this month, Mr Miliband opened a debate in the House of Commons on the cost of living, which was seen by some MPs as his pitch for chancellor. He used the speech to speak in depth about the state of the economy, saying: Whatever our party, we should take a step back and think about the history of the last two decades since the financial crisis. He said over the past 20 years there has been a stagnation of real wages, only this year getting back to their 2008 levels, the worst progress on living standards in the last parliament since records began in the 1950s as well as an epidemic of in-work poverty. He went on to talk about an illuminating chart adding I love charts! on page 33 of the Budget Red Book which shows the impact of decisions since the 2024 autumn Budget. Allies of Mr Miliband are also floating the idea that he could run on a joint ticket for the Labour leadership with a more moderate candidate. Under the proposal, Mr Miliband would be made chancellor in return for backing Wes Streeting or Shabana Mahmood as leader. He knows the Treasury pretty well and he does understand economics, said one Labour MP on the Left of the party. Whoever becomes the next PM will be looking for a new chancellor. Rachel Reeves has got Starmer into a lot of trouble, she will be gone at the same time as him. Ed is obviously one of the higher ranked possibilities. You could balance the ticket with someone on the Right. For example, if Wes was thinking about this, he will definitely need strong endorsement from a centre Left candidate to get anywhere near the number of votes he needs. It comes as Ms Reeves refused to rule out further tax rises after her latest 30bn raid. The Chancellor increased taxes for a second time in her autumn Budget despite promising last year she would not come back for more. It means that the UK tax burden stands at its highest since the Second World War, with more working people dragged into paying higher rates despite Labours pledge to protect them. Ms Reeves has now refused to rule out further rises, insisting it would be wrong to start writing future Budgets so soon after her last announcement. In an interview with the i newspaper, she said that she hoped further changes to taxes are less necessary because of the extra headroom she created last month. The latest release of files on Jeffrey Epstein shows he made sure his victims were of school age or met a list of sexual requirements - Department of justice The depths of Jeffrey Epsteins sexual depravity have emerged as the latest files reveal how he demanded proof that his victims were underage. Witnesses told police how he complained when girls who were sent to his massage rooms were older or darker than he had stipulated. Epstein began insisting that ID checks were carried out to make sure those he abused were either of school age or met a list of his sexual requirements. The latest documents also show how he did not believe females being sent to perform massages and sex acts at his Florida home were as young as they claimed. One schoolgirl told police he knew how old I was, explaining how two years of travelling with him meant I developed [an] eating disorder. A victim describes Epsteins abuse to police Another document suggests Epstein sent a bucket of roses to a high school to be given to a student he was grooming. The handwritten note lists possible times the girl would have been available to receive the flowers, illustrating the level of planning involved in gaining the confidence of his victims. The numerous notes from police interviews, which took place two months before Epstein was charged with sex trafficking of minors, are among the thousands of documents released by Donald Trumps department of justice (DoJ) on the convicted sex offender. A victim told a police officer in 2019 that the paedophile demanded to see proof a girl was underage because someone had messed up by bringing more older girls. Notes from police interview with one of Jeffrey Epsteins victims taken in 2019 Notes from the interview said: At one point [redacted] witnessed him asking to ID for girl [sic]. The notes add that Epstein wanted to make sure was under 18 b/c he wasnt believing them [redacted] messed up by bringing more older girls. The victim also told the interviewer that Epstein didnt want Spanish or dark girls and was not happy when one was brought to him. She was told to keep looking for girls. Another note from the officer says all below 18 when to JE. One note describes Ghislaine Maxwell Epstein also appears to have told the victim you know what Im into, which she understood to mean young petite underage. One of the most disturbing images featured in the release shows Epstein sitting topless next to a young child. The paedophile, who is known to have abused girls as young as 14, can be seen sitting on a white sofa while the legs of a young child wearing black Crocs can be seen on a white chair next to him. Epstein sits topless next to a young child His predilection for thin and blond underage girls was so pervasive, he refused to let a black teenager give him a massage after she was mistakenly hired. An FBI agent said in testimony in 2007 when Epstein was first investigated for child sex offences that the black girl had been brought to the financiers home in Palm Beach by another young girl, described as thin and blonde, who had been tasked with recruiting friends as masseuses. The agent said: I guess we asked if she ever made a mistake, or ever brought somebody that Mr. Epstein didnt take to. She said that she had screwed up and that she had brought a black girl to Mr. Epstein, and that Epstein was not interested in black girls. But he did pay her and said that he wasnt a racist. He paid her the $200 for her time, but did not want her to perform a massage for him. In further testimony, another young girl tasked with finding masseuses said Epstein rejected a woman who was 23 as too old. There were a few girls he wasnt crazy about. He didnt really like. He didnt favour for instance, 23, he thought she was kind of too old, said the witness. Images of his New York townhouse also reveal the property was decorated with multiple artworks and photographs featuring children. Photographs published by the DoJ showed Epstein owned a life-sized sculpture of a seated schoolboy in his mansion near Central Park. The documents also include dozens, if not hundreds, of images of scantily clad young women and girls. One whole folder is called nudes and all the images are blacked out. Nude artwrork in one of Epsteins properties One painting features what appears to be young girls Epstein also appears to have kept a birthday card covered in images of young girls, including several where they appear to be embracing him. The first page of the card, which is heavily redacted to protect the identities of the victims, includes a white thought bubble with text reading: Once upon a time... there was a clueless little girl. The next page, below, shows Epstein staring at a girl leaning over in a white dress, her behind redacted, with a thought bubble reading: Mmm... elastic. The woman is thinking: What is he doing?! He wouldnt. The next page, below, shows Epstein staring at a girl leaning over in a white dress, her behind redacted, with a thought bubble reading: A scrapbook found in Epsteins apartment The following page shows the paedophile embracing someone, with the caption referring to their blue eyes and little teeth. The card also includes an image of Epstein with a Christmas tree on top of his head, alongside images of young women and the text oh my goodness and I will be the first. A page of the scrabook which reads I will be the first It appears to be a birthday card for Epstein from one of his victims, including images from trips abroad to Prague and Epstein wearing a facemask. The files also reveal Epstein rejected monogamy and wanted to create a harem for himself. One of the paedophiles victims said he believed the homogamous way of life is not [the] way to live, according to notes of a police interview dated July 2019. Epstein thought its not healthy to be in [a] monogamous relationship, according to the document. He had an idea to build a harum [sic], it added. Epstein wearing a green clay facemask The victim, whose name has been redacted from the files, described being groomed by Epstein, saying he paid for her to go to school, gifting her cash and an Egyptian gold ring from 600BC. I trusted him a lot and believed a lot of what she said, she said. It was all mind control. The newly released files also reveal Epstein threatened to burn a photographers house down over stolen pictures of her young sisters. The unnamed photographer claimed in a criminal filing that the paedophile had taken the photographs of her sisters, aged 12 and 16, and that Epstein also took pictures of young girls at swimming pools. He is now threatening [redacted] that if she tells anyone about the pictures he will burn her house down, the complaint reads. b' Epstein Landscape ' The Trump administration has released the first tranche of the Epstein files after months of pressure on the White House. The documents, published by the department of justice, represent the largest release of information so far on Jeffrey Epstein and his high-profile associates. Thousands more pages remain unpublished, as officials continue sifting through files to ensure that details of victims remain hidden. Here is what we know so far. Andrew Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is pictured (below) lying across five womens laps in one of thousands of images in the documents. Dressed in black tie, the former Duke of York is seen laughing with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epsteins ex-girlfriend and accomplice, standing in the background. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is pictured (below) lying across five women's laps in one of thousands of images in the documents. The faces of the women in the picture with Andrew have been obscured to protect their identities. A sixth woman stands behind them alongside Ms Maxwell. As with many of the photographs, it is unclear when or where they were taken as no context has been provided. Andrew, a former friend of the paedophile, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, also appears in the files. She is seen posing for a photograph with someone in the street and chatting with a woman while they sit on a sofa. Both women have had their faces obscured by the department of justice. Sarah Ferguson, Andrew's ex-wife, sitting with a woman on a sofa Clinton The presence of two presidents illustrates how Epstein mixed with the rich and powerful. But while never-before-seen photos of Bill Clinton are abundant in the files, Donald Trump makes only a fleeting appearance in the first documents reviewed by The Telegraph. One photograph shows Mr Clinton swimming with Maxwell. In another he lounges in a hot tub, wearing a small pair of black swimming trunks, alongside a woman whose face has been blacked out. Bill Clinton lounges in a hot tub The former president was also photographed on a red velvet chair with his arm around a young blonde woman, who is sitting on his lap. The woman is one of many in the Epstein files whose face has been redacted. The images will delight Mr Trumps supporters as they seek to deflect attention. Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, shared one of the images of Mr Clinton with the comment: Oh my!. Trump In contrast, Telegraph analysis of the files has revealed just three mentions of Mr Trump so far. The US president was once a close friend of his Palm Beach neighbour and they moved in the same glamorous New York circles before falling out two decades ago. In interviews with Vanity Fair, Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff, said she had reviewed many of the documents and said that although the president is mentioned, he is not in the file doing anything awful. However, one court filing described how a 14-year-old girl, called Jane Doe, was taken to Mar-a-Lago by Epstein in the mid-1990s and introduced to Mr Trump. Epstein elbowed Trump playfully asking him, referring to Doe, This is a good one, right? according to the document. Trump smiled and nodded in agreement. They both chuckled and Doe felt uncomfortable but, at the time, was too young to understand why. b' ' Epsteins depravity The files offered an unprecedented look at how Epstein went about finding, grooming and abusing girls. One court document revealed how he demanded to see ID to make sure girls were under 18. At one point [redacted] witnessed him asking for ID to girl, notes from a police interview released by the Department of Justice read. At one point [redacted] witnessed him asking for ID They add that Epstein wanted to make sure was under 18 b/c he wasnt believing them [redacted] messed up by bringing more older girls. Another document described how he was trying to create a harem for himself. One of the paedophiles victims said he believed the homogamous way of life is not [the] way to live, according to notes of a police interview dated July 2019. Epstein thought its not healthy to be in [a] monogamous relationship, according to the document. He had an idea to build a harum [sic], it added. The victim, whose name has been redacted from the files, described being groomed by Epstein, saying he paid for her to go to school, giving her cash and an Egyptian gold ring from 600BC. I trusted him a lot and believed a lot of what she said, she said. It was all mind control. Ghislaine Many of the photographs raise more questions than they answer. Just what was Maxwell, now serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, doing posing in front of the door to 10 Downing Street? It came with no date or any other information. Ghislaine Maxwell pictured outside 10 Downing Street in an image released as part of the Epstein files Other images show her visiting Winston Churchills underground War Rooms, alongside Mr Clinton and Kevin Spacey, the actor. They stand around a desk in the war cabinet room, where Churchill directed Britains Second World War operations. The British socialite and the House of Cards actor are in the same clothes in which they were pictured at Buckingham Palace in 2002. Epstein survivor finally learns from files what happened to 1996 child porn complaint she made to FBI - years before financier was investigated The release of tens of thousands of files from probes into deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has confirmed that a former employee warned the FBI in 1996 that he was seeking out child pornography - a decade before the agency investigated the financier. Ive waited 30 years, Maria Farmer told The New York Times after the Justice Department released files Friday. Among the documents was Farmers report to the bureau, which is thought to be the first time someone reported Epstein to law enforcement. Farmer, who accused Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell of sexually assaulting her in a 2019 lawsuit, has said she faced threats and claims that she was inventing her story, for years. I cant believe it, Farmer added. They cant call me a liar anymore. The FBI has never publicly acknowledged the report. Newly released Epstein documents show how Maria Farmer, a former Epstein employee, tried to warn the FBI about the financier a decade before the agency began investigating him (ABC News) The FBI declined to comment. The document reveals that Farmer, an artist, warned in 1996 that Epstein stole photos she had taken of her 12- and 16-year-old sisters, and alleges he may have sold the pictures to buyers. Farmer told the Times the photos included nude images. The artist also claimed in the complaint that Epstein at one time requested she take photos of young girls at swimming pools, and later threatened to burn down Farmers house down if she told anyone about the photos. Farmer sued the FBI this year claiming they failed to pursue her complaint, alleging that the bureaus inaction paved the way for Epsteins abuses (Department of Justice) Farmer filed a lawsuit against the FBI in May in Washington, D.C., alleging it did absolutely nothing to stop Epstein until it was too late. The bureau didnt start investigating the financier until 2006. The FBI, in violation of its mandatory obligations under regulations and DOJ policies, chose to do absolutely nothing, the lawsuit states. Farmer has said she also tried to urge federal officials to investigate Epsteins ties to powerful people like former president Bill Clinton and President Donald Trump. While both are known to have socialized with Epstein - and were photographed with him - neither has been accused of wrongdoing. Farmer claims that she encountered Trump in 1995 in Epsteins Manhattan office, and that the real estate mogul stared at her bare legs. Fridays release of Epstein files contain scores of images of the late financier with high-profile people like Michael Jackson and Bill Clinton (AP) Epstein then said: No, no, shes not here for you, Farmer told The New York Times. The president was never in [Epsteins] office, White House communications director Steven Cheung said of the claim. The fact is that the president kicked him out of his club for being a creep. Farmers sister, Annie Farmer, alleges she was invited to the Epstein ranch in New Mexico when she was 16, where she said Epstein climbed into bed with her to cuddle and Maxwell gave her a massage where she rubbed her bare chest. Maxwell is serving 20 years in federal prison on sex trafficking charges for her role in the Epstein ring. Epstein survivors have pushed the government to release more files than the heavily redacted materials they have shared so far (Heather Diehl/Getty Images) Scores of Epstein survivors have pushed the government to release more documents, following Fridays heavily redacted tranche of materials. Officials will share more documents as part of the release in the coming weeks, according to the Justice Department. The Trump administration initially resisted calls to release the documents, though by November the president gave into political pressure and signed a bill authorizing the disclosures. Survivors of the late Jeffrey Epsteins alleged sexual abuse have expressed disappointment over a document dump that was heavily redacted and only partially released. The Justice Department released thousands of documents Friday related to the convicted sex offender, who died by suicide in his jail cell in 2019 as he stood accused of sexually abusing and sex trafficking underage girls. Despite Congress passing a bill, which President Donald Trump signed into law, compelling the government to release all of the documents by Friday, the Justice Department said it would take an additional couple of weeks to make everything public. Included in the trove of documents was a 100-page file that was completely blacked out. Representative Ro Khanna a California Democrat who, along with Republican congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, led the charge to release the Epstein files said the documents were excessively redacted. The most important documents are missing, theyve had excessive redactions, he told CNNs Kaitlan Collins, adding that the disgraced financiers 60-count indictment before he reached a plea deal on sex crimes in 2008 and an 82-page memo backing up the charges have yet to be made public. Survivors of the late Jeffrey Epsteins alleged sexual abuse have expressed disappointment over a document dump that was heavily redacted and only partially released (Heather Diehl/Getty Images) Epstein survivor Annie Farmer said, I don't feel tremendously confident that everything will come out. There's been a lot of effort, money & time put into redactions. Not to protect victims, but to protect people in power, she said in a statement shared by CBS News Scott MacFarlane. Haley Robson, another Epstein survivor who voted for Trump but has come to regret it, told The Independent, I knew going into this and just how Trump likes to play his little tactics. I knew with all the obstacles we've already rendered and the administration's flip flop, I already knew that we were not going to see the files as we should be getting them. Robson wants to file a lawsuit since she said the Trump administration and the Justice Department had not complied with the Epstein files bill. "I told my attorneys that there has to be consequences on every level. It can't just be consequences on the men who trafficked and abused us. It has to be consequences to the system, which the system is, what you're seeing now, and how they're basically pivoting and dragging their feet," Robson said. Epstein survivor Jess Michaels, told MS NOWs Nicolle Wallace, Even with an act of Congress we are seeing the exact same delays, negligence, corruption, incompetence that weve seen consistently and been advocating about. The Justice Department released thousands of documents Friday related to the convicted sex offender (Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images) Liz Stein, who has also accused Epstein of sexual abuse, told the network, I think that the best way that the American public can support us is by continuing to put the pressure on and demanding accountability from our government to release all of this information. White House Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement to The Independent, The Trump Administration is the most transparent in history. By releasing thousands of pages of documents, cooperating with the House Oversight Committees subpoena request, and President Trump recently calling for further investigations into Epsteins Democrat friends, the Trump Administration has done more for the victims than Democrats ever have. One document that did come to light was a 1996 FBI complaint made by Farmers sister, Maria Farmer, another Epstein survivor. The report claimed the disgraced financier stole pictures of her then-12-year-old and 16-year-old sisters and sold them to potential buyers. Farmers name was redacted and only describes her as a professional artist. It states she had taken pictures of her sisters for her personal art work. Farmer told The New York Times the photos included nude pictures. The case is classified as child pornography in the complaint. One document that did come to light was a 1996 FBI complaint made by Farmers sister, Maria Farmer, another Epstein survivor (Department of Justice) The complaint also states Epstein requested Farmer to take pictures of young girls at swimming pools and he threatened to burn her house down if she told anyone about the photos. In a statement aired on CNN, Maria said, Im crying for two reasons. I want everyone to know that I am shedding tears of joy for myself, but also tears of sorrow for all the other victims that the FBI failed. Annie confirmed that the 16-year-old mentioned in the report was her when speaking with CNNs Jake Tapper. She began to tear up as she said, Just to see it in writing and to know that they had this document this entire time, and how many people were harmed after that datehas been very emotional. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene a Georgia Republican who recently had a public falling out with Trump, in part due to her support of the releasing of the Epstein files wrote on X, the heavily redacted Epstein files being released and failure to release them all by todays lawful deadline are NOT MAGA. Why are the survivors fighting to have the release of all of the files? Gloria Allred, an attorney for Epstein survivors, asked in an interview with CNNs Kasie Hunt. The reason is because they want accountability. If there are rich, powerful, famous men who engaged in or assisted in or conspired to sex traffic underage girls, they want to know who those people are. There are some documents the Justice Department does not have to release, including anything that could reveal a victims identity, anything depicting the sexual abuse of children and anything that could jeopardize an active federal investigation. Eric Garcia contributed to this reporting. An escaped goat which went on a rampage in a Wiltshire village was safely captured by police with riot shields. Officers in Upper Seagry, near Chippenham were not kidding around when they lassoed the goat to round the animal up before it was safely returned to its owner. The goat was causing mischief on Thursday by trying to eat oranges from a Christmas wreath and was seen chasing a woman around the village, an eyewitness told the BBC. A video taken by Wiltshire Police shows the mammal attempting to munch on safety equipment in the boot of the officer's car. The goat was seen trotting around Upper Seagry, near Chippenham, on Thursday morning (Wiltshire Police) Where does the goat live, apparently its not very nice, one officer can be heard saying on body-worn camera footage. It is actually quite aggressive, the officer added while the goat head butted the riot shield and another officer attempted to lasso the goat. Weve got it on a towline, weve got some PSU shields because he is trying to butt my head, the officer said before remarking how large the animal was. The goat briefly slipped out of the lasso and ran down the road before police recaptured the animal. A Wiltshire police spokesperson said: PC Ferris and PC Miller, from Chippenham Response, swiftly responded, controlled the situation and returned the goat to his owner. Former world champion and world number one Michael Smith led the high-profile casualties on a day of shocks at the PDC World Championships. Smith lost 3-1 to Dutchman Niels Zonneveld to join fellow seeds Chris Dobey, Dave Chisnall and Dirk van Duijvenbode on the Alexandra Palace scrapheap. The 2023 champion missed a dart at double top for the third set, with Zonneveld clinching it with double 10 to move ahead. Niels Zonneveld celebrates the biggest win of his career (Bradley Collyer/PA) (Bradley Collyer) Smith then went for a showbiz 170 finish with Zonneveld a long way back, but after he missed, the 27-year-old from Uitgeest hit 180 and a 77 checkout to break for 2-0 in the fourth before completing the job in the next leg. It means the world, Zonneveld, who will meet fifth seed Johnny Clayton in round three, said on Sky Sports. I dreamed about this as a boy and now it came true. Ive survived until Christmas and its such a good feeling. Dobey, the eighth seed, was beaten by an inspired performance from 55-year-old Andrew Gilding, who averaged 99.01 and hit a 10-dart leg in a 3-1 victory. Andrew Gilding with his highest ever average on the Ally Pally stage to knock out Chris Dobey pic.twitter.com/qySK2PXn34 PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 20, 2025 How do I feel? Amazing, said Gilding. I dont know what happened. I felt really bad in practice, but thats usually a good sign. Chisnall was dumped out by German Ricardo Pietreczko despite hitting 11 maximums. Dave Chisnall lost to Ricardo Pietreczko at Alexandra Palace (Bradley Collyer/PA) (Bradley Collyer) The number 21 seed paid the price for double trouble and missed a match dart in the final set when it seemed as though he would complete a remarkable recovery. James Hurrell claimed one of the biggest wins of his career by upsetting 29th seed Van Duijvenbode 3-2. Hurrell missed two match darts for a final-set whitewash, but he held his nerve to win the next leg and will next meet fourth seed Stephen Bunting. Popular Merseysider Bunting avoided the carnage with a routine 3-0 win over Indias Nitin Kumar. Japans Motomu Sakai has proved a huge crowd favourite with darts fans at Alexandra Palace (Bradley Collyer/PA) (Bradley Collyer) Crowd favourite Motomu Sakai bowed out with his conqueror Andreas Harrysson admitting that he had been worried by the Japaneses exuberant walk-on. Sakai has become a cult hero this week, with fans warming to his energetic dance moves and signing autographs en route to the stage. The 28-year-old qualifier won his opening match against Thibault Tricole 3-0, but went down by the same scoreline to Swedens Harrysson as the second-round action got under way. "I was a bit worried seeing his walk-on!" Swedish star Andreas Harrysson reflects on his convincing 3-0 win against crowd favourite Motomu Sakai!#WCDarts pic.twitter.com/IKjZncLJ03 PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 20, 2025 I was a bit worried seeing his walk-on, Harrysson said after following up his first-round win over 12th seed Ross Smith. But I think I managed it quite OK. I think he wasnt as he was in the first game on the stage. Its a great feeling. I didnt play my best, but nor did he. It was a great win. Ryan Searle averaged over 98 in an impressive straight-sets win over Brendan Dolan. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has confirmed reports linking Nigerian Pastor Eric Abakporo, who is also a lawyer based in New York to despicable fraud: the theft of the life savings of an elderly African-American woman through deceit and lies. Pastor Eric Abakporo of Deeper Life Bible church and a cohort, Latanya Pierce, were arrested for swindling the 78 year-old woman and stiffing a bank with a phony $1.8 million mortgage loan. Pastor Abakporo was arrested on Monday in Queens, NY, while Pierce surrendered voluntarily . According to New York State Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, Through lies and deception, these individuals abused the trust of an elderly woman in order to perpetrate a multimillion dollar fraud. Now that their despicable scheme has been exposed, they will face justice . Prince George has been assisting the Prince of Wales in helping at a homeless kitchen ahead of Christmas. This is part of Prince Williams efforts to teach his 12-year-old son about homelessness and the work charities are trying to do to tackle it. The charity the pair helped out at is of personal significance to the royals Westminster-based charity the Passage is where the late Princess Diana brought William as a child. Last week, they attended the Passage and helped volunteers prepare lunch. Chief executive of the Passage, Mick Clarke, explained that Prince George arrived when they were in the process of making Christmas lunch for 150 people. Prince George got 'stuck in' as he helped his father Prince William prepare Christmas lunches for the homeless (Kensington Palace) Mr Clarke told the BBC: "It was really about, 'Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in?' And he very much was, "Very much like his dad, actually - just wanted to get stuck in and help." Mr Clarke said: "A lovely kid is how I would describe him, and he just really seemed very interested in the work that we do, and particularly in talking to people who have used our services, "William was on the sprouts, getting his sprouts ready so they could go into the steamer, and Prince George was helping with the Yorkshire puddings. Prince George signed the same visitors' book as William and Diana back in December 1993. Mr Clarke described it as a "lovely, beautiful moment. He said, I think particularly with Prince William pointing out to George, 'This is my mum's signature. This was the first time that she brought me here.' "It kind of felt full circle, really - 1993 through to 2025, with William bringing George." In an interview last year, Prince William recalled visiting the charity as an 11-year-old. He said: "My mother went about her usual part of making everyone feel relaxed and having a laugh and joking with everyone." "I remember at the time, kind of thinking, well, if everyone's not got a home, they're all going to be really sad. "But it was incredible how happy an environment it was." Diana, Princess of Wales helped at The Passage in 1993 (PA Archive) The Passage is built around the principles of the social reformer St Vincent de Paul and has been serving people living in Westminster since 1980. Last year, the charity helped over 3,000 people. The charity explained that one of the main causes of homelessness is poverty, and that "many people are just one bill away from experiencing homelessness". It also expressed concern around the risks of addiction and substance abuse, as well as mental health problems, domestic violence, and traumatic events in families. It added that there are links between homelessness and people being exploited through human trafficking and modern slavery. Inexperience was no hindrance to Grand Geste as he eased to victory in the Betfred Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at Haydock on only his third start over fences. The grey was the 15-8 favourite under Danny McMenamin for Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith, who have been in fantastic form of late in staying handicap chases producing Konfusion to win the Rehearsal Chase and OConnell to take the London National. Grand Geste had been second in his two chase starts to date, but when stepping up in trip and racing prominently from the front, the six-year-old thrived with a superb round of jumping to prevail by six and a half lengths from My Silver Lining. Parkinson told Racing TV: Hes a lovely horse, weve thrown him in here half knowing what weve got with a little bit of quiet confidence. Its only his third chase but hes such a solid jumper so we thought wed have a go. Weve got the Peter Marsh (back at Haydock), well see what the handicapper does next but its exciting, hes a nice horse. McMenamin added: He jumped like a buck everywhere, it was a good bit of placement from his trainers and its worked out well. He had no weight on his back (10st 2lb) so I thought Id get a good start, ideally I didnt want to make the running but he winged the first and I thought there was no point in taking him back. Hes a scopey horse, a good, big chaser and Id say theres plenty more improvement to come from him. Harry Derhams Lario made a smart debut over fences when winning the Betfred Bet Builder Chasing Excellence Beginners Chase under Paul OBrien. The six-year-old made the frame several times over hurdles for the stable, and despite starting out on the level in Germany it was a switch to fences that helped him get his head in front as he prevailed by two lengths at 9-4 as Bill Joyce, the 5-6 favourite, was pulled up. He jumped beautifully today and got into a lovely rhythm, Derham said. Hes been frustrating for me because Ive always thought he was a really nice horse but I hadnt won with him yet, but he kept bumping into good horses last year. I always thought he was faster than he is, but hes actually just a real galloper. Hes not going to be a top, top horse, but I think we can make him into a really decent chaser. Sam Englands string are clearly in rude health as Haarar took the Betfred Nifty 50 Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle under Tom Midgley at 7-1, after which Saligo Bay landed the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Handicap Hurdle at 5-1 with Richie McLernon in the saddle. An Air India Express pilot has been suspended for allegedly assaulting a passenger during security check-in at the Delhi airport, the airline said on Saturday. A SpiceJet passenger at Delhi airports Terminal 1 on Friday alleged that an off-duty Air India Express pilot physically assaulted him after an altercation escalated over the pilot cutting the security queue. The passenger, Ankit Dewan, who was accompanied by his wife and two children, said he was guided to use the security check that the staff uses because we had a 4-month-old baby in a stroller. At the security checkpoint, he said he questioned some staff members cutting the queue, after which an Air India Express (AIX) pilot, identified as Captain Virender Sejwal, allegedly abused him before physically assaulting him. The staff was cutting the queue ahead of me. On calling them out, Capt. Virender, who himself was doing the same thing, asked me if I was anpadh (uneducated), and couldnt read the signs that said this entry was for staff, the passenger wrote on X. A verbal scuffle broke out. Not able to exercise restraint, the AIX pilot proceeded to physically assault me, leaving me bloody. The blood in the photograph (first comment) on his shirt is also mine, Mr Dewan said. An Air India Express aircraft prepares to land at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru (AFP via Getty Images) He said the incident traumatised and scared his 7-year-old daughter, who saw her father get assaulted brutally. The passenger also alleged he was forced to write a letter stating that I will not pursue this matter further, with his only other option being to either miss his flight and throw the 1.2 lakhs holiday bookings down the drain. Mr Dewan also raised concerns on X about the delay in the airport authorities providing him with first aid. My wife kept requesting first aid. The guy got there after 15 minutes, but empty-handed, he said in a post on X. @ankitdewan We profoundly regret this incident at Delhi Airport, involving one of our employees who was traveling as a passenger on another airline. We extend our heartfelt empathy for the distress it has caused, and strongly condemn such behaviour. The concerned employee has Air India Express (@AirIndiaX) December 19, 2025 He alleged the airport police force also did not allow him to cross to the other side of the security checkpoint to the medical centre. After some 45 minutes, a suitcase was hauled in with medicines, and then I was given First Aid, Mr Dewan said. What if someone needed it urgently? Have you ever heard of an emergency responder showing up empty-handed? the passenger said. He also alleged that airport authorities did not take preventive action to stop the assault. Virender Sejwal was getting frisked at the Security Check while continuing his verbal spat with me. There, he told the CISF guy, main issko maar ke aata hu (Ill come back after hitting him), Mr Dewan said. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has taken serious cognizance of the incident and directed the airline to ground the pilot with immediate effect. A formal enquiry has been ordered. Detailed reports have been sought from BCAS and CISF. MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) December 20, 2025 Air India Express said in a statement that the concerned employee has been removed from official duties with immediate effect, adding that appropriate action will be taken pending thorough investigation. We profoundly regret this incident at Delhi Airport, involving one of our employees who was travelling as a passenger on another airline. We extend our heartfelt empathy for the distress it has caused, and strongly condemn such behaviour, the airline company said on X. Indias aviation ministry responded that it has taken serious cognisance of the incident and directed the airline to ground the pilot with immediate effect. The passenger wrote on X that he hoped Air India Express would go beyond just suspension of the pilot. The Independent has reached out to AIX for comment. The mom, 37, used Johnson & Johnson baby powder throughout her childhood and later developed mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused primarily by exposure to the carcinogen asbestos (Getty Images) A jury has awarded $65.5 million to a mother of three who claimed talcum products made by Johnson & Johnson exposed her to asbestos and contributed to her developing cancer in the lining of her lungs. Jurors in Minnesota determined Friday that Anna Jean Houghton Carley, 37, should be compensated by Johnson & Johnson after using its baby powder throughout her childhood and later developing mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused primarily by exposure to the carcinogen asbestos. Johnson & Johnson said it would appeal the verdict. During a 13-day trial in Ramsey County District Court, Carley's legal team argued the pharmaceutical giant sold and marketed talc-based products to consumers despite knowing it can be contaminated with asbestos. Carley's lawyers also said her family was never warned about potential dangers while using the product on their child. The product was taken off shelves in the U.S. in 2020. Johnson & Johnson stopped selling powder made with talc worldwide in 2023 (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File) This case was not about compensation only. It was about truth and accountability," Carley's attorney Ben Braly said. Erik Haas, worldwide vice president of litigation for Johnson & Johnson, argued the company's baby powder is safe, does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer. He expects an appellate court to reverse the decision. The verdict is the latest development in a longstanding legal battle over claims that talc in Johnsons Baby Powder and Shower to Shower body powder was connected to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma, which strikes the lungs and other organs. Johnson & Johnson stopped selling powder made with talc worldwide in 2023. These lawsuits are predicated on junk science, refuted by decades of studies that demonstrate Johnson & Johnsons Baby Powder is safe, does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer, Haas said in a statement after the verdict. Earlier this month, a Los Angeles jury awarded $40 million to two women who claimed Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder caused their ovarian cancer. And in October, another California jury ordered the company to pay $966 million to the family of a woman who died of mesothelioma, claiming she developed the cancer because the baby powder she used was contaminated with asbestos. Kate Winslet said she had to direct her latest film, Goodbye June, because she knew she would regret missing out on it. The 50-year-old also stars in the Christmas movie, which was written by her son Joe Anders and follows four siblings whose lives change when their mothers health takes a turn for the worse during the festive period. Speaking on an episode of the Kermode & Mayos Take podcast, the Hollywood star expressed her pride in the new film, and said when her son approached her with the script, she couldnt let it go. The 50-year-old directs and stars in the Christmas movie, which was written by her son Joe Anders (Ian West/PA) (Ian West) She said: Joe had written this script and actually he still had about 20 to 25 pages to go to finish it. I said: Look, just finish it and lets have another conversation because I think this could be a film, Joe, really, I do. Goodbye June is the screenplay debut of Winslets 21-year-old son. Winslet praised her sons work, and said: I just have to be honest really and truly, he knew what he was doing. He just does have an understanding of film and of characters and hes always been a very observant person. Goodbye June is the screenplay debut of Winslets 21-year-old son, Anders (Ian West/PA) (Ian West) The film is also a first for the Hollywood star, marking her directorial debut. She said: After about a year of further development and various different iterations of the script and redrafting certain things, there was a screenplay that was ready to be sent out to directors and Netflix had shown some interest in it. I suddenly realised I couldnt let it go. I just thought: If I never do this again, if this is the only moment in my life I direct a film, I know Id regret it if it wasnt this one. Winslet said she couldnt let it go once she read the script for Goodbye June, and knew she wanted to direct the festive film (Ian West/PA) (Ian West) She added: I feel so proud that I have done it now, and done it at a time that I think the film industry is struggling. Winslet also mentioned challenges she faced in her new role, saying she felt there was a very strange attitude towards her as an actress taking on the role of a director. She said: I think theres a different language that is used when addressing female directors to male directors. With male actors and this is absolutely no criticism of them at all its somehow theres this societal assumption that they will automatically know what theyre doing, whereas the same assumption is not made of women. Thats not right and actually its not fair. Winslet is best known for her roles in films such as James Camerons Titanic, and The Holiday (Ian West/PA) (Ian West) Winslet is best known for her roles in films such as James Camerons Titanic (1997), and festive feature, The Holiday (2006). The film, which was inspired by the death of Winslets mother, also stars Dame Helen Mirren, Timothy Spall, Andrea Riseborough, Johnny Flynn, Stephen Merchant and Toni Collette. Goodbye June is available to watch in UK cinemas, and will be available on streaming platform Netflix on Christmas Eve. In being painted bronze green, the Palace gates will be recast in a colour associated with the former Duke of Edinburgh The King has been forced to repaint Buckingham Palaces gates after tourists rubbed the paint off. The Royal household lodged plans earlier this year to repaint the gates, which are seen in hundreds of photos from millions of tourists every year, from their historic black colour to bronze green. In planning documents seen by The Telegraph, royal officials say the gates which date back to the early 20th century and were commissioned by King George V are highly vulnerable to wear and tear from contact by members of the public. The black gates have been pictured throughout royal history in events such as Queen Elizabeth IIs Diamond and Golden Jubilees and the wedding of the Prince of Wales to Kate Middleton in 2011. The gates feature the Royal Coat of Arms, which has three lions symbolising England, as well as a rampart lion symbolising Scotland and a Harp for Ireland. The proposed changes cover the forecourt at Buckingham Palace, where the Changing of the Guard takes place and the Ambassadors Court, an internal courtyard of the palace. Planning documents state: They form an important part of the overall impression of the front of the Palace to the general public, visitors and guests, and to The Royal Family for whom The Fore Court is in regular use. The gates, along with railings, piers and plinths surrounding the palace, will also be repainted. The gates feature the Royal Coat of Arms, which has three lions symbolising England, as well as a rampart lion symbolising Scotland and a Harp for Ireland Planning representatives for the Royal household explained that the repainting will enhance the appearance of both the metalwork and stonework and in turn improve the overall appearance of these highly significant front and side elevations of the Palace in its setting. They continued: Works would be carried out in situ and would therefore be less intrusive to the fabric, avoiding the need to cut through existing ironwork to enable its removal. Sir Aston Webb, the architect who was responsible for a major remodelling of the palace facade in the early 20th century, commissioned the Bromsgrove Guild to construct the new wrought iron gates in 1905. Based in Bromsgrove, they were strongly rooted in the arts and crafts movement with a desire to counteract the damaging effects of industrial production and instead focus on domestic, often bespoke, design. It is understood that bronze green was previously used on the railings and gates in the 20th century, and they were later painted black. The decision to repaint the gates to bronze green comes from paint analysis, archive research and trials on the railings and metalwork completed by the Royal household, according to planning documents. The colour is also closely associated with Prince Philip. It was used for his livery, private cars, and the bespoke Land Rover hearse that carried his coffin at his funeral. At his 2022 memorial service honouring his life, Queen Elizabeth, Camilla, the then Duchess of Cornwall, and Princess Anne also walked in wearing a shade of forest green. The colour has also been used for royal staff uniforms and private household cars. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told the Telegraph: King Charles has taken the opportunity to change the colour of the Buckingham Palace railings and gates from black to bronze green. These are the most photographed royal gates in the world. It links them with the mystique of monarchy, as it is a grounding colour with links to tradition and to land and also pays tribute to his father Prince Philip. He founded the Duke of Edinburgh Award, the first level of competition is bronze and the badge is coloured green. The DoE Award is now the Kings Award so the colour now has direct links with the monarch. Prince Philip designed the Land Rover Defender which was used as his funeral hearse and which was repainted dark bronze green, the colour of camouflage, to reflect his many links with the military. Bronze green is also linked to causes close to King Charless heart as an environmental campaigner. It is associated with maturity and evokes the timeless traditional values which he espouses in architecture and handicrafts. It is also a colour which is identified with quiet authority. Bronze green is linked to Prince Philip, who served in the Royal Navy, partly because it is the colour of camouflage - Getty Images/Anwar Hussein It comes after the Royal household lodged plans earlier this year to replace gas with eco-friendly alternatives at Buckingham, St Jamess and Kensington Palaces. However, locals and heritage campaigners, including the Kings own son-in-law, said replacing the gas lamps would be removing a key piece of Londons heritage and called for the existing lanterns to be upgraded. Buckingham Palace is also currently undergoing a major 10-year reservicing program to overhaul its ancient electrical wiring, plumbing, and heating systems for better efficiency, accessibility, and to secure the buildings future, involving replacement of miles of cables and pipes, plus upgrading visitor facilities. Buckingham Palace was approached for comment. Police have cordoned off the pavement where part of the rampage took place - Ann Wang/Reuters A knifeman who stabbed three people to death in Taipei had carefully prepared for the killing spree, including by changing his outfit five times. Three people were killed and at least six others injured in Taiwans capital after a 27-year-old man threw smoke grenades in a packed underground concourse before terrorising and stabbing bystanders with a long knife. The man, identified by police as Chang Wen, later walked half a mile away to the busy retail area of Zhongshan, stabbing people along the way. He entered a shopping centre to continue the assault before he died after falling from the fifth floor during a police pursuit. Police on Saturday said that they had struggled to find a motive behind the attack, but noted that it appeared meticulously planned. People place flowers near the site of the attacks in Taipei - Ritchie B Tongo/EPA/Shutterstock Two days before, the perpetrator had reportedly checked into a cheap hotel a stones throw from the shop where he would end the massacre. He spent the intervening period scouting locations on foot and bicycle. In the hours before he began the knife attack, at around 3.40pm local time, he set fire to parked vehicles before returning to a small apartment he rented and trying to set fire to it too. The suspect changed his clothes five times throughout the ensuing killing spree, according to investigators, although they did not specify where or when this took place. The attacker bought smoke grenades online After the initial round of violence at Taipei Main Station, the man eluded police to escape back to his hotel room. He then set out with more smoke grenades and fatally stabbed a second victim in the Zhongshan neighbourhood. A third man died in hospital from stab wounds, authorities said. Police said that the smoke grenades used by the attacker, who acted alone, were purchased online. Six of the victims of the attack are still in the hospital as of Saturday, according to Shih Chung-liang, Taiwans health minister. Two are being treated in intensive care units but are in stable condition. Violent crime is rare in Taiwan and the attack spurred authorities to increase security in crowded areas and upcoming seasonal celebrations. The presence of police has been increased since the attacks - Ritchie B Tongo/EPA/Shutterstock All important locations ... including railway stations, highways, subway stations and airports are maintaining a high level of alert and vigilance, Cho Jung-tai, Taiwans premier, told reporters. President Lai Ching-te said authorities would quickly clarify the details of the case. There will be no leniency and we will do everything in our power to ensure the safety of our citizens. It is the first mass killing since a stabbing spree in 2014, where a man killed four people on Taipeis metro. He was executed for the killings in 2016. Ruben Amorim says Kobbie Mainoo needs to fight for his job and hinted Manchester United might be able to bolster their squad in the January transfer window. The 20-year-old has been a major talking point this season, with the talented midfielders wait for a Premier League start ongoing in a campaign that began with his loan request being rejected. Mainoo looked lively when brought on in Mondays chaotic 4-4 draw against Bournemouth at Old Trafford, where his half-brother Jordan Mainoo-Hames wore an eye-catching Free Kobbie Mainoo t-shirt. Kobbie Mainoo came off the bench against Bournemouth (Martin Rickett/PA). (Martin Rickett) The stunt went viral and Amorim says there is no issue with the England international, only a desire for the player to kick on and prove his worth. Hes a shy boy, but its not his responsibility, Amorim said. Hes responsible for his acts and his act was to play well in the last game, so Im just focused on that. I had the situation in Sporting (Lisbon) that my brother wrote something in the internet and I have to answer for that. My explanation is, He has his life, he has his opinion, its nothing to do with me, so I will do the same with Kobbie. Kobbie needs to fight for his job. I think that its not a bad thing to be on the bench of Manchester United when you are 20 years old. I remember (Cristiano) Ronaldo was on the bench, (Wayne) Rooney was on the bench sometimes. (Juan Sebastian) Veron was not playing. Charging up for Sunday pic.twitter.com/VIUDF1mbcm Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 20, 2025 I remember all the history of Manchester United and (there is) nobody this didnt fall (to), so lets continue in trying to avoid the nonsense and the noise. Believe it or not, I just want to want to help the team to win and help Kobbie to be a better player. Amorim says Mainoo may start in Sundays trip to Aston Villa, with United without six first-team players due to a mixture of injury, suspension and Africa Cup of Nations action. I dont want to show anything to anyone, Amorim said. Im just saying that Im trying to win games and to show to the players that, if you do things right, you will play no matter what the name. Amorim revealed he could perhaps switch to a back four rather than keep his preferred three-man system to cope with absentees during the festive period. With the transfer window opening next month, Bournemouths Antoine Semenyo, whom the manager last week called a special player, is among those of interest as United continue their attempts to build for long-term success. Manchester United have been linked with Bournemouths Antoine Semenyo (Martin Rickett/PA). (Martin Rickett) Well see, Amorim said when asked if the club had told him there is money for January business. The only thing we know is that we only would try to bring players that we think are going to be the future. Its not going to be to save something in this moment, to cope with the losses of three players for AFCON. Its not going to be like that. I dont know what is going to happen, but its possible that we can do something. Erling Haaland fired Man City to victory over West Ham on Saturday (Getty Images) Erling Haaland scored two goals and made another as Manchester City underlined their growing title credentials with a comfortable 3-0 victory over West Ham. The prolific Norwegian was on target after just five minutes of a one-sided encounter at the Etihad Stadium, before teeing up Tijjani Reijnders and adding another in the second half. Haaland was inches away from completing a hat-trick in stoppage time. Victory for Pep Guardiola's side, their fifth in succession in the Premier League, put pressure firmly on Arsenal at the top end of the table. The Hammers, by contrast, will spend Christmas in the relegation zone after a lacklustre display that extended their winless streak to six. It was not until the second half that the visitors began to ask questions of their hosts, but any prospect of a fightback was snuffed out by Haaland's second, which took his tally for club and country this season to 38. City looked focused from the outset and their dominance of possession brought early reward for Haaland. They moved the ball down the left with Nico Gonzalez playing Phil Foden into the box before the England midfielder pulled back invitingly for Haaland. The Norwegian's first-time right-foot shot was blocked by Alphonse Areola but he made no mistake at the second attempt as he thumped home with his left foot. Deadlock broken: Erling Haaland (Getty Images) Haaland could have doubled his tally within moments as Rayan Cherki delivered a cross at a perfect height but he surprisingly headed wide. City were in complete control and were content to play patiently and wait for openings. Aside from a Jarrod Bowen cross that ran through the box, West Ham offered little and it came as no surprise when City added to their lead. Cherki beat Mateus Fernandes to the ball and wriggled into the box to feed Haaland, who had no room to shoot himself but laid off for Reijnders. The Dutchman, who had drawn a save from Areola with a fierce shot three minutes earlier, smashed the ball into the roof of the net from close range. On target: Tijjani Reijnders (Getty Images) West Ham showed greater energy after the break and went close after Crysencio Summerville won possession on the left and crossed from the byline. Gianluigi Donnarumma reacted quickly to parry Freddie Potts' shot and Fernandes blasted over from the rebound. Bowen dragged wide as the Hammers threatened again but City had further opportunities with Ruben Dias heading at Areola and Foden shooting wide. Haaland put the result beyond any doubt in the 69th minute as City swept forward through substitutes Savinho and Rico Lewis. The ball did not reach him cleanly but two Hammers defenders failed to clear and Haaland pounced to rifle past Areola. Donnarumma blocked from Summerville as West Ham briefly flickered again but Foden and Josko Gvardiol went close for City before Haaland shot narrowly wide in the closing seconds. Tracy Manley pictured with her family (Tracy Manley) A mother living in a damp home fears what may happen this winter after she claims an outbreak of mould caused chest problems for her son and meant he was unable to walk across the living room without stopping for breath. Tracy Manley, 59, has lived in her home for 27 years but discovered it had a problem with mould around three years ago. She said it began with dampness around the windows before she noticed that items stored in the airing cupboard in her sons bedroom were becoming damp. Ms Manley, who is unemployed, receives personal independence payments (PIP) and rents her semi-detached house from Bristol council. She decided to empty that cupboard, but she believes doing so disturbed the mould, which then affected the health of her 31-year-old son, who asked not to be named. When we stripped the bedding last winter, he became ill and had to go on antibiotics, Ms Manley told The Independent. There was a rattling on his chest. We went to the doctors, and first of all, they said it was clear, but then he had trouble with his breathing. Mould building up on Tracy Manleys home last winter (Tracy Manley) Ms Manley added: He couldnt walk across the living room without stopping for breath. It was a serious chest infection, and it was really bad. The doctor put him on a course of antibiotics for around 10 days. It was a case of when it (the mould) was disturbed that was the problem. You were disturbing the mould and then breathing in that disturbance. It was a bit scary we hadn't considered that possibility. Photographs of her home taken last winter that Ms Manley shared with The Independent show patches of mould around windows, on the ceiling and in the airing cupboard. She said she tried to treat it with chemicals but could only keep the problem at bay. About tackling it, she said: Youre always told to open the windows and to ventilate - we tried that, we tried the diffusers, the dehumidifiers. We left vents open, but it was a case of tackling it, clearing it away, but it was still coming back. Thats the problem, it seems to be an ongoing thing in the older houses. There was also a health concern for Ms Manley herself, who was diagnosed with throat cancer last year and was undergoing chemotherapy when the mould was causing an issue. I was worried about my own health and it took a mental toll, she said. Ive got a low immune system myself and Im on a course of chemotherapy. After my cancer diagnosis last year, I was on a much stronger course of chemotherapy. It was difficult to stay positive it was draining on my mental health. Tracy said the problem originated with mould in the airing cupboard (Tracy Manley) Ms Manley is not alone in dealing with such problems more than eight million people in the UK live in cold homes, campaign group Health Equals has warned. New research commissioned by the group found that 28 per cent of people in the UK report living in homes with issues like damp, mould, or cold, which can cause health conditions. Health Equals research found that a quarter of those living in a cold home report experiencing respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, flu and pneumonia, while more than a third report mental health impacts, including depression and anxiety. Ms Manley is worried about what might happen this winter. She said the council responded to her requests for help and previously patched up the mould, but she believes this has not fixed the root causes of dampness. She said: Theres still damp in my kitchen as well and Im worried about my sons chest problem coming back this winter, as well as my own health. Theyve checked up in the loft, theyve checked the guttering, and they seem to say theres no problem with any of that, so its just tackling it as it comes on. Its keeping an eye on it over the winter and seeing how its going to progress, but youre worried youre going to disturb it again. Youve got to clean it, but youre worried about making it worse for yourself. Then it gets airborne. Responding to Ms Manleys situation, councillor Barry Parsons, chair of Bristol councils homes and housing delivery committee, said: Our priority is to ensure all council homes are safe, warm, well-maintained, and meet the standards required of us as a social landlord. Since our self-referral to the regulator of social housing, we have been working hard to improve the way we manage and maintain our housing stock. Significant progress has already been made; since August, the number of open damp and mould cases has fallen significantly. However, we recognise there is still more work needed to ensure our homes meet the standards tenants deserve. We will continue to invest in the safety and quality of our homes with a strong focus on tackling damp and mould. Every report of damp or mould is taken seriously and responded to within 10 working days. We encourage any of our tenants experiencing these issues to contact us so we can investigate and provide support. The Independent understands council officers visited the property last week to inspect the problems and treat them. A popular labour activist and principal secretary to the Governor of Edo State Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Olaitan Oyerinde, was murdered in cold blood on Friday morning around 1: 00AM by unknown gunmen in Benin city, the capital of Edo state. Comrade Olaitan was shot to death in from of his wife and children by armed assassins who stormed his officials residence in the city. His murder is believed in the security circle to be related with Governor Oshiomhole's upcoming re-election campaign in Edo State. As an official aide to the governor he is crucial to the coordination and management of electioneering activities for the governor. Comrade Olaitan, a University of Lagos alumni is well-known and highly respected as an excellent organizer. It would be recalled that just last week the governor narrowly escaped a mysterious auto accident in the state, a truck rammed into his convoy as he was returning from a campaign rally, killing 3 journalists and injuring several others. Netanyahu expected to ask Trump for help with fresh Iran strikes Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to brief Donald Trump on the possibility of fresh air strikes against Iran, according to a report. Israeli officials fear that Iran is already rebuilding the nuclear enrichment sites that the US bombed in June and are weighing options to attack it again, NBC News said, citing anonymous US officials briefed on the plans and one person with direct knowledge. The Israeli prime minister is set to meet Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida at the end of this month for talks on the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. During the summit, Netanyahu is expected to make the case that Irans ballistic missile programme warrants a swift response, the outlet reported. The United States could be invited to join in bilateral action against Iran, with Netanyahu poised to argue that Iranian militarisation represents a threat to American interests in the region, the sources said. Smoke billows over Tehran during the strikes in June (via REUTERS) The comments came just days after the head of the Mossad intelligence agency insisted that Israel has a responsibility to stop Iran from producing a nuclear bomb. David Barnea said on Tuesday: The idea of continuing to develop a nuclear bomb still beats in their hearts. We bear responsibility to ensure that the nuclear project, which has been gravely damaged, in close cooperation with the Americans, will never be activated. Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful. However, in the aftermath of the June strikes, Tehran barred the UNs atomic watchdog from its facilities. Trump asserted in an address to the nation on Wednesday that he had already destroyed the Iran nuclear threat and brought peace to the region for the first time in 3,000 years. Israels Iron Dome works to intercept incoming Iranian missiles (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) An early Pentagon assessment concluded that the strikes in June on the facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan had likely only set Irans nuclear programme back by a matter of months. Israel had led with unilateral strikes against Tehrans nuclear facilities, launch sites and top brass before the US vowed to sink entrenched nuclear sites with 30,000lb bunker-buster bombs. Israel had claimed its initial offensive was the culmination of years of research and planning by Israels military and Mossad. Netanyahu warned at the time that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time if not stopped, potentially within months. Images of the Fordow nuclear enrichment site before and after the June strikes by the US (Maxar Technologies) Fears of a wider regional war took shape as Irans Houthi allies joined in unprecedented retaliatory strikes against Israel. Depleted Iran proxy Hezbollah sat out of the conflict, keeping to a delicate ceasefire deal agreed in November. Israel is itself widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, though neither nation confirms or denies this. Police rounded up the goat, which was on the loose in a village near Chippenham. Photograph: Wiltshire police (Photograph: Wiltshire police) An escaped goat which went on a rampage in a Wiltshire village was safely lassoed by police carrying riot shields. The runaway ruminant mammal was trotting around Upper Seagry, near Chippenham, and was seen chasing a woman around the village and trying to eat oranges from a Christmas wreath, an eyewitness told the BBC. Wiltshire police used riot shields and a lasso to catch the animal before it was safely returned to its owner. The goat also attempted to munch on safety equipment from the back of the officers car. Apparently its not very nice, one of the officers can be heard saying on bodyworn camera footage. The officer added: Weve got it on a tow line, weve got some [riot] shields because hes trying to butt my head. The animal briefly slipped the lasso before being re-captured and taken home on Thursday morning. A Wiltshire police spokesperson said: PC Ferris and PC Miller, from Chippenham Response, swiftly responded, controlled the situation and returned the goat to his owner. In October, an attempt to retrieve a stranded goat at the bottom of a bridge arch led to an emergency call-out in Cumbria to rescue someone attempting to save the animal. Three fire crews and police were sent to Longtown Bridge in Carlisle after reports someone had gone into the water while trying to reach the animal. They had managed to extricate themselves but to prevent a repeat incident, fire officers were sent to retrieve the animal, Longtown fire station said. Pressure on Farage to sack racist Reform candidate as he doubles down on claim Lammy should go home to Caribbean Nigel Farage is under pressure to sack the former Royal Navy rear admiral that Reform UK picked as its candidate for mayor of Hampshire after he doubled down on remarks about the loyalties of David Lammy and praised Enoch Powell. Mr Farage has stood by Chris Parry, 72, after he suggested that deputy prime minister Mr Lammy, who was born and brought up in London, should go home to the Caribbean where his loyalties lie. But despite being widely condemned, Mr Parry has now defended his original comment, posting on X (Twitter): Well, home is where the heart is. Thats the point. An additional tweet, Mr Parry also described the dead rightwing former Tory politician Enoch Powell as unfulfilled. Reform candidate Chris Parry (Reform UK) In 1968 Powell made the infamous Rivers of Blood speech about the impact of black migrants in the UK warning it would lead to violence on the streets and opposing anti-discrimination laws. The speech has for many gone down as a benchmark of racism in the UK although others claimed it was misinterpreted. Mr Farage has also praised Powell calling him a political hero. In a separate tweet Mr Parry also attacked Sir Lenny Henry in a similar way when the comedian and actor supported calls for the UK to pay 19 trillion in slavery reparations. Mr Parry posted: Where does his primary loyalty lie? Another tweet in March saw Mr Parry describe Birmingham as a failed colony. Commenting on Sir Keir Starmer ordering an emergency Cobra meeting to deal with the Birmingham bin strikes, he posted: Stupid and unnecessarily diluting importance of Cobra. Just take this failed colony into special measures. Mr Parry also described four female colleagues as harpies and suggested parliament would be filled with Muslim MPs by 2035. Labour chair Anna Turley told The Independent that Mr Farage now needs to ditch the candidate for the postponed Hampshire mayoral election in 2028. She said: How big does the mountain of racist and grossly offensive comments Chris Parry has made have to get before Nigel Farage throws him out of Reform? Its disgraceful. Farages refusal to take action against racism in his party shows what a dark place hes dragging politics to. He should finally drop Chris Parry as a candidate, kick him out of his party, and apologise for failing to take action sooner. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been urged to acknowledge and apologise for allegations of racism during his school days (PA Wire) It comes as Mr Farage himself has faced accusations of racism when he was at school. Among the allegations were claims he said Hitler was right and mimicked gas chamber hissing noises. Mr Farage said that he had never been racist or antisemitic with malice and ended up having a rant at the BBC about 1970s comedian Bernard Manning at a press conference recently when asked about the allegations. In the past week, Ian Cooper, Reforms council leader in Staffordshire, stated in reference to Mr Lammy that no foreign national or first-generation migrant should be allowed to sit in parliament. While Mr Cooper has been thrown out of Reform, Mr Parry still remains the partys candidate in mayoral Hampshire. Another Reform councillor, Chris Large, has denied endorsing a comment describing Mr Lammy as just another greedy non-thoroughbred. Hitting out at the comments before, Mr Lammy issued a personal challenge to Mr Farage: I will never be cowed by racism. But I will call it what it is. Nigel Farage, you need to clean up your party and stamp out this 1950s-style hate. The Independent has approached Reform UK for comment. Evolve Dynamics builds reconnaissance drones for front-line troops in Ukraine - Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls to do more to protect British businesses from Russian sabotage. Tom Redman, the chief executive of Evolve Dynamics, which builds reconnaissance drones for front-line troops in Ukraine, said his company had faced a surge in attempted phishing attacks by hackers, which he fears could have links to Moscow. The firm which was visited by Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, earlier this week has sent hundreds of drones to Kyiv. Speaking to The Telegraph from his HQ in north Hampshire, Mr Redman said: We are worried about Russian sabotage. It comes with the territory. We already take security very seriously; were based in a nondescript location; its non-branded and you cant find our address on our website. That is on purpose. And we take on-site security and vetting of employees and suppliers and visitors very seriously. It is sad we have to worry about being sabotaged... [but] the threat is real. Intelligence chiefs have warned that Russia is stepping up its sabotage efforts against the UK, with the number of incidents against the Armed Forces having increased by 50 per cent. Kemi Badenoch flies a drone during a visit to Evolve Dynamics on Thursday - Jordan Pettitt/PA Blaise Metreweli, the new head of MI6, described Russia a menace to UK security, warning that Britain was now operating in a space between peace and war. During a speech at MI6s London headquarters on Monday, she said: Russia is testing us in the grey zone with tactics that are just below the threshold of war. The intervention came as the head of Britains military warned that the UK was facing an onslaught of cyber attacks from Moscow every day. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the chief of defence staff, said: We know that Russian agents are seeking to conduct sabotage and have killed on our shores. Mr Redman, whose firm has 50 staff, is calling on Labour to pump more cash into supporting small businesses to upgrade their physical and digital defences. He is also urging the Government to provide better information on how companies can spot potential saboteurs and to avoid damaging hacking attacks. Weve seen the number of phishing attacks increase we had something like 7,000, Mr Redman added. We dont know where it came from but some of the attacks were very sophisticated. While we try our best [with security], were building drones, were not security experts. In October, six men were jailed for their part in a Russian-ordered arson attack on a London warehouse providing aid to Ukraine. The blaze at the unit in Leyton, east London, in March 2024 caused 1.3m of damage. The ringleader of the gang, Dylan Earl, had been recruited by the Russian mercenary group Wagner to carry out the attack. Dan Jarvis, Labours security minister, earlier this month said the Government is doing what it can to protect businesses. The Government last month sanctioned the Russian cybercrime syndicate Media Lan, which was responsible for facilitating hacks on companies based across the UK. Nigel Farage wants cross-party support for Reforms Local Election Guarantee Bill - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Reform UK has drafted legislation aimed at scuppering Labours plans to delay local elections. The Right-wing party is hoping to garner cross-party support for its Local Election Guarantee Bill, which seeks to force ministers to hold local and mayoral elections in 2026. The Government has been accused of trying to subvert democracy after announcing that ministers were considering delaying ballots for millions of voters as part of its plans to reorganise local government. Nigel Farage has said the local election postponements were designed to prevent Reform UK winning a string of elections next May and shield Labour and the Tories from embarrassing results. Zia Yusuf, the partys head of policy, told The Telegraph: We are inviting every member of parliament in the House of Commons who believes in democracy to support this bill, including the Tories. Ultimately, this is a cross-party issue. Elections could be delayed for millions of voters as part of Labours plans to reorganise local government - Sopa Reform will be able to introduce their bill in parliament in the new year, provided they get a high enough place on the ballot for Private Members Bills. Our understanding is that the bill has been accepted, Mr Yusuf said. We are hopeful that it will get a hearing. Last week it emerged that local elections next year are set to be cancelled for millions of voters. Of 63 councils involved, 26 are Labour-run, 12 are Conservative and 10 are Liberal Democrat. One local authority is run by independents, while no party is in overall control in the remaining 14. The potential delay forms part of the Governments plans to abolish district councils and merge them with the counties above them into new unitary authorities, which will deliver all services. Last year, county council elections due in 2025 were postponed for a year in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hampshire and West Sussex, but the announcement means they could now be delayed for a further year. In addition to this, elections could be delayed in dozens of district councils up and down the country. Labour has also announced that it is delaying some mayoral elections, which will deny a vote to more than five million people in the south and east of England. The Liberal Democrats have also criticised plans to delay elections, with their leader Sir Ed Davey claiming it is a breach of the Human Rights Act. Last week, the Governments plans were dealt a blow after the head of the Electoral Commission said their proposals to delay local elections are illegitimate. Vijay Rangarajan, the commissions chief executive, said it did not think the Governments justification was a legitimate reason for postponing ballots in 63 areas. He said: As a matter of principle, we do not think that capacity constraints are a legitimate reason for delaying long-planned elections. Extending existing mandates risks affecting the legitimacy of local decision-making and damaging public confidence. There is a clear conflict of interest in asking existing councils to decide how long it will be before they are answerable to voters. A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: We are taking a locally led approach. Councils are in the best position to judge the impact of postponements on their area, and this government will listen to them. These are exceptional circumstances where councils have told us theyre struggling to prepare for resource-intensive elections to councils that will shortly be abolished, while also reorganising into more efficient authorities that can better serve local residents. There is a clear precedent for postponing local elections where local government reorganisation is in progress, as happened in 2019 and 2022. Sir Keir Starmer has been criticised over plans to change political journalists access to his spokesperson - Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street Sir Keir Starmer has been warned that his plans to limit political journalists access to Downing Street spokesmen risk undermining democratic accountability. The Prime Minister has been criticised over a decision to abolish the afternoon briefing from the new year, in a move journalists warned could damage scrutiny of the Government. Downing St normally holds two briefings for political journalists on most days that Parliament is sitting. The briefings allow the lobby, the group of political journalists that cover Westminster, an opportunity to question the Prime Ministers official spokesman. But earlier this week, No 10 also announced that the Prime Minister would also occasionally scrap the morning briefing in favour of a press conference or technical briefing, which would be open to content creators as well as political reporters. The Society of Editors, whose members include editors of national and local papers as well as magazines, radio and television channels, has voiced concern over the move. They said that regular, open and robust questioning of government is a cornerstone of democratic accountability. Dawn Alford, the chief executive of the Society of Editors, said: The afternoon lobby briefing has for many years provided journalists with a vital opportunity to challenge those in power and to seek clarity on fast-moving and often complex matters of public interest. It is deeply concerning that such a significant change has been announced without proper consultation with the journalists most affected. Transparency is not just about access in theory; it is about meaningful access in practice. Replacing routine, journalist-led questioning with government-controlled press conferences risks limiting who can ask questions, how long ministers are held to account, and which issues are addressed. Expanding attendance should not come at the expense of experienced political reporters being able to ask sustained, informed and challenging questions. Dawn Alford, chief executive of the Society of Editors, said journalists should have been consulted over the plans - Darren Gerrish/Getty In recent months, the Prime Ministers spokesman has faced questions from political journalists at lobby briefings over issues such as the tax affairs of Angela Rayner and former US ambassador Lord Mandelsons connection to the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Ms Rayner was forced to resign as Housing Secretary after the Telegraph revealed she had not paid the correct level of stamp duty on her second home. Lord Mandelson was forced to resign from his post as US Ambassador. Tim Allan, Downing Streets executive director of communications, said earlier this week that the media landscape had been utterly transformed in recent years, leaving the current arrangements not fit for purpose. He said change was needed to better serve journalists and better inform the public, adding the new system would allow the lobby more direct access to ministers and a greater ability to access information about Government policies. But David Hughes and Lizzy Buchan, the outgoing and incoming chairs of the lobby, said: We are greatly concerned by this step and furious that the lobby was not consulted about this move which restricts access and, we fear, scrutiny. Downing Street has promised more ministerial press conferences but they will obviously control the timetable for those and will no doubt seek to choose who they take questions from. None of this bodes well for transparency from a government which came into office promising to raise standards. Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch said a future Conservative administration would restore the afternoon briefings, saying: Keir Starmer is running scared. This is a Labour Government that hates scrutiny and blames everyone else for its failings. Timothee Chalamet has released a rap collaboration with underground British rapper EsDeeKid, bringing to an end online speculation that the two artists might be the same person. The actor posted the song, a remix of EsDeeKids single 4 Raws, on his social media accounts today. The new version features Chalamet rapping about his life in lines like: Lil Timmy Tin bout 30, a reference to his upcoming birthday on December 27. He also raps girl got a billion as a nod to his partner, Kylie Jenner, and makes repeated reference to Marty Supreme, the new film he stars in that will be released in the U.S. on Christmas Day and in the U.K. on Boxing Day. Last week, Chalamet refused to comment on the rumor that he was EsDeeKid. I got no comment on that, he said on the British radio program Heart Breakfast. No comment. Timothee Chalamet in the music video for "4 Raws", his rap collaboration with EsDeeKid (X/@RealChalamet) When the hosts said that Chalamet and EsDeeKid had similar eyes, the actor reiterated that he had nothing to say. Ive got two words on that, he continued, before opening his mouth and hilariously hesitating to say anything. All will be revealed in due time. That was a little more than two words. He then joked about being a rapper in his teens, Lil Timmy Tin, after a viral 2012 video showed him rapping on stage during an event at his New York City high school. Let me tell you, Lil Timmy does not have the same ring to it, Chalemet said. Lil Timmy sounds like something else. Earlier this year, rumors began to swirl about Chalamet being EsDeeKid, specifically because the two have similar eyes. In August, Chalamet furthered the speculation when he showed up at a show in London that featured rapper Fakemink, who appears in EsDeeKids song, LV Sandals. However, EsDeeKid has kept his identity hidden, performing with a balaclava over his face. His real name and age are unknown. While his debut album only came out this year, he already has more than 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Meanwhile Marty Supreme, directed by Josh Safdie, has already received rave reviews, with The Independents Clarisse Loughrey giving it four stars. Chalamet jerks his limbs around and leans in hungry, and he has the same irresistible, volatile energy that drove those early Al Pacino performances, Loughrey wrote. The way the camera closes in on pockmarked skin, an elegantly etched unibrow, and permanent wireframe glasses, only draws our attention to the actors eyes, where, like Pacino, all the vulnerability lies. Off screen, the actor has wrestled in the public eye with the meaning of achievement (I want to be one of the greats, he said in an awards speech earlier this year), she added about Chalamet. And maybe its because he sees a little of himself in Marty that he can understand that more fragile, sympathetic side to him. Xavi Simons was one of two Tottenham players sent-off against Liverpool (Getty Images) Tottenham pair Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero are facing suspensions after being sent off in the 2-1 loss to Liverpool. Simons saw his Saturday evening come to an end as early as the 33rd minute when he caught fellow Dutchman Virgil van Dijk's Achilles with a reckless studs-up challenge. Referee John Brooks initially brandished a yellow card to Simons but upon a VAR review, it was upgraded to red and the attacking midfielder was given his marching orders. As per the Premier League match centre, the reason for the red card was for serious foul play. A statement reads: "After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of yellow card to Simons and issued a red card for serious foul play. "Referee announcement: After review, the Tottenham No.7, with studs, catches the Liverpool player [No.4] on the calf high - it's an act of serious foul play. My final decision is red card. Explained: Why Xavi Simons was shown a red card against Liverpool (Liverpool FC via Getty Images) The red card was punished by Liverpool within ten minutes of the start of the second half as Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike scored to leave Spurs with an even bigger mountain to climb. Substitute Richarlison did give Tottenham hope of securing an unlikely point when he reduced the deficit within minutes of being introduced. However, any chance of an equaliser were dashed when Romero was shown a second yellow card for kicking out at Ibrahima Konate after being fouled by the Liverpool defender. It is now back-to-back defeats for Tottenham after seemingly turning the corner under Frank with successive wins over Brighton and Slavia Prague at the beginning of the month. As for Simons and Romero, they will be left to reflect on their rash decision making as both players have now played for the final time in 2025. How many games will Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero miss? Due to Simons being sent off for serious foul play, a minimum three-match ban is his punishment. Therefore the Dutchman will be unavailable for selection in Tottenham's next fixture which is a London derby away at Crystal Palace after Christmas as well as games against Brentford and Sunderland in the new year. Romero, meanwhile, must serve a one-game ban as a result of being sent-off for two bookable offences. This means he will be back for the away game in the Premier League against the Bees on New Year's Day. US CENTCOM via X The United States launched airstrikes in Syria, killing at least five Islamic State (IS) terrorists after a deadly attack on American troops. A cell leader was among those killed in the overnight strikes, which Donald Trump described as a very serious retaliation for an attack that left two American soldiers and an interpreter, who was a US citizen, dead. A lone IS gunman carried out the attack on Dec 13 in Palmyra, Syria, which is home to Unesco-listed ancient ruins and was once controlled by jihadists. It was the first such incident since the overthrow of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad in December last year, and Syrian authorities said the perpetrator was a security forces member who was due to be fired for his extremist Islamist ideas. In response, US strikes targeted IS cells in Syrias vast Badia desert including in Homs, Deir Ezzor and Raqa provinces and did not include ground operations, a Syrian security source said. A US Army AH-54 Apache helicopter which was photographed in an unknown location on Friday Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP that at least five members of the IS group were killed in eastern Syrias Deir Ezzor province, including the leader of a cell responsible for drones in the area. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the United States struck more than 70 targets at multiple locations across central Syria with fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery. The Jordanian Armed Forces also supported with fighter aircraft, it added. Announcing the strikes, Mr Trump said: Because of ISs vicious killing of brave American patriots in Syria, whose beautiful souls I welcomed home to American soil earlier this week in a very dignified ceremony, I am hereby announcing that the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible. We are striking very strongly against Isis strongholds in Syria, a place soaked in blood which has many problems, but one that has a bright future if IS can be eradicated. A US airman prepares an A-10 Thunderbolt II for flight from a base in the US area of responsibility - US AIR FORCE/AFP Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, added: This is not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under president Trumps leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people. Mr Hegseth posted on social media post just hours after a large tranche of the Epstein files was released by the justice department for the first time. Mr Trump had previously lobbied to prevent the remaining documents from being released, describing the files as a Democrat hoax. But in the face of a growing Republican rebellion in the House of Representatives, Mr Trump changed his stance on Nov 16, insisting I DONT CARE and that he had nothing to hide. Many of the US strikes were carried out near the ancient city of Palmyra, shown in February - Omar Haj Kadour/AFP The US president has been dogged by claims of a government cover-up, with critics suggesting he wanted to keep the files under wraps to obscure the extent of his own relationship with the paedophile, with whom he said he stopped being friends long before any criminality took place. On the day of the release, Mr Trump did not take questions from reporters following a televised Oval Office announcement in a highly unusual move. Instead, he pledged very serious retaliation retaliate against the attack on Dec 13 that killed two Iowa national guardsmen and the civilian interpreter, who was a US citizen. Mr Trump stressed that Syria was fighting alongside US troops. He has said that the Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa was extremely angry and disturbed by the shooting, which took place as the US military was expanding its cooperation with Syrian security forces. The operation in Syria took place as the Epstein files were released, which Donald Trump has previously called a Democrat hoax before saying he had nothing to hide - Handout/AFP Syrias foreign ministry, while not directly commenting on the strikes, said on X that the country was committed to fighting IS and ensuring that it has no safe havens on Syrian territory, and will continue to intensify military operations against it wherever it poses a threat. A US official said the attack was conducted using F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground-attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operations, said more strikes should be expected. When asked for further information, the Pentagon referred to Mr Hegseths social media post. White House officials noted that Mr Trump had made clear that retaliation was coming. President Trump told the world that the United States would retaliate for the killing of our heroes by Isis in Syria, and he is delivering on that promise, Anna Kelly, the White House deputy press secretary, said in a statement. Mr Trump attended the dignified transfer of the slain American soldiers and interpreter - Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Mr Trump this week met privately with the families of the slain Americans at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware before he joined top military officials and other dignitaries on the tarmac for the dignified transfer, a solemn and largely silent ritual honouring US service members killed in action. The guardsmen killed in Syria on Saturday were Sgt Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa, according to the US army. Ayad Mansoor Sakat, of Macomb, Michigan, a US civilian working as an interpreter, was also killed. The shooting nearly a week ago near the historic city of Palmyra also wounded three other American troops as well as members of Syrias security forces. The gunman was also killed. The assailant had joined Syrias internal security forces as a base security guard two months prior and was recently reassigned because of suspicions that he might be affiliated with IS, a spokesman for Syrias interior ministry said. The man stormed a meeting between US and Syrian security officials, who were having lunch together, and opened fire after clashing with Syrian guards. A compilation of heavily redacted documents in the Epstein files that were released by the DoJ on Friday. Illustration: Guardian Design/Images via US Justice Department (Illustration: Guardian Design/Images via US Justice Department) The disappointment was palpable. In February, a group of 15 rightwing influencers visited the White House and paraded binders labelled The Epstein Files: Phase 1, only to discover that they contained precious little that was new. Related: Photos from the first batch of the Jeffrey Epstein files Ten months later, it was the worlds turn. Amid huge global anticipation on Friday, the US justice department released hundreds of thousands of pages of documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Trump administration is the most transparent in history, proclaimed Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, insisting that it has done more for the victims [of Epstein] than Democrats ever have. But it soon became apparent that, once again, Donald Trump had over-promised and under-delivered. Many of the documents in the data dump were heavily redacted, with text blacked out so it was impossible to read. Norm Eisen, executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund, said: What they have released is clearly incomplete and appears to be over-redacted to boot. The documents extensively featured photos of former president Bill Clinton, a Democrat, and appeared to include few if any photos of Trump or documents mentioning him, despite Trump and Epsteins well-publicised friendship in the 1990s and early 2000s. Moreover, Fridays release was far from complete. US deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said several hundred thousand documents would be made public on Friday, but the need to protect the victims meant thousands more would be released over the next couple of weeks. The initial release also appeared to include far less than Blanche promised. It smelled of a cover-up. And the rare reticence of Trump did little to dispel that notion. At a White House event on Friday with pharmaceutical companies who have agreed to lower some of their prices, the president typically so garrulous on every issue under the sun declined to answer reporters questions off topic. Trump said: I prefer not talking and asking questions only for the reason that this is such a big announcement. I really dont want to soil it up by asking questions, even questions that are very fair questions that Id love to answer. So I think we have to just stop right here. The president had spent much of this year resisting disclosure and denouncing the files as a Democratic hoax. But a rare bipartisan uprising in Congress forced him to cave and sign legislation last month mandating release of all unclassified Epstein records to be released by the end of 19 December in a searchable and downloadable format. His administration blew past that deadline and Democrats cried foul. Chuck Schumer, the minority leader in the Senate, said: This set of heavily redacted documents released by the Department of Justice today is just a fraction of the whole body of evidence. Simply releasing a mountain of blacked-out pages violates the spirit of transparency and the letter of the law. For example, all 119 pages of one document were completely blacked out. We need answers as to why. Jeff Merkley, the lead Senate sponsor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, added that administration officials have chosen to illegally disregard the law I led the fight in the Senate to pass. By failing to comply, the administration is openly denying equal justice under the law to all of Jeffrey Epsteins victims. None of this will surprise critics who have seen Trump eviscerate Congress over the past year with authoritarian zeal. He has signed 221 executive orders more than in his entire first term and bypassed the legislative branch on everything from a TikTok ban to dismantling USAID to adding his own name to the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Soon after the partial release of the Epstein files, it was announced that the US military had launched airstrikes against dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria in retaliation for an attack on US personnel. There were echoes of another December day in 1998 when Clinton ordered air strikes against Iraq and was accused by members of Congress of trying to distract from impeachment proceedings against him. But Trump will struggle to distract from the Epstein issue, with just 44% of Republicans saying they approve of how he has handled it so far. There was some expectation that Friday might bring the matter to a head, for better or worse, with the politically advantageous timing of the Christmas holiday just around the corner. Instead the most transparent administration again decided to slow-walk and stonewall. That will only feed the very conspiracy theories that Trump once feasted upon but which now threaten to consume him. The pointless, diversionary and very distractive hue and cry about the Presidents alleged ambition to seek a second term in office is becoming increasingly disturbing by the day with headlines such as Jonathans 2015 Ambition Can Break Up Nigeria and Jonathans 2015 Ambition Fueling Insecurity, now regular fare in our newspapers and on the internet . For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, President Jonathan wishes to reiterate that his primary concern and the focus of all his efforts now, just about a year into the four-year tenure for which he was elected in April 2011, is to deliver on his promise of positive national transformation". President Donald Trump veered off topic during his Friday night speech on the economy to slam the 2022 FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago, which he said included agents raiding First Lady Melania Trumps panties drawer. As part of the governments investigation into Trumps handling of classified documents after he left the White House in 2021, the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 in search of sensitive records. Jack Smith, former special prosecutor charged with leading the Trump probe, told lawmakers this week in a closed-door interview that his team had gathered powerful evidence that the president had broken the law by holding onto the classified material. Trump also returned to the years-old raid Friday after making a stop in North Carolina for a rally-style speech, ostensibly about the economy, on his way to Mar-a-Lago for two weeks Christmas vacation. During his remarks, Trump blasted the raid as illegal and disgusting, alleging agents searched through his wifes panties drawer. I was the huntedI had these animals trying to attack me at Mar-a-Lago, the president said Friday. They went into my wifes closet and I'll say this, number one, it's very bad, but it sounds a little strange. They looked at her drawers. He added that the first lady is a very meticulous person. Everything is perfect. Her undergarmentssometimes referred to as panties, are folded, perfect. Theyre so perfect, I say: Thats beautiful. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participate in the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the White House. In remarks in North Carolina Friday, Trump slammed the 2022 Mar-a-Lago raid, claiming agents even raided his wifes panties drawer (Getty Images) I think she steams them, he added, moving his hands as if he were steaming clothes, which prompted chuckles from the audience. We came home. I wasn't there when the raid took place, he said. She opened the drawers and it was not that way. They were a mess. It was all over the place. And she said, 'Oh, what happened? That's so terrible....They went into my young boy's room. These thugs are disgusting, and we cannot let them get away with this stuff. Trump made a stop Friday in North Carolina for a rally-style speech, ostensibly about the economy, on his way to Mar-a-Lago for two weeks Christmas vacation. During his remarks, Trump blasted a 2022 FBI raid on his Florida residence as illegal and disgusting (AP) We have all the evidence, and we have to do something about it, Trump concluded, his voice rising. The crowd clapped and cheered in response. The government, under former President Joe Biden, launched two federal probes into Trump: his handling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump has demanded the Justice Department pay him $230 million in compensation over the federal investigations after he left office. He submitted a complaint for each probe, one in 2023 and the other in 2024, through an administrative claim process, the New York Times reported in October. After Trump won the 2024 election, Smith dropped the cases against the incoming president. Smith told members of Congress this week that his investigative team had developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump had criminally conspired to overturn the 2020 election results and had collected powerful evidence that he had violated the law related to the handling of classified documents. Piles of documents found in Trumps Palm Beach estate during the 2022 raid. Jack Smith, former special prosecutor, told lawmakers this week that his team had found powerful evidence to suggest Trump broke the law by hoarding classified documents after he left office in 2021 (US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE/AFP via) Emails between FBI and DOJ officials in the months leading up to the August 2022 raid, made public this week by Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley, suggest that the bureau didnt believe it had probable cause to execute the search warrant on Trumps Palm Beach property, while the Justice Department insisted it did. Trump also spoke about his compensation claims during his Friday night economic speech, upped the amount from $230 million to $1 billion. He claimed he now has to settle the complaint himself because its his Justice Department: I brought a lawsuit and Im winning the lawsuit. There's only one problem: I'm the one that has to settle it. He then suggested: So, maybe I'll give myself $1 billion and give it all to charity. A minute later, the president appeared to change his mind. Actually, maybe I shouldn't give it to charity. Maybe I should keep the money, he said. A woman outside a polling station at a Russian school in Belgrade, Serbia, during the Russian presidential election last year. Photograph: Darko Vojinovic/AP (Photograph: Darko Vojinovic/AP) Keir Starmers raid on overseas aid has led to a 40% cut in funds for countering Russian aggression and misinformation in a region of Europe described by the prime minister as vital to the UKs national security. British funding committed to bolstering the western Balkans, where Russia has been accused of sowing division and creating destabilisation, has been cut from 40m last year to 24m for 2025-26. The Integrated Security Fund (ISF) is designed to tackle the highest priority threats to the UKs national security at home and overseas. Starmer recently described the western Balkans region, encompassing Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, as Europes crucible the place where the security of our continent is put to the test. Last years ISF funds were used in part to counter and respond to malicious cyber-attacks in the region and to bolster democratic institutions and independent media. The cut in UK government funding appears to be a consequence of Starmers policy to reduce Official Development Assistance (ODA) for low- and middle-income countries. The amount of ODA committed to the western Balkans under the ISF has been cut from 31.91m in 2024-25 to 17m for 2025-26. The figures from the Cabinet Office also show a cut of 1.15m in non-ODA funding for the region. The financial year of 2025-26 is the first in a gradual transition announced by the government towards reducing ODA from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income by 2027. Emily Thornberry, the chair of the foreign affairs select committee and a former shadow foreign secretary in Starmers team before the general election, said: I visited the western Balkans earlier this month. It is quite clear they are on the frontline of the fight against Russian disinformation and interference, and I am very proud of the work the UK is doing to support them in that fight - for their security and all of Europes. More work is needed to support independent media, not less. People are hungry to learn the truth and its very difficult to find it. Dr Kate Ferguson, the co-executive director and head of policy and research at Protection Approaches, an NGO that works in the western Balkans on preventing identity-based violence, said the UK had a good record in the region and it should not be undermined now. The national security strategy rightly recognises that we are in a period of intensifying strategic competition for the rules and governance of our world; in Europe we see this as Russia diversifies its efforts to undermine our democratic consensus, she said. It is essential then that our Foreign Office is properly and appropriately resourced to meet these growing threats to democracy and our collective safety. In recent years, the UK has distinguished itself in the western Balkans as a trusted and principled leader when others have sometimes faltered. Now, as new forms of Russian aggression and malign influence deepen in the region, this leadership must be bolstered and not watered down. This week, the new head of MI6, Blaise Metreweli, said Britain was caught in a space between peace and war and described Russia as aggressive, expansionist and revisionist, seeking to subjugate Ukraine and harass Nato. Shelagh Daley, the policy team lead at Saferworld, an NGO that runs programmes in the western Balkans, said the cuts appeared to be part of a move by the UK government to deprioritise conflict prevention. This reflects what we are seeing as a wider trend in ISF and other UK foreign aid spending amid the cuts. It appears to be a deprioritisation of work on conflict prevention and peacebuilding, even as conflict has increased globally, societies have become more divided, and basic freedoms are being curtailed. It doesnt seem coherent or strategic to be pulling away from programming that aims to address the causes of conflict and fragility at a time when the risks to global security are so high. A government spokesperson said: The figures in the report represent only one part of the UKs total investment in the western Balkans on issues such as organised crime and hostile state activity. The ISF is designed to adapt to the very latest national security priorities and often funds short-term projects, meaning it is natural for spending decisions to evolve over time. Ukraine destroyed two Russian fighter jets including one ready for a combat sortie - SBU Ukraine has said its long-range drones struck two Russian Su-27 fighter jets in occupied Crimea worth $70m. One of the planes was on the runway ready for a combat sortie when it was blown up and destroyed, Ukraines SBU security services said on Saturday. A second plane was damaged in the attack on the Belbek military airfield in Russian-occupied Crimea. The strike followed a separate operation a day earlier in which the SBU said it had hit a Russian shadow fleet vessel crossing the Mediterranean sea, the first such attack in those waters since the war began. Ukraine said the Belbek operation marked its second successful strike on the airfield in recent days. On Dec 18, our drones struck Russian equipment worth hundreds of millions of dollars, the SBU wrote, citing a Pantsir-S2 air defence system, two Nebo-SVU radars and a MiG-31 aircraft, among other military objects. The strike came as US and Russian officials geared up for fresh talks in Florida on Saturday aimed at ending Russias war in Ukraine. Ukraine struck two Russian Su-27 fighter jets in Crimea - SBU Kirill Dmitriev, Vladimir Putins envoy, criticised warmongers [who] keep working overtime to undermine the US peace plan for Ukraine. Mr Dmitriev, who heads Russias sovereign wealth fund, is due to lead the Russian delegation in meetings with Steve Witkoff, Washingtons roving envoy and a former property tycoon, and Jared Kushner, Donald Trumps son-in-law. Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner met Ukraines delegation, led by Rustem Umerov, in Miami on Friday after earlier discussions in Berlin with Ukrainian and European officials. Mr Umerov said after the talks that Ukraine had agreed with our American partners on further steps and on continuing our joint work in the near future. Recent rounds of talks have been held in a bilateral format, with US representatives meeting separately with Russian and Ukrainian officials. However, Volodymyr Zelensky suggested on Saturday that the US had mooted a new format involving direct talks between Ukraine and Russia, with the involvement of American and possibly European envoys. The US said they would have a separate meeting with representatives of Russia. And they proposed the following format, as far as I understand: Ukraine, America, Russia, and, since there are representatives of Europe there, probably Europe as well, the Ukrainian president told reporters in Kyiv. Volodymyr Zelensky suggested the US is proposing direct talks between Ukraine and Russia - Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA/Shutterstock Ukrainian and Russian representatives have not met face-to-face since inconclusive talks in July, when they convened in Istanbul but failed at progressing negotiations beyond prisoner swaps. A Russian source told Reuters that a meeting between Mr Dmitriev and Ukrainian negotiators had been ruled out. Western officials have reported progress this week on security guarantees for Kyiv, though it remains unclear whether Moscow will be willing to accept these terms. Earlier this month, Mr Trumps envoys were reported to have pressed Mr Zelensky to accept a US-brokered deal by Christmas. Vladimir Putin has threatened a to cut Ukraine off from the sea - Mikhail Metzel/Sputnik/EPA/Shutterstock However, on Friday Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said that the US would not impose a ceasefire deal on Kyiv. Theres no peace deal unless Ukraine agrees to it, Mr Rubio told a news conference in Washington. Ahead of the talks, Ukraines State Emergency Service said that Russian attacks on port infrastructure in the Odesa region had killed eight people and injured 27 others after a civilian bus was caught in the shelling. Many of the regions more than two million inhabitants have been left without electricity for a week, with heating and water supplies also disrupted by escalating Russian strikes on the coastline area. Russia is once again trying to restrict Ukraines access to the sea and block our coastal regions, Mr Zelensky said on Saturday of the attacks. Early this month, Putin threatened what he termed a radical option of cutting Ukraine off from the sea in response to a spate of attacks on Russias tanker fleet. Kyiv, however, has signalled it remains undeterred. On Saturday, Ukraines General Staff announced that it had carried out kamikaze drone strikes on a Russian warship in the Caspian Sea as well as on a nearby Russian oil platform. The Ukrainians have responded to the cautiousness of their European allies with a show of fighting spirit. After European leaders signed off a 90bn loan as we commented yesterday, just enough to hold Vladimir Putins forces at bay but not enough to push them back Ukraine has struck an alleged Russian shadow-fleet oil tanker off Libya, 2,000km from the battlefield. Ukrainian drones also hit a Russian patrol ship and an offshore drilling platform in the Caspian Sea, hundreds of kilometres away. This intensification of the long-distance battle that Ukraine is fighting in support of the ground war of attrition on its own territory is a fitting response, both to the hesitation of its allies and to the four-hour monologue of obfuscation delivered by Mr Putin on Friday. And it is also the right accompaniment to the peace talks conducted by Russian and United States negotiators in Florida, with a supporting cast of representatives of Ukraine and of Ukraines allies in the coalition of the willing. Mr Putin does not pause his assault on kindergartens and apartment blocks while the talks take place, so the Ukrainians should not hold back on their attacks on more legitimate targets. Hopes were said to be high of a breakthrough that would allow a ceasefire, although The Independent was always of the view that Mr Putin has no genuine interest in peace and that we would therefore believe it only when he finally agreed to realistic guarantees of Ukraines postwar security. The intelligence has always been that Putin wants more, according to Mike Quigley, a Democratic member of the House intelligence committee, on Saturday. In the meantime, Mr Putins bellicosity should give the free nations of the world no choice but to continue to support the Ukrainian people in their just struggle. One British citizen who has acted personally on this moral imperative is Aiden Aslin, 31, from Nottingham, an interview with whom we publish today. He fought with the Kurdish peshmerga because he felt he should do something about the rape and enslavement of Yazidi women by Isis. He then volunteered to serve in the Ukrainian army before the 2022 Russian invasion. He was captured, tortured and released in a prisoner swap before rejoining Ukrainian forces last year. I think Russia can be beaten, he tells Sam Kiley, our world affairs editor. I think we have got the means to exhaust their economy. Obviously, it is not an overnight thing. At some point, it is going to give. He has limited knowledge of the state of Russian morale, of course, but he knows about the Ukrainians alongside whom he fights. People in Russia are saying that you should end this, he says. The grasp is weakening. There are a lot of things showing that Russia is becoming a lot more destabilised. He is right that this war will be brought to an end only when the Russian economy and the Russian people cannot sustain it. And there were signs during Mr Putins long interview that Russian public opinion is not wholly supportive of him. Questions submitted to him included, When you will return the normal internet?, Are you going to nominate yourself to run for president in 2030? and Stop price increases!, which may be more of a comment than a question. That is why Ukraines European allies must do more and that means, realistically, pay more to force Mr Putin to the point where he no longer has an interest in prolonging the conflict. Mr Aslin finds comfort for Ukraine in the examples of Afghanistan, the Soviet Union and even Napoleon. On previous occasions throughout history, he says, the defender has, most of the time, ended up winning. This time, he must be proved right. Protesters call for the release of the Epstein files in Washington in November. Photograph: Bryan Dozier/NurPhoto/Shutterstock (Photograph: Bryan Dozier/NurPhoto/Shutterstock) The Department of Justice on Friday released a long-awaited and huge tranche of documents detailing its investigations into the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a major development in the lengthy saga that turned into one of the biggest political setbacks Donald Trump has suffered since his re-election last year. While significant portions of the files are redacted, those that were viewable included images of Epstein socializing with an array of prominent figures, including entertainers such as Michael Jackson, Chris Tucker and Diana Ross, and the entrepreneur Richard Branson. Bill Clinton appears in several photos, including one in which he is in a swimming pool along with Epsteins convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. The images also show the former British royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Another cache of documents showed photos of evidence gathered including drives and computers but did not reveal details as to the contents. There was also a photo of what appeared to be a dog in a garbage bag, placed inside a box. In a letter to Congress, Todd Blanche said the documents, which date back to 2006, when Epstein was investigated on child prostitution charges, were only the first set of what is planned for release. The volume of materials to be reviewed means that the department must publicly produce responsive documents on a rolling basis, the deputy attorney general wrote in the letter obtained by Fox News. Related: Epstein files: which royals, politicians, musicians and actors are in the photos? He also acknowledged an array of redactions, including the identifying details of more than 1,200 victims and their family members. Congressional Democrats accused the Trump administration of failing to adhere to the letter of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which requires the justice department to release all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in its possession related to the financiers cases by 19 December. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges of sex-trafficking minors. The law also requires the justice department to publish any materials from the investigations that relate to Maxwell, who was found guilty in 2021 of aiding Epsteins sex trafficking of teen girls and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Technically theyre not in compliance, said Democratic congressman Ro Khanna, a leader of the push to get the legislation passed. The law calls for all the documents that are unclassified to be released. They have not done that. The law also calls for them to explain redactions. I havent seen yet whether theyve done that or not. My initial read is that they have a lot of redactions without explanation, Khanna said. Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, echoed his concerns, and said in a statement: We will pursue every option to make sure the truth comes out. Thomas Massie, a Republican, also joined the chorus, writing on social media that the document release grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law that [Donald Trump] signed just 30 days ago. Abigail Jackson, the White House deputy press secretary, said the documents release prove that the Trump administration is the most transparent in history and said it has done more for the victims than Democrats ever have by making the files public and cooperating with a separate congressional investigation. Epsteins case has captivated public attention for years, and been the subject of countless conspiracy theories largely due to his connections to powerful and wealthy figures in the US and overseas, including Trump. Related: Trickle release of Epstein files on a Friday signals move to bury Trump ties While he has the authority as president to make the documents public, Trump previously opposed doing so, and said the concern over his ties to Epstein was a Democrat hoax. As the House of Representatives neared approval of the bill in November, the president abruptly reversed his position and said Republican lawmakers should support it. It was later passed unanimously by the Senate, and Trump signed the measure into law on 19 November, triggering a 30-day countdown for the documents release. Although the law mandates the release of unclassified materials, it may not provide the full transparency demanded by numerous Epstein victims, as it does include notable carve-outs, including a provision exempting materials that would jeopardize an active federal investigation from being released. The legislation also states that no later than 15 days after the materials are made public, the justice department must provide Congress with a list of all categories of records released and withheld, a summary of any redactions made, and a list of all government officials and politically exposed individuals named or referenced in the published materials. Before the release of the materials, experts also warned that the disclosure of records may not provide a full accounting of Epsteins crimes or his network, and that it could still leave many Epstein questions unanswered. Trump vowed to release Epstein-related files as he campaigned for president last year. This summer, his administration sparked backlash after the justice department announced it would not release any files related to the late financier, and said it had found no incriminating client list despite earlier claims from Pam Bondi, the attorney general, that such a document was sitting on her desk. The announcement sparked bipartisan outrage including from some Trump supporters and reignited scrutiny of Epsteins past ties to Trump, with whom he was friendly for at least 15 years before falling out in 2004. The president has consistently denied any knowledge of or involvement in Epsteins criminal activities. In mid-November, several days before Congress voted to release the justice department files, Democrats on the House oversight committee released three email exchanges they received from Epsteins estate in response to a subpoena that dated from 2011, 2015 and 2019, and included one email in which Epstein claimed that Trump knew about the girls. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, dismissed the emails, and accused Democrats of selectively leaking them to create a fake narrative to smear President Trump. Later that day, Republicans on the committee released more than 20,000 documents they received from Epsteins estate, including emails between Epstein and prominent figures. In early December, House Democrats on the committee released several dozen photographs from Epsteins estate that highlight his ties to prominent figures, including Trump, Clinton and Mountbatten-Windsor. Angel Urena, a spokesperson for Bill Clinton, said that the Epstein investigation wasnt about the former president. There are two types of people here, he said. The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships after that. Were in the first. No amount of stalling by people in the second group will change that. The images represent a small number of the almost 100,000 images given to the House committee, and were released without context or captions. This week, House Democrats on the committee released another batch of photos from Epsteins estate, as the deadline for the justice department to release its files loomed. Among the images were photographs of lines from Vladimir Nabokovs novel Lolita which is about a middle-aged mans sexual obsession with and sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl written on different parts of a womans body. It was reported earlier this year that photos from inside Epsteins Manhattan mansion revealed that he kept a first edition copy of Lolita in his office. The same batch also included photos of travel documents, and notable people such as Bill Gates, Woody Allen, Noam Chomsky and Steve Bannon, Trumps former adviser. The images provided by the estate were undated, and provided without context. The appearance of these people in the photos is not evidence of any wrongdoing. Greece officials say the Parthenon sculptures, collectively known as the Elgin Marbles, were stolen and rightfully belong in Athens - Getty Images/Mike Kemp The British Museum will keep the Elgin Marbles on display despite a 1bn refurbishment. A major overhaul has been planned for a third of the museums gallery spaces, including the notoriously leaky Room 18, where the contested Parthenon artworks are held. Greek officials hoped that the 10-year project to remodel the Western Range galleries might trigger a breakthrough in ongoing negotiations over the Marbles, and see the pieces returned to Greece. Figures close to the talks believed the necessary closure of the Parthenon rooms could have provided an opportunity, and an excuse, for the British Museum to share what would otherwise be undisplayed artworks. However, the director of the British Museum has insisted that the Marbles will remain in London and on display. Dr Nicholas Cullinan told The Telegraph that plans were in place to keep the artefacts in place despite the overhaul, saying: Some things absolutely have to stay on view elsewhere in the museum. People come to the museum to see them, and they expect them, so weve got plans in place for that. He added: To be honest, we have thought of them [the Marbles] as in the category of things that people are in the museum to see. A 1bn refurbishment of the British Museum will not prevent people from seeing the Elgin Marbles - AFP/Daniel Leal Lina Ghotmeh, an architect, was recently chosen to lead the project to restructure the Western Range galleries which house monumental Egyptian, Assyrian, and Greek artworks. It is hoped that phased approach from 2026 will mean that crowd-pleasing objects such as the giant heads of Amenhotep III, and the Parthenon artworks shipped from Athens by Lord Elgin in the 19th century, will be rotated to remain on display while work moves around the museum. Greece has long maintained that the Parthenon works, comprising sculptures, sections of frieze, and marble plaques, were stolen by Lord Elgin in an act of cultural vandalism. The British Museum asserts that the artefacts were legally acquired. A lengthy diplomatic battle for the Marbles remains in deadlock, as the museum is legally unable to give objects away, other than through loan arrangements. The Greek government, which would have to accept UK legal ownership to secure a loan deal, cannot countenance such an agreement, and discussions with George Osborne, the British Musuem chairman, remain at a standstill. There is an impasse in the lengthy diplomatic battle for the Marbles, as the museum is legally unable to give objects away - Getty Images/Mike Kemp Dr Cullinan, who is pioneering win-win loan deals with former colonies seeking the return of contested artefacts including Indian, Ghana, and Nigeria hopes that Greece could be persuaded to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. Speaking to The Telegraph in Mumbai, where a new loan deal for treasures has just been finalised, he said: There is a discussion with Greece which is ongoing. We would love to create a partnership with Greece, it would be really sensible to break this deadlock. He added: If we were able to reach a deal with Greece, which would be wonderful, there is a scenario in which some of them [Marbles] could be on display in Greece, and things from Greece could be on display in the museum. The museum director, who led the National Portrait Gallery until 2024, hopes that an effective Greek boycott of the British Museum could also be brought to an end. Greece refuses to work directly with the museum, and loans to the institution are denied, according to some frustrated insiders. Dr Cullinan said: Its a shame, beyond the way that way it maybe disproportionately part of the discussions around the British Museum, it also shuts down other opportunities of lending, scholarly extent, we havent had that for a long time and its a shame A lot of colleagues would love to do more of that. The director believes a partnership of the kind reached with a leading Indian museum, Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSNVS), in the first deal of its kind with a non-Western. In an act of cultural diplomacy, 80 ancient artefacts have been placed in a semi-permanent gallery intended to undo colonial misinterpretation by highlighting Indias contributions to civilisation and its links to the world of Greece and Rome. An education programme will run alongside the long-term displays. Abdullah Tanoli has kept in touch with the girls family since the attack and says he is relieved to see her recovery - Facebook/Abdullah Tanoli A security guard who disarmed a knifeman in Leicester Square has said he sees the 11-year-old girl he saved as being like his little sister. Abdullah Tanoli was working at a shop on the central London plaza at 11.30am on Aug 12 2024 when he heard the girl scream and ran to her aid. The girl, an Australian tourist, was in London for Taylor Swifts Eras Tour concert at Wembley and had just left the Lego store when Ioan Pintaru, 33, put her in a headlock and stabbed her eight times in the face, neck and chest. Mr Tanoli, 30, managed to grab Pintarus hand, forcing him to drop his knife, and Mr Tanoli was able to kick it away. The guard and two other men pinned Pintaru down before police arrived minutes later and arrested him. Mr Tanoli has now said of the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons: I consider her like my younger sister. If you see her now, she looks normal. I am very relieved. It was not normal screaming Pintaru, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty in October to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a knife. He was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Tuesday to a hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act and a restriction order under Section 41, meaning he can be detained indefinitely. Mr Tanoli told the BBC the sound he heard was not normal screaming. You know when a child is just crying, but when someone is being hurt, that scream is different, he said. I never thought I would see something like that. At that moment, the only thing in my mind was to save the child. A nurse walking past help stem the victims bleeding. Most people stayed back, and that is understandable - safety first - but if you know you can save someone, you should, Mr Tanoli said. During sentencing, Judge Richard Marks KC commended Mr Tanoli for his bravery and ordered a reward of 1,000 be given from public funds. Mr Tanoli told the BBC that a week after the attack, the victims mother contacted him on social media and they have remained in contact. The court heard the child, now 13, has recovered physically from her wounds but invisible scars remain. The psychological effects of this incident will remain with (her) for the rest of her life, Heidi Stonecliffe KC, prosecuting, told the Old Bailey. We saw the best of London Det Con Laura Nicoll, of the Mets specialist crime team, said: It was a savage and brutal attack that left the city in shock. But following the most appalling scene, we also saw the best of London: a security guard who raced from his post without a thought of his own safety, the off-duty nurse who tended to the little girls wounds. Without them, she might not be alive today. The guard was commended by the court, and we would like to add to that our sincere admiration for his selfless act. Pintaru originally faced a charge of attempted murder, but the prosecution decided that his psychosis at the time of the offence meant it could not be proven that he had an intent to kill. The defendant, who stood in the dock with what appeared to be three health workers, had previously been admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Romania, the court heard. In assessments after the attack, Pintaru told one psychiatrist he had not wanted to commit the offence but believed he was being followed and that the only way to save himself was to get himself sent to prison, the prosecutor said. Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle When legendary chef Jacques Pepin was growing up in France, his family always served goose on Christmas Eve. The French holiday centerpiece is also a tradition in Britain, Denmark, and Germany. Here are recipes for a roast goose dinner menu, including side dishes and desserts, that are typical of European holiday meals. 01 of 12 Roasted Goose Legs with Sour Cherry Glaze and Gravy Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee In Bavaria, it's not Christmas without roast goose. Food & Wine editor Melanie Hansche reimagines the traditional German dish in her recipe for sour cherryglazed roasted goose legs, an easier undertaking than roasting the whole bird. Get the Recipe 02 of 12 Brussels Sprouts with Bacon Bobby Fisher Savory brussels sprouts and smoky bacon meet bright lemon for Anthony Bourdain's classic recipe, a common side for roast goose in Britain and Germany. Get the Recipe 03 of 12 Roast Goose with Crispy Skin Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle The secret to Jacques Pepin's roast goose with irresistibly crispy skin is a little extra prep and a lengthy steam to jumpstart the rendering process. If you're putting goose on your dinner menu, try this one. Get the Recipe 04 of 12 Braised Red Cabbage with Apples and Bacon Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee Rotkohl red cabbage braised with apples and onions is a classic Bavarian side for goose, duck, or pork. This version gets its full flavor from rendered speck, orange zest, and spices like caraway and juniper. Get the Recipe 05 of 12 Rustic Bread Stuffing with Swiss Chard and Chestnut David Malosh Chestnut stuffing is a French holiday tradition; Justin Chapple's recipe starts by infusing dried porcini mushrooms into the broth for a hearty, earthy, and rich side dish. Get the Recipe 06 of 12 Goose Stuffed with Apples and Armagnac-Soaked Prunes Ditte Isager Cookbook author Nadine Levy Redzepi combines plump Armagnac-soaked prunes, apples, and garlic for an elegant stuffing to accompany goose, a Danish holiday tradition. Get the Recipe 07 of 12 Caramel Potatoes Ditte Isager Called brunede kartofler in Denmark, these tiny taters require nothing more than sugar, butter, and salt for their rich caramel glaze. Get the Recipe 08 of 12 Cherry and Chocolate Buche de Noel Michael Turek French pastry chef Dominique Ansel's exquisite yule log dessert is lighter than many, thanks to the beaten egg whites in the batter and the use of whipped cream in place of buttercream for frosting. His inclusion of kirsch syrup and brandied cherries is a delicious nod to German Black Forest cake. Get the Recipe 09 of 12 Spiced Pickled Beets John Kernick Warmly spiced with cloves, cinnamon, allspice, whole peppercorns, and bay leaves, these pickled beets from chef Martha Wiggins are reminiscent of those traditionally served in Denmark to offset the richness of roast goose. Get the Recipe 10 of 12 Brown ButterCardamom Spitzbuben Caitlin Bensel / Food Styling by Rishon Hanners / Prop Styling by Christine Keely German for "cheeky boys," spitzbuben are traditional Bavarian Christmas cookies that get a tantalizing twist here with the addition of brown butter and the robust, citrusy flavor of freshly ground cardamom. Paired with your favorite jam, the finished cookies will stop your guests in their snowy tracks. Get the Recipe 11 of 12 Root Vegetable Pan Roast with Chestnuts and Apples Victoria Pearson This complexly flavorful side dish is seasoned with thyme and sweetened with maple syrup. Roasted potatoes, apples, and chestnuts are customary ingredients of the holiday season throughout many European countries and make a beautiful side for goose. Get the Recipe 12 of 12 Gingerbread and White Chocolate Mousse Trifle Chris Court A British holiday staple and a perfect end to your goose dinner menu, this seasonal trifle contains three luscious desserts in one: velvety white chocolate mousse, warmly spiced gingerbread, and sweet-tart pomegranate caramel. Get the Recipe Read the original article on Food & Wine Belind Kellici, a Member of Parliament representing the Democratic Party, holds a flare during tensions between the ruling Socialist Party and the opposition during a parliament session in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) Albanian lawmakers scuffled with guards during a parliament session in Tirana on Thursday, shouting, tugging at one another and setting off flares in the rostrum. The altercation came during a session to vote for Albanias next ombudsman, the countrys top human rights official. The opposition Democratic Party of Albania accused the governing Socialist Party of election fraud and the erosion of democracy in the country, issues they have been protesting for months. Opposition lawmakers tugged at microphones and threw bottles at the speaker of the parliament, Niko Peleshi, as he tried to keep the vote going. Peleshi urged the lawmakers to respect the institution of the parliament. We cannot destroy the state like this, he said. During physical altercations with parliament guards, opposition lawmakers lit flares after they refused to vacate the chairs of the ruling cabinet, which they had occupied before the session began. The protesting lawmakers held up placards with slogans comparing Prime Minister Edi Rama to Panamanian dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno, calling him The Noriega of Europe. One of the oppositions main demands is the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku, who has held her post despite an arrest warrant being issued by the countrys Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime, known as SPAK. SPAK has accused Balluku of interfering with the public procurement procedures in several construction projects, and has urged parliament to vote to lift Ballukus immunity. The issue is to be discussed in an upcoming special session. Balluku has not responded to the accusations against her. Albania is considered a front-runner in the Western Balkans for joining the European Union, along with northern neighbor Montenegro. However, international watchdogs say the country continues to suffer from widespread corruption and a monopolization of power by the ruling Socialist Party, which have been in government since 2013. Jewish leaders and groups in Californias Bay Area have blasted socialist Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinezs apology for sharing heinous antisemitic conspiracies online and have even formed a new political advocacy organization over concerns about rising Jew-hate. Martinez, a proud member of the ultra-left Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is facing intense pressure to resign after he amplified sickening posts on LinkedIn claiming the Bondi Beach terror attack in Australia was a false flag operation and blaming Israel for rising antisemitism. The embattled lefty pol deleted the posts and apologized, insisting, We should not conflate Zionism with Judaism. However, critics are ripping the tepid regrets as a cop-out that failed to address the harm. Sam Yebri, a former Los Angeles City Council candidate with strong ties to the LA Jewish community, said that sharing hateful rhetoric is beyond a mistake with dangerous real-world consequences. Martinez has consistently and repeatedly trafficked in the worst antisemitism imaginable, and now has put the lives of his Jewish constituents in jeopardy, Yebri told The Post. Rabbi Dean Kertesz, a recently retired longtime rabbi of Temple Beth El in Richmond, who describes himself as both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian, also labeled Martinezs actions as blatant hatred of Jews. My first reaction is anger, Kertesz said. What were seeing is not legitimate criticism of Israeli policy. Its hatred of Jews. And thats where this road leads. A Bay Area Jewish advocacy organization is calling for Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinezas resignation, accusing him of spreading conspiracy theories about a deadly terror attack in Sydney, Australia. Leon Kunstenaar The Bay Area Jewish community is so concerned about rising antisemitism that they have formed a new political advocacy organization. It was launched last summer in response to what leaders described as a growing sense that traditional approaches were no longer enough. The group was structured for political muscle free to lobby, pressure lawmakers and engage in hard-nosed advocacy a sharp break from the cautious, charity-only approach that has long defined many Jewish institutions. Eduardo Martinez, Mayor of Richmond, CA, holding Vote Eduardo Martinez For Mayor campaign signs. During this unprecedented and uncertain moment for Bay Area Jews, it is crucial that our community feels safe, heard and understood, Neal Rubin, president of BAJA, told The Post. BAJA is an important new resource that will allow us to build real influence with lawmakers and advocate forcefully for our shared values. Jonathan Mintzer, the organizations director, warned that antisemitism is no longer lurking in the shadows but surfacing in mainstream politics and public office. Mintzer insisted Mayor Martinezs response exposed a deeper breakdown not just poor judgment, but a failure of accountability. Martinez, he said, should confront what a real apology actually means, including acknowledging why the posts were harmful, how they stoked fear, and how rhetoric that demonizes Jews and Israelis can lay the groundwork for real-world violence. Jeremy Russell, director of marketing and communications at Bay Area Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), said that since Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack, Richmonds City Council including members aligned with the DSA has increasingly drawn the Israel-Hamas war into municipal governance. JCRC sent an open letter stating Antisemitic Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez must resign. This even culminated in a formal resolution declaring the citys support and solidarity with the Palestinian people of Gaza. Jewish leaders say the vote didnt land in a vacuum. Instead, it amplified a growing sense of isolation and unease among Jewish residents, who watched an international conflict take center stage in local government chambers. This is something we felt we had to do, Russell said of the newly formed advocacy group. Theres a real perception that this is getting worse. This is a particular concern Russell has with Martinez. This didnt start with one post, he said. Weve engaged with the mayor and the city council before. We realized we were getting nowhere. Richmond Vice Mayor Eduardo Martinez speaking into a microphone at a homeless encampment press conference. MediaNews Group via Getty Images Kertesz said Martinezs role as mayor also magnifies the consequences, giving his words and actions added weight and making the fallout far more dangerous. Hes the mayor, Kertesz said. What he says publicly reflects on the city. He doesnt get to separate his politics from his office. The JCRC has circulated an open letter calling on Martinez to resign, citing what it described as a pattern of behavior rather than an isolated mistake. The letter also flagged Martinezs appearance at the Peoples Conference for Palestine in Detroit last summer, where he was photographed wearing a hat bearing the acronym DDTTIDF, which the Anti-Defamation League said is an acronym for Death, Death to the Israeli Defense Forces. Martinez later said he did not understand the meaning of the acronym and does not condone violence explanations Jewish leaders say only sharpened concerns about judgment and awareness. The DSA, meanwhile, has taken openly anti-Israel positions, including calls to halt US military aid and support boycott efforts stances Jewish leaders say have helped normalize antisemitism under the banner of political speech. Martinez must resign and leave public life forever, and other DSA candidates and elected officials like him should stop inviting violence against Jews in America, said Yebri. The Post reached out to Martinezs office and the East Bay DSA for comment. The DSA told The Post that it would pass our request to its Steering Committee Chairs. Their long rosy and romantic relationship has gone sour and the man seems ready for a showdown The relationship, Mr. Iwalewa said had been rosy all through and Tolani who often comes to London to shop for her boutique spends weeks with him at his house in London It was when I came to Nigeria last year that I got the gist at the hotel she lodged me when one of the staff whom I have been good to told me that the woman that brought me here is married and known by lots of people Since then, she has been begging me because I refused to pick her calls He said he met only about N100,000 in the account I am not a Pastor, I dont know what she meant, she stays in my house in London anytime shes in town, I will provide you some of the text messages she has been sending to me including the one she sent when I refused to pick her calls after getting to know she is married Anyway, below her some romantic SMS she sent to Mr. Iwalewa while their relationship lasted (1) Honey Mi, olowo ori me, I will always luv u do have a beautiful day at work. Missing u and feel like wrapping u round my body luv u. From: +2348161665517 (2) Honey pls forgive me its all beyond me. From: +2348127124488 (3) missing u will call u as soon as its safe, luv u. From: +2348033200607 (4) Honey I cant write much am on drip. From: +2348033200607 (5) Honey am missing you I love you so much dont ever leave me alone, am so lonely here. From: +2348127124488 (6) Honey thanks tot u were angry with me. Cld not sleep----Iluv u so much, I need you to make luv to me and make me feel like a woman. From: +2348127124488 (7) Honey u need 2 be in my place 2 know how I fee, when we meet I never knew ur marital status, it was much later I knew I was already in luv wt u. Pls take it easy wt me I hv my own mind and I knw wat I want. I luv u and will never leave u unless u ask me to. From: +2348033200607 From what Olu Famous Blog gathered, a melodrama is currently playing out in the adultery scandal between the wife of a topshot at Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and Mr. Iwalewa who is bitter after discovering that his beloved woman was actually a wife to another man.The woman is denying her ex-lover, while the man has everything at his disposal to prove that they were romantically involved in a serious relationship that could have been altar bound if not that he discovered she was married.Mr. Iwalewa told Olu Famous Blog that they met in London some years ago through a family friend of Tolani and they began a relationship without knowing that Tolani was married as a second wife in Abuja.Mr. Iwalewa who before now had misunderstanding with his wife and separated was planning to make Tolani his second wife legally until he got winds last year August that Tolani was a married woman. Immediately I heard that, I was shocked and scared of my life. I had to leave the place and left for London..Now, Mr. Iwalewa wants Mrs. Tolani Afolabi to repay all the money he borrowed her which is about 3,000 pounds for her business and another sum of about N800,000 which he gave to her to use to lodge in an account in Nigeria.While trying to cover her acts, Mrs. Afolabi had told a soft-sell magazine that the man was her pastor and used to pray for her whenever shes in London. But Mr. Iwalewa said it is a BIG lie. .For several days, Olu Famous Blog tried calling Mrs. Tolani Afolabi to hear her own side of the story from her but it seems the woman has switched off all her three (3) numbers, permanently., as published in Global excellence, with her personal numbers: Two people hold a rainbow Pride flag in a neighborhood street. Photo: Alexander Grey / Unsplash (The Center Square) - California Attorney General Rob Bonta is pushing back on President Donald Trumps proposed rules on gender-affirming care for minors. The new Medicaid and CHIP Reimbursement Rule would block both federally-funded health care programs from paying for gender-affirming care for minors. Under the new rules, funds cant pay for that care for patients under age 18 who get Medicare and for those under 19 benefitting from the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP). And according to the California Department of Justice, the new Condition of Participation rule would keep medical providers who offer gender-affirming care from participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs. Bontas office argued that offering medical care to cisgender individuals - those who identify as the sex they were assigned at birth - and not providing medical care to transgender individuals is discriminatory. Bonta said the Trump administration was trying to strip Americans of essential care that allows transgender people to live as their authentic selves." These rules are not only cruel, theyre also unlawful, Bonta said in a news release Thursday. Its important to note these proposals are far from final. If the Trump administration puts forth final rules similar to these proposals, we stand ready to use every tool in our toolbox to prevent them from ever going into effect. California Department of Justice staff were not available Friday to talk to The Center Square. Today the federal government made clear its plans to restrict access to this essential and lifesaving health care, read a joint statement from several state agencies: the Department of Managed Health Care, the Department of Health Care Services, the Health & Human Services Agency and the Department of Public Health. Also signing onto the statement was Dr. Erica Pan, the states public health officer. When youth and adults can access health care, their quality of life improves and rates of depression, distress, and suicide decrease," according to the statement. "This care is consistent with nationally recognized, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Officials from the California Department of Managed Health Care and the California Department of Public Health referred The Center Square to the joint press release on Friday. Officials from the California Health & Human Services Agency were not available on Friday. Children should not be pawns in a game of political chess, and I will not accept their false choice of health care funding or providing gender affirming care, said Assemblymember Mia Bonta, D-Oakland and chair of the Assembly Health Committee, in a Dec. 19 press release. California will continue to stand up for our families, and this Legislature will lead with compassion and stay focused on kitchen-table issues, not anti-trans legislation that has been linked to increased suicide among LGBTQ youth. Assemblymember Bonta was not available for an interview on Friday. Other Democratic and Republican legislators who sit on health or insurance committees were not available before press time on Friday. The Los Angeles LGBT Center criticized the Trump Administrations efforts to cut down on gender-affirming care for youth, calling the move cruel and demanding that the federal government withdraw the proposed rules. Lets be clear: These rules are dangerous for all Americans and the consequences of approving them would be devastating, officials from the Los Angeles LGBT Center said in a statement issued on Thursday. They ignore overwhelming medical evidence backing the benefits of gender-affirming care for transgender youth and politicize health care decisions that should remain between families and their medical providers. Representatives from the Los Angeles LGBT Center declined to answer questions and directed The Center Square to Thursday's press release. Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to pitch President Trump on a plan to strike Iran over fears the regime is rebuilding its ballistic missile capabilities, at a Mar-a-Lago meeting next week, according to a report. Netanyahu will brief Trump on Israeli officials increasing concerns that Tehran is repairing its air defense systems and expanding its missile program, which were destroyed by airstrikes during the 12-Day War with Israel in June, several intelligence sources told NBC News. The meeting is scheduled for Dec. 29. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will brief President Trump on Israeli officials increasing concerns that Tehran is repairing its air defense systems and expanding its missile program. POOL/AFP via Getty Images The Jewish state also believes the Islamic Republic is reconstituting its nuclear enrichment facilities, including Fordo, which were crippled on June 22 by American B-2 bombers executing Operation Midnight Hammer. The regimes suspected buildup will be presented by Netanyahu as a direct threat that could require swift action on the part of the US, NBC News reported. The International Atomic Energy Agency and Iranian government corroborated the United States governments assessment that Operation Midnight Hammer totally obliterated Irans nuclear capabilities, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement to the outlet. As President Trump has said, if Iran pursued a nuclear weapon, that site would be attacked and would be wiped out before they even got close. The prime ministers visit to the US also comes despite New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdanis campaign promise to arrest Netanyahu for war crimes if he steps foot in the Big Apple. Brooklyn Councilwoman Inna Vernikov boldly invited Bibi to the city on Jan. 1 an offer the prime minister turned down. However, he promised to visit soon in defiance of Mamdanis previous threats. DAMASCUS, Syria Jordan confirmed Saturday that its air force took part in strikes launched by the United States on Islamic State group targets in Syria in retaliation for the killing of three U.S. citizens earlier this month. The U.S. launched military strikes Friday on multiple sites in in Syria to eliminate Islamic State group fighters and weapons in retaliation for an attack by a Syrian gunman that killed two U.S. troops and an American civilian interpreter almost a week earlier. The Jordanian military said in a statement that its air force participated in precise airstrikes targeting several ISIS positions in southern Syria, using a different abbreviation for the Islamic State group. Jordan is one of 90 countries making up the global coalition against IS, which Syria recently joined. Jordan confirmed its air force took part in strikes launched by the United States on Islamic State group targets in Syria for the killing of three U.S. citizens. Getty Images A U.S. Airman attaches a GBU-31 munitions system to an F-15E Strike Eagle in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on Friday as the U.S. military launched strikes against dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria. via REUTERS A U.S. Airman prepares an A-10 Thunderbolt II for flight from a base in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on Friday to support Operation Hawkeye Strike. Getty Images The U.S. military did not say how many had been killed in Fridays strikes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based war monitor, reported that at least five people were killed, including the leader and members of an IS cell. The Jordanian statement said the operation aimed to prevent extremist groups from exploiting these areas as launching pads to threaten the security of Syrias neighbors and the wider region, especially after ISIS regrouped and rebuilt its capabilities in southern Syria. U.S. Central Command, which oversees the region, said in a statement that its forces struck more than 70 targets at multiple locations across central Syria with fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery, with the Jordanian air force supporting with fighter aircraft. The Jordanian military said its air force participated in precise airstrikes targeting several ISIS positions in southern Syria. U.S. Central Command/ ?X The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least five people were killed, including the leader and members of an IS cell. US AIR FORCE/AFP via Getty Images President Donald Trump wanted to pursue very serious retaliation after the shooting in the Syrian desert. U.S. Central Command/ ?X It said that since the Dec. 13 attack in Syria, U.S. and partner forces conducted 10 operations in Syria and Iraq resulting in the deaths or detention of 23 terrorist operatives, adding that the U.S. and partners have conducted more than 80 counterterrorism operation in Syria in the past six months. President Donald Trump had pledged very serious retaliation after the shooting in the Syrian desert, for which he blamed IS. Those killed were among hundreds of U.S. troops deployed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition fighting the militant group. On Friday Trump reiterated his backing for Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who Trump said was fully in support of the U.S. strikes against IS. IS has not taken responsibility for the attack on the U.S. service members, but the group has claimed two attacks on Syrian security forces since, one of which killed four Syrian soldiers in Idlib province. The group in its statements described al-Sharaas government and army as apostates. While al-Sharaa once led a group affiliated with al-Qaida, he has had a long-running enmity with IS. As well as killing three U.S. citizens, the shooting near Palmyra also wounded three other U.S. troops as well as members of Syrias security forces, and the gunman was killed. The assailant had joined Syrias internal security forces as a base security guard two months ago and recently was reassigned while he was under investigation on suspicions that he might be affiliated with IS, Syrian officials have said. The man stormed a meeting between U.S. and Syrian security officials who were having lunch together and opened fire after clashing with Syrian guards. Members of the local Jewish community embrace at the Bondi Pavillion in memory of the victims of a shooting at Bondi Beach, in Sydney on December 15. - Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images For Australias tiny Jewish population, Bondi Beach was a refuge within a vast country that offered sanctuary to families fleeing a seething hate that killed six million of their kind within the lifetime of some of their oldest members. For decades, they laid roots in a Sydney suburb built around a white sandy beach where each year millions of tourists kick off their shoes to be transported to a postcard world of beautiful people and friendly lifesavers wearing red and yellow caps. Its the image Australia wants to project to the world of a multicultural haven where the conflicts of countries thousands of miles away are left at the shoreline. But last Sunday horror and hatred rained down onto a Bondi lawn, where 15 people were shot dead by two gunmen with six licensed firearms. It was Australias worst mass shooting since a lone gunman killed 35 people in an attack on tourists in Tasmania almost 30 years ago. This time was different. They wanted to kill Jews, said mourner Carole, through tears near a carpet of flowers at Bondi Pavilion, a local landmark that now marks the site of a massacre. All we want to do is live in peace, work hard, pay our taxes and love our fellow Australians, said Carole, whose daughters begged her not to give her last name for fear of retaliation. Jewish people always feel they are the country first, Carole said. As well as being strong Jews, we are never just Jewish. And now thats how we feel. Australia has let us down, she said, angrily. Its actually beyond belief. People participate in a candlelight vigil at Bondi Pavilion at Bondi Beach on December 16, in Sydney, Australia. - Audrey Richardson/Getty Images A mourner writes a message of a piece of cloth at the promenade of Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 18. - David Gray/AFP/Getty Images Lifeguards link hands as they line the shoreline to observe three minutes of silence to pay their respects to the victims of the shootings at Bondi Beach in Sydney, on December 20. - Bianca De Marchi/AAP Image/AP This country has changed Australia notes with pride that it has the biggest population of Holocaust survivors per capita outside of Israel. Most live in Sydney and Melbourne. Many call Bondi home. This week, Jews in this picturesque pocket of Australias eastern coast buried their dead in funerals livestreamed to the diaspora worldwide. The youngest victim, Matilda, was 10 years old. Among the flowers at Bondi Pavilion, toys and images of bees could be seen a nod to Matildas middle name and the sting in her vibrant personality. Dorienne Light wore an Israeli flag across her shoulders as she paid her respects at the memorial on Wednesday. Her son had handed her the flag as she walked out the door. I felt satisfied that the symbol wasnt subtle its who I am, said Light, who this week has struggled to distract herself from heartache. This country has changed, she said. I used to be so proud of where we lived. We need to reclaim that. Do you think its possible? Yes, I do. Under this leadership? No. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, center, lays flowers at the Bondi Pavilion at Bondi Beach in Sydney, on December 15. - Dean Lewins/AAP Image/AP A community in grief directed its anger squarely at the Australian government, accusing it of allowing antisemitism to fester for two years before Sundays devastating attack. Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg, a member of the opposition Liberal party, whose mother arrived in Australia as a refugee from the Holocaust, channeled deep feelings of betrayal in a speech at the memorial. Our prime minister, our government, has allowed Australia to be radicalized on his watch, he said on Wednesday, surrounded by mourners and media cameras. Two homemade ISIS flags were found in a car near the massacre site that had been fitted with improvised explosive devices that police disarmed before they caused harm. More than a decade ago, ISIS became the latest militant group to use religious extremism to recruit disaffected supporters in the West before a US-backed operation defeated its forces in Syria in 2019. Before Sundays massacre, the alleged shooters were said to have spent a month in a hotel in Mindanao in the Philippines, an area where ISIS-aligned insurgents still hold ambitions to declare an independent Islamist state. It was a rare trip out of the country for Sajid Akram, the 50-year-old shooter shot dead by police, who left Australia just three times in the years from 2001, according to officials. An Indian national, Akram arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998, which was later transferred to a partner visa. His son, Naveed, an Australian citizen, now faces 59 charges, including 15 of murder and 40 of attempted murder as well as a terrorism offense. When asked by a reporter if he could have done more to prevent Sundays attack, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, Anyone in this position would regret not doing more, and any inadequacies which are there. But what we need to do is to move forward. With that, he announced a tranche of tougher restrictions on hate speech, including an aggravated hate speech offense, along with powers for the home affairs minister to cancel visas held by hate preachers. We have all seen vision of hate preachers where we are shocked that that is happening in Australia, said Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. It is not representative of what people expect in Australia, and its certainly not representative of the Muslim community in Australia. There have been repeated checks as to whether they have crossed legal thresholds. They havent. The thresholds are changing. Relatives of rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was killed in the December 14 Bondi beach shooting attack, lean over his coffin during his funeral at the Chabad of Bondi Synagogue in Sydney on December 17. - Kate Geraghty/AFP/Pool/Getty Images A minority targeted At 6 a.m., the usual opening time, Avners bakery in Sydneys Surry Hills remained closed. A sign on its doors explained that the world has changed. Our world has changed. In the wake of the pogrom at Bondi one thing has become clear. It is no longer possible to make outwardly, publicly, proudly Jewish places and events safe in Australia, the sign read. Known for its delicious bagels and chocolate babkas, Avners was a popular meeting place where customers would pull up a stool and chat on the sidewalk. The notice said the bakery had been subject to almost ceaseless antisemitic attacks for two years, and they were calling it quits, for the safety of staff and customers. Owner Ed Halmagyi told The Sydney Morning Herald that feces had been thrown at the bakerys windows and glue poured into its locks. The owners of another local business Lox in a Box, which sells Polish bagels and burgers, woke up the day after the shootings to find a string of one-star reviews. While deeply upsetting, we were unfortunately not surprised, said owners Candy Berger and Lauren Jensen in an email to CNN. Moments like this often expose the undercurrent of antisemitism that still exists, even here in Australia. Carole said a common subject of conversation among local Jewish families was where they would go, if things got worse. Weve had friends whove just left to go live in Israel. And the other plan B would be going to the US, because there are lots of places where the US is much safer, she said. There are a lot of Jews. Theyre not such a small minority. Antisemitic attacks surged in the two years since Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, when militants terrorized Israelis in cross-border raids, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking 251 hostages. Two days later, Australian authorities lit up the sails of the Sydney Opera House with the blue and white of the Israeli flag, as Israel ordered a complete siege of Gaza. The show of support for Israel brought protesters to the steps of the Opera House, where they waved Palestinian flags and were accused of shouting anti-Jewish slurs the organizers blamed on a tiny fringe of vile antisemitic attendees. At that stage, hundreds of Palestinians had been killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza. But by August 2025, more than 60,000 Palestinians had been killed, according to the United Nations. Hundreds of starving Palestinians had been shot at aid collection points, and nearly 12,000 children were suffering from acute malnutrition. Public anger swelled in Australia, much like it did across swathes of the rest of the globe, as images of the war were streamed into digital devices. Peace seemed further away than ever, and Australia was under pressure to break with the United States and join allies Britain, France and Canada in recognizing a Palestinian state. In Australia, pro-Palestinian groups urged Australians to send a message to Israel by walking across Sydney Harbour Bridge and an estimated 90,000 people turned up. New South Wales authorities had tried to ban it in the courts on safety grounds, but a judge ruled that it could go ahead. Demonstrators march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge during a pro-Palestinian rally against Israel's actions and the ongoing food shortages in the Gaza Strip, in Sydney on August 3. - Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images While the protest was directly in response to the Israeli government and its war in Gaza, some Jews in Australia fear such demonstrations can lead to a spillover of hate aimed at local targets. Instances of vandalism, spray-painted slurs and other antisemitic hate language have surged in the last two years. On Friday, the states Premier Chris Minns announced plans to ban protests held around terror events to prevent intimidation, escalation and violence, as NSW Police warned people not to attend unauthorized demonstrations this weekend. The truth of the matter is, we cant risk another mass demonstration on that scale in New South Wales, said Minns. The implications can be seen, in my view, not just on Sunday, but anti-Jewish, antisemitic graffiti and arson attacks through our community over the last two years. The Australian Palestine Advocacy Network, a coalition of groups advocating for Palestinian human rights, rejected any link between anti-war protests and the Bondi terror attack. Conflating mass demonstrations, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge March for Humanity, with antisemitic graffiti or criminal acts is both irresponsible and misleading, APAN President Nasser Mashni said in a statement. Those acts should be investigated and prosecuted on their own merits, not used to justify blanket restrictions on lawful assembly. The Hanukkah menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight day Jewish holiday is projected onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House on December 15, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. - James D. Morgan/Getty Images The war on hate Eradicating deep-seated hate is an exhausting, challenging process. Matt Quinn, the founder of Exit Australia, a nonprofit working to deradicalize those with extreme hate, says it can take as long as 18 months to convince radicalized people to adopt a different view. He agrees Australias hate laws havent been strong enough and notes an unintended consequence of this has provided tools for recruitment for white supremacists, angry over a perceived leniency toward certain Muslim clerics preaching more extremist ideology. White supremacists feel like theyre being attacked, and they feel like they havent done anything, Quinn said. They just blame the Jews for every little problem they see in their life. Anything thats gone wrong, whether its a government policy or whatever, the Jews are to blame, he said. His advice for anyone who identifies hate within themselves or a close family member or friend is to seek help before it escalates into the unthinkable. Sundays attack shocked a nation that thought its strong gun laws could prevent US-style mass shootings, and authorities quickly announced the most sweeping gun reforms since Tasmanias Port Arthur massacre. A massive gun buy-back the biggest since 1996 is expected to see hundreds of thousands of guns surrendered to authorities. And New South Wales vowed to impose the toughest gun laws of any state with new limits on the number of guns and who can own them. As investigations continue into the perpetrators of Sundays shooting, Australia has rallied around its Jewish community seen in the dozens of messages of support now stuck to the window Avners bakery, the encouraging posts to Lox in a Box, in the notes on the piles of flowers, in the donations to the families of victims. Theyve also rallied around Ahmed al Ahmed, the Muslim father who risked his life by tackling an alleged shooter and seizing the gun during Sundays attack. The Australian National Imams Council said in a statement that the attack had targeted the entire community including Muslims. We unequivocally reject these acts and reaffirm our shared responsibility to uphold respect, safety, and dignity for all communities in Australia. In this aerial view, members of the Bondi community paddle and swim into the ocean and form a circle to pay respect to the victims, survivors and first responders of the December 14th Bondi Shootings on December 19, in Sydney, Australia. - Cameron Spencer/Getty Images For Australia, a country separated by sea from horrors unfolding elsewhere, the Bondi attack has delivered a disturbing reminder that no country is safe from hate. As a tragic week ended, thousands swam and paddled on boards off the coast of Bondi as the community came together to heal. On Saturday, Bondis famed surf lifesavers many who rushed to the scene as first responders held a ceremony of remembrance on the sand. Flags across the country will fly at half-mast on Sunday on a national day of reflection. Key buildings will be lit up in the national colors of green and gold, and lights will beam from the top of Bondi Pavilion, a nod to Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of light that families were celebrating at Bondi Beach before their world was torn apart. Mourners attend the funeral service for Boris and Sofia Gurman at Sydney Chevra Kadisha memorial hall on December 19, in Sydney, Australia. - Audrey Richardson/Getty Images Every day this week, Rabbi Yossi Friedman has attended the Bondi memorial saying out loud the names of those killed, with a tribute to each one so that observers dont forget who they were, and what they stood for. That is what happens when hate goes unchecked, he told CNN as he stood by the flower memorial, where mourners bowed their heads in grief. Were going to build a movement, a movement of light, he said. Were going to show everyone, including our leadership, that we are united in this fight against hate. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The mayor of Providence is asking FBI Director Kash Patel to give the $50,000 reward offered for information in the Brown University mass shooting to a local tipster who provided a detailed account of the suspect. The man, only identified by authorities in a criminal complaint as "John," provided the Providence Police Department with the most detailed account of the suspect, later identified as 48-year-old Carlos Neves Valente, and the gray Nissan Sentra he was driving -- first on a Reddit post and later to authorities. "One individual amongst those who provided tips stands out above the rest: John," Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said in the letter obtained by ABC News. "As discussed with the media last night, John is no less than a hero. His bravery, selflessness and stewardship on behalf of his community went far beyond what anyone could ever hope from a tip. I believe that our community is breathing easier today because of the extraordinary assistance John provided to our law enforcement agencies. I am writing to you today to request that the entirety of the $50,000 reward be issued to this incredible Providence neighbor." Former classmates of Brown, MIT shooting suspect remember him as brilliant but angry The FBI previously said there was a $50,000 reward for any information leading to the suspect. In the letter, Smiley said law enforcement worked for 130 hours straight to find and identify the gunman -- but that John was pivotal to the investigation. "He blew this case right open," Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha told reporters at a news conference on Thursday night. "He blew it open." It all began unfolding three days after the shooting when an anonymous source tipped off authorities to a post John had made on the website Reddit, according to the Rhode Island criminal complaint detailing the evidence against the suspected shooter. FBI Boston via Reuters - PHOTO: A grey Nissan car is parked at a storage facility, where the Brown University shooter, identified by authorities as Claudio Neves Valente, took his own life, in Salem, New Hampshire, in this handout image released December 19, 2025. Brown, MIT suspect had 200 rounds, laser sights as authorities feared hit list: US attorney "I'm being dead serious. The police need to look into a grey Nissan with Florida plates, possibly a rental," John wrote in the post, describing "odd" behavior by the suspect. After noticing the man they believed to be John interacting with the suspect in surveillance footage, police released images of him and asked for help in identifying him on Wednesday. Later that day, John approached a Providence police officer and said he was the person they were looking for. What investigators know about suspected Brown, MIT shooter and hero tipster John told detectives that he first encountered the suspect in the bathroom of Brown University's Barus & Holley building in the hours before the Dec. 13 shooting and was suspicious, according to the affidavit. John followed Neves Valente outside, where he said he observed the suspect approaching his car, the affidavit noted. The suspect and John would lock eyes as Neves Valente repeatedly walked around the block, in what John would describe "as a game of cat and mouse," according to the affidavit. The tip and surveillance video, along with the use of license-plate reader technology, led investigators to a car rental agency in Massachusetts where Neves Valente had rented the Nissan under his own name, authorities said. Providence Police via Reuters - PHOTO: Claudio Neves Valente, suspect in the Brown University shooting in Providence, Rhode Island, picks up a vehicle at an Alamo Rent a Car in this frame grab from CCTV released in an affidavit by the Providence Police, December 18, 2025. Investigators tracked Neves Valente to a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, on the border with Massachusetts, where they found his body inside. Authorities said Neves Valente burst into a lecture hall on the Brown campus on Dec. 13 and opened fire, killing two students and wounding nine others, before fleeing the scene. Two days later, he fatally shot MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro in the foyer of his apartment building in Brookline, Massachusetts, according to authorities. Officials haven't released a motive, but Neves Velente briefly attended Brown University in the early 2000s and studied in the same prestigious physics engineering program in the 1990s with Loureiro in their native Portugal. Northeastern US to get a mixed bag of snow, ice and rain this holiday week The theme for the weather pattern in the Northeast over the holiday week will be a warming trend compared to earlier in the month, although AccuWeather meteorologists say that a series of quick-hitting storms - some packing snow and ice - will traverse the region throughout the week. Temperature swings throughout the week can range from the 30s to the 50s or 60s from the Ohio Valley through the Northeast. Some locations are projected to have temperatures comparable to Easter rather than the week of Christmas. Any glimpse of warmth may once again be welcome for both travelers and households budgeting their heating costs after the bitter cold many faced during the opening weeks of December. Early week: Snow, ice and rain for some On Monday, the first storm of the week will begin to advance across portions of the Great Lakes region with snow and ice. With slightly warmer conditions across the Ohio Valley and portions of the mid-Atlantic states, precipitation will transition from a snowy and wintry mix across northern areas with rain and drizzle farther south. AccuWeather.com "A period of freezing rain can mix in with snow and sleet Monday night into Tuesday across portions of central and south-central Pennsylvania, resulting in a stretch of potentially hazardous holiday travel," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex DaSilva. DaSilva added that ice buildup can potentially reach 0.10 of an inch on surfaces across this corridor, while a slushy mixture of snow and sleet could range from a coating to an inch in locations such as Allentown and Williamsport in Pennsylvania. AccuWeather.com "Travelers taking to the roads later Monday night or Tuesday morning should heed any roadway restrictions or warnings in place and give themselves extra time to reach their destination," noted DaSilva. Through Tuesday, the core of the storm will push through New York state and New England, with some lingering drizzle or snow showers along the rear flank. Accumulating snow is expected to span from southern Ontario, Canada, through northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine from late Monday to Tuesday night. While most areas will pick up a general 1-3 inches of snow from this event, locations across the higher terrain like the Adirondacks, Green and White Mountains, as well as southern Maine, are expected to measure higher amounts of 3-6 inches. AccuWeather.com The AccuWeather Local StormMax for snowfall from Monday night to Tuesday night across the Northeast is 12 inches. For a large zone, any snow that falls will likely melt in the days that follow due to an uptick in temperatures. Outside of the higher terrain of New England, the chances for a white Christmas may be rapidly declining. Midweek: A break before another brief round of precipitation High pressure will migrate over the Northeast by Wednesday, promoting drier and slightly warmer weather as holiday get-togethers commence. Most cities will have highs in the mid- to upper 40s on Wednesday, from Chicago to Columbus, Ohio, and Philadelphia. Meanwhile, locations farther south, such as Roanoke, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., are expected to trend into the 50s and 60s by Wednesday, 10-15 degrees above the historical average for that date. AccuWeather.com By late Wednesday night into Thursday morning, another storm will cross through the Ohio Valley, Northeast and mid-Atlantic states with primarily rain. There is potential for precipitation to transition to a more wintry flavor over some ridges and mountaintops during the early morning hours to start off Christmas Day. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+ By Thursday afternoon, many locations will return to drier conditions as the storm exits the region, moving out nearly as quickly as it moves in. AccuWeather.com Late week: Another brief storm possible Thursday evening, a new storm will cross through southeastern Canada into the Northeast. Most areas will receive plain rain, although the chances for sleet or freezing rain will increase across the higher terrain of New England into Friday. Elsewhere, temperatures will be moderate enough to diminish chances for additional wintry precipitation on Friday. Depending on the scope of Friday's storm, rain and showers could expand to parts of West Virginia and Kentucky or remain confined to the Northeast as the feature quickly passes through. Different scenarios will be at play depending on the position of the jet stream by late week and the amount of moisture available. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. Rune Hellestad - Corbis - Getty Images Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway is being assessed for a lung transplant following a deterioration in her health, the Royal Palace said on Friday. The Crown Princess, who suffers from chronic pulmonary fibrosis, was most recently seen publicly on Wednesday while visiting a nursing home in Oslo for a holiday event with her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, 52, and their children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 21, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 18. The couple along with their daughter also attended the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony at Oslo City Hall last week. During the autumn, a number of tests have been carried out that show a clear worsening of the Crown Princess health, the Royal House of Norway said in a statement. The physicians at Rikshospitalet University Hospital have therefore started the process towards an evaluation for potential lung transplant surgery. The Norwegian royal court first confirmed in 2018 that Mette-Marit, 52, had been diagnosed with chronic lung disease. The American Lung Association defines pulmonary fibrosis as "a form of interstitial lung disease that causes scarring in the lungs." The condition makes it harder for the lungs to expand and for oxygen to be absorbed from the lungs into the bloodstream, resulting in symptoms such as feeling short of breath and coughing. There is no cure for the condition. In September of this year, the Crown Princess announced she would take a step back from her duties undergo a month of pulmonary rehabilitation. She did not have any official assignments in October, and resumed royal responsibilities in November. The Royal Palace added the Crown Princess now requires a more carefully planned schedule, but that she still remains eager to carry out her official duties. Mette-Marit joined the Norwegian royal family in 2001, when she married Crown Prince Haakon, the heir apparent to the Norwegian throne. She has two children with Haakon, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, as well as one from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hiby. You Might Also Like More than five years ago, I wrote in these pages of a growing trend on the left toward compelled speech the forcing of citizens to repeat approved views and values. It is an all-too-familiar pattern. Once a faction assumes power, it will often first seek to censor opposing views and then compel the endorsement of approved views. This week, some of those efforts faced setbacks and challenges in blue states like Washington and Illinois. In Washington state, many have developed what seems a certain appetite for compelled speech. For example, Democrats recently pushed through legislation that would have compelled priests and other clerics to rat out congregants who confessed to certain criminal acts. Despite objections from many of us that the law was flagrantly unconstitutional, the Democratic-controlled legislature and Democratic governor pushed it through. The Catholic Church responded to the enactment by telling priests that any compliance would lead to their excommunication. U.S. District Court Judge Iain D. Johnston enjoined the law, and the Trump Administration sued the state over its effort to turn priests into sacramental snitches. Only after losing in court did the state drop its efforts. In the meantime, the University of Washington has been fighting to punish professors who refuse to conform to its own orthodox values. In 2022, Professor Stuart Reges triggered a firestorm when he refused to attach a prewritten Indigenous land acknowledgement statement to his course syllabi. Such statements are often accompanied by inclusive and tolerant language of fostering different viewpoints in an academic community. However, when Reges decided to write his own land acknowledgment, university administrators dropped any pretense of tolerance. Reges was not willing to copy and paste onto his syllabus a statement in favor of the indigenous land claim of the Coast Salish peoples of this land, the land which touches the shared waters of all tribes and bands within the Suquamish, Tulalip, and Muckleshoot nations. Instead, he wrote, I acknowledge that by the labor theory of property, the Coast Salish people can claim historical ownership of almost none of the land currently occupied by the University of Washington. His reference to the labor theory is a nod to John Locke, who believed in natural rights, including the right to property created through ones labor. In my forthcoming book, Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution, I explore the foundations of the American Republic, including the influence of Locke. The Framers would have been appalled by efforts to compel speech as an example of democratic despotism. The Framers saw the greatest danger to our system as coming not from a tyrant but the tyranny of the majority. Reges came face-to-face with the rage of a majority faction defied. He was told that although the university land acknowledgment was optional, his own acknowledgment was not allowed because it contributed to a toxic environment. This week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in Regess favor and allowed his lawsuit to move forward. Judge Daniel Bress wrote that student discomfort with a professors views can prompt discussion and disapproval. But this discomfort is not grounds for the university retaliating against the professor. Regess lawsuit, brought with the help of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, is a major victory for free speech. However, the desire to both silence and compel speech continues to grow in tandem. In Illinois, Democrats have taken up the cudgel of compelled speech on the issue of abortion. Again, over objection that the law was unconstitutional, Democrats and Gov. JB Pritzker passed a law that said that all healthcare providers, including pro-life and religious pregnancy help centers, must extoll to their patients the benefits of abortion, even if they have faith-based objections to abortion. The Catholic Conference of Illinois and other religious organizations are represented by the Becket Fund, a leading defender of religious liberty in the courts. A district court recently struck down the law, but Illinois refuses to give up. It is appealing the case in the hope of forcing pro-life health professionals to espouse the benefits of abortions. Cardinal Blase Cupich, Chicagos archbishop, warned this week that The Churchs pro-life mission is under attack in Illinois and called on every Catholic to oppose this inhumane mandate. Note that neither the constitutional guarantee of free speech nor that of free exercise deterred these efforts to compel speech. It is the very face of democratic despotism as the majority brushes aside disfavored views and values as toxic or harmful. It shows how, 250 years after our founding, the seeds for majoritarian tyranny remain in this (like in any) democratic system. Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. He is the author of the forthcoming Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. 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. The North Carolina Legislative Building, home to the General Assembly, stands on Jones Street in Raleigh, N.C. Photo: Alan Wooten / The Center Square (The Center Square) Peace of mind that comes through recovery from a hurricane more times than not requires money. And western North Carolina remains in need of peace. Saturday marks the start of the 65th week of recovery from Hurricane Helene, arguably the states worst natural disaster in history. The storm killed 108 in the state, 237 in the South, and caused an estimated $60 billion to $80 billion in damage in North Carolina. Progress is both incredible and crawling at a snails pace. Residents, their homes and the communities have overcome challenges. At the same time, more work is to be done in what is easily estimated as an overall minimum five-year recovery. Friday marked Day 172 without the General Assembly implementing the two-year state budget. Despite the law saying it happens on July 1, legislators are mainly haggling over reduction of income taxes and state employee raise amounts. The lawmakers want to refill what has been taken from the rainy day fund, also known as the Savings Reserve in the General Fund. As of June 30, the close of the fiscal year 2025, the balance was $3.62 billion. The goal will be to add $1.104 billion in addition to more funding for Helene recovery. In the interim, two pieces of legislation were signed this year by first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein to spur relief. The Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 Part II pushes total relief from the Legislature above $2.1 billion in five different packages. This package in the last week of June had $75 million for construction and reimbursement of privately owned roads and bridges; $70 million for local government capital repairs; and $64.3 million for repair and construction of damaged schools. There was $51.5 million allocated for local government cash-flow loan program, with no interest; $25 million to help farmers with infrastructure losses; $25 million to upgrade and enhance regional airports to support disaster responses; $18 million for fire stations and rescue squads in western North Carolina; and $15 million for a Selectsite fund to help economic development. Within the legislation known as Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 Part 1, the first bill Stein signed as governor in March, was $200 million to Helene-specific crop-loss and farm restoration; $120 million for rebuilding and repairing homes; and $100 million for repairing private roads and bridges. Theres also appropriation for small business infrastructure grants; debris removal; volunteer organizations deemed essential; volunteer fire departments; learning recovery for students; and travel and tourism marketing. Recovery for Helene also got a scathing report from first-term Republican state Auditor Dave Boliek in June. His offices Rapid Response Division found the Community Care Station, as it was known for 189 days, operated in Swannanoa and checked in with average cost equal to $220 for a load of laundry, average hourly rate for staff of $145.50, and that with a $215 per diem daily. The analysis said laundry services were provided at a cost of $3.9 million for 18,000 loads of laundry. The station's cost overall, from October 2024 to April, was $27.4 million. It also provided 14,000 showers. The rate of pay and per diem were not included in the average daily cost of the station, the auditor said. A Russian missile strike on port infrastructure in Odesa in southern Ukraine killed eight people and wounded 27, Ukraine's emergency service said Saturday, as a a Kremlin envoy was set to travel to Florida for talks on a U.S.-proposed plan to end the nearly four-year war. The discussions are part of the Trump administration's monthslong push for peace that also included meetings with Ukrainian and European officials in Berlin earlier this week. Ukraine's chief negotiator said late Friday that his delegation had completed separate meetings in the U.S. with American and European partners. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said much will depend on the U.S. posture after discussions with the Russians. Speaking at a news conference in Kyiv with Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, Zelenskyy said that "the key question remains how the United States responds after consultations with the Russians. At this point, I honestly don't know, but I will know later today." Ukraine and Portugal signed an agreement to establish joint production of maritime drones, Zelenskyy said. "This is one of the most promising areas of defense cooperation. What matters now is delivering results, and all parts of Europe must have sufficient capabilities to counter any threats," he said. Ukraine targets a Russian oil rig and a patrol ship Some of those wounded in Odesa were on a bus at the center of the strike late Friday, the emergency service said in a Telegram post. Trucks caught fire in the parking lot and cars were also damaged. The port was struck with ballistic missiles, said Oleh Kiper, the head of the Odesa region. Moscow did not immediately acknowledge reports of the attack. The Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday that over the previous day, it had struck unspecified "transport and storage infrastructure used by the Ukrainian armed forces," along with energy facilities and those supplying Kyiv's war effort. Elsewhere, Ukrainian drones hit a Russian oil rig, the military patrol ship Okhotnik and other facilities, Ukraine's General Staff said in a statement Saturday. It said the ship was patrolling in the Caspian Sea near an oil and gas production platform. The extent of the damage was still being clarified, it said. A general view of the port on the Black Sea on July 7, 2025 in Odesa, Ukraine. / Credit: Valentyna Polishchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images (Valentyna Polishchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) The drilling platform at the Filanovsky oil and gas field as also hit. The facility is operated by Russian oil giant Lukoil. Ukrainian drones also struck a radar system in the Krasnosilske area of Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014. There was no immediate comment from the Russian government or Lukoil. The company is one of two Russian oil majors alongside state-owned Gazprom recent U.S. sanctions that aim to deprive Moscow of oil export revenue that helps it sustain the war. Kyiv has used similar arguments to justify months of long-range strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, which it says both funds and directly fuels the Kremlin's all-out invasion, soon to enter its fifth year. Trump's peace push set to continue Saturday U.S. President Donald Trump has unleashed an extensive diplomatic push to end the war, but his efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands by Moscow and Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently signaled he is digging in on his maximalist demands on Ukraine, as Moscow's troops inch forward on the battlefield despite huge losses. On Friday, Putin voiced confidence that the Kremlin would achieve its goals militarily if Kyiv doesn't agree to Russia's conditions in peace talks. European Union leaders on Friday agreed to provide $106 billion to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years, although they failed to bridge differences with Belgium that would have allowed them to use frozen Russian assets to raise the funds. Instead, they were borrowed on capital markets. After almost four years of war, the International Monetary Fund estimates that Ukraine will need $161 billion in 2026 and 2027. The government in Kyiv is on the verge of bankruptcy, and desperately needs the money by spring. Meanwhile, Kirill Dmitriev, who heads Russia's sovereign wealth fund, is set to meet with Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in Miami on Saturday, according to a U.S. official. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to preview a meeting that hasn't yet been publicly announced. The official said Witkoff and Kushner will sit down with Dmitriev, after meetings with Ukrainian and European officials in Berlin for talks on U.S. security guarantees for Kyiv, territorial concessions and other aspects of the American-authored plan. Ukraine's chief negotiator Rustem Umerov said late Friday that a Ukrainian delegation had met with American and European partners in the U.S. He gave few details, but said they agreed to continue "joint work in the near future." Asked about the meeting in Miami, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Moscow was preparing for contacts with the U.S. to learn about the results of the meetings in Berlin, but he didn't give details. Trump administration official says only part of the Epstein files will be released today Suspect in Brown University shooting, MIT professor's murder found dead after massive manhunt Investigators probing cause of plane crash that killed NASCAR driver Indeed, Anita Joseph has a bitter story to tell last Wednesday night as the armed men who abducted her made away with her Toyota FJ Cruiser and other personal belongings. She and her nephews were later dumped at a hangout in Ijoko Ota, Ogun State, with N3,000 as transport fares. The rising actress who recently released her debut single titled Go Gaga has since returned home, but still traumatised as a result of the attack. The ugly incident happened around the Ogba area of Lagos. Eyewitness account said the curvy actress was abducted by armed bandits together with her two nephews, aged between 3 and 1, who were in the car. Illegal The man who allegedly confessed to strangling a cabbie in a fare dispute and then dumping his body in a city reservoir upstate is an illegal migrant from Guatemala, The Post has learned. Santos Paulino Vasquez-Ramirez illegally crossed the border in 2013 at Hidalgo, Texas, under President Obama, and later ignored a final removal order issued in 2016 under the first Trump administration, according to sources and US Department of Homeland Security officials. He shouldve never been in our country in the first place and provided the opportunity to gruesomely take the life of Aurelio Zhunio-Orbez, Assistant Secretary of DHS Tricia McLaughlin told The Post. Santos Vasquez-Ramirez, 27, smiled for the camera at a hearing in Putnam County on Thursday. J.C. Rice Open border policies have deadly consequences. ICE lodged a detainer with local authorities to ensure this criminal illegal alien is never allowed back into American neighborhoods. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, ICE is targeting the worst of the worst, she added. In a tragic irony, the cabbie was a legal immigrant from Ecuador. The accused killer who was photographed by The Post last week grinning in the back of a patrol car has at least three prior arrests on his rap sheet, including two DWIs and a criminal mischief for breaking a deli window, according to the Putnam County Sheriffs Office. Vasquez-Ramirez, 27, confessed to barbarically throttling Zhunio-Orbez, 65, in a chokehold after the hack picked him up at the Brewster MetroNorth station in Putnam County, according to the county sheriffs office. The two didnt know each other personally but coworkers said Vasquez-Ramirez had hired the victim who drove for a car service several times in the past, and the two apparently beefed over a recent fare. A trip from the Brewster MetroNorth station to the suspects home in Pawley costs about $40. Aurelio Zhunio-Orbez was strangled to death in a dispute allegedly over cab fare on Dec. 1, according to police. Tribute Archive On Dec. 1, some time after 11 a.m., Vasquez-Ramirez hired the cabbie but this time settled the score, cops said. After allegedly killing the Connecticut father of four in his black Toyota Sienna, authorities said Vasquez-Ramirez dragged the victims body into the woods near the Croton Falls Reservoir, which is part of NYCs water system. He then stole the cabbies minivan and abandoned it near the Purdys MetroNorth station, cops said. A fisherman found Zhunio-Orbezs body a week later, floating in the massive reservoir. Vasquez-Ramirez allegedly stole Zhunio-Orbezs Toyota Sienna after dumping his body in the woods. facebook/putnamsheriffny Zhunio-Orbez worked for Orbes Taxi Service, which is owned by his cousin Homero Orbe, who mourned his loss. I never had a brother. He was like a brother to me, Orbe said. It hurts my soul that he had to die like this. The driver and fare had an unusual interaction, Orbe said. One driver, who was working that day, told me it took a while until [Vasquez-Ramirez] got into the car. The driver saw Santos walking up to the window of the car, he talked to Aurelio they were negotiating something, and then he walked off again, Orbe said. Back and forth for a while. Until Aurelio oepend the automatic door, the guy got in and they left. Zhunio-Orbez was remembered as a God-loving man who enjoyed spending time watching Western films and playing with his dog. Facebook/City of Danbury Police Department The exact details of the dispute are unknown, but colleagues said Zhunio-Orbez, a missionary leader at his local Mormon church, was not the type to fight over a fare. He once told me about a female customer who had lost her wallet and couldnt pay her fare he said, Ok, mamacita, dont worry, a female cabbie, who chose to remain anonymous, told The Post. Vasquez-Ramirez who being held at the Putnam County Jail on murder and robbery charges is known amongst cab drivers in Brewster, many of whom, like Zhunio-Orbez, wait for commuters at the local MetroNorth station. He was a regular client. Our cab company also drove him, but we never had any issues with him, the female driver said. Some neighbors feared the suspect. I dont want MS-13 gang members to come after me, one said before shutting their door. The Putnam County Sheriffs office said that Vasquez-Ramirez has no known gang ties. Zhunio-Orbez worked as a cab driver in the northern suburbs for the past four years while living with his family in Danbury, according to an obituary. He loved country music, watching Western films, and playing with his dog. He is survived by life partner and the mother of his kids Irene Fernandez, four children, one grandchild, and six brothers and sisters. Most of us only know what prison life looks like thanks to movies and TV shows and those tend to exaggerate almost everything. In reality, a lot of what people believe about prison is a mix of myths, half-truths, and pure fiction. Today, we took a deep dive into stories shared by former inmates who now create content online, offering a raw look at what life behind bars is actually like. They break down the routines, the rules, and the misconceptions people rarely question. Keep scrolling to see what prison life is really about. #1 What is one popular prison myth when it comes to female inmates? Well, I think that would be not wearing makeup or not wanting to look good. Now people are like, I would not care about my physical appearance if I was in prison, who cares? There's a lot of different reasons. One, if you look good, you feel good, you know, and I don't think we should be tearing down people the way that our prison system does. And yes, we committed a crime, but we are all human beings, right? So you might want to look good for a visit, for a court appearance, all different kinds of reasons, or just because you want to feel good that day. Photo: jesken12 #2 Prison rehabilitates you? Actually I think it's the opposite. It is a place that's designed to completely break you from everything from the colour of the walls to the uniforms. Just the whole system is not designed for rehabilitation. It is designed for people to come back so they can continue to make money off of you Photo: sharitamona #3 When they say find the biggest, toughest guy in the yard and punch him in the face. That is literally the worst thing I've ever heard anybody say. That is not gonna work out well. Even if you beat the biggest guy you're just walking the world, you don't understand and creating problems you can't possibly imagine Photo: second_chancer Prison life is rarely easy, but some facilities take a very different approach. Bastoy Prison in Norway, for example, is often described as one of the most humane prisons in the world. Located on a quiet island, it functions more like a small village than a traditional prison. Inmates take part in farming, fishing, and daily upkeep, learning responsibility and independence. Education, therapy, and skill-building are central to life there, helping people prepare for life after release. This respectful, rehabilitation-focused system has been linked to significantly lower reoffending rates. #4 There is no life after prison? I once thought this but that is not true. I'm a living testament that there is a different life, in a lot of cases a better life, after prison. I will personally say it was definitely a part of the journey for me that I had to go through. Not that I'm telling anybody go get locked up and go to prison but it can definitely shape you and form you to be a better person and a better citizen Photo: sharitamona #5 A day in prison from someone who spent 27 years in prison: Around about 3 and 3:30 they gonna start turning on lights and calling for the diabetics and people with medical issues that have to go to pill line early in the morning. Between 4:30 and 5 they gonna start calling to go to breakfast. Everybody start moving around while you still sleeping trying to get that last little bit of sleep before they turn the fluorescent lights at 6:00am. That's when the whole dorm start looking like a big warehouse. Lights everywhere, everybody getting up, running around, grabbing their towels, trying to beat each other to the shower before the water starts getting cold. Around about 7:00 we all got to start preparing to make sure that we are in position on our bed sitting up getting ready to get counted. 7:55 you gonna hear him come on the loud speaker: "Clear count! Work call! Work call!" Everybody starts grabbing all their stuff running out to the door. You living in a prison on the compound with about nine other dorms. About 120 inmates in each dorm so when they call 'work call' you got to compete with all these dorms to get out there and get to your job. So everybody come outside the dorm they line up in the straight line. About every 20 feet you gonna see a group of officers standing there to make sure that you walking inside the yellow line. If you step one inch over the yellow line they gonna yell your name: "Get back in line, prisoner. Get back in line, inmate. You ain't free. You ain't home." They gonna be the first to remind you that you locked up. Once you get to your job you got about 10 to 15 minutes to make sure that you at your job and the compound is clear. If you're caught on the compound after those 10 to 15 minutes, you're going to jail. Find about 11:45 you gonna start heading back to your dorm and get ready for that afternoon count. After they clear that you get to go to lunch. They call the dorm out one by one. Once you eat your lunch you go back to your dorm for about 30 minutes. Then they open up the compound and you hear come across the loud speaker: "Work call!" That's PM work call. You go back to work, you get off your job, you go back to your dorm. We got about 30 or 45 minutes before they call count time. Everybody running to the showers trying to get an early shower so they can get it out the way. Me personally, I like to shower late at night because I wanna go to bed fresh. I'm not one of those that wanna come in from work round about four or five take a shower then go back outside walk up that long hill to dinner and sweating and come back in put my night clothes on then go to bed. To me that's nasty. We just repeating the same cycle just different times a day. They really try to let us go to the canteen on the weekend and then you still fighting with about nine other dorms to get to the canteen. So it ain't guaranteed that you even gonna make it to the canteen. That's a day in prison y'all. Photo: treeswalk #6 It's all cat fights and drama? Normally at a prison or I'll say a lower level security prison especially a camp like I was at, people are there just trying to get their time done and they're ready to go home. Or they've already been in prison for a while and this is like a step down and they have more privileges. And it's more open and they don't wanna lose that so they're not in there trying to cause drama.Everybody's just trying to get it over so they can get out and go back to the real world Photo: sharitamona Spains Aranjuez Prison stands out for putting family connections at the heart of rehabilitation. What makes it unique is that certain inmates are allowed to live with their young children inside specially designed family units. This setup helps preserve parent-child bonds and supports emotional well-being on both sides. The prison also provides childcare services and educational programs, ensuring children continue to grow and learn despite their circumstances. Its an approach that recognizes how important family stability can be in reducing future crime. #7 Guards protect inmates? There are some decent guards. I'm not gonna say all guards are bad but they're still guards and there are some guards that are actually worse than the prisoners. They antagonize you, they do little petty stuff and even though it's their job to try to support, that's not what they're there for. They can be some complete jerks Photo: sharitamona #8 You can just do your time and go home? That's not true. The effects of prison on the whole community, the family and yourself carry on even after they leave. There's a transition period. Sometimes there's PTSD. There's just an acclimation back into society and the re-entry can be challenging for some people so it's not just like you do your time and then it's back to business as usual Photo: sharitamona #9 I think america tries to make it seem that prison is rehab when really it's not. You're around all inmates so you just become better convict. If you genuinely want to change, you do change Photo: trellthetrainer Champ-Dollon Prison in Switzerland is known for its modern outlook and focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment alone. Set in a scenic location, the facility emphasizes humane treatment and preparation for life beyond prison walls. Inmates are encouraged to enroll in educational and vocational programs that teach practical, real-world skills. Courses range from carpentry to basic computer training, giving prisoners tools they can actually use after release. The goal is clear: reintegration, not isolation. #10 You get jumped the first day in unless you disrespect somebody or come in with bad paperwork or paperwork issues. Nobody's gonna touch you. It ain't a movie. It's a pressure cooker, people watching you and feeling you out soon as you come in Photo: realtatt2cody #11 There's this really really big misconception that prisons are a free ride when it's far from it. There's a cost of communication, commissary, hygiene, even medical copay and these are things that inmates actually pay for in prison. And they recently just introduced emails which cost 50 cents per email. And they treat it as like they're delivering an actual piece of mail from the USPS. And last but not least we are forced to work for $18 a month. If we don't do that job we get sent to solitary. We are paying with our freedom and our lives so if you think prison is a free ride think again Photo: timeafterlockup #12 i think people often confused jail and prison, theyre two separate things jail you typically are waiting trial or to be sentenced prison is when you've been sentence and you're serving a longer period of time Photo: trellthetrainer Austrias Justice Center Leoben is often highlighted as an example of forward-thinking prison design. Surrounded by a calm environment, the facility prioritizes education, creativity, and rehabilitation. News outlets frequently point to Leoben as a symbol of Austrias progressive correctional philosophy. Inmates have access to vocational training, academic courses, and even artistic programs that help them develop new interests and abilities. The modern design itself is meant to reduce stress and encourage positive behavior. #13 The idea that you never borrow anything from anyone under any circumstances. Sure, you don't wanna borrow things you can't afford to pay back but if you don't have any soap are you not gonna shower? If you don't have any toothpaste, you're not gonna brush your teeth? There are guys who run store boxes where they lend things for interest. You'll find somebody from your area or someone with a common interest. Just like having neighbours on the street, like 'hey can I borrow this until I can make it to the store?' It's not a big deal. Finally there's the idea that prison is full of the most dangerous scary people and sure there are but most of them are really nice guys if you don't cross them. Mostly what I saw was emotionally immature people with mental health and substitutes issues. Photo: second_chancer #14 The COs are there to protect you? Hell no. Some of them COs are dirtier than inmates. You get jumped. The door might stay locked-I've seen it with my own eyes. Photo: realtatt2cody #15 Another prison myth is that you shouldn't sag your pants in prison because that means it's an invitation for somebody who likes other men. This is false. This new generation of people, the past 10 years at least, people that go into prison still dress like they would on the streets as much as they can. As far as how they style their clothes or how they style their state blues. When you're on the yard, a lot of people are walking around with their pants sagging. A lot of them are people that are from the hood, from the projects. You don't really see the country boys doing it, but country boys don't sag their pants on the street anyway. So it's definitely a myth that you shouldn't sag your pants. Stay free, y'all. Photo: codymansonlockup Cebu Prison in the Philippines became famous worldwide for its unexpected approach to rehabilitation. The facility gained attention for its large-scale inmate dance routines, which promote discipline, teamwork, and physical fitness. These performances helped change public perceptions of prison life while boosting morale inside the facility. Beyond dancing, Cebu Prison also offers educational and job-training programs aimed at preparing inmates for reintegration. The focus is on building confidence, structure, and community. #16 Everybody in the feds is dangerous? That is completely not true. I met some of the best people in federal prison who are my friends today and they're not dangerous individuals so that is a complete and utter lie Photo: sharitamona #17 The feds only get the big fish? Not true. There are some people who have very limited involvement and sometimes no involvement at all but when the feds are out to prove their case they'll take any and everybody down they can get. There was actually a girl in there who I was incarcerated with. She was only doing 30 day. They actually brought her in to serve for 30 days. So you don't have to be a big fish to get busted Photo: sharitamona #18 We all know dropping the soap. Listen, if you drop the soap you don't want to pick it up because it's not sanitary. And it's more funny. You will be laughed at than you will be I guess poked or whatever you think happens Photo: trellthetrainer HMP Addiewell in Scotland is widely recognized for its strong emphasis on education and rehabilitation. Operated privately under a government contract, the prison is designed to help inmates rebuild their lives. It offers a wide range of learning opportunities, from basic literacy and numeracy to vocational training and higher education courses. Inmates can also gain work experience that improves their chances of employment after release. The overall aim is long-term change, not short-term punishment. #19 You get plenty of programming? Yes, there are a lot more programmes now with the First Step Act but some of them classes are a joke. The officers are just running through the information. Some of them don't care. It's just like the 'check off a box.' There are some people that care as with any situation but there are programs that are hard to get into depending on where you are. So programming-number one-availability sometimes can be scarce, and the quality can be poor Photo: sharitamona #20 You can just stay to yourself and do your time. WRONG. You might want to but politics don't let you. Your race, your car, your cellie-all that matters. You can't just mind your business. There's rules to this stuff and you don't get to pick who your cellie is. If you're lucky and you've been there for a while they'll put you in there with somebody you can get along with. Photo: realtatt2cody #21 Is it like Orange is the New Black? Yes and no. I know that it was based on a federal women's prison and so there are a lot of truths however it is a lot less dramatic and it is a lot more traumatic Photo: sharitamona Sollentuna Prison in Sweden is known for its sleek design, efficient systems, and environmentally friendly operations. Often praised in international reports, the facility has even received awards for sustainability. Education plays a major role, with inmates able to take academic courses or learn trade skills. The prisons layout is carefully designed to support safety, mental well-being, and rehabilitation. Recreational spaces, libraries, and computer labs further support a balanced daily routine. #22 So a couple of things that you guys may not know about periods in prison. Number one, there's like two big bulks of periods every month. So obviously you get your period once a month. I hope we all know that. And as most women may know, when you're around another woman for so long, you guys get on the same cycle. Well, just imagine being in a prison dorm with like 80 plus women. So normally about half the dorm gets their period at one time and then the other half. So it's like always a madhouse. Now, as far as getting your period supplies, it is on you to purchase your own tampons when you're in prison or when you're in county jail. They don't sell tampons. You have to make them yourself, but they will always supply you with the bare minimum amount of pads. And by that, I mean just enough to get you by and sometimes not enough. You have to borrow some. And they are the worst pads, so they don't actually hold up. So good luck with that. It's always a very messy situation. And fun fact, female prisons, especially bathrooms, are nastier than men's specifically because of menstrual cycles and women not knowing how to dispose properly. Photo: taylerarrington #23 You only get caught and go to the feds if you're flashy? That is not true. There are some very low key people who end up in the feds that don't really stunt or show what they have or talk about what they did so you don't have to be someone that's out there talking and posting and doing stuff to go to the feds. There's people that don't even have social media accounts that find themselves in the feds. Photo: sharitamona #24 I think on tv they often show that the guards beating up inmates and running the jails and prisons when actually the inmates run it. If you put your hands on officer you will get beat but it's not that serious Photo: trellthetrainer While these prisons are often cited as some of the best in the world, not all facilities operate this way. Many prisons across the globe are still criticized for overcrowding, harsh conditions, and a lack of basic human dignity. These environments can make rehabilitation far more difficult and often contribute to repeat offenses. The contrast highlights how much prison systems can vary depending on philosophy and resources. Prison experiences can differ drastically based on where someone is incarcerated and how the system is designed. These examples offer a glimpse into what life behind bars can look like when rehabilitation is prioritized. They also challenge many common myths about prison life. Ultimately, they show that humane treatment and education can play a powerful role in reducing crime and helping people start over. #25 No one's walking around prison holding anybody's pocket. There is a lot of activities going on in there but that's not one of them. In some places you're not even allowed to be like that. They will run you up out of the block. Some people respect it, some people don't ,some people do it behind closed doors and then go out to the visit room kissing their wife, their girlfriend, their mom, their sister, their brother and not even tell them. And go back to the block acting like it's all normal. And then when they go home they act like they never even did it. You did it but that is a prison myth, no one is walking around holding anybody's pocket Photo: ealtatt2cody #26 I spent 10 years in prison, been out a few years. And women stink. So I'm gonna tell you guys the most shocking thing I found out about females in general that I did not know and would not have known had I not gone to prison for a decade. So when you get to prison you are forced to take a shower. It's a mandatory shower. You don't have a choice in it but once you get to your dorm that's when you will start using the communal showers, the communal toilets, the communal everything. When I got to the dorm that night I got in the shower. Something about there being eight shower heads and a lot of steam with no windows around and not very good ventilation, something about all that steam and hot water hitting that really really cheap lye soap-it just exposes you. If you have anything going on that's not in check the soap is telling on you. When I hit that shower I was like oh my god, am I the only one smelling this? So the shower will be the first instance that will tell on somebody and expose them but it's not the last because you can also have a toilet incident. If you are in a two man cell and you're locked in with somebody, you guys have to pee or poo at some point in time. The toilets in the room with you guys are locked in there all night. Whenever that person sits down and gets up and then flushes it. it wafts everything into the air so you should have these wafting arrays of smells all the time. They leave that lingering smell there. I don't know, it's like the toilet just holds the smell you're gonna smell it there's also just a random occasions when like women just they're sitting on a bed and they just open their legs or they like do a real like harsh motion they get momentum and they just get up and then it just walks out of them and you smell it. Photo: jenjengomez2.0 At 23, Caleb Gasca has checked off several traditional markers of adulthood. He graduated college, found a job in a construction office and got married. But living with his wifes parents in San Bernardino County, California, he still feels as though his life has yet to fully begin. Its really irritating that in the area I grew up in, that my family lives, that I cant afford to live there, he said in between speakers at AmericaFest, Turning Point USAs annual gathering of young conservatives. As a candidate, President Donald Trump harnessed the angst of millions of young Americans like Gasca to win a surprising share of Millennial and Gen Z voters. Their role in his victory was celebrated last December at AmericaFest after Turning Point USA proved instrumental in Trumps courtship of young people The golden age of America is upon us, Trump declared from the stage. But this year, the mood inside AmericaFest is far more unsettled. The loss of Charlie Kirk, the charismatic activist who founded Turning Point USA and was killed in September by a gunman, has cast a grim pall over the event and left an unmistakable void in the movement. Meanwhile, many of the promises Trump made to the group last year including lower prices, an end to foreign wars and generational change have yet to materialize. Prices remain high, foreign entanglements are expanding and young people are deeply pessimistic about their future. In a dozen conversations with CNN, AmericaFest attendees expressed mixed views of Trumps return to Washington and the world they are just entering. Some remain optimistic that Trump will find a way to improve their lives that his immigration crackdown will create jobs and lower housing costs, his energy policies will lower gas prices and electric bills and his dismantling of the Department of Education will end the cycle of college debt. Were only one year into this administration, said Chloe Szot, a 27-year-old California teacher. Others are less willing to wait. Gasca told CNN, Unless something changes, I plan not to vote, at least for president, in 2028. A tougher road to adulthood For many of AmericaFests young attendees, the new realities of American life are setting in. While Szot believes homeownership remains within reach for her generation, its with a caveat that previous middle-class generations didnt always have to consider. I think 100% I will be able to buy a house, but it also depends on where you live, she said. Luke Phelps is starting a family soon in the Phoenix area, and the 25-year-old said he and his wife expect to continue working. Its a reality that couples are increasingly confronting both spouses now work in about half of households in a country where two-thirds of $100,000 earners told The Harris Poll theyre just getting by. Nothings going to be the same as it always has, Phelps said. One income was great. Now you need two, right? Obviously you count it as sad, but every generation deals with something. The road to adulthood once followed a familiar path: move out of the parental home, find a spouse, get a job and have kids. Today, fewer than a quarter of Americans had reached all four milestones by age 34, according to the US Census Bureau. Homeownership remains elusive as well. Earlier this year, the National Association of Realtors reported that the median age of a first-time homebuyer had reached 40, the highest on record. The generation entering adulthood also faces new pressures their parents did not. More teenagers acknowledge they spend too much time on social media and expressed concern about its effects on their mental health, according to an April Pew Research Center study. The Harvard Kennedy Institute of Politics found in a recent poll that adults under 30 are three times more likely to believe artificial intelligence will take away opportunities from them than create them. Erika Kirk takes questions during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 19, 2025. - Caitlin O'Hara/Reuters You dont want to start college and get through it and the job that you wanted isnt there anymore, said Tyler Osbon, a 19-year-old college student from West Monroe, Louisiana. Its definitely getting harder to see what you want to do with your life, and then, is that going to be enough to support you in the future? With Kirks help, Trumps campaign appeared far more attuned with how this generation, particularly young men, had internalized their struggles, said John Della Volpe, director of polling at Harvard. Trump tailored his message to those anxieties and promised a way out. The results were undeniable: Trump saw a 7-point jump in support from voters under 30 from 2020 to 2024, according to CNN exit polls, the largest increase of any age group. But one year into Trumps return to Washington, doomerism has become a prevailing sentiment among young people. Just 13 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds believe the country is headed in the right direction, the Harvard poll found. Its a reality that is increasingly flashing warnings for Trump and Republicans heading into the midterms. Over the last decade its been incredibly challenging for people to feel good about the direction of the country especially among Gen Z, which has never seen America united or at its greatest, said Della Volpe. Young people are angry Kirk, who spent a decade connecting with high school and college-age voters, warned that the status quo was not sustainable and would have electoral ramifications for Republicans. In one of his final interviews, he accused his party and its donors of being blind to the suffering of the young people who helped deliver Trumps victory and a Senate majority. They should be saying, Thank you, younger voters, Kirk said. Will Denton, a 27-year-old working in commercial real estate, agreed with Kirks concerns. Standing under a mural of the slain leader at AmericaFest, Denton said it will take lots of little, little Charlie Kirks that are activated by his example to enact change. I dont think (Republicans) are doing enough, Denton said. Young people are angry, young people are frustrated, and young people are succumbing to another scourge on our society, which is a message of systemic conspiracy against you. The antidote, Kirk contended before he could more widely press the case, was policy aimed at giving young people a path to the American dream. If Republicans continued to apply the pull yourself up by the bootstraps philosophy that had guided conservative governance for decades, Kirk predicted that the GOP would squander its hard-won advantage with young voters. Even if you dont care about them, youre not going to like the politics that comes, he said. Attendees stand and observe the National Anthem during Turning Point USA's AmericaFest 2025 in Phoenix on December 19, 2025. - Jon Cherry/AP There are already signs of a slide back to the left. In governor races in Virginia and New Jersey, young people overwhelmingly backed Democrats, exit polls found. Democrats now hold a 13-point edge over Republicans among young people asked which party should control Congress after 2026, according to the Harvard poll. Many young voters say they plan to express their dissatisfaction by sitting out the next election. While that sentiment is strongest among independents, apathy is more pronounced among Republicans than Democrats. Only half of young people who voted for Trump in 2024 said they definitely plan to vote in 2026, compared to 66 percent of Kamala Harris young voters. Divisions remain, though, over whether Trump should attempt to win over the generation with more targeted policies. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro delivered a different message to young people on Thursday: Get off your ass and go do the thing. Finish high school, get a job, get married, have kids, go to church. Those are all in your control, he said from a studio at AmericaFest. You pretending those things are not in your control is grievance culture BS. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The U.S. is conducting airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria in retaliation for the attack that killed two American soldiers and a U.S. interpreter on Saturday, officials said. Multiple sources told CBS News earlier Friday that the strikes were being conducted. One of the officials said the U.S. began striking dozens of targets at multiple locations across central Syria using fighter aircraft, attack helicopters and artillery. More than 70 targets were struck, a U.S. official said. F-15 fighter jets, A-10 Thunderbolts known as "Warthogs" and Apache attack helicopters were used to target ISIS positions in Syria on Friday, U.S. officials told CBS News. F-16 fighter jets from Jordan were also involved in the operation. U.S. Central Command described the operation as a "massive strike" and indicated that it was retaliatory in a post on X. In a follow-up post, U.S. Central Command said it used "more than 100 precision munitions targeting known ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites." A U.S. fighter jet prepares for a large-scale strike on ISIS targets in Syria. Dec. 19, 2025. / Credit: U.S. Central Command (Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images) President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth attended the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base earlier this week for the two soldiers killed, Sgt. William Howard and Sgt. Edgar Torres Tovar, both of the Iowa National Guard, and the interpreter, Ayad Mansoor Sakat. The three individuals were killed when, according to the Pentagon, a lone ISIS gunman ambushed them while they were supporting a key leader in Palmyra, Syria. Three other members of the Iowa National Guard were wounded in the attack. Mr. Trump vowed "very serious retaliation" in a TruthSocial post after the attack, and Hegseth also vowed to "avenge these fallen Americans with overwhelming force." Hegseth announced in a post on Friday on X that U.S. forces have begun "Operation Hawkeye Strike" in Syria "to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces." "Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies," Hegseth continued. "Lots of them. And we will continue." Speaking Friday night during remarks in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Mr. Trump said he "ordered a massive strike on the terrorists that killed our three great patriots last week." The strikes were "very successful," and "we hit every site flawlessly," the president said. After the operation began, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement, "President Trump told the world that the United States would retaliate for the killing of our heroes by ISIS in Syria, and he is delivering on that promise." U.S. Central Command said Friday that since the attack on the American soldiers last weekend, it has conducted 10 operations in Syria and Iraq that have resulted in the death or detention of "23 terrorist operatives." Trump administration official says only part of the Epstein files will be released today Suspect in Brown University shooting, MIT professor's murder found dead after massive manhunt Brown University shooting suspect found dead in New Hampshire | Special Report COURT TV/Youtube Mia Bailey in court NEED TO KNOW On Friday, Dec. 19, Mia Bailey was sentenced to up to life in prison for the deaths of her parents Joseph, 70, and Gail Bailey, 69, were fatally shot when she broke into their family home on June 18, 2024 Bailey is set to serve two consecutive sentences of 25 years to life for each of their murders and up to five years for aggravated assault A Utah woman could spend the rest of her life in prison after pleading guilty to fatally shooting her parents. On Friday, Dec. 19, Mia Bailey was sentenced to two consecutive sentences of 25 years to life for the murders of her parents, Joseph and Gail Bailey, and up to five years for aggravated assault, KUTV, ABC4 and The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Bailey, 30, allegedly shot her 70-year-old father twice in the head and her 69-year-old mother four times after breaking into their Washington City home on June 18, 2024, KUTV and KSL.com previously reported. Bailey then went downstairs to shoot through her brothers bedroom, where he was locked inside with his wife at the time. She allegedly told police that she didnt care if the shot killed her brother, per KUTV. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Bailey was arrested on June 19, 2024, and charged with 11 felony counts for the double homicide of her parents and the attempted murder of her brother, according to the Washington City Police Department. Her sentencing comes after she pleaded guilty to the murders of her parents in November 2025, admitting that she intentionally shot and killed them, according to court documents obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune. Attorney Ryan Stout asked the judge to give Bailey concurrent sentences rather than consecutive due to having no prior criminal activity and her mental illness, which he argued left her functioning at the cognitive and emotional level of a young child." Stout said she was diagnosed with autism, psychosis, schizophrenia, ADHD, OCD and may also have bipolar disorder, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Washington City Police Dept. Mia Bailey Bailey's mental illness was also recognized by her brother Dustin as he spoke in court. He alleged that she committed the crimes as a result of powerful hormones and other drugs he believed were irresponsibly prescribed during her transgender treatment, per The Salt Lake Tribune. We support LGBTQ rights fully. This has nothing to do with identity, said Dustin, according to the outlet. Providing powerful hormones to a person in a psychiatric crisis without proper psychiatric safeguards is not affirming care. It is reckless ... it acted as an accelerant, intensifying instability, impairing judgment and compounding risk. That failure harmed Mia and it endangered our parents." Bailey said in a statement during sentencing that she was sincerely, deeply sorry to her family for the crime and that she couldnt live with herself, per ABC4. The final decision on the length of Bailey's term will be made by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole after sentencing, according to KUTV. PEOPLE has contacted the Washington County Attorneys Office for comment. Read the original article on People An 86-year-old lost $25K after scammers hijacked her landline. When Joanne's landline went silent after returning home from the hospital, she assumed it was a simple technical problem. But within weeks, $25,000 disappeared from the 86-year-olds Wells Fargo savings account. Thieves had pulled off a sophisticated scam that relied on her hijacked phone number and a vulnerability in an old joint bank account. Must Read "It was too easy for this to happen," her son Steve told ABC7's Seven On Your Side after discovering criminals had used his late father's identity along with his mother's stolen phone number to get into a joint account still registered in both parents' names (1). Its part of an alarming trend. The FBI says older Americans lost nearly $4.9 billion to scams in 2024, a 43% increase from 2023 (2). One of the fastest-rising tactics is phone number hijacking, and seniors are especially at risk because many still rely on landlines and older authentication systems. How landlines become tools for fraud Outdated joint accounts that still list deceased spouses leave seniors exposed because scammers can use old identity data to pass verification checks. Phone number hijacking isn't limited to mobile SIM cards. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says criminals take advantage of the legal "number porting" process that lets customers move phone numbers from one carrier to another (3). In Joanne's case, AT&T confirmed fraudsters had stolen her landline number and ported it to a cell phone on another carrier. Once criminals control a phone number, they can intercept text calls and texts, including two-factor authentication codes from banks. "This typically begins a race where the scammer, by receiving the victim's private texts and calls, tries to reset the access credentials for as many of the victim's financial and social media accounts as possible," the FCC warns (3). What made Joanne's case more insidious was the joint savings account that still included her late husband. Criminals used his identity and her stolen phone number to pass verification checks, making the activity look legitimate to automated systems. Read More: This $1B private real estate fund is now accessible to non-millionaires. Heres how you can get started with as little as $10 The one move that could have stopped it Wells Fargo removed Steve's father from the account, which should have happened immediately after his death. This kind of oversight is common. Accounts for utilities, phone services, financial institutions and credit cards often stay active under deceased spouses' for years, creating openings for scammers. Criminals buy leaked personal data, such as birth dates, Social Security numbers and addresses, on dark web marketplaces powered by massive breaches. One of the biggest was the National Public Data hack, which exposed 2.9 billion records (4). Using that stolen information together with hijacked phone numbers, fraudsters can impersonate deceased account holders and get through verification checks. "We continually combat fraud to protect our customers," Wells Fargo told Seven On Your Side. "As part of this effort, it is very important for customers to keep their account information current and notify us of life changes, including the passing of an account holder." Family protection checklist If you're helping aging parents manage their finances, take these steps as soon as possible: Remove deceased account holders from all accounts. Contact every financial institution, utility company, phone carrier and credit card issuer after a death. This single update eliminates a major fraud risk. Add carrier port-out locks. Ask phone carriers to apply port-out protection. Under FCC rules introduced in 2024, carriers must offer account locks that prevent number transfers without additional verification (5). Move away from SMS authentication. Text codes can be intercepted if a number is hijacked. Use authenticator apps or, even better, physical security keys. Request bank call-back verification for wire transfers. Ask your bank to call a pre-registered alternate number before approving any wire transfer or large transaction. Consolidate and monitor accounts. Reduce the number of accounts to simplify oversight. Turn on email alerts for all transactions so suspicious activity is caught quickly. Lock credit files. Freeze credit reports with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to prevent new accounts from being opened in your parents names. Set up trusted contacts. Many financial institutions let you add trusted contacts who can be notified if unusual activity occurs or if the bank cant reach the account holder. What To Read Next Join 200,000+ readers and get Moneywises best stories and exclusive interviews first clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now. Article sources We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines. ABC 7 (1); FBI (2); FCC (3); CBS News (4); Federal Register (5). This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Older Americans are frequently targeted by con artists. First they conned a 74-year-old retired teacher in Jonesborough, Tennessee, into thinking he was in a relationship with a celebrity. Then they defrauded him out of $86,900. Then he took his life. Two years later, the con artists are convicts, with federal prison sentences to look forward to. They must pay $388,500 in restitution Must Read On Dec. 2, 2025, Stephen O. Anagor, 37, of Lakewood, Washington, was sentenced to nine years in prison. His former military trainee classmate, Chinagorom Onwumere, 36, of Piscataway, New Jersey, was sentenced to seven years. And Onwumeres wife, Salma Abdalkareem, 29, was sentenced to a little over four years. (1). U.S. Department of Justice prosecutors said the trio joined forces in 2023 to help a relative in Nigeria defraud elderly Americans through online romance scams. Once they convinced the retired teacher that he was in a relationship with a famous actress, they turned tables on him. They impersonated a former FBI director and a U.S. attorney general, telling the victim that the celebrity had filed a complaint and that she demanded exorbitant fees to make the matter go away. Through harassing emails, they pressured him into sending five checks for a total $86,900 including proceeds from a loan he took out on his truck to pay the fees. In his final text to the person he believed was the celebrity, he said he had no money left to give her and that he intended to end his life. He died by suicide on Oct. 23, 2023. As NJ.com reported, following his death, his family members discovered emails related to the scam on his tablet and took it to the authorities (2). Older Americans are vulnerable to romance scams This tragic situation highlights how sophisticated and emotionally manipulative romance scams can be. According to the FBI, scammers create fake online identities to build trust, spark an emotional bond, and ultimately steal money from their victims (3). They exploit older adults vulnerabilities. Read More: Many Americans overpay for these 5 must-have items how many are on your list? Many retirees live alone, may be less familiar with online impersonation tactics or embarrassed to tell family about a new romantic connection. According to the Federal Trade Commission, older adults lost $240 million to romance scams in 2022 alone. While every scam varies, most follow predictable steps: They make first contact out of the blue . Scammers often start with a wrong number text, a dating-site match, or a friendly social media message. The goal is to start a conversation. They build emotional intimacy fast. Scammers shower victims with attention. They may send photos, audio messages, or even prerecorded videos to appear real and invested. They claim they cant meet in person. Many pretend to be deployed overseas, working on a film set or handling a crisis that keeps them conveniently out of reach. Once that bond forms, the financial pressure begins. They might claim they need help paying hospital bills, securing travel documents, or covering legal fees. In more aggressive cases like the Jonesborough scam criminals pose as government officials, warning victims about fake investigations or fines to coerce rapid payments. How to protect yourself and loved ones Romance scammers rely on secrecy, urgency, and emotional pressure. Taking a few precautions can make these schemes much easier to spot and stop before money is lost. Be careful what you post online Scammers comb social media for clues: your age, recent losses, interests or loneliness can all help them tailor a convincing story. Keep account details private and limit how much personal information strangers can see. Research new connections Run reverse-image searches on profile photos, look up names and phone numbers and check whether details about their job, hometown or past add up. If their online footprint seems thin or too polished, thats a red flag. Go slow Anyone who professes love or deep emotional attachment early on should raise suspicion. Romance scammers rush relationships intentionally to reduce the chance youll step back and question things. Never give banking information or send gift cards to someone youve never met No legitimate partner or government agency will ever ask for gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or access to your financial accounts. If someone claims you're in legal trouble or owe fines, hang up and contact the agency using an official phone number from their website. What to do if youve already been scammed If you suspect youve sent money to a scammer, contact your bank or credit-card issuer immediately. In some cases, transactions can be reversed if reported quickly. Keep all records of communication, screenshots, receipts, and bank statements. You can also file a report with the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center, which helps investigators track patterns and may aid in recovering funds in rare cases (4). Victims should also alert local law enforcement and consider reaching out to trusted family, friends, or support lines for emotional support, especially if a scam has caused significant financial or mental distress (5). Article sources We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines. Department of Justice (1); NJ.com (2); FBI (3); Federal Trade Commission (4); Internet Crime Complaint Center (5) What To Read Next Join 200,000+ readers and get Moneywises best stories and exclusive interviews first clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. NEED TO KNOW More than a month after Capt. Dana Diamond died in a UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville, Ky., his widow is remembering their final moments together Diamond worked at UPS for 37 years as a pilot and previously served as commissioner and fire chief of his local fire department in Texas Minutes before the deadly crash, he texted his wife On the night before a crashing UPS cargo plane rained fire and devastation across a swath of Louisville, Ky. killing 14 Capt. Dana Diamond planted flowers with his wife, Donna, to encourage more butterflies to flit across their 132-acre ranch in Caldwell, Texas. We did good. We've made a beautiful home, Dana, 62, told his wife before he left to serve as the international relief officer on the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 jet that was bound for Hawaii on Tuesday, Nov. 4. "We've got so much more to do," Dana said. The Diamonds had spent much of October together, making improvements to the property on which their house had been built just a year and a half before. That Monday, Nov. 3, they took a tour of the grounds before Donnas sister, Carol, arrived. At the end of Carol's visit, she got up to leave, giving Dana a hug and kiss. "I worry about you, Dana, on those old airplanes, Carol told her brother-in-law, Donna recalls in an interview with PEOPLE, her first since her husband's death. "I hate it when you fly. I worry about something happening." Donna Diamond From left: Dana and Donna Diamond The longtime pilot quickly reassured Carol. "I'm just going to be riding in the back this time, Dana said, according to his wife. "I'm going to be the 'cook.' " I'll be home before y'all miss me, he told them both. The following afternoon, UPS Flight 2976 was rising into the sky at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport when its left engine and pylon separated from the wing as fire erupted. The plane careened back toward the ground and crashed in a massive explosion, killing Dana, the other two crew members on board Capt. Richard Wartenberg, 57, and First Officer Lee Truitt, 45 and 11 bystanders in the area, PEOPLE previously reported. Donna was left a widow for the second time in her life. I've done this before, says the 63-year-old whose previous husband, Johnny, died unexpectedly in 2015. (She also shares two children with her first husband, whom she divorced before marrying Johnny.) I didn't think I could ever love like I did before, but Dana is the one, Donna says. For decades, Danas focus was on his career and giving back to his hometown of Bastrop, Texas. He joined UPS in 1988 and rose in the ranks alongside Lee Collins, a fellow pilot. For some years Dana served as Collins deputy in the Independent Pilots Association (IPA), and together they became known as the union's "Batman and Robin." You never wanted to have either one of us in a meeting, because you might be in over your head, says Collins, 65, who worked at UPS for 31 years before becoming CEO of the National Flight Training Alliance. We were a formidable team. Donna Diamond Donna and Dana (center and right) with two of their grandchildren. Dana also served as commissioner and chief of Bastrop County Emergency Services District No. 1, and later trained aircraft rescue firefighters some of whom were the very first responders who arrived at the scene in Louisville. He was a champion for safety, says Capt. Jess Grigg, who brought Dana on when he was chairman of the Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) committee of the IPA. Jack Kreckie, a retired deputy fire chief who oversaw ARFF services at Boston Logan International Airport, says the training he received from Dana was "among the best aircraft training many of us have received." In total, Dana helped train more than 1,000 firefighters in that specialty. When Dana met Donna in 2015, their worlds quickly expanded. I was lost and broken, I'll tell you, says Donna. Then I met Dana, and he just filled up everything inside of me. She went on a date with Dana in 2010 her first and her last with him: They were married within a matter of months. This October marked their 10th anniversary. Capt. Jess Grigg Capt. Dana Diamond with ARFF teammembers. We were inseparable, says Donna of the halcyon days of their marriage. Dana quickly became known as Papaw to their now seven grandchildren. I loved it that my dream was his dream, she adds. Together, the couple built their dream estate. In between long stretches at home in Caldwell, Dana continued to travel across the world for work, leaving sweet notes for Donna to find in his absence. By October, the pilot had spent almost 25 years flying MD-11s, and was the most senior pilot of that fleet type for UPS. In his last conversation with Collins in August, Dana spoke of his plans to retire in 2026. Donna still struggles with the bitter irony that her husband decided to bid on the trip to Hawaii, which was supposed to be quick. Donna Diamond The Diamonds with their grandchildren. That Tuesday, Dana texted with his 8-year-old granddaughter, Hayden, who shared her Christmas list and a sweet note: I love you, Papaw. Donna also communicated with Dana multiple times that day. The tenure of the day shifted when she was checking on one of their cows. Her son, Will, called to ask if shed heard about a UPS plane crash in Louisville. Did she know what kind of plane Dana was scheduled to be on? Rushing home, Donna found Will waiting for her and looked at the news, despite his protests. Her nightmare was soon confirmed: Danas plane had gone down. Oh God, it's him, Donna recalls saying. I got on the floor, just screaming. It wasnt until later that day as she and her family navigated the tsunami of grief and shock that Donna read one of the last messages Dana sent her, minutes before the crash: "I love you, wife." Donna Diamond A young Capt. Dana Diamond. In the following weeks, the local community and people around the nation have collectively mourned. Unanswered questions also remain as the NTSB continues its lengthy investigation. Collins describes the crash as the perfect storm of events. He says that if the plane had just lost an engine, that airplane would've flown away just fine. But losing an engine, getting a fire going on that wing where the engine left from, and then contaminating the number two engine and causing that to compressor stall, and then roll back, Collins continues. You can't really envision that scenario. Donna Diamond Days before the crash, Dana and Donna took their grandchildren trick-or-treating. He adds, There was nothing that was going to save them after that second engine rolled back. As he awaits the NTSB report, Collins says that hes alarmed by a change in statistics. For years during his tenure at UPS, the company had no deadly crashes, but in the last 15 years, thats changed, he says. There have been three crashes, all of which were fatal, seven crew members killed, and 11 people on the ground, says Collins, referencing the three deadly UPS plane crashes that have occurred since 2010, as reported by USA Today. Capt. Jess Grigg IPA members salute the casket of Capt. Dana Diamond for the flight from Dallas to Austin. As he mourns his friend and former colleague, Collins says that the best way to honor Dana is by training pilots with a focus on safety a priority that Dana fought for every day. 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. Dana was very much a formidable person and captain in that he believed in doing things one way, and that was the right way, the safe way, says Collins. There were no shortcuts. There were no excuses because we all know our world can have deadly consequences. The goal is to keep that from ever happening. Sharing Danas impact on the aviation community is important to Donna, even as she holds memories of him close. Dear wife, I love you, Dana wrote months ago in a note that he left for Donna to find, hoping to ease the ache from his absence. You are the best part of me. Read the original article on People Head's up: Netflix has just released the 2025 biographical drama film Queen of Coal, and it's a must-watch. The Spanish-Argentine production follows the true story of Carla Antonella Rodriguez, a transgender woman who became Patagonia's first trans mineran occupation systemically vetoed for women. A description of the film reads: "A trans woman dreams of working the coal mines, but in a town steeped in superstition and patriarchy, Carla must fight to earn her place underground." The movie stars transgender actor and activist Lux Pascal (Pedro Pascal's sister) as Carla, who was praised for playing the role with a "quiet determination." Overall, the movie has been described as "an ode to resilience." So, in honor of Queen of Coal's (Miss Carbon in Spanish) Netflix premiere, let's take a look at the life of the real Carla Antonella Rodriguez and where she is now. Who is Carla Antonella Rodriguez? Carla Antonella Rodriguez was born 33 years ago in Mina 3, a village in Santa Cruz Province, in southern Argentina's Patagonian region. The town is situated next to the Rio Turbio coal mine, the backdrop of Carla's story. Despite dropping out of high school at 14 and working as a cleaner and hairdresser's assistant, Carla knew that deep down, she wanted to work in the mines. So, at 18, she submitted an application but was rejected. Two years later, she applied againthis time hiding her identity as a trans womanand was accepted. Pablo Cuadra - Getty Images At the time, women were forbidden from working in the mines due to an 80-year-old myth. Legend has it that after a collapse, a woman went underground to search for her husband. However, she never returned home. Folkloric stories began to spread that her soulknown as the "Black Widow"was trapped inside the mountain, and that she was responsible for the disappearances of other male mine workers. The myth was passed down through generations of Rio Turbio families, who believed that if women never entered the mine, accidents wouldn't happen. (Of course, accidents still happened.) The only time women were allowed inside was on December 4, known as the day of Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners. Women would enter the mine and visit their husbands' place of work, while outside, dances and celebrations took place. During these parties, the town would crown "Miss Carbon," otherwise known as the Coal Queen. On Carla's first day in the mine, she received a cold welcome from her co-workers. During a 2025 interview with El Pais, a Spanish daily newspaper, she recalled how, for years, she kept her head down and got on with her work. Eventually, Argentina passed the 2012 landmark Gender Identity Law, which made it the first country to recognize the right to self-perceived gender identity. As one of the world's most progressive laws for trans rights at the time, it significantly reduced marginalization for transgender people and improved their access to rights and services. However, when Carla transitioned, the mine's Human Resources department told her she was no longer allowed to work underground and would be transferred to an administrative position. She told El Pais that when she questioned the decision, they replied, "Because you're a woman." Carla decided to fight back, and in 2015, filed a written statement accusing her colleagues of "discriminatory treatment," and that she would be returning to her original position in the mine. "I hacked the system. I set the precedent. We changed history," she said during the interview. In 2018, Carla met TV writer Erika Halvorsen, who would be a significant figure in her journey. After many interviews, Erika developed the story that would become Queen of Coal/Miss Carbon. Agustina Macri then joined as director, and the rest is history. Agustina also told El Pais, "Often, you choose a story. But then that same story begins to unfold, to spiral inward, to a certain depthand that's how you discover there were many reasons you were drawn to it." Where is Carla Antonella Rodriguez now? Despite her newfound fame as a movie inspiration, Carla remains humble and committed to her cause. She is still a miner at the Rio Turbio coal mine, and regularly shares content of her day-to-day work life on Instagram. Since the release of Queen of Coal/Miss Carbon, Carla has also taken part in panel talks and interviews promoting the movie. These highlights are also shared on her social media. On a personal noteand after years of campaigning for equality in the workplaceCarla told El Pais that she has learned to look at herself in the mirror and "like" what she sees. "To stop constantly chasing the hegemonic ideals set by the system: pretty, thin, tall. No. I have a strong, firm face, the hands of a laborer, hardened here in Patagonia." She concluded, "This is who I am. And I'm proud of who I am, of what I've been able to achieve." Queen of Coal is now streaming on Netflix. You Might Also Like A South African oryx, also called 'Gemsbok' or 'gemsbuck' walking by a water hole in a desert area in Namib-Naukluft National Park in Namibia. - Wolfgang Kaehler // LightRocket via Getty Images Inside the fight to save Namibia's wildlife Moments before the sun set behind Namibias burnt-orange mountains, a large truck rumbled onto the desert landscape below. Inside were ostriches, springbok, and oryx, restless and stamping around their transport crate. Members of the local tribe and a handful of journalists watched from safari vehicles as conservationists readied the doors. Soon, the animals would charge into their new home: the Orange River Karoo conservation area. Wildlife translocation projects dont always go well; sometimes, the animals dont survive the journey. For the Orange River-Karoo Conservation Area, a nonprofit working to restore 2.4 million acres in the countrys south, this inaugural release was years in the makingand they were prepared. Once the doors finally opened and each group of animals clumsily stumbled out before striding across the land as if theyd always been there, any potential worry dissolved. One emotion was unmistakable on every face: joy. Honestly, it was one of the happiest days ever, in terms of how many years and days have gone into getting us to where we are today, said Andreia Pawel, cofounder of ORKCA. The Orange River-Karoo region has been around for millennia, but its ecosystem suffered greatly in the last two centuries as southern Namibia lost 90% of its wildlife to poaching, mining, and the conversion of open land to livestock farming, according to ORKCA. Where 10,000 elephants and 3,000 hippos once roamed the region, there are now zerothe largest extinction of megafauna in sub-Saharan Africa. A robust population of 20 million springbok has dropped to just 5,000, while giraffe numbers tumbled from 6,000 to 30. These metrics are equally bleak for the lands historic predators. There were once 2,000 leopards throughout the landscape. Today, there are just 10 remaining. Lion numbers have cratered from 3,000 to total extinction. Even so, the story of conservation work is hardly one of defeat, Atmos reports. While many experts have completely written off the Orange River-Karoo, as is the case for many desert landscapes, ORKCA formed in 2020 when its members recognized the potential for restoration. Three years later, the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, which since 2019 has committed itself to the protection of the planet, also recognized ORKCAs vision, and decided to aid in the organizations first wildlife release. The unique ecology of the region spans three different biomes: the desert, the driest of biomes; the Nama Karoo, characterized by low shrubs and rugged terrain; and the Succulent Karoo, the worlds only arid biodiversity hotspotmaking the Orange River-Karoo an ecotone, a natural crossroads and a catalyst for evolution. When youre talking about research in the far south, in the desert, everyone laughs and asks you what is there? said ORKCA chief executive Nabot Mbeeli. When you really start looking closely, close to the surface, you'll be amazed by the amount of life that is actually there. Local tribes have always known this. Karoo is derived from the Khoisan word meaning land of thirst. For the Namathe largest and only remaining group of the KhoiKhoi people, now living in Namibias Karas regionthe landscape is demanding, but not hopeless. Life begets life; and when people, plants, and wildlife live in symbiosis with the living land, it always gives back. The Nama people rely on this reciprocity. Traditional healers depend on indigenous species for remedies, herders rely on healthy grazing ecosystems, and our way of life is shaped by the balance between people and nature, said Lizle Jacobs, a member of a local Nama womens group called Orange River Queens. Over the past few years, the health of the land has improved dramatically, Mbeeli says. From above, the 395,000 acres that ORKCA has set aside for conservation stand in sharp contrast to the surrounding farm communities. Theres grass as high as and as thick as your hip because the area has had no livestock pressure; it's just been allowed to rest for five years now, said Mbeeli. It's amazing the amount of difference. ORKCA has been working to restore the land and ensure its viability for the remaining wildlife and for the animals they plan to continue to reintroducemore animals like the oryx, springbok, and ostriches. Before the release, two animals from each species were collared to keep track of their whereabouts, as part of the translocation project plan. The day after the release, the familiar cohort of ostriches was resting and seemed to be doing well. Later, the group of oryx, quickly followed by a sighting of 10 or so springbok, were spotted. While springbok and oryx tend to be herd animals, ostriches are not; yet they remained together in their first 24 hours of life on the ORKCA landscape. These are the first animals to be collared on the land; but part of ORKCAs daily operations has always included tracking animalsit was just done by following footprints and observing dung piles rather than chasing a satellite signal. The new collaring method is part of a broader strategy that uses technology to track migration patterns and collect data that will eventually feed into the research center ORKCA is now building. We are understanding how theyre moving within this section of the landscape, how they will be dispersing across a greater landscape, and so on, Mbeeli said. Its a massive landscape, and trying to study without using tech would be a lot more challenging. So, this is a first step in collecting the data. Restoration and rewilding of the Orange River-Karoo includes a lot of grunt work, such as long days spent removing fences previously put up by farmers to protect livestock from wildlife encounters. ORKCA is also installing radio towers to help ranger teams communicate across the field. With support from the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, more than 90 camera traps have been placed throughout the property and at watering holes to capture passing wildlifeand to detect potential threats, including poachers. In this way, ORKCA helps boost the animals odds of survival in the conservation area. A lot of conservation is actually taking down fences, cleaning out water holes, Pawel said. It's very hard work, and it's long days in the field, so it's really important for us to also get hands-on and have that connection with wildlife, the ones that we're actually passionate about, and that inspires us as a team. While tracking the released animals, a range of animated wildlife could be seena curious kudu staring from a mountain top, a family of raucous baboons, two Karoo korhaan birds performing a mating dancein addition to, conversely, death. Maggots engulfed the bloated belly of a fallen oryx, its spear-sharp horns tangled in a wiry bush. Adriaan Mulder, a tour guide and reservation manager for part of the region, inspected the animal and confirmed it wasnt one of the releases. This oryx had been dead for at least a couple of days, he said, and hypothesized the likely cause of death as a bite from a poisonous snake. Climate change has also made its mark on the ORKCA landscape. As the driest country in the sub-Sahara, Namibia experiences some of the most dire effects of a warming world. The southern areas endemic plant species are in decline, including a range of succulents and the ubiquitous quiver tree. The areas wetlands are threatened, too. The Orange River, which divides South Africa and Namibia and is considered a lifeline in the region, often suffers from drought conditions while pesticides from nearby commercial farms threaten water quality. But as the ecological health of the Orange River-Karoo conservation area improves, signs of resilient life are returning in remarkable ways. Weve had [some years] that we get good rain, and we start seeing species of flowers that just pop up that weve never seen before in areas that we thought were barren, said Pawel. Then, all of a sudden, it's this amazing vegetation that is there. The Orange River feeds these plants, so the health of the waterway is paramount. ORKCA now plans to make it part of a transboundary park, so that the river no longer serves as a porous national border. Instead, it will form the core of an area designed to protect biodiversity, wildlife, and ecological processes. ORKCAs efforts have renewed interest in the region, drawing geologists and botanists back to a landscape that was once abandoned. That momentum is likely to spur further research and more conservation work. While the Orange River-Karoo still bears the scars of loss, the memories of its former abundance linger in its water, plants, and the animals that still roam its plains, waiting for more to return. Together with the Indigenous stewards of this land, ORKCA is committed to bringing that vision back to life. And if the organizations first wildlife reintroductionmarked by song, dance, and interspecies communionis any indication, this is only the beginning. Rolex hosted Jasmine Hardy on a trip to Namibia in September 2025. This story was produced by Atmos and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. What is his excuse? He said the House merely embarked on a fact-finding mission. His statement read in part: Government must be guided by the dictates of the rule of law and due process as required of any democratically elected and responsible government". Olufamous.com sincerely hopes that Mr. Adoke is not trying to replay his script of January 2012 when he said the resolution by the House of Reps that the government should suspend its decision to increase fuel price was a mere advise and not binding. That statement, it would be recalled, was what made a lot of Nigerians to join the protests because they see it as a slap on the people and their elected Representatives. Reacting to calls by majority of Nigerians that all those found wanting should be prosecuted, the AGF in a statement on Thursday said the Goodluck Jonathan government will need relevant agencies to conduct necessary investigations before it can consider any prosecution. Stand-up paddleboarders sport holiday lights and outfits as they paddle around Naples Island in Long Beach on Tuesday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The Pineapple Express storm bearing down on Southern California could bring heavy rain and strong winds throughout Christmas week, potentially triggering mudslides, downing trees and flooding not only freeways but also homes and businesses. If the forecasts are right, this could be one of the stormiest Christmases in recent memory for Southern California. There's an 80% chance downtown Los Angeles will get 2 or more inches of rain from Tuesday through Christmas Day. The last time downtown got 2 or more inches of rain over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was in 1971. The storm is expected to deliver 4 to 8 inches of rain between Tuesday and Saturday throughout most of Los Angeles County, Orange County and the Inland Empire. The High Desert could see 2 to 3 inches of rain. But the most precipitation 6 to 12 inches is expected to fall over parts of Southern California mountain ranges, which could trigger mudslides and debris flows in recent burn scars. Meteorologist Devin Black from the National Weather Service office in Oxnard said that the latest weather models show the region's heaviest rainfall totals from a half an inch to 1 inch per hour could occur between midnight Tuesday and noon Wednesday. Such a deluge comes with the risk of flash flooding, he said. "We're going to have some pretty strong southerly winds," Black said in a briefing Sunday afternoon, particularly in the Southern Foothills. Here's what you need to know. Read more:California in for wet, white, potentially wild Christmas as Pineapple Express storm looms Timing The peak of the system is expected Tuesday through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. There's an 80% to 100% chance of rain in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties starting Tuesday night and lasting into Wednesday and Thursday. Precipitation timing for Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. (National Weather Service) In Orange County, the Inland Empire and San Diego County, light showers are possible Tuesday, but the heaviest rainfall is expected Wednesday, with officials warning of heavy rainfall, increased flooding risks and possible mudslides. Flood and mudslide risks will continue Thursday. Expected effects of the storm for Orange County, the Inland Empire and San Diego County. (National Weather Service) Worst-case scenario Forecasters are warning that there's a 40% chance of "very high" amounts of rain for Los Angeles, Ventura and southern Santa Barbara counties, and a 30% chance of the same for northern Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County. That scenario would see 4 or more inches of rain fall on the coast and in the valleys, with 8 or more inches in the mountains and foothills, Tuesday through Thursday. Peak rainfall rates would be half an inch to 1 inch per hour. According to the National Weather Service, that could cause: Significant mudslides Flooded freeways Streams and rivers flooding over their banks Localized flooding that could rise above curbs and into homes and businesses Moderate coastal flooding in south-facing areas Downed trees and power lines Dangerous sea conditions Swift-water rescues Rainfall probabilities for Los Angeles, Ventura and southern Santa Barbara counties. (National Weather Service) Between Tuesday and Thursday, numerous areas have a high chance of seeing 3 or more inches of rain. There's a 77% chance of that occurring in Anaheim and Yorba Linda, a 74% chance in Santa Ana, a 73% chance in Ontario, a 71% chance in Mission Viejo, a 69% chance in Irvine, a 68% chance in Chino, a 65% chance in Laguna Niguel and a 60% chance in San Clemente. Rainfall probabilities for northern Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County. (National Weather Service) 'High amounts' of rain scenario There's also a 40% chance of "high amounts" of rain in L.A., Ventura and southern Santa Barbara counties, and a 50% chance of the same in northern Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. That scenario would entail 2 to 4 inches of rain falling along the coast and in the valleys, with 4 to 8 inches in the mountains and foothills. After a brief "lull" in the rainfall on Wednesday afternoon, a second "impulse," or phase of the weather system will begin, according to Kristen Lund, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Oxnard office. She encouraged people to stay away from rivers and creeks, especially campers who may be tempted to escape the urban bustle because of recent warm weather. "There might be some periods of lighter rain Wednesday, but that doesn't mean you should go and drive around everywhere," she said. Heavier rainfall could resume Wednesday night into Thursday morning, she said. People should also avoid being too close to the ocean or parking their vehicles under tall trees, she said, because of the potential threat posed by dangerous swells and high winds. Rain to that extent would risk flooding freeway lanes; causing minor coastal flooding, mudslides and debris flows; and potentially force swift-water rescues in fast-moving rivers and streams. Read more:California storms not canceling Christmas vacation. Holiday travel could set records Wind That risks toppling trees and power lines. On Tuesday night, Los Angeles could see peak gusts of 31 mph; Woodland Hills, 38 mph; Paso Robles, 52 mph; and San Luis Obispo, 53 mph. "Avoid parking under trees," the weather service said. "Secure loose outdoor objects." There's a 65% chance of gusts exceeding 35 mph in Huntington Beach, a 60% chance in San Diego, a 45% chance in Big Bear Lake and Ramona, a 40% chance in Escondido and a 35% chance in Riverside, according to the weather service office in San Diego. Times staff writer Libor Jany contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Chinas special envoy Deng Xijun visits Phnom Penh to revive ceasefire efforts. Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy attacks Hun Sen and the Cambodian government for fanning the flames of conflict to mask a "personal conflict" with Thaksin Shinawatra. More than 30 Thai and Cambodian NGOs issue an appeal for a truce, stressing that mostly ordinary people are affected by war. Phnom Penh (AsiaNews) Chinas special envoy for Asian affairs, Deng Xijun, made an official visit to Phnom Penh this week, in an attempt to mediate the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand following recent violent clashes along the border. Beijing's diplomatic pressure comes as the United States continues to push the two neighbours to reach a ceasefire ahead of the special meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), next Monday. Since fighting resumed, undoing the truce previously orchestrated by US President Donald Trump, at least 60 people have died with over half a million displaced, amid growing tensions that are also worrying the Cambodian bishops. "Deng Xijun reaffirmed that China will continue to play a constructive role in facilitating dialogue between Cambodia and Thailand with a view to promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes," said the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement. Yesterday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also spoke, describing Washington's as cautiously optimistic that the two countries could reach another ceasefire by early next week. Cambodian activist, economist, and former politician and opposition leader Sam Rainsy also commented on the ongoing violence, saying that the underlying issue is not "a conflict between the Cambodian and Thai peoples" but rather a personal conflict between Hun Sen and Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand. He points the finger at the former Thai prime minister and the former Cambodian leader and strongman of the country, who are holding "the peoples of both nations hostage for "a private political rivalry." In the message posted on social media, the former politician accuses Hun Sen of providing shelter, protection and political cover to Chen Zhi, while at the same time cultivating illicit business dealings. Chen Zhi has played a key role in financing and sustaining the Hun Sen regime, Rainsy writes. As a result, Hun Sen has transformed Cambodia into a mafia state, thereby providing Thailand with a pretext to launch military actions aimed at dismantling transnational criminal networks operating from Cambodian territory. Because Hun Sen collaborates with criminal organizations, Cambodia now faces international isolation at a critical moment, as no country wishes to support a state led by criminals. For Rainsy, Hun Sen values power for himself and his family more than he values the nation's land and people, pushing the country toward unnecessary violence and bloodshed. For this reason, he must be removed from power to restore peace, sovereignty, and national dignity. Meanwhile, 39 Thai and Cambodian NGOs, united in the People's Alliance for Peace, have signed a joint statement calling for an end to the war. For them, "internal political instability" in both countries is one of the causes of the conflict, with both governments seeking to conceal their failures," not to mention their inability to suppress transnational criminal businesses, which they try to cover with the conflict. In fact, conflicts among the ruling elites [. . .] have further intensified the situation," exploiting "ambiguities" over borders to "incite extreme nationalism. While leaders are fanning the winds of war to hide domestic problems, it is the people of both countries especially villagers, farmers, workers, small traders, and the poor living along the border who have suffered the consequences. These communities, the statement goes on to say, have long lived together peacefully, farming, trading, and crossing the border as part of everyday life. Now they have been forced to evacuate, abandon their farms and livelihoods, and live in constant fear. We, the ThaiCambodian Peoples Alliance for Peace, firmly oppose this war, which has never been necessary and exists only to divert attention from the real internal political problems in both Thailand and Cambodia. Hence, the NGOs demand that the Thai and Cambodian governments respect the peace agreements, immediately cease all fighting along the border, work for peace, and join together to ensure the safety and security of people throughout the ASEAN region. The list of signatories includes in Thailand: Assembly of the Poor, Singhadang Feminists' Club, Khon Kaen Urban Riverside Council Movement, Homeless Network of Khon Kaen Province, 4QUEENS; in Cambodia: Cambodian Grassroots Cross-sector Network, Peoples Action for Development Organization, The 78 Water Reservoir Community, Kiri Mean Chey Forestry Community, Phnom Kriel Protected Area Community, and the Tani Land Community. 20 December 2025 10:30 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan reached $385.2 million in JanuaryOctober this year, accounting for 0.3 percent of Kazakhstans total foreign trade during the reporting period. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! Dreaded Islamic militant sect, Boko Haram, has revealed that the telephone call made to the African Independent Television on Friday by a caller who claimed he was a Boko Haram spokesperson was not from them. According to Saharareporters, a source close to the sect said no one in the sect or any of its leadership initiated a call threatening to attack Lagos and Abuja in 72 hours . AIT had played a phone call in which an individual claiming to be a representative of the dreaded sect threatened to attack Lagos and Abuja in 72 hours. The caller also requested that President Goodluck Jonathan unconditionally meet with them in Yobe State, without security, to discuss the terms of a ceasefire. But Saharareporters say their source insisted the call was a prank pulled by individuals capitalizing on the hysteria created by Boko Haram's recent attacks in northern Nigeria.# BELOW IS THE POST ON ALLEGED PLANS TO BOMB LAGOS AND ABUJA: We Will Bomb Lagos & Abuja In 72 Hours -Boko Haram We are swimming in dangerous waters in Nigeria and many of those living and doing business in the nation's Political and Commercial capitals - Abuja and Lagos - are in for some serious trouble as the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has threatened to destroy the two cities with bombs in 72 hours. In a phone call to Africa Independent Television on Friday, they threatened to unleash bomb attacks in Lagos and Abuja unless President Goodluck Jonathan appears on AIT for an open discussion with them. The phone call was broadcast on the AIT news at 8pm last night. According to someone who watched the news and posted his observations on Nairaland, the sect made some demands and promised to unleashed terror if the Jonathan Government does not comply: (1) Goodluck Jonathan should act on the letter written to him by Boko Haram . (2) Former Governor of Borno (Ali Modu Sheriff), former Minister of Police Affairs and some PDP stalwarts in the North should be arrested and tried for terrorism. (3) Government should create an open forum for dialogue at Abuja, open to the public . They said they are ready to come to Abuja for dialogue provided it is an open one. What do you think the President should do? Should he appear on AIT for open discussion with Boko Haram? Since they gave 72 hours for their demands to be met, what should be the right response from the Presidency to avert loss of lives and property? 20 December 2025 13:20 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov held a one-on-one meeting with Montenegros Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic to discuss the current state and future prospects of AzerbaijanMontenegro relations, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. During the discussions, the ministers focused on deepening political dialogue, expanding economic cooperation, enhancing humanitarian ties, and coordinating joint efforts on international platforms. Both sides emphasized the importance of high-level reciprocal visits, including the upcoming visit of Montenegros President Jakov Milatovic, in ensuring the continuity of bilateral political dialogue. The ministers highlighted the need to broaden trade relations, promote investment, strengthen business-to-business contacts, and advance joint projects. They also underscored the effective role of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation as a platform to achieve these goals. Humanitarian cooperation, including tourism, culture, and education, was recognized as an integral part of the bilateral relationship, with both sides expressing satisfaction at the prospect of expanding exchanges in these fields. The discussion further covered collaboration within the United Nations, the OSCE, and other multilateral formats, reaffirming a commitment to continue cooperation based on mutual trust. Regional issues were also addressed, with Minister Bayramov updating his counterpart on Azerbaijans efforts toward normalization and sustainable peace with Armenia. The meeting highlighted a shared determination to further strengthen AzerbaijanMontenegro ties across political, economic, and cultural dimensions. 20 December 2025 14:55 (UTC+04:00) Turkiyes Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum met with Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijans Special Envoy on Climate Change and President of COP29. According to Azernews, the meeting held in Istanbul was attended by Mukhtar Babayev and his accompanying delegation. The discussion focused on combating climate change, international cooperation, and upcoming COP processes. Minister Murat Kurum shared on his social media account: We met in Istanbul with Mukhtar Babayev, President of COP29 and Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on climate issues, along with his accompanying delegation. We held consultations ahead of COP31, for which we will serve as chair and host. I thank the Azerbaijani delegation for their courteous visit and productive meeting. The meeting was of significant importance for further strengthening cooperation in the field of climate and received extensive coverage in the Turkish media. 20 December 2025 14:25 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Montenegros Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic held a joint press conference in Baku, discussing bilateral relations as well as current regional and international issues, Azernews reports. According to Minister Bayramov, the relationship between Azerbaijan and Montenegro is based on mutual trust and friendship between the two peoples. These relations have developed successfully across various fields for decades, he said. Bayramov noted that the foreign ministries of both countries regularly hold political consultations. Currently, Azerbaijan and Montenegro have signed 22 agreements covering different sectors. Both countries also provide mutual support in international organizations during the nomination and election of candidates. Economic cooperation remains a key priority in Azerbaijan-Montenegro relations. While the current trade volume does not fully reflect the potential, investments in Montenegros economy amount to nearly $1 billion, mainly in the tourism sector, Bayramov stated. He emphasized that tourism represents a promising area for Azerbaijani investors and highlighted new opportunities and projects for collaboration. During the discussions, broad issues were addressed in the intergovernmental commission format, including trade turnover, ensuring mutual benefits, and expanding cooperation. The Foreign Minister also stressed the strong potential for humanitarian cooperation, particularly in education, culture, and sports. Scholarship programs will allow Montenegrin students to benefit from educational opportunities in Azerbaijan. Deputy Prime Minister Ibrahimovic highlighted that Montenegro has created excellent conditions for Azerbaijani tourists and expressed the desire to establish direct flights between the two countries. He also noted that the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding in the consular field opens up wide prospects for future cooperation. The multilateral cooperation between our countries continues successfully, and we are ready to support each other across different areas, Ibrahimovic added. 20 December 2025 15:19 (UTC+04:00) Speaker of Azerbaijans Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova met with a delegation led by Montenegros Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimovic on December 20, Azernews reports, citing the Milli Majlis Press and Public Relations Department. During the meeting, the current state and future prospects of the friendly and partnership-based relations between Azerbaijan and Montenegro were discussed. Speaker Gafarova emphasized that the visit is of great importance for further strengthening the sincere relations and active political dialogue established between the two countries. The sides underlined the important role of high-level and top-level mutual visits in developing interstate relations and noted their significance in reviewing the bilateral agenda. In this context, attention was drawn to President Ilham Aliyevs official visit to Montenegro in 2013, as well as Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovics visit to Azerbaijan in November 2024 within the framework of COP29 and his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, which made a significant contribution to the development of friendly relations between the two countries. The meeting also addressed various aspects of the bilateral agenda, including cooperation in the fields of economy, tourism, investment, and other areas. It was noted that an active and constructive political dialogue creates new opportunities for expanding cooperation in other sectors as well. The importance of humanitarian and cultural cooperation as key factors bringing the two peoples closer was also highlighted. Parliamentary cooperation was emphasized as an essential component of bilateral relations, with special attention paid to the role of parliamentary diplomacy. Speaker Gafarova recalled with satisfaction her official visit to Montenegro in April 2024 and the high-level meetings held there, as well as visits by Montenegrin parliamentary speakers to Azerbaijan at different times. She stressed the importance of contacts between legislative bodies, reciprocal visits, and the activities of parliamentary friendship groups, noting their significant role in enhancing inter-parliamentary dialogue. The need to strengthen the exchange of legislative experience between committees and mutual support within international parliamentary organizations was also underscored. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic stated that Montenegro attaches great importance to developing relations with Azerbaijan and highly values the close political dialogue between the two countries. He expressed gratitude for the Speakers visit to Montenegro last year, noting its contribution to the development of bilateral ties. Ibrahimovic also noted that Azerbaijan was Montenegros largest investor in 2019 and emphasized the special role of tourism in strengthening interstate relations. He highlighted the broad potential for deepening cooperation in this area. 20 December 2025 16:14 (UTC+04:00) The first group of residents returned to the Karkijahan settlement of Khankendi on December 20, marking a historic moment for families who had lived as internally displaced persons for many years, Azernews reports. According to the Public Relations Department of the Restoration, Construction, and Management Service for the city of Khankendi and the districts of Aghdara and Khojaly, 30 families comprising 117 people were resettled in Karkijahan during the initial phase. Homes that were once forcibly abandoned have now reopened their doors to their rightful owners, as the settlement welcomed back its residents after decades of separation. The key handover ceremony for returning residents began with the playing of the National Anthem of Azerbaijan, followed by a minute of silence in honor of the martyrs. Students from Secondary School No. 4 named after Nizami Ganjavi in Khankendi performed the Kharibulbul dance, sang patriotic songs including From Garabagh to Turan, My Nation, and Echo of Victory, and recited the poem The Commander Who Made History. During the official part of the event, Elchin Yusubov, the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the city of Khankendi and the districts of Aghdara and Khojaly, addressed the gathering. Presenting the keys to the new homes, he congratulated the residents and wished them prosperity in their native land. Yusubov emphasized that life is returning to Karkijahan after many years, noting that this return represents not only resettlement but also the continuation of interrupted lives, the end of 34 years of displacement, and the beginning of a new chapter. He added that all necessary conditions have been created to ensure comfortable living for residents in their hometown, with residential buildings and essential infrastructure fully restored. Returning residents shared their joy and expressed gratitude to those who made this long-awaited day possible. Specialists from the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) also held awareness sessions with residents, advising them to remain cautious and avoid suspicious objects. Karkijahan was historically one of the settlements in Khankendi with a compact Azerbaijani population. Its first settlement dates back to the 18th19th centuries during the Garabagh Khanate period. During the Soviet era, after Khankendi became a regional center in 1923, Karkijahan continued to be known as a predominantly Azerbaijani-inhabited area. The settlement was occupied by Armenian armed forces on December 28, 1991, and came under the control of the Azerbaijani Army following local anti-terror measures conducted on September 1920, 2023. 20 December 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva Owners of Tesla electric vehicles have started buying emergency hammers to break the glass in order to escape their cars due to malfunctioning doors, Azernews reports. Reports indicate that some drivers and passengers have been trapped when the electronic mechanisms responsible for opening the doors failed. Erin Geter, a resident of North Carolina, shared that she even purchased a new Honda after her young son became stuck inside their Tesla. According to a Bloomberg study, U.S. regulators have received over 140 complaints about jammed Tesla door handles since 2018. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into potential defects in the Model Ys door mechanisms. Many taxi and car-sharing drivers now make it a point to show passengers where the emergency mechanical cable is located for opening Tesla doors. Teslas head of design confirmed that the company is working on a redesign of the handles. However, Bloomberg notes that the location of emergency handles varies across Tesla models, which can confuse drivers and passengers in urgent situations. Public concern has grown significantly: nearly 35,000 people have signed a petition urging Tesla to fix the design of its electronic doors. Interestingly, some safety experts suggest that this issue highlights a broader tension in modern car design balancing sleek, high-tech features with practical, fail-safe mechanisms for emergencies. 20 December 2025 20:45 (UTC+04:00) Ukraine said its drones struck a Russian oil rig belonging to Lukoil in the Caspian Sea and a military patrol ship near a rig as Kyiv steps up attacks on Moscows oil infrastructure, Azernews reports, citing Arab News. The attack, which Ukraines general staff said took place on Friday, is one of a string of strikes targeting Russian drilling infrastructure in the Caspian Sea in recent weeks, but the first one that the Ukrainian military acknowledged officially. A drilling platform of the Filanovsky oil rig was damaged in the attack, according to the Ukrainian military. The rig came under drone attacks at least two more times in December. Reuters was not able to confirm the report. Lukoil was not available for immediate comment. Ukraine says that Russian oil infrastructure is a legitimate target since the trade revenue is Russias main source for financing its almost four-year-old full-on war against the country. The general staff added that a military patrol ship was targeted in the strike as well, and the level of damage was being assessed. Ukraine has been attacking Russian oil refineries throughout 2024 and 2025, but has visibly widened its campaign in recent weeks, claiming credit for sea-drone attacks on Russian shadow fleet tankers in the Black Sea and Mediterranean. Florida is now finally able to enforce its law prohibiting children at drag shows thanks to a federal court ruling. The Protection of Children Act was passed by the Florida legislature in 2022, an initiative of Governor deSantis, but was iintially struck down by a radical Obama judge in district court. When the appeal made its way finally to the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, the adults in the room on that court overturned the radical district court ruling and cleared the way for Florida to begin enforcing the law. The left has made a major push to sexualize children in kinky ways by promoting things like "Drag Queen Story Hours" for children. FLorida put its foot down and said NO. https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/12/19/florida-given-clearance-enforce-law-preventing-children-going-drag-shows/ Sinn Feins green credentials under fire from group opposed to Sperrins goldmine Party urged to show same concerns for landscape as it does for fisheries and stop picking and choosing which of islands natural resources it defends Dalradian wants to develop a major goldmining operation in Co Tyrone (Photo: Kevin Scott) Garrett Hargan Sat 20 Dec 2025 at 08:17 Sinn Fein has been accused by a campaign group of picking and choosing when it defends the islands natural resources. Pro Labour/Civil Society Partner in the Coalition against the removal of fuel subsidy, the Joint Action Front (JAF) has called on Nigerians to boycott and shut down any Filling Station, which sells fuel above the pre-subsidy removal prices. Before the Goodluck Jonathan government announced its removal of the subsidy in a First of January stunner today, prices were: petrol, N65 a litre; kerosene, N50 a litre; and diesel, N70 a litre. JAF further urged all well meaning Nigerians to... Ozzy and Sharon with Stephen, taken in November 1992 at the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel The memoir Ozzy & Me details Stephen Reas 40-year friendship with Ozzy Osbourne and mixes a coming-of-age tale with life on the road and life-altering lessons. This is not a celebrity expose it is a fan-turned-friends story of the unlikely, yet watertight bond between a Belfast teenager and a Hollywood family. It is devotional without being over-dramatic. Four shots were fired at a home in the Woodvale Avenue area. Library photo. Shots have been fired at a house in north Belfast. The incident happened on Friday evening. Police are working to establish a motive for the shooting. Four shots were fired at a home in the Woodvale Avenue area. Library photo. News Catch Up - Friday 19 December Detective Sergeant Stevenson said: "We received a report that four shots were fired at a residential property in the Woodvale Avenue area at around 9.20pm. "The shots were fired through a window at the front of the property. Damage was caused but thankfully, those present in the property at the time were uninjured. "We're working to establish a motive for this attack and are asking anyone who may have information, or relevant dashcam, CCTV or doorbell footage which could assist with our enquiries, to contact us on 101, quoting reference 1594 19/12/25." Paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Ghislaine Maxwell in the royal box at Ascot (US Department of Justice/PA) Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is shown introducing paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein to British high society in photographs released in a huge document dump. The former duke is seen reclining across the legs of five women with his head near one womans lap, in a picture reportedly taken at Sandringham, the Kings private estate in Norfolk where Andrew will move from Windsor in the new year. He is also pictured alongside Epstein and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in the royal box at Ascot, and is apparently shown shooting on the Balmoral estate in Scotland. Other famous faces included in the so-called Epstein files released on Friday by the US Department of Justice were Andrews ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, popstar Michael Jackson and former US president Bill Clinton. In one undated image, which is a photograph of a picture in a frame, Maxwell is peering down and smiling at the former duke, who is lying across the laps of five women while smiling with his eyes closed. The faces of six women in the picture have been redacted with black squares, with the photo taken in The Saloon inside Sandringham, according to Sky News, which compared the fireplace to previous images taken there. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was pictured reclining across the laps of five people in the photo dump (US Department of Justice/PA) Epstein and Maxwell are also seen pictured with Andrew in the royal box at Ascot in another undated photograph. In emails previously released by the US House Oversight Committee, Epstein told a journalist Andrews accuser Virginia Giuffre is a fraud, adding: You and I will be able to go to ascot (sic) for the rest of our lives. In a third photograph featuring the former prince, Andrew appears to take Epstein and Maxwell shooting, standing with his back to the camera holding a hunting rifle at a location widely reported to be on the Balmoral estate Andrew stepped down from royal duties in 2019 after his disastrous Newsnight interview, but the publication of Ms Giuffres posthumous memoir, and the US governments release of documents from Epsteins estate, brought more scrutiny over his relationship with the financier. It led to the King officially stripping his disgraced brother of both his HRH style and his prince title. US politicians have criticised Andrew for his silence after he missed a deadline last month to respond to their request to sit for an interview about Epstein. Handout photo of Sarah Ferguson (centre) released in the latest tranche of the Epstein files (US Department of Justice/PA) A trove of documents, including court records, footage and images, was uploaded on Friday night to the US Department of Justice website, which held users in a queue as it experienced an extremely high volume of search requests. Famous faces such as Jackson, Mr Clinton, US President Donald Trump, Sir Mick Jagger and politician Lord Mandelson have also appeared in the thousands of photographs published online. Two photos of Andrews ex-wife with unidentified females were included in the most recent documents released. Lord Mandelson, who was sacked from his job as the UKs ambassador to the US earlier this year, is seen in a picture with Epstein who is being presented with a giant birthday cake. Sir Mick, the frontman of the Rolling Stones, was photographed with former US president Mr Clinton where they both had an arm around an unknown woman whose face had been redacted with a black square. Sir Mick Jagger with Bill Clinton and a woman whose identity has been redacted (US Department of Justice/PA) Maxwell, Mr Clinton and actor Kevin Spacey were also pictured in Sir Winston Churchills War Rooms, while Jackson is seen posing next to Epstein in front of a painting. A picture of Mr Clinton in a hot tub with an unidentified woman, and another photo of him with his arm around a woman in a white vest were released on Friday night. Also among the hundreds of photos included in the files are undated photos of Maxwell standing outside the door of 10 Downing Street. None of the photographs suggest any wrongdoing and they are all undated. The data dump came after US deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said the need to protect the victims of sex offender Epstein meant hundreds of thousands more documents would be released over the coming weeks. The US Department of Justice was legally obligated to make all files related to the investigation into Epstein public by midnight on Friday following the passing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The paedophile financier was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan, New York, in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide. An undated image of Ghislaine Maxwell standing outside 10 Downing Street was included in the data dump (US Department of Justice/PA) A spokesperson for senator Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, told the BBC the document dump continues this administrations pattern of protecting President Trump and other perpetrators. Mr Clintons spokesman Angel Urena said the investigation was not about the former Democrat president. He said in a statement: There are two types of people here. The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships after that. Were in the first. No amount of stalling by people in the second group will change that. Many of the photos and documents are heavily redacted, prompting criticism from US politicians and lawyers for Epsteins victims. Reacting to the Department of Justice only releasing some of the files, Democrat Suhas Subramanyam, from the US House oversight committee, told CNN: They are absolutely in violation of the law, they just admitted they were in violation of the law. The law said they needed to release everything by today. Not starting today, not part of it today, all of it by today. He added: Theres no excuse for this. They are in violation of the law and we will pursue every possible legal avenue. New York senator Chuck Schumer said the heavily redacted documents released on Friday were just a fraction of the whole body of evidence adding that pages of blacked out text violates the spirit of transparency and the letter of the law. Abdullah Tanoli said the victims mother contacted him after the incident and he now sees her like a younger sister (Eleanor Cunningham/PA) A man who rushed to disarm a knifeman who was repeatedly stabbing an 11-year-old girl in Leicester Square has said he now sees the victim like my younger sister. Abdullah Tanoli was working as a security guard at a shop on the busy central London plaza when he heard screams coming from outside. Mr Tanoli, 30, told the BBC the sound he heard was not normal screaming. You know when a child is just crying, but when someone is being hurt, that scream is different, he said. Ioan Pintaru was sentenced to a hospital order for the attack, meaning he can be detained indefinitely (Metropolitan Police/PA) The girl, an Australian tourist, told police she thought she was going to die after she was targeted by Ioan Pintaru on the morning of August 12 last year while on holiday with her mother. Pintaru, 33, approached the girl at about 11.30am as she left the Lego store where she and her mother had been buying gifts. He placed her in a headlock and stabbed her eight times in the face, neck and chest. I never thought I would see something like that, Mr Tanoli told the BBC. At that moment, the only thing in my mind was to save the child. He managed to grab Pintarus hand holding the knife, which caused the weapon to drop and Mr Tanoli was able to kick it away. The guard and two other men pinned Pintaru down before police arrived minutes later and arrested him. A nurse walking past help stem the victims bleeding. Most people stayed back, and that is understandable safety first but if you know you can save someone, you should, the security guard said. Pintaru was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Tuesday to a hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act and a restriction order under Section 41 meaning he can be detained indefinitely. During sentencing, Judge Richard Marks KC commended Mr Tanoli for his bravery and ordered a reward of 1,000 be given from public funds. The 30-year-old told the BBC a week after the attack the victims mother contacted him on social media and they have remained in contact. Mr Tanoli said of the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons: I consider her like my younger sister. If you see her now, she looks normal. I am very relieved. Abdullah Tanoli was granted a 1,000 reward by the judge (Eleanor Cunningham/PA) The court heard the child, now 13, has recovered physically from her wounds but invisible scars remain. The psychological effects of this incident will remain with (her) for the rest of her life, prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe KC told the Old Bailey. Detective Constable Laura Nicoll, of the Mets specialist crime team, who led the investigation, said: It was a savage and brutal attack that left the city in shock. But following the most appalling scene, we also saw the best of London: a security guard who raced from his post without a thought of his own safety, the off-duty nurse who tended to the little girls wounds. Without them, she might not be alive today. The guard was commended by the court, and we would like to add to that our sincere admiration for his selfless act. A handout photo issued by the US Department of Justice appearing to show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor reclining across the laps of five people (US Department of Justice/PA) Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor appears to have been pictured reclining across the legs of five people with his head near a womans lap in a huge document dump related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. In the undated image, which is a photograph of a picture in a photo frame, convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell appears to peer down and smile at the former duke, who is smiling with his eyes closed. A trove of documents, including court records, footage and images, was uploaded on Friday night to the US Department of Justice website, which held users in a queue as it experienced an extremely high volume of search requests. The data dump came after US deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said several hundred thousand documents from the so-called Epstein files would be released ahead of a legal deadline. He said the need to protect the victims of sex offender Epstein meant thousands more would be released over the coming weeks. The US Department of Justice are legally obligated to make all files related to the investigation into Epstein public by midnight on Friday following the passing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The paedophile financier was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan, New York, in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide. Among the hundreds of photos included in the files are undated photos of Maxwell standing outside the door of 10 Downing Street and posing with former US president Bill Clinton and actor Kevin Spacey. The picture appears to show Andrew lying across a number of peoples laps (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Mr Clintons spokesman Angel Urena said the investigation was not about the former president. He said in a statement: There are two types of people here. The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships after that. Were in the first. No amount of stalling by people in the second group will change that. Many of the photos and documents are heavily redacted, prompting criticism from US lawmakers and lawyers for Epsteins victims. Congressman Thomas Massie, a Republican who pressed for the law forcing the disclosure, said: Unfortunately, todays document release by AG Pam Bondi and DAG Todd Blanche grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law that Donald Trump signed just 30 days ago. Andrew has faced allegations, which he strenuously denies, that he sexually assaulted a teenage Virginia Giuffre after she was trafficked by Epstein. He paid millions to Ms Giuffre, a woman he has claimed never to have met, to settle a civil sexual assault claim in 2022. Tens of thousands of records relating to Epstein and his former girlfriend, Ms Maxwell, have already been released through civil and criminal cases in the US. It comes after a fresh batch of images from Epsteins estate were released on Thursday by the Democrats. Photos of former US president Bill Clinton are included in the release of documents (Liam McBurney/PA) A total of 68 images were published online on Thursday, including billionaire businessman Bill Gates posing with women whose faces have been redacted, and prominent philosopher Noam Chomsky on board Epsteins private jet. The latest batch follows others from Epsteins estate posted last week, including one of Andrew standing next to Microsoft magnate Mr Gates. Andrew stepped down from royal duties in 2019 after his disastrous Newsnight interview, but the publication of Ms Giuffres posthumous memoir, and the US governments release of documents from Epsteins estate, brought more scrutiny over his relationship with the financier. It led to the King officially stripping his disgraced brother of both his HRH style and his prince title. US politicians have criticised him for his silence after he missed a deadline last month to respond to their request to sit for an interview about Epstein. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was hopeful but clear about the challenges facing the Trump administrations Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas peace efforts and defended increasing US military pressure on Venezuela during an end-of-year news conference on Friday. Over more than two hours, Mr Rubio offered no predictions for timing or success on any of those three issues. He also said he was proud of President Donald Trumps radical overhaul in foreign assistance and that the administration was working to reach a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan in time for the new year. Mr Rubios lengthy appearance in the State Department briefing room came as key meetings on Gaza and Russia-Ukraine are being held in Miami on Friday and Saturday after a tumultuous year in US foreign policy. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio answered questions from reporters at the State Department (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP) Mr Rubio has assumed the additional role of national security adviser and emerged as a staunch defender of Mr Trumps America First priorities on issues ranging from visa restrictions to a shake-up of the State Department bureaucracy. He spoke about peace efforts as national security officials from Britain, France and Germany were taking part in talks in Florida with Ukraines lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to discuss the latest iteration of Mr Trumps Ukraine-Russia peace proposal. A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner, who is Mr Trumps son-in-law, also would see Egyptian, Turkish and Qatari officials on Friday for talks on how to get to the next phase of Mr Trumps plan to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Progress on Mr Trumps Gaza ceasefire plan has moved slowly since it was announced in October. US officials have been pushing to get the plan implemented by setting up a Board of Peace that would oversee the territory after two years of war and create an international stabilisation force that would police the area. I think we owe them a few more answers before we get there, Mr Rubio said when asked about contributions to the stabilisation force. After establishing the Board of Peace and a Palestinian technocratic group to govern Gaza, that will allow us to firm up the stabilisation force, including how its going to be paid for, what the rules of engagement are, what their role will be in demilitarisation. In a whirlwind of diplomacy, Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner are also set to meet on Saturday with Russian President Vladimir Putins adviser Kirill Dmitriev in Miami, officials said. Mr Rubio, who will be at his home in Florida for the holidays, said he would probably attend the meeting. But he said there would be no peace deal unless both Ukraine and Russia can agree to the terms, making it impossible for the US to force a deal on anyone. Instead, the US is trying to figure out if we can nudge both sides to a common place. We understand that youre not going to have a deal unless both sides have to give, and both sides have to get, Mr Rubio said. Both sides will have to make concessions if youre going to have a deal. You may not have a deal. We may not have a deal. Its unfortunate. The US proposal has been through numerous versions with Mr Trump seesawing back and forth between offering support and encouragement for Ukraine and then seemingly sympathising with Mr Putins hardline stances by pushing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to territorial concessions. Kyiv has rejected that concession in return for security guarantees intended to protect Ukraine from future Russian incursions. On Venezuela, Mr Rubio has been a leading proponent of military operations against suspected drug-running vessels targeted in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since early September. The actions have ramped up pressure on leftist Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who has been charged with narco-terrorism in the US. Mr Rubio defended Mr Trumps prerogatives on Venezuela and said the administration believes nothing has happened that requires us to notify Congress or get congressional approval or cross the threshold into war. He added: We have very strong legal opinions. In an NBC News interview on Friday, Mr Trump would not rule out a war with Venezuela. Mr Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth have publicly maintained that the current operations are directed at narco-terrorists trying to smuggle deadly drugs into the United States. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro addresses supporters during a rally (Ariana Cubillos/AP) Mr Maduro has insisted the real purpose is to force him from office. Mr Rubio sidestepped a direct question about whether the US wants regime change in 2026 in the South American country. We have a regime thats illegitimate, that co-operates with Iran, that co-operates with Hezbollah, that co-operates with narco-trafficking and narco-terrorist organisations, Mr Rubio said, including not just protecting their shipments and allowing them to operate with impunity, but also allows some of them to control territory. Mr Trump has spoken of wanting to be remembered as a peacemaker, but ceasefires his administration helped craft are already in trouble thanks to renewed military action between Cambodia and Thailand as well as Rwanda and Congo. Mr Rubio, however, said those deals created a list of commitments that can now be used to push the parties back to peace. Those commitments today are not being kept, Mr Rubio said of the Thailand-Cambodia conflict, which now threatens to reignite following Thai airstrikes. The work now is to bring them back to the table. Since taking over the department, Mr Rubio has moved swiftly to implement Mr Trumps America First agenda, helping dismantle the US.Agency for International Development (USAid)and reducing the size of the diplomatic corps through a significant reorganisation. Previous administrations have distributed billions of dollars in foreign assistance over the past five decades through USAid. Critics have said the decision to eliminate USAid and slash foreign aid spending has cost lives overseas, although Mr Rubio and others have denied this, pointing to ongoing disaster relief operations in the Philippines, the Caribbean and elsewhere, along with new global health compacts being signed with countries that previously had programs run by USAid. We have a limited amount of money that can be dedicated to foreign aid and humanitarian assistance, Mr Rubio said. And that has to be applied in a way that furthers our national interest. Frank Mitchell pays tribute to ex-UTV colleague who helped launch his career: There was something special about him Former UTV transmission controller John Atkinson lost life after being struck by car in east Belfast last month John Atkinson Ivan Little Sat 20 Dec 2025 at 16:43 Broadcaster Frank Mitchell has paid an emotional funeral tribute to a former UTV colleague who helped him launch his weather forecasting career after advising him to tell a fib about his experience. It was as big as it gets for me in terms of sporting icons: Jamie Dornan more starstruck by Irish rugby heroes than Hollywood A-listers If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Hannah Gross packs bags for delivery last April at the South Community Food Pantry in Pittsfield. Conversations are taking place across the nation and in the Berkshires about how best to meet this moment in which many nonprofits face funding cuts and increased need. The annual community food drive with a twist is organized by UNICO of Pittsfield, which is asking Berkshire residents to donate non-perishable foods that can be eaten from a bowl to a number of community partners serving as drop-off locations. Massachusetts' housing landscape saw major changes in 2025, with accessory dwelling units being established by right and eviction records can now be sealed, but what are local officials taking away from the year, and what are they looking forward to in 2026? On Dec. 21, 1913, the New York World, a prominent New York City daily, published the first word-cross puzzle, created by editor Arthur Wynne. A few weeks later, a typographical error transposed word-cross to cross-word, now crossword. Actresses Jessie Wallace and Michelle Ryan have said this years Christmas episode of EastEnders is the biggest one for the Slater family. Wallace, 54, and Ryan, 41, spoke about the upcoming festivities on Albert Square, as their characters mother and daughter duo Kat and Zoe Slater are at the centre of this years drama on the BBC soap. Ryan and her on-screen mother, Wallace, agreed on this Christmas being the best year to film so far, saying: I cant really think of the Slaters being featured so much. Ryan first appeared on the soap in 2000, and left the show in 2005 until her return in June this year (Ian West/PA Wire) Wallace agreed: This is the biggest one. It follows Ryans return to EastEnders in June after 20 years, which has put the spotlight on her on-screen family. Her character has been involved in some of the shows best-known storylines, including one which saw her tell her mother you aint my mother, before finding out she was. Advertisement Zoe made her first appearance in the soap in September 2000 along with the rest of the Slater family, and last appeared on screen in June 2005, when she left Walford for Spain after revealing her part in Dens murder to mum, Kat. Wallace has played Kat Slater on the soap on and off since her on-screen family arrived on Albert Square in 2000 (Ian West/PA Wire) The duo recounted memories of their time on the long-running soap. Wallace recalled the Christmas Day episode in 2003, during which her on-screen husband, Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) presented her with a snow machine outside the Queen Victoria pub which she described as brilliant. They both also listed drama as a key ingredient for an EastEnders Christmas special. When asked about filming a Christmas dinner scene, Ryan said: This year, there is no Christmas meal for the Slaters. That just didnt happen. Wallaces character is the current landlady of The Queen Vic pub a set which she said is her favourite to film in at Christmas. She joined the soap alongside Ryan in 2000 and has played the role of Kat on and off since. Her character has been involved in a number of memorable and shocking storylines including the infamous baby swap incident with Ronnie Branning, played by Samantha Womack. A preliminary investigation into the cause of a light aircraft crash in Co Waterford last month, which claimed the life of the single occupant, has found that there were issues with a fuel pump and a faulty spark plug. Bircan Dokuzlar, 48, originally from Turkey, died when he attempted to land the aircraft in a field close to Waterford Airport on November 21st last. The aircraft had taken off from Sligo and was heading for Beziers in France. Emergency service units, including Coast Guard Rescue 117, attended the scene. Mr Dokuzlar turned the plane around off the south coast of Ireland and headed back towards Waterford Airport as he attempted an emergency landing. It is understood that the aircraft had been stored for several months in Sligo. The privately-owned Vulcanair P68C did not have a cockpit voice recorder due to its size. Advertisement Mr Dokuzlar was flying the aircraft to Ljubljana, Slovenia, on a multi-sector journey, and the crash occurred during the leg between Sligo and Beziers Cap dAgde Airport in France. At around 12.37pm, Shannon Airport received notification that the aircraft, registered EI-HPY, had developed technical problems and that the pilot planned to divert to Waterford Airport. The Air Accident Investigation Unit, which is examining the cause of the incident, outlined that they had obtained copies of phone messages between the pilot and operator which were exchanged prior to the accident flight. The report continued that they also obtained details of a mobile phone conversation between the pilot and the operator in which Mr Dokuzlar explained the reason for the diversion, and it was due to alternator and fuel pressure issues. This conversation was initiated by the pilot while the aircraft was in flight and neared Waterford Airport. According to a preliminary report by the AAIU, the pilot declared an emergency. He reported low fuel pressure and an alternator fault on the left engine. Mr Dokuzlar requested a direct approach to Waterford. He said the left alternator was off and fuel pressure was low. Air traffic control cleared the pilot to enter controlled airspace. He confirmed that he had the airfield in sight. He said he planned a normal landing, despite reduced power. The pilot later reported that the left engine began to shake when he advanced the throttle. As the aircraft neared the airport, he said he would make a left circle." Advertisement An eyewitness inside the terminal building recorded a short mobile phone video after the approach was abandoned. The footage appears to show the aircraft turning gently left away from the runway. The wings level briefly before the plane enters a steep left turn. It then rapidly loses altitude and disappears from view. The aircraft crashed into a farm field west of the runway about seven seconds after entering the steep turn. Mr Dokuzlar held a European Union commercial pilot license, which was valid up to April next year, along with a single-engine piston license, which was in date, along with a valid medical certificate. The aircraft wreckage was transported to the AAIU facility in Gormanston, Co Meath. Weather conditions at the time of the accident in the area of Waterford airport were dry, clear and sunny. A full investigation report will be available in due course. The Defence Forces took the correct decision not to shoot down unidentified drones off the coast of Ireland during an official visit to Ireland by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said. He was speaking on Saturday during a visit to Lebanon, where he met Irish peacekeepers at Camp Shamrock, the main Irish base for troops in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), 7km from the border with Israel. Mr Martin said he had a very detailed briefing with Tanaiste Simon Harris and other Ministers last week on the drone incident. I think, on the operation response, the correct decision was taken and the correct approach. There is an investigation underway at the moment obviously, nothing can happen until that is concluded," Mr Martin said. Advertisement The Taoiseach said that An Garda Siochana was formally investigating the matter. I had a detailed brief with the chief and his team, the Garda Commissioner, in terms of the broader visit of president Zelenskiy, which in terms of security was successful its important to state that. The drones did not constitute any danger to civilians in any shape or form. The rogue drones, which were launched as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy was arriving in Ireland, came as close as 500m to the Irish naval vessel LE William Butler Yeats. However, security sources told The Irish Times last week that the officers of LE William Butler Yeats felt that, due to the rules of engagement in place at the time, and the presence of civilian aircraft in the skies above, they could not open fire. Senior gardai have privately criticised the Naval Services decision not to shoot down the five drones that were spotted hovering around the ship late on Monday night, about 13 nautical miles out to sea in Dublin Bay, according to The Irish Times. The Taoiseach said he was absolutely backing the Defence Forces decision not to fire on the drones and that he had absolute trust in the operational decision making at the time. Mr Martin said the incident reflects a broader pattern of activity across Europe in terms of incidents of this kind. We are not the first country in Europe in recent times to have drones emerging, and its an evolving situation. A pattern has developed in various hybrid activities such as issues in the Baltic Sea and we have activity in the maritime space. Advertisement The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces has also said that his teams did the right thing not to escalate when the drones were spotted during President Zelenskiys visit. Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy told Newstalk that the operational decisions made on board that ship were the right ones. "We know that president Zelenksiys plane had already landed at that time and the crew made a correct and timely decision to deescalate the situation and not to use any force and I just wanted to put that on the record and again to commend the actions of the crew." The Trump administration launched military strikes in Syria to eliminate so-called Islamic State group fighters and weapons sites in retaliation for an ambush attack that killed two US troops and an American civilian interpreter almost a week ago. A US official described it as a large-scale strike that hit 70 targets in areas across central Syria that had IS infrastructure and weapons. Another US official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operations, said more strikes should be expected. This is not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trumps leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people, defence secretary Pete Hegseth said on social media. Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria. This is not the beginning of a war it is a Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) December 19, 2025 The new military operation in Syria comes even as the Trump administration has said it is looking to focus closer to home in the Western Hemisphere, building up an armada in the Caribbean Sea as it targets alleged drug-smuggling boats and vowing to keep seizing sanctioned oil tankers as part of a pressure campaign on Venezuelas leader. The US has shifted significant resources away from the Middle East to further those goals: Its most advanced aircraft carrier arrived in South American waters last month from the Mediterranean Sea. Advertisement President Donald Trump pledged very serious retaliation after the shooting in the Syrian desert, for which he blamed IS. Those killed were among hundreds of US troops deployed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition fighting the militant group. Tonight, U.S. and Jordanian forces struck 70+ ISIS targets in Syria with 100+ precision munitions. Peace through strength. pic.twitter.com/XWWvfqBBFT U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 20, 2025 During a speech in North Carolina on Friday evening, the president hailed the operation as a massive strike that took out the Isis thugs in Syria who were trying to regroup. Earlier, in his social media post, he reiterated his backing for Syrian president Ahmad al-Sharaa, who Mr Trump said was fully in support of the US effort. Mrr Trump also offered an all-caps threat, warning IS against attacking American personnel again. All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE USA, the president added. The attack was conducted using F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters, the US officials said. F-16 fighter jets from Jordan and Himars rocket artillery also were used, one official added. US Central Command, which oversees the region, said in a social media post that American jets, helicopters and artillery employed more than 100 precision munitions on Syrian targets. The attack was a major test for the warming ties between the United States and Syria since the ouster of autocratic leader Bashar Assad a year ago. Advertisement Mr Trump has stressed that Syria was fighting alongside US troops and said Mr al-Sharaa was extremely angry and disturbed by this attack, which came as the US military is expanding its co-operation with Syrian security forces. Syrias foreign ministry in a statement on X following the launch of US strikes said that last weeks attack underscores the urgent necessity of strengthening international cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms and that Syria is committed to fighting Isis and ensuring that it has no safe havens on Syrian territory and will continue to intensify military operations against it wherever it poses a threat. Syrian state television reported that the US strikes hit targets in rural areas of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces and in the Jabal al-Amour area near the historic city of Palmyra. It said they targeted weapons storage sites and headquarters used by Isis as launching points for its operations in the region. IS has not said it carried out the attack on the US service members, but the group has claimed responsibility for two attacks on Syrian security forces since, one of which killed four Syrian soldiers in Idlib province. The group in its statements described Mr al-Sharaas government and army as apostates. While Mr al-Sharaa once led a group affiliated with al Qaeda, he has had a long-running enmity with IS. Hundreds of WA lifesavers gather in Perth to honour Bondi victims WA lifesavers and lifeguards gathered on Perth beaches in solidarity with their Bondi colleagues and those impacted by the deadly terror attack. Remove items from your saved list to add more. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Save this video for later Add videos to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Queensland communitys only childcare centre set to close A regional Queensland community is calling for a lifeline with its only childcare centre set to close at the end of the year. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A Were shining a spotlight on Brisbane people and businesses making noise on social media. See all stories . If a takeaway joint, hotel or gym is badly rated on Google, theres a good chance Jon Wyeth has visited. The Brisbane-based content creator has made a living out of visiting the citys worst-rated spots think a KFC with 1.8 stars, or a hotel with 2.6 stars. Its a unique approach, considering most content on social media fixates on the best of the best. Instagram and TikTok users love Wyeths candid reviews of Brisbanes not-so-celebrated locations. Jon Wyeth has been posting on social media since 2021. This masthead caught up with him at one of Brisbanes more pristine spaces Anzac Square in the CBD. Wyeth finds that most of Brisbanes worst-reviewed spots dont quite live up to the hate, but there was one he felt warranted the backlash. It was an eventful night, I couldnt even put some of the stuff in the video. It was too hectic. You really couldnt give it more than one star, he said of a hotel in Kangaroo Point. Advertisement We stayed the night and committed to the bit we didnt get bed bugs, although a lot of people said we would. Content on all sides of the River City Wyeth didnt think reviewing poorly regarded places would become his job. I started posting in 2021 just stupid videos with my mates. I then started doing the voiceover and vlog-style stuff, and I started getting consistent with it, he said. Along with the worst-reviewed, hes also been ticking off the citys most dangerous spots. Luckily for Wyeth or unluckily for his metrics he has yet to experience anything too out of the ordinary. Advertisement There are always a few interesting characters, but theyre sort of just doing their own thing. Wyeth rejected criticism that hes taking advantage of lower socio-economic areas with the series, saying he wasnt going around shoving my camera in homeless peoples faces. Theres a lot worse content out there, he said. Social media content creator Jon Wyeth creates content showcasing all sides of Brisbane. The gym session that nearly revived Steven Miles political fortunes Wyeth has been building a catalogue of visits to 24-hour spots and the citys best pubs. But hes also forayed into the world of politics, making a video where he spotted then-premier Steven Miles in the gym. It was in the lead-up to the election, so he was trying to get his face everywhere, he said. Advertisement Someone from his media team just reached out and said, do you want to spot Steven Miles as he tries to bench 100kg? Wyeth said Miles didnt really need any help to reach his personal best, but he was still stoked to be part of the stunt describing it as the Steven Miles bench press that nearly got him through. Miles lost the election, but the video had more than 680,000 views across various social media platforms and accounts. So far, Wyeth is yet to hear from David Crisafullis team. Mostly good things to say Not all of Wyeths content paints Brisbane in the best light, but he says his goal is to use his platform to champion small businesses. Advertisement Ninety-five per cent of the time I only have good things to say, Wyeth said. Following Cyclone Alfred, he decided to help badly damaged Wilston cafe and ceramic studio Our Space by sharing a video. Its co-owner, Jacquie Tapsall, said his post led to an influx of new customers. [The video] really did help get our small business a lot of awareness in Brisbane, they said. Social media, along with word of mouth, is truly the thing that keeps our business busy and being recognised and supported. What is Brisbanes Social Scene? Advertisement The Prime Minister speaks about the Bondi shootings at a press conference Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spoken to the media on Saturday regarding the government's response to the shooting at Bondi beach which resulted in 16 fatalities Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A Even Father Christmas knows the thrill of travel. Santa packs up his sleigh each year and traverses the globe: surely he would appreciate how exciting that is, how rewarding is the act of seeing the world. Thats because travel gives back, sometimes in ways you would never expect. This, as they say, is the only pursuit that costs money but makes you richer. Travel is a teacher, a guru, a provider of memories, a window into your own soul. Travel is the one pursuit that costs money, but makes you richer, as a visit to Machu Picchu will likely confirm. iStock And so this Christmas, we celebrate not the gifts that we can give to other people, but those we have already received. We consider what the act of travelling has given us all over the years, from the nebulous and the philosophical, to the tacky snow globe sitting on your bookcase. Travel bestows gifts upon those who indulge in it. Think about the person you are today and how different you would be if you hadnt seen the world. The lessons youve learned, the values youve gained, the memories you have collected these happen when you take the plunge, when you leave home to discover somewhere unfamiliar. Savour every moment as travel gives back, sometimes unexpectedly and unforgettably. iStock Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. The midnight sun sets at spectacular Ilulissat Icefjord, Disko Bay, Greenland. iStock Advertisement Travel teaches you how to handle a budget; it shows you how to cope in moments of crisis; it helps you assess risk and know when you should just jump in the deep end; it gives you perspective on yourself and your place in the world. Travel gives you friendships. It provides you with deep, rich experiences that you just cant get any other way. And so we should celebrate that at this giving time of year by remembering the gifts of travel. Commonsense This, as they say, is not always common. And when you begin your travelling life you tend to make a lot of mistakes. Youll look back on these in later years and laugh at your own naivety. But this is the gift of travel: the more you do it, the more practice you get, the more you start to get the simple things right. Call this commonsense, or even just basic sense. And the great thing is that you bring this skill with you back to your normal life, and feel far more capable as a result. Calmness Where on earth do I go from here? Stay calm and get yourself back on track. iStock Your flight is cancelled, and youre stuck in Buenos Aires with no idea how youre going to get home: what do you do? A Mumbai ATM just ate your only credit card. The Cape Town hotel has lost your booking and you have nowhere to sleep tonight. Crises like these take place all the time when youre travelling, far more than they do in your predictable, static life back home. So as a traveller you learn how to deal with them, how to stay calm and make good decisions and get yourself back on track. Thats something you never forget. Advertisement Joy The sheer joy that flows from witnessing Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Iceland, up close. iStock This shouldnt be forgotten, among these serious and worthy gifts. One of the greatest things travel can give us, if not the greatest thing, is moments of pure, unadulterated joy. These can be rare in your real life but when youre travelling they happen constantly, sometimes multiple times a day. Whether youre staring at an incredible view, or visiting a wonder of the world, or sharing a beautiful meal, or just strolling a street you have long dreamed of seeing, these blissful moments, these feelings of absolute, soaring happiness are what its all about. Nous You have to be able to manage a budget to travel. You may not start off being good at this, but youll get there, if for no other reason than if you dont, you wont be able to travel any more. Travel teaches you to handle money, to prioritise your spending and to understand value. It teaches you to haggle when its necessary and it teaches you to realise when youre being ripped off. Judgment There are so many decisions to make in a day when travelling. Should I get on that bus? Should I believe this person? Should I buy this thing? And then you have all these other calls to make as well, decisions on how far to push your boundaries. Does this look safe? Am I putting myself in too much danger? Is the risk worth the reward? The ability to make good decisions is a skill that stays with you. Advertisement Daring Who dares wins: Travel forces you out of your comfort zone, especially at the end of a bungee cord. iStock Heres a gift that runs somewhat adjacent to the idea of risk assessment: the development of your own sense of daring; your willingness to take risks that you may not countenance back home. Travel, by its nature, forces you out of your comfort zone, it puts you in new situations with new people, and it dares you to close your eyes and just go for it. More often than not, it works out well. Perspective Travel doesnt make any worries you might have magically disappear. It doesnt trivialise them either. It just gives you perspective. Not only that, it also allows you to see how the rest of the world lives. Sometimes better, though often worse. It allows you to fit your problems into an appropriate box, to understand what really matters to you and the people you love, and what really isnt much of an issue at all. It also makes you realise just how lucky you are to be able to travel for leisure in the first place. Memories Memories are made of this: A hiker surveys a snowy peak while trekking in the Peruvian Andes. iStock Advertisement The highlights of my life so far are as follows: the birth of my children; meeting my wife; playing guitar onstage with Green Day, and pretty much everything else is travel related. Every other moment I look back on as a major highlight of my life, from my gap year as a 17-year-old, to travelling in India in my 20s, to working on tour buses for Topdeck to driving around Africa to hiking in Peru to discovering an enduring love for Japan and its culture its all travel. The best people, the best places, the biggest feelings. Travel will give you the most amazing memories of your life. Wonder Pause and reflect: It can be easy to take the marvel of modern-day travel for granted. iStock Youre sitting in a chair in the sky. Youre travelling at almost 1000km/h over oceans and continents. You can go to sleep in Asia and wake up in London. Flying is incredible. It pays to stop sometimes and just appreciate what a gift it is. Patience Theres a term in Swahili, pole pole, that sums up much of the travel experience. It means slowly slowly, and is as much a philosophy as an order or a response. Take things slow. Take it easy. It will happen when it happens. If youve ever stood in a security line at an airport, or waited for your bags at a carousel, or tried to make something happen in a country where everything just takes a little longer than it does at home, you will know about pole pole, and you will understand that travel gives you patience (or madness). Acceptance Advertisement HOLLYWOOD actor Patrick Bergin brought a touch of real-life drama to proceedings when he was guest of honour at the launch of a book celebrating Carlow Little Theatre Society. The book, called Just Try It, was written to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the societys foundation. The launch was held in Carlow County Library and Patrick was present in his capacity as honorary life member of the society and in recognition of his father Paddys role as one of the societys founding members. Paul McManus and Marc Grogan Actor Patrick Bergin with Betty O'Gorman at the launch of the book celebrating 80 years of Carlow Little Theatre Photos: Paul Curran Bernard Jennings with Julien Jully The book was a labour of love by members of the group, who had been working on it since 2020, researching and gathering information, photos, anecdotes and mementos from members past and present. There was a great turnout at the launch, and it included members young and old, supporters and friends. Also among the attendance were Rory Moran and Bernard Jennings, whose fathers Terry and Gerald respectively, were also co-founders of the society. Mark Cradock, president of the society, noted in his speech that it was a gigantic achievement to have the drama society perform plays every year of its 80-year history. Patrick, who was joined by his brother Pearse, read some poems written by his late father Paddy and praised the society, encouraging it to keep up the good work. MC for the evening was Marc Grogan, who read excerpts and contributions, alongside Paul McManus, Paul Dunne and Mark Cradock. Head researcher and editor on the book was David Nolan, who sadly passed away in October before the book made it to print. The book was fittingly dedicated to David, with his two daughters Emma and Ruth present, joined by his wife Ann and others via online streaming. Members of the society and the wider Carlow community were shocked and saddened at the news of Ann passing away the following morning after a short illness. Ann was an integral part of the theatre group, a pillar of the society and had done lighting on most of its productions over the past 35 years, as well as being heavily involved in the running of the society. The book was very important to her and her loss is profoundly mourned by members. The book is available from several shops around town, including Made in Carlow (and on its website), Goldmark Jewellers, Carlow Tourist Office, Jones Business Systems, Lamberts Coffee Shop and Swans Electrical. People can also contact carlowlittletheatre@gmail.com for copies. Ellen O'Donoghue and Olivia Kelleher A man in his 30s has died after his car was found in the River Bride near the Conna Road R628 in Co Cork. It is understood the man was on his way home from a shift in a nursing home in east Cork, and had planned to meet with friends, but never showed up. He had left work at around 10pm, with the accident likely occurring shortly afterwards. Gardai and emergency services were alerted to the car in the water of the river shortly before 10am on Saturday, after a member of the public spotted it. It is believed that the car had been in the water for several hours at this point. The driver and sole occupant of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was brought to Cork University Hospital, where a post-mortem examination will take place in due course. Conna Community Council posted a statement on social media where they extended condolences to the victim's family on behalf of the local community. They said that they were deeply saddened to hear of the tragic passing of a local man following a car accident. Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with his family, friends and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time." The road remains closed pending a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators, and local diversions are in place. Gardai have appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact them. Any road users who may have camera footage, including dash cam, and were travelling on the Conna Road R628 between 10pm on Friday December 19th and 10am on Saturday, December 20th, have been asked to make their footage available to investigating gardai. Anyone with information has been asked to contact Fermoy Garda Station on 025 82100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. The Defence Forces took the correct decision not to shoot down unidentified drones off the coast of Ireland during an official visit to Ireland by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said. He was speaking on Saturday during a visit to Lebanon, where he met Irish peacekeepers at Camp Shamrock, the main Irish base for troops in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), 7km from the border with Israel. Mr Martin said he had a very detailed briefing with Tanaiste Simon Harris and other Ministers last week on the drone incident. I think, on the operation response, the correct decision was taken and the correct approach. There is an investigation underway at the moment obviously, nothing can happen until that is concluded," Mr Martin said. The Taoiseach said that An Garda Siochana was formally investigating the matter. I had a detailed brief with the chief and his team, the Garda Commissioner, in terms of the broader visit of president Zelenskiy, which in terms of security was successful its important to state that. The drones did not constitute any danger to civilians in any shape or form. The rogue drones, which were launched as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy was arriving in Ireland, came as close as 500m to the Irish naval vessel LE William Butler Yeats. However, security sources told The Irish Times last week that the officers of LE William Butler Yeats felt that, due to the rules of engagement in place at the time, and the presence of civilian aircraft in the skies above, they could not open fire. Senior gardai have privately criticised the Naval Services decision not to shoot down the five drones that were spotted hovering around the ship late on Monday night, about 13 nautical miles out to sea in Dublin Bay, according to The Irish Times. The Taoiseach said he was absolutely backing the Defence Forces decision not to fire on the drones and that he had absolute trust in the operational decision making at the time. Mr Martin said the incident reflects a broader pattern of activity across Europe in terms of incidents of this kind. We are not the first country in Europe in recent times to have drones emerging, and its an evolving situation. A pattern has developed in various hybrid activities such as issues in the Baltic Sea and we have activity in the maritime space. The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces has also said that his teams did the right thing not to escalate when the drones were spotted during President Zelenskiys visit. Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy told Newstalk that the operational decisions made on board that ship were the right ones. "We know that president Zelenksiys plane had already landed at that time and the crew made a correct and timely decision to deescalate the situation and not to use any force and I just wanted to put that on the record and again to commend the actions of the crew." THE Carlow Black Santa appeal raised 725.39 for Autism Heroes over two days at Fairgreen Shopping Centre over a week ago. The fundraising drive took place on Thursday and Friday, 11-12 December, from 2.30-5.30pm each day, with local clergy and parishioners coming together to support the worthy cause. In the midst of the inclement weather, the amount raised was superb, said Rev Paul Fitzpatrick, one of the organisers. Despite poor weather throughout the appeal, the community rallied to support Autism Heroes, a non-profit organisation that provides assistance to families in the autistic community. The charity offers monthly support groups for parents and carers, as well as online support options. The appeal was supported by members of Autism Heroes, including founder Louise Burnett, Rev Paul Fitzpatrick, mayor of Carlow Paul Doogue, Rory Healy of Healy Funeral Directors, Bernard Jennings of Jennings Opticians, John Kelly of the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) Post 29 unit, Rev Pat Coleman, An Garda Siochana Carlow, John Brophy, manager of Fairgreen Shopping Centre, and the Carlow Union of Parishes and local Carlow parishes. It marked the third consecutive year that the Black Santa appeal has been held in Carlow. The animation of Studio 4C has been pushing visual boundaries for decades. The studio was cofounded in 1986 by producer Eiko Tanaka and animator Koji Morimoto (whose work outside of 4C includes serving as animation director on Akira), and from its start, the studio has continued to prioritize idiosyncrasy. From the multimedia onslaught of Masaaki Yuasas Mind Game and the distinctive linework of Tekkonkinkreet, to the dreamlike haze of Children of the Sea (and its followup, Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko), and more recent releases such as ChaO and All You Need Is Kill, few production houses can boast a comparable range of styles. At the Scotland Loves Anime festival, Cartoon Brew spoke with studio cofounder and producer Eiko Tanaka about how Studio 4C works to keep that sense of originality alive. Cartoon Brew: You once said in an interview with the publication FPS that the reason for Studio 4Cs success is that it is not a profitseeking company, and that films are made by creators, not capital. What is it like trying to keep that creative spirit alive in the current anime industry landscape? Eiko Tanaka: Especially in the Japanese animation industry, broadly speaking, there are two types of animation: work that aims for commercial success, and work that is more interested in cultural success. For a long time, Studio 4C has focused mainly on films and on developing creativity, which means that we have been involved in broadening the cultural side of animation. In the last few years, the Japanese animation industry has seen a great deal of commercial success. It has been invited to participate in fan events around the world and has produced many hit titles. Sales originating from the Japanese industry are now close to four trillion yen. But as a studio that is focused more on the cultural side, we have not really seen those kinds of commercial benefits [laughs]. Personally, I feel that the kind of recognition we receive at film festivals in other countries needs to be fed back into Japan and turned into a sustainable way of making money. Anime that tends to achieve commercial success in Japan is often based on manga. The kind of work that we createthe creativity we prioritizehelps provide balance. If it were not for studios like ours, everything would be mangabased. In that sense, what we create gives balance to the industry, and the industry needs that. With that focus on the cultural side of the anime industry, how has the growth of the studio affected how you pursue those goals? In that same interview, from 2008, you mentioned the need to scale up for a larger number of productions. There are different ways of scaling up. You can scale up by bringing in different types of creators, by taking on more projects, or by making more money. For us, it is about the quality of the work and getting better at making animation that allows creators to express their talent. That is what scaling up means for us. That brings me to different forms of expression. One of your current projects in cinemas, All You Need Is Kill, is fully CGanimated. CG has been part of Studio 4Cs work since Memories and Tekkonkinkreet. How do you view the studios approach to blending CG and handdrawn animation, and has that changed over time? We made our first full 3DCG animation with Berserk, and then again with Poupelle of Chimney Town. Our latest is All You Need Is Kill. For us, CG is simply another tool. Even if we are not using pencil and paper, we are still creating 2Dlike, Japanesestyle limited animation. Whether we use a pencil or CG is just a different method of achieving something that, in the end, does not look all that different. Now that 2D drawings can be made digitally, it is much easier to synthesize 3D and 2D. In the early days, combining paper drawings with digital animation was very difficult. I think in the future there will be even more mixing of 3D and 2D animation. Studio 4C has worked with a number of preexisting IPs in collaboration with foreign companies. How do you approach the balance between original projects and work based on existing properties? What all of the projects we work on have in common is the passion and enthusiasm of the people I put in charge of them. That is not just the director, but also the art director, the music director, and the animation director. An animation project brings together many people, and everyone involved needs to love the title and want to work on it. In that sense, it makes no difference whether the project is based on existing IP or is completely original. On the other hand, there may be projects that look interesting to me, but if no one has the passion to make them, we will not do them. And when it comes to adapting manga specifically? A lot of anime based on manga today tries to be as faithful as possible to the original work, in order to understand the manga artists intentions and satisfy fans of the source material. I understand that approach. But when we adapt manga at Studio 4C, we focus more on what the director and the team want to express through the manga, rather than being 100 percent faithful. When we adapt a manga, I always tell the manga artist that what we create will be different from the original, depending on what the director wants to do. We only proceed if the artist is comfortable with that. Foreign interest in anime has grown significantly, along with the rise of streamers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and animefocused platforms like Crunchyroll. Since Studio 4C is largely focused on feature films, how have these changes affected the studios work? For Studio 4C, making films for theatrical release is very important. Even when we work with a streamer, we try, as much as possible, to ensure that the film is shown in cinemas. We made Hi no Tori (Phoenix: Eden 17) with Disney+, and we had to change various elements, such as the endings and titles. We created both a featurelength film version and a fourepisode streaming version. This approach takes more time and costs more money, but we try to adjust the work depending on the release format. We think carefully about how a project should change based on the medium. You have spoken about how emphasizing the directors point of view is central to Studio 4C, something that drove the anthology Genius Party. Will we ever see another Genius Party? Maybe, maybe not. At the time, there were very few opportunities for creators to express originality in feature films. Only one or two animated feature films were released in Japan each year, and there was neither the time nor the money to create those opportunities. I wanted to provide that space. But now there are many more ways for creators to express themselves: music videos, opening and ending sequences, short films, and more. There are far more opportunities today, so I do not feel the same need to create that platform myself. Finally, how do you feel Studio 4C has changed since you founded it, if at all? We have always expressed ourselves through animation. Even when animation was seen mainly as something for children, we made films for adults. What has really changed is the industry around us. Animation is no longer considered just for children, and it receives more media attention. Greater audience attention also means more money flowing into the industry. Everything around us has changed, but I do not feel that we need to change ourselves in response. Breaking News Would you like to receive our breaking news news? Signup today! e-Edition Subscribers e-Edition Only - $39.00 Year This is the exact replica of our weekly printed paper. Great for searching archives! General Interest Imported List: General Interest As part of Phase 2 (the second of two projects) to widen and improve the I-75 at I-24 interchange, Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) contract crews will implement temporary lane and ramp closures to facilitate paving work. On Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., the following closures will be in effect: I-24 East: The right lane will be closed between mile marker 183 and mile marker 185 Three lanes will remain open on I-24 I-24 East at Exit 184 (South Moore Road) will be temporarily closed Drivers should use Exit 183 to access South Terrace I-24 West at Exit 183 (Belvoir Avenue) will also be temporarily closed Drivers should use Exit 184 to access North Terrace On Saturday, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time, the following closures will be in effect: I-24 East at I-75 interchange near Exit 185: The two right lanes will be closed on the I-75 North ramp, and the two left lanes will be closed on I-75 South ramp One lane will remain open on both ramps I-24 East: The two right lanes will be closed between mile marker 183 and mile marker 185 Two lanes will remain open on I-24 These closures are necessary to allow the contractor to complete shoulder paving and finish ramp paving. Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and expect delays. Drivers should follow all posted signage and remain alert to changing traffic conditions. As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel. Get the latest construction activity traffic updates from the TDOT SmartWay Map. Travelers can also call 511 for statewide travel information. The Move Over Law was passed in 2006. The penalty for violating the law in Tennessee can be up to 30 days in jail and a maximum fine of up to $500. Dr. Douglas F. Mann, president of Bryan College, delivers the commencement address during Lee Universitys winter commencement ceremony in the Conn Center Dr. Phil Cook congratulates a graduate upon receiving their diploma A graduate receives their academic hood during Lee Universitys hooding ceremony for masters, doctoral, and education specialist degree recipients, held in the Lee University Chapel Graduates, before and after the ceremony Graduates, before and after the ceremony Graduates, before and after the ceremony Graduates, before and after the ceremony Previous Next Lee University conferred 136 degrees this past weekend during its winter commencement ceremony. Graduates, faculty, family and friends filled the festively decorated Conn Center for the event where Dr. Douglas F. Mann delivered the address. During his commencement address, Dr. Mann encouraged graduates to approach their journey not by striving, impressing, or earning, but by abiding in Christ. He reminded them to do your work as worship wherever God places you; do it for His glory. Dr. Mann challenged students to let their love grow deeper and wiser, grounded in the truth of Gods Word, and to pursue excellence over ease or trends. He also called graduates to live with integrity in both public and private life, honor those who shaped them, and bear lasting fruit that reflects the character of Christ. Dr. Mann serves as president of Bryan College and brings extensive experience in scholarship and leadership in Christian higher education. A 1992 Bryan graduate, he earned a masters degree in Christian thought from Trinity International University and a doctorate in history from the University of Georgia. He previously served as vice president for academics and provost at Bryan and taught history at Liberty University, where he held several administrative roles, including dean of the graduate school and vice provost for graduate education. He is a published author and frequent presenter. Of the 136 degrees conferred during the commencement ceremony, 37 were awarded to graduate students, including seven doctoral degrees. Winter commencement is one of three graduation weekends at Lee each year, with additional ceremonies held in May and August. Lee University enjoyed a wonderful winter Commencement and honored our graduates who completed their academic journeys on our campus, said Dr. Phil Cook, Lee president. These ceremonies mark a significant milestone for students and families, and it is especially meaningful during the Christmas holiday. We are terribly proud of them all and will always remember their contributions to Lee. Saturdays ceremony was preceded by a pinning ceremony for nursing graduates, a hooding ceremony for recipients of masters, doctoral, and education specialist degrees, and the Commissioning Service on Friday. The service featured several graduating participants, including five student speakers who shared reflections on their Lee experience. To view the events, visit www.leeu.live. For more information about commencement exercises, please contact the Academic Events Office at academicevents@leeuniversity.edu, (423) 614-8117, or visit the website www.leeuniversity.edu/academics/graduation-info/. On Christmas Eve and Day in 1914, along the World War I Western Front entrenchments near Ypres in Belgium, there were many, albeit unofficial, Christmas ceasefires between combatants.There were few such pauses in Europe during World War II, but notably, there was a much smaller spot truce during the Battle of the Bulge. Even so, there was no Christmas rest for most combatants.The Battle of the Bulge (16 December 1944 to 28 January 1945) was the last major German offensive on the Western Front and the largest single battle fought by U.S.forces in World War II. The 16 December surprise attack by NAZI forces against Allied soldiers in the dense Ardennes Forrest in eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg launched the Axis strategy to both cut off Allied access to the Belgian port of Antwerp and to encircle and destroy the four Allied armies in order to force a treaty.The German offensive was defeated. Germany committed almost 410,000 men, 1,400 tanks and armored vehicles, 2,600 pieces of artillery, and 1,000 combat aircraft. But by the end of the battle, they had an estimated 104,000 men killed, wounded, missing, or captured. It was the beginning of the end of the NAZI terror.Of the 700,000 Allied forces, there were an estimated 83,000 casualties, including about 9,000 killed.This is the story of one American hero among many who fought in the Ardennes.Of the 3,528 Medal of Honor recipients since 1863, only two since the War Between the States received the award for actions on Christmas Day. They were both World War II recipients: Army Master Sergeant Paul J. Wiedorfer and Army Air Corps Major Thomas B. McGuire.Of the 21 Medals of Honor awarded for actions during the Battle of the Bulge, MSG Wiedorfers was for his actions on Christmas Day, 1944, near Chaumont, Belgium.Paul Wiedorfer was a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He attended St. Andrews School and, in 1940, graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. In 1943, six months after marrying his sweetheart Alice, he joined the Army, completing basic training at Ft. Lee. He then trained as a pilot until the demand for infantry soldiers required him to change course.After crossing to Europe on the RMS Queen Mary, he was assigned as a rifleman to Company G, 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division. As part of Gen. George S. Pattons Third Army, he was sent in December 1944 to help rescue American troops trapped in Bastogne, Belgium, during the early days of the Battle of the Bulge.It was on Christmas Day that then-Private Wiedorfer would charge 150 yards across a bloody field of snow and ice, subjected to a wall of enemy fire, and single-handedly destroy two NAZI machine-gun nests taking 24 prisoners. By the end of that day, his actions had taken him from the rank of Private to a platoon-leading Sergeant.Wiedorfer recalls: Something had to be done, and someone had to do it. And I just did it. I cant tell you why. I was probably a little nuts when I did it. But someone was going to die if something didnt get done. Luckily, their firing wasnt too good that day. They didnt get me.In addition to his rank promotion, in May 1945, while recovering from severe wounds he suffered on 10 February, BG E.F. Koenig presented Paul with a Medal of Honor at the 137th General Hospital, Ellesmere, Shropshire, England.His Medal of Honor citation describes what Wiedorfer just did:"He alone made it possible for his company to advance until its objective was seized. Company G had cleared a wooded area of snipers, and one platoon was advancing across an open clearing toward another wood when it was met by heavy machine-gun fire from two German positions dug in at the edge of the second wood. These positions were flanked by enemy riflemen. The platoon took cover behind a small ridge approximately 40 yards from the enemy position. There was no other available protection and the entire platoon was pinned down by the German fire. It was about noon and the day was clear, but the terrain extremely difficult due to a three-inch snowfall the night before over ice-covered ground."His citation continues:"Pvt. Wiedorfer, realizing that the platoon advance could not continue until the two enemy machine-gun nests were destroyed, voluntarily charged alone across the slippery open ground with no protecting cover of any kind. Running in a crouched position, under a hail of enemy fire, he slipped and fell in the snow, but quickly rose and continued forward with the enemy concentrating automatic and small-arms fire on him as he advanced. Miraculously escaping injury, Pvt. Wiedorfer reached a point some 10 yards from the first machine-gun emplacement and hurled a hand grenade into it. With his rifle he killed the remaining Germans, and, without hesitation, wheeled to the right and attacked the second emplacement. One of the enemy was wounded by his fire and the other six immediately surrendered. This heroic action by one man enabled the platoon to advance from behind its protecting ridge and continue successfully to reach its objective. A few minutes later, when both the platoon leader and the platoon sergeant were wounded, Pvt. Wiedorfer assumed command of the platoon, leading it forward with inspired energy until the mission was accomplished."You know, Something had to be done, and someone had to do it.When Paul returned to his hometown of Baltimore on 11 June 1945, he received a fitting heros welcome and ticker tape parade, with GEN George C. Marshall and Maryland Governor Herbert O'Conor presiding.After the war, he spent three additional years recovering in different Army hospitals, reaching the rank of Master Sergeant before separating from the Army. He then returned to his first employer before the war, Baltimore Gas & Electric.A Washington Post profile of Paul concluded: As he aged, Mr. Wiedorfer said he prayed for the day there would be no living recipients of the Medal of Honor. Because, he once said, it will mean that we have learned to live in peace. Of the many recipients I have known, all would agree with that statement.Paul retired in 1981 and died in Baltimore on 25 May 2011 at age 90, three years after his wife Alice died. They were the proud parents of four children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.MSG Paul J. Wiedorfer: An ordinary man faced with extraordinary circumstances, he summoned the greatest measure of courage to place his life in imminent peril to save others. Your example of valor a humble American Patriot defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty is eternal."Greater love has no one than this, to lay down ones life for his friends." (John 15:13)Live your life worthy of his sacrifice.Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et FidelisPro Deo et Libertate -- 1776Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform -- Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen -- standing in harm's way in defense of American Liberty, honoring their oath "to support and defend" our Constitution, and for the families awaiting their safe return. Pray also for our Veterans, First Responders, and their families.Please consider a tax-deductible gift to support our historic hometown National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. Make a check payable to National MoH Sustaining Fund and mail to:Generosity Trust,345 Frazier Avenue, Unit 205Chattanooga TN 37405.Visit the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center at Aquarium Plaza. ( https://www.MOHHC.org Three people killed in a wrong way freeway crash near Dalton, Ga., on Dec. 4, were from Illinois. The Whitfield County Coroners Office, in coordination with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), has identified the three individuals who died on Interstate 75 southbound near Exit 336. They are Jamal Ali Omar Mitchell, 44, of Zion; Steven Wayne Davis, 39, of Grayslake, and Geoffrey Dejon Mitchell, 19, of Waukegan. The Whitfield County Coroners Office thanks the GBI and all other agencies for their assistance during this investigation. Officials said, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones affected." The vehicle that was being pursued by a deputy went into the southbound lanes and struck a semi head-on. Those killed were in the vehicle that crossed the median. The vehicle burst into flames after the crash. Another car was also damaged in the wreck. Home News Former pastor John-Paul Miller indicted for cyberstalking estranged wife before her death A former pastor in South Carolina has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly cyberstalking his estranged wife in the months leading up to her death and lying to investigators. John-Paul Miller, 46, is scheduled to appear in federal court next month. A federal grand jury in Columbia indicted Miller on two federal charges, cyberstalking and making false statements to federal investigators, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office, District of South Carolina. The indictment alleges that Miller harassed his wife, Mica Miller, between November 2022 and April 27, 2024, the day she died by suicide. Prosecutors say he posted a nude photo of her online, installed tracking devices on her vehicle, interfered with her daily activities and finances, and contacted her more than 50 times in a single day. Miller later told federal agents he had not damaged her car tires, but investigators found he had purchased a tire deflation device and discussed her vehicle with others, according to the indictment. Miller is scheduled to appear in federal court on Jan. 12, 2026. Mica Millers death in Robeson County, North Carolina, was ruled a suicide in May 2024. At the time, she and Miller were in the process of divorcing. Family members accused Miller of coercive and abusive behavior and said he was partly responsible for her death. The day after her death, Miller delivered a sermon at Solid Rock Church, where he briefly mentioned that his wife had died by suicide. The service, which was streamed online, was later taken down. He told the congregation he had received a call the night before informing him of her death and that a funeral would be held the following Sunday. Following Mica Millers death, former congregants and local residents began protesting outside Solid Rock Church, demanding an investigation. In June 2024, one church member, Robert W. Lochel, was charged with five counts of third-degree assault after spraying protestors with a pressurized sprinkler. In July 2024, Miller and Micas family reached a private settlement and urged demonstrators to stop gathering outside the church. In November 2024, FBI agents searched Millers residence in Myrtle Beach. A few days later, he was charged with assaulting a protester outside his home. Later that month, he filed for a business license for a new venture called Living Water Church, registered at the same address as Solid Rock Church. He sold the church property in February 2025 to a private developer for $2.1 million. Miller is also the subject of two civil lawsuits filed by women who claim he sexually assaulted them when they were minors. In one complaint filed in Horry County in February 2025, a woman identified as Jane Doe alleged that Miller raped her in 1998 when she was 15 years old and that he assaulted her again in 2023, triggering repressed memories of the earlier incident. Eight days later, a second woman filed a lawsuit under the name Jane Doe 2, claiming that Miller assaulted her when she was a 14-year-old student and he was 19. She said his father later silenced her when she attempted to come forward. Miller has denied the claims and filed a countersuit against Doe 2. In June 2025, Miller married his third wife, Suzie Skinner. Both of their previous spouses had died in unusual circumstances. Skinners late husband, a quadriplegic veteran named Chris, drowned after his wheelchair rolled into a swimming pool. The incident was ruled accidental. Millers first wife, Alison Williams, stated in an affidavit that Chris Skinner had warned Miller to stay away from his family two weeks before his death, according to The Roys Report. Williams had earlier accused Miller of repeated infidelity during their marriage. Miller was the pastor of Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach, which he had led since 2017. Mica Miller had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and previously spoke publicly about her struggles with mental health. In an interview before her death, she admitted to having suicidal thoughts. Miller faces up to five years in prison for cyberstalking and two years for making false statements. He could also be fined up to $250,000. Home News In Hazels Heart, 'The Chosen' star Stelio Savante brings forgotten American heroine to screen The Chosen star Stelio Savante, a veteran actor whose career has spanned more than four decades and continents, believes the true story behind his new film Hazels Heart is one everyone needs to know. Based on the real-life account of Hazel Miner, a teenage girl who became a symbol of sacrifice and courage after a deadly 1920 blizzard in North Dakota, Hazels Heart tells a story long preserved in local history books but rarely given a national stage. This is one of those stories that should be known far beyond where it happened, Savante, who both executive-produced the film and stars as Hazels father, William Miner, said. Hazel Miner is a young American heroine whose voice deserves to be heard. This is a true-life survival thriller. From Samuel Goldwyn Films and directed by Daniel Bielinski, Hazels Heart unfolds during a brutal March snowstorm that leaves three siblings lost in whiteout conditions for more than 25 hours. As the children fight to survive the cold, their father and neighbors launch a frantic search across frozen fields in a race against time in an era without modern emergency systems or communication. Savante, a father himself, said the script immediately struck him. I am a father. Im also a person of faith, he said. And what I appreciated about this script was that the faith element was subtle. It wasnt melodramatic. It wasnt beaten over the head. He signed on as an actor first, later joining the project as an executive producer once the film entered post-production. By then, Savante had built a parallel career shepherding independent films through distribution, an experience he said proved pivotal as Hazels Heart attracted industry interest. We had a lot of interest in the film, he said. It became a very successful bidding situation, and we felt confident we made the right decision for the story. Savante's character, William Miner, is a father caught between hope and the terror every parent dreads. Savante, who took on the role when his own daughter was 17, described the role as one shaped as much by guilt as by determination. There are decisions William makes early on that maybe werent the right ones, he said. Once the storm hits, its not about redeeming himself. Its about finding his children. Protecting them. Saving them. Theres that instinct to make sure youve done everything possible for your children, he said. And when the stakes are that high, you dont get the luxury of hesitation. Set in 1920, "Hazels Heart" depicts a world without helicopters or cell phones, where survival depended on community, endurance and faith. Savante, who immigrated to the United States from South Africa and later became a citizen, said period pieces often sharpen his appreciation for the countrys foundations. They didnt have quick solutions, he said. When disasters happened, there was nothing but people, prayer and perseverance. Behind every school, there was a church. Faith was the bedrock of this country, and it was the bedrock of this family. Hazel Miner, he added, is remembered not for exceptional talent or physical strength but for the purity of her love and the faith that sustained her. She leaned on her faith, he said. That was the beacon that drove the story forward. In North Dakota, Hazel Miners story remains well known; she is taught in schools, commemorated by a statue, and remembered through landmarks bearing her name. Savante said his goal is for the world to know her story of faith and resilience. Why shouldnt the rest of the country hear about it? he said. Though rife with faith themes, Savante stressed that the film is accessible to a wide audience. Parents will identify with Williams desperation, while teenagers will see themselves in Hazels courage. Viewers without a religious background, he said, might recognize the moment when life demands more than one thinks they have to give. I think we all have a David-versus-Goliath moment, Savante said. And when that moment comes, youre going to need something to lean on. The film arrives amid renewed interest in family-centered storytelling, though Savante said hes eager to see the faith-based label disappear. It has, he explained, often been used in ways that limit both audience and ambition. As a believer, I want stories that help advance hope and truth, he said. But as a professional, I think that label has done real damage. Too often, he said, earlier faith-driven films prioritized message over craftsmanship, while secular films excelled artistically but lacked moral depth. Projects like Hazels Heart, he emphasized, bridge that divide. These films sit at the intersection, he said. They dont preach. They tell the truth well. Savante credits recent successes, including The Chosen, in which he portrays Moses, with proving that excellence and conviction can coexist. What the industry ultimately responds to is quality, he said. When films hold up artistically, the rest follows. Looking ahead, Savante hopes the growth of spiritually serious storytelling, especially as projects become larger and have more crossover appeal, does not come at the expense of integrity. "Hazel's Heart," he said, already fulfills that mission. Were responsible, he said. We have to be better. We serve the greatest artist theres ever been. If no two sunsets are the same, then our work should reflect that same care. Hazels Heart is now streaming on Angel. Home Opinion Wave of terror recently is not a random misfortune A disturbing pattern is taking shape, and it is long past time we stop pretending otherwise. From Australia to American college campuses, from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles, recent acts of violence and terror are not random eruptions of chaos. They are symptoms of a deeper ideological sickness that is metastasizing across the West. These incidents point to the same underlying threat: the steady advance of Islamization working in concert with radical leftist movements, united by a shared hostility toward Judeo-Christian values, and moral order. In Australia, the attack on a Jewish gathering was not merely another overseas tragedy from which we can safely distance ourselves. It was a targeted act of jihadist violence rooted in antisemitic Islamist ideology, carried out in a Western democracy that prides itself on tolerance and pluralism. Jewish worshippers were not accidental victims. They were the intended target. This is what Islamist extremism looks like when it moves beyond rhetoric and into action, exploiting open societies that refuse to confront the ideology driving such hatred. Closer to home, the shooting at Brown University shattered the illusion that elite campuses are insulated from ideological violence. While authorities continue to investigate the motive, the environment in which this attack occurred cannot be ignored. American universities have become incubators for radicalization, where anti-Western narratives, moral relativism, and open sympathy for violent movements are increasingly normalized. When young people are taught that America is evil, faith is oppressive, and resistance justifies violence, the leap from rhetoric to bloodshed becomes dangerously short. The ambush of National Guard members in Washington, D.C., offers an even clearer warning. This was not spontaneous criminality. It was a deliberate act of violence against uniformed representatives of the American state, carried out by an individual shaped by radical Islamist ideology. The symbolism matters. This was an attack on authority, on order, and on the nation itself. It reflects the tragic consequences of importing unresolved jihadist conflicts into the heart of the United States while refusing to speak honestly about ideological vetting, assimilation, and national security. Then there is the thwarted terror plot in Los Angeles, which should have jolted the nation awake. Members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front were arrested as they allegedly prepared coordinated bombings aimed at civilian and law-enforcement targets. This was not a protest. It was domestic terrorism. The groups rhetoric wrapped itself in revolutionary language, anti-colonial slogans, and pro-Palestinian activism, echoing themes we now hear routinely on American streets and campuses. What makes this case especially alarming is not just the violence planned, but the ideological fusion behind it. Federal analysts have increasingly used the term Nihilistic Violent Extremism (NVE) to describe this emerging threat. Too often, that label is misunderstood or intentionally diluted to focus solely on anarchists or far-left radicals. That is a grave mistake. The reality, as highlighted in internal assessments and echoed by leaders like FBI Director Kash Patel, is that NVE is not a single ideology but a convergence. It is the coming together of violent anarchists and jihadists who may differ in theology or long-term objectives but are aligned in their immediate goals. Both reject the legitimacy of Western civilization and view the Judeo-Christian moral frameworks as enemies. Both embrace violence as a tool to accelerate societal collapse. This alliance is not theoretical. Jihadist groups have long sought partnerships of convenience with radical leftist movements, understanding that chaos weakens states and erodes resistance. Radical leftist groups, in turn, increasingly excuse or even celebrate Islamist violence as resistance, provided it is directed at Israel, America, or Western institutions. The result is a shared ecosystem of radicalization where Islamist theology and revolutionary nihilism reinforce one another. The Turtle Island Liberation Front case exposes this clearly. Its members adopted Islamist talking points, framed their violence through global jihad-adjacent narratives, and aligned themselves with causes historically exploited by Islamist movements to gain Western sympathy. This is not an accidental overlap. It is strategic convergence. Islamists bring ideological discipline and a long-term vision of societal transformation. Anarchists bring disruption, infrastructure sabotage, and a willingness to burn everything down. Together, they form a combustible force aimed at dismantling the moral and civic foundations of the nation. What ties these incidents together is not race, nationality, or even geography. It is ideology. Each attack or plot reflects an assault on ordered liberty, religious freedom, and the sanctity of life. Each one is fueled by narratives that demonize Judeo-Christian values as obstacles to liberation. Each one benefits from a culture that refuses to draw moral lines, that fears naming evil, and that treats all belief systems as morally equivalent. The failure to confront Islamism honestly has created space for this alliance to grow. Political leaders, cultural institutions, and even some faith communities have chosen silence or appeasement over truth. Radical leftist groups are granted moral cover so long as they cloak their violence in the language of social justice. Islamist ideology is excused under the guise of religious sensitivity. Meanwhile, ordinary Americans are told these threats are exaggerated, unrelated, or misunderstood. Scripture warns that a house divided against itself cannot stand. A society that abandons moral clarity invites chaos. When truth is replaced with grievance, and faith is replaced with ideology, violence follows. The recent wave of terror is not a random misfortune. It is the fruit of years of cultural and spiritual erosion. This is not a call for panic. It is a call for discernment. Christians, policymakers, and citizens must recognize that the battle before us is not merely political or security-based. It is spiritual. We are witnessing a rebellion against the moral order that undergirds human dignity, justice, and peace. The answer will not come from slogans or censorship, but from courage, truth, and a renewed commitment to the values that once made the West resilient. America does not need to surrender to fear, nor to deny reality. It needs leaders willing to name threats clearly, protect the innocent, and defend the moral foundations that sustain freedom. It needs believers willing to stand firm, speak boldly, and refuse to trade truth for comfort. History teaches that civilizations do not fall overnight. They erode when they forget who they are. The recent bloodshed and near-misses are warnings. Whether we heed them will determine not only our security, but the soul of our nation. As Scripture reminds us, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). Sign up for the daily CJR newsletter. A couple of months ago, I wrote about Mario Guevara, whose case represented a singular and devastating blow to this countrys commitment to freedom of the press and also had a near-allegorical feeling, of forces closing in. This week, Jem Bartholomew writes about a new report shared with CJR by the US Press Freedom Tracker, led by the Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), which documented thirty-two instances of journalists being arrested or charged for doing their jobs in America in 2025. The report also recorded a hundred and seventy assaults against journalists in the past year: nearly as many as across the previous three years combined, Bartholomew notes. Reporters have been bludgeoned and shot at and pepper-sprayed and shoved by officers of the law. These findings, Bartholomew argues, should be viewed as part of a broader assault on journalism under Donald Trump. News organizations have been targeted with frivolous lawsuits; veteran reporters at the Pentagon and White House have been replaced with MAGA propagandists; news networks have been bashed by the president and earmarked for right-wing transformation by his billionaire allies, he writes. The Committee to Protect Journalists has said journalists are facing extraordinary and intensifying pressures under Trump 2.0 and that press freedom is no longer a given in the United States. This year, the US slumped to fifty-seventh in Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, ranking below Sierra Leone, Romania, and Liberia. The same day we reported on the FPF findings, Liam Scott wrote for CJR about Jimmy Lai, the founder of a popular pro-democracy newspaper called Apple Daily: on Monday, a Hong Kong court found Lai guilty of sedition and conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, in what observers across media and diplomacy have called a sham trial. Lai, who is seventy-eight, is expected to spend the rest of his life in prison. The verdict, Scott writes, was seen by many as an indication of the broader collapse of civil liberties and media freedom in Hong Kong since 2020, when China imposed a national security law there. As Aleksandra Bielakowska, an advocacy manager at the Reporters Without Borders office in Taiwan, tells Scott, Its the death of press freedom in Hong Kong. In the United States and around the world, journalists are facing extraordinary pressures that undermine the basic functioning of a free press. This is no accident, as Ivan L. Nagy writes for CJR this week: consider the extent to which Trump has made good on the promises laid out in Project 2025. In March, a presidential executive order eliminated the US Agency for Global Media, which pushed full-time staff out on administrative leave and terminated freelance contracts. In April, the Justice Department reversed a Biden-era policy that had blocked federal attorneys from forcing journalists to testify and share their phone records. In July, following Trumps directive, Congress pulled more than a billion dollars in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Throughout the year, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, has driven trained reporters away from briefings and invited in MAGA loyalistsa reflection of the Project 2025 agenda to reexamine the balance between media demands and space constraints on the White House premises. In the past year, CJR has documented so many points of frictionin our newsletters, feature reporting, interviews, podcasts, special projects, and more. We have watched heads of state abuse their power and put reporters at risk, and we have watched, too, as other challenges pile on, from the rise of artificial intelligence to the extraordinary influence of content creators, as they claim more turf (and trust) from trained reportersand maintain highly variable relationships to fact-checking and ethics. None of this is simple: as Bartholomew rightly points out, the threats to press freedom documented by the FPF and other organizations are not unique to the Trump era. Nor are all of the changes inherently badas we describe in our new Journalism 2050 Issue, alongside danger, technology brings great possibility. And as Riddhi Setty and Carolina Abbott Galvao each note this week, local journalistssuch as those at Sahan Journal, in Minnesota, and WPRI-TV, in Rhode Islandpersist even under the most difficult circumstances. CJR is uniquely positioned to help make sense of it all. During this time of giving, I hope you will consider making us a part of your holiday season, and support the work that we do. Your membership will help cover the costs of producing coveragefrom the writing to the copyediting to the visual and social media that enable our stories to reach people where they are. It can also bring new contributors into the fold. In the coming year, we will be welcoming Megan Greenwella longtime editor, now the bestselling author of Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dreamas our new host of the Kicker podcast. Greenwell, who also writes features for Bloomberg Businessweek and other publications (including CJR), teaches journalism at Syracuse University and is the deputy director of the Princeton Summer Journalism Program, a workshop and college access initiative for high school students from low-income backgrounds. She has worked for outlets including the Washington Post, New York, Deadspin, and Wired. Stay tuned for her first Kicker episode after the New Year. (And in the meantime, check out our special series, the Journalism 2050 Podcast.) Sign up for CJRs daily email Susie Bankarim, who you may remember from the amazing audio series on the unraveling of Ozy Media, produced with Josh Hersh, will also be joining CJR, as a regular columnist. Bill Grueskin, our beloved Laurels and Darts writer, will be stepping away for a whileheading off to the Salt Lake Tribune, where he will spend his spring semester as a member of the newsroom. Banikarim, an Emmy-winning journalist and recovering media executive, will bring her own extraordinary experience to the gig: She has worked at ABC News, where she was a producer for Diane Sawyer, George Stephanopoulos, Charlie Gibson, and David Muir. She helped launch Katie Courics syndicated talk show, served on Tina Browns management team at NewsweekDaily Beast, oversaw Gizmodo Media Groups publications, ran global news coverage at Vice, cohosted a culture podcast called In Retrospect, became a Nieman Fellow at Harvard, and much more. Starting in January, she will be scouring the countrys local journalism terrain and keeping attuned to big, national screwupsall with the sense of levity that is so important to that column. Thank you, as always, for reading CJR. Well keep sharing pieces from the Journalism 2050 Issueand a bit morein the coming weeks. Sign up for our newsletter, and Ill see you again in 2026. I focus this column each week on whats going on in our newsroom, and I dont write about what other organizations do. We all have our unique challenges, and I dont pretend to know what is best for others. But my role as the head of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer also puts me in a position to think publicly about free speech, transparency and civic discourse in this region. When those principles collide with a significant local controversy, I believe its appropriate to step outside my usual lane. That is the role I am in today. Believe me when I say I would rather not be writing this. I would love for my final column of 2025 to focus on holiday wishes for readers and hopes for 2026, rather than one likely to annoy and anger a sizable percentage of our audience. Standing silent on this one would be a cop-out, though. I feel a responsibility to speak up. The issue is the City Club of Clevelands invitation to the leader of the Center for Christian Virtue to speak at a forum Jan. 16. The Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled the center a hate group for its work to restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ people. Its president, Aaron Baer, has regularly made demeaning statements about transgender people. The center has also become a powerful lobby in Columbus and was instrumental in the passage of an Ohio law denying gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed that law, but Republicans used their supermajorities in the Statehouse to override him. The group rejects the hate-group label, noting that no government or law enforcement agency has made such a determination. It argues that its mission is religious freedom, free speech, fighting abortion and defending marriage between men and women. By any measure, the center clearly scorns a swath of Ohioans. Many of those Ohioans object to the City Club providing it with a platform. The Buckeye Flame reports that more than 100 LGBTQ+ leaders and organizations have signed a letter denouncing the City Club for hosting the event. Supporting a forum is not the same as endorsing the views expressed on its stage. That distinction matters here. City Club CEO Dan Moulthrop says Baers appearance which Moulthrop himself will moderate fits squarely within the organizations mission of hosting conversations about democracy. He told the Buckeye Flame that he took an interest in the group because of its success in lobbying the Statehouse and its growing financial resources. As pressure mounted on the City Club to cancel the event, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost wrote a letter urging it to stand firm. It would not be too much to say that support for LGBTQ+ rights and sensibilities is the majority position among your membership, and the ideas espoused by Baer are seldom, if ever, encountered by the intellectuals of Greater Cleveland, Yost wrote. Thats an absurd argument. The ideas espoused by the Ku Klux Klan, Nazi sympathizers, child pedophilia advocates and others with monstrous views are also seldom encountered by the intellectuals of Greater Cleveland, and I doubt Yost would argue they deserve a City Club forum. And the idea that a group with serious standing and influence in the Statehouse openly disdains the LGBTQ+ population should trouble an attorney general who is supposed to represent everyone. Setting aside Yosts letter, I was troubled when I first heard about the City Clubs invitation. It raises an unavoidable question: Where does it draw the line? I dont believe the City Club would welcome the KKK or Nazi sympathizers to its stage. What about a Russian diplomat arguing in favor of the invasion of Ukraine? Or someone promoting the long-debunked claim that vaccines cause autism? There is also a broader question here about relevance. How much does it matter what the City Club does? How influential is an organization that stages talks for relatively small audiences at a time when debates rage across countless digital platforms, reaching millions? The City Club sometimes feels stuck in tradition as it struggles to meet new audiences where they are. In the end, though, what the City Club does still matters precisely because it remains a venue for civil discourse in an age when so much discourse is not civil. We have partnered with the City Club for years for one simple reason: It stands for free speech, and free speech is sacred to us. As much as this will offend LGBTQ+ leaders, I believe Moulthrop is right to invite Baer to speak though not for the reasons Yost suggests. I dont believe City Club audiences have any obligation to sit politely while leaders demean parts of our community as less than human. The reason I support the City Club here is the one Moulthrop himself has articulated. The Center for Christian Virtue is shaping laws that affect Ohioans lives. Its influence is growing. Groups actively shaping public law warrant scrutiny in ways fringe ideologies do not. That makes understanding its strategies, priorities and arguments a legitimate civic interest. For those who oppose the group, protest outside on Jan. 16. For those who want insight into how power is exercised in Columbus, go inside and listen. Use the generous time these forums provide to ask questions and demand clarity. The City Club exists to expose ideas to scrutiny, not to protect us from them. If we start demanding silence instead of confrontation, we dont weaken groups like this we weaken ourselves. This forum should go forward, and Cleveland should meet it with questions, not fear. Im at cquinn@cleveland.com Thanks for reading. watch now President Donald Trump's move Thursday to sign an executive order easing federal restrictions on marijuana and clearing the way for a Medicare pilot program covering CBD caps a coordinated, yearlong push by the cannabis industry that combined traditional lobbying, sizable political donations, data-driven messaging and direct outreach to the president's inner circle, industry insiders told CNBC. Despite long-standing GOP opposition to loosening drug laws including a small wave of bills from lawmakers seeking to tighten rules after the executive order industry advocates have claimed a victory. They see the order as a success in reframing marijuana not as a social issue, but as a pro-business policy, ultimately winning over a president famous for his sobriety. "I've never been inundated by so many people as I have about" reclassifying marijuana, Trump said during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office on Thursday. Three figures emerged as the primary architects of this policy shift, according to multiple insiders, including one CEO of a cannabis company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, who requested anonymity to speak candidly. The key players were Howard Kessler, a Palm Beach billionaire and longtime friend of the president; Kim Rivers, the CEO of cannabis giant Trulieve; and Tony Fabrizio, Trump's longtime pollster, the people said. The billionaire U.S. President Donald Trump displays an executive order with Howard Kessler (R) that Trump signed in the Oval Office of the White House on December 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images Kessler, known for pioneering affinity credit cards, has been in Trump's orbit since at least 2005, attending Trump's wedding to Melania Trump and appearing at Mar-a-Lago and state dinners. A leukemia survivor, Kessler began advocating for the medical benefits of cannabis for seniors in 2019, founding The Commonwealth Project to advance the cause. In September, Trump shared a Commonwealth Project video on Truth Social that said CBD coverage was "the most important senior health initiative of the century." Other prominent members of the Trump administration noted Kessler's influence on Thursday. During the signing ceremony, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said, "We wouldn't be here today" without Kessler. "God bless you for being a pain in our sides," Dr. Mehmet Oz, the head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, joked to Kessler in the Oval Office. Oz added that Kessler had promised to finally stop calling the president about the issue once the order was signed. Kessler did not respond to a request for comment. The White House said Trump's executive order would open up access for new treatments. "The presence of several leaders from law enforcement and veterans groups at the Oval Office signing is indicative of how President Trump continues to push the envelope to support our nation's heroes," White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement. The industry CEO Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve, one of the largest U.S. cannabis companies, has also cultivated a close relationship with the Trump administration, people familiar with the matter told CNBC, specifically through a personal connection with Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles. Although Wiles was not a registered lobbyist for Trulieve, she previously worked at Ballard Partners, a Florida lobbying firm that represents the company. "They [the Trump administration] want to see safe, regulated, tested products," Rivers told CNBC's "Fast Monday" Thursday night, adding that she's interpreting the White House's language as a signal that the administration intends to rein in a chaotic market rather than expand it unchecked. watch now "Millions of Americans are using medical cannabis," Rivers said. "The president is very clear that he wants folks to be able to have access to safe, regulated, researched products in controlled environments." Rivers attended two pre-inauguration events, including a dinner for Vice President JD Vance, and reportedly joined a $1 million-a-plate fundraiser at Trump's New Jersey golf club in August, where she urged him to reclassify marijuana, the Wall Street Journal first reported. Trulieve's campaign spending also backed Trump. Federal Election Commission filings show Trulieve donated $750,000 to Trump's inauguration committee and $250,000 to his MAGA Inc. super PAC. The company reportedly played a key role in securing Trump's backing for a Florida ballot initiative to legalize recreational cannabis for adults over 21. While the initiative failed, Florida Division of Elections records show Trulieve spent more than $100 million on the election. The pollster The president also received data from his pollster, Fabrizio, who has his own ties to the issue. American Rights and Reform, a cannabis-backed super PAC, paid six figures to the firm Fabrizio leads to run a poll that found broad voter support for rescheduling, according to FEC filings. During the signing ceremony Thursday, Trump referenced Fabrizio's data multiple times, highlighting a survey published in March that illustrated broad voter support for loosening restrictions. The data showed that young voters, aged 18 to 34, were the leading majority in supporting reform at about 80%. Business: LKQ engages in the distribution of replacement parts, components, and systems used in the repair and maintenance of vehicles and specialty vehicle aftermarket products and accessories. The company operates through four segments: wholesale-North America, Europe, specialty, and self service. It offers bumper covers, automotive body panels, and lights, as well as paint and paint-related consumables for refinishing vehicles; mechanical automotive parts and accessories; salvage products, including mechanical and collision parts comprising engines; transmissions; door assemblies; sheet metal products, such as trunk lids, fenders, and hoods; and lights and bumper assemblies. The company also provides scrap metal and other materials to metals recyclers; precious metals contained in certain of our recycled parts, such as catalytic converters; and brake pads, discs and sensors, clutches, steering and suspension products, filters, and oil and automotive fluids, as well as electrical products. It serves collision and mechanical repair shops, and new and used car dealerships, as well as retail customers. LKQ was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Antioch, Tennessee. Activist: Ananym Capital Management Ownership: 0.39% Average Cost: n/a Activist Commentary: Ananym Capital Management is a New York-based activist investment firm which launched on Sept. 3, 2024, and is run by Charlie Penner (a former partner at JANA Partners and head of shareholder activism at Engine No. 1) and Alex Silver (a former partner and investment committee member at P2 Capital Partners). Ananym looks for high quality but undervalued companies, regardless of industry. They would prefer to work amicably with their portfolio companies but are willing to launch a proxy fight as a last resort. According to their most recent 13F filing, they manage $260 million across 10 positions. What's happening On Oct. 21, Ananym Capital called on LKQ to divest its European operations and refocus on its North American business. Behind the scenes LKQ is a leading distributor of aftermarket vehicle parts. Its core North America segment (40% of revenue and 55% of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) primarily supplies aftermarket collision parts, such as mirrors and bumpers. The Europe segment (47% of revenue/38% of EBITDA) primarily supplies mechanical and suspension products but contains a wide variety of other replacement and maintenance products. Although the European business is slightly larger by revenue, the North American business has significantly higher margins and a much larger market share compared with its peers. Lastly, the specialty segment (13% of revenue/7% of EBITDA) provides aftermarket parts for the RV market. Originally just a U.S. aftermarket parts business, the company began aggressively pursuing acquisitions in Europe starting in 2011, shifting from a focus on recycled parts consolidation to building and integrating a European footprint. Moreover, these two businesses are not nearly as similar as they sound, in North America they do primarily aftermarket collision parts like mirrors and bumpers and in Europe, it's primarily mechanical suspension and things under the hood. LKQ is no stranger to shareholder activism. In September 2019, when the stock was trading at $27 per share, ValueAct Capital engaged the company and settled for a board seat for one of its partners. Through this campaign, ValueAct was able to usher in a new wave of operational discipline, where instead of focusing on European M&A, LKQ paused large acquisitions and shifted its focus to growing the company's free cash flow and executing buybacks at an attractive discount. The results of this campaign speak for themselves, as LKQ's share price rose to over $60 during ValueAct's campaign, giving them an 86.39% return on their investment versus 16.15% for the Russell 2000 . However, following ValueAct's exit, LKQ returned to its old ways, shifting their focus back to M&A, and the stock had subsequently declined more than 25% by February 2025, when two new activists entered the stock. In an uninspired campaign and settlement, those activists quickly settled for two board seats for independent directors and the stock has declined by 20% in the eight months since while the Russell 2000 has been up more than 7% during the same time. Now with the stock just slightly higher than it was in 2019 when ValueAct engaged, a third activist has entered to take over where ValueAct had left off, calling on LKQ to divest its European operations and refocus on its North American business. LKQ has always been a company that has benefited from simplification and harmed by complexity and Ananym's plan seems to align with this approach: (i) halt major M&A, (i) divest the European business and other non-core assets, and (iii) use the proceeds to fund buybacks and reinvest in organic growth in the core NA segment. Operationally, there are several benefits to Ananym's plan. While the U.S. functions as a single market with consistent regulations, Europe is a series of nation states each with their own regulatory framework, making integration far more complex. This creates meaningful execution risks, exemplified by the company still needing to integrate more than 20 ERP systems in 18 different countries. Not only would divesting Europe leave the company with a higher margin business with a much larger relative market share, but it would also allow management to devote all their time and resources to North America. The alternative is to continue to focus a disproportionate amount of time on integrating all the European acquisitions across the different European countries all from their headquarters in Chicago and Nashville. The opportunity here is also clear from a valuation perspective. Industrial distribution peers typically trade at mid-teens or higher EBITDA multiples, while LKQ currently trades at 7.3x forward EBITDA. Not only is this a discount to the market, but to its historical levels, as even in its messy conglomerate form, LKQ has still traded on a 10-year historical average of 10x EBITDA. The European business could potentially be sold at an 8 to 9x multiple, but a sale even at the company's current multiple would be beneficial to unlocking value in the North American business, which could re-rate to its historical multiple of 10x EBITDA. The proceeds from such a sale could enable LKQ to repurchase up to 40% of its outstanding shares, which, when combined with the re-rating of NA, could easily translate to more than 60% upside from the company's current share price. While strategics with similar models, such as O'Reilly, AutoZone , and Genuine Parts , may find the European business appealing, strategics generally prefer clean businesses and this is far from that. Private equity, on the other hand, feasts on these types of projects, using their operational and restructuring expertise and flexibility of being out of the public eye to unlock these complex assets overtime in a way that is more difficult for public companies to address. In its short history, Ananym has established a reputation for striving to work amicably with management to create value for shareholders, and this situation appears to be no different. The fund has been largely complimentary of LKQ CEO Justin Jude who was named to the position in July 2024 and has his roots in the North American business. Under his short leadership, the company has already taken steps in the right direction announcing plans to repurchase 14% of outstanding shares and divesting non-core assets such as its self-service salvage business that was sold in August to private equity. It has also signaled that its specialty business is on the market and it's expected to be sold in the near term. However, Jude seems to be a little more attached to the European business than these other businesses. Persuading him to divest Europe may take a little more time. If we learned anything from the previous activist campaigns at LKQ, this company needs a financially astute shareholder representative, not an independent industry executive. They do not need someone to help them with operations, they need someone to help them financially model, evaluate and potentially execute strategic options and work with the board to arrive at what is best for shareholders. Given Ananym's reputation as an amicable activist and their constructive relationship with Jude thus far, we think this is a perfect opportunity to put an Ananym representative on the board like Alex Silver who has extensive financial and private equity experience and brings a team of analysts ready to model available opportunities. Ken Squire is the founder and president of 13D Monitor, an institutional research service on shareholder activism, and the founder and portfolio manager of the 13D Activist Fund, a mutual fund that invests in a portfolio of activist investments. In this article GOOGL Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Josh Woodward, VP of Google Labs, addresses the crowd during Google's annual I/O developers conference in Mountain View, California on May 20, 2025. Camille Cohen | AFP | Getty Images Josh Woodward may not be a household name in Silicon Valley. But inside Google , everybody knows about him. The 42-year-old Oklahoma native, who started at Google by way of a product marketing internship in 2009, has spent the past eight months running the Gemini app, the centerpiece of the search giant's artificial intelligence strategy. Heading into 2026, Woodward's work is more critical than ever as Google rushes to keep pace with its high-powered AI rivals, namely OpenAI, which kickstarted the generative AI boom with the launch of ChatGPT just over three years ago. As industry experts forecast a shift in consumer behavior from traditional search to AI-powered apps, Google is fighting to make sure users stay within its ecosystem, whether it's for chatbot services, images, videos or online shopping. Woodward is helping to spearhead that effort while also keeping his job as head of Google Labs, home to the company's experimental AI projects. Clay Bavor, former head of Google Labs, said Woodward's ability to move fast, break down barriers and execute "has landed him right at the center of the most important work at Google." CNBC spoke with more than a dozen people who have worked with Woodward about his evolving profile at Google, how he got there and the pressure he faces to help Google stay ahead of the competition without losing the trust of users. Several current and former colleagues, including some who asked not to be named because they weren't authorized to speak to the press, emphasized how seriously Woodward takes the societal concerns that come with the power of AI, and about Google's role in shaping the future. watch now In April, when Woodward was promoted to run the Gemini app, Google's position in AI was tenuous. Alphabet shares plunged 18% in the first quarter, their worst performance for any period since 2022, and concerns were building that the company was losing its long-held position as the internet's front door. Demis Hassabis, co-founder of Google DeepMind and the person considered the top AI executive at Google, said in the memo announcing the move that Woodward would be focused on the "next evolution" of the app, according to a Semafor report. A major turning point for Woodward's group came in late August, with the launch of image generator Nano Banana, a Gemini feature that lets users blend multiple photos together to create personal digitized figurines. Within days, Nano Banana had become so popular it was overloading the company's infrastructure, forcing Google to place temporary limits on usage to ease the burden on its custom-designed chips called tensor processing units. "Our TPUs almost melted," said Amin Vahdat, Google's head of AI infrastructure, at a November all-hands meeting, according to audio reviewed by CNBC. By the end of September, the Gemini app surpassed 5 billion images and dethroned OpenAI's ChatGPT at the top of Apple's App Store. Nano Banana is now being rolled into other products like Google Lens and Circle to Search. Like its top rivals, Alphabet is pouring money into AI infrastructure ahead of an expected surge of new business. The company said in its earnings report in October that capital expenditures for the full year would reach between $91 billion and $93 billion, up from a prior forecast of $85 billion. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Alphabet vs. Meta in 2025 Wall Street's mood on the company has reversed dramatically. Despite a brutal first quarter, Alphabet's stock is up 62% this year, outperforming all of its megacap peers including Meta, which is up 13%. Google said in October that the Gemini app's monthly active users swelled to 650 million from 350 million in March. AI Overviews, which uses generative AI to summarize answers to queries, has 2 billion monthly users. OpenAI said in October that ChatGPT hit 800 million users per week. Last month, Google introduced Gemini 3, its latest model, prompting excitement across much of the tech sector. "I've never had more fun than right now," Woodward told CNBC's Deirdre Bosa in an interview soon after the release. "It's partly the pace. It's partly the abilities these models give to people who can imagine use cases and products." Bavor, who's now co-founder of AI agent startup Sierra, said Woodward "was among the very earliest people in the company to see the potential in large language models for building products," and lauded his ability to "get his mind fully around a new technology, to see around corners, to see how it might evolve and how it might be used." 'Change for good or bad' Woodward now faces the challenge of not only leading two units within Google but also finding a balance between moving fast to compete with AI rivals OpenAI and Anthropic and not moving so fast that the search company's AI products enable potential harm. It's a pressing issue as AI rapidly bleeds into daily life, more slop populates social media, and an onslaught of AI-generated content makes it difficult for average consumers to distinguish fact from fiction. Woodward discussed the theme in a podcast with partners from venture firm Sequoia in March, shortly before taking over the Gemini app. AI-generated videos were rapidly getting more advanced, following the launch of OpenAI's Sora in late 2024. "When I'm thinking of video, for example, I'm on the side of wanting to amplify human creativity, but there are these moments that happen in our valley here where things change," Woodward said. "And they change often for generations. And they can change for good or bad." The Nano Banana Pro, released in November, is so advanced that its creations blur the lines between images that are clearly AI generated and those that are real. The product has faced criticism for depicting white women surrounded by Black children in responding to a prompt about humanitarian aid in Africa. The intensity of the job is hardly reflected in Woodward's persona. Colleagues harp on his disarming, goofy laugh that often comes out mid-conversation and a friendliness stemming from his Midwestern upbringing. Caesar Sengupta, who worked with Woodward on one of his earliest projects at Google, said, "I've never seen him get angry with anyone." Sengupta, who's now founder of AI finance platform Arta, added that he used to tease Woodward, suggesting he would be Google's next CEO. Clay Bavor, VP of Virtual Reality for Google, introduces the Daydream View VR headset during the presentation of new Google hardware in San Francisco, California, U.S. October 4, 2016. Beck Diefenbach | Reuters Woodward joined Google Labs in 2022. Bavor said Woodward was his first choice to help lead the effort. One of the team's first breakout products was known as Project Tailwind, an AI notebook that senior product manager Raiza Martin worked on in her 20% time, Google's longstanding practice of letting employees dedicate one day a week to a project of personal interest. Woodward helped shepherd the project through several iterations to what morphed into NotebookLM, a popular product that analyze articles, PDFs or videos a user uploads, and provides summaries or offers insights. Martin stayed on as a senior product manager until December 2024, when she left to co-found AI startup Huxe. To help build NotebookLM, Woodward turned to an unsuspecting hire. Steven Johnson had never had a full-time boss and had no connection to Google. Living in New York, he'd spent his career up to that point as an author, writing books about the history of science and technology. Woodward was an admirer of his work. "We hatched plans for him to join us as a visiting scholar," Bavor said. Johnson joined on a part-time basis in 2022. When he went full time in May 2023, Woodward put him to work immediately. With Google's annual I/O developer conference a week away, Woodward had the idea to demo an audio feature for what would become NotebookLM, viewing it as a way to test the evolving capabilities of Google's AI models. The group worked overtime to get it done in time for Woodward's presentation. Leading up to the event, Martin wanted to collect user feedback on communication app Discord even though Google preferred that staffers use homegrown products for such efforts. Woodward intervened to make sure Martin could keep using Discord, employees told CNBC. "In true Google fashion, everyone was like 'What is Discord?'" Martin said in October 2024, on Lenny's Podcast, hosted by tech investor and researcher Lenny Rachitsky. She recalled being asked by Google administration, "Why not use Google Meet, why not Google Groups, why not this and that, and I was like, 'The server is the way to go.'" Johnson, who spoke with CNBC on a video call, said Woodward's approach was, "Let them cook." The discord server now has more than 200,000 members, a company spokesperson told CNBC. The screen displays the inscription ''NotebookLM'' during a meeting between Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at Google for Startups in Warsaw, Poland, on Feb. 13, 2025. Klaudia Radecka | Nurphoto | Getty Images At I/O, Woodward took the stage after Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian's keynote. He opened by talking about Project Tailwind, a concept that "five engineers at Google put together over the last few weeks." "We've been developing this idea with authors like Steven Johnson and testing it at universities like University of Oklahoma, where I went to school," said Woodward, as he walked across the stage to a laptop. "You want to see how it works?" He began his demo, uploading documents into the app. In a side panel, Tailwind instantly began showing key concepts and questions based on the materials in each document. He hovered his mouse over a button that said citations, saying "My favorite part is it shows its work." NotebookLM was initially released in July 2023, followed by a broader rollout in the ensuing months. It was an instant hit, and has since been updated to include podcasting, audio and video features. Recommended reading Woodward graduated from Oklahoma with an economics degree in 2006, and then headed to graduate school at University of Oxford in the U.K., where he studied the effects of the U.S. military and economic foreign aid on democracy. He kicked off his career at Google in 2009 with a product marketing internship, and went on to hold a number of product management roles. When Sengupta was tapped by CEO Sundar Pichai to start the Next Billion Users (NBU) project, an initiative to understand users in emerging markets like India, Woodward was "one of the first people I asked to join," he told CNBC. At NBU, Woodward wrote a weekly newsletter that was concise and thought-provoking, and became so popular that people would email the author asking to be added to the newsletter, Sengupta said. Woodward still writes a newsletter now it's quarterly about matters of interest to him and what he's been reading. Woodward reads so much that he's often the first person Google executives go to for book recommendations, colleagues said. He also assigns reading. Martin said on the podcast last year that Woodward had given her an article to read that dissected whether users should trust AI chatbots. watch now One of Woodward's best-known attributes, employees said, is his ability to circumvent Google's massive bureaucracy. He helped set up a system called "block," where workers can file a note if they see a perceived roadblock, and a team within Labs will handle it, they said. When NotebookLM launched, the product needed more TPUs, and Woodward was able to get them. "It's been very cool that we have someone who can take care of the annoying stuff, and we're able to just get to the users," said Usama Bin Shafqat, a Google Labs software engineer. Woodward also came up with a process called "Papercuts" to address minor issues that create friction in a particular product. In October, Woodward posted on X, "Papercut fixed: You can now change models mid-conversations on GeminiApp without having to start over." The post got more than 100 replies, including many from users thanking him. Woodward is known for responding directly to users on X and Reddit, and brings feedback to employees so they can address complaints, said Jason Spielman, a former designer at NotebookLM. "It's that level of commitment to the end user I hadn't seen in other leaders," said Spielman, who left Google in January to join Martin at Huxe. At a Google all-hands meeting last December, Woodward took the microphone as the Zombie Nation song "Kernkraft 400" blared in the background. "I'm going to try to do six demos in eight minutes," Woodward told the audience, according to audio obtained by CNBC. He started with Jules, a coding assistant. He showed off NotebookLM, which had received several updates. He then moved to Project Mariner, an AI-powered multitasking Chrome extension, and demoed AI video generator Veo and experimental AI tool Whisk. He also showed project Maya, an image generation tool built in collaboration with the Google Shopping team. Attendees erupted in applause after seeing all of the demos work in real time. Ahead of last year's I/O event, Woodward suggested Google host a second show tailored to staffers, according to two employees. Pichai quickly greenlit the proposal and dispatched Woodward's Labs teams to make it a reality. The result was Demo Slam, where employees showed off rapid demos to an audience of their peers, who could also try the products. It was such a hit that Google hosted a second Demo Slam in May, the same week as I/O. Expectations are high for Woodward, and Google broadly, to continue delivering new AI features in 2026. But with 2025 wrapping up, Pichai sees the company riding high. "The momentum has been incredible to see," Pichai said at a recent all-hands meeting. "We've been shipping at a pretty fast pace across the company" Correction: An earlier version of this article previously misstated Woodward's internship role, as provided by Google. The article also misstated Martin as the lone originator of Project Tailwind. WATCH: Battle of the chatbots In this article RIVN TSLA Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT watch now Lucid Motors gets rave reviews from critics. But it's sorely lacking customers. That's a problem the company can't afford. The Arizona-based electric-vehicle maker has top-shelf tech, deep-pocketed backers and highly praised cars. However, Lucid has struggled to meet production targets, and has been unable to steal the spotlight away from established luxury brands with century-old pedigrees. Lucid is ramping up production of its high-end, three-row Gravity SUV, though it has sold only a few hundred units so far in 2025, according to a Cox Automotive report from mid-October. The Gravity's production ramp has faced a slew of challenges, primarily supply chain shortages. Lucid said it disputed sales figures from third-parties, calling those reports "completely inaccurate." "While we don't break out model mix, Lucid Gravity deliveries are already in the thousands and will represent the majority of customer deliveries in Q4," a Lucid spokesperson said in a statement. A spokesman for Cox said the company stands by its numbers. A Lucid Gravity coming off the line at the company's factory in Casa Grande, Arizona Lucid already has plans for another vehicle aimed more at the middle of the market, where it would compete with the top-selling Tesla Model Y SUV. And Lucid is investing in self-driving cars for consumers while working on a robotaxi fleet in partnership with Uber and Nuro, which makes self-driving tech. In the process, Lucid is burning through a lot of money. The company's third-quarter results were worse than Wall Street expected, with a net loss of close to $1 billion. "Their gross profit has been getting kind of worse," said Tom Narayan, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets. "A lot of people are doing the math. How long can the company keep losing cash?" Adding to Lucid's challenges is a tougher environment for all EV manufacturers. Demand has fallen short of expectations, and many automakers are pulling back. EVs have lost key support from the federal government, including a $7,500 tax credit, funding for charging and restrictions on state level programs that incentivize automakers to produce zero-emission vehicles. A 'fantastic car' Lucid's first vehicle, a sedan called the Air, is the most popular vehicle in its segment, according to Cox Automotive, which tracks the U.S. auto market. Through the third quarter, the Air was the third best-selling, full-size luxury sedan and the top selling electric sedan, according to the company. The Air is frequently a "critic's pick." No other EV can touch the 512-mile range of the Air Grand Touring, one of its top trim levels. In 2024, Lucid delivered 10,241 vehicles, the majority of which were Air sedans. That was up 71% from 2023. By comparison, U.S. EV leader Tesla delivered 1.8 million vehicles in 2024. Sales of sedans have consistently underperformed compared to those of SUVs, crossovers, and pickups, which now all but dominate the roads. Of the top 10 best-selling models in the U.S., seven are from those three segments, according to Edmunds. "It was a fantastic car," said Sam Abuelsamid, vice president of market research for Telemetry. "It still is a fantastic car. But it came to market at kind of the wrong time." Marc Winterhoff, interim chief executive officer of Lucid Group Inc., in a Lucid Air Grand Touring model in San Francisco, California, US, on Thursday, July 17, 2025. Jason Henry | Bloomberg | Getty Images In 2023, Tesla's Model Y was the best-selling vehicle in the world, according to JATO Dynamics. Tesla sold more than 265,000 Model Y units through the third quarter of 2025, according to Cox Automotive. That's about 100,000 more than Tesla's Model 3 sedan, per the report. Among EVs, the Model 3 is unusually popular for a sedan. Behind the two Tesla Models, the three vehicles that round out the top five are crossovers Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Hyundai Ioniq5. The Model S the Air's closest Tesla competitor in terms of size, performance and price sold just over 4,500 units so far in 2025, according to Cox Automotive. The highest volume EVs, such as the Model Y, are also less expensive than the Air, which starts just above $70,000 and runs up to about a quarter of a million dollars. The Model 3 is nearly half that, starting at around $37,000. The average EV transaction price in November was just above $59,000, according to Cox Automotive. "There's just not enough of a market for those premium electric sedans right now," Abuelsamid said. Lucid sold 300 Gravity SUVs in the U.S. in 2025 through mid-October, according to Cox Automotive. Like the Air, the Gravity has a high price tag. Nevertheless, the company has said the Gravity stands to attract six times as many customers as the Air. "We'll see if that's the case," said Narayan. "The latest numbers I've seen show it kind of equalizing the sales of sedans." Lucid interim CEO Marc Winterhoff told CNBC in an interview that the company has seen "a very good uptick in demand when it comes to the Gravity as compared to the Air." He added that most customers are configuring the car in ways that run the price above $100,000. Production trouble Demand might be strong, but Lucid also has to get the vehicle into customers' hands. The launch of Gravity deliveries to U.S. customers in early 2025 was beset by shortages of key materials like magnets, aluminum and chips, Winterhoff said on the company's third-quarter earnings call. "We haven't been able to produce as many as we wanted up until this point," Winterhoff told CNBC. "We're very confident right now that we solved those problems." Deliveries have risen for seven straight quarters, culminating in third-quarter deliveries seeing a 47% percent year-to-year jump. Lucid has added a second shift to the final assembly section of its factory to meet demand. The company said demand has been resilient despite worries that the EV market is stalling after the federal EV incentive ended on Sept. 30. "In October, our delivery numbers went up," Winterhoff said. "Whereas in many other pure EV players or even EVs for incumbent players that also have [internal combustion] vehicles, the deliveries dropped down drastically." watch now Still, analysts say it's a tougher time to make EVs than it was when Tesla was ramping up the Model 3 and Model Y. "They were the only game in town," Narayan said. "So there wasn't competition there. They also benefited from battery prices falling significantly. And they got a lot of government support. Today we're in a very different world." If gross profit keeps getting worse, Lucid will eventually have to return to investors, Narayan said. The company is currently about 55% owned by the Saudi Public Investment fund, according to FactSet. In the third quarter, Lucid and the PIF agreed to increase a delayed draw term loan credit facility from $750 million to roughly $2 billion. A DDTL is a loan the company can draw on over time, rather than all at once. That brings Lucid's total liquidity to $5.5 billion. The company has said it has enough to get through the first half of 2027. CNBC tours Lucid Motors factory in Casa Grande, Arizona. Andrew Evers "So far, the Saudis have put many billions of dollars into Lucid, and they've been very patient through Lucid's struggles as they try to ramp up production and sales," said Abuelsamid. "It's unclear how long they will continue to be patient." The company also received a $300 million investment from Uber in September to develop a platform for robotaxis with a third partner, autonomous driving tech developer Nuro. On top of that, Uber plans to buy 20,000 Gravity vehicles for the self-driving fleet. Separately, Lucid has a partnership with Nvidia to develop what it calls the "the first true eyes-off, hands-off, and mind-off (L4) consumer owned autonomous vehicle." L4 means Level 4, nearly the highest level of autonomy in the current system devised by the Society for Automotive Engineers. "You need to invest first and then you reap the benefits later on," Winterhoff said. "And therefore we have to do a lot of things in parallel." Smaller SUV on the way Despite Gravity's production challenges, the company is already at work on its next vehicle a mid-size crossover priced closer to the industry average of about $50,000. That could boost volumes, but deepen losses. "If gross profit is negative at a vehicle transacting around $100,000 or more on average, what Lucid's Air and Gravity are currently going for, what will it look like when the company is selling a vehicle that is closer to half of that?" Narayan said. "One answer could be, well, it's a much bigger scale, so you have better operating leverage," Narayan said. The argument, he said, is that Lucid's technology enables it to squeeze a lot more range out of a battery than competitors. "Our vehicles are way more efficient by 30% to 40% than the competition," said Emad Dlala, senior vice president of engineering and digital at Lucid. "That means a lower [bill of materials] cost. That means better margins." Dlala said the Lucid Air Pure has a battery size of a Tesla Model Y, but has a range of 420 miles. That's about a hundred miles more than the Model Y. Lucid said the money it's spending goes to developing an array of technologies and manufacturing processes that are hard to copy. "Lucid has about over 10 years of powertrain history," said Dala, adding that the company has lots of patented technologies across powertrain, vehicle and software that leads to gains in efficiency. "This didn't come overnight." Brand new Lucid electric cars sit parked in front of a Lucid Studio showroom in San Francisco on May 24, 2024. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images In this article IRBT Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Medianews Group/boston Herald Via Getty Images | Medianews Group | Getty Images Los Angeles resident Ruth Horne, 76, enticed by a bargain, bought what she thought was a Roomba to vacuum her house, but the experience ended in frustration. "It kept getting stuck somewhere and would then just go around in circles," Horne said. She realized it was a cheaper knock-off. Meanwhile, Marcy Lewis, 75, of Madeira, Ohio, had been wanting a robot vacuum cleaner and deliberately chose a knock-off. "I'm pretty low tech, but it just seemed like a good idea cleaner house, less work," Lewis said. She was watching Prime Day sales and got a good deal on a Eufy robot vacuum cleaner. "I really liked it and it did a good job, but didn't last long," Lewis said. Product quality was one of the advantages for the Roomba in a flood of less expensive knock-offs, but that didn't save it from the corporate bankruptcy its maker iRobot announced earlier this week. And cheap Chinese competition was not the only factor in its failure. An attempted 2022 acquisition of iRobot by Amazon , thwarted by regulators, and the changing dynamics around mergers and acquisitions, represent an ongoing concern for struggling tech companies that in the past have turned to M&A as not just an exit ramp, but savior. The company, which Amazon agreed to pay $1.7 billion to acquire in August 2022, reported in a court filing last Sunday that it had between $100 million-$500 million in assets and liabilities, and owed roughly $100 million to its largest creditor, Shenzhen Picea Robotics Co., the contract manufacturer, located in China and Vietnam, which now owns it. In all, Reuters reported the company has $190 million in debt. "Today's outcome is profoundly disappointing and it was avoidable," Colin Angle, co-founder and CEO of iRobot, told CNBC in a statement earlier this week. "This is nothing short of a tragedy for consumers, the robotics industry and America's innovation economy." In early 2024, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told CNBC that regulators' efforts to block the deal were a "sad story" and said it would've given iRobot a competitive boost against rivals. Some M&A experts agree with the view of both the would-be acquirer and bankrupt company. "The iRobot case demonstrates that when regulators prioritize hypothetical future harms over present-day financial realities, they don't protect competition; they destroy the target company," said Kristina Minnick is a professor of finance at Bentley University. "The bankruptcy of iRobot serves as a definitive cautionary tale for the current M&A environment, underscoring fears that regulators are dismantling the traditional safety net for struggling companies," she said. Acquisitions are an integral part of recycling assets and growing the economy, but regulators in the U.S. and in Europe have taken a stance in recent years which Minnick says "distorts this natural cycle." She added that by blocking Amazon's white knight acquisition of iRobot, regulators removed the only viable exit ramp for a struggling American robotics pioneer. "The tragic irony is that instead of remaining an independent competitor, iRobot was forced into bankruptcy and is now being sold to one of its Chinese manufacturing partners. In their zeal to prevent Big Tech expansion, regulators effectively handed valuable IP and market share to the very foreign competitors that were crushing the company in the first place," Minnick said. watch now After Amazon abandoned the deal in early 2024 citing the likelihood that European regulators would block it, newer issues emerged for the already vulnerable company. "Roomba didn't just run out of battery, it got shoved into Chapter 11 after European regulators kicked out Amazon's $1.4 billion escape hatch and left it bleeding cash on the living-room floor," said Eric Schiffer, chairman at Reputation Management Consultants. "Amazon walked, tariffs hit, cheap rivals swarmed, and suddenly the king of robo-vacs is begging its own manufacturer to save its plastic rear end," Schiffer said. "This is a cautionary tale that if your business model is to get bought by Big Tech, one hostile regulator in Europe can turn your dream exit into a Caligula-level catastrophic implosion." Jay Jung, managing partner at Embarc Advisors, a San Francisco-based corporate finance advisory firm, says that iRobot's bankruptcy is ominous for future similar deals if regulators don't learn the lessons of the past few years. "European regulators are within their rights to block these deals," he said. But he added that "their stance is too tilted towards anti-big tech. When a Chinese company like this takes over, they will preserve the brand but everything moves to China lost jobs, and any other economic benefit other than the brand is gone." At least publicly, the Trump administration's Federal Trade Commission seems to be taking a more hands-off approach to M&A than its Biden era predecessors led by FTC Chair Lina Khan, who had a hawkish antitrust stance. It has vowed to take a dual approach on mergers: vigorously pursue ones deemed anti-competitive and stand out of the way one of ones that don't meet that criteria. "If we've got a merger or conduct that violates the antitrust laws, and I think I can prove it in court, I'm going to take you to court. And if we don't, I'm going to get the hell out of the way," FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson told CNBC's Squawk Box earlier this year. But in Europe, the view towards tech M&A remains tilted to scrutiny. EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera telegraphed that there could be more to come in comments earlier this month when announcing an anti-trust probe against Meta's plans to block AI rivals from Whatsapp, which it owns. The action she said was to prevent dominant tech players from "abusing their power to crowd out innovative competitors" That is cold comfort for a struggling tech company, and Minnick said big tech is already finding workarounds to avoid antitrust scrutiny. As a direct result of these blocked exit ramps, the tech giants are now attempting to circumvent regulators through asset purchases rather than full company acquisitions. "In deals like Microsoft's arrangement with Inflection AI or Amazon's deal with Adept, the acquirer hires the target's founders and key engineering talent while licensing their intellectual property, leaving the corporate shell behind," Minnick said, adding that this "reverse acqui-hire" structure is designed specifically as a loophole to bypass antitrust review. The FTC did in fact issue a report on these types of deals in the final days of Lina Khan's tenure, after it had targeted the Amazon-Adept deal for scrutiny. Minnick says even if the deal tweaks are successful, they remain imperfect solutions for a broader M&A problem. "While this allows the technology to survive, it is a sub-optimal outcome that often leaves regular shareholders and non-essential employees stranded in a hollowed-out zombie company, proving that regulatory friction is forcing the market into increasingly complex and inefficient contortions to survive," she said. The iRobot headquarters in Bedford, Massachusetts, US, on Friday, June 16, 2023. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Telecom Italia (TIM) said Italy's highest court had ruled in its favour in a long-running concession fee case, confirming the group is owed just over 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) to end a dispute that has dragged on for over two decades. In a statement on Saturday, the former phone monopoly confirmed what sources had earlier told Reuters. The reimbursement of the concession fee is expected to unlock a long-awaited plan to convert TIM's savings shares into ordinary stock and help the cash-starved company to resume dividend payments, which it halted in 2022. The conversion could be discussed already at a board meeting TIM is expected to hold on December 29, two sources with knowledge of the matter said. The dispute stems from the liberalisation of Italy's telecoms sector. TIM sued the state to recover the licence fee it was required to pay in 1998, the year after the sector was deregulated. A lower court had ordered Italy's government to pay the sum to TIM, but Rome had appealed that decision. The amount TIM is entitled to based on the Supreme Court's decision is roughly double the original licence fee, worth slightly more than 500 million euros, due to revaluation and accrued interest. Italy's Treasury declined to comment, while the prime minister's office was not immediately available to comment. The ruling is not expected to significantly affect Italy's efforts to cut its budget deficit below 3% of national output, because the government has already set aside 2.2 billion euros in its 2026 budget to cover national and European Union litigation costs. The payout gives CEO Pietro Labriola funds to press ahead with a long-standing plan to scrap TIM's dual-class share structure and phase out costly savings shares. These shares, which guarantee a minimum dividend, make up about 28% of TIM's capital. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks during a press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (not pictured), at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany Dec. 15, 2025. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that Ukraine would back a U.S. proposal for three-sided talks with the United States and Russia if it facilitated more exchanges of prisoners and paved the way for meetings of national leaders. Zelenskyy, speaking to local journalists in Kyiv, also said top Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov had told him of the latest discussions that took place on Friday with U.S. negotiators in the United States. A new round was scheduled for Saturday, he said, focusing on Ukraine's post-war recovery. Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev was also in Miami for talks with U.S. officials. Zelenskyy said the United States was now proposing three-sided talks the United States, Ukraine and Russia at the level of national security advisers. "If such a meeting could be held now to allow for swaps of prisoners of war or if a meeting of national security advisers achieves agreement on a leaders' meeting...I cannot be opposed. We would support such a U.S. proposal. Let's see how things go." Zelenskyy said Ukraine stood for proposals that would leave the "contact line" where it was without Ukraine having to give up territory it still controlled in the industrial region of Donbas in eastern Ukraine. "For me, the fair version is we stand where we are now standing," he said. "This is a matter of principle. Whatever the format and however we approach the issue, it is important for us that Ukrainian authorities retain control over that part of Donbas that we control now." He said a U.S. proposal to create a "free economic zone" in eastern Ukraine was a matter "to be decided by the people of Ukraine". "We are carefully working on every point, on every step in order to achieve not a vague 'understanding' about the division of territory and resources, but an agreement on stable and lasting peace and reliable security guarantees," he said. Zelenskyy also said Ukraine and its European allies should continue to support the current U.S.-led peace talks, a format that was worth "fighting for," while adding: "If it doesn't work out, we will all think about other options." Zelenskyy was responding to a question about remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron suggesting that Europe would have to re-engage in direct talks with Russia if the U.S.-led efforts founder. Zelenskyy earlier said he would discuss the new U.S. proposal for three-sided talks with Umerov. Ukraine and Russia have not negotiated face-to-face since July, but U.S.-backed shuttle diplomacy to end the almost four-year-old war in Ukraine has intensified in recent weeks. #WATCH | Bangladesh | The funeral procession of Osman Hadi, a key leader in the protests against Sheikh Hasina, who died on 18 December, is underway at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka. pic.twitter.com/FSoJSfM6TT ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2025 Bangladesh came to a halt on Saturday, December 20, as thousands gathered to bid farewell to Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent leader and Inqilab Moncho convenor, who was shot by masked assailants on December 12.The funeral prayer service, held at Manik Mia Avenue in front of the Parliament in Dhaka, drew a massive crowd, with many draping themselves in the national flag and chanting slogans demanding justice for Hadi's killing.As per the family's wishes, Hadi was buried beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, a revered figure in Bangladesh. The burial site was prepared near the Dhaka University Central Mosque, where mourners had begun arriving from early morning.Following two days of protests by supporters of the Inqilab Moncho, the atmosphere was sombre, with national flags flown at half-mast and special prayers held at places of worship. The funeral service was held amid heightened security measures, with the Border Guard Bangladesh and police deployed at the Parliament building and other major locations in Dhaka.The Inqilab Moncho had instructed that only the national flag of Bangladesh be displayed at the funeral prayer service.Earlier, Dhaka University Assistant Proctor Rafiqul Islam stated that Hadi will be buried on the south side of the grave of Kazi Nazrul Islam, reported Bangladeshi daily newspaper The Business Standard.Hadi's death had sparked protests and unrest across Bangladesh, prompting the National Cyber Security Agency to call on the public to report social media posts promoting terrorism or inciting violence, reported BDNews24.On Saturday, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications issued a statement announcing that such posts could be reported via WhatsApp and email. As per the officials, the complaints would be reviewed by the National Cyber Security Agency before being forwarded to social media platforms via the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). Hadi , a prominent leader of Bangladesh's student uprising in July 2024, was shot in the head by masked assailants last week. He was airlifted to Singapore for medical treatment, but died while undergoing treatment on December 18, after fighting for his life for six days.The post-mortem of Hadi was performed at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, according to the Business Standard report. It pains me whenever I see a married woman taking the blame and suffering for a situation that is no fault of her. For how long will 'literate' men continue to reason like 'illiterates'? It is disheartening to learn that someone who is expected to be well-informed on a very sensitive issue such as gender discrimination is found to be a protagonist of the act. And it is no other person but Mr. Tajudeen Adenekan, a director at the Federal Ministry of Finance, who chased his wife of more than 10 years and his five daughters out of their house . Nneka with one of her accomplice. Nneka Orji, the head of a female robbery gang arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Lagos has confessed that she and her girls derived joy from torturing their male victims because they were once victims of robbery attacks perpetrated by guys. I am not an armed robber because we did not operate with gun. Ours was more of brain works. We obtained by false pretence, otherwise called 419 ," 27-year-old Nneka said. I yearn for the days when we pretended not to have any spies. In our missions abroad, they were known as the unmentionables, the same word that Victorians once used to describe underwear, necessary but unseen. My old diplomatic friend Christopher Meyer, who had done his share of embassy duty in dark, sinister places, spoke knowingly of what he called The Organs of Intelligence, but would go no further. The old Diplomatic List, now no longer published, listed the telephone number of what it coyly called Century House, the tatty tower block near Waterloo Station from which the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) then operated. I rang it once to see what would happen, but couldnt think of anything witty to say, and hung up. An old friend of mine, whose father had been an ambassador, was once invited to a discreet and tasteful building near Trafalgar Square, and asked over a pleasant lunch if he might like to be a spy. He politely turned them down. It always amused me that these know-all geniuses had failed to discover the rather obvious truth that he was a ferocious supporter of Tony Benn, and not really their type. We know that they made use of some very unreliable sorts, especially that gaggle of drunks and Communists, Philby, Burgess, Maclean and Blunt who so blatantly betrayed us all in the 1950s. I cant think of any great triumphs they have ever scored. In the early months of the Second World War, two of their top operatives were kidnapped on the Dutch border by the Nazis, who already seemed to know rather a lot about SIS, certainly far more than the British public did. They dont seem to have been much use in preventing the 1956 Suez disaster, or the 2003 Iraq disaster, or David Camerons mad and shameful Libyan war in 2011. Did they predict the collapse of the USSR? And over the past 50 years we have had the books of John le Carre (real name David Cornwell) who knew quite a bit, having worked for our Secret Police, MI5, before switching to SIS. These books, portraying an organisation in thrall to the Americans, trapped in the past and riven by internal suspicion, do not suggest that the Service is especially distinguished or useful. Technically it is not even allowed to operate on home soil. So why has it been licensed to go public and to go into domestic politics? Last week the head of SIS, the ultra-mysterious, vaguely unreal Blaise Metreweli, appeared in semi-public. She chose not to venture beyond her own private dining room at SISs grandiose new HQ. After bestowing a sweet smile on the BBCs intrepid security correspondent, Frank Gardner, she launched into a barrage of official flannel and contentious politics, in which she tiptoed around China, which has been busy all week trampling on the agreement it signed with us to respect freedom in Hong Kong, by jailing the dissident Jimmy Lai, a British citizen. But she spoke of Russia almost as if we were at war with Moscow, where in fact we still have an embassy, and the BBC keeps an excellent correspondent. Is this her job? I would love it if Parliament would actually debate the Russia-Ukraine issue, but it never does, as there no longer seem to be any independent-minded MPs. But I am not sure SIS should be doing so. Ms Metreweli is not a minister, responsible to the Commons. However much we may respect our spies, they are there to advise our elected government, not to make or declare policy. I think they should go back into the shadows, and justify their enormous secret budget by making us safer. I know that James Bond has been one of our most successful exports, but he never actually existed, and we should not make gods out of his prosaic and politicised successors. A guide to a century of change I love old guidebooks and advertisements because they tell the truth about the past which biased historians often miss. My lovely old 1905 Ward Lock guide to London reveals two things that may astonish BBC types. In that year the guide lists only 17 foreign embassies in London. The whole idea of what amounts to a nation has totally changed in 120 years, which may be why we nowadays have so many wars about borders. The same book notes that the most recent census shows 135,377 persons of foreign birth in our then Imperial capital. It notes where they all lived (the Swiss favoured Westminster, the Italians Holborn, for example) and most of the French citizens in London were non-domestic cooks, while the Germans mostly engaged as waiters, commercial clerks and tailors. A golden opportunity missed A tram scheme in Leeds has been put off until the 2030s, its old system was axed in 1959 A plan to give poor Leeds trams again has been put off till the 2030s, which I fear means forever. Leeds, like most major British cities, once had a dense tram network, green and civilised. But the car lobby got rid of them. The writer Keith Waterhouse remembered, as a young reporter in Leeds in the 1950s, some local Alderman boasting that he would soon get rid of them all. They got in the way of the cars, which have since turned out to be so noisy, dirty, dangerous and greedy for space. Now, people are grasping this was a mistake. It was the cars that got in the way of the trams. Cities all over France are rebuilding lost tram networks, luring drivers out of their cars. We will do this in the end. It would be a much better way of spending money than on useless spectaculars such as HS2. The darker and grimmer life gets, the more Christmas glows and sparkles. It is not tainted by crude commerce or dimmed by bad news on the TV. It is the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. I discovered this many years ago in several glum and violent places where I had to spend the treasured season. And so I wish you all a very happy and blessed Christmas, despite everything. As the year draws to a close, shell-shocked Labour MPs are asking each other two questions. 'What the hell just happened?' And 'when will Keir be forced to step down?' The answer to both queries is very simple. A government that started 2025 with a seemingly unassailable 170-seat majority has completely and utterly fallen apart. And it has done so because all the fevered speculation over an impending leadership challenge is actually redundant. Whatever the new year brings, for all practical purposes Keir Starmer has already opted to relinquish the reins of power. Different people have separate views on the precise instant the Prime Minister gave up on his own premiership. One minister I spoke to pointed to June 27, the date he folded to the rebels over his Disability Bill. 'That was it. That was the end,' they said. A former senior Starmer adviser chose a different moment. He identified the day his former boss sat down with his biographer Tom Baldwin in the No 10 flat, and disowned the speech he'd given in May, warning uncontrolled immigration was, in an explosive phrase, in danger of turning Britain into an 'island of strangers'. 'I'll give you the honest truth: I deeply regret using it,' the PM admitted. According to the ex-aide, 'it wasn't just that he washed his hands of the speech, which you can't do anyway. He effectively ditched the entire policy. And our whole strategy of taking the fight to the Tories and Reform on immigration.' For me, the decisive point in Starmer's slow-motion 2025 abdication came during Prime Minister's Questions on July 2. Amid disturbing scenes, Chancellor Rachel Reeves sat on the Government frontbench with tears rolling down her cheeks, visibly distressed. As MPs and journalists looked on with mounting concern, Starmer ploughed forward as if nothing was happening. For me, the decisive point in Starmer's slow-motion 2025 abdication came during Prime Minister's Questions on July 2, writes Dan Hodges. Chancellor Rachel Reeves sat on the Government frontbench with tears rolling down her cheeks, visibly distressed The Prime Minister claimed not to have been aware of the Chancellor's discomfort while he was speaking in the Commons He later claimed not to have been aware of his colleague's discomfort. But it represented a glaring failure of leadership and uncharacteristically for a genuinely compassionate man humanity. And it exposed, at least to me, the extent to which he had completely lost his way. Over the past few days, as the various contenders have begun openly mobilising for next year's coup, there's been much discussion about the implosion of Starmer's authority. But what we've witnessed over the past 12 months goes way further than a loss of basic authority and standing. As the year has progressed, the Prime Minister has slowly but systematically abandoned every single one of his major political and policy stances. As has been identified, he openly washed his hands of his immigration strategy, subcontracting it out to his new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. His welfare reform programme was not just axed, but completely reversed, with billions of pounds of new spending earmarked for the abolition of the two-child benefit cap, and the reversal of the winter fuel cuts. On the economy, his pledge not to raise taxes on working families which formed not just the centrepiece of his election manifesto, but supposedly the cornerstone of his entire first term has similarly been junked. Likewise, his pragmatic commitment to making a success of Brexit has been cast aside, replaced by a strategy of returning Britain to some form of ill-defined post-EU purgatory. But 2025 has not just seen Keir Starmer walking away from the Government he purported to lead in an abstract sense. Leafing through my notebooks for the year, conversations with his ministers contain a litany of identical phrases. 'He's not present.' 'Keir's strangely detached.' 'He's literally never here.' 'I just can't get him to focus.' The same goes for his back-bench MPs: 'He's cut us loose.' 'He has no interest in what any of us think.' 'I feel like I'm invisible to him.' As he has relinquished his grip on his administration, so his hold on his party has similarly slipped from his grasp. In October, Bridget Phillipson, his hand-picked candidate to replace Angela Rayner as Labour Deputy Leader, was soundly defeated by Lucy Powell, a close friend of Andy Burnham. His senior trade union ally Christina McAnea has just been ousted as leader of the Unison super-union by Left-winger Andrea Egan. And his influential chief of staff Morgan McSweeney has been sidelined after a Cabinet backlash against aggressive briefing. Inside Downing Street which saw an exodus of the Prime Minister's most loyal advisers as the year progressed plans are reportedly being drawn up for a '2026 fightback'. But it's not entirely clear what his aides believe they are fighting for, or whether Starmer himself intends to join the struggle. Among ministers there's a growing belief that some time next year Starmer will formalise his withdrawal from the premiership. One pointed to last month's precipitous briefing by No 10 aides which claimed he would aggressively resist an attempt to oust him. 'That wasn't just directed at any challengers,' I was told. 'They were also trying to send a message to Keir "don't give up. You can still turn this thing round."' The problem is, he can't. And I strongly suspect the Prime Minister knows it. This year saw Sir Keir cross the point of no return. No politician has ever recovered from the depths of unpopularity currently being recorded by the opinion polls. And when the local elections or at least those elections Starmer's increasingly dictatorial and desperate apparatchiks allow to go ahead are held, the verdict of the British people will be affirmed. At which point he will almost certainly bow to the inevitable. Not least because he is no longer in power in any meaningful sense of the word. He has lost the ability to guide contentious legislation through Parliament. ID cards are dead in the water. Fresh rebellions are planned on the abolition of juries, and proposed changes to special educational needs provision. Meanwhile, the economic situation is set to deteriorate. In spring the small boats will return. And having already played his diplomatic joker in the form of the Trump State visit, his limited ability to influence an increasingly stubborn and erratic US President will continue to diminish. And even if Sir Keir does choose to fight, he simply has too many enemies ranged against him. Streeting. Burnham. Rayner. Miliband. As one MP despairingly observed: 'We're about to form the circular firing squad again.' Maybe Labour are. But if they do, Keir Starmer will be standing directly in the centre of it. Those currently speculating about whether and when the Prime Minister will be forced to resign are missing the point 2025 has already seen Keir Starmer step down from the premiership; 2026 will simply be the year he officially walks away from it. Dear Bel, This might irritate some, but I must get it off my chest especially at this time of year. Put bluntly, Im worried sick about money and I dont feel its fair. My husband and I both earn decent salaries Im very aware of that good fortune and Im grateful. We both work long hours in careers we love and which actually make a difference to society. Our two children are both at private school almost by accident they started in the lovely pre-school and were so happy we never had the heart to move them. After-school clubs help make our working lives possible. My mother-in-law helps hugely, too. But in the past few years, costs have spiralled. Our interest-only mortgage has doubled, as have our monthly bills. Our weekly supermarket shop is now eye-watering. The new tax on private education has hit us hard, though our wealthier friends are unfazed by it. Lucky them. Oh, I can hear some of your readers mocking me. But what do they know about our needs? Well probably move our youngest to a state secondary school, believing she might even be happier, but I feel angry that the Governments class tax on education is pushing the decision, not whats right for us. We dont live lavishly: I happily buy everyones clothes second-hand. We dont go on fancy holidays. When we do go away, we rent out our house on Airbnb to help fund it. Yet even a week in a modest cottage in Cornwall feels extravagant, and a (rare) simple meal at the local pub for the four of us rarely leaves much change from 100. Despite trying to economise, we end up in the red every month. It feels like the harder we work, the more were penalised. We wanted to build useful, fulfilling careers and give our children security and opportunity, but right now I feel punished. Because of the cost-of-living increases everybody is facing, you find your mind moves on rigid tracks of money even though you know theres much more to life. Can you help me look beyond the everyday worries? ZOE Life has never been, and never will be, fair; we all have no choice but to accept inequalities of wealth, talent, looks, sporting ability, popularity or whatever, writes Bel Mooney That is certainly a tall order! Words of wisdom are needed although, like many people, Im irritated by feel-good quotations, woo-woo New Age spirituality, cracker barrel homilies and advice to tiptoe through the tulips (as it were) and be hopeful. There is so much of that stuff on the internet countless gurus, self-helpists and nut-jobs telling you that, with the right attitude and sending your demands up to the universe, you can achieve anything from growing bigger breasts to feeling as de-stressed as a daisy. Fat chance when the bills come in, eh? How can people look beyond the everyday worries when those worries loom larger in their viewpoint than anything else? Once I stood before the most sublime sacred mosaics in Ravenna, Italy, with an admirable, other-worldly intellectual who told me confidently that all the artistic work we contemplated was done to the glory of God. No, I argued, it was done by everyday artisans who needed to put bread on the table for their children. You and your husband understand that all too well, Zoe. You both work hard, try to make society healthier and safer, earn decent money and feel grateful for your good luck. But you also find the general cost of living a source of worry and fret because your educational choices for your children add a burden, especially since this Labour Government clearly doesnt consider you working people. Why else would they seem so very determined to penalise that wide band the middle class? Rachel Reeves gives good Grinch. Boo! I dont think its fair either. But life has never been, and never will be, fair; we all have no choice but to accept inequalities of wealth, talent, looks, sporting ability, popularity or whatever. Anyway, before people write in castigating you for choosing to pay for your childrens education, Ill suggest they save their precious time. As a true Brit, I believe in freedom and individual choice. Ive known wealthy people who chose state education and working people who scrimped and saved to go private and I reckon its their business and nobody elses. But lets leave the politics behind although I hope you feel reassured Im on your side. Its vital to try raising our heads above the murk in which some of our leaders would have us remain. There is a lot to worry every single man and woman trying to cope with an increasingly complicated life but shall we also try to find the sources of joy? From the general sense of your letter, including some details I had to edit out, I strongly suspect you know already what they might be. Its nearly Christmas, Zoe! Youll be feeling frazzled about presents to wrap, food to order between online meetings with colleagues, stockings, elderly parents to collect for The Day, and lots more (Oh, did I buy crackers? Have we got enough to drink?) All that! So I want you to pause as you read this, take a very deep breath and let it out with a whoosh. Then do it again. That should calm you instantly. The next step is to stand still within the new calmness and focus on the view beyond finances or getting and spending, as the great poet William Wordsworth expressed humankinds ancient preoccupation. What can you see? Lets imagine you, your husband, son and daughter are standing, holding hands, on top of a hill. There in front of you is the vista of your life, lying spread out under a starry sky. (I often ask our talented illustrator Neil Webb to give us stars at Christmas, because theyre beautiful and have always shown people the way. When in doubt, look up. Even if the sky is cloudy, they are still there.) Is one star bigger than the others? Well, that is your familys special star to follow. And in the foreground at the foot of the hill theres a dark pine forest. These trees are the relatives of the one in your sitting room, only theyre not decorated for Christmas and can seem very daunting. Your road ahead winds through the forest and you have to take it even if the way often seems so hard. But you hold your childrens hands tightly because thats your job and it matters above all else. And in the distance you can see beautiful fields and a welcoming house, sparkling in starlight. Thats where you are always heading home. And you realise how lucky you are, to have those hands to hold and that goal always ahead. You know when you get there (as you do every day) you will continue to be blessed by family love and fun. Even if you feel hard done by at times, that is unassailable. You see where Im going? Yes, Im on that path, too. And fun is the key word here not in an empty, meaningless sense, but because fun is actually important. All of us need to be a little light-hearted at this time of the year and to make an effort to celebrate even the smallest bits of good fortune in our lives: a sunny day, tea with somebody whos good company, fairy lights, feet up with a good book or TV programme. Thats what midwinter celebrations were always about: laughter, a brimming glass and flames in the darkness. After all, it doesnt cost much to light a candle. Dont forget, Zoe it doesnt cost to open your heart and bring light into the world. And finally A letter that illuminates Christmas Last weeks letter from Anna, remembering the death of her adult daughter, unsurprisingly touched many people. I must share one letter I found very moving. Christine writes: Our beloved son died suddenly on December 21, 2008. At the time, with Christmas lights already up, I vowed never to have them lit, indeed never to put them up, again. My very wise husband said: Nonsense we will keep them switched off until Christmas Eve when they have to be lit up, otherwise our son wont recognise our house. In his 31 years our boy had missed only one Christmas with us. In addition, said my husband, every year well put up those lights our boy loved so much, look at them and remember him with a smile. Well, it took me a while to smile again, but I did, and each year my heart is lifted by our Christmas lights. I want Zoe (todays letter) to reflect on that and everybody else, too. Count your blessings can seem trite and even insulting when youre unhappy and blessings seem thin on the ground. But now I shall approach 2026 with the beautiful vision of Christines Christmas lights with me all illuminated so that the spirit of their beloved son could find his way back home at Christmas. Thank you, Christine and all those who have written to me with wonderful words of appreciation throughout the year. I give thanks for many things, but the regular readers of this column are right up there, twinkling away. I may not always get things right (who does?) and I sometimes get tired and fed up (who doesnt?), but knowing my words can uplift and console keeps me going. I wont be here next week, so wish a peaceful Christmas to one and all. Bilkisu Abdullahi of Kabala Quarters, Kaduna State, on Friday accused her husband, Dauda Kasim, of making love advances to her mother. Bilkisu, who made the accusation before a Kaduna Sharia Court, urged the court to dissolve their 4-year-old marriage. She alleged that her husband was promiscuous and had been making frantic efforts to sleep with her mother . Bilkisu also accused Kasim of assaulting her and occasionally following up the assault with beating. The more the Prime Ministers popularity plummets and no PM has been more unpopular than Keir Starmer since modern polling began the more he tries to shield himself from public scrutiny and the judgment of voters whove come not just to dislike him but, in many cases, to detest him. So local elections he knows Labour is going to lose are cancelled. Access for journalists trying to hold him and his government to account is curtailed. Opinions on race, gender and immigration which do not conform to his Governments liberal-Left worldview are rigorously policed and miscreants often penalised. No opportunity is missed for him to escape these shores even on the flimsiest of globetrotting excuses making it all the easier for him to avoid proper interrogation on the disasters regularly unfolding back on the home front. In the shambolic weeks leading up to last months Budget he disappeared abroad seven times, dodging the flak assailing his Government from all sides. His disdain for the normal democratic processes is best illustrated by his determination to evade elections. New mayors were due to be elected next May in four areas of southern England. Candidates had been chosen and the parties were gearing up for the fight. Earlier this month, it was suddenly announced that these mayoral elections would be delayed until 2028. More time was needed, claimed ministers, to complete the reorganisation of local government currently under way. Nobody was fooled. The elections were being postponed because, on current polling, Labour stood no chance of winning any and Nigel Farages Reform UK had a good chance of winning them all. So kick them into the long grass in the hope things will look better for Labour in two years time. In the shambolic weeks leading up to last months Budget Sir Keir Starmer disappeared abroad seven times, dodging the flak assailing his Government from all sides, writes Andrew Neil No opportunity is missed for him to escape these shores even on the flimsiest of globetrotting excuses making it all the easier for him to avoid proper interrogation on the disasters regularly unfolding back on the home front Nor did Starmers increasingly anti-democratic tendencies stop there. His government has now written to 63 district and county councils inviting them to postpone their May elections until at least next year because local government reforms will see them folded into new all-purpose unitary councils. For some who already had their elections postponed last year it would mean a seven year gap between the last election and the next. Imagine it was the Tories who were doing this. Labour would be up in arms, rent-a-mob would be mobilised to take to the streets, BBC News would be having conniptions and BBC Verify would be drawing comparisons with Nazi Germany. But because its Labour too many commentators just take it in their stride. Theres no mystery why Starmer is anxious to curtail as many May local elections as he can: Labour MPs and activists have made it clear that a bad performance would mean curtains for Starmer (plenty of his backbenchers dont even want to wait that long). Almost half the councils where he wants to cancel the May vote are run by Labour. He faces a wipeout in most. Starmer calculates he can mitigate the fallout from the electoral car crash everybody expects by limiting the number of councils contested. Even the monarchy is being dragooned into the strategy to save his skin. Theres talk of a Kings Speech immediately after the May elections to inhibit rebels from doing anything too quickly that would put the King in an embarrassing position. Its a sign of Starmers flimsy grip on political strategy that he thinks Labour rebels would care about embarrassing the King. Moreover, theres nothing he can do about the elections to the Scottish and Welsh parliaments, also scheduled for May, in which Labour is expected to get an electoral kicking, probably coming third in both behind the nationalist parties and Reform. Even with local democracy curtailed in England, Labour MPs will have plenty of reasons to turn on Starmer come the election results in May if they wait that long. The danger for the rest of us is that, the more Starmer realises his days are numbered, the greater disdain he will have for democracy. Signs of a nascent dictatorial tendency already abound. Trial by jury has been synonymous with Britains long journey towards fully fledged democracy for centuries. Starmer and his witless Justice Secretary (David Lammy, another lawyer) rhapsodised about it when in opposition. Now they propose to scrap it in England and Wales for all but the most serious crimes. Magistrates and judges alone would determine the outcome of thousands of trials determined, until now, by juries. Its a sign of Starmers flimsy grip on political strategy that he thinks Labour rebels would care about embarrassing the King The Government claims its the best way of dealing with the huge backlog of cases now clogging up the courts. Most experts say its not worth losing a fundamental right for a change that would make only a marginal difference at best that what is needed is a more efficient, better-funded court system. Almost 40 Labour MPs have described the move as madness. Yet still the government ploughs on with a reform that illustrates its disinclination to trust the people, preferring rule from on high. That same distrust can be seen in Starmers enthusiasm for (effectively) compulsory ID cards and enhanced facial recognition technology. Both designed to give the Government more control over the populace. Both totally at odds with a PM who in opposition promised a government which would tread more lightly on the lives of the British people. Instead, we have a people now self-censoring (according to a recent Ipsos poll) on social media lest Starmers thought police come knocking on the door. A people who curb their tongues while anti-Semites flood the streets with calls to Globalise the Intifada, among other obscenities, as the police stand idly by. Only after the Bondi Beach atrocity a grizzly globalising of the intifada in action have the police indicated they might take a tougher line with the marchers. A government with all these tendencies, you might think, needs all the scrutiny a free media can muster in a democracy. But even here Team Starmer is moving to curtail accountability. Instead of two daily briefings by a senior No 10 aide during which journalists can ask whatever they want (the convention for decades) there will be only one and none on days when some minister decides to hold a press conference instead. No big deal, you might think. But I attended these lobby briefings as a young journalist. They could be fierce, often forcing the government onto the back foot. Anybody could ask a question and the briefings went on for as long as the journalists wanted.With press conferences, on the other hand, the Government controls the timing, the length, the subject and even who gets to ask a question. Thats the way Team Starmer likes it. Of course, even with greater access, its never that easy to pin Starmer down he always seems to be away in some far-off land. Yes, a press pack travels with him but the chances to quiz him are usually perfunctory and he controls the agenda. They say travel broadens the mind. But in Starmers case it also narrows accountability. The PM has made 38 foreign trips in under 18 months, all, of course, by official jet. Scheduled flights, even in business or first class, are not for Never Here Keir, though he used to lash out at any Tory minister who had recourse to private planes. The hypocrisy doesnt get more pungent. Im in no doubt the people see through all this. The cancelled elections. The efforts to avoid journalistic scrutiny. The curtailing of jury trials. The desire for government to have a stronger grip on peoples daily lives. The obsession with strutting the world stage, usually to little avail. Starmer thinks all this will restore his tarnished reputation and eventually make him electable again. It is a sign of just how out of touch he is that, taken together, he doesnt realise they merely underwrite his one-way ticket to the knackers yard, which is printed out and ready to be issued before 2026 is over. Memo to American women: If hurting you will help Democrats politically, they'll throw you under the bus. Then, they'll back up and drive over you again. Exhibit A: The victims of convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein are reportedly pleading with Dems to stop exploiting their trauma to score political points. Ahead of Friday's files dump, House Democrats blasted out 60 new images from Epstein's estate on Thursday, released without any apparent context. One picture shows what appears to be a young woman's foot. On it, someone had penned lines from Lolita, that 1950's creeper novel about an old man's obsession with a 12-year-old. Why are Democrats recklessly wallpapering the internet with this fragmented perv-bait? Duh it keeps the Epstein story in the headlines and they think that hurts Donald Trump, even though there's no evidence that the president had anything to do with that devil's vile deeds. Now, CNN is reporting that Epstein's victims have been having private meetings with members of the House Democratic Women's Caucus, essentially begging them to stop selectively releasing their pictures. And at least in front of the cameras these lefty ladies seem to agree. 'I do think it is important that we always remember that this whole process is a constant re-traumatization for survivors,' head of the Democratic Women's Caucus, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, said Thursday. Well, Teresa. You'd better tell the dude in charge of releasing these photos to stop then, because Congressman Robert Garcia the fella weaponizing Epstein's reeking trash piles is mailing out these images like they're Christmas cards. The victims of convicted freak show, pedophile Jeffrey Epsteinare reportedly pleading with Democrats to stop exploiting their trauma to score political points On Thursday, House Democrats blasted out 60 images from Epstein's estate, released without any apparent context. One picture shows what appears to be a young woman's foot (pictured) Look, I am for full transparency in the Epstein saga. I think everything should be exposed to the light of day. But that doesn't mean it also should be more readily available than Kim Kardashian's selfies. At least Kim includes captions. Behind the blurred faces and blacked out names are real women, who deserve to be treated with respect and decency. Have Democrats who constantly claim to be standing up for the most vulnerable among us forgotten that? This, of course, is not that only example this week of lefties dragging women in the name of politics. Did you happen to read the two-part hatchet job Vanity Fair profile of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles? The woman credited with imposing once-unimaginable discipline on the often feral 47th US president turned into an unlikely quote machine in a head-scratching interview, granting unprecedented access to White House chronicler Chris Whipple. Now, I'm not letting Wiles off the hook for walking straight into this open manhole. Sure enough, White House peripherals and Hill Republicans are expressing off-the-record shock that Wiles granted access to a writer with an agenda and an outlet that has it in for this administration. That's fair. But I also can't excuse Vanity Fair's straight-up sexist portrayal of some of the most powerful women in America. Exhibit B: There was a near immediate uproar over the intimate portraits of several Trump cabinet members that were cropped so close that you could see their pores and, in the case of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, her possible lip-filler injection marks. Wiles ended up looking like a raccoon caught by the floodlights while raiding the garbage cans in the middle of the night. Yes, the men got a similar treatment. JD Vance's shot was so tight it seemed to me that photographer Christopher Anderson was recreating the fat baby meme. Why not photoshop a binky in his mouth? The harsh lighting, akimbo eyeballs and unnatural skin tone in Secretary of State Marco Rubio's portrait made that one like an autopsy photo. Wiles ended up looking like a raccoon caught by the floodlights while raiding the garbage cans in the middle of the night (pictured) But let's not kid ourselves. It's not a secret women generally care more about their outward appearance than men. So, the Leavitt and Wiles pictures were particularly egregious. And the left-wing-glossy-magazine-complex almost always gives Democrat gals the Annie Leibovitz treatment. Whether it's Michelle Obama's multiple Vanity Fair covers or Dr. Jill Biden shown from a respectful, filtered distance for Vogue, lefty lasses are always cast in their finest light. When Vanity Fair published an essay from outgoing and irrepressibly incompetent White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the accompanying action shot was empowering and flattering, portraying Bumbling Biden's babbling mouthpiece like a soft-lit girlboss. Karoline Leavitt wouldn't get the same soft touch if she were non-binary and disabled. Anderson tried to defend himself saying of his luscious-lipped subject: 'That's the makeup that she puts on, those are the injections she gave herself. If they show up in a photo, what do you want me to say?' Fine. It's not your fault Anderson. This is what you do. It's on Vanity Fair for commissioning a hit shoot. These lefty gatekeepers want you to believe they champion all women. Don't buy that slop for a second. If you make fodder for their bias machine man or woman they'll grind you down and extrude you like a sausage. Police chiefs have been quick in recent years to inform a public alarmed about rising crime that the days of Dixon of Dock Green are long gone. The changing nature of the threats we face, rapidly evolving technology and the pouring of police resources into the pursuit of so-called non-crime hate incidents have all but driven the humble beat bobby into extinction. Yet as the Daily Mail has long argued, theres no great secret to reducing crime. If police patrol the streets, instead of sitting behind desks, they are more likely to prevent and detect offending. If anyone doubts the value of old-fashioned policing, they should read Guy Adamss illuminating despatch on Operation Baselife. Under this scheme, Scotland Yard has flooded 100 extra officers into central London to take on the criminals who prey on tourists, Christmas shoppers and revellers. Some are uniformed, others plain-clothed. Their units are reinforced by police on motorbikes, in unmarked cars or riding high-powered electric bikes to chase fleeing targets. And the results have been spectacular. During two trial periods in November and from this week until Christmas they have made more than 200 arrests, including prolific phone thieves, shoplifters and sex offenders. During two trial periods in November and from this week until Christmas police have made more than 200 arrests, including prolific phone thieves, shoplifters and sex offenders Word has spread among the criminal fraternity. Fearing a good chance of being nicked, many are staying away from what was a happy hunting ground. That means innocent people are less likely to become victims. Unsurprisingly, the Met getting back to basics is proving popular. Its hardly rocket science. Bobbies on the beat not only catch lawbreakers, they also reassure the public and can gather intelligence on the ground that helps fight other crime. Operation Baselife is a welcome step back towards the broken windows model of policing. The lesson of 1990s New York, where low-level misdemeanours were aggressively nipped in the bud, is that displaying zero tolerance deters more serious offending. Whatever woke chief constables may believe, cracking down on traditional lawlessness is a better use of police time than scouring the internet for supposedly hurtful comments. If it continues to prove successful, the Mets anti-crime initiative should be made permanent and adopted by other forces. At a time when public confidence in the police is at an all-time low, wouldnt this be a good way to start rebuilding lost trust? The Confederation of British Industry says retailers suffered a desperately bleak December despite Christmas and predicts the tills will continue to be quiet during January Bleak midwinter For countless retailers, Christmas is the most important time of the year. As shoppers rush to buy gifts on the High Street, a money-spinning December can provide a financial cushion for leaner times. But therell be little festive cheer for shopkeepers this season. Not only are they fighting to stay afloat as National Insurance rises wipe out profits, but Rachel Reeves has now killed off consumer spending. Braced for punishing tax hikes after the Chancellors Budget last month, hard-pressed families are tightening their belts. The Confederation of British Industry says retailers suffered a desperately bleak December and predicts the tills will continue to be quiet during January. This slump has a knock-on effect too. If shops sell fewer goods, they need to buy less stock hitting product manufacturers and nor will they require as many staff. Meanwhile, Ms Reevess splurge on benefits and public sector pay has left borrowing in its worst shape outside of the pandemic. Her promise to kick-start economic growth has all but evaporated. No wonder Labour is trying to stop us voting in local elections. Should Santa be reading this column, Britain doesnt want much for Christmas. Just a Government that knows what its doing. With the holiday season in full swing, most Americans are bracing for what seems inevitable: putting on a few extra pounds. On average, studies estimate that US adults gain about one pound of fat over the holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Year's, prompting millions to sign up for soon-to-be cancelled gym memberships come January 1. And while 1lbs doesn't sound like a lot, a recent survey from Talker Research found one in four Americans don't lose the holiday weight they had gained the year before, compounding their fat gain. Over time, these excess pounds linger and lead to significant weight gain, raising the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease, among other chronic, deadly conditions. However, a weight loss and fitness expert has revealed his top tips for avoiding gaining those extra holiday pounds. Despite breakfast long being hailed as the most important meal of the day, saving most of your calories for the holiday party or big dinner in the evening could be key to staying within your daily limits. And after an indulgent night of eating in December, the new January 1 gym membership likely won't help. Instead, try getting some extra steps in the days immediately after. Below are 10 tips for stopping holiday weight gain before it starts. Save your calories for dinner Weight loss experts told the Daily Mail that saving most of your calories for a holiday dinner party could keep from derailing the entire day (stock image) Your browser does not support iframes. It turns out, breakfast might not actually be the most important meal of the day. Just over one in 10 Americans have tried intermittent fasting, which involves eating all of your calories within a brief window of time, typically around dinner. One study found that following an intermittent fasting plan during the winter holiday season prevented weight gain and actually led to an average weight loss of two to six pounds. Stephen Campolo, a fitness and weight loss expert in Florida, told the Daily Mail that keeping calories light in the evening can allow more wiggle room for indulgent eating in the evening. Stephen Campolo, a fitness and weight loss expert in Florida, shared his holiday survival guide for avoiding weight gain He said: 'If I have my normal meals throughout the day and then go to, let's say, a Christmas party at night and overeat, that's going to probably put me significantly above my calories for the day. 'It's really just about eating on your terms and pushing your calories back later in the day. 'So if you have an event coming up or a party, you could eat the foods you want without feeling guilty for really overdoing it or eating way too much.' But don't starve before the party While saving the bulk of your calories for dinner can help avoid going over a calorie deficit, walking into a party ravenous can derail the whole day. Campolo said: 'If you show up to dinner and you're hungry, everything on the menu is going to look good. It's the same philosophy of don't go grocery shopping when you're hungry because you end up walking out with a bunch of other stuff.' He suggested opting for a protein shake or bar containing about 30 grams of protein about 30 minutes before an event to promote satiety or fullness. For something light, opt for an apple or other fruits with unsaturated fats such as almond butter. 'Now you're going to look at your food options a little bit differently, with more self control,' he said. Steer clear of festive cocktails Campolo suggests sticking to basic drinks like a vodka soda to avoid piling on calories from mixers (stock image) If it tastes like it belongs in a candy store, it's not worth the calories, Campolo told the Daily Mail. 'The biggest problem is that the mixers, the juices, the sodas, are just loaded with sugar. And that's really where all your calories are,' he said. A cup of eggnog, for example, ranges between 300 and 400 calories and contains about 30 grams of sugar, around the same as three Krispy Kreme donuts. This is more than half a day's worth of added sugar in one eggnog-based cocktail. Campolo instead suggests keeping drinks simple with options such as a vodka soda or a light beer, which has about 100 calories per 12-ounce bottle. He also notes that while alcohol tolerance varies, three drinks is the limit he tells his clients to stick to, as anything more may cloud their judgment and make them more susceptible to choosing higher calorie foods or drinks. 'Three drinks is usually where most people will be okay and then they won't cross that line and overdo it,' he said. Stick to one dessert Holiday parties are full of colorful, sugary sweets made for sampling, but Campolo suggests picking only one. He notes that even with small samples like cookies or mini tarts, piling on too many can result in hundreds of extra calories, whereas one potentially larger dessert is easier to keep track of. He said: 'When you have one on your plate, it's kind of a one and done deal versus, if you're sampling and you don't really know how much you're eating. You're picking this and that before you know it, you're at 1,000 calories versus a pie that was maybe 500 calories. 'Get one dessert, whether it's pumpkin pie, apple pie, whatever it is, put on your plate, eat it and then be done with it.' Bring your own win Chicken skewers are easy appetizers to bring to a holiday party to avoid overindulging on sweets (stock image) It can be difficult to find a party with more appetizing healthy options than a veggie plate. So for your next potluck or party, Campolo suggests making your own to share. 'If it's a house party where everyone's bringing desserts, there are a lot of healthy options to bring,' he said. Skewers with lean meats and seafood such as chicken or salmon can pack over 50 grams of protein per serving, promoting fullness before the dessert course even starts. Campolo also suggests pairing skewers with Greek yogurt-based dips, which have between 15 and 20 grams of protein per cup and can easily be customized with fresh herbs and spices. A shrimp cocktail is also only about 100 calories per serving and contains around 10 to 14 grams of protein. Get moving immediately Walking right after a meal stimulates muscle contractions in the stomach and intestines, speeding up digestion (stock image) It's easy to indulge during the holidays and put off working out until the New Year. But getting moving within minutes of finishing a meal could be the key to avoiding weight gain. Campolo told the Daily Mail: 'What it does when you go out for a walk after eating is it really helps with digestion, big time.' Walking right after a meal stimulates muscle contractions in the stomach and intestines, which helps food move more quickly through the digestive system and boosts metabolism. This prevents excess calories from being stored as fat. A recent study from the University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA) also found a five-minute walk about an hour after a meal helped lower glucose (blood sugar) levels and reduce spikes. When blood sugar is consistently high, the excess is stored in the body as fat, leading to weight gain. If it's too cold to get outside, Campolo recommends taking a walk around the house or up and down stairs. 'Movement is really the key,' he said. 'Walking around the house, doing chores, playing with the kids, any type of movement is always going to be a much more better option than sitting down.' Weigh in every day... but only in the morning Campolo suggests weighing in every morning before eating or drinking to get the most accurate measurement (stock image) In the days following your annual holiday party, regular weigh-ins can help keep track of potential pounds gained and lost. However, Campolo urges doing this first thing in the morning before eating, drinking, exercising or using the bathroom to get the most accurate baseline. He said: 'When you're on an empty stomach, that's when your weight is more accurate. 'If I weigh myself at nighttime, my weight could be up five to seven pounds just because of all the food and the fluid that I've consumed during the day.' One recent review found that weighing oneself every day was associated with greater levels of weight loss and fewer psychological consequences such as anxiety or depression than being weighed less frequently. Take a three-day reset Similar to the post-meal walk, hitting the gym right after an indulgent day of eating could lead to more weight loss than waiting until the New Year. However, starting simple is key. Campolo recommends walking around 10,000 steps, increasing protein intake and getting at least eight hours of sleep for that three-day reset period. 'A lot of people feel guilty because they ate more calories than they normally eat, so now they want to do extreme things to try to get back on track,' he said. He added: 'What happens is you're creating a lot more cravings and you're going to end up just falling off track again. I'm very big on having people do this reset where they just get back on track and they're not doing anything extreme.' However, recent studies suggest it doesn't even take 10,000 steps per day to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and obesity. One study published last year found that women who did 8,000 to 8,500 steps per day reduced their risk of heart disease by 40 percent, compared to those who did around 3,000 daily steps. Give away your holiday desserts While cookies are a tried and true gift, Campolo suggests avoiding keeping too many in the house to reduce cravings (stock image) While cookies and other sweet treats are easy gifts at this time of year, avoid keeping too many in the house for long periods of time, Campolo suggests. 'Saying no one time is a lot easier than bringing these snacks home and having to say no every day,' he said. 'It's out of sight, out of mind.' 'Don't make it harder for yourself by having it at home. Your best option is always going to be just to not even bring it home with you.' To make a healthier holiday cookie, Campolo suggests using as few ingredients as possible and swapping sugar or artificial flavorings for protein powder or whole fruits such as bananas. Document the journey A picture is worth 1,000 words, and it might just be worth a few pounds too. Starting the day after a holiday, Campolo urges his clients to take a photo of themselves in the mirror to use as a baseline and then taking new pictures every two weeks after. 'It really just keeps people accountable and allows them to see their progress right in front of their face,' he told the Daily Mail. He noted these regular pictures can also serve as motivation. One recent study from researchers in Spain, looked at people who took their measurements each week and photographed their progress, along with keeping a detailed food diary. The team said at the time of the publication that seeing their results in real-time may have been part of the reason that nine in 10 participants completed the weight loss program. Researcher Mercedes Rizo Baeza of Universidad de Alicante said at the time: 'After all, it is very gratifying to literally see yourself get slimmer over time.' Releasing more Epstein files is likely to cause severe distress and trauma, and could even 'stimulate a suicide' among the women who say he abused them, mental health experts have warned. The US Department of Justice has released numerous batches of Epstein files that include photos and details of alleged abuse and other criminal activities allegedly committed by disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. And on Friday, the department released thousands more. The trove of disturbing photos and documents show Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, surrounded by unidentified young women. DOJ estimates Epstein's victims total over 1,000 girls and women, but just a few dozen have been publicly identified. While the US government voted overwhelmingly to release the files in order to hold Epstein and his collaborators responsible, as well as bring justice to victims, psychologists and trauma experts told the Daily Mail that the release could bring a new wave of trauma for those who claim they endured Epstein's abuse. They warned that the release of the Epstein files will 'reignite' trauma for the victims, which could lead to a surge in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic attacks and depression. Experts also stressed that sexual assault victims are significantly more likely to attempt or die by suicide, so they encouraged victims to seek therapy immediately. Jeffrey Epstein is pictured with Norwegian college student Celina Midelfart in 1997 at the Mar-a-Lago estate. Midelfart has been linked to Epstein but has not been identified as a victim One victim Virginia Giuffre is pictured above holding a photo of herself as a teen. She said this was around the time she was abused Your browser does not support iframes. However, they also noted victims all respond differently, and a 'sense of public justice can be healing' for some and provide closure they may have spent decades seeking. Stella Kimbrough, a psychotherapist and trauma specialist at Calm Pathway, told the Daily Mail: 'Its important to recognize that trauma affects everyone slightly differently, and while some survivors might feel re-traumatized by the release of the Epstein files, others might have different reactions. 'It is very likely, however, that someone who has been victimized by Jeffrey Epstein might be navigating an increase in symptoms related to their trauma due to the release of the Epstein files.' For victims diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the release could cause those symptoms such as anxiety, avoidance, depression, exaggerated startle responses and even flashbacks to come flooding back. Catherine Athans, a psychotherapist in California, told the Daily Mail: 'Whenever you revisit a trauma, it reignites the trauma. 'I pray that every victim of the Epstein crusade gets support, has support, and uses the support because it could be something that could stimulate a suicide.' Survivors of sexual assault have long been shown to be more likely to die by suicide. The National Sexual violence Resource Center estimates survivors are 10 times more likely to attempt suicide than those who have not experienced sexual assault. One in three rape survivors report contemplating suicide, while 13 percent have attempted. About five percent of the general US population has considered suicide, while 0.4 percent have attempted. Dr Eleni Nicolaou, art therapist and clinical psychologist at Davincified, told the Daily Mail that releasing the files 'can be a great cause of distress' because 'it forces survivors to relive memories of high arousal without consent.' Epstein, pictured above, died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial for federal sex trafficking charges Epstein is pictured with a group of unidentified young women. It is unclear if they were victims of abuse Epstein is seen on a private jet with an unidentified young woman sitting next to him. It is unclear if she was abused She explained that the 'sudden influx of graphic and sensationalized images in the media' causes the amygdala, the brain's emotional processing hub, to send out a panic response, which includes a rush of adrenaline. She said: 'This happens because the hippocampus does not stamp these memories as past events, so the body responds as if the victim is currently in an immediate, dangerous situation. 'When the victims see their private and personal pain exposed publicly, it usually results in secondary trauma, where the victim feels as though their agency has been taken away from them again.' Carole Lieberman, clinical and forensic psychiatrist in Beverly Hills, also stressed the risk of victims being publicly identified. 'Most media outlets try to block out their faces, but they could still be recognized by the rest of their appearance and by the background,' she told the Daily Mail. Laura Dunn, a sexual assault survivor who is now a victim and civil rights attorney in New York City, however, noted that victims should remain unidentifiable if authorities properly redact their personal information. 'Information commonly redacted includes birthdays, physical descriptions, locations where connections were made with victims, mutual contacts, and similar information,' she told the Daily Mail. 'The risk in this situation is more of overly broad redactions to protect abusers, as many victims are calling for release of these files.' A woman's foot is seen with a quote from Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita - with the novel pictured in the background The above photo was made public on December 18 by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee Experts stress that victims of sexual assault and other traumas also process major shifts like their abuser being put into the spotlight differently. While reintroducing trauma is a major concern therapists have, they noted it can also help validate survivors' experiences and provide a sense of support. Dr Nicolaou said: 'Validation from an official source enables the brain to reorganize the trauma story from one of blame towards oneself to one of accountability from others. 'This reorganization process then allows the prefrontal cortex to synthesize the experience, enabling the survivor to look at themselves through the lens of a strong and resilient person. 'Plus, receiving validation from the public record decreases the survivor's feelings of isolation.' Dunn told the Daily Mail: 'Survivors want justice, pure and simple, and when legal justice is not possible, a sense of public justice can be healing. 'Justice is healing, silence is not. I know this as a survivor myself as well as a victim and civil rights attorney who fights for them every day. Vindication by acknowledging the harm done to them and consequences for the abusers is powerful medicine.' For many victims, having their abuser's wrongdoing revealed also helps them realize that people believe their suffering. According to The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), nearly 98 percent of sexual abuse perpetrators walk free and do not serve time in prison. This could help explain why only one in three victims report their abuse to law enforcement. Dr Athans said: 'I think a lot of people say, "Thank God the truth is coming out. I am believed. I am believable." Because when women are abused, the number one thing is nobody believes it.' Annie Farmer (left) and Courtney Wild, alleged victims of Epstein, look on as their lawyers speak to the press at federal court following a bail hearing for Epstein in 2019 Donald Trump appeared in a photo with unidentified young women in files released by House Democrats Giuffre (middle) is pictured with Prince Andrew (left) and Ghislaine Maxwell in an undated photo released in 2021 She also encouraged victims to seek care from a trauma therapist and consider treatments such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which involves moving one's eyes in specific ways to focus on moving traumatic memories to different parts of the brain and reprocessing them. 'Have people around you that love you and support you for who you are. It's vital to have people who also believe you when you say something and support that,' she said. Dr Lieberman also encouraged loved ones of victims to keep them away from media and 'encourage victims to talk about their feelings in regard to anything they themselves have come across and should encourage them to return to therapy.' Dunn urged partners and friends to simply be present around their loved ones. 'There is power in someone merely physically being present in support, and words are not always necessary to offer comfort,' she said. 'Sometimes the wrong words are said, so empowering the survivor to ask for what they need and offering to be present is key.' Sir Jonathan Pryce has more insight than most into the cruel ravages of dementia. Not only did he witness the insidious decline of his beloved Aunt Mair, in recent years he has stepped inside the mind of someone in the grip of Alzheimers disease, captivating viewers with his well-observed portrayal of what it feels like when your memory slowly starts to unravel. Having made his name in the West End and on Broadway and then in films such as the 1985 sci-fi hit Brazil, Evita (1996) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), his professional life has entered a more reflective mode of late. Since 2022, he has played the role of David Cartwright, a retired senior MI5 officer, in the Apple TV+ series Slow Horses, based on the bestselling books by Mick Herron. Viewers have watched David once one of the brightest minds and most feared agents in the service, nicknamed the Old B*****d experience the gradual disintegration of his intellect and the loss of his independence. By series five, the most recent, he is living in a residential home and relying increasingly on his grandson, River (played by Jack Lowden), who cannot bear to see the changes in the man he once idolised, now living from day to day with little memory of the past. You see a lot of it through the grandson Rivers eyes how he starts looking at his grandfather, whom he loves dearly, in a different way, Sir Jonathan explains. Will Smith, who wrote most of the screenplay, was really committed to exploring the condition and the impact it has, in a very positive and meaningful way. This wasnt the first time Sir Jonathan has played a character experiencing dementia, however. Earlier this year, viewers saw him on the big screen as Stephen Best, the husband of Elizabeth (played by Helen Mirren) in the star-studded adaptation of Richard Osmans whodunnit The Thursday Murder Club. Sir Jonathans role portraying the chess-playing husband who, despite his dementia diagnosis, ultimately solves the murder has resonated with millions who watched the film. Sir Jonathan Pryce plays David Cartwright, a retired MI5 officer who suffers with dementia, in Slow Horses The actor is backing the Daily Mails Defeating Dementia campaign in memory of what his Aunt Mair (pictured) endured when she suffered from the condition Although he doubts he will reprise the role, he says he felt a great responsibility in taking it on, as he did playing David Cartwright. Both have reached very big audiences, and I wanted to get it right, he says. You want it to speak to people, and yet you want to tread that line between making light of the disease and capturing how it can change a person from their very core. These roles have done much to raise awareness about the impact of dementia on families. Everyone experiences dementia differently. Use this checklist to help you make a note of your symptoms before you talk to your GP. Symptom Checklist But it is in memory of what his Aunt Mair endured that Sir Jonathan is now backing the Daily Mails Defeating Dementia campaign, in association with the Alzheimers Society, for which he is an ambassador and campaigner. This vital drive aims to increase early diagnosis, boost research and improve care, after shocking statistics showed it is now the UKs biggest killer. Dementia accounts for one in nine UK deaths, claiming 76,000 lives every year and there are no drugs available on the NHS to slow, prevent or cure the condition. Its shocking how nothing can be done once it takes hold, Sir Jonathan says. So much has changed since I was growing up. He added: Back then youd never hear the words Alzheimers or dementia, and the approach towards older people was far from sympathetic. Youd say they were senile or doolally, or that theyd end up in Denbigh, the local mental hospital. Thats changed enormously now, but we still have a long way to go. As a boy, Sir Jonathan spent countless happy weekends staying with his Aunt Mair. She and his Uncle Bill lived just a mile from his family home in a village in Flintshire, North Wales, and he loved packing a bag and trundling up the road to their house. They lived in a tiny two-up, two-down with an outside toilet, but I had my own room, he recalls. The actor, 78, made his name in the West End and on Broadway and then in films such as the 1985 sci-fi hit Brazil, Evita (1996) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) Your browser does not support iframes. There was a little suitcase of toys for me under the bed, and Id get sixpence pocket money to spend. Mair, his mothers older sister, had lived with his parents before getting married, and worked in the grocery shop his father, Isaac, a former coalminer, ran. She was a second mother to me and my two sisters, Sir Jonathan, 78, says fondly. She had no children of her own and we were very, very close to her. As Mair grew older, however, and both her husband and sister Sir Jonathans mother passed away, he began to worry that she was no longer able to take care of herself. She had several falls down the steep stairs in her terraced house, and, as he began to spend more time in London for work, he worried she wasnt safe there on her own. Shed say to me, I dont mind dying. Its time. And Id say, I dont mind you dying either, but I dont want you dying in pain at the bottom of those stairs. As his aunt reached her 90s, he began to notice a change in the fiercely independent, proud, witty Welshwoman hed known all his life. It wasnt until quite late on that the signs started showing, he says. One day I went to visit and she didnt remember me. I said who I was and she said, Ive got a nephew called Jon. Hes a famous actor. I was very upset, and when I went home I told my son, Gabriel, that my aunt had forgotten me. He said, No, Dad. She remembers you. She just doesnt recognise you. Watching his beloved aunt in the grip of dementia, her memories cruelly erased one by one, was heartbreaking and he was powerless to stop it. Eventually, she was forced to sell her home, the one he used to stay in as a child, to pay for her medical care. She moved into a care home in Rhyl, a nearby resort, and Sir Jonathan visited often. Shed remember little things about the past and get fixated on them, he recalls. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. She and my mother grew up in a post office in Flint, and she remembered that one day shed locked my mother inside the post box. She must have been three or four at the time, but she became really distressed, repeatedly, that she had been cruel to my mother. There were still glimmers, however, of the woman Mair once was. She never became angry, as some with dementia do, nor did she lose her sense of humour. There was a doctor who was examining her, I think to see if she had dementia, Sir Jonathan says. He said, Hello Mair. Do you know who I am? And she said, Well if you dont know who you are, Im sure I dont. Following her death, Sir Jonathan thought of her and what shed experienced often. But it was in 2018, during a play called The Height Of The Storm, on stage in America and the UK, that he took on his first dementia role and realised the impact his portrayal was having on audience members. He played an elderly man living in his own world, conjuring up images of his late wife, played by Eileen Atkins, now 91, as their daughters cleared out the family home. It was a therapeutic experience for me, he admits. I wasnt there for either my mothers or my fathers deaths, and it really made me think a lot about grief, and losing someone you love, and how that can affect you. After each of the performances, there were people waiting at the stage door, and theyd tell me how much the play at meant to them because they were caring for a parent or had lost a parent to Alzheimers or dementia. Some of them said it was the first time they hadnt felt alone, that they could now see it as a problem shared by others. I remember one guy telling me hed given up his job and gone to care for his mother. She had died a year ago and this was the first time hed been able to cry. It was shortly afterwards that Sir Jonathan became an ambassador for the Alzheimers Society. But his work with the charity has been far from purely professional. Indeed, he admits, its made him think more about his own fathers death. Isaac was violently attacked in his grocery shop in Holywell, north Wales, in the Seventies, when a 16-year-old thief struck him in the head with a hammer. Pictured: Sir Jonathan receiving his knighthood from Princess Anne at Windsor Castle in April 2022 The attack led to him having a series of strokes, which left him incapacitated and unable to speak. Sir Jonathan, just 28 at the time and newly graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, visited his father regularly and tried to help with his recovery, but Isaac died shortly afterwards. Knowing what I know now, I wonder if he had developed dementia by the end, he says. Something definitely changed in his attitude towards me. I would take him for walks and hold his hand, but he would want to get away from me. That wasnt simply the strokes something else was going on, Im sure of it. Now in his golden years himself, with three grown-up children Patrick, an artist; Gabriel, a chef; and Phoebe, an actor ageing is often on his mind. Sir Jonathan and his wife the actor and director Kate Fahy, 75 have been together for more than 50 years, and live in the same London townhouse where they raised their family. Everything about getting old worries me, he admits. How long well be able to stay in that house, I dont know. At the moment my only exercise is going up and down the five flights of stairs. Some time in the not-too-distant future well have to sell it and move somewhere smaller. I dont ever want to be a burden on my children, but we are fortunate that were all very close physically, as two of them still live in London and emotionally. That doesnt happen a lot, and I am very grateful for it. Although neither dementia nor Alzheimers are commonly inherited, and neither of his parents had a confirmed diagnosis, the memory of his beloved Aunt Mair and how this cruel disease overcame her at the end of her life is etched deep. He worries about the lack of decent residential homes in this country, and the crisis in the care system from underfunding to staff shortages and hopes to escape it all by retiring to a village in France where he and Kate have been holidaying for years. The actor says: Having been in hospital for various things, Ive seen the best and the worst of it. Ive experienced some of the kindest, most considerate hospital care, and Ive had one night with a bully of a nurse. Id just had surgery and it was the most frightening experience of my life I was completely at the mercy of somebody else. It gave me an insight into what that can be like if youre an older person and you end up somewhere where the staff are all like that. Its one of the reasons the Alzheimers Society is doing such important work, ensuring vital care and support for dementia patients is accessible to all. Sir Jonathan Pryce, Alzheimers Society Ambassador, is supporting its fundraising prize draw with Omaze, which is giving away a house in north-west London worth 5million, along with 250,000 in cash. Visit omaze.co.uk to enter by midnight on January 25. Worried that you or a loved one may have dementia? Use the Alzheimers Society symptoms checklist by loggin in to Alzheimers.org.uk/symptoms. For confidential advice, call the Alzheimers Societys Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456. A woman has revealed how using social media filters left her hating her own face - and paying $10,000 (7,439) for surgery to remove a double chin that didn't exist. Aspen Brook, 29, from Orange County, California, says she began using the digital filters - which gave the appearance that she had flawless skin, a more streamlined nose and pronounced bone structure - when she was just 12, in a bid to 'fit in better' at school. Despite growing up in a strict Mormon household, her parents never considered the filters their daughter used as harmful. However, Aspen says artificially modifying how she looked in photographs made her detest how she looked in real life, and she developed Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). The mental health condition, which can lead to other conditions such as depression, anxiety and OCD, causes a sufferer to focus excessively on flaws, which are often unnoticeable to others. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Aspen says: 'Looking back through my camera roll at that time, I don't really have very many photos without me using a filter. I didn't think that I was pretty at all without using them.' 'It's definitely an addictive feeling, because you're like, wow, now I look beautiful, once you've made all these tiny little changes.' After years of using the digital filters, including FaceTune, an app that allows you to edit pictures, to tweak her appearance, Aspen says she became convinced she had a 'double chin' and would see it 'every time' she looked in the mirror. Aspen Brook, from California, grew up using social media filters on all of her pictures which she believes caused her to develop body dysmorphia disorder (pictured before the operation) This obsession to achieve the perfect look led to her spending $10,000 on AirSculpt surgery in San Diego (pictured after surgery) This obsession to achieve the perfect look led to her spending $10,000 on AirSculpt surgery in San Diego, which promises to be 'minimally invasive' and 'permanently remove fat in one treatment using no scalpels or stitches'. The former estate agent had the operation in April 2023 and spent two weeks wearing a chin strap 24 hours a day to keep the swelling down, and then four weeks only when sleeping. Aspen expected the pricey operation to fix her insecurities. But as soon as her wounds healed, she started thinking about getting more procedures - as she still didn't feel 'that ultimate' level of 'pretty'. She said: 'After getting the surgery, I was sure I would be finally happy with what I looked like... that I wouldn't want to use face filters anymore, and I would finally feel confident in my own skin. 'But that wasn't the case. Even after my surgery, I still heavily used filters.' Looking back, Aspen has now realised she was 'so beautiful' before her surgeries, but never once thought so at the time. The model also revealed she had a boob job at the age of 21 and still gets regular filler and Botox. The mother-of-one, who did not want to name her surgeon, said: 'I remember showing him a picture that I Facetuned of myself and I told him, "I want to look like this. This is what I want to look like." Aspen believed that she had a 'double chin' that she did not have because she used social media filters (pictured during surgery) Aspen expected the pricey operation to fix her insecurities, however, it was when she fell pregnant that she finally felt at peace with her body (pictured left, before surgery and right, after surgery) Aspen said her parents' were shocked and saddened when they found out she had a chin operation (pictured before surgery) 'I made all these tiny little changes on my phone of my face and my body.' Aspen added that she'd also been looking into liposuction, but her surgeon denied her the procedure, even calling her 'crazy' and saying she 'didn't need it'. While she sees nothing wrong with getting tweakments and surgery, she is against people with body dysmorphia attempting to fix their flaws with operations. She recalled pointing out her 'double chin' to her surgeon, who told her 'Okay, we can fix this part and this part.' Despite being 'confident' in her surgery at the time, after speaking to her friends and followers on social media, and showing them her before and after pictures, she realises it 'wasn't the most ethical'. If she hadn't been exposed to filters as a teenager, Aspen is convinced she wouldn't have suffered from the condition, admitting: 'Your mind is so impressionable at a very young age.' Aspen also opened up about her own parents' reaction to her surgery, saying they were shocked and saddened when they found out. 'My chin surgery was really heartbreaking for them, because it wasn't real, and no one could convince me otherwise,' she said. 'I'm the kind of person, once I have something in my head, I will do it.' Eventually, it was the unplanned arrival of her daughter nine months after her surgery that helped heal her body dysmorphia. If she hadn't been exposed to filters at such a young age, Aspen is convinced she wouldn't have suffered from the condition (pictured after surgery) Aspen said her advice to anyone wanting to get surgery is to go with an ethical practitioner and to make sure they can go under the knife for the 'right reasons' With the pregnancy came hormone fluctuations and weight gain, which she struggled with at first. But not having control over her body changing helped her realise the pressure she had once put on her younger self to strive for perfection. She said: 'I had to just be okay with my body getting bigger, your face gets bigger, you gain a lot of weight. 'I gained over 65 or 70 pounds in my pregnancy, and during that time, I hated taking pictures of myself. I hated how my face looked, but it gave me the chance to really pause and sit with myself.' As soon as she welcomed her baby girl into the world, Aspen said she was mesmerised by her beauty and perfection, which helped her have a lot of 'compassion for younger me'. Looking back, she said: 'I didn't realise that I was so beautiful. Especially when you gain all the weight during pregnancy, you look back and you're like, oh my gosh, I was so thin. 'You start realising that it might be a mind trick where I am not really seeing who I am, and I'm not really grasping the reality of what I actually look like.' But her harrowing experience has meant she is taking a much firmer line with her child's phone usage, hoping to keep her away from the toxicity of social media until her late teens. 'I'm going to be very strict with my daughter,' she said. 'I really don't want her to have access to any of the editing features that I had at a young age. Probably until she's, like, 16 or 17. There's no reason for it.' The content creator, who is currently working on launching her mother and baby clothing line, Maison Clarabell, says her advice to anyone wanting to get surgery is to go with an ethical practitioner and to make sure they can go under the knife for the 'right reasons'. The Daily Mail has contacted AirSculpt for comment. NBC host Jimmy Fallon was caught using the same joke about New York City Mayor Elect Zohran Mamdani three times in a matter of days. The late night star made the comparable cracks on December 9, December 16, and December 17. Fallon, 51, appeared to not notice the repetition. 'It was so cold in New York City this morning, walking to work, I saw a Wall Street stockbroker spooning with Zohran Mamdani,' the first rendition went. 'It is so cold in New York, I saw a Wall Street stockbroker spooning with Zohran Mamdani,' Fallon said again a week later - leading some to wonder whether or not it was a callback. But the joke reared its not-so-funny head again the following night. This time, Fallon delivered the set-up - and punchline - as if it were off-the-cuff. 'It is so cold, walking to work, I saw a Wall Street stockbroker spooning with Zohran Mamdani,' he said once more - once again to laughs. NBC host Jimmy Fallon on his broadcast last week, on December 9 LateNighter was first to report on the repetition. A compilation posted by the publication to X quickly racked up more than two million views. All three instances occurred in Fallon's monologues. The recycled joke lampooned Mandani's already tenuous relationship with New York City business leaders. The 33-year-old former state assemblyman promised to raised the corporate tax rate repeatedly during his whirlwind campaign. A revenue proposal he penned further recommends an additional 2 percent tax on income that exceeds $1million. He has also vowed to clamp down on billionaires, pledges that helped him to an upset over ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in November. New York's first Muslim mayor, Mamdani is set to be sworn in next month. His director of appointments, Catherine Almonte Da Costa, already resigned on Thursday, after it was revealed she made antisemitic social media posts more than 10 years ago. 'It is so cold in New York, I saw a Wall Street stockbroker spooning with Zohran Mamdani,' Fallon said of the New York City mayor elect that day - before repeating nearly identical versions of the joke twice more this week Many Jewish New Yorkers and the Democratic party were hesitant to embrace Mamdani due to his outspoken support for Palestine. Fallon is a far less political. Professor Robert Thompson of Syracuse University told the Daily Mail in September that Fallon's more outspoken counterpart Seth Meyers could be the next host to go after CBS announced the cancellation of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Je shared his gloomy forecast with the Daily Mail shortly after Jimmy Kimmel's show was pulled over comments he made about Charlie Kirk. 'There is a theme going on here,' Thompson said, poining to what he framed as a clear shift away from the politically charged jokes popularized over the past ten years. 'Meyers is the one guy doing this type of comedy who hasn't been fired yet. These last stories indicate that era is over,' Thompson said. Colbert's show will air its final episode in May. Kimmel signed a contract extension earlier this month. Megyn Kelly exploded in an angry tirade against Bari Weiss after she amplified critical comments about how she has responded to conspiracy theories in the wake of Charlie Kirk's death. Kelly, 55, also accused Weiss, 41, of exploiting Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, by 'couching herself as Erika's protector, Erika's defender'. Kelly took issue with Weiss re-sharing remarks by Ben Shapiro in which he slammed Kelly for not addressing wild conspiracy theories being peddled by the likes of Candace Owens. 'Shes retweeting the Ben [Shapiro] speech, saying anybody who doesnt call out conspiracy theorists is a coward,' Kelly said an Arizona event on Friday. She also criticized Weiss for her interview with Erika during a townhall meeting last Saturday. 'Erika Kirk barely knows Bari Weis,' Kelly fumed. 'Bari doesnt know anything about Erika. Bari Weis has never been to a Turning Point event. 'Do you guys remember her here? Standing up for what we believe in when Charlie was alive? I dont remember her standing up for our principles. I dont remember her defending Charlie the many times he was called a racist or an antisemite. I really dont remember that at all.' Her comments came after Shapiro blasted Kelly and Tucker Carlson, a fellow former Fox host, for not speaking out about conspiracies surrounding death of Kirk, who was shot at a Utah university event, especially about Kirk's close friend Owens. Megyn Kelly, 55, accused Bari Weiss, 41, of exploiting Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, by 'couching herself as Erika's protector, Erika's defender' at an event on Friday Weiss had recently criticized Kelly and agreed with Ben Shapiro, who said Kelly should have spoken up about the conspiracy theories surrounding Erika's husband Charlie Kirk's death 'The fact that they have said nothing while Candace has been vomiting all sorts of hideous and conspiratorial nonsense into the public square for years is just as cowardly,' he said at the time. Weiss called the speak a 'barnburner,' in an X post on Thursday. Erika attended a CBS town hall, which was moderated by Weiss, after her husband's death. Kelly accused media executive Weiss of trying to steal the spotlight from the network's on-air talent. 'Bari Weiss tried to play both super important VIP executive and super fabulous star anchor at her new network CBS. Pro tip Bari: Thats no way to win friends at your new organization,' she said on Friday. She also took issue with some of the questions poised to Erika, which Kelly said put the widow in a 'position of having to defend whether [Donald] Trump used hateful rhetoric'. 'The nerve!' she blasted. She concluded her tirade by saying she wouldn't take tips from Weiss or Shapiro on how to treat Erika. 'Erika Kirk barely knows Bari Weiss. Bari doesnt know anything about Erika,' Kelly said Erika attended a CBS town hall, which was moderated by Weiss, after her husband's death. Kelly took issue with some of the questions and Weiss stealing the spotlight from the network's on-air talent to moderate the conversation In November, Erika appeared on Kelly's show to talk about her husband's death. The 37-year-old discussed her husband's suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson, whom she said at his memorial that she has forgiven. 'The enemy would love for me to be angry,' Erika told Kelly. 'He would love it.' She went on to explain that ill will, 'would distract me from building what Charlie entrusted to me, raising our babies, Turning Point, being there for the team, being there for what the future holds.' Kelly marveled at how Kirk had the capacity to forgive the 22-year-old. Landlords will face fines of up to 40,000 if they fall foul of new complicated rules and experts warn even those who slip up unintentionally could face steep costs. The Government published its statutory guidance to local authorities last week, which reveals the level of fines that landlords will face if they break the rules coming into force in May as part of the new Renters Rights Act. On top of this, fines for existing offences will be ratcheted up. For example, Rent Repayment Order Offences fines will almost double to up to two years worth of rent. This could happen, for example, if a landlord has a property that is rented by three or more unrelated people sharing facilities, known as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and they do not have the licence they need. From December 27, councils will also be granted greater powers to investigate any landlords suspected of failing to comply with the rules. Experts warn that landlords need to familiarise themselves with the rules to avoid being caught out. Allison Thompson, national lettings managing director at Leaders, fears that some of the new fines could result in well-meaning landlords getting punished for fairly rudimentary mistakes. The risk now is that well-intentioned landlords are exposed to significant penalties for technical or procedural errors, especially where the rules are new, complex and still bedding in, she says. Allison Thompson, national lettings managing director at Leaders, fears that some of the new fines could result in well-meaning landlords getting punished for fairly rudimentary mistakes Our concern is that the shift from enforcement as a last resort to routine financial penalties may accelerate the number of landlords quitting the market at a time when rental supply is already under pressure. This is heavy-handed legislation, adds Timothy Douglas, head of policy at the estate agent membership body Propertymark. While punishing bad landlords is a good thing, increased fines and doubling of Rent Repayment Orders will be a terrifying prospect to many landlords who are already taxed to the hilt. Experts warn repeat offenders who breach the rules could face fines of 40,000. These are some of the new fines that landlords could face and the rules they need to be aware of... Re-letting within the 12-month no-let period The Renters Rights Act, which received Royal assent in October, gives private renters the greatest increase to their rights in a generation. From May 1, so-called no-fault evictions will be banned, which means landlords will not be able to ask tenants to move out without a good reason. Renters will be given the right to end tenancies with two months notice. Join the debate Are these tough fines on landlords a fair way to protect renters, or will they worsen the housing crisis? Timothy Douglas, head of policy at estate agent membership body Propertymark, says the legislation will be terrifying for many landlords who are 'already taxed to the hilt' Landlords will still be permitted to recover their property if they plan to sell it or if they or a family member plan to move in. But they will not be allowed to evict under these grounds in the first year of a tenancy, and after that they will need to give tenants four months notice. If a landlord gives notice because they plan to sell up and then dont, they cannot re-let the property for a year. That is to prevent landlords from evicting tenants by falsely claiming they plan to sell and then just getting in new tenants. But if landlords break these rules, they could be fined 25,000. This feels particularly severe given how easily a landlord could fall foul of it unintentionally, adds Thompson. Changes in personal circumstances, failed sales or mortgage issues could all trigger a need to re-let, yet the penalty is close to the level reserved for serious safety breaches. l Attempting to let the property for a fixed term From May 1, all fixed-term assured tenancies and assured shorthold tenancies will be abolished and replaced with rolling periodic tenancies, meaning renters will no longer be tied into long contracts. Those landlords who continue trying to let on a fixed-term basis could be fined 4,000, under the new rules. Accepting an offer greater than the advertised rent In a move to end bidding wars between renters, landlords can accept offers only at the set listed price or below. A landlord found to have accepted more than the advertised rent could face a 4,000 fine. A landlord can also be fined 3,000 for failing to specify what the rent is in their advert. Discriminating against tenants on benefits or those who have children The act will make it illegal for landlords and agents to discriminate against prospective tenants in receipt of benefits or with children. Those who are deemed to fall foul of this could be dealt a 6,000 fine. Failing to serve a notice correctly Landlords must now serve notice under a formal Section 8 process, which requires serving a so-called Form 3 notice to renters for breaches such as owing at least three months rent or committing anti-social behaviour or criminal activity. Landlords who try to end the tenancy improperly, such as over the phone, in person or without a valid reason, could face a 6,000 fine. Unlawful eviction and harassment of tenant Unlawful eviction and harassment of a renter is defined under the Protection From Eviction Act 1997. It can include entering the property without the tenants permission, changing locks, or threatening to remove essential services such as electricity, gas or water. An illegal eviction would be when a tenant has been forced to leave without the landlord following the correct legal process, including a court order. Tenants in this situation could seek help from local councils which will be able to fine the landlord as much as 35,000. Not keeping property up to the Decent Homes Standard The Decent Homes Standard sets minimum levels that homes must meet and applies Awaabs Law which sets strict timeframes for repairing dangerous hazards like damp and mould to rented homes. Its named after Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old who died in 2020 from severe respiratory issues caused by mould. For landlords who fail to take reasonable steps to keep their properties free of serious hazards, local councils will also have a new power to issue civil penalties of up to 7,000. Nike shares plunged yesterday after its turnaround was tripped up by grim results in China. Investors were spooked after the US sportswear group posted its sixth quarterly sales decline in a row in the East Asia region of Greater China. Sales fell 17 per cent to 1.06billion for the three months to November 30, with footwear sales crashing by 21 per cent. Chief executive Elliott Hill said: 'It's clear we need to reset our approach to the China marketplace.' The business has been struggling with weak footfall to its Chinese shops and has been forced to discount unsold stock. Rough ride: Nike athlete Chloe Covell shows her skills Shares tumbled 11 per cent in New York trading, adding to losses of almost 21 per cent this year so far. Nike has been criticised for a lack of new products that appeal to Gen Z. Total sales for the quarter across the group rose by 1 per cent to 9.3billion. A federal judge has unsealed all investigative files relating to the sex trafficking case against Jeffrey Epstein's longtime mistress Ghislaine Maxwell. The Justice Department's request to release grand jury transcripts and exhibits from Maxwell's 2021 sex trafficking case, which were previously withheld, was approved by Judge Paul A Engelmayer on Tuesday. The order sets no detailed redaction process or specific release date, but court officials say the records could be made public within about ten days, depending on how quickly clerks process the files and whether anyone moves to delay disclosure. Attorneys for the DOJ are also asking that all documents in Epstein's 2019 case be unsealed, which could amount to the release of thousands of previously unseen files. In August, Judges Richard M Berman and Engelmayer in Manhattan denied the department's requests to unseal grand jury transcripts and other material from Epstein and Maxwell's cases, ruling that such disclosures are rarely, if ever, allowed. Congress, however, passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November, which requires the Justice Department to provide all Epstein-related records to the public by the December 19 deadline. Engelmayer is the second judge to allow the Justice Department to publicly disclose previously secret Epstein court records. Last week, a judge in Florida granted the department's request to release transcripts from an abandoned federal grand jury investigation into Epstein in 2006. The DOJ's request to release the remaining Epstein files from the disgraced financier's 2019 sex trafficking case is still pending. A judge on Tuesday unsealed all files related to Maxwell's 2021 sex trafficking case Maxwell and Epstein engaged in a romantic relationship for decades before the pedophile's death in 2019 Maxwell was sentenced to over two decades behind bars for her role in Epstein's underage sex trafficking network What to know about the release of the Epstein files The latest: Federal judges in Florida and New York have authorized the release of key grand jury transcripts and investigative materials from the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking cases. The move marks the first significant step toward public access since Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act last month. When to expect the files: Some material has already surfaced - including images and video evidence from Epstein's private island made public by Congress last week - but the broader release is imminent. Under the new law, the Justice Department must publish all unclassified Epstein-related records by December 19. What remains unclear: It's not yet known how many documents will be released or how extensively they'll be redacted. The DOJ has said it will remove victims' names and other identifying details, but disputes over redactions tied to national security or ongoing investigations could spark further legal battles. Advertisement Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on sex trafficking charges, one month before he was found dead in a Brooklyn jail cell. Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking crimes two years later and was sentenced to 20 years behind bars. The British socialite is serving her sentence at a minimum-security federal prison camp in Texas as she probes the Trump administration for a pardon. It is unclear when the materials from the New York and Florida grand juries will be made public. DOJ attorneys said they 'will work with the relevant United States Attorney's Offices to make appropriate redactions of victim-related and other personal identifying information'. Earlier this year, Bondi's requests to the New York courts were rejected on the grounds of grand jury secrecy. But now the attorney general argues that the new bill supersedes the legal hurdles. Trump repeatedly called the Epstein files a Democrat 'hoax' in recent months despite campaigning on a pledge to release the documents once in office. The President explosively fell out with Republican firebrand Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene - one of his most loyal allies in the House - after she ferociously attacked the administration, claiming that they were withholding the files. The crisis deepened last month when the House Oversight Committee released a tranche of Epstein emails which included frequent mentions of Trump. Epstein, a New York financier who owned a home in Palm Beach, was a longtime friend of Trump from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. Virginia Giuffre, who Epstein trafficked as a teenager, killed herself in April. In her memoir, Giuffre cleared Trump of any wrongdoing relating to Epstein. Dramatic body camera footage captured the moment Pennsylvania cops cornered alleged assassin Luigi Mangione and asked his name after a 'suspicious' man was reported in a McDonald's. The 27-year-old alleged shooter had been on the run for five days following the point-blank murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson when police in Altoona descended on a local McDonald's just before 9.30am on December 9, 2024. 'Hey, sir,' Officer Joseph Detwiler addresses the Ivy League graduate in the back of the restaurant, where Mangione could be seen sitting at a table. The shooting suspect cordially replied, 'How you doing?' At that point, Detwiler could be heard asking Mangione to pull down his face mask - and Mangione quickly obliged. But when he is then asked for his name, the footage shows Mangione claims he is Mark Rosario. 'Someone called, they thought you were suspicious,' Detwiler then tells Mangione, who proceeds to look down and apologize. 'Oh, I'm sorry, um,' the suspect could be heard stuttering, before Detwiler's partner, Tyler Frye - whose body camera recorded the entire confrontation - asked him for his ID. At that point, Mangione could be seen handing over a New Jersey ID bearing the name Mark Rosario, which authorities have claimed was fake. The same ID was allegedly used to check into a hostel in New York City days before Thompson was shot dead. A preliminary hearing to determine whether key evidence could be heard at Luigi Mangione's New York state trial continued for a fifth day on Tuesday The court was shown body camera footage of Altoona Police Officer Joseph Detwiler and his partner, Tyler Frye, confronting Mangione at a McDonald's on December 9, 2024 Mangione is seen in the body camera footage handing over an ID, which authorities have said was fake As Frye then walked away to relay the information from the ID to the police department, Detwiler could be heard in the background asking Mangione if he had recently traveled to New York. Later on in the footage, another cop could be heard warning Mangione about using a false identification. 'You're under official police investigation,' a cop could be heard telling the one-time prep school valedictorian as he sits in a chair, staring down at the floor, according to the New York Post. 'If you give us a false name again, you will be arrested for false identification.' Eventually, authorities said, Mangione provided Lieutenant Tom Hannelly with his actual name and birthdate, and the suspect was taken into custody. His defense team is now trying to bar evidence obtained from his arrest that day from being heard at his upcoming trial, claiming that officers started asking their client questions before telling him he had a right to remain silent. As the preliminary hearing continued for a fifth day on Tuesday, the court was shown body camera footage of Mangione's interaction with the Altoona police. Mangione had been on the run for five days following the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson when he was arrested at the McDonald's Mangione is facing murder charges for the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, one year ago His arrest came just minutes after an unidentified manager called 911 to report that some of the other customers recognized Mangione's eyebrows as those of the suspected killer wanted in New York City. 'It's not really an emergency, but I have a customer here that some other customers were suspicious of, that he looks like the CEO shooter from New York,' the manager could be heard telling dispatchers in audio played at the Manhattan Supreme Court last week. She went on to say that an older female customer was 'really upset' and 'frantic' after seeing Mangione eating breakfast in the rear of the McDonald's, and noted that he was trying to be 'non-discreet,' ABC News reports. 'I can't approach him,' the female manager told a dispatcher at one point int he phone call, to which the dispatcher responded: 'He shot the CEO, I got you.' At that point, the manager tried to identify Mangione by his size - 'mid-height' and 'mid-weight,' but seemed to struggle to list any identifiable characteristics beyond his clothing - a black sweater jacket with a medical mask and a tan beanie pulled down. 'The only thing you can see is his eyebrows,' the manager then revealed. A 911 call played in court revealed that customers at the McDonald's recognized the suspect from images the NYPD released showing his bushy eyebrows Officer Detwiler testified on Tuesday that he knew 'immediately' that he was confronting the wanted suspect But once the officers arrived at the scene, Detwiler said he knew 'immediately' that he was confronting the wanted suspect. He testified in court on Tuesday that he and Frye waited with Mangione at the McDonald's until additional officers arrived. 'Hes here, Tom. Its him. Im not kidding,' the cop then told his boss, Hannelly, over the phone. When other officers then arrived at the scene and read Mangione his Miranda rights, one cop could be heard asking the suspect whether there was anything he needed to tell them about the contents of his backpack - at which point, Mangione said he was invoking his right to remain silent. Officers allegedly later recovered Mangione's laptop, a gun, and a handmade silencer in the backpack. Court documents claim that police found more than $7,000 in US dollars and $1,620 in foreign currency in Mangione's backpack during his arrest. Police also allegedly recovered 11 handwritten notes, a US passport, a license, a pocket knife, multiple USBs, and a Greyhound ticket from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. Officers allegedly found a handgun that matched the firearm description of the weapon used to murder Thompson inside Mangione's backpack Prosecutors also seized a handwritten diary from Mangione's backpack during his arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania that his attorneys are now trying to hide from jurors Luigi's defense now argues that officers asked Mangione questions before informing him of his right to remain silent in a bid to prevent the materials from being introduced into evidence. But in court on Monday, police veteran officer Christy Wasser, who arrested Mangione at a McDonald's in Altoona last year, defended the recovery of the evidence in court on Monday. Wasser testified that police protocols require officers to search a suspect's property upon arrest. She was even heard in the body camera footage expressing concern that Mangione's backpack had a bomb. Wasser later, though, admitted that the responding officers did not clear the restaurant. If Judge Gregory Carro rules in favor of Mangione, the prosecution would no longer be able to present any of the evidence recovered from the backpack - including the handgun, which allegedly matches the description of the firearm used in Thompson's murder. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state and federal murder charges. The current hearings pertain to the state charges against him, although his attorneys are also seeking to exclude the evidence in the federal case. A trial is not expected to begin until at least spring of next year. A sheriff has ridiculed two young muggers who were part of a hoodie-wearing gang, saying they have no sense of style. Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith took aim at the outfits of Kaleb Clacy and co-accused Luke Macveigh, slating them for the same drab uniform of black Nike tracksuits favoured by the London gangs they try to emulate. He accused Clacy and Macveigh, who carried out late night robberies in Dundee, of mimicking the gangs plaguing the UK capital with an escalating series of street robberies. And he mocked them for trying to act like a roadman a term used to describe young male yobs who spend a lot of time on the streets. In a brutal assessment of their fashion sense, Sheriff Niven-Smith said: I described them as the roadmen of Dundee. They are yobs. They are drab and have no sense of style. Others might think they are emulating those in London, where street robberies are prevalent. You struck fear into good honest Dundonians. They work hard during the week, earn their pay packet and go out for a few drinks and then on to a club. They are entitled to leave and not be approached by a gang of youths who rob them in the street. Clacy, who was in court via video link from prison, wept as the sheriff said: The hard mans not really a hard man. Prison is not meant to be enjoyable. Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith took issue with the style choices and crimes of the young yobs The sheriff said youths who choose to try and emulate London gangs by wearing the 'uniform' of dark tracksuits have no style You would do well to be embarrassed about the situation you find yourself in for you and your family. If you were over 21 I would be imposing a period in prison. Sheriff Niven-Smith deferred sentence on Macveigh and ordered Clacy to carry out 225 hours of unpaid community work. Clacy was also placed under social work supervision for 12 months. The pair were remanded in custody awaiting sentencing for robbing two men and a woman of a mobile phone, earphones, a purse and other items on October 30. Dundee Sheriff Court heard that Macveigh, 18, was the aggressor when he robbed a man of AirPods and a mobile phone at around 2am in the city centre. Macveigh and Clacy, 20, were with three other teenagers at the time. The man handed over his Apple earphones after laughing nervously. Macveigh said: Empty your pockets or Ill stab you here in the street. He placed his hands in the mans jacket pocket and removed an iPhone 13. Prosecutor Ewan Chalmers said the man called the police after making his way home. Two further victims were terrorised by Macveigh and Clacy just minutes later. Mr Chalmers said: They were approached by all five and Macveigh asked if they had anything on them. Macveigh claimed he had a knife and stated get your phones or money out or Im going to kill you. The [female] complainer handed over her purse due to fear and threats of violence. Macveigh then stole a hat from the mans head before removing his glasses and throwing them to the ground. Before walking off, Macveigh said something similar to: If you grass, Ill stab you. Police arrived at around 2.45am and Macveigh ran off before being arrested, still with the stolen items. Sheriff Niven-Smith enquired as to what Macveigh and Clacy were wearing, with Mr Chalmers replying: Dark clothing. The sheriff said: Dark clothing Dundee roadmen. Macveigh and Clacy, both of Dundee, pleaded guilty to robbery. Macveigh is also awaiting sentence for stealing a car, and attacking his partner and his mother. Sheriff Niven-Smith said: The courts have seen a prevalence in the south of England by so-called roadmen causing chaos. I am not going to have it on the streets of Dundee. The victims should be entitled to enjoy nights out without individuals accosting them. A man onboard the same cruise ship as Anna Kepner, the 18-year-old found dead in her cabin five days into the voyage, unknowingly captured some of the last footage of her alive. Nicholas Giddens recorded the video on the pool deck of the Carnival Horizon ship on November 2, the day it left Miami, and posted it to his TikTok account thinking nothing of it. It showed passengers participating in a synchronized dance routine to the Cupid Shuffle that was part of the ship's Sail Away Party. After Kepner's death became a national news story, Giddens said a commenter on his original video informed him that Kepner was among the dancing crowd. She was wearing a white top and black shorts. 'I thought it was a joke at first. So, I went back and looked at it and sure enough, I saw her grandma first, and then I saw right across from her grandma was Anna. She was right there,' he told Daily Mail. Giddens, who was on the cruise with his family, reposted the same video on December 4 but included an on-screen caption that memorialized Kepner. It has more than 875,000 views on TikTok. Kepner, a former high school cheerleader in Central Florida, was on the cruise with her father, stepmother, brother, stepbrother, other stepsiblings and grandparents. The six-day voyage had stops in Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel, Mexico. On November 7, while the ship was in international waters between Mexico and Florida, her body was found in the cabin she was sharing with her brother, 14, and 16-year-old stepbrother underneath her bed. She was wrapped in a blanket and covered with life vests. Anna Kepner is seen dancing on November 2 during the Carnival Horizon's Sail Away Party in a video recorded by Nicolas Giddens, another passenger The video was taken by Giddens five days before her body was found inside her cabin Giddens told the Daily Mail that he heard an announcement on the ship's PA system on November 7 that there was a medical emergency in one of the cabins. He didn't know it at the time, but this announcement came after Kepner's body was found Kepner is pictured on the cruise with her grandparents, Jeffrey and Barbara Kepner The Daily Mail was the first to report that Kepner's stepbrother was under investigation and was being considered a suspect in the death of the teen. On the morning of November 7, Giddens told the Daily Mail that he heard an announcement on the ship's PA system that there was a medical emergency in one of the cabins. 'Everybody was just talking, but we all thought it was an older person that died from natural causes,' he said. 'I didn't know it was Anna until after the cruise was over, until we got out and off the ship and everything.' Kepner's cause of death was listed as 'mechanical asphyxia' on her death certificate. The certificate said she 'was mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s).' Her death was ruled a homicide. Kepner was expected to graduate high school in May and join the US Navy, according to her grandparents. The stepbrother's status as a 'suspect' was later revealed in court documents that were filed in a custody case between the boy's divorced parents Shauntel Hudson, 36, and Thomas Hudson, 37. The stepbrother is currently living at an undisclosed relative's house in rural Florida, The Daily Mail revealed. Kepner is pictured alongside her father, Christopher Kepner, her stepmother, Shauntel Hudson and her other stepsiblings Kepner is pictured with her 16-year-old stepbrother who was described as suspect in her death in court papers for a custody battle between his biological parents The boy, whose identity is being withheld because he is a minor and has not been formally charged, was spotted selling firewood from a roadside stand near a relative's home on December 12 When approached, he told the Daily Mail: 'I'd rather not talk,' tugging the brim of his cap lower to obscure his face Daily Mail photographed the boy this week as he was spotted selling firewood from a roadside stand near a relative's home on December 12. When approached, he told the Daily Mail: 'I'd rather not talk,' tugging the brim of his cap lower to obscure his face. During a December 5 custody hearing, Hudson's lawyer, Millicent Athanason, shed more light on the criminal investigation into the boy. 'We're not sure what the FBI is going to do whether he'll be charged federally or if the case will be turned over to the state,' Athanason told the Brevard County Court. 'They're also waiting on testing results. They don't know how long it's going to take.' FBI investigators swarmed the ship on November 8 when it docked in Miami. They interviewed the family and secured CCTV footage as evidence. More than a month later, authorities have not yet made a decision whether to move forward with a prosecution. Excitement and 'quiet confidence' turned quickly to heartbreak this week during a private search for a backpacker missing in Tasmania. Belgian national Celine Cremer, 31, vanished in June 2023 while she was hiking alone at Philosopher Falls near Waratah, an hour south of Burnie in the state's north. The trail is well-marked, though steep in places, and takes 1.5 hours to complete as it descends through ancient, dense and dark Tarkine rainforest toward a cascading waterfall. An extensive police search and rescue operation at the time of her disappearance failed to find any sign of Celine, and it's believed she perished. However, new phone GPS data unearthed by licensed Australian private investigator Ken Gamble sparked a new search with about 20 volunteers combing the rugged Tarkine forest on Saturday, December 13. Within two hours of combing the harsh, dangerous terrain surrounding the trail in a grid formation, searchers uncovered a mauve-coloured Samsung. Celine's friends, who had travelled from Belgium to join the search, were able to confirm on the spot that it belonged to the missing 31-year-old thanks to its matching serial number. It is now believed Celine may have dropped her phone in her desperation to escape from her predicament, lost and panicking in unnavigable forest as darkness fell. Celine vanished while hiking at Philosopher Falls in 2023 After the alarm was raised, her car was found at the trailhead, near Waratah A breakthrough came when Celine's Samsung was found on day one of a private search Searchers battled tough terrain and weather conditions (pictured, the private search party) The incredible find sparked strong hope they would find Celine's remains nearby - and prompted Tasmania Police to immediately send officers to assist. The group battled freezing temperatures, pouring rain, fog, gusty winds and the threat of falling trees - many of which could be heard tumbling to the ground as they scrambled throughout the bush. On the final day, the group battled soaring temperatures and tiger snakes. On Tuesday, an empty glass bottle of Mt Osso Tasmanian springwater with the lid on and a black garbage bag fashioned into a poncho were found tucked beside a fallen tree which Celine may have used for shelter. It was later discovered that the brand of water was not sold in Waratah, but at the French restaurant in Coles Bay where Celine worked. The items have been sent for forensic testing, with loved ones hoping they will shed light on her final hours. 'If those items turn out to be Celine's, it tells us she at least survived the first night,' Mr Gamble said. The same day, searchers scoured steep terrain covered with fallen, rotting logs and dense ground canopy. Several searchers were overcome with minor muscle strains and fatigue, while search controller Mr Gamble suffered a head injury. Despite this, the group remained in high spirits on Tuesday evening, with many confident that day four would bring the breakthrough they had hoped for. Private investigator Ken Gamble led the search on a pro bono basis The searchers emerged from the bush grim-faced on the final day of the search New signage has been put in place along the trail where Celine vanished The Philosopher Falls hike is a picturesque tourist attraction outside of Waratah Celine had been travelling around Tasmania for six months, and is pictured here in Hobart It was decided the group would look for Celine for one more day before the search was officially suspended. On Wednesday morning, the search party remained confident they would find Celine and finally give her family and friends some answers. But that evening, the grim-faced group - including Celine's devastated friends who had travelled from Europe - returned without having found Celine, though many vowed to continue looking in the following days on their own. Mr Gamble said the results of forensic testing on the phone and other items of possible interest would determine if the search resumes later in summer. If the bottle and poncho turn out to be Celine's, Mr Gamble told Daily Mail the search party will face hard questions over which direction she went next. 'We've focused on the area where there was no phone range, and where she had her phone,' he said. 'But if she survived the night and went on without the phone, this opens up a whole lot of new possibilities, unfortunately.' Mr Gamble, whose devastation was etched on his face as he emerged from the trail as the search was suspended, admitted he was 'exhausted and so fatigued'. Volunteers answered a call for people who were keen to look for Celine Searcher Alex Smith and his teenage son travelled from the Sunshine Coast Searchers were devastated that they did not find Celine's remains 'I am very disappointed we couldn't finish what we came to do - which was find Celine's remains - but I am also satisfied that we've done an incredible job,' he said. 'And we did, you know. We found the phone. It's a huge achievement and it makes this worthwhile. But I don't think anyone can keep going, because it's so hard on the body. 'We were on our hands and knees crawling today.' Celine's disappearance is a mystery that has haunted the town of Waratah - which has a population of 250 - since she vanished on June 17. Foul play was initially suspected, as the trail is clearly marked, prompting interviews with several people of interest. However Mr Gamble's phone data suggests Celine left the marked trail for unknown reasons and likely succumbed to freezing conditions and darkness during a Tasmanian winter. Celine was understood to be confident in the outdoors, familiar with Tasmania's unpredictable conditions, and had a good head on her shoulders. Daily Mail attended the renewed search last week with Mr Gamble's permission, and uncovered new clues about her final movements. The search was called off after four days of combing tough terrain Celine's friends from Belgium spearheaded the search Celine had been travelling around the Apple Isle for six months and was due to depart for Victoria on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry on June 21. However, she failed to arrive at the terminal after picking up supplies in the town. It can be revealed a local, who Daily Mail has chosen not to name, began chatting to the friendly traveller and recommended she visit Philosopher Falls, a 10-minute drive from town - before continuing her journey. The devastated local said they prayed every day for Celine's safe return and 'cannot wait for this nightmare to be over'. Philosopher Falls is one of the few tourist attractions in Waratah, which boasts a post office, a pub, and a roadhouse, along with its own spectacular waterfall in the heart of the township. Locals are now quick to advise visitors never to stray from the trail. Celine was last seen buying supplies at the Waratah Roadhouse, as confirmed by CCTV. That footage showed a man in the background, who was initially considered a person of interest but later cleared. That man, a well-known local, spoke to Daily Mail on the condition of anonymity to reveal he was heavily questioned by police for more than two hours. If anyone has information about Celine's disappearance, contact Crimestoppers Celine was last seen at Waratah Roadhouse, where she picked up supplies Philosopher Falls is a relatively easy 1.5 hour hike - if walkers remain on the trail Judi Hunter - who has created a memorial for the backpacker, volunteered for the search as a cook, and is in frequent touch with Celine's mother Ariane - said many questions remained unanswered. 'Why didn't she call someone (for help)?' she said. 'She did have her phone on her.' Other locals have complained about intrusion from so-called true crime buffs, including a young YouTuber who arrived in Waratah in early December and made a video suggesting the town was full of 'bad apples'. Several people from around Australia have responded to a call for volunteers from Tasmanian outdoorsman and YouTuber Rob Parsons to join the private search. Map expert Alex Smith, along with his teenage son, travelled from the Sunshine Coast and soon emerged as a key leader within the group. He told Daily Mail he had extended his trip by several days to keep looking for Celine. A couple who live out of their four-wheel drive panning for gold in NSW during winter and spending summers in Tasmania volunteered because of their fascination with missing persons cases. Celine was a much loved daughter and friend A local woman joined the Launceston SES after putting herself on the waitlist following Celines disappearance. She was seen leaving trinkets at a memorial rock created in the backpacker's honour, made by Ms Hunter. Perhaps most poignantly, the volunteer who uncovered Celine's phone was SES worker Tony Hage, a local from the Waratah area. He has been searching for the missing backpacker on his own since she vanished. His voice shaking with emotion, he told Daily Mail he 'could not speak' when he first spotted the Samsung under moss and leaf litter, just hours into the search. Ms Hunter said the community grieved with the Cremers. 'I made the memorial to Celine because there is a family in Belgium who has lost a daughter, and we have her now, somewhere here,' she said. Since her disappearance, there have been renewed calls for caution along the popular walking track. As bushwalkers enter, they are confronted with a new sign that tells hikers of Celine's disappearance, and urges anyone who notices something unusual to record the coordinates and notify police. It's a fresh Monday morning in the quaint city of Amersfoort in the Netherlands, and a group of elderly guests are listening attentively to the words of an Australian physician. Dr Philip Nitschke, the first doctor in the world to administer a legal, lethal voluntary injection, and the inventor of the controversial Sarco pod, is presenting his latest gadget. The Australian-born founder of Exit International, the non-profit that provides guidance on assisted suicide, stirred controversy in 2024 when a woman ended her life using the so-called suicide pod, in apparently the first case of its kind. But undeterred by the negative press and people repeatedly calling him 'Dr Death' - a nickname he doesn't enjoy - Dr Nitschke is as passionate as ever about expanding access to euthanasia. The 20 attendees are gathered for one of the 78-year-old's 'Exit workshops' that cover, according to his website, legal issues surrounding euthanasia, the physiology of death, and suicide methods such as 'gases', 'drugs and other substances', 'Swiss option (including discussion of the Sarco)', and 'the new Kairos Kollar'. It's the Kairos Kollar that Dr Nitschke is live demonstrating to his observant guests, but on a plastic mannequin with silver hair, of course. It works by putting pressure against the carotid arteries and baroreceptors in the neck, cutting off blood flow to the brain and causing the wearer to lose consciousness before dying. In a post on X, Dr Nitschke could hardly conceal his excitement for the developing technology: 'The Exit Kairos Kollar, an important development in the assisted dying questfast, reliable, drug free..and, importantly, unrestrictable!' Dr Philip Nitschke with his new invention, the Kairos Kollar Dr Philip Nitschke showcasing the Kairos Kollar at one of his Exit International workshops Dr Nitschke lies down in a 'suicide pod' known as 'The Sarco' in Rotterdam, The Netherlands The death workshops tend to be three hours, including a tea and biscuit break as well as an extensive Q&A with the euthanasia expert himself. For the doctor, one of the most important considerations when developing new technology is how it'll dodge what he perceives as each country's restrictive assisted suicide laws. That's what makes Kairos Kollar such a 'game-changer', according to his website. 'You can build your own collar and suicide is not a crime,' Dr Nitschke told his guests, according to the Herald Sun which attended the workshop in Amersfoort. 'It will work like an airbag in the car, when you press a button, bang, faint and die.' In this particular session, the Kairos Kollar is designed with a particularly cheerful colour pallet, considering its purpose - fit a rainbow-coloured rim and bright orange tubes. The contraption provides a 'peaceful, fast and reliable passing', it's 'cheap and simple to make' and is 'entirely lawful', according to Exit International. That's important, because Dr Nitschke's Sarco pod caused quite a stir with the legal authorities in Switzerland when a 64-year-old woman resigned to the northern forest to take her own life with the assistance of the futuristic device. Indeed, at the workshop in Amersfoort, the Australian physician was forced to present an inflatable version of the human-sized capsule, because the real Sarco pod was seized by Dutch police in a raid on his office last year. Join the debate Is Philip Nitschke crossing a moral line? Dr Philip Nitschke, the first doctor in the world to administer a legal, lethal voluntary injection, pictured at a presentation of the Sarco suicide machine in Zurich, Switzerland, July 17, 2024 Dr Nitschke, front, stands next to a 'suicide pod' known as 'The Sarco' in Rotterdam Fiona Stewart, member of the Last Resort, poses next to the Sarco suicide machine in July 2024 Born in the 1940s in Ardrossan, South Australia, Dr Nitschke is the son of school teachers. He studied physics at the University of Adelaide before gaining a PhD from Flinders University in laser physics in 1972. He was training to be a doctor in a Darwin hospital when he heard a radio show that would change his life: it was the chief minister of the Northern Territory of Australia, campaigning for euthanasia for the terminally ill. He couldn't help but be persuaded by the argument, and began campaigning for the contentious cause. Despite several doctors in Australia voicing their fierce objections, the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act - the world's first assisted dying legislation - passed by five votes and became law in 1996. The legislation was short lived and overturned by the Australian Parliament in March 1997, after uproar from the medical profession and the church. But within the short window when it was active, four Australians in the Northern Territory died legally by lethal injection, and Dr Nitschke assisted each time. In 2014, the Medical Board of Australia suspended Dr Nitschkes practitioners licence after he supported 45-year-old Nigel Brayley's decision to take his own life. The doctor appealed the decision twice and eventually the Darwin Supreme Court ruled in his favour - overturning the judgement that he posed a serious and immediate risk to people. But the reinstatement of his medical licence came with a cost: he was only allowed to practise again under 25 conditions, including no longer bringing up the topic of suicide to patients. An enraged Dr Nitschke called the conditions a 'heavy handed and clumsy attempt to restrict the free flow of information on end-of-life choice' and publicly burned his medical certificate in response, announcing he would leave the profession. A picture of the Sarco Suicide Pod, which can be operated internally and works by reducing oxygen levels Police in Switzerland arrested several people in September 2024 on suspicion of inciting, and aiding and abetting suicide after the first assisted death was carried out with the aid of the Sarco pod. The 3D-printed, coffin-like machine purports to offer patients a way to die painlessly in only 10 minutes by depriving them of oxygen after they press a button, which floods the machine with nitrogen. Dr Florian Willet, the founder of The Last Resort which facilitated use of the pod, was arrested in the Swiss forest and placed in pre-trial detention for 70 days, with a prosecutor alleging that the capsule had not worked and the woman had instead suffered injuries consistent with strangulation. The right-to-die activist was subsequently released in December 2024 and was never charged with intentionally killing the woman. Five months later, on May 5, he died. Dr Nitschke said his death was by assisted suicide in Germany, after the arrest had left him 'broken'. 'In the final months of his life, Dr Florian Willet shouldered more than any man should,' the Australian doctor said in a statement, adding that the German euthanasia campaigner had suffered psychological trauma following his detention. Prior to his death in May, Dr Willet fell from the third floor of his building, according to Dr Nitschke, leading him to require surgery and to be 'cared for by a full psychiatric team'. The Australian activist had expected police to be taken aback by the pod, but he was baffled by the arrest and temporary detainment of the photographer and lawyers. 'I cant see that weve broken any laws,' he told Prospect Magazine. He also took issue with the unsupported suggestions of signs of strangulation on the womans body. 'Its really bizarre, because weve got this film,' he said. 'And the film is pretty clear that she climbed in by herself, unassisted. She pressed the button unassisted. The capsule wasnt opened until the police arrived.' The woman had reportedly been diagnosed with skull base osteomyelitis. The disease could manifest as an infection of the bone marrow, which could have been responsible for the marks on her neck resembling strangulation marks, according to a person close to The Last Resort who spoke to Swiss outlet Neue Zuercher Zeitung. The doctor has previously faced backlash for the pod from groups opposed to legalising euthanasia, with some saying that its futuristic design glamourises suicide. A general view on the officially sealed forest hut associated with the first use of the death capsule Sarco by assisted dying group The Last Resort, in Merishausen, Switzerland A view of O2 detector and the release button for pure nitrogen in the Sarco suicide machine The design for the dementia switch, created by Darab Jafary. According to Dr Nitschke, the blue part is the micro syringe that contains the lethal drug, the green is the processor that provides the timing, and the white element is the lithium battery Early blueprints of the switch, shared with MailOnline, show the various components it could include Despite opposition to his methods, Dr Nitschke is not giving up on his ever-evolving inventions. He's currently developing a dual Sarco pod, in an attempt to meet the demand from couples who want to die in each other's arms. Not only that, he's also building a 'kill switch' implant which could allow dementia sufferers to seal the time of their death years in advance. The mechanism would be sewn into a person's body - most likely their leg - and contain a timer which would make a beeping noise and vibrate to warn them to turn it off each day. If they failed to do so due to deteriorating brain function in the late stages of the disease, Dr Nitschke says, it would then release a lethal substance into their system to kill them. The assisted dying campaigner believes that his new device could solve the 'dementia dilemma' - the situation whereby someone suffering from the disease is seen as lacking the mental capacity to consent to their death. He's the co-author of an ever-expanding book compiling information on assisted suicide called 'The Peaceful Pill eHandbook', which is updated six times a year, 'bringing subscribers the best available information on end of life choice strategies', his website says. This year he's exhibiting the Kairos Kollar, but only time will tell what new device the doctor will concoct next. Locals have dubbed a 500,000 home for sale as the 'worst house in Britain', comparing it to the Bibby Stockholm migrant barge. The three-bed detached home has also been described as a 'garage with a shipping container on top'. The imposing property certainly stands out among rows of 1940s and 1950s terraced properties in Dagenham, east London. Despite being described on the estate agent website as 'beautifully presented', local residents and those leaving online reviews have opposing views. It is listed for sale on Rightmove at 500,000 - well above the average house price in the area of 360,000 to 385,000. One stinging online commenter observed: 'Who were the architects - Lidl? I'm surprised there's not a load of trollies all locked together outside.' Robin Hague, 45, lives in the next street and described it as 'hideous'. He even compared it to Bibby Stockholm, the large barge used by the Home Office to house migrants from 2023 until early 2025. The Dagenham property (pictured) has been likened to the Bibby Stockholm barge - but is on sale for 500,000 An aerial view shows the slim design of the house and surrounding patio Slide me Pictured: the allotment space before and after the construction, described by some as 'a garage with a shipping container on top' The painter and decorator said: 'I wouldn't even know where to start. It looks like the Bibby Stockholm. It's dreadful. 'It's the worst house in Britain. Was the planner on drugs when he designed it? It just is totally out of place in this area. I thought it was going to be offices when it first went up. Then when I realised someone would be living in there I thought it was bizarre. 'It's like a school classroom from the 1980s on top of a garage. It just makes no sense. 'I wouldn't pay 50,000 to live there, never mind 500,000.' Martin Reid, 55, described the home as a 'breath of fresh air'. He said: 'At least it's something different. I wouldn't live there though. 'It's only when you properly look that you realise how different it is.' Jenny Weston, 49, said it was 'horrible'. The property certainly stands out amidst the rows of 1940s and 50s terraced properties surrounding it Pictured: the real Bibby Stockholm used by the previous Government to house migrants while they awaited asylum outcomes Many Reddit users reacted with horror at the design Another described it as 'a garage with a shipping container on top' The mum-of-four said: 'It's the strangest house I have ever seen. It's so out of place. 'I don't know why it ever got planning permission. It's ludicrous from the outside. 'I wouldn't pay anywhere near 500,000. The area is terrible as well. It's so rough around here. I want to move out.' Alex Summers, 32, said it was 'grotesque'. The shop assistant said: 'You'd be better knocking it down and starting again. I think it's dreadful.' Student Aviel Murphy, 19, did stand out by saying he would 'love' to live there. He said: 'It's very different. Everything else looks the same but that does stand right out. If I could afford it, I would live there.' Another resident said: 'I don't mind if people want to break with tradition and do something different. But if they are then they should at least make it look decent. 'That looks poor. It's like a giant porter cabin, on top of a storage depot. I'd hate to live there.' The owner of the property, who did not want to be named, defended the home and said it was 'very spacious' and 'very different'. He was shocked at online comments which thought otherwise. One said: 'This is not some sort of weird conversion, someone actually chose to build that.' Another added: 'That's grim. Half a million to live in your own budget airport hotel.' Others described it as a 'lego house' and another said it looked like a public toilet. The home also comes with off-street parking and a garage. White South Africans have thanked US President Donald Trump for giving them 'hope' after he invited them to the US as refugees, with some saying 'Trump definitely knows exactly what is going on' in the Rainbow nation. In October the Trump administration announced it would limit the number of those seeking international protection to 7,500, giving priority to Afrikaner and white South Africans. This favouring is backdropped by the launch of the refugee programme U.S. Mission to South Africa. 'My own father, believe it or not, was attacked on his farm. Him and his brother,' Tina (not her real name) told the Daily Mail. The white Afrikaner from East London, Eastern Cape deems the US refugee programme a lifeline and an escape from threats at home. 'The attacks that I know of happen around five times a year. And it is just far too many. Plenty of people have died,' Tina, 55, said. 'They take screwdrivers and a hammer and hit through people's toenails. They put you in the bath and pour boiling water from a scalding kettle over you. It is just horrendous. That's the truth of the matter. That's what they do. And then it is put down as a robbery'. On why she believes the attacks are allegedly being hidden by the South African State, the former bank worker said: 'They don't want the world to know what is actually going on.' White South Africans have thanked US President Donald Trump for giving them 'hope' after he invited them to the US as refugees. Pictured: Donald Trump meets South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 21, 2025 Pictures posted to the Stop Farm Attacks & Murders in South Africa Facebook page show the horrific injuries inflicted on farmers In October the Trump administration announced it would limit the number of those seeking international protection to 7,500, giving priority to Afrikaner and white South Africans who say they are being targetted in horrific farm attacks Tina is one of hundreds of white South Africans applying for the refugee status. There has been an upsurge in Facebook and WhatsApp groups dedicated to navigating the US refugee process with many citing fears of crime, economic decline and a belief that white citizens face systematic discrimination. Many show thanks to President Trump on the social media groups, with one posting an image of the US President with the caption, 'Pray for this man. He is fighting an evil that we can't even imagine!' The post received comments: 'We pray for President Donald Trump'; 'Love Trump'; and 'President Trump is constantly in our prayers'. The refugee programme offers settler status to both Afrikaners descendants of mainly Dutch, German and French settlers and English-speaking white South Africans, descended mainly from British settlers. It is unclear how many South Africans have applied to the refugee programme and no official numbers have been released. 'Because of Trump, we now have hope', Tina said. She added: 'When the whole refugee programme opened, I put my statement of interest within an hour'. Image shows a white South African's injuries following an alleged attack This came after an attack 'close to home' left her 'shaken'. She explained: 'It was just a normal farm attack, where, you know, they were bludgeoned and both survived.' The criteria for refugee admissions was published last month and stated to be 'Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa'. The South African Government has strongly denied that Afrikaners and other white South Africans are being persecuted, while the African National Congress (ANC) called the refugee programme 'madness'. On the programme, Tina explained: '[It is] good for those who can get out of here and start afresh and actually just live life. Because we are not living here at all.' She added: 'I just want some peace. I just don't want to have to look over my shoulder every single time I leave my property.' Tina insisted that leaving South Africa is not something anyone in her family 'wants' to do, but a fear for her two children's safety has led to her whole family applying for international protection. 'South Africa is a fantastic country. Nobody wants to leave,' she said. A man appears bloodied in a hospital bed A protester holds a bible as he speaks to South African farmers & farm workers gathered at a demonstration at the Green Point stadium to protest against farmer murders in the country, on October 30, 2017, in Cape Town 'But if you want a future for your children and are given it on a golden platter like that, there is no option but to go if you can.' To be eligible for US refugee resettlement, individuals must be: a South African nationalist; Afrikaner ethnicity or be a member of a racial minority in South Africa; able to articulate a past personal experience of persecution or fear of future persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; be 18 years old or referred with a parent; and living inside South Africa. Tina said several couples in her East London community have applied a sign, she believes, of growing desperation among middle-class white families. 'It is not about bettering ourselves,' she said. 'It is for our children's futures.' If accepted, Tina said they would be unable to ship any possessions to the US due to the cost and would travel with only what fits into a suitcase. Refugee applicants are permitted one 23kg bag each. Tina said she would only take clothing, a handful of family photographs and her Bible. 'We can't afford a container. We can't afford anything, really,' she said. 'We would leave with our suitcases and that is it.' Their house, which the family has lived in for more than 20 years, would be abandoned. South Africa and the U.S. share a tense timeline that includes President Trump's accusation the South African government is facilitating a genocide against minority white Afrikaners Tina explained selling is impossible while they wait for a decision. And even if they tried, the area is saturated with properties on the market. 'Every seventh house in our suburb is for sale,' she said. 'If we get the call, people leave within days. There is no time to sell anything.' She added one thing is non-negotiable: 'I would take six dogs. I would not go anywhere without them.' She said her family hopes to be placed in Southern America but would accept any US state: 'Wherever we are placed, we will go. We would just be grateful for the opportunity.' South Africa and the U.S. share a tense timeline that includes President Trump's accusation the South African government is facilitating a genocide against minority white Afrikaners, which arose during a contentious White House meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year. Trump allegedly showed evidence of a 'genocide' of white farmers to Ramaphosa, with footage he announced were the graves of more than a thousand white farmers. While showing the footage, he said: 'It's a terrible sightI've never seen anything like it. Those people are all killed.' The video has been reported to be a misrepresentation, with crosses being planted days ahead of a memorial procession on September 5, 2020 near Newcastle, South Africa. The event was allegedly for a white farming couple who the police said had been murdered in late August that year. The crosses were removed after the procession. The latest rungs to their taut relationship ladder are Trump's boycott of the Johannesburg G20 summit last month and now South Africa's absence from the invitation list for the first G20 meeting hosted under the US presidency. Tina believed Ramaphosa 'embarrassed the country in totality' during the meeting, adding to the long list of reasons why she wants to leave her native country. The photographer who captured the first images of the Bondi Beach terror attack has revealed what disturbs him most when he remembers the shooting. Freelance photographer Banjo was finishing another job for the Daily Mail at Bondi Beach when two men suddenly opened fire on revellers who had gathered to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah. The antisemitic terror attack on Sunday claimed 15 lives and left more than 40 people injured. Among the dead were a 10-year-old girl, two rabbis and a Holocaust survivor. Police say Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, were responsible for the attack. Authorities confirmed it was ISIS-inspired, with the terror group's flag found in their vehicle. Freelance photographer Banjo (pictured) was finishing another job for the Daily Mail at Bondi Beach when two men suddenly opened fire The antisemitic terror attack on Sunday claimed 15 lives and left more than 40 people injured The Trial Australia - Inside Australia's biggest criminal cases: Listen to the new Daily Mail podcast now Sajid was shot dead by police at the scene, while Naveed has been charged with 59 offences, including one count of committing a terrorist act. Speaking to the Daily Mail's Trial Australia podcast, Banjo said the moment that haunts him most was not the shooting itself, but walking past the attackers just seconds before they opened fire. 'I was walking back to my car - over the bridge from Bondi Pavilion to Campbell Parade', the photographer recounted. 'When I got to the top of the bridge, I looked down and saw a car pull up. It hit the brakes and very quickly, two men jumped out. 'I thought, something's not right. These guys are moving very quickly, in a hurry. They then put the flag on their windscreen. 'They had assault rifles under their arms. I turned the corner and one of them went right past me, up to the top of the bridge. He aimed his gun and started shooting. 'That was the scariest part for me, it's stuck in my head I walked past this guy and saw him just before he did all those bad things.' After the shooting started, Banjo said his mind immediately switched into 'work mode', ducking behind a wall to photograph the gunmen. At a certain point, one of the gunmen turned toward him and bullets began whistling past his position. Your browser does not support iframes. 'It's all a blur', he said. 'I just documented it as best I could. At one point, he looked at me and I ducked down. Then, I could hear the pops of the gun and the whistling of bullets near me. 'I thought, someone else is shooting from somewhere. I have to move position - I ran behind a car and put my camera up around the side and tried to hold it still so I could roll video.' When the shooting had stopped, the photographer said he found it too painful to edit his own photos. 'I didn't want to look this person in the eyes again', Banjo admitted. 'I just sent them raw and my agent edited the pictures for me I am glad I did my job and was able to get out of there and back home to my family.' The attack was brought to an end when Syrian-Australian Ahmed al-Ahmed, 43, tackled Sajid Akram from behind and wrestled his weapon away. The tobacco shop owner was then shot multiple times in the shoulder by the second gunman as he secured the weapon. Al-Ahmed underwent surgery at St George Hospital, with a GoFundMe campaign raising over $1.5 million for his recovery. To listen to the exclusive interview with Banjo in full and a comprehensive breakdown of Sunday's attack, search for The Trial Australia now, wherever you get your podcasts. Three Canadian men accused of planning an ISIS terror attack have been arrested in connection to hate attacks targeting Jewish women. The Toronto Police Service (TPS) have arrested Waleed Khan, 26, Osman Azizov, 18, and Fahad Sadaat, 19, on suspicion of kidnapping, attempted kidnapping with firearms, sexual assault, and other offences informed, in part, by hate-motivated extremism. The arrests followed two attempted abductions, prompting a broader probe that uncovered a parallel terrorism investigation into Khan. He has since been charged with seven terrorism-related charges, including conspiracy to commit murder and funneling cryptocurrency to ISIS. Police alleged Khan worked with an individual named Allah Kareem and received instructions from a group to carry out attacks. A search of his home by the RCMP uncovered evidence of national security threats, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said Friday. Waleed Khan, 26 Osman Azizov, 18 Fahad Sadaat, 19 Vehicle flees following attempted abduction, June 24, 2025 In total, the trio faces 79 charges under Project Neapolitan, a major crimes investigation. On May 31, a woman walking in Toronto was approached by three me, one armed with a handgun, another with a knife, who tried to force her into a vehicle. They fled when she screamed and a motorist intervened. On June 24 in Mississauga, three men in an Audi SUV armed with a handgun, rifle, and knife chased two women before being stopped by a passerby. Video footage captured the vehicle fleeing from the scene. All three women were sexually assaulted, according to court filings. Chief Myron Demkiw, Toronto Police Service said in a statement: 'This investigation demonstrates the impact of strong collaboration in protecting our communities. Working with Peel Regional Police, the RCMP, and our law-enforcement and intelligence partners, we have arrested three individuals for offences targeting women and members of the Jewish community. 'The gravity of these alleged offences demanded a strong, united response and that is exactly what this partnership delivered. I want to thank our members and all of our partners for their tireless efforts and their shared commitment to public safety.' They say the jungle on the Philippines island of Mindanao has its own acoustics. Gunfire doesn't crack so much as roll: a low, brutal ripple that shudders through the trees and comes back at you from a dozen angles. In the hills, local troops still stalk Islamic State-aligned fighters who know every ridge and riverbed, every place you can make a man disappear. This is the island where the black flag rose above the city of Marawi in 2017. Thousands were dragged into a street-by-street war. Buildings burned until their steel frames twisted, foreign jihadis slipped in through the jungle to join the slaughter and more than 1,200 people died. It took five months of artillery bombardment, air strikes and grinding urban combat by government troops to bring Marawi back under the control of the capital, Manila. And it was to here, Mindanao's ungoverned corners, that Sajid Akram, 50, and his equally hate-filled son Naveed, 24, travelled weeks before they staged their terror attack on Bondi Beach last Sunday. First to Manila, then Davao, then down into the labyrinth of the southern Philippines. Sajid on his Indian passport, Naveed on his Australian one. The two men were seemingly just ordinary Sydney residents. Yet beneath that facade festered an ugly radicalisation, an ideological descent that culminated in a journey, back in early November, to Mindanao, where they were transformed from amateur extremists into trained killers. If that was a shock, it shouldn't have been. Interpol now warns that South-East Asia with its porous borders and light surveillance has become a major transit and training zone for Islamic State-linked militants after the fall of their so-called caliphate in Syria and Iraq. Since IS lost its last patch of Syrian land in 2019, the West has comforted itself with the idea the group is finished. Sajid Akram and his equally hate-filled son Naveed (pictured) travelled to Marawi weeks before they staged their terror attack on Bondi Beach last Sunday The Abu Sayyaf group is known for a litany of kidnappings, bombings, assassinations and extortions In fact, IS is more powerful than ever. It may no longer be a 'state' but it has become something far worse: a decentralised, global insurgency, flaring up wherever authority is weak. According to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, IS and its branches remain the world's deadliest terror group, responsible for 1,805 deaths across 22 countries in 2024 alone. UN and Europol data show that more than 40,000 foreign fighters from 110 countries have left their homelands to join IS and Al Qaeda cells around the world since 2011. The southern Philippines, and Mindanao in particular, is now a key node in the global jihadist movement. The Akrams didn't need to swear allegiance; simply being there was enough. Mindanao has become a finishing school for today's jihadists. They spent nearly four weeks on the island before returning home in late November. Two weeks later, they walked into Sydney's Archer Park armed, prepared, and willing to conduct a pogrom against Jewish civilians on the first night of the festival of Hanukkah. The video footage from that day makes clear just how successfully the Akrams had internalised their Mindanao tutelage. They wield their weapons with easy competence, moving with the cold focus of men who have rehearsed killing and intend to enjoy it. By the time officers had neutralised the father and subdued the son, around ten minutes after their attack had begun, 15 people lay dead, including a child, and more than 40 had been wounded. In under four minutes, Bondi Beach a global symbol of sunlit optimism had become a killing field. In the hours that followed, the police narrative quickly arrived at a conclusion. Authorities reported that the shooters were 'inspired by Islamic State ideology'. Police also said a vehicle registered to Naveed contained improvised explosive devices and two homemade Islamic State flags. Typhoons climatic and cultural form on Mindanao, which occupies roughly one third of the Philippines' total territorial area. At more than 36,000 square miles, it is bigger than Ireland and its population of 26 million accounts for just under a quarter of the Philippines' total population of 117 million. Members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Maguindanao Province in the Philippines. The area has long existed in a strange geopolitical twilight: one-third jungle insurgency, one-third criminal economy, one-third jihadist hinterland A Moro Islamic Liberation Front Fighter walks through a marshland in Maguindanao Province, Philippines. The southern Philippines is now a key node in the global jihadist movement Counter-terrorist intelligence sources tell me the island has long existed in a strange geopolitical twilight: one-third jungle insurgency, one-third criminal economy, one-third jihadist hinterland. While Muslims make up only 24 per cent of Mindanao's population, in the west and west-central parts of the island Muslims constitute a significant majority. For decades, Islamist and separatist groups have fought, splintered, merged and metastasised here. There are three main ones. Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) the most violent is known for a litany of kidnappings, bombings, assassinations and extortions. In 2014, a faction of the ASG pledged allegiance to IS and morphed into the IS East Asia (ISEA). Its occasional partners in violence are the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, named after a Muslim-dominated region of Mindanao. And then there is the Maute Group, the force that gained a bloody notoriety in 2017 for its capture of Marawi described above. The siege didn't just incinerate the landscape: it lit a beacon that drew extremists from across South-East Asia and beyond. After retaking Marawi, the Filipino authorities confirmed that dozens of militants from multiple countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Chechnya fought and died alongside local insurgents. Mindanao is now a vital training hub for jihadists, offering not grand ideological schooling that happens online but practical, lethal skills. Small-arms proficiency. Improvised explosive device construction. Counter-surveillance. Psychological conditioning. Urban-assault tactics. Tactical discipline. Everything a father and son might need to become the Butchers of Bondi. But their terrorist outrage is only the most recent example of IS's dispersed capacity for violence. The March 2024 Moscow concert hall attack, which was attributed to Isis-Khorasan, Central and South-East Asia, resulted in the deaths of 149 people. This year, I journeyed to Syria, where in the prisons and camps I met former IS members who either accepted no culpability for what they had done or claimed unconvincingly they had never joined the caliphate in the first place. People stand in front of floral tributes left at the promenade of Bondi Beach in Sydney after the attack Camp authorities told me many of the prisoners were waiting for the return of the caliphate and had no interest in being repatriated to their homes in continental Europe or Britain. Worse, their children were being indoctrinated into becoming the next generation of jihadis. I realised that many of these camps are effectively mini-caliphates. Beyond Syria, IS now maintains ten active 'wilayat' (provinces) from 'Isis-K' in Afghanistan and Pakistan to Isis-West Africa, Mozambique, Central Africa, Sinai, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Sahel Isis-East Asia includes the Philippines. The picture is clear: IS, far from being crushed, is fully globalised. Mindanao fits neatly into this new jihadist architecture. Flying to Manila attracts nothing like the attention that travelling to the Turkish-Syrian border does. Western counter-terrorism still largely operates in the patterns of the 2010s, focusing on Syria and Iraq. But the jihadist threat mutates and travels across the map like a virus seeking new hosts. And in the West, of course, this virus encounters an ever-weaker immune system. Placards waved at pro-Palestinian demonstrations bearing slogans such as 'Globalise the intifada' and 'Resistance by any means necessary' depict Israel as the source of the world's ills. Universities host speakers praising 'martyrdom'. Student unions declare Western civilisation 'inherently genocidal' unthinking slogans for a generation that mistakes vehemence for virtue, and for whom, in some cases, hatred has become holy. Authorities across the West reassure their populations that the protesters' calls for 'jihad' and 'intifada' must be contextualised and tolerated, that these words are merely metaphorical. Australia's 14/12 proves the opposite. As a terrorism expert told me: 'Islamic State is now global because, increasingly, so is radicalisation. The year before Bondi wasn't just marked by rising anti-Semitism; it was marked by a far broader loosening of moral guardrails across Western democracies, and the mainstreaming of extremist rhetoric within pockets of Western Muslim communities.' The Sydney Opera House with a Hanukkah menorah projected on its sails following the Bondi attacks Ideas once considered fringe have been given new oxygen by Gaza, social media echo chambers, and street protests 'for Palestine' in Western cities. Most of those who marched will never lift a hand against anyone. They'll signal their virtue on Instagram and then get an ordinary job. But the slogans linger. They create a permissive environment in which a minority already radicalised, already searching for justification hear not a metaphor but an instruction. The effects are clear to see. According to the Global Terrorism report, 'lone wolf' operations now dominate in the West, accounting for 93 per cent of fatal attacks over the past five years. Most used readily available weapons and required minimal planning. As my expert concludes: 'What is happening on the streets of cities across the West is dangerous. People don't understand the degree of extremism that is being fomented; how dangerous it is. 'In the Bondi case we can say that Mindanao taught the Akrams how to kill. But what they've seen on our streets over the last three years, and in our institutions over the last 20, taught them why.' Until we confront both the how and the why, we will see more days like Bondi when our age of global terror turns celebrations of light into arenas of darkness, and when the boundaries between foreign wars and domestic life collapse into a single, devastating moment. No one suspected Nigel Baker had an ulterior motive for taking his mobile phone with him when he went on trial for romance fraud at Snaresbrook Crown Court. Why would they? But Baker, who protested his innocence in a smart pinstripe suit, used it to groom another victim yes, in plain sight, during the actual case. In one text message, sent during a break in proceedings, to impress the woman he was targeting he told her he was on holiday and staying at a luxury country hotel. It was accompanied by a picture of the so-called five-star establishment. In fact, the 'hotel' was the court itself, which is housed within a Grade-II listed building, set in 18 acres with its own lake, on the edge of Epping Forest. The woman, who does not wish to be identified, only discovered the truth when she read about the trial on social media and realised the man she was falling for was in the dock. Has a defendant ever displayed more shame-faced chutzpah than 56-year-old Nigel Baker? The revelation emerged during our own investigation into the serial seducer after he was jailed for an unprecedented 17 years this week following a month-long trial in October when he was convicted of conning nearly 1 million out of middle-aged divorcees he met on dating websites. 'You had not a jot of empathy for anyone at all,' the judge told him. 'You are an entirely selfish individual who women need to be protected from.' Nigel Baker on his phone outside Snaresbrook Crown Court, where he was sentenced to 17 years behind bars for conning nearly 1 million out of middle-aged divorcees he met on dating websites In one text message, sent during a break in proceedings, Baker sent a woman he was targeting a picture of a so-called five-star hotel, which was in fact a photo of Snaresbrook Crown Court The sentence is thought to be the longest ever handed down for romance fraud. To put this in context, Baker, who has a string of previous convictions for dishonesty, got more than many rapists and armed robbers. The five victims on the indictment they are not the only women he 'mercilessly and cynically' fleeced include a businesswoman, an accountant and a police officer, who were all promised a second chance at happiness by Baker but ended up losing their life savings, pensions, family inheritances, even their homes in some cases, after being taken in by him. Their money funded Baker's gambling addiction, with any winnings going on expensive holidays, cruises and designer clothes for himself and his then partner, who was apparently oblivious to what he was doing. Three of the women who gave evidence against him in court were all being strung along at the same time. They are still on medication and receiving counselling. Baker's ex-wife, who spoke to the Daily Mail, along with a number of his victims, revealed how even his parents, who afforded him a caring and comfortable upbringing, were 'rinsed' of their savings. There's also a more disturbing storyline behind the already shocking details which emerged in court. A sixth victim, due to testify against Baker, died in tragic circumstances and a seventh tried to take her own life. Why were so many intelligent women convinced by him? It was not, said the judge, because of 'any negligence or naivete' on their part but because of the 'high level of sophistication of the romance fraud' and a ruthlessness in exploiting emotional vulnerability, which is the defining characteristic of predators like Nigel Baker. Accountant Shelly Monk is one of the women who helped put him behind bars. She had been divorced for eight years when she met Baker in February 2020 on the dating website Plenty of Fish which is focused on mid-lifers and boasts: 'Forget the days of awkward online dating and become part of a community of singles where you can come exactly as you are.' It did not turn out that way. Baker takes a photo outside the court. Three of the women who gave evidence against him in court were all being strung along at the same time Shelly Monk had been divorced for eight years when she met the fraudster in February 2020 on the dating website Plenty of Fish Poll Do you think a 17-year sentence is too much or just what Nigel Baker deserved? Too much Just enough Do you think a 17-year sentence is too much or just what Nigel Baker deserved? Too much 74 votes Just enough 586 votes Now share your opinion 'I had not been online for ages but I thought, new year, new start,' Shelly, 61, a mother of two, told us. She cannot find the exact profile Baker used when she saw his bio on the website but he used different profiles and aliases on different dating platforms. A typical one read: 'Dave, 6ft 5 in tall, very positive, bubbly, easy going, laid back, not your typical shallow man, strong believer in manners, morals, values and politeness. Looking for lifelong partner, soulmate, best friend.' Shelly was about to find out that everything, apart from his height, was a dangerous lie. Baker travelled to meet Shelly at her Surrey home in a Mercedes with tinted windows just days after they 'connected' on Plenty of Fish and had chatted 'intensely' on WhatsApp. 'I was relieved he looked the same as his profile,' she said. 'He carried himself very well and he was dressed from head to toe in designer clothes. You could tell he was from Essex. He was confident but not cocky. He came across as professional, a nice guy. He came along at what seemed the perfect time for me.' Over the next nine months which Shelly describes as a 'whirlwind' she ended up giving him the astonishing sum of more than 250,000. Baker engaged in a sustained pattern of emotional manipulation that was tantamount to coercive control to strip her of every penny he could get his hands on. He told Shelly all the things she wanted to hear: that he 'truly loved' her, that he wanted to marry her, and convinced her of his business success as an online bookie working remotely from all over the world. 'I want us ASAP forever x,' he told her in one WhatsApp message. 'Our time is near x. My kids absolutely idolise you. I dream of our own home x.' The truth was that he lived with his on-off partner in a modest terrace in Hornchurch, Essex, and had gambled heavily at dog racing tracks where he gained a reputation for failing to honour his losing bets with trackside bookies. Baker also had a prison record, serving a one-year sentence in the 1990s for forgery, theft and obtaining pecuniary advantage the offences are too old to obtain any further details and had a history of obtaining vehicles on finance, paying the deposit but not the instalments. So the shiny Merc he rolled up in to meet Shelly was almost certainly not his. His victims' money funded Baker's gambling addiction, with any winnings going on expensive holidays, cruises and designer clothes for himself and his then partner Baker engaged in a sustained pattern of emotional manipulation that was tantamount to coercive control to strip her of every penny he could get his hands on It was not long before the love-bombing was replaced by what might be described as a 'reverse Midas' strategy. Baker claimed he'd been 'wiped out' financially by his ex-wife other victims were given the same sob story and, in order to secure their future together, he needed to borrow from her to open an account with Betfair to place 'foolproof bets' which had made him a fortune in the past. Shelly agreed to bankroll him, giving him first a 40,000 payment, then 35,000, followed by 10,000. He ran up bills on her credit card, trousered an inheritance from her parents and a 200,000 bridging loan secured against the value of her house. 'I had no means of being able to afford all this,' Shelly explained,' recalling the nightmare. 'It was relentless. I had debts coming out of every corner.' When she asked for her money back, he sent her a chillingly cold message on WhatsApp. 'Your credit card is not my credit card,' he wrote. 'I was given permission by you to use it. The bridging loan you agreed to, not me. It's in your name, you signed it.' Shelly, who had to cash in two pensions to service the interest on her spiralling debts, ended up losing her home and had to move to Bristol to stay with friends. 'I am not a weak woman but for once in my life I let my guard down with him,' admitted Shelly, who now lives in Spain. 'I met his kids. We were looking at selling both our houses and buying together. I thought we were going to be married.' Before Shelly Monk, there was a string of other women: the businesswoman who lost more than 500,000; the mental health nurse who lost 4,320, which was 'every penny she had' to pay for her son's wedding; the police officer who lost nearly 80,000. All three, we now know, were being targeted by Baker at the same time. 'He is a predator,' said the 52-year-old nurse, who asked to remain anonymous. 'He told me I could get my pension out so we could live abroad. He even asked me if there was any inheritance money after my mother passed away. He would not let it go.' The police officer, a mother of two, who also asked not to be identified, told how, when she became suspicious of his Betfair scheme and asked to be repaid, he showed his true colours and tried to blackmail her. 'He left me a quite nasty, threatening voice note,' she said. 'We had shared some intimate photos during our relationship and he said that if I reported him he would ruin me with these images when all I had ever done was support him. I feel ashamed, disgusted and used.' Baker was unanimously convicted at Snaresbrook of 18 counts of fraud and false representation spanning eight years between 2012 and 2020. But the women who finally brought him to justice were far from his only victims. He persuaded a former banker to sell her 380,000 home in Basildon in 2014 on the promise he would 'double her money' for a better life together. When he vanished, the woman had to work odd jobs in shops and bars to rent cheap properties for herself and her two sons. Her eldest son said: 'I remember her coming home, saying, 'I've met this amazing bloke'. It hit us hard when he suddenly disappeared after promising us a new life.' His mother, who was 59, never recovered and died recently. She was due to give evidence in a possible second trial against Baker which is no longer going ahead, given he is already serving such a hefty sentence. Then there is Tamazin Morley, the owner and chief executive of a VIP concierge firm, who would have also taken part in a second trial. Tamazin, 57, was fleeced out of 60,000 and lost clients after Baker got hold of her phone and began approaching them, causing her business to collapse. She suffered a breakdown and took an overdose. 'He's a monster, an absolute psychopath,' said one of her closest friends. Tamazin now lives in Scotland and has only recently finished paying off her debts. As a younger man, Baker resembled one of those unsavoury characters in a Guy Ritchie film. He worked on his father's market stall in Basildon, selling leather jackets, where, according to contemporaries he 'scammed' other businesses and customers over consignments of stock he either never paid for or didn't deliver. 'People warned me he was a wrong'un but I was naive,' said ex-wife Tammy Bardouille, 60, who lived to regret marrying him in 1993. 'He never took money off me but he was an a*******,' she said. 'He was a bad gambler and a liar. 'I loved his mum and dad and I still talk to his brother and sister, but he rinsed his parents something to do with a mortgage.' Around this time, Baker owned a successful greyhound called Bakers Flash a name which also aptly described Baker himself. It was after his marriage to Tammy that he began targeting women for their money. 'He's been conning women for more than 25 years,' said a close friend from those days. 'We all thought he must be selling 'gear' [cocaine] because he had so much money and it wasn't coming from the dogs. 'He spent money like it was going out of fashion and he loves his clobber, especially Gucci. He had racks of jackets, trousers and Gucci loafers.' Holidays with his new partner included New York for Christmas, a Caribbean cruise, Thailand and Turkey all effectively paid for by women like Shelly Monk. Before he handed down his sentence at Snaresbrook, the judge told Baker: 'You have shown not a jot of remorse. On the contrary, I have watched you every day of this trial and you found parts of the trial entertaining, you were enjoying the misery of each woman.' Is there anyone who doesn't believe Nigel Baker deserves every day of his record sentence? Nurse Sandie Peggie has revealed for the first time the threats, vilification, isolation and abuse shes faced battling state-sanctioned harassment at the hands of Scotlands NHS. In an exclusive interview with the Scottish Daily Mail, the woman at the centre of a landmark tribunal case told how health board bosses, backed by the SNP government, set out to destroy her after she complained about being forced to undress in front of a transgender doctor who identifies as a woman. Yet even at her lowest point, the A&E nurse is clear that she has done nothing wrong and is now determined that no other woman should have to endure what she has gone through. Sandie, 52, said: This needs to end with me. I wouldnt change a thing and I wouldnt go back. I wouldnt have done anything different. All I have ever been is truthful and honest. I never once thought Id got this biological sex thing wrong. I had never heard of gender critical before all this. Feminist? I dont think I would have thought about it before, to be honest. But I would say that I would always stick up for women and womens rights. Im a realist. I believe a man is a man and a woman is a woman and how people dress is up to them. But dont come into a womans space. Nurse Sandie Peggie has spoken out about suffering state-sanctioned harassment at the hands of Scotlands NHS Sandie arriving at the employment tribunal in Dundee in February Ive been called a bigot and a transphobe and names like that. My employers, my union and the government have done nothing. Ive lost people I thought were friends. Ive learned a lot and who is there for you and who is not. Who my friends are. I suppose I just dont trust people as much as I did. I dont trust the system. But I dont dwell on anything. Even the location of her employment tribunal had to be changed from Edinburgh to Dundee because of a series of deeply concerning threats by trans activists. Yet, Sandie remains stoic, refusing to be cowed by those who try and shame her. Married to husband Darren for 30 years and with two grown up daughters, Sandie is an experienced Grade 5 nurse who worked nightshifts in the A&E department of Kirkcaldys Victoria Hospital. She said: I love my job and I miss it. It was one thing I felt confident about. I want to keep being a nurse. Its all I ever wanted to be since I was a little girl. Im fighting on because what has happened to me is wrong. And I suppose I am a strong person, I have my family, they are the people I turn to. They are supporting me with my legal team and I want to see this through to the end. Male born Dr Beth Upton was at the centre of the case Under-fire NHS Fife Chief Executive Carol Potter who has announced she is leaving her post next year In the tribunal judgment, four of Sandies claims of harassment against her employer NHS Fife were upheld last week and she is appealing the rest which relate directly to Dr Beth Upton, the medic at the centre of this case. It was late into a night shift on Christmas Eve 2023 that when she realised she was having a menstrual flood. Used to having heavy periods throughout her life, she headed to womens changing room to get a clean pair of trousers and pants, where she would encounter Beth, a junior doctor who had been posted to the busy A&E department. She had been introduced to Dr Upton when the medic started but had thought little of it until she discovered Dr Upton was being allowed to use the female changing area. Shed gone to her line manager but nothing had been done and as a victim of a previous sexual assaults, she had taken to waiting outside when the doctor was in if she needed to change. She said she had no idea that what happened in that room on December 24 would change the course of her life. Yet, Sandie has revealed her lowest point in this whole saga came when she was called in to a meeting by bosses who suspended her and then tried to kick her out the back door of the hospital where she has worked for 25 years. She said: They suspended me, told me I was banned from coming anywhere near the hospital, they were taking away my nursing badges and locking me out of my emails. My dad and my mother in law had both been unwell and I asked what if I needed to bring them in? They said I would need permission. I could feel myself welling up but I was not going to let them see me cry. My line manager offered me a tissue and suggested I leave by the back door. If I was being forced to leave, I told them I was going out the front door. I had done nothing wrong. A young Sandie Peggie dressed as a nurse It was only when she was in her car, that she started to sob and headed to see her mum Sheila and sick father Alex. Her father, who would pass away just days before her tribunal started, could barely stand but tried to make light of things by telling her he would walk up to the hospital to have a word. A call to her union, the Royal College of Nursing proved fruitless. Her rep said nothing other than to treat her suspension as a holiday. She said: I paid them 35 every three months for 30 years. I thought they would be there for me, you always think the union is going to have your back. Other staff who had issues with a biological male in the changing area had not made formal complaints and were unwilling and afraid to come forward. Sandie said: One of the guys at work was quite vocal about how he didnt agree about Dr Upton being in the womens changing room. One of the consultants, she was very much in agreement with me. But nobody else complained and she never complained to anybody about it. She mentioned it though, it was out there. Im upset that she wasnt listened to at the time. But the consultants dont get changed in that area. It doesnt affect them personally. Nobody has said sorry to me. And that upsets me. Ive lost friends, people I worked with, over this. One of them send me an awful message during the tribunal because her name was mentioned. But thats not my fault. I was under oath in the witness box. Another took to the witness box to use Sandies initial motherly concerns about her daughter Nicole coming out as gay against her. Ms Peggie following the conclusion of her tribunal against NHS Fife She said: I suppose I feel quite quite sad for her. She knows Im not a racist. I spoke to her in confidence about my daughter because her two sons were gay. My daughter had a boyfriend previously so it was a shock at first. You think youre talking to your friend who you know has been there. Her line manager who appeared so supportive in the beginning also turned on her in the witness box. Sandie said: I watched them all giving evidence and just thought, what is going on here? She has been buoyed by huge public support from around the world and from the likes of JK Rowling and comedy writer Graham Linehan. In the Scottish Parliament, the Conservatives, Labour and a number of independent MSPs have been very vocal in their support. But the SNP, the Greens and Lib Dems have ignored what has happened to her. Sandie said the SNP have helped create the problem as both First Minister John Swinney and his Health Secretary Neil Gray publicly backed the board of the under-fire NHS Fife. Their Chief Executive Carol Potter is retiring and will go next year. She said: This is the issue that caused problems for Nicola Sturgeon, youd think theyd see that. Men who say they are women are delusional. I dont believe that men can become women and I dont think they should be in womens spaces. I dont think its wrong to say that. Sandie Peggie has received no fee for this interview but asked that a donation be made to a Scottish charity that supports survivors of rape and sexual violence. The Brown University student who was falsely accused of shooting two people dead and injuring nine others revealed he has been targeted with 'vile' abuse since the tragedy. Mustapha Kharbouch called the days after the attack an 'unimaginable nightmare' in which he had 'received nonstop death threats and hate speech,' per a statement released by his legal team through AFP. 'I woke up on Tuesday morning to unfounded, vile, Islamophobic, and antiPalestinian accusations being directed toward me online,' he said. Kharbouch was erroneously linked to the crime by online sleuths who falsely claimed the perpetrator was a Palestinian at the Providence school, AFP reports. The allegations intensified after web pages containing references to Kharbouch were removed from the Brown website, something his lawyers say was done to prevent further doxxing. The true culprit has since been identified by the authorities as Claudio Neves Valente, a former student of the Ivy League college who is also thought to be behind the murder of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro in Boston just days after the mass shooting. Valente, 48, opened fire on students during an exam on December 13 before travelling from Rhode Island to Massachusetts and gunning down Loureiro on December 16, police said. He then disappeared and sparked a huge manhunt during which time Kharbouch was falsely accused. He was never formally named as a suspect or person of interest by the authorities - but he is now terrified he could become the next to die as a result of the misinformation. A statement from Brown student Mustapha Kharbouch's legal team claimed he had been attacked by an 'online smear campaign' falsely linking him to the Brown University shooting Kharbouch, who is a Palestinian activist, claims he was targeted due to his outspoken support for Gaza. 'Even in this nightmare, I have been flooded with incredible messages of support from friends, faculty, staff, and strangers alike,' Kharbouch said. 'It is because of them that I continue to have faith in a world that stands up against all forms of racism.' Kharbouch's legal team confirmed that he was forced to respond to 'inquiries from law enforcement authorities' about where he was when the shooting happened. They branded the accusations an 'online smear campaign' in response to the shooting. Kharbouch was allegedly targeted by a 'disturbing, racist, and hateful campaign to connect him to the tragedy', per his legal team. 'Racism against Palestinians is at the core of these baseless attacks,' a statement from his attorneys read. It accused 'bad faith actors' of blaming Kharbouch for the mass attack 'on the mere basis of his being Palestinian.' The statement from Kharbouch's legal team also addressed why multiple Brown University pages that referenced their client were removed. Claudio Neves Valente, 48, was named by federal authorities as the Brown University gunman. The Portuguese national attended the Ivy League school more than 20 years ago Valente was discovered dead from a selfinflicted gunshot wound in a Salem, New Hampshire, storage unit on Thursday Brown students Ella Cook (left) and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov (right) were killed in the shooting last weekend 'This is a standard precautionary measure to ensure the personal safety of any individual who has been doxxed,' his legal team said. His profile was removed, 'after farright online influencers posted hateful vitriol' trying to link Kharbouch to the shooting', his attorneys claimed. A member of a local law enforcement agency said on Thursday that Kharbouch was 'not, nor has he been a person of interest,' AFP reported. Suspected shooter Valente attended Brown to pursue a Masters of Science in physics from 2000 to 2001, before taking a leave of absence and later ultimately withdrawing. It is still not known why he opened fire at the Barus and Holley engineering building during final exams, killing Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, of Virginia, and Ella Cook, 19, of Alabama. Brown University President Christina Paxson said it was likely that Valente took classes inside that building when he attended the school. Two days later, he fatally shot MIT professor Nuno Loureiro inside his Boston home. Authorities said the shooter's original target was Loureiro and that the pair attended the same school in Portugal from 1995 to 2000. Two days after killing two students and injuring nine others at Brown, Valente fatally shot MIT professor Nuno Loureiro (pictured) inside his Boston home Kharbouch said he was targeted with 'hate speech' after online commenters falsely identified him as a suspect. He was never formally named as a suspect or person of interest by the authorities Valente's motive and the nature of his relationship with Loureiro are still unclear. He was found dead from a selfinflicted gunshot in a Salem, New Hampshire, storage unit on Thursday night after a sixday manhunt. Authorities found a vehicle he used parked outside the facility and then secured a search warrant for a unit believed to have been rented by Valente. He was found dead by suicide in an unoccupied unit. Valente had two firearms on him when he died, according to Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. 'He was found dead with a satchel, with two firearms and evidence in the car that matches exactly what we see here in Providence,' Neronha said. A man who was stabbed to death near a pub in a Surrey village has been pictured for the first time. Alfonso Sibley, 23, died after being fatally stabbed in an alleyway near the Wheatsheaf pub in Ewell on December 9. The youngster, known as Alfie, was attacked outside the nearby Spring Tavern pub before making his way several hundred yards down the road to The Wheatsheaf, where staff attempted CPR as he collapsed. Emergency services were called to the scene on Kingston Road at around 3.30pm but he sadly died at the scene. Surrey Police launched an investigation into Alfie's death and have since charged a 15-year-old boy with murder. He appeared at Guildford Magistrates Court on Monday. He was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Guildford Crown Court on Monday, December 22. A second 15-year-old boy, a 17-year-old boy, and a 20-year-old man were also arrested on suspicion of murder and have since been released on police bail while enquiries continue. Horrified residents said the man was ambushed by attackers who arrived and fled on motorbike. One local said: 'We have been told at least two attackers stabbed him to death after arriving and leaving on motorbikes. Alfonso Sibley, 23, was stabbed to death near near the Wheatsheaf pub in Ewell on December 9 Police outside the Wheatsheaf pub on Kingston Road, Ewell, where Alfie was found dead in a nearby alleyway 'It's horrific. This is a quaint and peaceful village. He made his way to The Wheatsheaf. He was so brave. 'The staff there were amazing. The staff at The Wheatsheaf tried their very best. One lad gave CPR and they all tried to stop the blood which was pouring out everywhere, it was a bloodbath. 'They tried to keep him alive but it was too late. We're told there were two attackers and they were on bikes.' Another woman in her 60s said she had been close to the scene and saw figures fleeing moments after the stabbing. She said: 'I saw these figures running off. Then moments later the whole area was blocked off. I've told the police. 'The victim is not local, by all accounts. It makes you think if they came out of the area to carry this out.' Patrick Ward, 56, said residents had recently noticed unknown men wearing balaclavas and riding motorbikes in the area. He said: 'Something has gone seriously wrong in the last few weeks. I moved here thinking it was tranquil and peaceful middle England.' An aerial shot of the pub shortly after Alfie's death on December 9 Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Kimball Edey of the Surrey and Sussex Police Major Crime Team said: 'My thoughts remain with the loved ones of the young man who has lost his life. 'Our investigation is ongoing, however, at this stage we do not believe we are looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. 'I know there has been concern in the local community about the events of Tuesday afternoon and I thank residents for their patience. 'I would also like to acknowledge the staff and customers at the Wheatsheaf Pub who tried to save the young man's life and I am grateful to them for their cooperation. 'We are continuing to appeal to anyone who may have information that could assist our investigation. 'Were you driving on the London Road, Ewell past the Spring Tavern between 3pm and 4pm, or along the Kingston Road past The Wheatsheaf pub or Queen Adelaide pub to the Ruxley Lane Junction, between 3.30pm and 5pm, on Tuesday, 9 December? 'Do you have CCTV, dashcam, helmet cam, or mobile phone footage that may have captured all or part of this incident? Every piece of information, no matter how small, could be vital.' Carrot Cottage Rabbit Rescue in rural South Wales, run by a husband and wife, is hardly the sort of place youd expect to find at the centre of Britains culture wars. Daisy and Chris Barrett have cared for over 150 rescued bunnies at the centre for nearly three years: cleaning hutches, preparing feed and nursing the vulnerable charges back to health not debating gender ideology online. Yet one mistaken click on X has dragged the couple into a toxic online feud, with a cabal of militant trans activists hell-bent on shutting down the charity to which the couple have devoted themselves. It all began in June this year when Chris, 42, who runs the sanctuarys social media account, followed back an account that was following Carrot Cottage on X, which then had 8,000 followers. Chris insists that he hadnt even checked the profile of this new follower: We dont look into who we follow, we just randomly follow back anyone who interacts with our page, he says. Little did he know that this particular account had previously tweeted a humorous photograph of a rabbit decorated with the colours of the Progress Pride Flag the updated version which features chevrons and rings on the familiar rainbow flag asking is he trans? This was seized upon by trans activists who claimed it was offensive. I will never forget when it first happened, says Chris. They told me we were following a Nazi. It wasnt a Nazi just someone targeted by trans rights activists as transphobic. Daisy and Chris Barrett run Carrot Cottage Rabbit Rescue in rural South Wales and have cared for over 150 rescued bunnies in the last three years Chris was bombarded by messages from other trans activists who had pored over the Carrot Cottage Twitter page, checking which accounts they were following. They had discovered that some of those profiles were, in their view, transphobic which they took as an indication that Carrot Cottages owners must be too. Trying to quell the pile-on, Chris tweeted: Here is the issue. I support bunnies. Im not here to advocate trans lives nor transphobia. Its literally just about bunnies. This was interpreted as him openly admitting that he does not care about transgender people. For this, Chris got called all the names under the sun, even though we only have the bunnies best interests at heart. One user suggested Carrot Cottage Rabbit Rescue was a step away from justifying genocide. All of a sudden, I was a bigot, a Nazi and wanted trans kids to die, because the person I followed was, supposedly, a transphobe, says Chris. Were not interested in any issue other than the welfare of our bunnies, he adds. We dont have transgender rabbits, we dont have non-binary rabbits, we have rabbits that need taking care of and feeding, so this was all completely new to us. I was even called a paedo, he says, by one of them who claimed Daisy whos 26 is a teenager. And then, based on absolutely nothing, they even accused us of being anti-Semitic! The couple were also targeted by a Canadian trans activist who rescues bunnies, claiming they were faking vet bills in order to request donations fraudulently. This is totally outrageous, says Chris. Every penny goes into caring for the bunnies, such as their medical bills, their food, forage, toys, and improving their housing. Others claimed to have submitted complaints to the United Kingdoms Charity Commission, with the aim of removing the rabbit sanctuarys legal status as a charity. One filed a formal complaint claiming Carrot Cottages account was overtly and explicitly encouraging anti-trans bigotry as a fundraising strategy. The charity was not investigated, but it clearly was designed to cause as much trouble as possible for Chris, Daisy, and the trustees. Chris and Daisy married in October 2022 and opened the rescue centre the following February. Their keen interest in rabbit welfare was first sparked when they got their own pet bunny, King Roberto who still lives with them at Carrot Cottage. The couple's rescue centre, Carrot Cottage, became the centre of a toxic online feud after they followed back an account on social media platform X which had incurred the wrath of trans activists For a moment, it looked as if their rabbit rescue centre was in jeopardy. Carrot Cottage, which relies on the donations of strangers, saw its social media following drop from 8,000 to 7,000. But Chris told Daisy: Im not backing down. Anyone who was still there at the end of the day would, he thought, be true supporters who really care about rabbits. So he was astonished when he looked down at his phone later to see that the account had gained thousands more followers many of whom had faced similar bullying from trans activists. Well-known names lent their support to Carrot Cottage, with JK Rowling being the most famous advocate. Then we had the MP Rosie Duffield, the actor James Dreyfus, Ricky Gervais, and many others, says Chris. Some have donated cash, others, lent their support on social media to challenge the haters and to raise the profile of the charity. Duffield resigned from the Labour Party in September 2024 after repeated clashes with colleagues about her belief that sex is biological and immutable, and Dreyfus was cancelled from his role in Doctor Who after voicing support for Rowling. Chris says that since all this began in June, they have more than tripled their social media following, which now stands at 30,000. Chris and Daisy refuse to apologise, unfollow or block the so-called transphobic accounts. That would go against all of our principles. We have to stand up for whats right. And the fact that these people were willing to destroy a sanctuary for vulnerable bunnies, because they cant see beyond their own mad obsession about trans rights, says it all. The pair have inadvertently become a cause celebre among those critical of the trans movement and have embraced their new role. Last month, the couple joined a womens protest against the Welsh government for its failure to implement the UK Supreme Courts April ruling on the legal definition of a woman (which states that a woman is a biological female). I never wouldve thought Id become an activist in this area, Chris says. But these crazy trans activists need to know that theyve probably pushed more people into opposing them than they could ever have imagined. NSW Premier Chris Minns has announced the chant 'globalise the intifada' will be banned, among a series of new measures announced this afternoon. Anthony Albanese announced on Friday a national buyback scheme will be launched to purchase newly banned and illegal firearms from Australian gun owners. He also said December 21 would become a day of mourning in Australia. Hunter MP Dan Repacholi has hit back at the gun reforms, saying he 'does not support changes that unfairly target responsible, law-abiding firearms owners'. Tesla billionaire Elon Musk also responded to Australia's new gun laws, writing: 'Thank god for the second amendment' on X. Seven men intercepted in Sydney last night shared the same 'extremist Islamic ideology' as the alleged Bondi Beach gunmen, authorities have confirmed. Those men have since been released from custody. It comes after the Islamic State has praised alleged Bondi Beach terrorists Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid, 50, as 'lions' and a 'source of pride' in a statement. The pair are accused of opening fire into a crowd of Jewish people celebrating the first day of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach on Sunday. Naveed remains in hospital under police guard after being shot by officers and woke from a coma on Tuesday. He has been charged with 59 offences. His father Sajid, a licensed firearms holder, was shot dead by police at the scene. The 15th and final victim of the massacre has been identified as eastern suburbs woman Tania Tretiak, who was at the Hanukkah celebration when she was shot. A group of over 700 surfers paddled out at Bondi Beach on Friday in memory of those who lost their lives in Australia's worst massacre since 1996. Jeffrey Epstein requested that underage girls show their IDs to prove that they were under 18 as new files further expose the late billionaire pedophile's depravity. The file were released as part of the Justice Department's drop of hundreds of thousands of the files after a law signed by President Donald Trump passed through both houses of Congress. A set of investigative notes, called EFTA00004179, from a May 2, 2019, interview with someone whose name is redacted reveals the disturbing passage showing how determined Epstein was to procure new victims. They appear to come from the FBI, as they begin with a formal FBI evidence cover sheet. The notes scribbled long-hand say that a redacted person 'witnessed him asking for ID' to a girl because he wanted to 'make sure' she was under 18 and didn't believe them. An additional redacted person had 'messed up by bringing more older girls,' the notes also say. Epstein was also apparently annoyed with an associate because he had brought a 'Dominican, darker-skinned' girl to him,' adding 'JE didnt want Spanish or dark girl'. When the redacted associate pointed out that he'd been ordered to bring a 'young girl,' Epstein replied: 'Yea, but not dark.' Jeffrey Epstein requested that underage girls show their IDs to prove that they weren't 18 as new files further expose the late billionaire pedophile's depravity The notes scribbled long-hand say that a redacted person 'witnessed him asking for ID' to a girl because he wanted to 'make sure' she was under 18 and didn't believe them Later on, the interview subject was confronted by Epstein, who said: 'You know what I like.' It was understood to mean 'young, petite, underage'. The subject 'doesn't recall' if anyone aged as young as 13 had been brought to Epstein. The notes also include references to Epstein's preference for Brazilian girls. Several photos of scantily-clad women with their faces redacted are among the release. The notes suggest they are from the ages of 14 to 17. The long-awaited Epstein files were released on Friday, shedding new light on the inner world of the convicted sexual predator. The Department of Justice posted the documents on its website, organizing the material into four separate data sets. The trove includes images from Epstein's homes, including rooms adorned with nude photographs and distinctive bright blue carpeting. Epstein was also apparently annoyed with an associate because he had brought a 'Dominican, darker-skinned' girl to him,' adding 'JE didnt want Spanish or dark girl' Several photos of scantily-clad women with their faces redacted are among the release. The notes suggest they are from the ages of 14 to 17 Other records detail Epstein's associations with high-profile figures such as Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Kevin Spacey and other famous individuals. Former President Bill Clinton features prominently in the files, appearing in photographs smiling at parties and swimming with women. More than 600,000 pages related to Epstein have now been released this year, prompting the Trump administration to describe itself as the 'most transparent in history' following Friday's disclosure. An initial review indicates the documents released today originate from three separate investigations into Jeffrey Epsteins crimes against young women. Many of the files appear to stem from a 2005 police investigation in Palm Beach, Florida, followed by a federal probe that culminated in Epsteins controversial 2008 plea deal. Others relate to a later investigation launched by Manhattan prosecutors in 2019 - a case that was never finished after Epstein died in jail while awaiting trial. The latest files release on Friday comes after two prior releases this week, which showed Epstein and a number of rich and powerful individuals including Bill Gates, Woody Allen and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor - formerly Prince Andrew. Ahead of the release on Friday, President Trump refused to answer questions about the release of the documents after an event with pharmaceutical company executives in the Oval Office on Friday, saying he didnt want to spoil the event by allowing the media to ask 'questions having to do with anything else'. The notes also include references to Epstein's preference for Brazilian girls Later on, the interview subject was confronted by Epstein, who said: 'You know what I like.' It was understood to mean 'young, petite, underage' 'I won't even take questions today, because there's no way I can take questions that are anywhere comparable to what you just witnessed, Trump declared. An initial review indicates the documents released today originate from three separate investigations into Jeffrey Epsteins crimes against young women. Many of the files appear to stem from a 2005 police investigation in Palm Beach, Florida, followed by a federal probe that culminated in Epsteins controversial 2008 plea deal. Others relate to a later investigation launched by Manhattan prosecutors in 2019 - a case that was never finished after Epstein died in jail while awaiting trial. Friday's dump of documents also revealed that Epstein once received a novelty check for $22,500 from Donald Trump. The name in the signature line reads very different from Trump's famous signature these days, but clearly reads in the designated space 'D. Trump.' The memo line was mostly covered by a redaction box and a similarly black-boxed woman stood beside a grinning check-wielding Epstein who donned a 'USA' crew neck. The image is a black and white scan of a framed photo that repeatedly reads along the edges the phrase 'once in a blue moon'. So far, it's the only piece of new information found linking Trump to Epstein. There is a publication in the files of Epsteins contact book, which includes a redacted entry for Trump. Its already known that the president was among those who appeared in Epsteins contact list. Newly released pictures contained within the Epstein files show Ghislaine Maxwell posing alongside Bill Clinton and actor Kevin Spacey inside Winston Churchill's War Rooms. The extraordinary photos likely date back to 2002, when the trio famously visited London for former president Clinton to address the the Labour Party conference. At the time, Spacey was a highly respected Hollywood actor, Clinton had recently finished his second term as president and Maxwell was a prominent socialite with links to Prince Andrew and A-listers around the world. More than 23 years on, those pictures form part of a highly sought after data dump related to the crimes of disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. President Donald Trump's administration was ordered to release the files by Friday following widespread anger and backlash from rusted-on MAGA supporters and critics alike. One of the images shows the trio beaming as they stand shoulder to shoulder, along with three other men, in the famed War Rooms where Churchill directed the British response to the Second World War. The rooms are located beneath the Treasury building in Westminster and are a tourist hotspot today. They were opened to the public in April 1984. During that same trip, the group were reportedly invited to tour Buckingham Palace, with an invitation from the Duke of York. Newly released pictures contained within the Epstein files show Ghislaine Maxwell posing alongside Bill Clinton and actor Kevin Spacey inside Winston Churchill's War Rooms The extraordinary photos likely date back to 2002, when the trio famously visited London for former president Clinton to address the the Labour Party conference In 2020, The Telegraph published a shocking picture of Maxwell and Spacey lounging on thrones belonging to the Queen and Prince Philip. The throne Maxwell was seated on was the same one the Queen used for her Coronation in 1953 a breach of palace protocol. The pictures of Maxwell, Clinton and Spacey are the latest showing the depth of Clinton's friendship with Epstein's right-hand woman, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her involvement in the disgraced financier's crimes. Epstein died by suicide while awaiting trial. Clinton was seen lazing about in a pool with Maxwell in one picture, and seen in another with Epstein himself where both men were wearing satin shirts with loud patterns. Epstein was also seen with Michael Jackson in an undated photograph. The late King of Pop was also seen with Clinton, though it was unclear if this was a different occasion. The release was intended to comply with a law overwhelmingly passed by Congress in November that mandated the disclosure of all Epstein files, despite the Republican president's months-long effort to keep them sealed. Trump for years had promoted conspiracy theories about Epstein, but the case has turned into a political liability for him since his return to the White House in January. Clinton and Spacey were pictured speaking to one another inside the war rooms Maxwell poses for a photograph outside Number 10 Downing Street More than 23 years on, those pictures form part of a highly sought after data dump related to the crimes of disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein Britains disgraced former royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor also appeared in the material, along with his former wife Sarah Ferguson. References to Trump are limited in the documents, and he has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with the case. The Department of Justice acknowledged that not all of the documents have yet been released, and said additional material is expected to be unsealed before the end of the year. The DOJ did not provide any context for the images of people included in the files. Being named or pictured in the files is not necessarily an indication of wrongdoing with Epstein. The Department of Justice has redacted entire documents in some cases, with more than a dozen politically exposed and high profile names reportedly blacked out, enraging the general public who had been waiting for new revelations about Epstein and his connections with society's elite. One of the stipulations was that nothing could be withheld solely because it 'embarrassed' a government official or public figure. New York, US (PANA) - The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for another year, as fighting in the countrys east intensified amid renewed offensives by the M23 rebel group Fears have been raised that Britain could end up paying yet more to Brussels in another Brexit backtrack by Sir Keir Starmer. Talks have begun with the EU on an electricity trading deal which ministers believe could help cut energy bills for homes. But in return for being allowed to rejoin its internal electricity market the EU is expected to demand Britain pays into its cohesion fund, which gives cash to poor regions of the continent. This comes just days after the Prime Minister signed up to the EUs Erasmus student exchange programme, which could cost UK taxpayers up to 6billion over the next seven years three times as much as a demand rejected by Boris Johnson during Brexit negotiations. Sir Keir also recently vowed to keep moving towards a closer relationship with the EU, having earlier this year agreed to a surrender deal that allowed French fishermen to trawl British waters for another 12 years. Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said: Having agreed to give the EU billions as part of the Erasmus deal for seemingly nothing in return, Sir Keir Starmer is now contemplating another bung to Brussels. Voters will rightly doubt whether he is really batting for Britain. Brexit reset minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said the Government would not make general contributions to the EU budget to achieve the electricity deal, which he said would drive down energy costs for UK families. Fears have been raised that Britain could end up paying yet more to Brussels in return for being allowed to rejoin the EU's internal electricity market In provocative remarks, Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel (pictured) claimed Sir Keir 'is now contemplating another bung to Brussels' Fears have been raised that Britain could end up paying yet more to Brussels in another Brexit backtrack by Sir Keir Starmer. But it is understood Labour is willing to consider fair contributions to gain access to the market, which would allow British companies to export energy to the bloc. Former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost said: The only thing we are getting back from this negotiation is the right to be subject to EU laws that we have no say in, dont suit us and cant change. Sources insisted that the UK has made clear it will not pay into the EUs cohesion fund. Chilling images have offered the clearest glimpse yet inside the infamous Manhattan townhouse of convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The trove of images were released Friday in the largest dump of evidence taken from Epstein's estate. Never-before-seen images from inside Epstein's lair on Manhattan's Upper East Side showed massage rooms, erotic paintings of women on his walls and hidden cameras. The $77million townhouse, a short walk from Central Park, was sold to Epstein by Victoria's Secret owner Leslie Wexner, who was known to have bankrolled much of Epstein's life in his heyday. Epstein filled the home with bizarre decor, including a sculpture of a woman clutching a rope hanging from the ceiling in his entryway. Many of the walls inside Epstein's Manhattan townhouse were decorated with paintings and pictures of scantily-clad women. In what is thought to be Epstein's bedroom, a hidden camera could be seen perched high up on an alcove above the room. An oriental blue porcelain sculpture was also seen. And a humiliating painting of former President Bill Clinton wearing a blue dress, an image that became infamous amid the fallout of the Epstein scandal, was found hanging in the halls. Chilling images have offered the clearest glimpse yet inside the Manhattan home of convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein Many of the walls inside Epstein's Manhattan townhouse were decorated with paintings and pictures of scantily-clad women - including inside his infamous massage room (pictured) An outside angle The trove of images were released Friday in the largest dump of evidence taken from Epstein's estate - including a camera seen in the top right of Epstein's bedroom A second camera above a bed in an adjoining room An oriental blue porcelain sculpture was also found in the fresh trove of images A humiliating painting of former President Bill Clinton wearing a blue dress, an image that became infamous amid the fallout of the Epstein scandal, was found hanging inside the Manhattan townhouse The townhouse, a short walk from Central Park, was sold to Epstein by Victoria's Secret owner Leslie Wexner A classic painting perched on a couch inside the Manhattan townhouse Epstein's home was adorned with books, massive paintings and polished hard wood floors His living room appeared to have massive floor to ceiling art work and a chandelier An image featuring Epstein's prominent black tile bathroom Epstein's massage room included shelved of lotions and oils and a massive photo of a nude woman A framed photo featured in the Epstein house of a completely nude woman The front of Epstein's New York City brownstone lair Large wooden doors accompanied by prominent drawings at Epstein's Manhattan home Epstein's initials were carved outside of him Manhattan brownstone The trove of images released Friday included many pictures of former President Bill Clinton, including one where he was seen swimming with Ghislaine Maxwell and a woman whose face was redacted. Clinton was also seen partying with Epstein and Michael Jackson in other images. Michael Jackson was seen in one image smiling alongside Epstein, and another showed Clinton with actor Kevin Spacey. In undated images from a dinner party attended by Epstein, rock legend Sir Mick Jagger was seen enjoying a meal with the pedophile, Maxwell and Clinton. Inside Epstein's home, an infamous painting of Clinton wearing a blue dress was hung on the wall. The huge trove of documents shared on Friday did not include dates or context from where they were taken. Being named or pictured in the files is not necessarily an indication of wrongdoing with Epstein. Clinton, Spacey and Maxwell were seen in other images at the Churchill War Rooms in London. In one image shared Friday, the former president was seen with his hands on the shoulders of actor Spacey. A beaming Clinton wearing a red hoodie could also be seen in another image alongside a woman whose face was redacted. Rooms in Epstein's home were adorned with lifelike tigers and gaudy carpets A stuffed tiger featured prominently in Epstein's hom One room in his home appeared to have a massage table in the center of it The massage table was surrounded by redacted images of half-dressed women Towels stacked on chairs next to the nude portrait in Epstein's massage room Pictured is a painting of a nude woman looking into a mirror The home also featured art of a bride statue hanging from a rope above a spiral staircase Pictured is an art installation in Epstein's estate The home featured troves of artwork which included nude statues A spiral staircase line with books and blue carpet his New York City home Epstein had an exercise room with multiple machines and a full length mirror A door in Epstein's home was photographed with sever damage on the bottom half Epstein's home had a statue of a young boy below images of insects Framed photos in Epstein's home included images of Pope John Paul II and Bill Clinton Epstein kept several framed photos of himself and other subjects, many of whom were redacted in the files Images in a scrapbook at Epstein's home featured half-dressed women lounging at a pool The redacted pictures featured unidentified women posing nude An art piece in Epstein's home of a nude woman's chest A large image hung in the home of Epstein posed outside with a woman An erotic book on Epstein's desk entitled 'Erotica Universalis' next to glasses and a bottle of water What appears to be a nightstand in Epstein's home that featured a bottle of water, phone and massager Epstein's home featured a pristine marble room with a fire place and white furniture A decorated uniform was pictured in Epstein's home Epstein also appeared to own an Israel Defense Forces shirt Another massive portrait featured children dancing with birds Maxwell, who is currently serving 20 years for her role in recruiting and trafficking minors for sex on behalf of Epstein, is also pictured outside Number 10 Downing Street. In another image, Maxwell pulled down the front of her top for the camera. Ahead of the files' release, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche drew scrutiny as he suggested some materials could be withheld for weeks. Although Blanche told Fox & Friends that the DOJ is 'going to release more documents over the next couple of weeks', the delay meant that the administration may violate a law signed by Trump in November ordering the full release of all unclassified materials about Epstein in the DOJ's possession within 30 days. Ahead of the files' release, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche drew scrutiny as he suggested some materials could be withheld for weeks. One room included seven computer screens and a laptop Dust-covered binders, CDs and passports at Epstein's home Nude mannequins were placed in one of Epstein's closets A closet in Epstein's home featuring a gold bejeweled crown His office had several pictures hung on the walls as well as a guitar Bins of materials narked with evidence tape The framed photos featured in the study included Marilyn Monroe and others The office had a coffee table full of books and bowl with candy in it Pictures hung on the walls in his office also appeared to feature actress Audrey Hepburn A dining room featured a gong and multiple leopard-print chairs Epstein's table with flowers, a laptop and what appears to be a magic eight ball sitting on top A table in the dining room included dozens of framed photos of Epstein and his star-studded associates Epstein seen with billionaire Richard Branson in Friday's drop of pictures and documents Epstein's home even featured erotic images in the bathroom One bathroom appeared to include pictures of a person unconscious and a nude woman in heels A photo over top of a towel rack had a redacted blonde woman lounging on a bed A tiled room of Epstein's home featured a massive photo of a woman in a robe A long hallway that features a checkered floor and artwork of a woman An image of a redacted girl was framed on a golden table Another erotic portrait of a nude woman that was hung in Epstein's home A more classical painting leaned against the wall next to a telephone Images of erotica were a theme in Epstein's home Other artwork was featured prominently in his home including this sculpture if a lion biting another animal The statue was featured over a book case with a stately mirror behind it A nurses costume was featured among the items in Epstein's home He appeared to own multiple costumes and wigs Pictured is an erotic toy Epstein kept among his costumes and accessories Although Blanche told Fox & Friends that the DOJ is 'going to release more documents over the next couple of weeks', the delay meant that the administration may violate a law signed by Trump in November ordering the full release of all unclassified materials about Epstein in the DOJ's possession within 30 days. It comes after two prior drops this week, which showed Epstein and a number of rich and powerful individuals, including Bill Gates, Woody Allen and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor - formerly Prince Andrew. An initial review indicates the documents released today originate from three separate investigations into Epsteins crimes against young women. Many of the files appear to stem from a 2005 police investigation in Palm Beach, Florida, followed by a federal probe that culminated in Epsteins controversial 2008 plea deal. Others relate to a later investigation launched by Manhattan prosecutors in 2019 - a case that was never finished after Epstein died in jail while awaiting trial. The think-tank behind Sir Keir Starmers leadership campaign has privately criticised Angela Rayners workers rights agenda. Labour Together sent MPs a provocative paper describing the Employment Rights Bill, which finally became law earlier this week, as a safety blanket that saps dynamism from the economy. It said that the Government should ditch 80 per cent of the new regulations to be imposed on firms under the legislation championed by the former Deputy Prime Minister, and instead embrace easy firing while also providing unemployment insurance for those laid off. The document accused ministers of going backwards on labour market regulation despite making progress on planning reform. It also opened with the words Tony Blair was right, in what will be seen as a further rebuke to those on the left of the party such as Ms Rayner. According to The Times, the paper was circulated among Labour MPs this week just as the Employment Rights Bill cleared its final parliamentary hurdles after a stand-off in the Lords forced ministers to water down some of its day one protections for workers. It comes after Labour Together, which masterminded Sir Keirs bid to take over the party in 2020, added to the speculation about the Prime Ministers future by surveying members on their preferred candidates in a future leadership election. On Friday night sources insisted the think-tank had not been calling on the Employment Rights Bill to be scrapped but was merely considering possibilities for the future of the economy. Labour Together, the think-tank behind Sir Keir Starmers leadership campaign, has privately criticised Angela Rayners workers rights agenda Labour Together sent MPs a provocative paper which opened with the words Tony Blair was right, in what will be seen as a further rebuke to those on the left of the party such as Ms Rayner A spokesman for Labour Together said: Labour Together totally supports this weeks Employment Rights Act. This paper was a provocation for private discussion about how to build a political economy centred on technological change and innovation. It looks beyond current policy, exploring ideas for spreading innovation and investment outside the South East and how to support workers through technological change with a bigger welfare state rather than regulation alone. But given the welfare state we inherited from the Conservatives, that is far away. The Employment Rights Act is the best way to give workers much more security now. David Lammy has charged taxpayers almost 7,000 for help with his tax return. The senior Labour MP used his Commons expenses to pay accountants' fees 10 times before the practice was banned last year. Figures published by the Parliamentary pay body show that he first used public money for the service back in 2012, with a 936 claim for '60 per cent of accountants fees'. He continued to claim back more than 600 a year for 'parliamentary accountancy' for much of the next decade with a final claim for 247 in March 2024. In total his claims came to 6,604 before the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) announced that it would no longer 'accept any claims relating to preparing a self-assessment tax return' from the 2024-25 tax year onwards. A spokesman for Mr Lammy, who is now Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor, insisted his claims were made and declared in line with rules set out by IPSA. Deputy PM David Lammy. The senior Labour MP used his Commons expenses to pay accountants' fees 10 times before the practice was banned last year But John O'Connell of the TaxPayers' Alliance campaign group said: 'Taxpayers up and down the country are finding the tax burden ever more burdensome with successive chancellors raising rates, freezing thresholds and layering on complexity. 'With the Deputy Prime Minister's Government being the worst culprit of this, he should be considering how this will look to his constituents.' And independent tax consultant David Whiscombe said: 'I'm sure that many MPs with income and gains from non-parliamentary sources have complicated tax affairs which warrant taking professional advice. But that has never been a reason, in my view, to expect the cost to be funded by the public. 'Being an MP does not of itself complicate an individual's tax affairs to the extent that it makes it necessary to take professional advice. In my view, IPSA's change of practice is justified and overdue.' Walter Mikac, who lost his wife Nanette and two young daughters Alannah and Madeline in the Port Arthur massacre, has welcomed new gun reforms introduced after the horror Bondi Beach tragedy that claimed 15 innocent lives. Martin Bryant used a Colt AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and a battle rifle to fire at innocent victims on April 28, 1996, killing 35 people and injuring 23 at the popular tourist area in Tasmania. He pleaded guilty to the attack and was given 35 life sentences without parole. Australia reacted to the massacre by strengthening gun laws with the National Firearms Agreement. In the wake of the horrific Bondi Beach shooting on Sunday, Mr Mikac, who founded The Alannah and Madeline Foundation to protect children from violence, has praised the new gun reforms introduced by NSW Premier Chris Minns. 'I am pleased that Premier Minns has listened to the community and to our gun safety experts and reconfirmed community safety as the central tenet of our gun laws,' Mr Mikac told news.com.au on Saturday. 'The horrific terror attack at Bondi Beach last Sunday is a devastating reminder that strong gun laws must evolve to address new risks not be weakened or undermined. 'This attack was fuelled by hate, but guns allowed that hate to be weaponised as terror.' Mr Mikac (pictured with six-year-old Alannah and three-year-old Madeline in happier times) said guns allowed hate to be weaponised as terror Mr Mikac lost his wife Nanette and two young daughters Alannah and Madeline in the Port Arthur massacre in 1996 (the family is pictured) Pictured is 4,500 prohibited firearms that were handed in following the Port Arthur massacre On Friday, Minns announced his government was proposing a cap on how many firearms an individual can own. The new legislation will limit ownership to four firearms, with strict exemptions for primary producers and sporting shooters. 'We will reclassify straight, pull, pump-action, button, lever release firearms into category C limiting their access primarily to farmers, agriculture and primary producers. We'll reduce magazine capacities for category A and B firearms to a maximum of five to 10 rounds from a current unlimited capacity,' he said. 'We'll introduce a complete ban on firearms that can use belt-fed magazines and we will remove the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal review pathway once a designation has been made that the licence should be taken. 'These are extraordinary measures. 'I want to make it clear they're not the end of the measures.' The move followed similar federal legislation announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier that day. The Labor government has launched a national buyback scheme to collect and destroy newly-banned and illegal firearms from Australian gun owners. Mr Mikac has praised the gun reforms introduced after the Bondi Beach shooting on Sunday Former Olympic sport shooter and federal MP for Hunter Dan Repacholi (pictured) has said he will not support the proposed gun law changes The MP said the changes unfairly target law-abiding firearms owners Albanese said the scheme will be the 'largest buyback since the Howard government initiated one in 1996', following the Port Arthur massacre. However, the reforms have sparked debate between Aussies, after former Olympic sport shooter and federal MP for Hunter Dan Repacholi said he would not support the changes. 'I won't be voting on NSW firearms legislation,' he said, noting they fall under state, not federal, legislation. 'Australia has strong gun laws and they save lives, but I do not support changes that unfairly target responsible, law-abiding firearms owners. 'Measures that are blunt, symbolic, or simply designed to appease public anger without improving safety are not the answer.' Repacholi, a licensed firearms owner, said he had gone through background checks, fit and proper person assessments, training and waiting periods. 'I understand the responsibility that comes with lawful ownership, and I know that the overwhelming majority of firearms owners do the right thing,' he said. NSW Premier Chris Minns announced proposed reforms to state gun laws on Friday The number of firearms people will be permitted to own will be capped at four (stock image) 'What happened at Bondi was horrific and should never have occurred. People are right to ask hard questions about whether it could have been prevented. 'From what we are learning, the focus should be on information sharing, risk identification and enforcement of existing powers, not on arbitrary limits that penalise people who have done nothing wrong. 'NSW Police already have significant powers to suspend or cancel licences where someone is not fit and proper.' Erika Kirk has endorsed JD Vance for a potential 2028 White House run. The Turning Point USA chief executive made the early announcement on Thursday during the organization's first AmericaFest conference since the murder of her husband Charlie Kirk. Erika, 37, told crowd that she wanted to see a huge victory for the Vice President, who is due to speak at the event in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday. 'We are going to get my husband's friend, JD Vance, elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible,' Kirk said in reference to him becoming the 48th president after Donald Trump. Her comments were met with rapturous applause and cheers, which briefly drowned her out, even though the Vice President has not yet unveiled any plans to run. Kirk has a close relationship with Vance and his wife, Usha, with the widow stating the couple have provided a source of support following her husband's death. Vance in particular has been a regular fixture at TPUSA events since his assassination in September. Her endorsement came as she tried to keep the peace amid a night of infighting among MAGA faithful at the glitzy event. Headliners Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson both took shots at each other during their respective speeches, battling over conspiracy theories that have swirled since Kirk's death. Erika Kirk has endorsed Vice President JD Vance for a potential 2028 White House run Erika suggested a Vance presidency is what her late husband Charlie Kirk would have wanted Shapiro kicked things off by criticizing Carlson for hosting far-right commentator Nick Fuentes on his show in October. He also collectively slammed him, Candace Owens, Megyn Kelly and Steve Bannon as 'frauds' and 'grifters.' Kelly and Bannon - as well as several other prominent conservatives - are set to take the same stage later this week. Shapiro warned 'the conservative movement is in serious danger' thanks to these conservative 'charlatans who claim to speak in the name of principle but actually traffic in conspiracism and dishonesty.' Owens, who was not present, was criticized for her repeated suggestions that Israel may have played a part in Kirks death, which, at least at first, cast a somber tone over the occasion in Phoenix. But Shapiro was first to send things off the rails. He urged the audience: 'We have an obligation to clarity and to honesty. This means that we actually have to be clear in the language that we use. We should not traffic in generality. We should not say things like, "They shot Charlie without specifying whom we mean by they."' 'The person who allegedly shot Charlie Kirk and whom all the evidence points at all of it is a gay trans-loving furry,' he went on, referring to the 22-year-old suspect in the Kirk assassination, Tyler Robinson. It was Carlson, though, who received the harshest treatment, as Shapiro continued to slam Owens, who has spearheaded some of the most viral and incendiary content about Kirk's death, including claims that staff at Turning Point USA 'betrayed' their boss. Vance has been supporting Kirk since her husband's death and is often seen at TPUSA events Shapiro criticized Carlson at the AmericaFest conference in Phoenix, Arizona, on Thursday Carlson responded with some barbs of his own, sending the event off the rails Shapiro said: 'The people who refused to condemn Candaces truly vicious attacks - and some of them are speaking here tonight - are guilty of cowardice. Yes, cowardice. 'The fact that they have said nothing while Candace has been vomiting all sorts of hideous and conspiratorial nonsense into the public square for years is just as cowardly.' Referring to Carlson, he said: 'If you host a Hitler apologist, Nazi-loving, anti-American piece of refuse like Nick Fuentes The person who said that Charlie Kirk was a, quote, "idiot"... you ought to own it.' 'There is a reason that Charlie Kirk despised Nick Fuentes and indeed even chided Dinesh D'Souza for debating him.' Carlson responded with his own barbs from the same stage. 'That guy is pompous,' Carlson began, panning Shapiro's serious tone. He said he laughed while watching snippets of Shapiros speech backstage. 'Calls to deplatform at a Charlie Kirk event? Thats hilarious.' Carlson also assured the crowd that he was not antisemitic after hosting Fuentes. Both men mentioned Candace Owens, who has repeatedly suggested that Israel is may be to blame when it comes to the killing of Kirk back in September Join the debate Is the MAGA movement divided irreparably? 'Antisemitism is not just naughty, its immoral,' he announced. He also complained about cancel culture, saying, 'I have a right to question your motives. Actually, why can't you answer the question? Why do you have to imply that some college kid is like some kind of Hitler-ite or something because he's asking about an event? Like what?' Carlson asserted: 'It is okay to ask questions. And I thought that was, like, the whole reason we were against the left. They're not going to force you to get up there and make ritual denunciations. 'Because this isn't my religion. It's politics.' The tone of the summit was a far cry from that of last year's, where both Shapiro and Carlson asserted the US was entering its 'golden age'. At the time, Donald Trump has just won the election, and Republicans had won both the House and Senate. 'We are going to get my husbands friend JD Vance elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible,' Erika promised to start the event. Days before, at a CBS News town hall held by Bari Weiss, the widow begged Owens to stop spreading conspiracy theories about her husband. Owens, one of the most watched personalities in the world, responded to the remarks from Shapiro in a post to X Thursday night. 'Ben only cares about Israels interests. So Israel is involved,' she wrote. Speakers set to take the stage Friday and over the weekend include Vice President Vance, Fox News' Jesse Watters, Tulsi Gabbard and House Speaker Mike Johnson. More than 30,000 attendees gathered for the hectic opening night of the four-day event. Jake Tapper took out his phone and scrolled in exasperation through the hundreds of pages of redacted content in the Epstein files released by the Department of Justice Friday. The CNN host joined Democrats who blasted Attorney General Pam Bondi for not putting out the legally required amount of information regarding the billionaire pedophile's crimes. As he discussed complaints from the left, Tapper grabbed his phone and held it up to the CNN cameras Friday night. 'Talk about blacking out. I don't know if I can get a close-up of my phone. This is one of the documents that the Justice Department released. It's 100 pages,' he said. 'This is what it looks like, I don't know if you can see. It's all black. It's just 100 pages of redaction. That's the transparency we're getting here.' Ro Khanna, a co-sponsor of the bill, has called for impeachment proceedings against Attorney General Pam Bondi over the lack of information and the inability to completely release the files. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson slammed the media's obsession on social media. 'This clearly says that it was redacted to protect victims. Ridiculous to demand the names of victims be shared publicly.' she wrote. Jake Tapper took out his phone and scrolled in exasperation through the hundreds of pages of redacted content in the Epstein files released by the Department of Justice Friday This undated photo released by the U.S. Department of Justice shows Jeffrey Epstein She then asked: 'Why do the sickos in the liberal media want a document called "masseuse list," which was clearly redacted to protect victims, to be public?' The long-awaited Epstein files were released on Friday, shedding new light on the inner world of the convicted sexual predator. The Department of Justice posted the documents on its website, organizing the material into four datasets. The trove includes images from Epstein's homes, including rooms adorned with nude photographs and distinctive bright blue carpeting. However, the DOJ did not provide any context for the images of people included in the files. Other records detail Epstein's associations with high-profile figures such as Michael Jackson, Sir Mick Jagger, Kevin Spacey and other famous individuals. Former president Bill Clinton features prominently in the files, appearing in photographs smiling at parties and swimming with women. He has since issued a blistering response, denying having any knowledge of Epstein's crimes. More than 600,000 pages related to the pedophile have now been released this year, prompting the Trump administration to describe itself as the 'most transparent in history' following Friday's disclosure. An initial review indicates the documents released today originate from three separate investigations into Jeffrey Epstein's crimes against young women. Join the debate Should governments prioritize victim privacy or full public disclosure in cases like Epstein's? Many Democrats have blasted Attorney General Pam Bondi (pictured) for not putting out the legally required amount of information regarding the billionaire pedophile's crimes Bill Clinton is seen with his arm around Michael Jackson. The pair pose with Diana ross and a redacted woman in the new release Many of the files appear to stem from a 2005 police investigation in Palm Beach, Florida, followed by a federal probe that culminated in Epstein's controversial 2008 plea deal. Others relate to a later investigation launched by Manhattan prosecutors in 2019 - a case that was never finished after Epstein died in jail while awaiting trial. Being named or pictured in the files is not necessarily an indication of wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. Ahead of the release on Friday, President Trump refused to answer questions about the release of the documents after an event with pharmaceutical company executives in the Oval Office on Friday, saying he didn't want to 'spoil' the event by allowing the media to ask 'questions having to do with anything else.' 'I won't even take questions today, because there's no way I can take questions that are anywhere comparable to what you just witnessed,' Trump declared. Jeffrey Epstein posing alongside Michael Jackson in an undisclosed location Billionaire Richard Branson is seen alongside Epstein, with two women pictured behind Friday's dump of documents also revealed that Epstein once received a novelty check for $22,500 from Donald Trump. The name in the signature line reads very different from Trump's famous signature these days, but clearly reads in the designated space 'D. Trump.' The memo line was mostly covered by a redaction box and a similarly black-boxed woman stood beside a grinning check-wielding Epstein who donned a 'USA' crew neck. The image is a black and white scan of a framed photo that repeatedly reads along the edges the phrase 'once in a blue moon.' So far, it's the only piece of new information found linking Trump to Epstein. There is a publication in the files of Epstein's contact book, which includes a redacted entry for Trump. It's already known that the president was among those who appeared in Epstein's contact list. Thousands of new images were released in the Epstein files data dump on Friday but one photo in particular struck a terrifying chord amid fears the billionaire pedophile was lounging half-naked with a toddler. Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein is all smiles in the picture - many of which show him at his luxurious estate. He poses without a shirt and with what appears to be a white towel wrapped around his waist on a couch. Epstein is joined by another person, who is largely out of frame. But eagle-eyed critics pouring over the nearly 600,000 pages of documents released by Donald Trump's Department of Justice on Friday afternoon noted the person's tiny leg and foot were visible in the left hand corner of the image. The scrawny little leg and foot, encased in a black sneaker, were so small that many theorized they belonged to a toddler. Although the image could be innocent - the inclusion with so much evidence of sex trafficking sparked outrage. 'There's a f***ing toddler in the newly released photos from the Epstein Files. Disgusting animal,' one critic said. Another wrote: 'One image shows Epstein shirtless, with a child's leg visible in the frame.' Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein is all smiles in the picture as he poses without a shirt and with what appears to be a white towel wrapped around his waist on a couch He is joined by another person, who is largely out of frame in the image. But eagle-eyed critics pouring over the nearly 600,000 pages of documents released by Donald Trump's Department of Justice on Friday afternoon noted the person's tiny leg and foot were visible in the left hand corner of the image In the image, the leg is so small it does not reach beyond the edge of the couch the person is sitting on. Epstein's victims were primarily minors, but the disgraced financier is most famously known for taking advantage of young women aged 14 to 17. Court documents and testimony from accusers details allegations against Epstein from victims who say they were as young as 11 when the abuse began. So photographs of him with children who appear far younger than that have sparked concerns that the depths of his crimes go further than what has been previously reported. A complaint made to the FBI by a woman in 1996 revealed Epstein was accused of stealing photos and negatives an artist had taken of her 12-year-old and 16-year-old sisters for a personal project. The one-page report was taken years before an investigation was launched into allegations that Epstein was sexually abusing underage girls. The artist's name is redacted in the file, but the handwritten report says she believed Epstein sold the photos. She has since identified herself as Maria Farmer, a woman who long claimed she had filed a report but had been met with silence by the FBI and allegations she fabricated her complaint. Farmer said Epstein had previously asked her to take photos of young girls at swimming pools. 'I've waited 30 years,' she told The New York Times on Friday. 'I can't believe it. They can't call me a liar anymore.' Epstein was pictured with several people who had their faces protected in the images, out of concern they may have been his victims Mnay pictures illustrated Epstein with young girls The data dump on Friday was intended to comply with a law overwhelmingly passed by Congress in November that mandated the disclosure of all Epstein files The complaint also says the woman reported being threatened by Epstein not to talk about the photos or 'he will burn her house down.' The data dump on Friday was intended to comply with a law overwhelmingly passed by Congress in November that mandated the disclosure of all Epstein files. Trump had spent the first months of his return to the White House trying to keep them sealed. He had for years promoted conspiracy theories about Epstein, but the case has turned into a political liability for him since his return to the White House in January. Former MAGA ally Marjorie Taylor Greene led Republican efforts demanding every single Epstein file be released to the public as an act of transparency. She voiced her fury on Friday when it became clear that the Department of Justice had redacted huge swathes of information, including the names of high profile individuals featured in the documents. 'The whole point was NOT to protect the 'politically exposed individuals and government officials,' Greene wrote on X in a scathing takedown of everyone involved. 'That's exactly what MAGA has always wanted, that's what drain the swamp actually means. Epstein's massage room included shelved of lotions and oils and a massive photo of a nude woman The home also featured art of a bride statue hanging from a rope above a spiral staircase An erotic book on Epstein's desk entitled 'Erotica Universalis' next to glasses and a bottle of water 'It means expose them all, the rich powerful elites who are corrupt and commit crimes, NOT redact their names and protect them.' She accused the administration of breaking the law by not releasing the information in full. Meanwhile, thousands more pages of Epstein files were withheld entirely and will be released to the public 'at a later date.' What did emerge were dozens of never-before-seen images from inside Epstein's lair on Manhattan's Upper East Side. The images showed massage rooms, erotic paintings of women on his walls and hidden cameras, as well as sex toys and fantasy costumes. The $77million townhouse, a short walk from Central Park, was sold to Epstein by Victoria's Secret owner Leslie Wexner, who was known to have bankrolled much of Epstein's life in his heyday. Epstein filled the home with bizarre decor, including a sculpture of a woman clutching a rope hanging from the ceiling in his entryway. Many of the walls inside Epstein's Manhattan townhouse were decorated with paintings and pictures of scantily-clad women. Epstein's home had a statue of a young boy below images of insects Clinton features prominently in the files, seen here relaxing in what appears to be a hot tub Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is seen lying across women at a black-tie event with Maxwell In what is thought to be Epstein's bedroom, a hidden camera could be seen perched high up on an alcove above the room. An oriental blue porcelain sculpture was also seen. And a humiliating painting of former President Bill Clinton wearing a blue dress, an image that became infamous amid the fallout of the Epstein scandal, was found hanging in the halls. Another file in the released trove included a receipt for two books about erotic slavery purchased on Amazon. One of the books was titled 'Roadmaps for Erotic Servitude', while he second was titled 'Training with Miss Abernathy: A Workbook for Erotic Slaves and Their Owners.' The blurb for the first book reads: 'The author of Ties That Bind joins forces with a grateful slave to produce this gripping and personal account on the subject of consensual slavery. 'Philosophical and intense, SlaveCraft dares to delve beneath the surface of D/s relationships and give us an intimate and revealing view from a rare perspective--that of a slave.' Clinton was also seen partying with Epstein and Michael Jackson in other images. Michael Jackson was seen in one image smiling alongside Epstein, and another showed Clinton with actor Kevin Spacey. In undated images from a dinner party attended by Epstein, rock legend Sir Mick Jagger was seen enjoying a meal with the pedophile, Maxwell and Clinton. The inclusion of individuals' names or pictures in the files released is not an indication of any wrongdoing. Many of the people identified in other releases have denied having done anything wrong Clinton was among the most prominently featured high-profile figures throughout the trove of information and pictures released. Epstein is pictured with broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite Clinton swims in a pool with Maxwell and an unidentified woman Bill Clinton is seen with his arm around Michael Jackson. The pair pose with Diana ross and a redacted woman Images of erotica were a theme in Epstein's home In another picture, he appeared in a spa with a person whose face had been blacked out. In another, he was swimming in a pool. 'The White House hasn't been hiding these files for months only to dump them late on a Friday to protect Bill Clinton,' a spokesperson for Clinton said in the hours immediately after the files were released. 'This is about shielding themselves from what comes next, or from what they'll try and hide forever. 'So they can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn't about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be. 'Even Susie Wiles said Donald Trump was wrong about Bill Clinton,' the spokesperson added, referencing Wiles' recent interview with Vanity Fair in which she admitted 'Trump was wrong' about there being incriminating evidence against Clinton. 'There are two types of people here. The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships with him after. We're in the first,' Clinton's spokesperson said. 'No amount of stalling by people in the second group will change that. Everyone, especially MAGA, expects answers, not scapegoats.' After Bill Clinton was featured prominently in the 300,000 page Epstein document, a spokesman for the ex-president accused Donald Trump of using him as a 'scapegoat.' The Department of Justice released the resounding document Friday with photos and evidence connected to the conviction of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. All of the information and images were divulged without dates, context or background details. The Epstein Files Transparency Act stipulated that only victims or minors were to be redacted. Clinton was one of few faces left uncovered and he was featured in at least a dozen photographs. The emergence of the pictures is embarrassing for the former president, but their inclusion in the data drop does not necessarily imply wrongdoing by Clinton, who has denied illegal activity. One of the most prominent photos featured Clinton half naked in a pool with Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell and multiple, scantily clad redacted women. The former president's chief of staff, Angel Urena, released a statement on Clinton's involvement with Epstein. Urena claimed that by releasing the files, the White House is 'shielding themselves' 'The White House hasn't been hiding these files for months only to dump them late on a Friday to protect Bill Clinton,' he said in the statement posted to X. Clinton seemed to comfortably lounge in a hot tub in the slew of images released with the files The former president was also pictured swimming in a pool with several scantily clad women Clinton grinned with a redacted woman perched right next to him Despite controversy surrounding their friendship, Trump (pictured left) barely appeared in the recently released Epstein files 'This is about shielding themselves from what comes next, or from what they'll try and hide forever. 'So they can release as many grainy 20-plus-year old photos as they want, but this isn't about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be.' Clinton was also pictured in 'grainy' photos posing next to Michael Jackson, Diana Ross and a redacted woman. He even appeared as a portrait. In the painting, Clinton is pointing forward while lounging in a blue dress and red high heels. In another shocking photo, he is seen smiling in silk shirts with Epstein himself. The files showed Clinton posed in Winston Churchill's War Rooms with Kevin Spacey and chatting at dinner next to Mick Jagger. Despite his frequent cameos in the pages and pages of documents, Urena said Clinton stopped associating with Epstein as soon as his shady behavior came out. 'There are two types of people here,' the statement continued. Another photo featured Clinton at dinner with Maxwell and Mick Jagger A portrait of Clinton was featured in the Epstein images. In the painting, Clinton lounged in a white chair sporting a blue dress and heels In one picture, Clinton and Epstein posed together wearing silk shirts A picture of framed photo's at Epstein's house appeared to be of Donald Trump and Melania 'The first knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships with him after. 'We're in the first. No amount of stalling by people in the second group will change that.' The loaded statement seemed to accuse the current president of continuing a relationship with Epstein even after the financier's disgrace. 'Everyone, especially MAGA, expects answers, not scapegoats,' Urena concluded. Trump previously claimed that Clinton visited Epstein's private island 'supposedly 28 times.' Clinton has denied accusations of his frequent visits to Little St. James, per Axios. The president's chief of staff Susie Wiles clarified in a recent interview with Vanity Fair that 'there is no evidence' those visits ever occurred. Trump also said on social media that Bill and Hillary Clinton 'spent large portions of their life with Epstein,' per the New York Times. In another photo from the files, the former president posed at a desk in Winston Churchills War Rooms with Ghislaine Maxwell and Kevin Spacey Clinton posed with Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, and a third redacted woman Mick Jagger made an appearance in the files, and posed with Clinton and an unidentified woman A framed photo in Epstein's home showed the sec offender posing with a check signed by Trump House Democrats released a series of emails in November which outlined the sitting president's relationship with Epstein. According to BBC, the two fell out of friendship in the early 2000s before his initial arrest in 2006. But Trump's name appeared in emails between Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2011. 'I want you to realize that that dog that hasn't barked is Trump.. [VICTIM] spent hours at my house with him,' one email read. Other emails Epstein sent himself alleged that Trump had met his victims, one in particular that worked at Mar-a-Lago. 'Trump knew of it. and came to my house many times during that period,' he wrote. Trump, however, barely appeared in the lengthy document that the DOJ released December 19. He can be seen in a picture or two featured on Epstein's desk and among his personal scrapbooks. But his presence is nowhere near as prominent as Clinton's. As Trump has vehemently denied a long term friendship with Epstein, he ordered an investigation into Clinton and other Democrats who were associated with him. President Donald Trump remained silent amid accusations of a 'cover-up' after the release of thousands of files related to convicted pedophile Jeffery Epstein. The president hyped the economy while speaking at a rally in North Carolina on Friday night but declined to address the growing outrage over his refusal to release all the documents related to Epstein. The Department of Justice released more than 300,000 pages of evidence connected with the case - including images of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson and Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. However, there are still many files that were left redacted in defiance of Congress. There has been rampant speculation that the administration was protecting powerful people implicated in Epstein's crimes. After the rally Trump flew to Mar-a-Lago amid a growing chorus of criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna - who pushed to release the files - said that Trump's release was insufficient. 'Unfortunately, todays document release by [Attorney General Pam Bondi] grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law that @realDonaldTrump signed just 30 days ago,' Massie wrote. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for Attorney General Pam Bondi to resign. 'Now the coverup is out in the open,' Ocasio-Cortez said. 'Protecting a bunch of rapists and pedophiles because they have money, power, and connections. Bondi should resign tonight.' Republicans like Nancy Mace and Marjorie Taylor Greene were also unsatisfied with the release. President Donald Trump remained silent about the release of thousands of photos related to convicted pedophile Jeffery Epstein while speaking at a Friday night rally. Pictured: Trump getting off a plane at West Palm Beach International Airport to head to his Mar-a-Lago resort Jeffrey Epstein requested that underage girls show their IDs to prove that they weren't 18 as new files further expose the late billionaire pedophile's depravity Mace tweeted out several hours after the drop: 'RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES' Greene called the redactions 'not MAGA' and said the insufficient drop had some Republicans 'raging and walking away.' CNN anchor Jake Tapper took out his phone and scrolled through hundreds of blacked out pages while live on air. 'Its all black. Its just 100 pages of redaction,' Tapper complained. 'Thats the transparency were getting here.' At least six of Epstein's victims have broken their silence to express disappointment with the files released by the Trump administration. Marina Lacerda, one of the women who claims she survived sexual assault by Epstein beginning when she was 14 years old, said she wanted to see greater transparency. 'Just put out the files,' she said. 'And stop redacting names that don't need to be redacted.' Jess Michaels, one of Epstein's earliest known victims, had similar concerns in a discussion with The New York Times. 'They are proving everything we have been saying about corruption and delayed justice,' she said. 'What are they protecting? The coverup continues.' Join the debate What do you think should happen when powerful people are accused of hiding the truth from the public? CNN anchor Jake Tapper was seen taking out his phone and scrolling through hundreds of blacked out pages Members of Congress who pushed to release the files, including Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, slammed the redactions The president commented briefly on failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during the rally, noting that it was more fun to beat her in the election than Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. 'She's nasty. I wouldnt want to go home to her,' Trump said about Hillary Clinton. 'She was a nasty bperson. I was going to use a B word but my wife would not be happy.' Former President Bill Clinton was seen in released images from Epstein's estate while relaxing in a swimming pool and sitting on a plane with a woman. Trump appeared to be mentioned just once in the files. It was alleged that Epstein introduced Trump to a 14-year-old girl at Mar-a-Lago where Trump said, 'This is a good one, right?' Trump has insisted that he banned his former friend Epstein from his Florida estate once he discovered the financier was trafficking young women. Earlier on Friday, Trump hosted an event in the Oval Office to talk about lower prescription drug prices but did not take questions from the press. President Donald Trump with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, right, arrives on Air Force One Several photos of former Democrat President Bill Clinton highlighted the release One photo even showed Clinton with Michael Jackson, who also posed for a photo with Epstein in the drop He also ignored the press as he left the White House and boarding Air Force One for North Carolina. More than 600,000 pages related to the pedophile have now been released this year, prompting the Trump administration to describe itself as the 'most transparent in history' following Friday's disclosure. The Justice Department has said additional materials will be unsealed and released before the end of the year. The DOJ posted the documents on its website, organizing the material into four separate data sets. The trove includes images from Epstein's homes, including rooms adorned with nude photographs and distinctive bright blue carpeting. Clinton protested the release of the photos, as a spokesman accused the DOJ of 'shielding' President Trump and 'stalling' the full release. 'Everyone, especially MAGA, expects answers, not scapegoats,' the statement read. Others accused the Justice Department of redacting too many details in the released documents. Clinton is seen swimming in a pool with Epstein's infamous madam Ghislaine Maxwell Epstein was also apparently annoyed with an associate because he had brought a 'Dominican, darker-skinned' girl to him,' adding 'JE didnt want Spanish or dark girl' Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche insisted that the redactions were necessary to protect the identities of victims. "The only redactions being applied to the documents are those required by law full stop,' he told Fox News. 'There are no redactions of famous people.' Senior Trump officials reacted on social media to some of the photos of Clinton. 'Oh my!' exclaimed Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, on X in reaction to the photos. 'Jumpman, Jumpman, Jumpman that boy up to somethin,' wrote White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, sharing a photo of Clinton with a woman who's identity was redacted on X. An initial review indicates the documents released today originate from three separate investigations into Jeffrey Epstein's crimes against young women. Many of the files appear to stem from a 2005 police investigation in Palm Beach, Florida, followed by a federal probe that culminated in Epstein's controversial 2008 plea deal. Others relate to a later investigation launched by Manhattan prosecutors in 2019 - a case that was never finished after Epstein died in jail while awaiting trial. Marina Lacerda, one of the women who claims she survived sexual assault by Epstein beginning when she was 14 years old, said she wanted to see greater transparency from the Justice Department and expressed frustration that all the files aren't out yet Jess Michaels, one of Epstein's earliest known victims, had similar concerns Being named or pictured in the files is not necessarily an indication of wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. Ahead of the release on Friday, President Trump refused to answer questions about the release of the documents after an event with pharmaceutical company executives in the Oval Office on Friday, saying he didn't want to 'spoil' the event by allowing the media to ask 'questions having to do with anything else.' 'I won't even take questions today, because there's no way I can take questions that are anywhere comparable to what you just witnessed,' Trump declared. Friday's dump of documents also revealed that Epstein once received a novelty check for $22,500 from Trump. The name in the signature line reads very different from Trump's famous signature these days, but clearly reads in the designated space 'D. Trump.' The memo line was mostly covered by a redaction box and a similarly black-boxed woman stood beside a grinning check-wielding Epstein who donned a 'USA' crew neck. The image is a black and white scan of a framed photo that repeatedly reads along the edges the phrase 'once in a blue moon.' So far, it's the only piece of new information found linking Trump to Epstein. There is a publication in the files of Epstein's contact book, which includes a redacted entry for Trump. It's already known that the president was among those who appeared in Epstein's contact list. Trump said he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago in 2007 and said they hadn't spoken in years. The billionaire pedophile took his own life in a Manhattan prison in 2019. Washington, DC, US (PANA) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has again flagged the involvement of regional elements in Sudan's bloody war and said the immediate goal is the cessation of hostilities A woman was arrested by heavily armed police in dramatic scenes on one of Sydney's busiest roads after a delivery van was allegedly stolen in a brazen daylight carjacking. Police were called to the M4 at Blacktown in Sydney's west on Saturday morning following reports of a woman trying to escape the passenger side of a moving delivery van. Highway patrol officers attempted to stop the van and initiated a pursuit after the vehicle allegedly failed to stop. The pursuit was soon terminated due to public safety concerns. A short time later, a passenger in the van a 30-year-old woman, was located by police in King Street, Parramatta. She was shaken but uninjured. With assistance from Polair, and the Tactical Operations Group tracking the vehicle, the alleged carjacking finally came to an end when armed police swooped and rammed the van off the road on James Ruse Drive at Rosehill. Shocked witnesses saw camouflage-clad police pulling the alleged female driver out of the van, before yelling 'Get on the ground' and 'You're under arrest', the Daily Telegraph reported. 'We saw all the police in camouflage pulling this person out of the van,' one recalled. Heavily armed officers rammed into the white van which was allegedly stolen The allegedly stolen van's front bonnet was damaged during the police ram raid 'We were so panicked we thought it was something really bad,' The front bonnet of the allegedly stolen van sustained extensive damage during the ram raid. The van was later towed away for police forensic testing. A woman, 48, was arrested at the scene. She was charged with a string of offences, including two counts of taking and driving conveyance without consent of owner, take/detain person with intent to obtain advantage cause actual bodily harm, and police pursuit not stop drive dangerously. Police will allege the woman stole a second vehicle outside Nepean Hospital in Kingswood before stealing the van in Oxley Park. The woman was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Sunday. Police have assured the public that the alleged carjacking has no links to last Sunday's Bondi terror attacks. A woman was arrested and taken to Granville Police Station, where she was charged with a series of offences At least six of Jeffrey Epstein's victims have broken their silence to express disappointment with the latest trove of files released by the Trump administration. The Department of Justice on Friday released 600,000 pages of largely unseen pictures and documents relating to the disgraced billionaire financier. But critics have accused the administration of flouting an order to publish all relevant information without any unnecessary redactions after it emerged that huge chunks of files had been entirely blacked out. The DOJ also admitted that the trove of documents released were not exhaustive, and that more pictures and files would be released at a later, unspecified date. The revelations sparked fury from Epstein's accusers and victims, who slammed the 'lack of transparency' over the documents. Marina Lacerda, one of the women who claims she survived sexual assault by Epstein beginning when she was 14 years old, said she wanted to see greater transparency from the Justice Department and expressed frustration that all the files aren't out yet. 'Just put out the files,' she said. 'And stop redacting names that don't need to be redacted.' She said she was skeptical of the administration saying it's aiming to be transparent. Marijke Chartouni, who claimed Epstein sexually abused her when she was 20, weighed in on Friday, noting: 'If everything is redacted, where is the transparency?' Epstein accuser Lisa Phillips said she believed authorities behind the release on Friday were 'protecting themselves, not the victims' Marina Lacerda, one of the women who claims she survived sexual assault by Epstein beginning when she was 14 years old, said she wanted to see greater transparency from the Justice Department and expressed frustration that all the files aren't out yet 'In the beginning, they were calling us a hoax, right?' she said. 'Now they're like, ''We believe you, we're gonna release the files,'' but yet you still haven't released the files and it's not even fully transparent.' She said 'so many of the photos' which were released in huge data dumps were entirely 'irrelevant' to the case. The extraordinary photos offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Epstein's Manhattan lair and his depraved activities. Lacerda was a key witness in the 2019 investigation which led to Epstein's arrest and sex trafficking charges. 'We have been let down,' she said. 'We waited for this day to bring these other men who have been protected to justice.' Jess Michaels, one of Epstein's earliest known victims, had similar concerns in a discussion with The New York Times. 'They are proving everything we have been saying about corruption and delayed justice,' she said. Jess Michaels, one of Epstein's earliest known victims, said: 'They are proving everything we have been saying about corruption and delayed justice' Lacerda was a key witness in the 2019 investigation which led to Epstein's arrest and sex trafficking charges Annie Farmer, said she was relieved her sister's allegations were proven true in the files released on Friday 'What are they protecting? The coverup continues.' Michaels accused Epstein of sexually assaulting her when she was a 22-year-old aspiring dancer in 1991. She has been outspoken in campaigning for the release of all the files the Justice Department had collated over the years on Epstein and his co conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her part in his sick crimes. Marijke Chartouni, who claimed Epstein sexually abused her when she was 20, also weighed in on Friday, noting: 'If everything is redacted, where is the transparency?' Speaking to CNN, Epstein accuser Lisa Phillips said she believed authorities behind the release on Friday were 'protecting themselves, not the victims.' 'I feel like they have so much information to start connecting the dots and for survivors to get justice. But as you're seeing, we just keep stalling.' Phillips has maintained she was subjected to years of abuse by Epstein and his associates. One of the only victims who found any positives in Friday's information was Maria Farmer, who was finally vindicated after years of maintaining she made a complaint about Epstein to the FBI years before they investigated him for his sex crimes. Annie Farmer did note that she was disappointed by the overall lack of transparency she saw within Friday's release Laura Bloom McGee (C) and Annie Farmer (R), survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, react after receiving word that the U.S. Senate unanimously approved release of the Epstein files Victims of Jeffrey Epstein, from left, Sarah Ransome, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, and Marijke Chartouni. Giuffre tragically died by suicide earlier in 2025 Farmer's revelations have long been met with silence by the FBI and contempt from critics who claimed she had fabricated the entire complaint. But in among the trove of information on Friday was a complaint made to the FBI in 1996 by an unnamed woman who claimed Epstein stole photos and negatives she had produced of her 12-year-old and 16-year-old sisters for a personal art project. The one-page report was taken years before an investigation was launched into allegations that Epstein was sexually abusing underage girls. Farmer's name is redacted in the file, but the handwritten report says she believed Epstein sold the photos. Farmer said Epstein had previously asked her to take photos of young girls at swimming pools. 'I've waited 30 years,' she told The New York Times on Friday. 'I can't believe it. They can't call me a liar anymore.' The complaint also says the woman reported being threatened by Epstein not to talk about the photos or 'he will burn her house down.' Farmer had fought for years for her complaint to be made public, and said she felt 'vindicated' by its release on Friday. Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epsteinis all smiles in the picture as he poses without a shirt and with what appears to be a white towel wrapped around his waist on a couch Clinton features prominently in the files, seen here relaxing in what appears to be a hot tub. Though embarrassing for the former president, appearing in the files does not imply wrongdoing, which Clinton has denied Critics have slammed the data dump, arguing the administration was expected to release every Epstein file with minimal redactions, and has failed to deliver Her younger sister, Annie Farmer, said: 'It's a tremendous relief that she doesn't have to continue to fight to prove her truth.' Annie Farmer did, however, note that she was disappointed by the overall lack of transparency she saw within Friday's release. Both Farmer sisters have openly spoken about their experiences with Epstein. Maria Farmer claimed she was sexually assaulted by the duo, while Annie recalled being invited to Epstein's ranch in New Mexico when she was 16. She claimed Epstein climbed into bed with her one morning to 'cuddle' while she was there. While more than 13,000 files were released on Friday with hundreds of thousands of pages of content, other critics have complained the documents are not easily searchable and instead must be trawled through for information. Former MAGA ally Marjorie Taylor Greene led Republican efforts demanding every single Epstein file be released to the public as an act of transparency. She voiced her fury on Friday when it became clear that the Department of Justice had redacted huge swathes of information, including the names of high profile individuals featured in the documents. 'The whole point was NOT to protect the 'politically exposed individuals and government officials,' Greene wrote on X in a scathing takedown of everyone involved. 'That's exactly what MAGA has always wanted, that's what drain the swamp actually means. 'It means expose them all, the rich powerful elites who are corrupt and commit crimes, NOT redact their names and protect them.' She accused the administration of breaking the law by not releasing the information in full. Jeffrey Epstein had a giant oil painting depicting an aroused young boy in a twisted 'coming-of-age ceremony' inside his Manhattan townhouse, documents released by the Department of Justice revealed. The creepy mural, proudly displayed in one of the many bedrooms in Epstein's Upper East Side mansion, showed a boy prancing around a room with an erect penis as demonic-looking figures in the background looked on. The piece of artwork took up nearly an entire wall of the bright pink bedroom, which was sparse, save for a queen bed, two night tables and a closet with neatly folded towels and bathrobes with gaudy patterns. The photo of the mural was taken by an FBI photographer on July 6, 2019, the day Epstein was arrested at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey on charges of trafficking underage girls for sex. The FBI and the New York Police Department executed a search warrant on his home after he was taken into custody. Over 1,800 photographs were taken inside the massive nine-story residence over two separate days. The mural of the young boy was painted by Jorge Alvarez, a Cuban-American artist based in Miami, Florida. Epstein spent a lot of time socializing in Palm Beach, roughly 65 miles north of Miami. Alvarez did not respond to a Daily Mail request for comment. Alvarez painted the 83 inch by 126 inch mural titled 'Coming of Age Ceremony' in 1995. Currently, the painting is in the possession of Collective Hudson Auction House in Kingston, a town in upstate New York about 100 miles north of the city. Pictured: The 'Coming of Age Ceremony' mural that was discovered in Jeffrey Epstein's New York mansion on the Upper East Side of Manhattan The painting was created by the Cuban-American artist Jorge Alvarez in 1995 An FBI photographer snapped a photograph of the bedroom where it was displayed Pictured: Epstein's former Manhattan mansion on East 71st St Collective Hudson held an auction on September 21, 2025, but no one bought the painting. Its estimated value is anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000. Dozens of paintings were sold that day and there were only a few that buyers passed on. The trove of photos of Epstein's townhouse revealed other interested tidbits about how he was living right up until he was busted a second time for sex crimes. His initials were posted in golden letters right outside his front door, so anyone walking by could see he lived there. Near the entryway was a wraparound desk with seven computer monitors. A February 2024 lawsuit filed by two of Epstein's accusers claimed Epstein's 'New York mansion had a room in which men that Epstein hired monitored what was happening in the home.' A review of the photos taken throughout the home confirms what was previously known about Epstein's personality. He was deeply obsessed with sex and women's bodies, given that countless rooms featured paintings or photographs of nude women in suggestive poses. The pictures at Epstein's home were taken on the day he was arrested, July 6, 2019 Pictured: Jeffrey Epstein's initials are seen emblazoned near the front door to his mansion A room at Epstein's home containing a desk with seven monitors. This could be the surveillance room referred to in a federal lawsuit filed last year by two of Epstein's accusers Pictured: A room in Epstein's home that had an outdoor furniture set Pictured: A room with pictures and paintings of nude women This bathroom has a photo of two young boys looking down into their underwear Other bizarre decorative choices included a bronze statue of a young boy wearing a sideways ballcap and a statue of a young-looking woman in a bridal dress clinging onto a rope. One of the home's many bathrooms had a photo of two young boys grabbing the front of their underwear and looking down at their private parts. Another room had a taxidermized tiger lying on the floor. The FBI's exploration of the house also revealed an unsigned note that expressed support for Epstein and referred to the girls he trafficked as 'runaways'. 'Watch out for people coming at you,' a portion of the note read. 'I will be pulling for you Mr. Epstein. I really am!!' The DOJ released thousands of documents from Epstein investigative files on Friday, the deadline set out by a law that was signed last month by President Donald Trump. Given that authorities have already acknowledged there are millions of pages of documents in their possession related to Epstein, Democratic lawmakers were quick to accuse the DOJ of violating the governing the files' release. The law, the Epstein Files Transparency Act, states that the Attorney General must make 'all unclassified records' available in a searchable format 30 days after its enactment. Bill Clinton was seen frolicking in a swimming pool with Ghislaine Maxwell in bombshell images from the latest Epstein files release Epstein was also seen cozying up to the former president in the image release on Friday 'The Justice Department's document dump this afternoon does not comply with Thomas Massie's and my Epstein Transparency Act. 'They released one document from a New York grand jury of 119 pages. Totally blacked out,' Ro Khanna, the California Democratic congressman who co-authored the law, said in a video posted to social media on Friday evening. 'It is an incomplete release, with too many redactions. Thomas Massie and I are exploring all options. It can be the impeachment of people at Justice, inherent contempt or referring for prosecution those who are obstructing justice,' Khanna added. Massie, the other author of the law, said much the same as Khanna, calling out Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy, Todd Blanche, for failing 'to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law.' Massie implied that Bondi, Blanche and others at the DOJ could be convicted of obstruction under a future presidential administration. Ahead of the release, Blanche said during a Fox News interview that he expected to release 'several hundred thousand documents' on Friday. 'I expect that were going to release more documents over the next couple of weeks, so today several hundred thousand and then over the next couple weeks, I expect several hundred thousand more,' he added. The most explosive photos to come out have been pictures of former President Bill Clinton with Epstein, which has prompted some accuse the DOJ of selectively releasing damaging information about liberals. Pictured: A note to Epstein that was found in the home by FBI investigators Pictured: A stuffed tiger was seen in one of the rooms of Epstein's home In one photo, Clinton was seen swimming in a pool with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's sex trafficking accomplice and former girlfriend. The president, who has also been featured in photographs released by House Democrats, has so far remained silent on the release. He has previously admitted to a friendship with the disgraced financier but has long maintained he severed ties before Epstein's sex crime conviction. Trump has not been accused of any illegal activity and when the White House was reached for comment, an automatic reply from spokeswoman Abigail Jackson was sent back. The lengthy statement said the Trump administration is 'transparent' on the Epstein issue and also hurled accusations at Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Stacey Plaskett, a non-voting member of the House of Representatives from the US Virgin Islands. 'The Trump Administration is the most transparent in history. By releasing thousands of pages of documents, cooperating with the House Oversight Committees subpoena request, and President Trump recently calling for further investigations into Epsteins Democrat friends, the Trump Administration has done more for the victims than Democrats ever have,' the statement from Jackson began. 'And while President Trump is delivering on his promises, Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries and Stacey Plaskett have yet to explain why they were soliciting money and meetings from Epstein after he was a convicted sex offender. The American people deserve answers,' Jackson concluded. Tom Silvagni's long-time girlfriend has been spotted for the first time since he was sentenced to six years in jail for rape. Model Alannah Iaconis visited Silvagni's high-profile parents, AFL great Stephen and TV presenter Jo, at their Balwyn North rental in Melbourne's east on Saturday. Dressed in black pants and a white shirt, the 23-year-old Miss World Australia Victoria 2025 winner arrived at the house at 10am on Saturday and spent most of the day holed up inside with the Silvagnis as she tried to avoid the cameras outside. The Balwyn North house is close to their former property where her boyfriend Tom twice assaulted a young woman in January 2024 after sneaking into the guest room where she was sleeping. He then sexually assaulted her while pretending to be her boyfriend - his then-close friend Anthony LoGiudice. Silvagni, 23, was recently found guilty of two counts of rape and ordered to serve a minimum three years and three months in jail before he would be eligible for parole. Photos taken by the Daily Mail on Saturday show Ms Iaconis - who only last month declared she was 'feeling grateful, inspired and more motivated than ever' - exiting a black vehicle before waiting to be let through the security gates. Silvagni's older brother and AFL star, Jack, arrived later at the house and told reporters that Ms Iaconis would not be coming out. Model Alannah Iaconis, the girlfriend of Tom Silvagni, visited his high-profile parents at their rental home on Saturday Ms Iaconis exited a black vehicle before waiting to be let through the security gates Jack Silvagni later attended his parents' home and admitted his family were 'doing it hard' 'She knows you're here... and shes not going to say anything to you guys,' the new St Kilda recruit said. 'The family [are] doing it hard.' When asked by Daily Mail whether Ms Iaconis' presence meant that she still supports Tom, Jack said it wasn't for him to comment on. Thats for you guys to work out, but yeah. I mean, its Saturday arvo, you guys dont want to be here, we dont want you here. Theyre not going to come out,' he said. 'You guys do what you got to do, but from our perspective if you guys could move on that would be great. Were just still trying to rally together. I get you guys have got a job to do. Ms Iaconis has stood by her boyfriend since the accusations first came to light over a year ago and even took the stand in his defence. She has maintained her public silence on Silvagni and the trial, and no evidence of their relationship is featured on her social media. However, the model drew some criticism online after she was spotted posting about brand events she'd attended at the time Silvagni's ill-fated suppression order was lifted and he was publicly named. Alannah Iaconis arrived at the Silvagni home about 10am on Saturday and spent much of the day with the family Alannah Iaconis is the long-time girlfriend of Tom Silvagni, who will spend at least three years behind bars 'Were just still trying to rally together,' Tom's eldest brother Jack (pictured) told Daily Mail The Silvagni family managed to keep their name out of the headlines for more than a year because of a court-imposed non-publication order protecting their youngest son and the family. However the court lifted that order and Melbourne scuttlebutt was confirmed. Jo Silvagni first appeared on TV in the early 1990s as a co-host on Sale of the Century from 1991 to 1993 and later fronted Channel Nine's lifestyle program Looking Good. She later fronted TV ads for Zoot Review, speaking to Australian celebrities who spruiked products such as Cold Power, Ski yoghurt and Nurofen. For more than a decade, Jo has also been one of the public faces of Chemist Warehouse, which is holding fire on a decision about the partnership in the wake of her son's conviction. She continues to appear in TV ads for the well-known brand, although they have taken down some videos from their sites. Stephen is recruiting manager at St Kilda, which has also just recruited his son Jack, who has crossed from Carlton, where the Silvagni name is one of the club's most famous. Tom's grandfather Serge Silvagni was a premiership player with the Blues, and Stephen played more than 300 games and was named the AFL's greatest ever fullback in the Team of the Century. Tom Silvagni had tried to convince his victim she had sex with Mr LoGiudice's son Anthony on the night of his attack. The jury heard the victim had consensual sex with Anthony in an upstairs bedroom. At 1.58am, Mr LoGiudice left in an Uber, arriving at his home at 2.09am. Silvagni then deceived the woman, falsely claiming Anthony's Uber had been cancelled and that he would be returning upstairs. Instead, Silvagni entered the darkened bedroom himself, climbed into the bed and impersonated his mate before digitally raping the woman twice. Tom Silvagni pictured outside court last month before he was convicted of two counts of rape Tom's father Stephen Silvagni (middle) and mother Jo (left)i broke down after addressing media last week in the wake of the guilty verdict Silvagni's mum Jo - the former co-host of prime-time game show, Sale of the Century - also copped backlash this week after she was caught on camera lashing out at a reporter. The Chemist Warehouse ambassador was seen racing out of a Melbourne court on Wednesday with her husband as the pair tried to dodge questions. How do you feel about the sentence that was handed down? she was asked by Sky News Australia reporter Georgie Dickerson. Jo, 55, pushed Dickerson to the side and told her to, Go away! She also lashed out when asked, Will you be appealing the sentence?, replying, Do your job! Days earlier, she comforted her husband Stephen as he broke down in tears outside of court as he indicated that his son would appeal the guilty verdict. Our son continues to maintain his innocence, and we stand firmly behind him, Mr Silvagni said. Our goal is to clear his name and bring him home. The couple drew criticism online after it was revealed that they had chosen to not be in court as their sons victim read out an emotional victim impact statement. A British national has been charged after allegedly trying to board a flight without a ticket and attempting to seize an officer's firearm during a scuffle with federal police at a major Australian airport. The 35-year-old man was arrested about 5pm on Tuesday following allegedly aggressive behaviour towards federal police at Melbourne Airport. AFP officers first responded after receiving reports a man had attempted to board an international flight without a ticket, while acting erratic. Police began speaking with the man, when they claim he reached for one of the officer's holstered firearms. 'AFP officers then attempted to restrain the man and is alleged he resisted arrest,' a federal police spokesperson said. 'A Taser and OC spray were subsequently deployed before additional AFP officers were requested to assist in restraining the man.' The UK national was charged with four offences, including causing harm and obstructing to a Commonwealth public official. He was remanded in custody to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on March 16. A British national allegedly assaulted an AFP officer during an altercation at Melbourne Airport on Tuesday (stock image) Authorities remain on high alert for antisocial, violent or disruptive behaviour at airports across the country in the days leading up to Christmas The offences carry maximum penalties of 13 years and two years imprisonment, respectively. It comes as authorities remain on high alert for antisocial, violent or disruptive behaviour at airports across the country. A man was charged on Wednesday after making anti-Semitic threats and using his hand to mimic a gun toward a female passenger during a flight from Bali. Federal police arrested the man once the flight landed at Sydney International Airport, before he was charged with threatening force or violence against members of groups. AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Emily Nicholson said the community had the right to feel safe at Australian airports. 'The AFP works closely with the airline industry and will intervene if anyone's behaviour becomes aggressive or violent,' Det Acting Supt Nicholson said. 'The AFP has zero tolerance for antisocial, violent or disruptive behaviour at our airport precincts, and we will take action against those who offend.' With Christmas just days away, revellers up and down the country got into the festive spirit on 'Black Eye Friday' after millions finished work before the holidays. The Friday before Christmas Eve has earned the nickname 'Black Eye Friday' due to the number of fights that break out in bars, pubs and clubs, with A&E departments in full swing. Partygoers hit the town in major cities across the UK to drink, eat and dance the night away. Many will be waking up with sore heads and queasy stomachs this morning as the drinks seemed to be in full flow with city centres full of people getting merry and crawling across bars and clubs. Revellers donned their finest Christmas outfits, while others took to fancy dress with people dressed as Santa, Christmas trees and even the Grinch. While many were seen smiling as they stumbled their way home, some seemed worse for wear and needed a helping hand from friends to make it to the bus or taxi. LEEDS: Three women are all smiles as they head out for a night of partying NEWCASTLE: Two women wearing blue Santa hats get into the part spirit LEEDS: Three women ready for a night out on the town in Leeds on Friday, known colloquially as 'Black Eye Friday' NOTTINGHAM: A man gets into the Christmas spirit by giving his friend a piggyback LEEDS: A blonde woman clutches her handbang as she poses with her friend while heading on their night out MANCHESTER: Two friends strut their way down the street on their way to a Christmas event MANCHESTER: Two revellers take to the streets of the northern city LEEDS: These three woman are all laughs as they took a seat on the street LEEDS: Partygoers pose in the street ahead of their festive night out MANCHESTER: Revellers hit the town in Manchester for start of last weekend before Christmas MANCHESTER: A woman heads down the street clutching her purse as she heads on her night out LEEDS: It was all too much for Santa and his elf who ended up on the floor in the city centre NOTTINGHAM: Police were called to a Nottingham pub on 'Black Eye Friday' LEEDS: This man carried a woman in his arms as they made their way through the city centre NOTTINGHAM: Thumbs up from this man who braved the city centre in his Santa costume LEEDS: The grinch required a piggy back through the streets from one of Santa's elves LEEDS: This man shows of his colourful budgy smugglers as his friend lies on the floor LEEDS: This group went all out on their Christmas outfits NEWCASTLE: A group of lads show off their Christmas jumpers NEWCASTLE: This group of friends stumble their way through the streets arm in arm LEEDS: Partygoers pose for the camera as they head out in Leeds city centre NEWCASTLE: This man helps his friend who is stumbling through the streets of Newcastle The BBC has said it has no plans for future projects with David Walliams but will not be dropping him from its Christmas schedule. On Friday, the star was dropped by his publisher over claims he had harassed and behaved inappropriately towards female members of staff. HarperCollins said it would no longer publish the comedian and children's author's works following an internal investigation prompted by accusations against Walliams, 54, emerging in 2023. The former Britain's Got Talent judge has denied the allegations against him. The public broadcaster has said 'while we're not making any changes to the festive schedules, we have no future projects involving David Walliams'. Despite the latest storm engulfing Walliams, one of the most successful children's authors in the UK, he is understood to be currently on a break in the Maldives with his 12-year-old son, Alfred. But while Walliams was enjoying the kind of pre-Christmas getaway many can only dream of, claims were first published last night about his alleged harassment of young women at HarperCollins. A junior colleague is said to have complained about his behaviour in 2023, prompting interviews with staff who worked with Mr Walliams, with the investigation reportedly involving an in-house lawyer. One of the women who raised concerns was allegedly given a five-figure payout and has since left the company. Mr Stink, in which Hugh Bonneville plays Mr Stink and David Walliams the Prime Minister, is set to air on CBBC tomorrow Former employees also described how they were advised to work in pairs when meeting with him and told not to visit his home. Since news of the allegations broke, the BBC has also stepped back from working with Walliams. The corporation said today it has no plans to work with him in the future. A BBC spokesperson said: 'While we're not making any changes to the festive schedules, we have no future projects directly involving David Walliams.' The BBC is set to broadcast two TV adaptation from Walliams' books, as well as a Boxing Day festive special of Would I Lie To You? where he appears as a panellist. But this recording, too, became mired in controversy after the author performed two Nazi salutes during filming. CBBC will air TV film Mr Stink, adapted from a 2009 Walliams book, at 9am tomorrow, while The Boy in the Dress will also show later in the day. It is understood the BBC also has no plans to remove any content featuring Wallace from iPlayer. The comedian and former Britain's Got Talentjudge has denied the allegations against him In a series of what appear to be sponsored Instagram posts this week, Walliams is shown scuba diving, swimming and enjoying afternoon tea while tagging the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa resort The blow comes as Walliams enjoys a pre-Christmas holiday 5,000 miles away in the Maldives. In a series of what appear to be sponsored Instagram posts, Walliams is shown scuba diving, swimming and enjoying afternoon tea while tagging the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa resort. One clip sees Walliams scuba diving with a turtle, set to music from the Bond thriller You Only Live Twice and posted with the caption 'a dream'. A second post is captioned 'floating in heaven' while a third describes the resort as Walliams' 'new favourite place in the world' and 'complete and utter perfection'. The resort has reshared his posts on their own Instagram page. Photos show the former Britain's Got Talent judge enjoying tea, cocktails and biscuits at the resort, where villas for this week cost as much as $6,105 per night - around 4,563. HarperCollins said on Friday it had taken the decision 'not to publish any new titles by David Walliams' following its internal investigation. The decision to drop Walliams comes after the sudden departure of former UK CEO Charlie Redmayne in October. Mr Redmayne has since been replaced by Kate Elton. Last night, a spokesperson for Walliams denied any wrong doing. They said: 'David has never been informed of any allegations raised against him by HarperCollins. Photos show the former Britain's Got Talent judge enjoying tea, cocktails and biscuits at the resort, where villas for this week cost as much as $6,105 per night Photos show Walliams strolling on the beach, scuba diving and floating in the pool The decision to drop Walliams comes after the sudden departure of former UK CEO Charlie Redmayne in October 'He was not party to any investigation or given any opportunity to answer questions. David strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately and is taking legal advice.' A spokesman for HarperCollins said: 'After careful consideration, and under the leadership of its new CEO, HarperCollins UK has decided not to publish any new titles by David Walliams. The author is aware of this decision. 'HarperCollins takes employee wellbeing extremely seriously and has processes in place for reporting and investigating concerns. To respect the privacy of individuals we do not comment on internal matters.' The children's author, who began writing books in 2008, has published more than 40 works which have been translated into 55 languages and sold more than 60 million copies. HarperCollins published his first children's book, The Boy in the Dress, in 2008, while some of his other books, including Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, have also been adapted into television films. While Mr Walliams was once TV royalty, a string of scandals in recent years have seen him step back from the spotlight. The comedian left Britain's Got Talent when vile sexual comments he made about female contestants emerged. In 2022, a leaked transcript revealed that he called one auditioning contestant a 'c**' and said of another: 'she thinks you want to f*** her, but you don't'. While Walliams was enjoying the kind of pre-Christmas getaway many can only dream of, claims were published last night about his alleged harassment of young women at HarperCollins The children's author, who began writing books in 2008, has published more than 40 works which have been translated into 55 languages and sold more than 60 million copies The comments, made in January 2020 during auditions at the London Palladium, were picked up on the programme's microphones. Mr Walliams apologised at the time the comments became public and acknowledged they were 'disrespectful', adding they were part of a private conversation that was 'never intended to be shared'. He later left the show and sued the the production company Fremantle for misuse of private information and breaching data laws. The company apologised and Walliams is thought to have walked away with about 5 million. It was revealed by the Mail last week that alarm bells were also raised with ITV bosses after they learned Walliams had a habit of inviting fans back to his dressing room and dishing out cupcakes. He has not truly returned to primetime since, despite his books continuing to be a hit and reportedly making up more than 40 per cent of revenue for Harper Collins' children's department in 2018. By 2019, it was estimated that he and HarperCollins had sold 100 million of his books. But his book sales have since been on the decline, falling by more than 60 percent this summer. The showbiz giant behind the show, Simon Cowell, is said to have since gone to great lengths to distance himself from Mr Walliams, with the pair 'no longer on speaking terms at all'. In June this year, it was reported the author made two Nazi salutes during a recording of the Christmas edition of the BBC's comedy panel show Would I Lie To You?. The comedian apparently 'jokingly' made the salutes while Call the Midwife actress Helen George was telling a story from her time on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015. The host, Rob Brydon, condemned Walliams and reminded him that the show went out before the watershed. However, as George continued to explain her Strictly story, Walliams is said to have made the gesture for a second time, this time with a sexual twist. Walliams's team captain, Lee Mack was said to have looked unimpressed while one audience member revealed the the salutes landed 'awkwardly'. The former Little Britain star is now said to be facing Christmas alone and apart from his son, Alfred, 12. He co-parents Alfred with ex-wife Lara Stone after the couple divorced in 2015 following a five-year marriage. Mr Walliams remains single while ex Ms Stone has since found love with her property developer husband of four years, David Grievson. Police have released an image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the felling of a village Christmas tree. Durham Constabulary issued the picture of the man after the beloved tree in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, was chopped down between 10pm and 11pm on December 10. The man in question is seen on CCTV wearing a black hoodie and a white sling bag. The 'disgusting act of mindless vandalism' took place just hours after the Christmas light had been switched on. 'The tree, which has stood in the village for more than ten years, is believed to have been cut down deliberately,' the force said. One man has already appeared in court in connection with the incident while another suspect, aged 23, has been released under investigation. The spruce had stood in the village for more than a decade, doubling as a monument to soldiers who died in the First World War. A plaque nearby reads: 'This tree is to commemorate the men and women of Shotton Colliery who served in the First World War and gave their live for the freedom we have today.' Police want to speak to the man seen here in connection with the felling of a Christmas tree The felling is believed to have taken place between 10pm and 11pm on December 10 Residents had raised funds to plant the tree which is decorated with fairy lights every December. After the felling, a spokesman for the local church called for the perpetrators to be 'punished by the authorities'. A Facebook post from St Saviour's Church reads: 'Late last night it was reported that Shotton Colliery's Christmas Tree had been cut down after all the people who gave their time and effort to raised funds to get a tree for the village. 'This morning a tree surgeon has looked at the damage and said it's been done with a chainsaw. 'May the people who caused this be caught and punished by the authorities.' While the police search for their suspect, the tree has been bolted back up with turf wrapped around its trunk as a temporary fix while residents raise funds for its replacement. Stephen Maitland, chairman of Shotton Colliery residents' association, said: 'I was absolutely devastated when the tree was chopped down. It meant so much to so many people. 'But I do feel a little bit better now, with the crowdfunding, and how people have reacted in the village The 'disgusting act of mindless vandalism' took place just hours after the Christmas light had been switched on The tree doubled as a memorial to residents of Shotton Colliery who served in the First World War 'The night it was felled, I was going to pack in all the work I do with the police and council, but the support that's been offered has changed my mind.' Mr Maitland said that 2,680 has been raised so far to replace the imported tree from Italy. He added that he was not sure how much money was needed to replace it. He continued: 'The fix we've got in place now, should last for the festive period. 'We have some ornamental grass, which we've wrapped around the trunk, and it looks like it hasn't been touched. 'I am in a more positive frame of mind now, and I am over the moon there's been an arrest.' Durham Police previously described the felling as 'a disgusting act of mindless vandalism'. It comes after Dylan James McNamara, 26, of Bruce Glazier Terrace appeared before Newton Aycliffe Magistrates on Saturday, December 13. He pleaded not guilty to a single charge of criminal damage of the tree memorial. A tree surgeon determined that it had been chopped down with a chainsaw, the local church said in a Facebook post A crime scene investigator takes pictures at the scene of the tree felling in Shotton Colliery on December 13 McNamara elected trial before magistrates and was granted bail pending a trial which is scheduled to take place at the same court in May 2026. A second man, aged 23, was released under investigation while further enquiries are carried out. Crime scene investigators were pictured at the scene of the tree felling last week. They were seen bagging evidence and taking pictures of the tree. PC David Allan, from Peterlee Neighbourhood Police Team, previously said: 'This was a disgusting act of mindless vandalism, which has caused huge upset throughout the village at a time when our community should be coming together. 'We are treating this incident extremely seriously, and we will deal with anyone responsible as robustly as the law allows. 'This behaviour has no place in our community. Someone knows something - please help us find who is responsible.' Anyone with any information that could help the investigation should contact PC 9778 Allan via email at david.allan2@durham.police.uk quoting crime reference number CRI00653425. Fans have been flocking to a town once named the most boring place in France to catch a glimpse of a teenage dancing supermarket cashier. Leonie, 18, who works part time at a Carrefour store in Laval, western France, found overnight fame after appearing in the supermarket's TikTok videos. The student is regularly featured dancing to French rap and R&B in the aisles and store rooms of the Laval Carrefour in her blue uniform alongside her colleagues. Leonie's dancing has captivated viewers, with social media users constantly taking to the videos' comment sections to gush over the teenager's looks and talent. The clips have racked up millions of views, with Carrefour managers saying that the videos were posted this year to boost the store's profile. The unassuming town, located in the agricultural Mayenne department west of Paris, has since seen flocks of Gen Z fans rushing to Laval with the hopes of catching a glimpse of Leonie. Cashier Leonie, 18, has become an overnight sensation after being featured in Carrefour's TikToks The teenager's internet fame has sent fans rushing to the town of Laval to catch a glimpse of the cashier Locals are delighted, saying that Leonie's TikTok fame has put Laval on the map, The Times reports. Carrefour's chief executive Alexandre Bompard even paid the store a visit this week and participated in a dance video with Leonie and fellow dancing cashiers. While the supermarket says the overnight fame has boosted staff morale, it wonders whether it will be able to cope with all of the attention. Store manager Angelique Durchon said she was surprised to see groups of fans turning up at the shop and chanting Leonie's name, and said the store has had to hire security for the social media star. 'These are young people going to the supermarket after school,' she told radio station Ici Mayenne. 'We were not ready for that. We have decided to take on a security guard to protect this young woman', she said. Supermarket staff say the social media attention has helped put the town of the map General view of Laval, which was once called France's most boring town The store has had to hire a security guard to protect Leonie as fans continue to flock to her workplace 'There are mothers who take their children to the supermarket just to see her, and others who buy just one item to go to her till. 'Fake accounts have been created about her. I cant understand it. Its a bit unhealthy,' Ms Durchon added. Heartwarming photos have emerged of 10-year-old Matilda enjoying a Hanukkah celebration with her family just minutes before she was killed in the Bondi Beach terrorist attack. Amir Glazer, a photographer who was working at last Sunday's Chanukah by the Sea event gave Daily Mail permission to share the images so that Matilda will never be forgotten. The photos were taken at 6.45pm, just two minutes before alleged gunmen, Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24, opened fire on the crowd, killing 15 and wounding dozens more. Wearing a bright yellow dress and her face painted with dolphins, Matilda was captured beaming with delight as she played with a bubble machine with her little sister Summer and other children near a petting zoo. Mr Glazer also captured the last family photo of Matilda with her parents Valentyna and Michael. The family can be seen smiling at the camera as Matilda proudly wrapped her arm around her sister. Mr Glazer vividly remembers photographing Matilda and printing the images for her family. 'She's just an innocent girl that has nothing to do with all this evil in the world,' Mr Glazer told 9News. Matilda could be seen laughing as she played with bubbles, two minutes before she was killed She was playing with her little sister and a group of other children at a petting zoo in the park The last family photo of Matilda with her parents Valentyna and Michael, and sister (bottom left) 'All she wanted to do was have fun with her family, friends and little sister. She just died for no reason.' Mr Glazer was working at the Hanukkah celebration with his long-time colleague and friend, retired police officer turned photographer Peter Meagher, who was also fatally shot. He said Peter, 61, loved his job as a photographer as he could meet new people and capture special moments and memories. The pair had worked together for nearly five years. 'He came every time to the events and was so happy to meet the people and capture their amazing moments and turn it into a memory they will carry forever,' Mr Glazer said. He described Mr Meagher as a 'kind hearted' man who embraced the Jewish community, despite not having a connection to Judaism himself. 'During the event, the Chabad people approached Peter and offered him to put on tefillin, and he agreed,' Mr Glazer told the Daily Telegraph. 'He put on tefillin at the event, just half an hour before he was murdered. He had no connection to Judaism, but he respected everyone.' Photographer Amir Glazer shared the series of photos with the families' permission Retired police officer turned photographer Peter Meagher (pictured) was also working at the event when he was shot and killed Mr Glazer grew up in Israel and moved to Australia 10 years ago. He initially thought the loud bangs were fireworks but then realised they were bullets. He encouraged panicked people to run, but many froze in shock. 'I ran towards the beach and went slightly into the water to get away from the crowds. I ran to an area that was relatively clear, and I didnt stop for about six minutes, until the shooting stopped,' Mr Glazer recalled. 'There were a lot of people on the beach, panicked and running in every direction.' Fourteen of the 40 patients wounded remain in hospital. Representative Harriet Hageman, a Republican from Wyoming, introduced the "Parental Rights Relief Act" this week, a new piece of legislation designed to grant parents the ability to sue schools in civil court if they believe their rights to access student records or curriculum materials have been violated. The bill seeks to enforce existing federal protections by creating a "private right of action" for families. Currently, two major laws, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), technically guarantee parents access to education records and the right to review instructional materials. Parental Rights Relief Act However, Hageman argues that schools often ignore these mandates without consequence. Under the new proposal, parents would no longer have to wait for federal agencies to act. Instead, they could take legal action directly against school districts that withhold information or deny requests to opt children out of specific lessons, according to Fox News. Hageman stated that the legislation is a necessary response to school districts that are "blatantly, intentionally, and aggressively" blocking parental oversight. She cited concerns that the U.S. Department of Education has been too slow to investigate complaints, effectively allowing schools to bypass the law. "All my bill is trying to do is enforce one aspect of federal law that I believe that the Department of Education has really attempted to avoid," Hageman said. Read more: Kansas School Districts Announces Early Winter Break Following Massive Wave of Illnesses The push for the bill comes amid growing national debate over how much control parents should have regarding sensitive topics in the classroom, AOL News reported. Supporters of the legislation point to recent controversies, such as schools in Wisconsin and Connecticut allegedly keeping gender identity transitions secret from parents or refusing to share details about social-emotional learning surveys. The Parental Rights Relief Act would specifically target these issues, ensuring that parents can see surveys, questionnaires, and medical evaluations administered to their children. Giving Parents More Power In addition to allowing lawsuits, the bill proposes the creation of a special review board. This board would be required to investigate and resolve complaints within a tight 90-day window. This provision aims to prevent cases from languishing in bureaucratic limbo, a common frustration for parents who feel their concerns are ignored by school administrators. While the bill has rallied support from parental rights organizations, it faces likely opposition from teachers' unions and Democratic lawmakers, who have previously argued that similar measures can lead to censorship or endanger vulnerable students, as per Yahoo News. As of the bill's introduction, major education unions had not yet issued a formal response. The legislation marks the latest effort by GOP lawmakers to make education transparency a central policy issue heading into the next election cycle. Widespread disruption has been caused across European airports by the EUs strict new travel rules as a record Christmas getaway begins for thousands of UK travellers. Processing times for passengers have escalated by 70 per cent for the new checks caused by the rollout of the EUs new entry and exit system (EES), the Airports Council International (ACI) in Brussels reported. It says three hour delays are being experienced at airports across the EU triggered by the delays. And it warned there could be serious safety hazards and systemic disruption at airports as the system is rapidly extended beyond the current ten per cent of passengers next year. Other sources warned of serious concerns of bedlam next summer if the chaos continued. The new EES rules, which came into force in October, require non-EU passport holders to submit fingerprints and have their photographs taken on entry. The biometrics are then verified on departure and on every subsequent visit. Initial processing is causing severe bottlenecks at airports even though only ten per cent of passengers currently have to comply in the first stage of the rollout. This is severely impacting the passenger experience, with airports in France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Portugal and Spain especially impacted, said Olivier Jankovec, ACI director general. Crowds build up at Manchester Airport this morning as the Christmas break begins for thousands of UK travellers. Processing times for passengers have escalated by 70 per cent for the new checks caused by the rollout of the EUs new entry and exit system (EES), the Airports Council International (ACI) in Brussels reported Meanwhile four hour delays have been reported at one airport as the peak ski season begins raising fears of further chaos next year as the systems rollout continues. Heavy early snowfalls in France and other European resorts have seen holidaymakers rush to the mountains ahead of Christmas. But skiers arriving at Geneva Airport, the gateway to ski resorts across the continent, have faced lengthy delays in completing the new checks. Although Switzerland is not an EU member, the checks, which are being rolled out across all 27 EU member states except Ireland and Cyprus, are also being rolled out there and in fellow non- EU countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway as they are in the border-free Schengen area. The ACI has called for EU officials to carry out an urgent review of the system in the face of what they called widespread disruption caused by only a small proportion currently having to undertake the digital registration. From January 9, this will rise sharply to 35 per cent and will reach 100 per cent by April. Mr Jankovec warned that the increase to 35 per cent of passengers would inevitably result in much more severe congestion and systemic disruption and could cause serious safety hazards at airports. He called on the European Commission to introduce additional flexibility in the roll out if the problems could not be addressed by the New Year. In a letter to the commission, the ACI said: The progressive scaling up of the registration and capture of biometric data from third-country nationals entering the Schengen area has resulted in border control processing times at airports increasing by up to 70 per cent, with waiting times of up to three hours at peak traffic periods. Meanwhile Geneva Airport has warned passengers to arrive early, saying longer waiting times are to be expected upon arrival and departure. It has also been reported that the airport has only coped by turning off the EES system repeatedly to clear long queues. If airports reach capacity, airlines could be forced into a nightmare scenario of having to hold passengers on planes. A travel company executive told The Times: Geneva has not been functioning and the peak ski season hadnt even started. Four-hour delays are completely unacceptable and it just shows what chaos there is to come next summer when the system will be fully implemented. And writer Tim Clark, who recently flew into Geneva, said: The whole system is flawed. There are huge queues and not enough staff. There were just two people manning the passport desks. Its going to be terrible over Christmas. During the six-month EES introduction period, third-country arrivals continue to have their passports stamped. From April, this will stop and duration of stay will be digitally monitored. Under the post-Brexit rules, Britons can spend no more than 90 in every 180 days in the Schengen zone. The Civil Aviation Authority said that yesterday that a record three million people will fly from UK airports ahead of Christmas. Yesterday was forecast to be the busiest travel day with around 460,000 people taking off, many to European airports. A forlorn-looking Andrew broke cover today - hours after a bombshell photograph was released showing him lying on five women's laps. Puffing out his cheeks, the 65-year-old was seen in Windsor for his usual Saturday morning horse ride. It comes as questions today swirl over who the mystery six women are with him in the picture released on Friday night as part of the Epstein files. The snap was taken in one of the Royal Family's most treasured rooms at the Sandringham Estate where the likes of the King, William and Kate will often watch TV, play games or enjoy afternoon tea there over Christmas. The former prince is captured wearing a black suit and bow tie, as he lies across five women, smiling with his face near the bare legs of one. Behind him stands Epstein's grinning pimp Ghislaine Maxwell, alongside another unidentified woman who has had a black box put over her face by the US Department of Justice. Despite there being no context to the newly-released picture, it raises fresh questions over what the disgraced royal knew about Epstein and the billionaire paedophile's sex-trafficking girlfriend as he brought them into the Royal Family's inner sanctum. For the room has not only a great deal of history, but is one of the family's most important at Christmas. The disgraced royal looks deflated as he rides his horse this morning after latest Epstein Files picture emerged Epstein and Maxwell were pictured in the countryside near Balmoral in one of the latest photographs released from the Epstein files A picture of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lying across a row of women in a photo during a black-tie event with Ghislaine Maxwell has been released as part of the Epstein files Andrew Mountbatten Windsor pictured looking glum today as he rides on the grounds of Windsor Castle The saloon room, located at the entrance to the nineteenth century house, is where the King hosts sometimes more than 40 members of the family to watch his pre-recorded speech - a tradition dating back to the times of his mother Queen Elizabeth II. And the annual ritual is as much a part of the royals' festive traditions as the dinner beforehand, as members of the family head there to reflect on the year that has passed as well as to unwind and enjoy each others company. The room overlooks the grand entrance hall on the King's private Norfolk estate and has always been a gathering place for the royals, who often watch TV, play games or enjoy afternoon tea there. But now it will also be known as the room where Andrew hammed it up for the camera. The US government released the picture as part of the Epstein files, a trove of 300,000 documents that revealed the depraved scenes at the financier's mansions and included countless images of naked young women - plus Andrew partying it up at Sandringham. Just visible to the left of Maxwell in the snap is the concealed door to the room in Sandringham House where George V broadcast his first Christmas radio message in 1932. It is not clear when the photo of Andrew in front of the fireplace in Sandringham's saloon room was taken. But it is known that Andrew hosted a surprise birthday for the now-jailed socialite at the King's private country Norfolk retreat in December 2000. A group including Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Tom Pritzker and Prince Andrew gather for a photograph in front of the Queen's hunting lodge on her Sandringham Estate in 2000 Among the party was Tom Pritzker, chairman of Hyatt Hotels, is linked to the former duke in a most embarrassing way. Now 75, the Chicago-based businessman was accused like Andrew of having sex with Virginia Giuffre. Ms Giuffre claimed she was the victim of trafficking and abuse by Epstein and his powerful associates when she was a teenager. Like the former duke, Mr Pritzker has strongly denied the claims. Less than three months after the hunting lodge snap, Andrew posed with his arm around 17-year-old Virginia's waist for a photograph that would ultimately lead to his downfall. In October, The Mail on Sunday published the shooting party photograph. Police in Paris had obtained the image while investigating claims that Epstein associate, French model agency boss Jean-Luc Brunel, who killed himself while awaiting trial for rape, recruited under-age girls for Epstein including three 12-year-old sisters. The triplets were presented to him 'as a surprise birthday present'. Following his suicide in a New York prison cell in 2019, Epstein's 8million apartment in central Paris was raided by detectives. A police source said of the photograph: 'Prosecutors were attempting to build up a clear picture of Epstein's contacts, including those in the United Kingdom. It is for this reason that it [the Sandringham photo] was obtained.' This photo from the Sandringham official website shows the same fireplace - with the same clock and ornaments above and, on the left, the faint outline of the hidden door to room where King George V recorded first Christmas broadcast A wider shot of the room. This stunning, double-height room is where each member of the Royal Family comes together after dinner to watch the King's speech on Christmas Day The Norfolk estate has great historic significance being the location where King George V recorded the first Christmas Day speech The former prince would go on to describe the stay at Sandringham as a 'straightforward shooting weekend' in his disastrous BBC Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in 2019. Standing next to Andrew in the photograph, wearing a tweed cap, is Charles Butter, one of the late Queen's godsons, who accompanied Maxwell to society events in London. Sandringham House has great historical significance for the Royal Family, with the first Christmas broadcast by Charles' great-grandfather, King George V, taking place at the Norfolk estate in 1932. After being persuaded by then Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald, to do address communities in a bid to foster a sense of community as well as reach the Commonwealth, the monarch' broadcast the message to 20 million people. The impressive saloon, located at the entrance to the nineteenth century house, spans two floors and is complete with a wooden dining table, detailed tapestries, cream sofas, and a piano He began the speech from inside a special small private room Sandringham House with words written by Rudyard Kipling, 'I speak now from my home and from my heart to you all.' In the left hand corner of the black-and-white snap the hidden door can be seen that leads to the room where he recorded the historic broadcast. Despite the monarch shuffling papers slightly too loudly as well as a wicker chair collapsing, it was a major hit. Touched by the numerous letters and telegrams congratulating him, King George decided to transform what was intended to be a one-off event into an annual tradition. Today, listeners and viewers tune in from around the globe to watch the monarch reflect on current issues and concerns as well as the meaning of Christmas Day while the Royals watch from the Sandringham saloon room. Aside from a stay at Sandringham, Epstein and Maxwell accompanied Andrew to Royal Ascot in 2000 and Balmoral in 1999, newly-released photographs have confirmed. Andrew stepped down from royal duties in 2019 but the publication of Ms Giuffre's posthumous memoir, and the US government's release of documents from Epstein's estate, brought more scrutiny over his relationship with the financier. The former prince has been dogged by allegations that he sexually assaulted then 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre after she was trafficked by Epstein. He has always denied the accusations. The riding trip comes after a picture of Andrew sprawling across several women was among the 300,000 documents released as part of the Epstein files A wider view of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor who broke cover today after the image of him sprawled across several woman came to light Andrew Mountbatten Windsor seen driving a car amid his Epstein controversy King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend the Christmas Morning Service at St Mary Magdalene Church on December 25, 2024 Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Ghislaine Maxwell at a box at Royal Ascot in a picture released by the US Department of Justice Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Ghislaine Maxwell at the Royal Ascot, Ladies Day, on June 22, 2000 - when the DOJ picture was believed to have been taken A wider image showing Ghislaine, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Jeffrey Epstein inside the royal box at Royal Ascot Pictured right to left: Jeffrey Epstein, Caroline Stanley (in pink), Ghislaine Maxwell and Andrew Mountbatten Windsor in 2000 Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell on a pheasant shoot on the Sandringham estate in 2000 It is now six years since the FBI asked Andrew to submit to questioning as a 'witness' to help its investigation into the crimes of Epstein. In the 2000s, Andrew spent weeks as a guest at Epstein's 'House of Sin' villa in Florida where children were forced to dress in schoolgirl outfits and have under-age sex with the paedophile American financier. Andrew has always vehemently denied accusations by Mrs Giuffre that she was forced to have sex with him three times. In 2022, he paid her an undisclosed sum reported to be 12million to settle her civil claim for sex assault without any admission of wrongdoing. Andrew, who stayed with Epstein at his mansions in New York, Florida and the Caribbean, and flew on the billionaire's private jet nicknamed the 'Lolita Express', has always insisted he never saw, witnessed or suspected 'any behaviour of the sort' that led to Epstein's arrest and conviction for child sex offences. Some of the new photos give a stomach-churning glimpse into the 'decor' of Epstein's homes, which were covered in artworks featuring naked girls. One chilling and unexplained photo features a naked baby in a bathroom sink. The former Duchess of York poses with people on the street, in an image released by the Department of Justice Another picture released on Friday shows Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson posing for a photograph with people on the street Sarah Ferguson sits on a sofa in an undated photograph released by the US Department of Justice A photograph of Maxwell outside Number 10 Downing Street features in the latest pictures After Epstein died in 2019, Andrew made various pledges to help US investigators, but they accused him of stalling. American prosecutors made a public statement lambasting Andrew for giving 'zero co-operation'. Then they took the drastic step of asking the British Government to facilitate a formal interview with the then duke. The Home Office was supposed to be 'processing' the 2019 request but nothing ever happened. The former duke has resisted calls from victims of Epstein to voluntarily submit to FBI questioning. He was 'at least a witness' to the investigation into Epstein's crimes, former US attorney general William Barr said recently. There was no response to a request for comment from Andrew. Other pictures released on Friday also show Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, posing for a photograph with someone on the street and talking to a woman while sitting on a sofa. In both images, she appears to be wearing the same outfit, although it is unclear if the photographs were taken on the same day. Shocking footage taken on board a small boat crossing the Channel shows it sinking with migrants using designer Nike trainers to desperately remove the water. Around 500 migrants are making the journey today with Border Force sending out all five of its vessels to manage the crossings. Several 'superdinghys' have been launched from northern France today, with some already having arrived at Dover by 9.30am. Exclusive footage obtained by the Daily Mail shows the 'complete chaos' of a dinghy making its way to Britain this morning. It is made up of men, women and children with leaders on the boat screaming 'sit down, sit down' as the packed boat gets into difficulty. Orange Nike trainers are passed around the boat by the migrants to get water out of the bottom. Several of the migrants are wearing life jackets and are cramped on the floor and hanging over the edge of the heavily packed boat. Other footage taken during the night shows migrants also packed on a small boat. Orange Nike trainers are passed around the boat by the migrants to get water out of the bottom Exclusive footage obtained by the Daily Mail shows the 'complete chaos' of a dinghy making its way to Britain this morning It comes on what is already an 'extremely busy' day with clear and calm waters. Sources say tomorrow and Monday is also expected to be busy days for crossings, with thousands expected before Christmas. One source said: 'The boat is dangerously close to sinking. The migrants are using the trainers to get the water out of the boat which is coming through. 'They are being ordered to sit down and it is clear things are heated on the boat. 'It shows just how utterly ruthless the smugglers are and how they will stop at nothing to make their profit when a window for crossings becomes available.' Another source based in Dover said: 'Every Border Force vessel is out this morning on the migrant situation. It's an extremely busy day already. 'It's chaos out there. There's at least 500 making the journey on several super-dinghys. 'Sunday and Monday both look very calm and clear as well. It's going to be very manic.' Join the debate What do you think needs to change to stop these dangerous crossings in the Channel? Pictured: A group of migrants bein brought onto the Border Force compound in Dover, Kent, today Pictured: Migrants arriving in Dover. Sources say tomorrow and Monday is also expected to be busy days for crossings, with thousands expected before Christmas Some 40,652 migrants have made the dangerous Channel crossing since the start of 2025, according to analysis of the latest Government figures by the Press Association. While the number of people making the dangerous journey across the English Channel has risen more swiftly in 2025 than past years, the yearly total has still not surpassed that of 2022, when 45,755 arrived: the highest on record. The Government meanwhile continues efforts to grasp the so-called 'upstream' causes of the migration crisis, including through work with neighbouring countries. Just this week, Germany passed a new law which could see people smugglers face up to 10 years in prison for trying to bring migrants to the UK. Pictured: UK Border Force escorting migrants into the Dover docks today Some 40,652 migrants have made the dangerous Channel crossing since the start of 2025 The law change, which will come into force before the end of the year, aims to give more powers to law enforcement and prosecutors, and boost information sharing between the UK and Germany. It follows a deal agreed between the two countries in December last year to tackle illegal migration, including taking action to remove smugglers' advertising on social media. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'This major change in German law is the result of our close partnership working to tackle illegal migration and organised immigration crime. 'We will continue to ramp up our international co-operation to strengthen our own border security.' The family of a teenage girl who died after a horrific incident at a London tube station has paid tribute to their 'bright, beautiful, clever and funny' daughter. British Transport Police were called to Loughton Underground Station in Essex following reports of a 'casualty on the tracks' at 2.30pm on December 15. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, Daisy House, 16, passed away that same day in hospital. Transport for London suspended travel between Epping and Woodford whilst police and paramedics secured the scene on Monday. The incident is not being treated as suspicious but the British Transport Police are now preparing a file for the coroner ahead of an inquest. In a statement released today, Daisy was described as a 'bright, beautiful, clever and funny girl' who had 'her whole future ahead of her. Accompanying an image of the 16-year-old, her devastated family wrote: 'On Monday, our beautiful daughter Daisy lost her life. 'She was a bright, beautiful, clever, and funny girl who had just started Sixth Form and had her whole future ahead of her. Daisy House (pictured), 16, was described as 'bright, beautiful, clever and funny' British Transport Police were called to Loughton Underground Station (pictured) in Essex following reports of a 'casualty on the tracks' at 2.30pm on December 15 'We would like to thank all of the emergency services and doctors who worked so hard to save her, especially the British Transport Police officer and paediatric nurses who treated us all with such kindness. 'We thank everyone who has sent best wishes, kind messages, and floral tributes.' The family ended their statement by asking for their privacy to be respected 'while we come to terms with the loss of our Daisy and what life will be like without our daughter.' It comes just months after another person was pronounced dead following a 'medical emergency' at Loughton tube station on February 24. The passenger is believed to have taken ill at around 6.50am before the British Transport Police were called at 7.30am. The station on the Central line was closed for four hours causing delays between Leytonstone and Epping. Sadly, the person was pronounced dead at the scene. The British Transport Police confirmed they were not treating the death as suspicious. A Spanish man has been jailed after he forced his wife to have sex with other men for money so that he could settle his debts and buy drugs. A court in Seville sentenced the unnamed man to six years in prison on Friday after it heard that he had prostituted his wife for years. The court heard how during one of these encounters, the man filmed his wife having sex with one of his friends. His friend also received a prison sentence and will spend two years behind bars for sexual assault. The man would also regularly drug his partner and physically assault her, creating a climate of intimidation and control for her, the court heard. He was facing 30 years for several crimes committed against not only his wife but also his daughter, but the case was resolved through a plea agreement that saw him pay his wife 12,000 EUROS in compensation. Judges also imposed a restraining order on the man and have banned him from contacting the victim. The disturbing case draws comparisons with that of Gisele Pelicot in France, who was raped by dozens of men on numerous occasions - with her then-husband orchestrating the assaults. A court in Seville has sentenced a man to six years in prison after he forced his wife to have sex with other men for money so that he could settle his debts and buy drugs. Pictured: The exterior of the provincial court of Seville The disturbing case draws comparisons with that of Gisele Pelicot (pictured), who was raped by dozens of men on numerous occasions - with her then-husband orchestrating the assaults. Sketch of Dominique Pelicot, who was found guilty on all charges last year and sentenced to 20 years in prison, which was the maximum possible Gisele's husband, Dominique Pelicot, would knock her unconscious by lacing her food and drink with drugs and offered her to strangers he met online between 2011 and 2020, filming their assaults. He was found guilty on all charges last year and sentenced to 20 years in prison, which was the maximum possible. He admitted his role and did not appeal. All 50 of his co-defendants were also found guilty of various charges related to the case. Sentences ranged from three to 15 years imprisonment for the other convicted men. One of them was convicted of drugging and raping his own wife with Dominique Pelicots help. The trial drew international attention after Gisele Pelicot opposed a closed hearing, a demand made by several defendants. The court sided with her. Her courage inspired campaigners against sexual and sexist violence and the shocking case spurred a national reckoning over rape culture in France. The evidence included stomach-churning homemade videos of rapes and assaults that Dominique Pelicot filmed in the couples home in the small Provence town of Mazan and elsewhere. Former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg has accused the Victorian Premier of allowing Aussies to be radicalised ahead of a planned anti-Zionist protest in Melbourne. He echoed calls from Jewish leaders urging Premier Jacinta Allan to ban Monday's rally from going ahead. Anti-Zionism Australia originally planned to rally outside the State Library of Victoria on Saturday in direct response to the Bondi Beach terror attack in Sydney. The group then decided to postpone the event until after Sunday, which marks one week since the Bondi massacre that claimed 15 lives. Frydenberg branded the move by organisers to proceed with the rally on Monday afternoon as 'unthinkable'. 'It will simply pour petrol on the fire of hate - and the government is culpable,' the prominent Jewish Victorian told Nine News. 'We have just witnessed Australia's most deadly terrorist attack with 15 innocent people including 10-year-old Matilda slaughtered at Bondi Beach.' 'And extremists now want to demonstrate against stronger action to stop anti-Semitism? How can this make sense to anyone, and how can it in any way make us more safe?' Josh Frydenberg has echoed calls for a planned anti-Zionist protest to be banned Anti-Zionist Jews and supporters (pictured at previous rally) originally planned to rally on Saturday before it was moved to Monday Frydenberg also accused Allan of allowing Melburnians to be radicalised as he called on her government to shut down hate groups. 'Our focus must be on closing down these factories of hate, of stopping these radical Islamic preachers, of prosecuting those who incite violence in our cities,' he said. It comes as pro-Israel group Lions of Zion and anti-immigration group Put Australia First prepare to hold separate rallies in the Melbourne CBD on Sunday. Allan urged protesters to avoid heading into the city this weekend and warned that 'hateful' protesters will be dealt with by police. 'This is not a time for divisive protests,' a government spokesperson said. 'If you're coming into the city in the coming days to whip up hate you will be dealt with by police.' Frydenberg's calls for Monday's protest to be banned were backed by a surprising source - federal Labor education minister Jason Clare. 'It is unthinkable that these rallies or protests would happen, full stop,' Clare told the Today show. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan (pictured) is under mounting pressure to ban Monday's rally Frydenberg (pictured in Bondi last week) said that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese must accept accountability for the Bondi terrorist attack Frydenberg's latest comments come days after he blasted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for failing to address rising antisemitism across Australia. Calling the Bondi attack 'the greatest stain on this nation', Frydenberg said Albanese must accept accountability for what happened. 'It's time for him to accept personal responsibility for the death of 15 innocent people including a 10-year-old child,' Frydenberg said. 'Call a royal commission, ban the preachers, ban the protests. Invest in education, enforce rigorous immigration checks, including for those already here, and deport those breaching our laws. 'No ifs, no buts. You must act now.' NSW Premier Chris Minns is set to introduce sweeping reforms to the state's hate speech laws in a move some have described as regressive. Several rallies will be held in Melbourne in the coming days in response to Bondi The NSW parliament will reconvene at an urgent sitting this week to consider legislation that will limit protest rights and ban the display of hate symbols. Minns said the proposed laws would also ban the phrase 'globalise the intifada' and other phrases, after he linked pro-Palestine rallies to the Bondi shooting. Gun owners would also be limited to have four firearms under the new laws, and protests could effectively be banned for three months after a terrorism event is declared. More than three dozen missing children were rescued from sex traffickers in North Florida after a massive sting. The rescue effort, named Operation Northern Lights, found 43 missing children across 14 counties with more children found in other states, the US Marshals Service announced Thursday. Federal authorities said the youngest victims were one-year-olds and that one of the young victims had been abducted from Florida and located in Louisiana. Nine people were arrested after the staggering operation, which law enforcement said took two weeks to conduct. Additional charges could include human trafficking, child endangerment and custodial interference. The sting turned up additional missing children in North Florida, but also in Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. 'This was the most successful missing child operation ever conducted in Northern Florida,' Greg Leljedal, acting US Marshal for the Northern District of Florida, said. 'Because of the tireless dedication of the U.S. Marshals and our law enforcement partners, 43 endangered children will now be home safe for the holidays.' The US Marshals Service said 43 missing children from 14 different counties across North Florida had been found Your browser does not support iframes. He said the mission was 'not only about finding the missing children, but also providing immediate physical and psychological care to help them begin the path to healing'. The victims included a oneyearold who authorities said was missing from Leon County and had been found in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Another oneyearold missing out of Okaloosa County was found outside Jackson, Mississippi, alongside a 17yearold. In that case, a 'noncustodial adult' was arrested for interference with child custody. Other recoveries listed by the US Marshals Service were a 17yearold missing out of Suwannee County found in Meadville, Mississippi, a 13yearold missing out of Suwannee County found in Jacksonville and a 15yearold out of Okaloosa County found in Ocala. The US Marshals Service said the complexity of the sting had 'not been previously undertaken in Northern Florida until this month'. More than 80 workers from 25 different agencies across law enforcement, social services, attorney's offices and nonprofit organizations worked together to find the children, who were considered 'critically missing.' That means that the minors are believed to face an elevated risk of violent crime or other serious harm, such as substance abuse, sexual exploitation, crime exposure or domestic violence. One of the youngest victims was a oneyearold missing from Leon County who was recovered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana The rescue mission, which was named Operation Northern Lights, took two weeks to be carried out 'Every child deserves to be safe, and we will continue to use every resource at our disposal to bring missing children home and support their families,' Nicholas G. Ingegno, Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge, said. The missing children were given medical resources and food. They were also provided with social services and child advocates. Derrick Driscoll, the chief operating officer of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, said: 'Each recovery represents a child removed from harm's way and an opportunity to connect them with resources that can help prevent future victimization.' Authorities said the rescue mission was carried out under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, which allowed the US Marshals Service to assist other law enforcement agencies in missing child cases. Nearly 4,000 missing children have been found since then, marking a 66 percent hit rate, per the agency. The list of sheriff's offices involved in the successful operation included Leon County, Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, Okaloosa County, Walton County, Bay County, Jackson County, Wakulla County, Madison County, Taylor County, Suwannee County, Alachua County and Marion County. Santa Rosa County Sheriff Office chief deputy Randy Tifft said some of the children had been taken by older adults. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier pledged to 'bring the strongest charges possible against those who put these kids in harm's way' after the sting 'They coerce a lot of these young kids on online apps to meet up with them,' he told WEAR. 'And a lot of them are kids that are having some troubles in schools or troubles at home.' Other law enforcement agencies that contributed to the search were the Tallahassee Police Department, Pensacola Police Department and Crestview Police Department. At the state level, the Florida Attorney General's Office, Department of Law Enforcement, Highway Patrol, Department of Children and Families and Department of Juvenile Justice were thanked for their work in the mission. Homeland Security Investigations also participated on a federal level. The US Marshals Service also credited the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Called2Rescue and Shadows of Strength as advocacy groups that aided in the sting. 'This operation was carried out through a strong partnership between multiple agencies,' Sheriff Walt McNeil said. 'No child will be left behind.' The mission was lauded by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in a social post on X. He wrote: 'Our office was honored to partner with U.S. Marshal Greg Leljedal in the Northern District of Florida to rescue 43 missing children, some as young as 18 months old. We will bring the strongest charges possible against those who put these kids in harm's way.' A California city has agreed to pay $160,000 to the family of a man who was fatally shot by police after he began brandishing a huge knife on a light rail train. The city of Sacramento will fork out the sum to Derick Day, the father of Dante Dwaine Day, 44, who was shot and killed by officers during a confrontation on a Regional Transit train near Sacramento City College in August 2023. The settlement resolved a federal civil rights case brought by the grieving father and was finalized earlier this month without an admission of wrongdoing. 'I just want the situation to be better for other people,' Derick said Thursday. 'If they will look into a situation where they can save a life rather than take a life.' The chaos unfolded after frightened passengers called 911 to report a man carrying a 'machete type of knife' on a Blue Line train. Riders fled the rail car, leaving Day alone when police arrived. Body camera footage showed Day seated on the train wearing a red shirt, visibly distressed, repeatedly telling officers he was afraid. 'I'm scared of you all, bro,' Day said. 'Please, please, please, sir. Please, I know you all got to do your job, but I'm scared of you all right now.' Sacramento agreed to pay $160,000 to settle a lawsuit over the 2023 police shooting of Dante Dwaine Day, who was wielding a knife Police bodycam footage shows an officer firing bean bag rounds at Day Officers discussed non-lethal options and fired bean-bag rounds after Day stood up holding the knife, but the tactic failed to stop him. Body-camera footage shows Day continuing to move toward police with the weapon in hand, prompting officers to open fire. He was struck multiple times and died at the scene. Attorney John Burris, who represented Day's father, argued officers failed to call a crisis intervention specialist and did not adequately de-escalate the situation, despite what he said were clear signs of a mental health emergency. In December 2024, the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office cleared the officers of criminal wrongdoing, ruling the shooting justified under self-defense laws. In a statement to the Daily Mail, James Cook, who represented Day in court, said the following: 'This case was difficult for the family and the officers alike. Both sides did the best they could in terms of crafting a resolution. From our perspective, we want to make sure that law enforcement officers use de-escalation techniques, when they encounter subjects affected by mental health crises. It is important for law enforcement to consider the utility tactical time, distance, communication, and repositioning to resolve these situations.' The review also disclosed that Day had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. The Daily Mail has contacted the city of Sacramento for comment. A child is fighting for life in hospital days out from Christmas after being hit by a train in Brisbane's north. Emergency services rushed to Carseldine train station at about 6pm on Saturday, following reports that a child had been struck. Queensland Police confirmed that the child was rushed to Brisbane Childrens Hospital in a life-threatening condition. 'Police and emergency services were called to a railway station on Beams Road, Carseldine just before 6pm this afternoon following reports a child had been struck by a train,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail. 'Investigations are ongoing.' No further details on the child's age or how the incident happened were available. Queensland Ambulance declined to comment. A child was struck by a train at Carseldine train station in Brisbane's north on Saturday Caboolture, Redcliffe Peninsula, and Sunshine Coast line trains were suspended (stock image) The incident resulted in the suspension of Caboolture, Redcliffe Peninsula, and Sunshine Coast line trains between Geebung and Petrie. Commuters were warned to expect delays of up to 60 minutes. A pregnant migrant daycare worker who left child to die in a hot van has evaded prison time after a judge ordered her release. Karen Silva, a Mexican national, will not the see inside of a prison cell after Judge Gloria Rincones granted her 'shock probation' on Thursday for the death of Logan Urbina. Urbina who was trapped in a daycare van last driven by Silva for five hours during 96F heat in June. Shock probation is a sentence where a criminal spends a small amount of time incarcerated to 'shock' them before serving the rest of their sentence on probation. Silva, 36, took the stand on Thursday to beg the judge for leniency as she was nearly to full term and had been hospitalized several times throughout her high-risk pregnancy. The migrant told the judge she was thinking of her child, who is due to be born in less than a month, when asking for probation, KRGV reported. A nurse and midwife also testified that her pregnancy was considered high-risk. Silva had been in jail since her arrest prior to Thursday. She was sentenced to five years in prison in November after pleading guilty to injury to a child with reckless serious bodily injury and mental impairment for the death of Urbina. However Judge Gloria Rincones reversed the decision, offering her shock probation rather than prison time. Karen Silva, a Mexican national, will not the see inside of a prison cell after Judge Gloria Rincones granted her shock probation on Thursday. The migrant told the judge she was thinking of her child, who is due to be born in less than a month, when asking for probation Logan Urbina died on June 27 after being trapped in a daycare van for five hours after returning from a field trip. Silva had been driving the van In addition to probation, the Judge [NAME] ordered Silva to pay a $5,000 fine within a decade and was told she could not come back to the US illegally In addition to probation, she was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine within a decade and was told she could not come back to the US illegally. If she were to return to legally, she has to report to the Cameron County Adult Probation Office within 24 hours, KRGV said. The pregnant woman will also be deported to Mexico soon, her lawyer said, according to KRGV. Urbina's mother, Monique Garcia, was frustrated by the decision. 'Five years and then nothing. So what was the point of the last hearing?' she said, according to KRGV. 'I'm feeling enraged. I'm feeling that the system failed me. 'I hope that she takes Logan into her mind forever, she failed.She did not just fail me, she failed everyone.' Cameron County District Attorney, Luis V. Saenz, was just as mad, questioning what kind of punishment it really was. 'She's going to be walking free, if not today, tomorrow, and going home to her family. What punishment is that? I disagree with the judge's decision.' 'The system failed me:' Brownsville mother reacts after daycare worker convicted in son's death receives probation https://t.co/vr817rZgHe KRGV CHANNEL 5 NEWS (@krgv) December 19, 2025 Silva was working at The Learning Club at the time of the incident Sendy Ruiz, 38, another daycare worker charged in the case, is expected to go back to court in late January. She has pleaded not guilty However, Silva's attorney, Ed Stapleton, said her unborn child shouldn't be punished. Urbina died on June 27 after being trapped in a daycare van after returning from a field trip. Silva had been driving the van, owned by The Learning Club Pre School in Brownsville, Texas. Internal vehicle temperatures reached 120 degrees Fahrenheit that day. Police were called to the daycare at around 4:56pm where Urbina was discovered unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene, Valley Central said. Justice of the Peace Mary Esther Sorola told KRGV that staff had returned from a field trip at about 11:30am and left the boy in the vehicle. Temperatures in Brownsville reached around 96 degrees Fahrenheit that afternoon, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warned that the interior of a parked vehicle can soar well above above 100 degrees within minutes. Sendy Ruiz, 38, another daycare worker charged in the case, is expected to go back to court in late January. She has pleaded not guilty. The Daily Mail reached out to Judge Rincones outside of normal working hours and did not immediately receive a response. The Trump administration on Thursday proposed regulations that would strip Medicare and Medicaid funding from hospitals providing gender-affirming care to minors, effectively forcing medical facilities nationwide to halt such treatments. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the sweeping proposals alongside the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), marking the administration's most aggressive effort yet to restrict access to puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgical interventions for transgender youth. Kennedy characterized these treatments as "malpractice" that fail to meet professional standards of care. Banning Transgender Care for Minors The proposed rules would bar hospitals and clinics from participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs if they continue offering gender-affirming treatments to patients under 19. CMS officials stated that nearly all U.S. hospitals engage with these federal programs, meaning the regulations function as a de facto nationwide ban, according to the Los Angeles Times. A separate proposal would prohibit Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program funds from covering such procedures. "This measure aims to ensure that the U.S. government does not partner with organizations that intentionally or unintentionally cause irreversible harm to children," CMS stated in its announcement. Read more: New Zealand Government Bans Young Transgender Individuals From Accessing Puberty Blockers The proposals are subject to a 60-day public comment period before implementation. Medical organizations immediately criticized the measures. Dr. Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, argued that "allowing the government to determine patient groups sets a dangerous precedent" and emphasized that care decisions should remain between patients, families, and healthcare providers rather than politicians. The American Civil Liberties Union announced plans to legally challenge the regulations, with attorney Chase Strangio describing them as "cruel and unconstitutional attacks on the rights of transgender youth and their families," CNN reported. California Attorney General Rob Bonta also vowed to fight the rules, calling them unlawful and noting that gender-affirming care remains protected under California state law. Targeting Hospitals Nationwide The announcement coincided with the House passing legislation sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene that would criminalize healthcare providers who administer transgender care to minors, with potential prison sentences of up to 10 years. The bill faces uncertain prospects in the Senate. Several major hospitals have already curtailed gender-affirming services under federal pressure. Children's Hospital Los Angeles closed its decades-old gender clinic in June, while Stanford Medicine and Kaiser Permanente in California suspended certain treatments. Similar reductions occurred at facilities in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts condemned the administration's actions as "entirely fueled by hate" and lacking medical or scientific evidence, as per WGBH. At least eight people have been killed in Odesa in southern Ukraine and 27 more were wounded after a deadly Russian missile strike on port infrastructure on Friday evening. Some of those wounded in Odesa were on a bus at the centre of the strike last night, according to emergency services. Trucks caught fire in the parking lot and cars were also damaged. The port was struck with ballistic missiles, said Oleh Kiper, the head of the Odesa region. The latest attack from Vladimir Putin's armed forces comes after he wrapped up his end of year press conference in Moscow, in which he declared he was 'ready and willing' for Ukraine peace talks. The strikes also came as a Kremlin envoy was gearing up to travel to Florida for talks on a US-proposed plan to end the nearly four-year war. The discussions are part of the Trump administration's monthslong push for peace that also included meetings with Ukrainian and European officials in Berlin earlier this week. Ukraine's chief negotiator said late Friday that his delegation had completed separate meetings in the U.S. with American and European partners. A truck burns at the site of a Russian missile and drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa region The latest attack from Vladimir Putin's armed forces comes after he wrapped up his end of year press conference in Moscow, in which he declared he was 'ready and willing' for Ukraine peace talks. Pictured: Putin tastes pastries from a bakery sent by its owner following his annual end-of-year press conference on December 20 Meanwhile, European Union leaders agreed on Friday to provide a massive interest-free loan to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said much will depend on the U.S. posture after discussions with the Russians. Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv with Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, Zelenskyy said that 'the key question remains how the United States responds after consultations with the Russians. At this point, I honestly don't know, but I will know later today.' Moscow did not immediately acknowledge reports of the attack on Saturday. The Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday that over the previous day, it had struck unspecified 'transport and storage infrastructure used by the Ukrainian armed forces,' along with energy facilities and those supplying Kyiv's war effort. Elsewhere, Ukrainian drones hit a Russian oil rig, the military patrol ship Okhotnik and other facilities, Ukraine's General Staff said in a statement Saturday. It said the ship was patrolling in the Caspian Sea near an oil and gas production platform. The extent of the damage was still being clarified, it said. The drilling platform at the Filanovsky oil and gas field as also hit. The facility is operated by Russian oil giant Lukoil. Ukrainian drones also struck a radar system in the Krasnosilske area of Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014. There was no immediate comment from the Russian government or Lukoil. The company is one of two Russian oil majors - alongside state-owned Gazprom - targeted by recent U.S. sanctions that aim to deprive Moscow of oil export revenue that helps it sustain the war. Kyiv has used similar arguments to justify months of long-range strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, which it says both funds and directly fuels the Kremlin's all-out invasion, soon to enter its fifth year. Trump's peace push set to continue Saturday At least eight people were killed and 27 more injured following the attack in Odesa A firefighter works at the site of a Russian missile and drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa region Some of those wounded in Odesa were on a bus at the centre of the strike last night U.S. President Donald Trump has unleashed an extensive diplomatic push to end the war, but his efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands by Moscow and Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently signalled he is digging in on his maximalist demands on Ukraine, as Moscow's troops inch forward on the battlefield despite huge losses. On Friday, Putin voiced confidence that the Kremlin would achieve its goals militarily if Kyiv doesn't agree to Russia's conditions in peace talks. EU leaders have agreed to provide 79 billion to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years, although they failed to bridge differences with Belgium that would have allowed them to use frozen Russian assets to raise the funds. Instead, they were borrowed on capital markets. After almost four years of war, the International Monetary Fund estimates that Ukraine will need 120 billion in 2026 and 2027. The government in Kyiv is on the verge of bankruptcy, and desperately needs the money by spring. Meanwhile, Kirill Dmitriev, who heads Russia's sovereign wealth fund, is set to meet with Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in Miami on Saturday, according to a U.S. official. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to preview a meeting that hasn't yet been publicly announced. The official said Witkoff and Kushner will sit down with Dmitriev, after meetings with Ukrainian and European officials in Berlin for talks on U.S. security guarantees for Kyiv, territorial concessions and other aspects of the American-authored plan. Ukraine's chief negotiator Rustem Umerov said late Friday that a Ukrainian delegation had met with American and European partners in the U.S. He gave few details, but said they agreed to continue 'joint work in the near future.' Asked about the meeting in Miami, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Moscow was preparing for contacts with the U.S. to learn about the results of the meetings in Berlin, but he didn't give details. Unusually warm weather is leaving ski resorts across the United States short on snow and tourists. The top ski destinations in the West have been hit especially hard, with the strangely unseasonable heat wiping out much of the snow that draws visitors. 'Mother Nature has been dealing a really hard deck,' Kevin Cooper, the president of the Kirkwood Ski Education Foundation at Lake Tahoe, told the Associated Press. Resorts along the lake, which borders California and Nevada, have only been able to open a small percentage of their ski lifts due to the above-average temperatures and depleted snow. The lingering warmth has also hurt business in Colorado, where sleighs have been replaced by wagons due to the sparse snowfall. 'We've got three big sleighs that can hold up to 12 people each on them,' Nicole Godley, the owner of Bearcat Stables near Vail, said. 'Now, we don't have any snow, so we just switched those sleighs to wagons. 'December is when we make most of our money. If there's not a good December, then we kind of have to start thinking ahead of what can we do for the community, our customers, to make them more intrigued to come here.' However, as half the US experiences a 'very deep snow drought', skiers have flocked to the Midwest and Northeast, which have been peppered by record snow this month. Ski resorts in the Western US have been hard hit by a lack of snow, which is pulling tourists towards the east coast A sleigh used by Bearcat Stables rests by a stable, unable to be utilized due to the minimal snow cover in Edwards, Colorado Unseasonably cold conditions in the Northeast have brought snow instead of rain. Vermont's Killington Resort and Pico Mountain had about 100 trails open as a result. 'By far the best conditions I have ever seen for this time of year,' Josh Reed, a resort spokesman who has lived in Killington for a decade, said. Another Vermont skier said she had cross-country skied more this fall than in the last two years. 'I don't take a good New England winter for granted with our warming climate,' Elena Veatch said. Meanwhile in Utah, temperatures around the Salt Lake City area have been 7-10 degrees higher than normal in recent weeks, per the National Weather Service. Oregon, Idaho and western Colorado also saw their warmest Novembers on record, with temperatures 6-8.5 degrees warmer than the norm, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 'Precipitation has been near normal for most places across the west, but warmer temperatures are driving that precipitation to fall as rain rather than snow,' Jason Gerlich, a drought information coordinator at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), said. Kevin Cooper, the president of the Kirkwood Ski Education Foundation at Lake Tahoe, said that 'Mother Nature has been dealing a really hard deck'. Pictured: Skiers in Kirkwood, California enjoying better conditions in 2022 Vermont's Killington Resort and Pico Mountain had about 100 trails open due to the unseasonably cold conditions in the Northeast That meant that ski resorts in locations typically crowded with snow were unable to fully open, although Gerlich pointed out that a single storm could 'turn things around rather quickly'. He noted that the lack of snow was already 'manifesting itself' through the flooding seen in the Pacific Northwest, Gerlich said. In Washington, thousands were placed under a life-threatening flash flood warning on Monday after a dam failed south of Seattle. The levee failure happened after days of heavy rainfall. The National Weather Service said more than 46,000 people, along with two schools and one hospital, could be impacted. California is expected to be hit with intense rain, as well as potential floods and landslides due to a powerful atmospheric river. An atmospheric river is a long, narrow tract of the atmosphere that gathers moisture from the tropics and sweeps it toward the poles. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for parts of Northern California from 4pm Saturday until 4pm Monday. Heavy precipitation was expected to be accompanied by high-elevation snow for Sierra Nevada, according to the NWS. Nicole Godley, the owner of Bearcat Stables near Vail, said her business makes most of its money in December. Without snow, she was thinking of how else to attract customers This will vitally help snowpack water storage but also increase the risk from heavy snow loads, the weather service warned. Snow is also essential for farmers and ranchers, who rely on snowpack water in their everyday lives. 'That snowpack is one of our largest reservoirs for water supply across the West,' Gerlich said. The chief butler at Frances presidential palace has been arrested for allegedly stealing antique tableware worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. Hundreds of porcelain plates, cups, and silver dishes have disappeared from the Elysee Palace under the nose of President Emmanuel Macron and his first lady, Brigitte Macron. Much of it had been used to entertain world figures, including King Charles and Queen Camilla at state banquets and other formal dinners. Thomas M, who is in his 40s, was arrested alongside his partner, and an antique porcelain dealer Ghislain M., 30, during simultaneous raids on two homes and a business last week. All three have confessed to their involvement in what police described as a 'highly organised operation', which took place over a period of two years. Thomas M, who is only being identified by his first name and the initial of his surname, had worked at the Elysee Palace for the past five years. His job involved setting tables with meticulous precision and managing the inventory of all items used. Much of the stolen goods were from a porcelain factory in Sevres, which was founded in 1756 by Madame de Pompadour, the mistress of King Louis XV. Hundreds of porcelain plates, cups, and silver dishes used to entertain world figures, including King Charlesand Queen Camilla have been stolen King Charles III of the United Kingdom and Queen Consort Camilla arrive at Elysee Palace for an informal meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in 2023 The antique tableware was stolen from Elysee Palace under the nose of President Emmanuel Macron and his first lady, Brigitte Macron A few of the stolen items were also ordered in 2018 by the French Presidency, for around 400,000. All were stamped with the words Elysee Palace, which would have made them extremely hard to sell. An investigating source said: The scheme lasted two years before the arrests this week. A lot of the stolen items were recovered, thanks to the raids. Some were hidden in the chief suspects bedroom. All were neatly wrapped and placed in drawers. All of the suspects, including the chief waiter, will appear at the Paris Criminal Court after confessing to the crimes while in custody, and pledging to return everything. It is thought that the waiter discreetly removed the items, one by one, over some two years, before falsifying the Elysees tableware inventory. The disappearances eventually became too numerous to hide, and security staff were alerted. Last Tuesday, gendarmes from the Paris Regional Investigation Service carried out three simultaneous arrests in the Loiret department, south of Paris, where Thomas M. and his partner live, as well as in Versailles, where Ghislain M. works. Thomas Malvolti, her lawyer, said: I think she was probably overwhelmed by her passion. Referring to the chief waiter, Mr Malvolti said: He got caught up in a kind of spiral, and he even said during his police custody that he was relieved that it was all finally over because he was starting to feel completely out of his depth. Ghislain M. also works part-time as a gallery attendant at the Louvre art museum, which was raided by four thieves in October. In another heritage theft, more than 75million worth of jewellery described as Frances crown jewels was taken. All of the Louvre suspects are now in custody, but the jewellery remains missing. The Elysee suspects are expected to go on trial at the Paris Correctional Court in February 2026. In France, even those who confess to a crime are entitled to a trial to assess the extent of their involvement in offences. A fashion brand beloved by the Princess of Wales is rushing to find a 'saviour' as fears are raised the company could collapse for the second time in six years. LK Bennett, a design house often worn by Princess Catherine, is working with Alvarez and Marshall (A&M) on a swift sale process. The consulting firm has began putting feelers out for possible investors and buyers in recent days, industry sources say. Founded in 1990 by Linda Bennett with a 15,000 bank loan and 13,000 of her own savings, the designer vowed to bring 'a bit of Bond Street to the high street'. And after opening its first store in Wimbledon village, it went on to become a huge British brand, with 200 stores in the UK as well as branches in the US, Russia and China. LK Bennett captured a niche in British fashion, serving as a middle ground between the price tags of Bond Street and high street retailers. And the founder's keen eye for fashion earned her the title of 'queen of the kitten heel', with her designs worn by the upper-echelon of society, including Princess Kate and former Prime Minister, Theresa May and TV presenter Holly Willoughby. Today, the brand has only nine shops, with an additional 13 concessions areas located in larger stores. It is not known if existing investors would be prepared to hand over more funds to the business, or whether a sale for the designer label was possible, Sky News reported. Princess Catherine wears LK Bennett for a visit to the RNLI Holyhead Lifeboat Station, in Holyhead, Wales The brand beloved by the Princess of Walesis rushing to find a 'saviour' as fears are raised the company could collapse for the second time in six years During the insolvency process, contingency plans are typically put in place by advisers in the case of an accelerated sale process. Currently LK Bennett is owned by Byland UK, a firm founded in 2019 to rescue the fashion brand during its previous run in with insolvency. Rebecca Feng, who oversaw LK Bennett's Chinese franchises, created Byland UK. When the previous deal was struck, she said the firm would continue to be ran rom the UK and that they would maintain its 'long-standing and undoubted heritage,' 'This will be achieved through a combination of working with quality British design, and the business's existing supply chain,' she added. The firm's 2019 administration saw 15 stores shutter their doors. The brand's founder Ms Bennett previously sold the business for an estimated 100million to a private equity firm, Phoenix Equity Partners in 2008. However, she continued to own a stake of the company, later buying back the rest in 2017. LK Bennett accounts for the period ending on January 27, 2024, show the firm made a 3.5 million post-tax loss The brand had paid a dividend of 229,000 at the beginning of the year when performance 'was doing well'. 'Given the decline in revenue, the directors do not recommend the payment of any further dividends,' its accounts detailed. It is not known how many people are currently employed by LK Bennett. The Daily Mail has approached LK Bennett and A&M for comment. Dressed in country clothing and striking a casual pose, Ghislaine Maxwell converses with her paedophile financier boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein, amid the picturesque surrounds of the Scottish highlands. What makes the photograph - released on Friday night as part of the Epstein files - most remarkable is that it shows the now disgraced pair standing on the estate of the late Queen Elizabeth II's beloved Balmoral Castle. It reveals just how close Epstein and Maxwell - who is currently serving 20 years for her role in recruiting and trafficking minors for sex for the billionaire - were able to get to the very heart of inner royal circles, thanks to their close relationship with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Evidence of the couple having stayed at Balmoral had already previously surfaced in 2021, during Maxwell's sex trafficking trial, where jurors were show photographs of the pair relaxing in the Queen's private log cabin on the estate. Wearing a blue checked shirt, the British socialite was seen resting her arm on Epstein's knee as they sat in the exact same spot in the hut in Glen Beg that the Queen herself had been pictured in on previous occasions. Although it is not clear when the latest image was taken, previous reports suggest Maxwell and Epstein were invited to Balmoral by the former prince in 1999. The late Queen was especially fond of her Scottish royal home not just for the tranquility and wilderness that the 50,000 acre estate offered the long-reigning monarch. It was at Balmoral that Prince Philip proposed and it was where the young newlyweds spent their honeymoon. But it was also the Scottish hideaway that Elizabeth escaped to as a child with her family, having been purchased by Prince Albert in 1845. Royal access: Ghislaine Maxwell converses with her paedophile financier boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein, amid the picturesque surrounds of the highlands close to Balmoral Castle A picture of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein relaxing in the Queen's log cabin at Balmoral was previously shown at her sex trafficking trial Her cherished Scottish home was also where the Queen chose to spend her final days before her death in September 2022. But Balmoral was not the only special royal invitation that Epstein and Maxwell enjoyed. A trove of newly-released images, uploaded on Friday night to the US Department of Justice website, provide evidence that the pair were offered intimate access to other royal residences, including Sandringham. One bombshell photograph taken within the saloon room, shows a smiling Andrew, the former Duke of York, dressed in black tie while sprawled across the legs of five women. Behind him stands Epstein's grinning pimp Maxwell, alongside another unidentified woman who has had her face redacted by the US Department of Justice. The saloon room, located at the entrance to the nineteenth century house, is where King Charles III sometimes hosts more than 40 members of the family to watch his pre-recorded speech - a tradition dating back to the times of his late mother Queen Elizabeth II. Within royal circles, the room overlooking the grand entrance hall on the King's private Norfolk estate has always been a informal gathering place for the family who often watch TV, play games or enjoy afternoon tea there. But now it will also be known as the room where Andrew hammed it up for the camera. A picture of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lying across a row of women in a photo during a black-tie event with Ghislaine Maxwell has been released as part of the Epstein files A group including Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Tom Pritzker and Prince Andrew gather for a photograph in front of the Queen's hunting lodge on her Sandringham Estate in 2000 Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell on a pheasant shoot on the Sandringham estate in 2000 Just visible to the left of Maxwell in the image is the concealed door to the room in Sandringham House where George V broadcast his first Christmas radio message in 1932. It is not clear when the photo of Andrew in front of the fireplace in Sandringham's saloon room was taken - but it is known that Andrew hosted a surprise birthday for the now-jailed socialite at the King's private country Norfolk retreat in December 2000. The former prince would go on to describe the stay at Sandringham as a 'straightforward shooting weekend' in his disastrous BBC Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in 2019. In October, The Mail on Sunday published a photograph of the shooting party at Sandringham, which included Maxwell and Epstein. Police in Paris had obtained the image while investigating claims that Epstein's associate, French model agency boss Jean-Luc Brunel, who killed himself while awaiting trial for rape, recruited under-age girls for the billionaire including three 12-year-old sisters. The triplets were presented to him 'as a surprise birthday present'. Among the shooting party at Sandringham was Tom Pritzker, chairman of Hyatt Hotels. Now 75, the Chicago-based businessman was accused like Andrew of having sex with Virginia Giuffre. A photograph of Prince Andrew flanked by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell looking down onto the racecourse from Ascot's Royal Box in June 2000 Th photograph is said to have been on show at Epstein's home in New York where underage girls were sexually exploited Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Ghislaine Maxwell at the Royal Ascot, Ladies Day, on June 22, 2000 - when the DOJ picture was believed to have been taken A photograph of Ghislaine Maxwell pictured outside Number 10 Downing Street - the offices of the UK Prime Minister - has been released as part of the Epstein files Ms Giuffre claimed she was the victim of trafficking and abuse by Epstein and his powerful associates when she was a teenager. Like Andrew, Mr Pritzker has strongly denied the claims. Additional photographs released on Friday night include an image of the couple with the former prince inside the royal box at Ascot, and a picture of Maxwell standing out the Prime Minister's office at 10 Downing Street. The latest images come as Maxwell formally asked a federal court to throw out her sex trafficking conviction on Wednesday, just 48 hours before the Epstein files were expected to be published. Maxwell claimed 'substantial new evidence has emerged' which shows she did not receive a fair trial, according to the filing reviewed by ABC News. Maxwell wrote: 'This newly available evidence - derived from litigation against the Federal Bureau of Investigation, various financial institutions, and the Estate of Jeffrey Epstein, as well as from sworn depositions, released records, and other verified sources - shows that exculpatory information was withheld, false testimony presented, and material facts misrepresented to the jury and the Court.' The disgraced socialite's last-ditch effort, submitted without an attorney, comes after she has exhausted all of her direct legal appeals. Hundreds of thousands of documents, including court records, footage and images, were uploaded on Friday night to the US Department of Justice website, which held users in a queue as it experienced an 'extremely high volume of search requests'. The trove includes images from Epstein's homes, including rooms adorned with nude photographs and distinctive bright blue carpeting. However, the DOJ did not provide any context for the images of people included in the files. Being pictured or named in these files is not proof of any wrongdoing. Some records detail Epstein's associations with high-profile figures such as Michael Jackson, Sir Mick Jagger, Kevin Spacey and other famous individuals. Former president Bill Clinton features prominently in the files, appearing in photographs smiling at parties and swimming with women. He has since issued a blistering response, denying having any knowledge of Epstein's crimes. More than 600,000 pages related to the pedophile have now been released this year, prompting the Trump administration to describe itself as the 'most transparent in history' following Friday's disclosure. The data dump came after US deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said 'several hundred thousand' documents from the so-called 'Epstein files' would be released ahead of a legal deadline, but the need to protect the sex offender's victims meant thousands more would be released over the coming weeks. US President Donald Trump signed the legislation last month to ensure the release of the files, despite previously resisting disclosure and claiming the issue was a 'Democrat hoax'. The paedophile financier Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan, New York, in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide. The law has some exemptions tied to it, including allowing Attorney General Pam Bondi to withhold certain records if their publication could interfere with an active prosecution or criminal investigations. Maxwell was convicted and jailed for 20 years in December 2021 after prosecutors presented evidence that she procured girls as young as 14 for abuse by Epstein. She was initially serving her sentence in Tallahassee, Florida, but was transferred in August to Prison Camp Bryan in Texas. Maxwell was reportedly 'bombarded' with death threats from violent inmates who branded her a 'snitch' for spending two days talking to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche about the men linked to Jeffrey Epstein. Experts have called Prison Camp Bryan a 'cushy country club' compared to FCI Tallahassee. At least three people have died and 40 were hospitalised following a mass poisoning in a Moscow guesthouse. A major investigation was launched following the incident in Vidnoye, a suburb of the Russian capital. Police are understood to have taken food, kitchenware and other samples to try and determine the cause, as fears grow that the death toll could rise. Authorities have been interviewing the facility's management and guests to determine the causes and conditions that led to the mass poisoning. There were 73 people staying in the guesthouse at the time of the mass poisoning, according to local media. The Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Moscow Region said in a statement: 'Investigative actions are underway in the Moscow Region as part of a criminal investigation into the poisoning of boarding house guests. 'It was established that 73 people were staying at the boarding house. More than 40 people were hospitalized in varying degrees of severity, and three died. 'Investigators and forensic experts from the regional Investigative Committee of Russia inspected the boarding house, seized necessary documentation, and collected food samples and utensils. At least three people have died and 40 were hospitalised following a mass poisoning in a Moscow guesthouse 'Representatives from Rospotrebnadzor (Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing) collected food samples, which have been assigned for further testing.' The statement added that investigators are trying to understand the motivation of the crime. The shocking incident near the Russian capital comes after a little town known as a backpacker paradise in northern Laos came under the spotlight for a mass poisoning case that killed at least six tourists las year. The victims included an Australian teenager and a British woman after drinking tainted alcohol. The British government confirmed that the woman - named as 28-year-old lawyer Simone White - had died of suspected methanol poisoning. An American and two Danish tourists also died. The victims are believed to have consumed drinks tainted with methanol, which is sometimes added to mixed-drinks at disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but can cause severe poisoning or death. Pilots and flight attendants for Spirit Airlines have agreed to take a pay cut in a bid to try and save the company from bankruptcy. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), the unions representing the airline's employee agreed to slash salaries and benefits last month. The budget airline filed for Chapter 11 restructuring in late August, with CEO Dave Davis saying the company would focus on reducing debt and raising capital. 'We're thankful to our partners at ALPA and the AFA for their collaboration in reaching these agreements and to our Pilots and Flight Attendants for the unwavering dedication and professionalism they demonstrate every day,' Davis said in a statement on December 12. 'We're pleased to reach another milestone in our restructuring, moving us forward in our mission to better position the airline and secure a future with value travel options for Americans.' The agreement, which still needs court approval, will reduce pilots' hourly pay rates by eight percent and their retirement account contributions will drop from 16 to also eight. Flight attendants will not take a pay cut to their hourly rate, but their overtime rates will be lowered from 150 percent to 100 percent, an AFA spokesperson told The Sun Sentinel. The ALPA cuts will save Spirit $85million, while the AFA changes will yield the company $15million, the spokesperson said. Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and Association of Flight Attendant-CWA (AFA), the unions representing the airline's employees, agreed to pay and benefits cuts to help save the company from bankruptcy 'We're thankful to our partners at ALPA and the AFA for their collaboration in reaching these agreements and to our Pilots and Flight Attendants for the unwavering dedication and professionalism they demonstrate every day,' CEO Dave Davis said The agreements, if approved, will come into effect on January 1 and only last two years and are subject to revision if the company's lot turns around. The company is currently estimated to suffer loses until 2027. Not everything Spirit asked for was given in the negotiations, according to the unions, who claimed they 'held the line'. AFA said its agreement still 'preserved all core work rules, including all scheduling and quality-of-life provisions,' The Sentinel reported. Spirit Airlines has lost $804million this year, putting them in a $145million deficit, the outlet said. The company has not made a profit since 2019. With the internal cuts, the budget airline is expected to make a $219million profit in 2027. The union agreements came after the airline furloughed 1,300 flight attendants, effective December 1. In July, it furloughed 270 pilots. In September, it cut 25 percent of its schedule to 'optimize' its core network. The airline has vowed to keep flying during the restructuring process, meaning passengers can still book trips and use their tickets, credits and loyalty points. The agreement, which still needs court approval, will reduce pilots' hourly pay rates by eight percent. Flight attendants will not take a pay cut to their hourly rate, but their overtime rates will be lowered The airline said in a post on Instagram in August that its actions are a 'proactive step to build a stronger foundation and future for our company'. 'As always, we remain committed to delivering a safe, reliable operation and look forward to welcoming you on board again soon,' CEO Dave Davis wrote in the post. Since March, 'it has become clear that there is much more work to be done and many more tools are available to best position Spirit for the future.' Debt holders in the airline previously agreed to exchange $795million in debt for equity in its last bankruptcy, but the airline avoided bigger cost-cutting measures, such as slashing planes, at the time. Spirit listed its assets and liabilities of between $1billion and $10billion. The Daily Mail has contacted Spirit for comment. The United States is in the process of seizing another oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in international waters. The move comes amid mounting tensions between the Caribbean country and the Trump administration. Last week, US forces seized another sanctioned oil tanker accused of smuggling illicit crude. The news of the latest seizure was reported late this morning by Reuters based on statements from three unnamed US officials. They confirmed the Coast Guard is spearheading the interdiction without specifying where it is taking place. It comes days after President Donald Trump declared the Venezuelan government a foreign terrorist organization and ordered 'a total and complete blockade' of sanctioned oil tankers headed to and from the country. So far, the Trump administration's drone strike campaign against Venezuelan boats have killed 95 people. The White House claims these boats are ferrying illegal drugs to the US at the direction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his government. No evidence has been provided to the public to substantiate allegations of Maduro's involvement. The United States is in the process of seizing an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in international waters, according to three unidentified US officials It is unknown where exactly this interdiction is taking place, but the Coast Guard is leading the operation, according to the officials. Pictured: A oil tanker previously seized by the US Government Trump stepped up his attacks against Venezuela by arguing the country stole US property by nationalizing oil fields that belonged to American companies in the 1970s. Trump accused Maduro, whom he considers to be the illegitimate leader of Venezuela, of using this stolen oil to finance narco-terrorism, human trafficking, murder, kidnapping and self-enrichment. 'For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION,' he said. Trump accused Maduro, whom he considers to be the illegitimate leader of Venezuela, of using this stolen oil to finance narco-terrorism, human trafficking, murder, kidnapping and self-enrichment. 'Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela. The Illegal Aliens and Criminals that the Maduro Regime has sent into the United States during the weak and inept Biden Administration, are being returned to Venezuela at a rapid pace.' In recent weeks, the US has been gradually ratcheting up the number of warships operating near Venezuela. At least 11 ships and 15,000 troops have been deployed in the vicinity of the South American country. In late November, Trump reportedly told Maduro that he should flee the country along with his wife. The US has attacked several boats in the Caribbean. The Trump Administration has said the US military is conducting strikes on boats allegedly carrying drug traffickers (pictured: a September strike on a boat) The president even assured Maduro of safe passage for himself, his wife, and son if he resigned immediately, The Miami Herald reported. A source familiar with the call said that Maduro asked Trump for global amnesty, which the president rejected, before asking to keep his control of the Venezuelan armed forces in exchange for free elections. Trump also said no to that idea before Maduro rejected the idea of resigning. The president confirmed Sunday that the talks had occurred. It is unclear if Trump and Maduro are still negotiating. The White House did not immediately return a request for comment. Maduro, 62, has been in the crosshairs of the American justice system since March 2020, when he was indicted in the Southern District of New York on a litany of charges related to drug trafficking. They included narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices. Immediately after the indictment, the first Trump administration offered a $15million reward for Maduro's capture. President Joe Biden's State Department increased that to $25million, and the second Trump administration doubled it to $50million in August. The White House claims these boats are ferrying illegal drugs to the US at the direction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his government. No evidence has been provided to the public to substantiate allegations of Maduro's involvement Maduro has been the president of Venezuela since April 2013 and in that time, he has been accused of consolidating power in executive agencies while simultaneously wrestling it away from the elected National Assembly. There was so much doubt over the veracity of the 2018 presidential elections, which he won, that the president of the National Assembly, Juan Guaido, was declared the true leader of Venezuela by anti-Maduro legislators. Guaido was even invited as a special guest to Trump's State of the Union address in February 2020. Democrats and Republicans alike cheered for Guaido after Trump called him 'the true and legitimate president of Venezuela'. In 2024, Maduro ran for a third term as president. He was declared the winner in July by the Maduro-aligned election authority, which did not release the voting tallies from each of the 30,000 polling booths in the nation. The opposition party, who ran Edmundo Gonzalez as their candidate, also claimed victory. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said the margin of Gonzalezs win was 'overwhelming' based on tallies received from 80 percent of ballot boxes nationwide. Machado claimed Gonzalez, a former diplomat, won with twice as many votes. In recent weeks, the US has been gradually ratcheting up the number of warships operating near Venezuela. At least 11 ships and 15,000 troops have been deployed in the vicinity of the South American country (pictured: crude oil tanker) In November 2024, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken officially recognized Gonzalez as the president-elect of Venezuela. The Trump administration has held the same position, with current Secretary of State Marco Rubio accusing Maduro of election tampering. Guaido and Gonzalez fled the country after both men had arrest warrants issued for them by Maduro's government. Sir Richard Branson has paid tribute to his wife on what would have been their 36th wedding anniversary following her death aged 80 last month. In a touching post on Instagram, the Virgin boss wrote: 'Today marks mine and Joan's wedding anniversary. 'I still remember mine and Joan's wedding like it was yesterday. 'I'm not sure what I was whispering into her ear when these photos were taken on her 80th birthday this year, but I'm glad it made her smile!' Sir Richard was with Lady Joan for 50 years and shares two children with her, Holly and Sam. In the poignant tribute, Sir Richard also noted that the date marked when their daughter, Holly, also married her husband, Freddie Andrewes, as well as the birth of their twins Etta and Artie - his and Joan's grandchildren. The series of photos shared of the couple laughing together were taken just months before Joan sadly died last month. Sir Richard described her as a 'wonderful mum and grandmum' and his 'best friend' when he announced her death on November 25. Sir Richard Branson paid tribute to his wife Joan on their 36th wedding anniversary today following her death aged 80 last month He wrote: 'I'm not sure what I was whispering into her ear when these photos were taken on her 80th birthday this year, but I'm glad it made her smile!' He 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'. 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. 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. 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' The pair pictured on their wedding day in 1989 with their children, Holly and Sam 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 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.' 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. It's the outstanding comedy line in one of Scotlands best-loved movies, Local Hero. But as families settled down to watch Bill Forsyths 1983 masterpiece, a woke decision to censor the gag meant they had to miss out on one of its funniest scenes. Around 20 minutes in, an old sea dog called Gideon is painting a boats name in the harbour at Pennan in Aberdeenshire. An elderly chum, intently watching the paint slowly dry on The Silver Dollar, inquires of him Are you sure there are two ls in Dollar? In the original, one of the funniest lines in the film then follows. Aye, replies Gideon, and are there are two gs in bugger off? The hilarious exchange has regularly topped polls of Local Heros funniest lines, most recently on the streaming service YouTube. However, eagle-eyed viewers noticed the lines omission when the film was screened last Sunday, on Channel 4 just after lunch-time. The famous gag was delivered by character Gideon as he paints a boats name in the harbour Peter Riegert and Chris Rozycki in a scene from Bill Forsyth's 1983 film Local Hero The cast from iconic movie Local Hero, which included Peter Capaldi, Denis Lawson, Burt Lancaster, Jennifer Black, Peter Riegert, Fulton Mackay, Chris Chris Rozychi When the classic was later added to C4s on-demand platform More Four it still ran without Gideons immortal quote. Asked for an explanation, a C4 spokesman said Local Hero was edited to allow it to play pre-watershed, i.e. just after 1pm when children could be watching. She said Channel 4 streaming now carries the same version that was transmitted on the TV channel, meaning viewers still miss out on the joke, even if they are watching after 9pm. Brian Pendreigh, a Scots-based film critic, said: You have to say this is a bit over-the-top. I can understand why this joke might be removed if the film was being screened pre-watershed but people could be watching the catch-up version at any time of the day or night. Mr Pendreigh said he is frustrated that broadcasters actually employ somebody to pore over scenes and scripts to uncover the slightest perception of offence. Filmed between Pennan, where a red phone box was famously featured in the film, and Morar in Inverness-shire, Local Hero tells of a community heading for oil industry millions before the Texan tycoon played by Burt Lancaster has a change of heart. It provided an early role for Glasgow actor Peter Capaldi, who went on to win an Oscar for his short film Franz Kafkas Its a Wonderful Life. He also starred in Dr Who from 2014-2017. SEATTLE, Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Propeller Airports is pleased to announce that Alaska Airlines will resume nonstop service between Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE) and Portland International Airport (PDX) starting June 2026, restoring a highly requested connection for travelers across the greater Puget Sound region. The relaunched route will operate daily and offer seamless connections to Alaska's broader network. This includes quick connections to cities like Houston, Nashville, Orlando, Dallas, Bozeman, Spokane, and Austin. "We're thrilled that Alaska is bringing Portland service back to Paine Field," said Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller Airports; the company that owns and operates the commercial terminal at PAE. "Guests have been asking for this route to return, and we're excited that our customers will have a fast, easy, and reliable option that links two of the Pacific Northwest's most important economic and cultural hubs." Paine Field leadership welcomed the announcement as a major benefit to travelers. "This is great news for our community and great news for the region," said Joshua Marcy, Airport Director at Paine Field. "Restoring service to Portland not only reconnects Snohomish County with one of the Northwest's key cities, but it also gives residents seamless access to Alaska Airlines' vast network of destinations beyond PDX." Tickets to Portland are currently on sale at www.alaskaair.com. About Alaska Air Group Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, and McGee Air Services is a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. We are a global airline with hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. We deliver remarkable care as we fly our guests to more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. We'll serve Europe beginning in spring 2026. Guests can book travel at alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com. Alaska is a member of the oneworld alliance, with Hawaiian scheduled to join oneworld in spring 2026. With oneworld and our additional global partners, guests can earn and redeem points for travel to over 1,000 worldwide destinations with Atmos Rewards. Learn more about what's happening at Alaska and Hawaiian at news.alaskaair.com. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as "ALK." About Propeller Airports Based in Everett, Washington, Propeller identifies untapped potential for commercial air travel by working with local communities and government to maximize airport assets. Propeller Airports is focused on opportunities to invest, develop, and manage both general aviation and commercial service airports throughout the U.S. Propeller, along with Global Infrastructure Partners, a part of BlackRock, is focused on bringing best in class practices to Seattle Paine Field for the benefit of travelers throughout the Puget Sound Region. For more information, please visit www.flypainefield.com, www.propellerairports.com, and www.global-infra.com. SOURCE Propeller Airports; Alaska Air Group A man who disarmed a knifeman after he repeatedly stabbed an 11-year-old girl in Leicester Square has revealed what compelled him to save the youngster's life more than a year on from the attack. Abdullah Tanoli, 30, was working as a security guard at a shop on the busy central London plaza when, at around 11.30am, he heard screams coming from outside. He rushed onto the street and, to his horror, witnessed a girl being held in a headlock by a lone attacker wielding a knife - later identified as Ioan Pintaru, 33. The Romanian national had pounced on the Australian girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as she left the Lego store with her mother before stabbing her eight times in face, neck and chest with a large kitchen knife. Dismissing any regard for his own safety, Abdullah raced towards the girl and 'jumped on the attacker. He knew the man had a knife, but had no idea the extent of the girl's injuries nor did he have any specialist training for this type of attack. 'I never thought I would see something like that. At that moment, the only thing in my mind was to save the child,' he selflessly admits. Abdullah eventually managed to grab Pintaru's hand holding the knife and twisted it, causing the weapon to drop before kicking it away. The guard and two other men pinned the attacker down before police arrived five minutes later and arrested him. A nurse walking past help stem the victim's bleeding. Hero security guard Abdullah Tanoli, 30, who saved a girl after she was stabbed repeatedly by a lone knifeman in Leicester Square last year Romanian Ioan Pintaru, 33, has been detained indefinitely in a mental hospital for stabbing an 11-year-old Australian girl in the face eight times Police were seen detaining Pintaru in Leicester Square after the 11-year-old girl was stabbed Abdullah told the BBC that the moment he heard the girl being attacked, he knew it was 'not normal screaming'. 'You know when a child is just crying, but when someone is being hurt, that scream is different,' he said. 'Most people stayed back, and that is understandable - safety first - but if you know you can save someone, you should.' The girl, an Australian tourist, told police she thought she was going to die after she was targeted by Pintaru on the morning of August 12 last year while on holiday with her mother. He placed her in a headlock and 'furiously and repeatedly' stabbed her eight times in the face, neck and chest, with his arm moving 'like a jackhammer' using 'as much force as he could'. Her mother later told police she believed 'he was trying to kill' the youngster with a 'crazed and vacant expression'. Pintaru was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Tuesday to a hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act and a restriction order under Section 41 - meaning he can be detained indefinitely. During a police interview, the girl described how she felt something crash into her from behind and hit her on the head, the Old Bailey heard during Pintaru's trial. Police officers at the scene in Leicester Square, London, after the attack in August last year Prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe KC said: 'She felt the defendant's arm wrap itself around her,' Ms Stonecliffe explained. 'His weight was on her. She said in the interview that at that moment she thought she was going to die. 'She felt the defendant stab her in the face and felt the blood from the wound running down her face. She was understandably terrified.' During sentencing, Judge Richard Marks KC commended Mr Tanoli for his bravery and ordered a reward of 1,000 be given from public funds. One injury was centimetres away from the eye, two scars to the cheek, there were two wounds to the neck and two to the shoulder and chest near to an artery and the windpipe. Abdullah told the BBC a week after the attack the victim's mother contacted him on social media and they have remained in contact. Mr Tanoli said he considers the girl 'like my younger sister' and is 'relieved' that she has recovered physically from her wounds. Although, the court heard the child, now 13, has 'invisible scars' and often relives that moment over and over. Pintaru had previously been admitted to psychiatric hospital in Romania and had stopped taking his medication Pintaru was in the dock with what appeared to be three health workers. Psychiatrists said he suffered from psychosis during the attack 'The psychological effects of this incident will remain with (her) for the rest of her life,' prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe KC told the Old Bailey. Detective Constable Laura Nicoll, of the Met's specialist crime team, who led the investigation, said: 'It was a savage and brutal attack that left the city in shock. 'But following the most appalling scene, we also saw the best of London: a security guard who raced from his post without a thought of his own safety, the off-duty nurse who tended to the little girl's wounds. 'Without them, she might not be alive today. 'The guard was commended by the court, and we would like to add to that our sincere admiration for his selfless act.' Sordid new details have emerged Jeffrey Epstein sexual abuse of young girls after the Department of Justice released more files related to the disgraced financier. The latest tranche dropped on Saturday and mainly relates to grand jury transcripts from cases against Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. The documents contain harrowing testimony directly from victims, as well as from FBI agents recounting their interviews with Epstein accusers. One document related to a 2007 grand jury hearing on Epstein contained an account from a girl who claimed she was recruited at around the age of 16 by the financier to bring other girls to him. The accuser told the court that during a massage, she was naked and Epstein tried to fondle her. When she refused, she said he recruited her into a criminal conspiracy to bring him underage girls who would be more willing, paying her $200 for each successful referral. 'There were a few girls he wasn't crazy about. He didn't really like. He didn't favor [redacted] for instance, 23, he thought she was kind of too old,' the unidentified woman testified. 'The more you did is the more you make. Basically, the more clothes that come off, the more you let him touch you, the more you just let him have his way with you is the more that you would make, otherwise, you would be demoted down to bringing girls over and just making money that way.' Pictured: Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell together in an undated photo released by the Department of Justice on Friday. Explosive grand jury proceedings for both of them were uploaded to the DOJ website on Saturday Another document pertaining to Epstein's 2019 trial, featured graphic retellings of how young girl were groomed. An unidentified FBI agent testified that a 14-year-old girl visited Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach, Florida after being promised she could make $300 by giving him a massage. But when she arrived, she detailed how she was asked to strip to her underwear and carry out sexualized acts on Epstein as he lay on a massage table, the agent said. The girl reportedly detailed how the walls of the room were covered in sketches or paintings of naked women. The latest disclosure comes after a judge ruled on December 9 that the DOJ was allowed release grand jury materials from Maxwell's sex trafficking investigation. Because grand jury proceedings are secret by their very nature, it was unclear whether the DOJ would be able to release these documents as part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act that was signed by President Donald Trump last month. Pictured: The front of Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. A transcript of a grand jury proceeding released Saturday revealed that a 14-year-old girl massaged Epstein there while in her underwear US District Judge Paul Engelmayer said the grand jury materials had to be released because of that law, but he said mechanisms needed to be put in place to protect victims from disclosures that could 'identify them or otherwise invade their privacy'. The files dumped on Saturday afternoon were far less redacted than what was released on Friday. Democrats, including Congressman Ro Khanna, one of the authors of the law compelling the release of the Epstein files, were particularly furious with one document in Friday's release that contained 119 pages of grand jury testimony was entirely blacked out. By contrast, the documents released on Saturday were much more transparent. One of the disclosures shows a series of notes left for Epstein throughout 2005 with messages like 'has girl for tonight' and 'she can be here tomorrow from 2pm to whenever'. One note left for the disgraced financier conveyed the message that a girl he was seeing 'would like to speak to you. I belive (sic) about college'. In a grand jury hearing on November 19, 2019, for the federal case against Ghislaine Maxwell, an FBI agent talked at length about a girl who met Epstein and Maxwell while at summer camp in 1994 at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. The girl was 13 going on 14, the agent explained, and the sex trafficking duo interrupted her while she was talking to her friends at a picnic table to ask about her classes and teachers at the art education camp. Eventually, Epstein talked his way into the girl's mother's home, where he explained that he 'gives scholarships' and 'likes to mentor people', according to the agent's testimony. The girl then began regularly spending time with Maxwell and Epstein and the Palm Beach home, the agent said. The girl told the FBI that they treated her to movies and shopping, which she described as 'grooming'. Various Epstein accusers told authorities that there were pictures of naked women all through the Palm Beach home (Pictured: A room in Epstein's New York mansion with similar material) A photograph of Epstein's office at his Palm Beach estate. This office was described by accusers whose stories were expanded upon in newly-released grand jury documents Across the grand jury transcripts, Maxwell is implicated as a participant in Epstein's sexual abuse of the young girls she helped recruit. In one document, an FBI agent said she walked around the pool at Epstein's Palm Beach home topless in front of underage girls Once Epstein came to learn that the girl, still underage, wanted to become an actress and a model, he said he 'was best friends with the owner' of Victoria's Secret, per the document. He then pulled her into his lap, exposed himself and sexually abused her, according to the agent. A review of the grand jury materials by the Daily Mail reveal he used this Victoria's Secret line with other young girls who expressed an interest modeling as a way to impress them and convey that he could make their dream career a reality. Similar patterns of abuse emerge throughout the many grand jury documents, which also mention Maxwell. The convicted sex offender was often topless around the underage girls Epstein would have in the pool area of the Palm Beach home, according to grand jury testimony. Maxwell was also accused of groping her victims while directing them on how to please Epstein during massage sessions. She was also cast as Epstein's de facto enforcer with the girls he kept in his employ, though she kept them in line in a twisted, self-victimizing way, according to one transcript. Maxwell told one girl that she herself would 'get in trouble' if Epstein didn't get his daily massage from her, seemingly an attempt to guilt the girl into doing what she was told. Maxwell was also cast as Epstein's de facto enforcer with the girls he kept in his employ, though she kept them in line in a twisted, self-victimizing way, according to one transcript Epstein didn't merely discard girls who were resistant to doing him sexual favors. He instead offered to pay them to find more willing girls, according to the grand jury documents In another testimony, an FBI agent recalled speaking to a 14-year-old girl who was introduced to Epstein and Maxwell through her 17-year-old boyfriend. The boyfriend, identified as Shawn, had asked his then girlfriend if she wanted to 'massage and old man and she would be paid money in return for that,' the official recalled, per the filing. The girl then agreed and went to Epstein's home in 2001 and was immediately introduced to Maxwell after entering through the side door, the documents stated. The young girl was then taken to a massage room that had several nude photographs on its walls, including some of Maxwell. Epstein soon entered the room and the girl and Maxwell began massaging him before he turned over and 'they had sex,' the agent stated. The teenager went to Epstein's home on several occasions, and soon started to bring other girls around after both he and Maxwell specifically 'asked if she could bring younger girls' and promised 'she could earn more money' if she did, the agent said. The girls involved would each get paid $300, often in 'crisp $100 bills'. They would also receive gifts from financer, including flowers, Victoria's Secret underwear and a book called 'Massage for Dummies,' per the agent. The girl told the agent the gifts would be shipped either through UPS of FedEx at her home in West Palm Beach. Maxwell was often topless around the underage girls Epstein would have in the pool area of the Palm Beach home That same girl dropped out of school at the age of 14 and told officials she would use the money she got from Epstein and Maxwell to buy drugs that both she and her boyfriend used, the legal document said. Throughout the documents, many of the young girls described their relationship to Maxwell like that of 'sisters'. According to the agent, a teenage girl who was raised in England said: 'Maxwell treated her like they were sisters. 'Her quote was "like naughty school girls" is how Maxwell treated with her,' the documents read. The newly released files also shed light on Epstein and Maxwell's relationship and how the financer changed after his then girlfriend came into his life. An unnamed male employee who worked for Epstein in Palm Beach in the early 1990s said the late pedophile was 'more pleasant to work with prior to Maxwell coming into the picture,' an FBI agent recalled after conducting an interview with him. 'Once she came into the picture, he said things became more secretive. He wasn't allowed to be in the room with guests, wasn't allowed to talk with them, associate with them. It became a different environment,' the official stated. New documents released in the Epstein Files have revealed how Ghislaine Maxwell and paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein actually met - as pictures in the files also show the former Prince Andrew hosted the pair at Sandringham during their budding relationship. Epstein wrote in a formal memo that he pulled the young British socialite out of a 'dark depression' following the death of her media mogul father, Robert Maxwell. Maxwell had moved to New York in the early 1990s, months before her media mogul father would disappear off his yacht in an alleged suicide after stealing funds from his Mirror Group newspaper employees' pensions funds. Epstein was working as a wealth manager in New York at the time and wrote that he met a young Ghislaine Maxwell through 'mutual friends' and that she found their friendship 'immediately rewarding'. He added that the he comforted her 'during that period' by giving her 'books to read - good novels, scientific studies - containing issues to challenge her mind', as well as taking her to comedy clubs to 'relieve her depression'. The recollections of their early years written by the paedophile was typed out in a formal memo at an unknown date. But, the Times reported, Epstein was apparently compiling character references for his defence after he was charged in Florida in 2006 with the solicitation of a minor. Maxwell had moved to Manhattan aged 29 to launch a magazine for her father's media empire, which had acquired the New York Daily News in May 1991. But in November her father died, leaving them to discover soon after that over 400million was missing from the pension funds he managed. Maxwell and her seven siblings were left with 'no money, no trusts, no funds anywhere' Ghislaine's mother, Elisabeth Maxwell, later claimed. A photograph in the Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice yesterday depicting paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his 'pimp', Ghislaine Maxwell A picture of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lying across a row of women in a photo during a black-tie event with Ghislaine Maxwell has been released as part of the Epstein files The photograph above was taken in this room at Sandringham - with the same clock and ornaments above and, on the left, the faint outline of the hidden door to room where King George V recorded first Christmas broadcast The new files released by the US Department of Justice on Friday include a new detail that Maxwell emailed Epstein to tell him she was discussing with a 'CIA agent' how to recover the assets from her father's lost fortune. Epstein wrote in the files that 'over time the relationship became intimate' and continued into the mid-to-late 1990s. The disgraced New York financier also claimed he helped her secure a loan 'to help her get her footing in the business world' as a way for her to 'maintain her dignity' and 'self-respect', adding that she apparently paid him back. In the documents, Maxwell is alleged to have received payments from Epstein totalling over $30million - a figure believed to be an underestimation - with Maxwell even boasting to one of Epstein's victims that he had bought her a New York City townhouse. Several of the new documents also show Ghislaine Maxwell, now 63 and serving 20 years for her role in recruiting and trafficking minors for sex on behalf of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, in humiliating positions, rubbing Epstein's feet with exposed cleavage. Maxwell had asked a federal court to throw out her sex trafficking conviction on Wednesday ahead of the Epstein file release, claiming that 'substantial new evidence had emerged'. But the files were released as promised on Friday night. The pictures also showed that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor had hosted Epstein at Sandringham House, the Norfolk estate beloved by the Royal family at Christmas. As well as inviting the paedophile to Sandringham, Epstein and Maxwell also accompanied Andrew to Royal Ascot in 2000 and Balmoral in 1999, newly released photographs have confirmed. A group including Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Tom Pritzker and Prince Andrew gather for a photograph in front of the Queen's hunting lodge on her Sandringham Estate in 2000 Epstein and Maxwell were pictured in the countryside near Balmoral in one of the latest photographs released from the Epstein files A photograph of Ghislaine Maxwell pictured outside Number 10 Downing Street - the offices of the UK Prime Minister - has been released as part of the Epstein files tonight Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Ghislaine Maxwell at the Royal Ascot, Ladies Day, on June 22, 2000 - when the DOJ picture was believed to have been taken One bombshell photograph showed Andrew lying across five women's laps in one of the Royal Family's most treasured rooms at the Sandringham Estate where the likes of the King, William and Kate will often watch TV, play games or enjoy afternoon tea there over Christmas. The former prince is captured wearing a black suit and bow tie, as he lies across five women, smiling with his face near the bare legs of one. Behind him stands Epstein's grinning pimp Ghislaine Maxwell, alongside another unidentified woman who has had a black box put over her face by the US Department of Justice. Despite there being no context to the newly-released picture, it raises fresh questions over what the disgraced royal knew about Epstein and the billionaire paedophile's sex-trafficking girlfriend as he brought them into the Royal Family's inner sanctum. The US government released the picture as part of the Epstein files, a trove of 300,000 documents that revealed the depraved scenes at the financier's mansions and included countless images of naked young women - plus Andrew partying it up at Sandringham. It is not clear when the photo of Andrew in front of the fireplace in Sandringham's saloon room was taken. But it is known that Andrew hosted a surprise birthday for the now-jailed socialite at the King's private country Norfolk retreat in December 2000. Among the party was Tom Pritzker, chairman of Hyatt Hotels, is linked to the former duke in a most embarrassing way. Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Ghislaine Maxwell at a box at Royal Ascot in a picture released by the US Department of Justice Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell on a pheasant shoot on the Sandringham estate in 2000 Sarah Ferguson sits on a sofa in an undated photograph released by the US Department of Justice Now 75, the Chicago-based businessman was accused like Andrew of having sex with Virginia Giuffre. Ms Giuffre claimed she was the victim of trafficking and abuse by Epstein and his powerful associates when she was a teenager. Like the former duke, Mr Pritzker has strongly denied the claims. Less than three months after the hunting lodge snap, Andrew posed with his arm around 17-year-old Virginia's waist for a photograph that would ultimately lead to his downfall. Epstein's account of his and Ghislaine Maxwell's twisted relationship, in which Maxwell obtained young girls for Epstein, states that their relationship came to an 'amicable' end in 2000 as the 'demand of his work, long hours and frequent travel, precluded a good married life with children'. Although Maxwell reportedly wanted to start a family with Epstein, she wrote gushingly of Epstein: 'My experience of Jeffrey is of a thoughtful, kind, generous loving man, with a keen sense of humour and a ready smile a man of principles and values and a man of his word. 'If he made a promise, he would always follow through. In fact, I never saw him break a promise. He is disciplined in business and conscientious.' The documents revealed that the pair's relationship was far more intimate than Maxwell previously publicly admitted, with photographs depicting the pair together on luxury holidays, Maxwell rubbing Epstein's feet, and lounging in hot tubs with former presidents. The documents also depict the pair infiltrating high-profile estates and institutions in the UK, from Maxwell standing outside Number 10 Downing Street to hunting on the Balmoral estate and enjoying a seat in the Royal Box at Ascot. The context of many of the photographs remains unknown. The ringleader of a leading anti-capitalist protest group is the son of a top executive at a superyacht insurance broker, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Privately educated Arthur Clifton, 25, is a leading organiser for Take Back Power, the protest group which this month dumped manure at The Ritz Hotel in Mayfair and threw apple crumble and custard at the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. The group a successor to Just Stop Oil has raised 56,000 in an online fundraiser for its campaigns to tackle economic inequality and impose greater taxes on the rich. But The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Cliftons father, Michael, 58, is a boss at international insurance brokers Chaucer, which boasts of having taken $3.1 billion (2.3 billion) in premiums in 2024. Michael is the head of US casualty treaty where a re-insurer covers a portfolio of risks and has 30 years experience in the business. In a huge contrast to what Take Back Power stands for, Chaucer boasts on its website of providing insurance coverage for private yachts the preserve of the superrich as well as other vessels such as cruise ships and tankers. A source said: Where Arthurs dad works is in direct opposition to the aims and objectives of Take Back Power. Arthur has been given a private education and a wonderful lifestyle most young people can only dream of, funded by his dad working in the same environment he claims to want to fight against. Privately educated Arthur Clifton, 25, is a leading organiser for anti-capitalist group Take Back Power The 25-year-old attended Latymer Upper School, one of the country's top public schools, and his father is a boss at international insurance brokers Chaucer Clifton grew up in an upmarket West London property and attended Latymer Upper School, one of the top public schools in the country where annual fees are 30,000. Records show he was recently living in a 2 million house. Clifton was previously a member of direct action group Youth Demand. Earlier this year he was given a 12-month community order, with 120 hours of unpaid work, for causing 5,000 of criminal damage by spraying orange paint at University College London in 2023. Take Back Power said: Its time ordinary people decide how to make the super-rich pay their fair share, in order to fix Britain. The world's largest producer of mozzarella is closing one of its dairy plants in California due to the state's sky high operating costs. Leprino Foods, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, supplies cheese for fast-food pizza restaurants, including Domino's, Pizza Hut and Papa John's. For the last 115 years, the plant has operated in Lemoore, a small town deep within California's rural Central Valley. But now more than a century of history is coming to a close, with an estimated 300 people set to lose their jobs when the plan shutters early next year. To give people time to find new employment, Leprino announced the closure in November of last year. 'This decision is influenced by several factors, including the facility's age, anticipated capital requirements to make improvements to the facility and add or replace equipment and systems, high operating costs in California, the long-term milk supply outlook, and the increased capacity due to the opening of our Lubbock, Texas facility,' according to a statement from the company at the time. One major factor likely driving the move is that California has a high corporate tax rate, while Texas's equivalent franchise tax is much less burdensome. Additionally, California imposes higher payroll tax obligations on companies for things like unemployment insurance and disability insurance. Pictured: Mary Ellen Jackson, a senior product developer and David LeMay, Senior Manager of Product Development at the Leprino Foods test the cheese consistency and stretch in their cheese at the company's headquarters in Denver, Colorado Another advantage Texas has is cheap land. Agricultural land in Texas is six times cheaper per acre on average than in California, based on data from the USDA and the Texas Farm Bureau. The 850,000-square-foot Lubbock facility Leprino Foods opened in January 2025 currently supports a staff of 300 full-time workers, the same as the Lemoore plant. Though by next year, the Texas location is expected to have doubled the size of its workforce, Forbes reported over the summer. The Lubbock plant is capable of processing over 500,000 gallons of milk per day, turning it into mozzarella, sweet whey and sweet cream. That amount of milk would fill an Olympic-size swimming pool three quarters of the way. The Lemoore plant has been in operation since 1910, though Leprino didn't acquire it until the 1980s. 'This choice in no way reflects the hard work of our approximately 300 Lemoore East employees, who contribute to Leprino's success every day,' Leprino's statement continued. Join the debate How do you think Californias business climate is impacting jobs and local communities? Pictured: The Leprino Foods dairy processing plant in Lemoore, California, which is closing in early 2026 'Our dedication to serving customers and honoring our commitments remains unwavering. This change will not affect the quality, service or reliability our customers expect of us and our products.' A former Leprino employee, Dave Costa, said the Lemoore plant was 'one of the highest paying factory jobs in the valley.' 'Its going to be a great loss to the City of Lemoore,' Costa told KSEE/KGPE last November. Leprino has grown substantially from its origins in the 1950s as a small Italian grocery store that made its own ricotta and mozzarella. James Leprino, the late founder of the company, started it with $615 in savings and ended up amassing a net worth of $3.1 billion by 2017. A small-boat migrant who called for the death of all Jews has been freed from prison to roam the streets of Britain in a move which has struck fear into the community days after the Bondi Beach massacre, the Mail on Sunday can reveal. Prison bosses have released Palestinian gun-toting militant Abu Wadee, 34, after he served nine months behind bars for illegally entering the UK on a dinghy. Wadee, a known Hamas supporter, posted about his freedom from custody on social media accompanied by a moody selfie and has already lodged an asylum claim to stay in the UK. The Mail on Sunday understands he is staying in a bail hostel and wearing an electronic tag. The Home Office has refused to confirm whether he will be deported. On Saturday night, members of the Jewish community and campaigners branded Wadee a dangerous extremist and urged the Government to deport him immediately because of the wider threat he posed. Their calls come in the aftermath of shootings in Sydney on December 14 which killed 15 people celebrating Hanukkah and an attack on British soil just two months ago, where Jews were targeted at a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur. Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism group said: The Home Office owes the public answers, and given the potential threat, we need them now. British Jews can see that from Manchester to Sydney, the intifada has been well and truly globalised. The authorities need to get a grip we are out of time. Palestinian Abu Wadee, 34, has been released from prison after serving nine months behind bars for illegally entering the UK on a dinghy The gun-toting militant's release has struck fear into the Jewish community days after the Bondi Beach massacre Wadee, pictured with a slingshot for hurling rocks, is understood to be staying in a bail hostel in the UK and wearing an electronic tag Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: This scumbag is a dangerous extremist. He has spouted anti-Semitic bile, called for the massacre of Jews and has been pictured brandishing an assault rifle. He must be immediately deported. Mr Philp added that leaving the European Convention on Human Rights would mean foreign criminals such as Wadee could be removed within days of their illegal arrival in the UK. And on Saturday night Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: The Government must finally concede that there are people crossing in small boats who hate our country, and treat it as a national security emergency. Wadee, also known as Mosab Abdulkarim Al-Gassas, was jailed in May after he was convicted over his illegal arrival in the UK on a dinghy, which he live-streamed on TikTok. He was arrested by Home Office immigration enforcement officers at an asylum hotel in Manchester three days after his Channel crossing in March after the MoS uncovered a stream of anti-Semitic vitriol he had posted online, which included his call for death to all Jews. He was also pictured holding a Kalashnikov assault rifle and an artillery shell, and taking part in running battles with the Israel Defence Forces. He was initially freed from prison in June under Labours early release scheme to ease overcrowding after serving just 40 per cent of his sentence. The militant small boat migrant uploaded a video of himself crossing the Channel to the UK Wadee, seen here posing with two assault rifles in front of a Palestine flag, posted on social media to celebrate his release from prison But he was recalled within weeks for breaching his licence conditions. Sources confirmed he was released again earlier this month, having served his full sentence. In one social media post on December 12, sporting long straggly hair and a bushy beard, Wadee wrote: Today I got out of prison after nine months. Thanks to everyone who was asking. A number of friends and family members flocked to congratulate him on his release, and thanked God for his safety. He has also since posted an old image of him posing with a friend both sporting Palestine-flag bandanas. He captioned the picture: The biggest shock that I experienced while I was inside the prison was the news of the martyrdom of my friend, brother and companion. As recently as Friday, Wadee uploaded an old video of him saying goodbye to that same friend, before he travelled through Europe and on to the UK. A translation of Wadee speaking to the man shows Wadee asked him to pray for his own safe passage out of Gaza. Home Office sources insist Wadee is being monitored by an electronic tag and that he is not allowed to work or study. However they admitted they could not detain him until they secure evidence that there is a realistic prospect of removal. Wadee has already lodged an asylum application in the UK, having previously made similar bids in Greece, Belgium and Germany before crossing the Channel. Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch, said that Wadees case proved the UK was a soft touch. Wadee, seen wearing a Palestinian flag headband, chants his desire is to 'die for Allah' Wadee has already lodged an asylum application in the UK, having previously made similar bids in Greece, Belgium and Germany before crossing the Channel Men like Abu Wadee should never be admitted let alone be permitted to stay on human rights grounds, Mr Mehmet said. Although he fled Gaza before the October 7 massacres in 2023, Wadee appears to have been a prominent member of the so-called tyre-burning unit a militant group of Palestinian extremists who regularly hurled fire-bombs and rocks at Israeli forces manning the border with Gaza, before the outbreak of war. In one sickening video last year, posted on his Facebook page, he is filmed calling for Allah to punish (Jews) completely and kill them one by one. In an interview in April 2018 Wadee told Hamas-affiliated newspaper Felesteen about terrorising Israel by sending flaming kites across the border. He posed alongside seven masked men behind a table on which had been placed a high-explosive artillery shell covered in pictures of gunmen apparently killed in clashes with Israel. Wadee had a huge following on social media, where his TikTok videos attracted up to 2.5million views. His account has since been deleted. A spokesman for the Community Security Trust (CST), which advises Jews in the UK, said: The release of Abu Wadee is likely to raise understandable concerns among the public, given the nature of his alleged support for a terrorist organisation and his anti-Semitic views. There is a clear responsibility for the relevant authorities to ensure that this individual does not pose a threat to public safety, or to take appropriate action accordingly. A Home Office spokesman refused to confirm Wadees whereabouts, insisting the department would not comment on individual cases. But in a statement, the Home Office said: All foreign national offenders who receive a prison sentence in the UK are referred for deportation at the earliest opportunity. As America's First Lady sits in her gilded Trump Tower office, the decor is undeniably ostentatious marble columns, gold statues and a Louis XIV desk while on the wall hangs what appears to be a masterpiece by PierreAuguste Renoir. Titled La Loge, or The Theatre Box, it features a fashionable couple attending a show in Paris and is considered a priceless work which exemplifies the Impressionist artist's dazzling technique. But if viewers of a new film about Melania Trump are fooled into thinking the artwork is genuine, true aficionados will not be. For the real 1874 Renoir is on display 3,500 miles away in London's Courtauld Institute of Art. In the past two years it has been loaned to the Musee d'Orsay in Paris and The National Gallery of Art in Washington but has never graced the President's New York home. One former White House aide told The Mail on Sunday: 'Donald Trump loves to flaunt his wealth, but like so many things in his life, it's not always what it seems. He might know the Art Of The Deal, but doesn't know much about dealing in art.' It is not the first time a Renoir of Mr Trump's has been exposed as a fake. In 2015, journalist Mark Bowden wrote in Vanity Fair how in 1996 Mr Trump had shown off what he claimed was an original hanging in his private Boeing 727, telling him it was 'worth $10 million'. But the genuine painting Two Sisters (On The Terrace) was, in fact, hanging in the Art Institute of Chicago where it had been since 1933. The 104minute film, titled Melania, will hit theatres worldwide on January 30, chronicling the dramatic 20 days leading up to Donald Trump's inauguration The fake La Loge, or The Theatre Box featuring in Melania's officer in the Melania film trailer Courtauld Gallery has 'La Loge' by PierreAuguste Renoir in its permanent collection The copy has since been seen in TV interviews at Trump Tower. La Loge is visible in the trailer for Amazon's forthcoming film Melania, which follows the First Lady for the 20 days leading up to her husband's 2025 inauguration. She is said to have received 30 million for the project. A friend of the President said last night: 'Trump can appreciate great art, but he finds the New York art crowd elitist and phoney.' Experts say the genuine La Loge would probably break the 46million record for a Renoir, were it ever sold. 'Museumquality' copies can be bought for around 4,000. The BBC will review its entire Middle East coverage after admitting major reporting errors in its portrayal of Israel during the war in Gaza. The Corporation pledged to investigate wide-ranging claims of bias in a 13-page dossier published on Friday. Allegations of bias were brought into sharp focus last month after a memo written by independent adviser Michael Prescott was leaked to the Press. It claimed that the BBC appeared to have a desire always to believe the worst about Israel and that BBC Arabic in particular seemed to minimise Israeli suffering and paint Israel as the aggressor. This was despite Hamas triggering the war in Gaza with its October 7 terrorist attack. In response, the broadcasters Director of Editorial Complaints and Reviews, Peter Johnston, has produced a report setting out the BBCs response to claims of bias. He admitted a series of damaging mistakes made by the Corporation in its reporting, including one claim that the International Court of Justice had found a plausible cause of genocide in Gaza. There were also issues surrounding the number of deaths reported as well as a wrong question on Newsnight concerning 14,000 babies supposedly at risk of starving to death within 48 hours. In the documentary Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone, the BBC failed to disclose the narrator Abdullah, 13, (pictured), is the son of Hamas's deputy minister of agriculture The BBC has admitted making major reporting errors in its portrayal of Israel during the war in Gaza. Pictured: Rubble in Gaza City on December 19, 2025 There was a TV report suggesting that Israeli soldiers had buried hundreds of bodies in mass graves, when this was done by Hamas. And an article on Gaza medics failed to say Hamas was accused of operating from their hospital. Mr Johnston said the BBC later corrected its errors and had accepted it was wrong to use supposedly independent freelance journalists whose social media posts indicated they were pro-Hamas and anti-Semitic. He said the Corporations Editorial Guidance and Standards Committee (EGSC) had already started rolling out a new training programme for all BBC News Arabic editorial staff. Mr Johnston said the EGSC and the BBC Board were planning a full editorial review of coverage of the Middle East as the most effective mechanism to fully evaluate our coverage of such a difficult story and to learn any lessons. The report will likely serve the BBCs Global Director of News, Jonathan Munro, a further blow, as he earlier this year dismissed suggestions of bias and praised the exceptional journalism of BBC Arabic. Mr Johnstons latest appraisal has also reviewed the BBCs approach to controversial subjects such as gender identity and colonial history. On gender, he said the BBC News style guide has been updated, reminding journalists that the concept of gender identity is contested by some and that they should not use the term assigned at birth to signify gender. They are also urged to avoid phrases such as trans child/children and gender-affirming care. On history, Mr Johnston said the BBC accepted its response to complaints by History Reclaimed, a group of academics, was not acceptable or appropriate. They had accused the BBC of presenting a distorted version of Britains colonial past in some programmes and made some sensible recommendations. In its response, the BBC said that cherry-picking a handful of examples... does not constitute analysis. Mr Johnston suggested the EGSC review the BBCs history output. Kemi Badenoch is celebrating a Christmas poll bounce after the Conservatives closed the gap with Nigel Farage's Reform UK to just three points. The end-of-year survey puts Ms Badenoch's party on 22 per cent up from 20 per cent a month ago suggesting that her improved Commons performances and fresh policy ideas are starting to 'cut through' to voters. Reform has dropped to 25 per cent. The analysis, by former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft, highlights the febrile state of Right-wing politics. In the equivalent survey a month ago, Reform UK enjoyed a seven-point lead, a margin which could have put Mr Farage within striking distance of Downing Street. But under these latest figures, his chances of becoming prime minister would rely on a deal with the Tories. Labour is languishing in fourth place, a point behind Zack Polanski's Greens. It means that unless Labour manages to improve its performance, the party's hopes of returning to No 10 would rest on a Leftist coalition with the Greens and the Lib Dems. Aggregating individual party scores, such a union would command the support of 47 per cent of voters the same as the combined support for Tories and Reform. It means that if the Right fails to unite, the Left could have a clear path to continued power. Ms Badenoch has managed to quell some of the disquiet on her backbenches in recent weeks by putting in more assured public performances. She has highlighted the disarray in Sir Keir Starmer's Government and started to set out a more coherent policy package, including the abolition of stamp duty and the scrapping of the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars after 2030. By contrast, doubts have started to creep in among voters about whether Reform can move beyond the 'Nigel Farage show' to become an effective party of Government. Join the debate What do you think it would take for the Right to finally unite and challenge the Lefts coalition? Your browser does not support iframes. The end-of-year survey puts Ms Badenoch's party on 22 per cent up from 20 per cent a month ago When voters were asked whether Mr Farage has enough talented people to form an administration, only 17 per cent thought that he did, while 60 per cent did not Die-hard Labour voters want to wait to give the party a chance to arrest its slump in popularity (Pictured: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer) Join the debate What would it take for the Right to truly unite and prevent a coalition of Left-wing parties from taking power? When voters were asked whether Mr Farage has enough talented people to form an administration, only 17 per cent thought that he did, while 60 per cent did not. Disillusionment with the Government has left voters itching for an election. A total of 39 per cent of people would like a ballot next year, compared with 26 per cent who prefer to wait until 2029, the latest point it can be legally held. Die-hard Labour voters want to wait to give the party a chance to arrest its slump in popularity. Half its supporters want the Government to cling on until the end of the five-year term, while just 17 per cent want an election next year. Many Labour supporters cling to the belief that a new leader such as Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting or Angela Rayner could turn their fortunes around. But while 51 per cent of Labour voters would like Ms Rayner back in Cabinet following her resignation for underpaying stamp duty, only 26 per cent of general voters agree. And they think she would make a worse prime minister than Sir Keir. Mr Farage's lead in the polls might be slipping, but he dominates the rankings in the festive element of the survey. He comes top when people are asked which party leader they would most like to spend New Year's Eve with. He is also 'most likely to hide in the pub until Christmas lunch is ready', 'most likely to fall asleep in front of the TV after lunch', 'most likely to burn the lunch', 'most likely to get into an argument over lunch' and 'most likely to do something embarrassing at the office party'. Sir Keir, however, is 'most likely to make a boring speech at a Christmas party' and 'most likely to sneak away from a get-together to do some work', while Ms Badenoch is 'most likely to help clear up after Christmas lunch' and was the most popular choice for a kiss under the mistletoe. Casting a shadow over Christmas, however, is the economy. In total, 38 per cent of people say that they will have less money to spend on presents this year. Only 11 per cent say that they will be in a position to be more generous. A total of 5,195 voters were polled from December 11 to 15. Rachel Reeves has been barred from her local pub because of her crippling tax rises bringing the hospitality industry to its knees. Landlord Martin Knowles has told the Chancellor not to try to enjoy a festive pint in the Marsh Inn in her Leeds constituency after he was hit with a 2,500 hike in business rates. The Chancellor posed with Mr Knowles in his pub last July, soon after she took over at the Treasury following Labour's election victory, but now the publican has put up a sign making clear that all Labour MPs, including Ms Reeves, are not welcome on his premises. He said: 'I thought I'd ban them all, including the local MP, as they are not doing our industry any favours at all. Our clientele seem quite happy with the ban.' Spiralling National Insurance costs and a hike in the minimum wage imposed by Ms Reeves have also helped drive hundreds of pubs to the brink. Despite the crippling effect of her tax rises across the economy, the Chancellor this weekend declared that she could not rule out further tax rises in 2026. Hospitality bosses have borne the brunt of her policies, especially business rate hikes which will see a typical pub's taxes doubling by 2029. Nearly three pubs a week went bust in the six months to October an 85 per cent increase on the same period in 2024 and it has been estimated that a further 2,000 could be forced to close next year unless the Government changes course. Rachel Reeves (centre) has been banned from her local pub the Marsh Inn by landlord Martin Knowles (left) Mr Knowles (pictured gesturing to a 'No Labour MPs' sign) barred the Labour Chancellor after he was hit with a 2,500 hike in business rates Ms Reeves visited the pub last July, soon after she took over at the Treasury following Labour's election victory Mr Knowles said that if Ms Reeves was to be allowed back into his pub, she needed to lower VAT and PAYE, stop increasing the minimum wage and stop business rates going 'through the roof'. He joins hundreds of landlords across the country banning Labour MPs over the damage they are wreaking to their business. Among them are TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson who displays the 'No Labour MPs' sign at his Cotswolds pub The Farmer's Dog. He has explained: 'Our annual business rates have gone up astronomically from something like 28,000 to well over 50,000. It is a disgrace.' Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith said on Saturday night: 'Business rates hikes are hammering pubs with eye-watering increases. It is no wonder Rachel Reeves is barred from her local. 'Labour doesn't understand businesses. They should undo these punishing changes before they drive the Great British pub to extinction.' Mr Knowles' wife Melanie confirmed that Ms Reeves 'won't get through the door again' adding: 'Every single day is a struggle for us. Other people are shutting the doors on these places and throwing the keys back because they can't make a living any more. They're not even breaking even. 'It's down to the cost of living, too, because customers are struggling and where is the first place that you cut down? Socialising. It's because the Labour Government have made everything so expensive for people to do.' Ms Reeves was also pictured enjoying a pub lunch at The Britannia pub in her constituency last year and they too have called on her to 'change course and support pubs rather than taxing them to death' in a post on social media. Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: 'New sky-high business rates have left many publicans at their wits' end and could threaten the very existence of many pubs across the country.' Dawn Hopkins, vice-chair of the Campaign for Pubs, added: 'The Government is in complete denial over the impact their business rates betrayal will have on pubs. Join the debate Do YOU agree with Rachel Reeves' ban? The Marsh Inn, in Pudsey, Leeds now has a sign up which makes clear that all Labour MPs are not welcome Ms Reeves was also pictured enjoying a pub lunch at The Britannia pub in her constituency last year - they too have called on her to 'change course and support pubs rather than taxing them to death' in a post on social media 'They promised lower business rates, yet instead pubs will be hit with a huge hike next April and completely unsustainable bill levels. This is clearly a broken promise, but it's also literally unaffordable for pubs. Unless they want to be responsible for closures of pubs up and down the country, the Government must think again.' In an interview with the I Paper this weekend, Ms Reeves would not promise to ease back on the tax rises, saying: 'The world is incredibly volatile at the moment. It would be wrong to start writing future Budgets.' She said only that her policies will 'hopefully mean further changes to tax are less necessary'. On Saturday night the Treasury declined to comment on the Chancellor being barred from her local pub, but a spokesman insisted: 'We're protecting pubs, restaurants and cafes with the Budget's 4.3 billion support package. 'This comes on top of our efforts to ease licensing to help more venues offer pavement drinks and put on one-off events, maintaining our cut to alcohol duty on draught pints, and capping Corporation Tax.' He said there was also Government help to cap business rate bills for companies facing steep increases in their valuations. Additional reporting: Jacinta Taylor NEW YORK and NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors with substantial losses that they have until January 26, 2026 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. ("Alexandria" or the "Company") (NYSE: ARE), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between January 27, 2025 to October 27, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. What You May Do If you purchased securities of Alexandria and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-are/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by January 26, 2026 . About the Lawsuit Alexandria and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On October 27, 2025, post-market, the Company disclosed financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 that were below expectations, including cuts to its FFO guidance for the full-year 2025, due to lower occupancy rates, slower leasing activity and most notably, a real estate impairment charge of $323.9 million with $206 million attributed to its LIC property. On this news, the price of Alexandria's shares fell from a closing market price of $77.87 per share on October 27, 2025 to $62.94 per share on October 28, 2025, a decline of about 19% in the span of just a single day. The case is Warren Hern v. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-11319. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, and a representative office in Luxembourg. TOP 10 Plaintiff Law Firms - According to ISS Securities Class Action Services To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Contact: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner [email protected] 1-877-515-1850 1100 Poydras St., Suite 960 New Orleans, LA 70163 CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedIn SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Angela Rayner has 'done a deal' to be Andy Burnham's running mate if he launches a leadership bid against the Prime Minister, sources have claimed. Labour MPs backing Mr Burnham, the mayor of Manchester, say Ms Rayner has agreed to support his bid in return for her old job as Deputy Prime Minister, plus an unspecified senior Cabinet position. Mr Burnham has been searching for a safe Labour seat in the North to allow him to enter the Commons and challenge Sir Keir Starmer. Last week, The Mail on Sunday reported his Commons allies as saying they have found a seat which is 'likely to come free' in the coming months and which polling suggests that the so-called King Of The North should win. The seat was not identified, but sources say Mr Burnham has been talking to MPs in safe seats in Liverpool who might be prepared to stand aside, and been keeping a close eye on the Manchester seat held by Andrew Gwynne, who has been suspended from the Labour Party for sending racist and sexist messages. Mr Gwynne has said he does not plan to stand down. This newspaper has been told Mr Burnham held discussions with Liverpool Walton MP Dan Carden over his seat, which he holds with a 20,245 majority. But sources said yesterday that the talks 'just didn't go anywhere'. Ms Rayner's backing would be a boost for Mr Burnham as the former Deputy PM who has not ruled out her own leadership bid enjoys strong support from Labour members who would vote in the contest. A Labour MP backing Mr Burnham said: 'My understanding is that the deal has been done. Angie would go back to being deputy and get a plum Cabinet job.' Labour MPs backing Mr Burnham (right), the Mayor of Manchester, say Ms Rayner (left) has agreed to support his bid in return for her old job as Deputy Prime Minister It would be seen as a blow to the leadership hopes of Health Secretary Wes Streeting (pictured) after reports that his allies had made their own 'joint ticket' approach to Ms Rayner Join the debate Should politicians trade cabinet positions for support in leadership bids, or does it betray voters trust? It would also be seen as a major blow to the leadership hopes of Health Secretary Wes Streeting after reports that his allies had made their own 'joint ticket' approach to Ms Rayner. Some senior Labour figures worry about the 'optics' of the move, given that both Mr Burnham and Ms Rayner come from the North West. But that would be resolved if Ms Rayner, who is under threat from Reform in her Ashton-under-Lyne seat, decided to mount a 'chicken run' to a safe Labour seat in the South East, close to her new 800,000 flat in Hove. Ms Rayner's allies previously said she was resisting an offer by Sir Keir to bring her back as Education Secretary. Last week, Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave Mr Burnham a thinly-veiled warning, saying: 'He said when he stood for mayor that he would serve a full term and I think that is the right thing to do.' A spokesman for Mr Burnham dismissed reports of a deal with Ms Rayner or approaches to sitting Labour MPs as 'rubbish'. A source close to Ms Rayner said: 'There is no vacancy and there is no pact.' Prince Harry was only 12 when his mother, Princess Diana, was killed in a car crash in Paris. Its impact on the Duke of Sussex, now 41, is one of the major themes of his searing memoir Spare, with Harry recounting how he tried to come to terms with Diana's death in the years since. In an emotional admission, he recalled being driven through the Alma underpass at the same speed that Diana's chauffeur was driving when the accident occurred, hoping it would give him the 'closure he wanted'. Instead, it had the opposite effect on Harry, then 23, who later got drunk and wandered the streets of the French capital during his 2007 visit. Diana's death continued to haunt the grief-stricken Prince after he quit the royal family and relocated to Montecito, California, with his wife Meghan Markle and their son, Prince Archie, in 2020. Sometime after Christmas that year, Harry said he met a woman who said she could contact his late 'mummy' - and described the surprising 'sign' that confirmed her 'powers'. Earlier in the book, Harry recalled how Archie was playing around their family's Christmas tree when he accidentally broke an ornament in the shape of his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. 'Your mother says she had a bit of a giggle about that,' the woman told Harry as 'proof' because Diana could only have known about the incident if 'she was there'. The impact of Princess Diana's death on her youngest son, Prince Harry (both pictured), now 41, is one of the major themes of his searing memoir Spare, with Harry recounting how he tried to come to terms with Diana's death in the years since The Duke published his tell-all memoir in January 2023, and the book became the fastest-selling non-fiction book in the UK of all time. Spare, which was accidentally leaked in Spain ahead of its release, made headlines around the world as it included a number of explosive claims about the royal family in the wake of Megxit. In the book, ghostwritten by Pulitzer Prize winner JR Moehringer, Harry also shared intimate details about his private life - including that he 'peed his pants' before his first date with Meghan and used recreational drugs until the age of 36. While promoting Spare, Harry also controversially discussed his use of psychedelics like ayahuasca and magic mushrooms to cope with the grief of losing Diana in what was seen, by some, as glorifying drug use. In an interview with The Telegraph, Harry said he took ayahuasca under supervision and 'realised...she [Diana] wants me to be happy'. 'So this weight off my chest was not the need to cry, it was the acceptance and realisation that she has gone, but that she wants me to be happy and that shes very much present in my life,' he continued. And when he moved to Montecito, where the Sussexes live in a $29 million mansion, he sought the help of a psychic after she came highly recommended by 'trusted friends' of the Duke. The prince acknowledged that, although there was a 'high-percentage chance of humbuggery' there was no 'harm' in meeting the Los Angeles-based woman. Diana's death continued to haunt the grief-stricken Prince after he quit the royal family and relocated to Montecito, California, with his wife Meghan Markle (left) and their son, Prince Archie, in 2020 When Harry moved to Montecito, he sought the help of a psychic who claimed that his late mother was sending him a message from the grave via a Christmas ornament in the shape of the late Queen Elizabeth II 'Then, the minute we sat down together, I felt an energy around her,' he wrote in Spare. The woman then told Harry that she 'felt an energy around me too' before confirming: 'Your mother is with you.' Harry 'felt his neck grow warm' and noticed his eyes started watering when he understood what the woman meant. 'Your mother knows you're looking for clarity,' the woman continued. 'Your mother feels your confusion. She knows that you have so many questions.' When Harry replied 'I do', the woman, speaking on behalf of Diana, said 'the answers will come' and that she understood it 'wasn't easy'. The prince asked her to elaborate, when the woman appeared to reference his decision to quit the royal family. 'Your mother says: You're living the life she couldn't. You're living the life she wanted for you.' While promoting Spare, Harry also controversially discussed his use of psychedelics like ayahuasca and magic mushrooms to cope with the grief of losing Diana in what was seen, by some, as glorifying drug use Appearing to reference Harry's decision to leave the Royal Family, the Los-Angeles psychic told the prince Diana was 'proud' of him This Christmas will mark the sixth year that Prince Harry has spent away from his family after the schism that was dubbed 'Megxit'. The Sussexes will spend the holiday season in Los Angeles Although Harry was moved by the message, he desperately needed a 'sign' it had actually come from Diana. That was when the woman brought up the 'ornament' as she told Harry: 'Your mother says...something about a Christmas ornament? Of a mother? Or a grandmother? It fell? Broke?' Recalling the incident at his house, when Archie broke the Queen-shaped ornament hanging on the Sussexes' tree, Harry understood 'she was there'. This Christmas will mark the sixth year that Prince Harry has spent away from his family after the schism that was dubbed 'Megxit'. While senior royals will begin making their way to King Charles's Sandringham estate for their annual festivities, Harry and Meghan will spend the holiday season in Los Angeles with their two children, Archie, now six, and Princess Lilibet, four. In addition to their estrangement from the royal family, Meghan last week said she has 'no plans' of seeing her father, Thomas Markle, after he underwent a life-saving leg amputation in the Philippines. After failing to get hold of him by email or phone, the Duchess - who has not seen him since she married Prince Harry in 2018 - 'reached out' to her father in the form of a hand-delivered letter. However she is thought to believe his relationship with the media - understood to be something she addresses in her letter - means they are unlikely ever to reconcile. She has so far not had a reply to her letter, the Sunday Times reported. It comes after Meghan released a special Christmas edition of her Netflix lifestyle programme that was all about 'finding time to connect with the people we love' as the mother-of-two gave viewers a sneak-peek into her holiday celebrations. However, the 'Christmas naffness' that was released on December 3 was widely criticised by reviewers, who branded it an 'experiment in aggressive hospitality' and 'predictably insipid'. Prince William has secretly agreed to become patron of the Special Air Service Regimental Association (SASRA). The Prince of Wales, 43, spoke of his respect for the Special Air Service (SAS) in a private newsletter sent to members to confirm his patronage. 'It is with a deep sense of honour and respect that I accept your invitation to become patron of the Special Air Service Regimental Association,' William said. 'The SAS has long stood as a symbol of courage, resilience and unwavering dedication to duty and the service of this country. 'The association continues that camaraderie forged on the battlefield and provides essential support to its members and families.' The SASRA is a registered charity that supports both serving members and veterans of the SAS, whose motto is 'Who Dares Wins'. The 5000-strong association proudly boasts: 'No member or member's widow is ever turned away if the problem is a genuine one.' William said he looks forward to working alongside the SASRA and pledged to help ensure 'the sacrifices and achievements of SAS members past and present are recognised'. Prince William (pictured) has agreed to become patron of the Special Air Service Regimental Association The Prince of Wales (pictured at the Army Air Corps) spent time with the SAS as a young man and has maintained contact since In the same newsletter, the association's chairperson shared their 'delight' at the announcement, according to the Mirror. William first visited Stirling Lines, the headquarters of the 22 SAS Regiment in Credenhill, Herefordshire, as a young boy, and spent time with the SAS as a young officer. He has maintained contact with the community since - even attending a private memorial service for the last surviving member of the original wartime SAS in April 2024. The father-of-three will further his support in the patronage. William ended his message in the newsletter wishing members 'a very Merry Christmas'. He wrote: 'At this special time of year, I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year. 'May the festive season bring comfort, joy and renewed strength to all within the SAS family.' It is understood William's patronage will boost morale among currently serving members as well as veterans of the SAS. William (pictured right) is affiliated to a number of military regiments from all three branches of the armed forces William, Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, visits the regiment in Wattisham in June 2025 The Prince of Wales flies a search and rescue helicopter at RAF Valley in Anglesey in 2013 As a senior member of the royal family, William is affiliated to a number of military regiments from all three branches of the armed forces including as Royal Colonel of the Welsh Guards. He completed more than seven years of military service after his officer training at Sandhurst. William was commissioned as a British Army officer in December 2006 but also had attachments in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, where he finished his military career as a search and rescue helicopter pilot at RAF Valley in Anglesey in 2013. Now, his patronage at the SASRA gives a royal stamp of approval to the secretive special force. As pandemic lockdowns sent Americans fleeing for warm-weather locales where they could take Zoom meetings in shorts and flip-flops, Florida emerged as one of the hottest destinations for the remote-work crowd. Now, these employees have been called back to the office in droves forcing them to abandon their sun-drenched homes while property values tank. Florida dominated a year-end list of metro areas nationwide that saw the steepest year-over-year median home value losses and experts predict it's only going to get worse. The Sunshine State claimed six out of 10 spots on Realtor.com's report, which found the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota area to be the hardest hit. The Gulf Coast metro saw its median home price drop 8.6 percent over last year, or a whopping $36,423, to a median listing price of $478,800. 'During the pandemic, many of these areas saw home prices shoot way up because there was so much demand and so many people were able to work remotely,' Sarasota real estate agent and Ron Myers, owner of Ron Buys Florida Homes, told the Daily Mail. 'A big part of the problem in this area is people from New York and up North have to move back for work and there hasn't been an increase in value in their homes since the pandemic, in fact there's been a drop,' he added. The nearby Cape Coral-Fort Myers area saw the second biggest drop in median home values, down at 7.9 percent since last year, according to Realtor.com. The metro's median listing price sat at $399,900, down $29,393 from a year earlier. Florida dominated a year-end list of metro areas nationwide that saw the steepest year-over-year median home value losses, with Sarasota (pictured) among the hardest hit Cape Coral (pictured) joins neighboring Ft. Myers in seeing home values plummet A 'foreclosure boat tour' looks at houses that have gone under in Cape Coral 'Many people moved here during the pandemic and have to go back to the office, and that's out of Florida,' Katrina Allison, a local real estate broker in Cape Coral, told the Daily Mail. 'In the meantime, their houses have lost value.' Cape Coral in particular became a place where residents pulled up stakes en masse, with rows of for sale signs popping up on lawns all over town. 'It is one of the worst real estate markets for a seller right now,' local realtor Jose Echevarria told the Daily Mail in July. As of this summer, prices for more than half of the homes in Cape Coral had been slashed over the previous two years, more than any other major metro area in the US, he added. In central Florida, the Lakeland-Winter Haven and Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach metro areas both saw their median home values slip 4.4 from the year prior, according to Realtor.com, while the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area on the Gulf Coast saw a 4.2 percent decline. In Florida's northeast, the metro area surrounding Jacksonville the state's most populous city experienced a 3.3 percent dip year over year. 'We no longer have the influx of remote workers looking for homes,' Jacksonville real estate agent Kati Spaniak told the Daily Mail. 'In fact the remote workers here are trying to sell, but there is so much new construction it's hard to even compete for buyers when you have even a slightly older home.' The area that includes Lakeland was one of six Florida metros to land on the list of the 10 worst for home values The Lakeland metro and the area encompassing Daytona Beach (pictured) both saw home values drop 4.4 percent year over year Jacksonville real estate agent Kati Spaniak said the city and surrounding area is dealing with intense competition from new construction The metro area covering St. Petersburg saw one of the steepest year-over-year median home value losses Spaniak explained that many people who bought homes for remote work ended up with a property that's now a burden, as insurance and property taxes have increased while housing prices plummeted. 'Sellers need to figure out if they'll take a lower a price because the market is not going back up anytime soon,' she said, predicting that things are going to hit rock bottom in the new year. 'It's only going to get worse,' Spaniak continued. 'Buyers are waiting and sellers aren't budging, so it's a long logjam of buyers waiting and sellers waiting until the sellers realize they have to start reducing in order to sell. 'I see prices going down even more and more into next spring and summer.' Aside from return-to-office mandates, everything from soaring homeowner's association fees and insurance rates to too many homes on the market have sent Florida's home values spiraling, according to agents. Myers said that despite the price drops, Florida's insurance costs are 'going to get even worse' in 2026, giving potential buyers pause even if a home itself is affordable. 'Not many people can afford or want to pay these exorbitant insurance rates,' he said. The metro area surrounding Jacksonville Florida's most populous city experienced a 3.3 percent dip year over year As of this summer, prices for more than half of the homes in Cape Coral had been slashed over the previous two years, more than any other major metro area in the US The Downtown Winter Haven Historic District Adding to the trouble for sellers, would-be buyers have so many options to choose from that they are hesitant to purchase, thinking a better deal is around the corner, Myers noted. Both he and Spaniak said that sellers in struggling markets need to price below everyone else to even stand a chance of offloading their homes. 'In 2021 and 2022, people bid high and came from different states, they bought unseen just to get something they thought would gain in value over the years,' Myers said. 'Now they have to go back to work, and two mortgages or a mortgage and a rent aren't sustainable long-term, and it's happening to a lot of people at once.' Bermuda Triangle conspiracy theories have reignited online after scientists announced a startling discovery. Geologists revealed they had found a vast stone structure beneath Bermuda that is 'unlike anything else on Earth'. The researchers say there is a simple, natural explanation but that hasn't satisfied the internetdwelling conspiracy theorists who have flooded social media. One X user said: 'Are we finally gonna stop pretending the city of Atlantis vanished 'without a trace'?' Another added: 'The Bermuda triangle is the gate to Atlantis.' And one imaginative social media user asked: 'Is that where all the aliens live that take all the planes and humans that fly over to study them?' Although many of the theories are bizarre, psychologists say these intense reactions are part of how some people are driven to respond to unfamiliar information. Dr Daniel Jolley, an expert on conspiracy theories from the University of Nottingham, told the Daily Mail: 'The Bermuda Triangle is a perfect recipe for conspiracystyle thinking because it taps directly into core psychological needs.' Conspiracy theories have been reignited online after scientists discovered a 12.4milethick (20km) layer of rock beneath Bermuda that is 'unlike anything else on Earth' using seismic studies (illustrated) While the science is clear that the rocky structure beneath Bermuda is natural, conspiracy theorists have been quick to offer their own wild suggestions Meanwhile, some internetdwelling conspiracy theorists have seen the discovery of the rocky structure as evidence for the existence of a lost civilisation like Atlantis The Bermuda Triangle has long been surrounded by mystery and speculation thanks to stories of disappearing ships and planes. Some believe that a mysterious force in the water between Florida, Puerto Rico and Bermuda causes navigation systems to fail and vessels to sink without a trace. Although scientists point out that there's no evidence this is the case, famous shipwrecks like that of the USS Cyclops have cemented this idea in the public imagination. Conspiracy theorists have tied the supposed mystery of the triangle to all manner of bizarre theories. So, as researchers announced their geological discovery, these wild theories have once again flared back to life. For many, the discovery of the rock structure was clear evidence for the existence of an advanced lost civilisation like the city of Atlantis. On X, one commenter wrote: 'What if a highly advanced civilization that is many millions of years old built an underground centre of the earth lair to live and survive and they are still there? It explains them poaching people that enter the Bermuda triangle as well.' While another joked: 'Babe wake up, they found Atlantis.' On social media, commenters reignited old conspiracy theories that the Bermuda Triangle hides the gateway to Atlantis One commenter even joked that scientists had 'found' Atlantis at last Your browser does not support iframes. What did scientists find beneath Bermuda? Researchers discovered a 2.4milethick (20km) layer of rock beneath Bermuda. They found that seismic waves from distant earthquakes were being deflected by this lower density rock. This explains why Bermuda sits on a raised area of ocean crust known as an 'oceanic swell', which lifts it above the surrounding area. Lead researcher Dr William Frazer, a seismologist at Carnegie Science, told the Daily Mail: 'Typically these types of swells, like Hawaii or Iceland, are associated with active volcanism and an active upwelling from the deep mantle. Bermuda is strange because there is evidence from rocks at the surface that suggest it has stayed relatively stagnant.' Advertisement Meanwhile, other conspiracy theorists speculated that the rocky plate must have something to do with aliens, with one writing: 'That's where the mothership is.' Some online theorists took the opportunity to launch into even wilder speculation. One enthusiastic commenter suggested: 'It's a portal to hell, protected by demonic principalities, witches and wizards. There are cities beneath the oceans run by evil demons.' Some people even connected the discovery to a bizarre theory that every NASA rocket actually lands in the Bermuda Triangle to avoid revealing that the Earth is really flat. A flat-Earther wrote on X: 'Oh look, the mysterious triangle where they land all the space shuttles as they don't go into space as they would hit the glass ceiling.' 'NASA specializing in oneway trips to the Bermuda Triangle since 1958,' another chimed in. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Dr Jolley explained why the Bermuda Triangle has attracted so many conspiracy theories throughout the years. 'When events feel random or chaotic, people want to feel that someone or something is in control. Even a malevolent force is more comforting than randomness,' he explained. Some social media users even tied the discovery into a bizarre theory that NASA's rockets are fired into the Bermuda Triangle to hide the fact that the world is flat Scientists say that the Bermuda Triangle's history of mysterious shipwrecks makes it a natural target for conspiracy theorists 'And socially, being part of a group that "knows the truth" about the Triangle offers a distinct identity: insiders versus the naive majority.' However, as speculation about the discovery beneath Bermuda spread online, an entirely new conspiracy theory appears to have emerged. On social media, many conspiracy theorists have started to speculate that the discovery of an unusually thick rock slab was somehow concocted to 'distract' the public from the release of the 'Epstein files'. The socalled Epstein files are a massive trove of investigative documents related to the billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which are due to be released by the US Justice Department by Friday. A commenter wrote: 'Bringing up 30 year old conspiracies. How bad are the Epstein files.' 'The Epstein files are so bad they are bringing the Bermuda Triangle back,' suggested another. One social media user even joked: 'Bermuda Triangle must be hiding the Epstein files.' According to Dr Jolley, this habit of seeing connections between unrelated events is a common feature of the conspiracy theorist psychology. The discovery even prompted some social media users to suggest a new conspiracy theory. Claiming that the geological discovery was somehow intended to be a distraction from the release of the socalled Epstein files One commenter even suggested that the Epstein files might be 'hiding' in the Bermuda Triangle According to psychologists, conspiracy theories tend to be drawn into a cohesive 'worldview', making it seem natural to connect the fictional mystery of the Bermuda Triangle to the real crimes of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein (pictured) He says: 'Conspiracy beliefs tend to merge into a broader worldview. When someone adopts a lens that says, "elites lie" or "official accounts are fake," unrelated theories suddenly feel coherent. 'The specific subject matters less than the common structure: secretive agents, hidden truth, suppressed evidence.' This is what makes conspiracy theories so difficult to challenge and enables them to spread so rapidly on social media. Professor Karen Douglas, an expert on beliefs in conspiracy theories from the University of Kent, told the Daily Mail: 'It is easy to find and share conspiracy theories on social media. People who are interested in conspiracy theories can find them almost immediately, and they can spread rapidly. 'Once conspiracy theories are out there, they are difficult to quell, especially when some of the facts are still unknown. 'Even after that, once people believe in a conspiracy theory, it is often difficult to convince them otherwise.' Kanye West and his wife Bianca Censori were spotted on a rare joint outing together in Los Angeles on Thursday. The 48-year-old rapper - who was recently seen in Seoul with the Australian architect over the past weekend - arrived to the iconic Chateau Marmont alongside his wife before later meeting up with a pal. Censori was seen donning a pair of white tights as well as a fitted white top and closed-toed white heels. Her dark locks were swept up into an up do, allowing loose strands to border the sides of her face. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Date night: Kanye West, 48, and his wife Bianca Censori, 30, driving to Chateau Marmont West - who also goes by Ye - kept it casual for the nighttime excursion in a denim jacket as well as a black hoodie underneath. After spending time inside the historic hotel, the couple were later spotted heading to their next destination in the same vehicle. All in white: Censori was wearing a pair of white tights, a fitted white top, and white heels The pair - who tied the knot in 2022 - were also seen over the past weekend as they arrived to an airport in South Korea after Censori's debut exhibition. Censori and West's latest outing together comes shortly after her exhibition BIO POP (THE ORIGIN) was slammed. She debuted the bizarre exhibition and performance earlier last week on Thursday, which featured women posing in a variety of provocative positions on furniture. The 'human furniture' was designed by the architect herself and touches on the theme of domesticity. Human furniture: Censori's exhibition BIO POP (THE ORIGIN) was panned by many 'Domesticity is the mother of all revolutions, because all others trace back to it,' per an official statement. 'Born in the domestic, the home molds the body, the spirit, and its roles. Positions learned in private are worn in public.' Censori also made an appearance during the performance while wearing a red latex bodysuit. She also took part in a dining room scene that was unveiled which saw her sitting at a table while surrounded by her 'human furniture' and a red cake placed in front of her. During a recent interview with Dazed, Censori offered insight into the exhibition while referring to herself in the third person as simply Bianca. At one point, the star was questioned if her own 'public persona' had been an inspiration to the creativity behind BIO POP. Bizarre exhibition: Bianca sits uncomfortably on a mannequin chair In response, she said, 'Bianca uses herself as a symbol. The work exposes what resonates in other people's psyches.' And as to why she chose to debut the piece in Seoul, Censori explained, 'Korea understands ritual, performance and futurism as one system.' A follow-up installment, CONFESSIONAL (THE WITNESS), is scheduled for next year in 2026. Another titled BIANCA IS MY DOLL BABY (THE IDOL) is also set for 2026 while additional works are scheduled to debut through 2027 and beyond. The series is set to come to an end later in 2032 with BUBBLE (THE ASCENSION). Mannequin or human: Censori poses with a trolley and cake However, the exhibition has since been slammed for sexually exploiting women - with social media users sharing their thoughts in the comment section of an Instagram post Censori uploaded to give a glimpse at the art piece. One penned, 'And why are people supporting this?' while another typed, 'Interesting. Women are sexualized objects? Let's turn men into objects.' 'Well that got REAL weird real quick. This monstrosity is a hard no from me especially working in health care!!' a follower wrote. A fan added, 'How is this art?' and one commented, 'One of the most disturbing IG accounts out there.' But others came to the defense of Censori, pointing out that the exhibition has similarities to other artists. 'Let's be clear about that this is artistically inspired by Anna Uddenberg, Vanessa Beecroft and Allen Jones,' an Instagram user also penned. An elderly British passenger was wheeled onto an easyJet flight from Malaga, Spain, to Gatwick when she was already dead, horrified holidaymakers have claimed. The 89-year-old was pushed on board the aircraft by five of her relatives who, witnesses say, told airline staff she was unwell and had fallen asleep. But just before take off, cabin crew were alerted that the woman had passed away. The plane was turned around before it left the runway - and the flight was delayed by 12 hours. Speaking out: Passenger Petra Boddington (pictured) took to Facebook to claim that the elderly British passenger was 'clearly not ok' when she boarded the flight from Malaga to Gatwick Fellow passengers said the body had been pushed by a wheelchair to the group's seats at the rear of the aircraft and lifted into her seat, assisted by five members of her family. They claimed the group had only been permitted to get onto the plane because they told a boarding clerk, who had questioned the woman's apparent ill health, that she was 'just tired'. One passenger even claimed to have heard one of the group tell the clerk: 'It's OK, we're doctors'. Eerie situation: Elizabeth Rowland and her partner who sat three rows in front of the woman on the plane says her family were talking to her and 'acting as if she was alive' The plane then started taxiing to the end of the runway but then dramatically stopped moments before take-off when the suspicious cabin crew realised she was dead, witnesses said. EasyJet today insisted that the concerned passengers were wrong, the passenger had a fit to fly certificate - and was alive when she boarded the plane. Passenger Petra Boddington said: 'easyJet, when did you start letting dead people onto planes? Seriously!' Stuck in Spain: Rowland's partner and other passengers waited in the terminal for their flights to be rescheduled Boddington continued: 'I know it's not funny because somebody did actually die, but easyJet ground staff actually allowed someone that looked completely dead onto the plane and then funnily enough, just as we were about to take off, they died. 'Called back to the terminal, whole flight cancelled, everybody pulled off the plane. 'They wouldn't let you on if you were drunk but apparently, it's OK if you're dead and you look dead, and she really looked like she was dead, in a chair, being pushed by her family. 'And apparently the family were questioned by the ground staff and said she was absolutely fine. She was not absolutely fine. 'Everybody that she went past went like, "Oh my God, she looks dead", and she was dead. So, easyJet, you should be ashamed of yourselves, your ground staff were appalling today.' Waiting around: Passengers were left waiting at the airport after the discovery of the woman Boddington wrote in the caption that ground staff asked the woman's family five times if she was alright, to which they insisted she was. She continued: 'To the naked eye, she looked like she was already dead, slumped unconscious in a wheelchair. 'So why would she be allowed onto the flight and then disrupt everyone's plans purely to save the family repatriation? 'Disgusting and prepare yourselves for the refunds and complaints coming!' Not ok! Another passenger, Tracy-Ann Kitching (pictured) claimed that she believed that the woman, 89, was already dead when her family wheeled her onto the the plane Elizabeth Rowland, 19, who lives in Marbella and was flying to England with her partner to visit family and told the Daily Mail she was sat in front of the woman and her two relatives at the gate and only three rows in front of them on the plane itself. She said from the first moment she saw the woman, who was in a wheelchair and wearing a neck brace, supported by a neck pillow, she knew she 'wasn't with us'. But Rowland said before boarding: 'Her family were trying to wake her up and saying, "Can you hear me? We're going to get on the flight now, we're going to board now," and trying to give her something to drink... 'They were talking to her and acting as if she was alive.' And she explained when the plane turned back to the terminal, and paramedics rushed onboard: 'None of the family seemed upset or like they were panicking, they weren't crying or shocked - they were completely calm and talking to the paramedics.' Rowland continued: 'They showed not one ounce of emotion. They seemed like they were trying to make everything seem normal.' Emergency workers took the woman into the back of a plane and plugged her into some kind of medical machine, she said, which 'did not make any sound' - and Rowland knew the lady was already gone. While passengers waited in the terminal for their rescheduled departure time, everyone in the airport came to know about the incident by its nickname 'the famous flight,' letting any passengers who said they were on it quickly move past in any crowded spaces. Not our fault: EasyJet said the woman had a fit-to-fly certificate and insist she had been alive when she was pushed onto the flight And though easyJet, once they eventually reboarded, gave passengers a free hot drink and snack, the food and drinks voucher they gave them while biding their time in the terminal was of an unclear amount, could not be used at every restaurant and did not even cover the cost of Rowland and her partner's meal. Another passenger who didn't want to be named, said: 'Everyone on the plane thought she looked dead when she arrived - she should never have been passed as fit to fly.' And another, called Tracy-Ann Kitching, took to social media to express her outrage. She wrote on Facebook: 'easyJet you are unbelievable! Why did you let a dead person on our flight?! 'Special assistance [the service for boarding passengers with a disability or reduced mobility] are responsible too; they should have raised the issue. 'I saw her wheeled onto the plane; someone was holding her head as they went past me! An actual doctor onboard [confirmed] she was already dead when they put her in her seat.' She continued: 'However I must show empathy for the poor person who died and the family as well as your cabin and ground crew; what a terrible situation for them. 'I must also praise the First Officer [co-pilot] who came out and patiently answered our questions. He was professional and personable thank you.' She said, of the party who brought the dead woman onboard: 'I hope the Spanish authorities throw the book at them!' Kitching continued: 'We've just seen the family looking very sheepish as they b****y should. Should have been removed in handcuffs.' She went on to explain that the co-pilot told passengers he would write a report on the events of the flight, using their testimonies. It is not known what happened to the woman's body after it was removed - or to the family members with her, though they are not believed to have been arrested after the woman's mortal status was discovered. The flight had been scheduled to depart from the Spanish holiday destination at 11.15am, landing around two hours later at 1.10pm. But after the strange incident passengers suffered delays of almost 12 hours, with the flight finally departing at 10.47pm local time, finally landing at Gatwick at around midnight. There is ordinarily complex protocol to follow to transport human remains across borders. They would often be taken on cargo rather than passenger planes and stored in a specialist casket in the hold rather than in the cabin and the death needs to be registered and certified. Other passengers complained that all they had for the long delay was food and drink vouchers. A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Malaga confirmed officers had been called onto the plane because of an elderly British woman, adding: 'She was pronounced dead on the aircraft which had been due to leave Malaga for London just after 11am yesterday morning.' An easyJet spokesman said: 'Flight EZY8070 from Malaga to London Gatwick returned to stand prior to departure due to a customer onboard requiring urgent medical assistance. The flight was met by emergency services however the customer sadly passed away. 'Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the customer, and we are offering support and assistance at this difficult time. 'The wellbeing of our passengers and crew is always easyJet's highest priority and we would like to thank passengers for their understanding for the delay.' Avatar: Fire And Ash (12A, 197 mins) Rating: [TWO STARS] By Brian Viner There comes a point in the careers of most revered movie directors when nobody is brave enough to lay a restraining hand on their arm and remind them that less is more. Ridley Scott and Martin Scorsese have both been guilty of bloated storytelling in the last few years, but James Cameron takes not just the biscuit but every packet on the supermarket shelf. His third Avatar film lasts well over three hours. Ive been on shorter mini-breaks. When a movie more conspicuously satisfies its directors ego than its audience, something is wrong. Which is not to say that Cameron cant dish up a spectacle. There are some breathtaking moments in Avatar: Fire And Ash, as we might expect of a film that reportedly cost over $400m to make. But they are not enough to stop boredom setting in, followed by despair, and a touch of cramp, and ultimately a kind of disbelieving exultation that the final credits are about to roll. Avatar: Fire and Ash is the third instalment in James Cameron's hit franchise - following previous films in 2009 and 2022 Daily Mail film critic Brian Viner said: 'There are some breathtaking moments in Avatar: Fire And Ash, as we might expect of a film that reportedly cost over $400m to make. But they are not enough to stop boredom setting in' The third film sees actor Stephen Lang return as the villainous Miles Quaritch for another outing I liked the second picture in the series, 2022s Avatar: The Way Of Water, and noted at the time that Cameron cited David Leans mighty Lawrence of Arabia good, old-fashioned, adolescent adventure storytelling was how he put it as a major influence. But the greatest cinematic epics never feel artificially inflated in the way that Fire And Ash does. Seeing it in 3D, as Cameron intended, somehow compounds that sense of artificiality, even as it yields some amazing chase and fight sequences. The first film, 2009s global smash Avatar, introduced the story of humans in the year 2154, with Earth finally exhausted of its natural resources, infiltrating the blue-skinned Navi tribe on the distant, mineral-rich moon Pandora. In Fire And Ash, human-Navi hybrid Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his pure-bred Navi wife Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) set out to return their adopted human son Spider (Jack Champion) to his own kind, the so-called pink-skins. The ensuing story obeys many of the conventions of the Western, as a fantastical sci-fi version of a wagon train is attacked by a hostile tribe of ash people, the volcano-dwelling Mangkwan, led by the ferocious Varang (Oona Chaplin). This bad-tempered lot capture Jake and his family and prepare them for sacrifice, but theres a distraction. Varang yearns to understand how to make thunder, in other words how to use the deadly firearms brought to Pandora by the human invaders and adopted, reluctantly, by the Navi. Pointy ears notwithstanding, not to mention battles both in the sky and underwater, all this is stuff that John Ford and Howard Hawks would have recognised. But Cameron overdoes it. The narrative becomes turgid and repetitive. Also, never mind the spirit of fire and ash that we keep hearing about, too much of the dialogue seems touched by the spirit of Monty Python. We do not suck on the breast of weakness, declares Varang, which elicited a giggle from your critic, although I think respect was the intended response. Jakes former commanding officer Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), meanwhile, seems very much of a mind to suck the breast of Varang, an unholy romantic alliance that bodes ill for the beleagured Navi. Quaritch certainly has some explaining to do to his boss, General Ardmore (Edie Falco, who should again be warmly commended for so emphatically distancing herself from her most famous role as Carmela in The Sopranos, but frankly looked a lot more comfortable in New Jersey bling than she does in military fatigues, preparing Pandora for full-scale human colonisation). Whatever, after three hours and 17 minutes of all this, the stage is set for the fourth and fifth Avatar films that Cameron has promised us. It is a prospect to render some of us neither blue nor pink, but a little green, around the gills. [TWO STARS] By Matthew Bond Rating: There is a moment in Avatar: Fire And Ash when experienced hands will recognise that we have entered the climactic final battle stage. Oh, thank goodness, I thought, its already lasted an eternity but at least Ill be out in quarter of an hour, 20 minutes tops. Avatar: Fire And Ash features Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana as lead characters Sully and Neytiri The Mail on Sunday film critic Matthew Bond wrote: 'The longer the franchise goes on, the more tedious the characters, dialogue and storylines all seem to become' Dear reader, I was still there an hour later, exhausted and indeed bored by yet another endless fight for the future of the planet Pandora. You see, more than anything what Avatar 3 most resembles is its two predecessors, Avatar (2009) and Avatar: The Way Of Water (2022). We have seen it all before. But at least, as the new film picks up where the last left off, there are new baddies this time, in the shape of the fire-loving, volcano-dwelling marauders known as the Mangkwan, led by the clever but sadistic Varang (Oona Chaplin) who, judging by her revealing fetish gear, seems to have been watching a lot of old Max Max videos. Chaplin is the one genuinely good thing in the new film, which cost a reported 300million to make. Apart from her and her ash-covered tribe, everyone else is still big and blue if theyre Navi, like the increasingly racist Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), or pink and small like the dreadlocked teenager Spider (Jack Champion) if theyre human. Unless theyre whales, of course, or Tulkun, as the talking variety are known on Pandora. The ocean-loving James Cameron, who when hes not making Titanic or Aliens likes to dive to the deepest depths, certainly hammers home an anti-whaling agenda here. No ones arguing, James, no ones arguing. As for the crucial visuals, which I saw through 3D glasses worn for the first time since Avatar 2, they range from the undeniably stunning to sequences that a gifted teenager might have put together on their computer. Thanks to the use of high frame rate video, other sections resemble nothing more than old studio-bound episodes of Doctor Who. Im pretty sure it will all look more convincing in 2D. But the big problem is, it wont feel any more involving. The longer the franchise goes on, the more tedious the characters, dialogue and storylines all seem to become. Sully, the ex-Marine and now full-time Navi played by Sam Worthington, must be one of the dullest lead characters in the history of film, while the starry likes of Sigourney Weaver and Kate Winslet are rendered so unrecognisable by motion capture that their characters might as well be played by someone else altogether. With a tryingly unkillable villain in the shape of Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang), it falls to the dangerously lovely Varang to bring not just sex appeal but actual sex to Pandora. But even with tails involved, its not nearly enough. Cinema needs Avatar to be a commercial success, but Cameron has some serious thinking to do if hes going to get the planned fourth and fifth instalments off the ground. David Tennant has reflected on his Doctor Who debut, recalling the 'pressure and scrutiny' for taking on the legendary role in a new interview. The Scottish actor, 54, first appeared as The Tenth Doctor on BBC's screens during the show's Christmas Special in 2005. 'You're in everyone's living room on Christmas Day. There was a lot of pressure and a lot of scrutiny,' he said on The Whoniverse Show. 'But also how joyous to be in the middle.' The 2005 Christmas special first introduced what would eventually became an annual tradition of Doctor Who's revival, created by Russell T Davies. But despite the initial pressure, the Harry Potter star said it quickly felt natural to become the Time Lord - as he was a long-time fan of the series. David Tennant has reflected on his Doctor Who debut, recalling the 'pressure and scrutiny' for taking on the legendary role in a new interview (pictured in March) The Scottish actor, 54, first appeared as The Tenth Doctor on BBC's screens during the show's Christmas Special in 2005 (pictured on the show in 2005) 'People are always like, 'Oh, how did you decide how your Doctor was going to be, how you were going to talk? Did you and Russell have long conversations? Did you sit up all night discussing the ins and outs of character choices?' 'And we absolutely didn't at all. It just made sense. It didn't feel like there were conversations to be had.' Discussing how both he and Russell, 62, had spent their lives watching Doctor Who, David added: 'I felt like I absolutely understood how he'd written it. 'When they're written that well, you just need to say the words. So it was not something that ever felt mysterious to me.' The actor left Doctor Who in 2010 but returned to the franchise in 2023, coinciding with the show's 60th anniversary. His interview comes as his daughter Olive landed a major acting role alongside him in the second season of the Disney+ drama Rivals. The 14-year-old actress will play Camilla Baddingham, the daughter of David's character, Lord Tony Baddingham. 'You're in everyone's living room on Christmas Day. There was a lot of pressure and a lot of scrutiny. But also how joyous to be in the middle,' he said on The Whoniverse Show But despite the initial pressure, the Harry Potter star said it quickly felt natural to become the Time Lord - as he was a long-time fan of the series (pictured on the show in 2005) His candid interview comes as his daughter Olive landed a major acting role alongside him in the second season of the Disney+ drama Rivals (pictured together in May) According to The Sun, Olive has already begun filming scenes with her father, as well as young actress Amelie Child-Villiers, who will portray her on-screen sister Beatrice Baddingham. The upcoming season marks the first time David and his daughter will have appeared together on screen. Confirming the news, a Disney+ spokesperson told the publication: 'We can confirm that Olive Tennant, alongside fellow actor Amelie Child-Villiers, has been cast in the latest season of Rivals. 'They will be portraying Tony and Monica Baddinghams daughters, Beatrice and Camilla.' This won't be Olive's first television role, having previously appeared in the Oscar-nominated 2021 film Belfast and the BBC comedy-drama series Avoidance. Paris Fury has insisted daughter Venezuela is 'still my little girl' as she revealed the teenager will be at home for Christmas Day despite being engaged. The TV personality's 16-year-old daughter Venezuela, who she shares with boxer husband Tyson Fury, got engaged to Noah Price in September this year. Now, Paris has exclusively shared with Daily Mail her 'chaotic' family Christmas plans and how she manages seven children over the festive period. She said: 'Yes, Venezuela will be with us. Even though shes engaged, shes still my little girl and Christmas morning is always special in our house. 'Shell be right here helping me peel the veg, prep the dinner etc. like she always does. We will usually start doing some bits on Christmas Eve to get ahead. 'Tyson thinks hes the chief taste-tester. I like everything done properly and in order, so Im better off doing it myself with Venezuela.' Paris Furyinsists daughter Venezuela is 'still my little girl' as she revealed she will be home for Christmasday despite being engaged The TV personality's 16-year-old daughter Venezuela, who she shares with boxer husband Tyson Fury, got engaged to Noah Price in September this year Paris also revealed the strict rules she has for her seven children on Christmas day including a wake-up time and 'no phones allowed'. She said: 'Im most looking forward to having all the kids together and just enjoying a proper family Christmas. Our house is chaotic in the best way, and I love it. 'Ive never fancied going abroad for Christmas, its busy, but its all weve ever known. 'We always go for a family walk on Christmas Eve, then come home and watch a Christmas movie, no phones allowed', she insisted. Paris continued: 'Christmas in our house is loud and full of excitement. Even though Im always last-minute with the present buying, we have our little rules and traditions that keep things organised. 'No one is allowed downstairs before 7am, although the little ones are usually up long before that. 'I do Christmas dinner with Venezuela helping me, and we always have a Christmas movie on afterwards with a strict no-phones rule. Everyone has to sit and watch it together. 'We dont stick to any strict schedules, dinner is ready when its ready, but thats what makes it relaxed and fun in our house. Now, Paris has shared her 'chaotic' family Christmas plans and how she manages seven children over the festive period She exclusively told Daily Mail: 'Yes, Venezuela will be with us. Even though shes engaged, shes still my little girl and Christmas morning is always special in our house' 'Its all about the kids opening their presents and playing with toys and Tyson and us just enjoying the day with the kids all together. Its such a magical time and I love it.' Paris and Tyson are proud parents of Venezuela, Prince John James, 13, Prince Tyson II, nine, Valencia, seven, Prince Adonis Amaziah, six, Athena, four, and Prince Rico, two. Asked whether she is planning anymore children, Paris said: 'You never know with a big family like ours. 'But as far as Im concerned, Im not planning any more. Seven keeps me busy enough, Im very happy as we are.' With seven children, the Loose Women star said she has to look after herself all year round as she 'can't afford to be run down'. 'My resolution is to keep putting my health first. I want to go into 2026 feeling strong, happy and ready for whatever comes', she said. 'Sticking to my routines, eating well, keeping active and taking my Eternal Collagen, makes a massive difference, so Ill definitely be carrying that on. 'Just one capful contains 19 essential vitamins and 15,000mg of hydrolysed marine collagen. It keeps my energy up, my skin glowing and my hair and nails growing and strong, and honestly Ive avoided all the bugs going around this year.' She concluded: 'This year more than ever Ive realised I need to fill my own cup first to be the best version of myself for my family, and I plan to keep that going into 2026. Paris also revealed the strict rules she has for her seven children on Christmas day including a wake-up time and 'no phones allowed' 'We have our little rules that keep things organised. No one is allowed downstairs before 7am. I do Christmas dinner with Venezuela helping me, and we always have a Christmas movie on afterwards with a strict no-phones rule', she said It comes after Paris recently defended her daughter's engagement when she was asked about the news during an appearance on This Morning. She was quizzed by hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard on her reaction, and whether she felt her eldest child was 'too young' to be preparing for a wedding. Paris admitted that her daughter had only 'followed in her footsteps', as she got engaged to champion boxer husband Tyson, 37, when she was just 17. Hitting back against the backlash from fans, Paris told Cat, 48, and Ben, 50: 'She's very young, [but we don't] worry at all, Venezuela is so mature for her years. 'She has done so much, even in such a short time just because of who she is and the fact that she's got six younger brothers and sisters that she has helped bring up, I can't deny it. 'She is very mature, and in the last 12 months I've been doing work with Venezuela, she's been doing different shoots, interviews, working on social media. 'I've given her all options in life, and she has chosen this path and I can't deny her. I was 17 when I got engaged, so she's obviously following in my footsteps, and how could I judge her in any which way? 'I know she's young, but I think she's found the person that she loves, and if she's happy, I will completely support her.' With seven children, Paris said she has to look after herself all year round, 'I want to go into 2026 feeling strong, happy and ready. Sticking to my routines, eating well, keeping active and taking my Eternal Collagen, makes a massive difference' Venezuela recently revealed she's not yet met her future in-laws despite being engaged. She explained how planning for the wedding won't get underway until she's come face-to-face with Noah's father and mother. Venezuela said: 'I haven't met his family yet. So I'm looking forward to seeing them. He lives a few hours' away from me and works during the week, so we only see each other on weekends. 'We haven't discussed where we are going to live after we are married yet.' Eternal Collagen is available to buy for 36.00 at eternalcollagen.co.uk Landmark law establishes New York's first comprehensive consumer protections for legal funding ALBANY, N.Y., Dec. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Legal Finance Association (ALFA) today commended Governor Kathy Hochul for signing the Consumer Litigation Funding Act (S.1104A/A.804C) into law, a historic measure that establishes clear, statewide standards for transparency, fairness, and accountability in New York's legal funding industry while preserving access to justice for individuals pursuing legal claims. The law represents the first major effort to comprehensively regulate litigation funding in New York, a state that has long lacked uniform, enforceable standards governing the industry. By setting clear guardrails and consumer protections, the legislation brings ethical and transparent practices to a critical part of the civil justice system and ensures New Yorkers can access responsible financial support without fear of unfair or deceptive practices during vulnerable moments. "I would like to thank Governor Hochul for signing the Consumer Litigation Funding Act and for her leadership in strengthening protections for New Yorkers seeking justice," said Jack Kelly, Managing Director of the American Legal Finance Association. "This law establishes clear, statewide standards that promote transparency, fairness, and accountability in legal funding while preserving access to responsible financial support for individuals navigating the legal system." "ALFA and its members are deeply committed to fair, transparent, and responsible legal funding practices," Kelly continued. "We look forward to working with state leaders on implementation of the law to uphold the high standards it establishes and to expand access to justice for New Yorkers." For many victims, litigation funding serves as a financial lifeline, helping cover everyday expenses while a legal case moves forward. The new law ensures that access to this support is paired with strong consumer safeguards and oversight. ALFA also recognized the lawmakers whose leadership made the legislation possible, including Senator Jeremy Cooney and Assemblymembers Eric Dilan, Bill Magnarelli, and Latrice Walker, who worked for years alongside stakeholders to advance the bill. Their sustained efforts, along with the support of advocacy organizations and consumer groups, were critical to securing passage of the legislation. About American Legal Finance Association (ALFA): ALFA represents the leading consumer legal funding companies across the country. The organization supports sensible regulation in the industry that protects consumers through increased transparency while ensuring access to consumer legal funding. Learn more at https://www.americanlegalfin.com/. SOURCE The American Legal Finance Association One of the most beloved faces of 1990s television was spotted on a rare outing in Los Angeles this week, instantly delighting longtime fans. The actress, now 76, rose to fame as Dr. Beverly Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation and looked effortlessly chic while running errands in a black tee, faded jeans, and a fedora. She appeared worlds away from her days in an intergalactic wardrobe opposite Patrick Stewart's Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the franchise's groundbreaking first spinoff series. Despite the shows sizzling sexual tension between Crusher and Picard, the actress was abruptly fired after the first season following a reported clash with a producer over sexist stereotypes. She was later rehired, returning for one of the series most controversial episodes, 1990s The High Ground, which was banned in the UK and Ireland over a line referencing the 'Irish unification of 2024.' Can you guess the controversial sci-fi queen actress? One of the most beloved faces of 1990s television was spotted on a rare outing in Los Angelesthis week, instantly delighting longtime fans The actress, now 76, rose to fame as Dr. Beverly Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation and looked effortlessly chic while running errands in a black tee, faded jeans, and a fedora If you said Gates McFadden, you're right. Before becoming Dr. Beverly Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation, the Akron, Ohio native made her mark in Hollywood as a choreographer under the name Cheryl McFadden. She worked with The Jim Henson Company, directing choreography and puppet movement on Labyrinth and The Muppets Take Manhattan, and was even approached by Frank Oz to choreograph Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors. She turned it down to focus on acting a decision that soon led to Star Trek. McFadden landed Crusher in 1987, bringing her training in physical theatre under Jacques Lecoq in Paris to the role. Despite her characters popularity in the pilot season, she was abruptly let go after Season 1 following a clash with co-executive producer Maurice Hurley. Her character was replaced for Season 2 by Dr. Katherine Pulaski, played by Diana Muldaur. Looking back, she told TooFab the series was 'very male-dominated' and admitted she stepped on toes by questioning why women couldnt have more meaningful roles: 'Why can't we have something like this? Why does the mother always have to be this way?' She appeared worlds away from her days in an intergalactic wardrobe opposite Patrick Stewarts Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the franchise's groundbreaking first spinoff series Despite the shows sizzling sexual tension between Crusher and Picard, the actress was abruptly fired after the first season following a reported clash with a producer over sexist stereotypes McFadden said Hurley gave an ultimatum: 'either she goes, or I go,' and the producers kept him. After Season 2, both Hurley and Muldaur were let go, and McFadden was invited back with Patrick Stewart personally asking her to return. 'I know that the fans were incredible, and I was moved to tears by letters I got; I got thousands. I had no idea that people cared that much, she recalled to TooFab. McFaddens return also placed her at the center of one of Star Trek: The Next Generations most controversial episodes, 1990s The High Ground. In the episode, Data, played by Brent Spiner, references the 'Irish unification of 2024' while discussing historical examples of violence achieving political change. 'I've been reviewing the history of armed rebellion, and it appears that terrorism is an effective way to promote political change,' says Data. 'Yes it can be,' replies Captain Jean-Luc Picard, portrayed by Stewart, 'but I have never subscribed to the theory that political power flows from the barrel of a gun.' 'Yet there are numerous examples of when it was successful,' Data continues. 'The independence of the Mexican state from Spain, the Irish unification of 2024, and the Kenzie rebellion.' If you said Gates McFadden, you're right; (pictured 1989) Despite her characters popularity in the pilot season, she was abruptly let go after Season 1 following a clash with co-executive producer Maurice Hurley McFadden was part of Star Trek: The Next Generations most controversial episodes, 1990s The High Ground, in which Data (Brent Spiner) references the 'Irish unification of 2024' while debating violence as a means for political change After Season 2, both Hurley and Muldaur were let go, and McFadden was invited back with Patrick Stewart personally asking her to return; (pictured 2023) McFadden has continued her Star Trek legacy, reprising Dr. Crusher on Star Trek: Prodigy and again in the third season of Star Trek: Picard 'I'm aware of them,' Picard responds, before Data asks: 'Would it then be accurate to say that terrorism is acceptable when all options for peaceful settlement have been foreclosed?' 'Data, these are questions that mankind has been struggling with throughout history,' replues Picard. 'Your confusion is only human.' While the episode aired in the U.S., its political content led to it being banned by the BBC and Irish broadcaster RTE, as the conflict in Northern Ireland was still active. Satellite broadcaster Sky reportedly aired an edited version in 1992, and another version didnt appear on the BBC until September 2007. The decision reflected the sensitivity of the subject during a period when violence involving the Provisional IRA remained a reality. In 2024 the very year referenced in the episode Sinn Fein, which emerged as the political wing of the IRA, stands as the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly. The modern Sinn Fein has committed to achieving a united Ireland through peaceful, democratic means. And McFadden, for her part, has continued her Star Trek legacy, reprising Dr. Crusher on Star Trek: Prodigy and again in the third season of Star Trek: Picard. Bailey Smith was spotted out and about with a mystery blonde in Sydney this week. The AFL star, 25, who reunited with former flame Tammy Hembrow, 31, in Manly on Friday, was filmed in the company of another woman in the coastal Sydney suburb on the same day. A TikTok user uploaded a short clip showing Bailey and his companion making their way to Manly Beach. While there were no public displays of affection in the video, the couple looked relaxed in each other's company as they enjoyed a sunny Sydney day. Bailey cut a casual figure, stepping out in a light blue polo shirt and a pair of jean shorts for the outing. His lady friend, meanwhile, wore a pair of navy blue pants and a sleeveless orange top. Bailey Smith was spotted out and about with a mystery blonde in Sydney this week The TikToker captioned the clip with a hopeful: '#baileysmith spotted in Manly with his new missus'. However, there was nothing in the clip to suggest the pair were romantically linked. Followers, however, seemed more interested in commenting on Bailey's sense of style. 'This bloke's always wearing the same outfit,' one offered, while another chimed in with a similar: 'Is he always in that shirt and jorts combo or???' It comes after Bailey and Tammy were back in each other's company on Friday, following a whirlwind romance earlier in the year. The couple looked chuffed to be in each other's company as they were spotted leaving the Manly Pacific Hotel on Friday morning. Despite appearing comfortable together after their brief romance, the pair seemed keen to keep the meeting under wraps. As they emerged from the hotel, Tammy could be seen surreptitiously scoping the scene for potential witnesses to the reunion. Bailey also looked to have brought some gifts to their meeting, with the AFL star seen stepping out of a car carrying what appeared to be a box of bakery treats. Join the debate Should celebrities keep their romances private or embrace the spotlight no matter the drama? A TikTok user uploaded a short clip showing Bailey and his companion making their way to Manly Beach. While there were no public displays of affection in the video, the couple looked relaxed in each other's company as they enjoyed a sunny Sydney day Tammy sparked romance rumours with a hunky reality TV star when they were spotted together at an event on the Gold Coast on Wednesday. The fitness influencer shared a video to Instagram alongside former Love Island star and real estate agent Eoghan Murphy as they attended a dinner hosted by Snapchat. In the post, Tammy almost risked a wardrobe malfunction in a tiny skirt and wrap top as she posed with Eoghan in the lift. She showed off her trim and toned legs in the tiniest mini dress which almost revealed more than she had bargained for as she lifted her arm. Eoghan also looked stylish for the event in beige trousers and a white button-up shirt as he smiled and posed close to the influencer. The pair took photos together in an elevator before Tammy partied the night away with her sister Amy. Tammy enjoyed a short-lived romance with Bailey earlier this year. Daily Mail exclusively revealed the couple went on a date on the Gold Coast in early August, enjoying a swanky meal at pan-Asian hotspot Rick Shores at Burleigh Heads. It comes after Bailey and Tammy were back in each other's company on Friday, following a whirlwind romance earlier in the year Despite appearing comfortable together after their brief romance, the pair seemed keen to keep the meeting under wraps. As they emerged from the hotel, Tammy could be seen surreptitiously scoping the scene for potential witnesses to the reunion Bailey later headed back to the Glitter Strip, where they showed plenty of affection towards each other on a walk to Nobby Beach. Tammy later travelled to Melbourne for a romantic dinner at ritzy restaurant Entrecote in Prahran. The romance reportedly fizzled after a few dates, with friends claiming Bailey pulled the pin after hearing stories about her past relationship with ex-husband Matt Zukowski. 'A few of Matt's mates got in Bailey's ear and told him what had really gone down,' one insider told Daily Mail in September. 'It didn't paint Tammy in the best light. Bailey appreciated the heads-up and it definitely made him rethink whether this was a good idea.' In July 2020, I drove up the M6 to meet a woman who had contacted me to share some worrying and bizarre experiences she had had with Britain's Got Talent judge David Walliams. The woman, who was in her early 20s at the time but had been just 17 when she met the comedian after he contacted her on X/Twitter trembled as she showed me evidence documenting their association. There were reams of text messages, a Christmas card and, perhaps most pointedly, a highly aggressive letter from Schillings, the notorious attack-dog celebrity law firm. In uncompromising language, the firm's partners sharply warned this young woman against discussing with the Press her relationship with Walliams, who was then at the height of his fame. Citing his privacy, they claimed she was at risk of committing a serious civil offence if she were to share correspondence between herself and the star. The letter further claimed she would be at risk of having to pay the comedian damages or his legal costs, which would have been far beyond her means. In a final ominous suggestion, Schillings advised her to instruct her own lawyers. It was quite the document for this young woman, who felt both silenced and denied the opportunity to reveal her experiences with Walliams, which she said had been inappropriate. Yesterday this woman, whose anonymity I will of course maintain, will surely have felt exonerated by the revelation that Walliams, now 54, has been dropped by his publisher HarperCollins UK, amid claims he behaved inappropriately towards young women. The Telegraph reported the decision was made after Walliams was accused of 'harassing' junior female employees at the prestigious publisher, with one reportedly receiving a five-figure payout and later leaving the company. David Walliams has faced a downturn over the past few years, despite being one of Britain's most successful children's authors Having sold more than 60 million copies in 55 languages, some of his other books, including Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, have also been adapted into television films Shockingly, it was even claimed female employees were told to work in 'pairs' when meeting the star, and ordered not to visit his house. It further emerged that an investigation into Walliams's behaviour was reportedly launched in 2023 after a junior employee raised concerns, leading to other staff members being interviewed. Not wanting to admit any wrongdoing on the part of one of their most successful authors, a spokesman said: 'After careful consideration, and under the leadership of its new CEO, HarperCollins UK has decided not to publish any new titles by David Walliams.' Despite the nature of the horrific allegations, HarperCollins did not confirm the reasons for its decision, adding: 'We do not comment on internal matters.' Last night, Walliams's agent said: 'David has never been informed of any allegations raised against him by HarperCollins. He was not party to any investigation or given any opportunity to answer questions. David strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately and is taking legal advice.' The episode marks a stunning downfall for Walliams, who is one of Britain's most successful children's authors, having sold more than 60 million copies in 55 languages, as well as being a household name on TV. HarperCollins published his first children's book, The Boy in the Dress, in 2008, while some of his other books, including Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, have also been adapted into television films. Yesterday, when the news broke, there was relief in the showbusiness and television worlds where Walliams is, I'm told, 'utterly despised'. One source said last night: 'Finally, someone has said it. It's no longer a secret that he is just not a very nice person.' Indeed, for years it wasn't just Schillings that Walliams paid to protect his interests, but also his fearsome publicists at MBC PR, whose client list has included the alleged rapist Russell Brand. I can also reveal that showbusiness reporters at The Sun were told to drop negative stories about Walliams because both that newspaper and HarperCollins are owned by Rupert Murdoch's NewsUK, even sharing offices near London Bridge. But for all the efforts of the people who tried to protect him, Walliams's behaviour has been one of the biggest open secrets in the industry. A former member of staff on Britain's Got Talent, for example, told me that Walliams was 'hideously rude' to her when she worked there. Simon Cowell, the music mogul who hired the ex-Little Britain comedian to appear on the talent show back in 2010, has distanced himself from his former friend in recent years. The pair would regularly socialise, enjoying dinners in Mayfair restaurants, but today Cowell no longer even 'follows' Walliams on social media. Notoriously, Walliams left BGT in November 2022 under a cloud after audio emerged of him making disparaging remarks about contestants off-camera. Microphones had picked up him using vile misogynistic language, describing one female as 'like the slightly boring girl you meet in the pub that thinks you want to f*** them, but you don't'. While the comments were made when he and his fellow judges, Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden were off-air, an agreement had been made that all their comments would be recorded for potential use. Although Walliams publicly apologised, he sued the production company Fremantle for misuse of private information and breaching data laws. The company apologised and Walliams is thought to have walked away with about 5 million. But while he may have bolstered his bank balance, he lost many friends in the industry. As I reported last week, bosses at the ITV talent show were deeply concerned when they learned Walliams had a habit of inviting fans back to his dressing room and dishing out cupcakes. Join the debate What should happen when powerful celebrities are accused of seriously inappropriate behaviour? For all the efforts of the people who tried to protect him, Walliams's behaviour has been one of the biggest open secrets in the industry Some bosses at ITV, where BGT is screened, are said to 'not be fans of his at all'. And nor, it seems, are chiefs at other television networks. Showbusiness sources tell me that offers to appear on TV are drying up, while a brief attempt to reignite the comedy series Little Britain with his on-screen collaborator Matt Lucas fell flat. And, since BGT ended for him three years ago, there has been no prime-time show, although two weeks ago he appeared as a guest on BBC Saturday night quiz show The Wheel. His area of expertise was James Bond, though viewers observed that Walliams looked somewhat bored and came across as chippy-appearing on the format. After he was 'shut down' on a question about the weather by one of the contestants he had actually known the correct answer while they got it wrong he yelled: 'Guess who got it right?' Then he waved and said, 'Bye' aggressively at the departing contestant. Walliams might have thought he was being funny, but some viewers felt it came across as mean. As for his ex-wife Lara Stone, mother of their 12-year-old son, Alf, I'm told she's no fan of his. In fact, she even contacted the woman I met back in 2020 to check she was OK, after Walliams invited the young woman to carry out work experience at his firm, King Bert, as well as to be his guest at a Britain's Got Talent show in London, and at auditions in Birmingham. Last night, one former colleague called me to share her joy that, finally, Walliams was facing the scrutiny he'd fought hard to keep at bay for years. 'He wielded so much power and thought he was untouchable,' she said. 'He thought he could behave as he liked. Now, finally, we might be getting closer to the truth.' Less than 48 hours before director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele would be found dead in their $13.5 million Brentwood mansion, their throats slit in a grisly attack, the couple shared a festive dinner at a favorite spot nearby. Their 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner - who has a long history of addiction and lived in their guesthouse - was arrested within hours of their bodies being discovered on Sunday afternoon. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The killings are thought to have occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning, not long after the Reiners had attended comedian Conan O'Brien's holiday party with Nick in tow on Saturday, reportedly telling guests they were 'scared' of what he might do if left alone. The Reiners reportedly left the party after an angry blow-up between Nick and Rob got out of hand. But for the evening prior, the family appeared worlds away from tragedy. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Amici restaurant owner Tancredi DeLuca revealed that Rob, 78, and Michele, 70, dined at his Brentwood, Los Angeles eatery with friend Maria Shriver on Friday, December 12. Less than 48 hours before Rob and Michele Reiner would be found dead in their $13.5 million Brentwood mansion, their throats slit in a grisly attack, the couple shared a festive dinner at a favorite restaurant nearby (Reiner family pictured out for dinner in 2024) In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Amici restaurant owner Tancredi DeLuca revealed that Rob, 78, and Michele, 70, spent their final night out dining at his spot with friend Maria Shriver; (Rob, Michele and Maria leaving Giorgio Baldi in May 2024) 'They were very good people, always very approachable and so very kind to the entire staff,' DeLuca said Thursday. 'We are all in complete shock. We are all saddened about what happened. They are very good people, very down to earth and always treated everyone here very well.' The trio enjoyed Amici's winter special, Sogliola Alla Mugnaia imported Dover sole in a lemon-caper sauce, served with broccolini and roasted potatoes along with pasta, staff said. The Reiners were regulars at the busy Italian restaurant, often ordering their favorite dish, the artichoke salad, and were known for being warm and personable. Hauntingly, the restaurant sits just across the street from the Sinclair gas station where surveillance cameras captured Nick walking late Saturday night before the alleged murders the same gas station where employees noticed Nick's behavior had shifted in the days leading up to the killings. Sinclair staff described him as 'drained' and 'abnormal', compared to his usual demeanor. (The Reiner family were regulars at the gas station.) The shift was particularly jarring, staff noted, because just months earlier Nick had been friendly and talkative often lingering to chat during his visits. They emphasized that he did not appear impaired or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The Reiners were regulars at the busy Italian restaurant (pictured), often ordering pastas and artichoke salad, and were known for being warm and personable Ironically, the restaurant sits just across the street from the Sinclair gas station where surveillance cameras captured Nick walking late Saturday night the same gas station where employees noticed his behavior had shifted in the days leading up to the killings As recently as September, Rob Reiner publicly expressed confidence in his son's recovery. In an interview on NPR's Fresh Air, the When Harry Met Sally director said, 'He's been great,' adding that Nick hadn't 'been doing drugs for over six years.' 'He's in a really good place,' Reiner said. Nick is now being held without bail on suicide watch in administrative segregation at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles. Investigators quickly focused on him after the bodies were discovered by his sister, Romy Reiner, who reportedly told police her brother was 'dangerous' and 'should be a suspect.' On Tuesday, law enforcement sources revealed that Rob and Michele had likely been dead for several hours before they were found at around 3.30pm on Sunday, noting their bodies were already in rigor mortis. The filmmaker and his photographer wife were stabbed to death, with their throats slashed, authorities said. A source close to the investigation told Daily Mail the couple were in bed together and may have been asleep when they were attacked. In the aftermath, Shriver shared a heartbreaking tribute remembering the couple she described as among her closest friends; (pictured November) In the aftermath, Kennedy scion Shriver shared a heartbreaking tribute remembering the couple she described as among her closest friends. 'I loved Michele and Rob Reiner,' she wrote. 'We raised our kids together, from mommy and me on up. We laughed together, we cried together, we played together, we dreamed together.' She continued, 'We had dinner this past week, and they were in the best place in their lives: loving one another, loving their friends, their family, their country.' Shriver praised the Reiners as lifelong optimists devoted to family and civic duty, saying they 'never gave up on our country' and always wanted 'to make our world better.' 'I'm devastated, gutted, shocked, stunned,' she wrote. 'Life will not be the same without you here, that's for sure.' Hours later, she publicly condemned Donald Trump after he declined to offer condolences and defended a controversial social media post about Reiner. 'Well I wasn't a fan of his at all,' Trump said when asked about the director. 'He was a deranged person, as far as Trump is concerned.' Trump had earlier suggested the killings were tied to what he called Reiner's 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' in a Truth Social post. Nick is now being held without bail on suicide watch in administrative segregation at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles; (pictured September) As recently as September, Rob Reiner publicly expressed confidence in Nick's recovery; (pictured 2016) 'I think he hurt himself, career-wise, he became like a deranged person, [with] Trump derangement syndrome. So I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all, in any way shape or form. I thought he was very bad for our country,' Trump wrote. Shriver fired back on social media, writing: 'I try to rise above the noise all the time, but this individual has no human decency. This goes beyond. It's absolutely disgusting. We should all be horrified and disgusted by this inhumane behavior, because that's what it is.' She added: 'Rob and Michele Reiner were good human beings and good friends to me and countless others. Their family is in deep, unimaginable pain. What kind of human being would share a statement like this, much less a president?' Though she said her late friends would have urged restraint, Shriver felt compelled to speak. 'Rob and Michele would tell me to just ignore him, but I can't. I just can't. And I hope you don't either,' she wrote. 'They deserve so much better, as does their family.' She closed by rejecting speculation surrounding their parenting. 'Rob and Michele Reiner were devoted parents. They deeply loved all their children and they never gave up trying to care for them. Every single one of them.' Tom Cruise's place in the Mission: Impossible franchise was secured through a dramatic face-to-face confrontation with Paramount's then-chairman Brad Grey, claimed Cruise's on-screen partner Simon Pegg. The Hollywood star, 63, hopped on a plane from Vancouver to Los Angeles specifically to corner Brad at a party and shut down studio plans to position Jeremy Renner as his replacement, according to Pegg, 55. Simon - who has starred in the last six installments of the spy series as field agent Benji Dunn - appeared on the Literally! with Rob Lowe podcast on Thursday On it, he revealed extraordinary alleged details of how Cruise fought to maintain his position as the franchise's lead, Ethan Hunt, during production of 2011's Ghost Protocol. 'Paramount were trying to position Jeremy Renner as a replacement for him in a way,' Pegg said. 'And Tom flew to LA from Vancouver and cornered Brad Grey at a party and said, "No, that's not happening." He brought in McQ [Christopher McQuarrie], McQ rewrote the script, and Tom maintained his position.' Tom Cruise's iron grip on the Mission: Impossible franchise was secured through a dramatic face-to-face confrontation with Paramount's then-chairman Brad Grey, it has been revealed Grey is seen in Santa Monica back in February 2017 The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Cruise, Renner, and Paramount for comment and has yet to hear back. The original script was written by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec. At the time, Paramount was hedging its bets on Tom, whose public image had taken a hit in recent years by his infamous Oprah Winfrey couch-jumping incident - when he declared his love for then-girlfriend Katie Holmes - and his contentious Today Show appearance where he argued that psychiatry was a 'pseudoscience' and antidepressants were dangerous. Renner, who is nearly a decade younger than Tom and was riding high after his starring role in The Hurt Locker, seemed the ideal candidate to take over. The original Ghost Protocol script reportedly featured Ethan Hunt suffering a career-ending leg injury before transitioning into an administrative role as IMF Secretary, clearing the way for a new field agent to lead future films, however, Tom wasn't having it. Stunt coordinator Gregg Smrz later recalled his defiant stance on set: 'He was strapping in his harness, looked at me and said, "I ain't going nowhere."' McQuarrie's rewrites fundamentally altered the film's trajectory, ensuring Hunt remained an active field agent rather than being kicked upstairs. Ghost Protocol ended up being a mega-hit, grossing nearly $700 million worldwide and launching Mission: Impossible back into the blockbuster stratosphere. The Hollywood star, 63, jumped on a plane from Vancouver to Los Angeless pecifically to corner Brad at a party and shut down studio plans to position Jeremy Renner as his replacement, according to co-star Simon Pegg, 55, (the two are pictured together in 2011's Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol) Speaking on the Literally! with Rob Lowepodcast on Thursday, Simon - who has starred in the last six installments of the spy series as field agent Benji Dunn - disclosed extraordinary details of how Tom fought to maintain his position as the franchise's lead, Ethan Hunt, during production of 2011's Ghost Protocol (the two are seen with Ving Rhames in 2023's Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Part One) 'Paramount were trying to position Jeremy Renner as a replacement for him in a way,' Simon said. 'And Tom flew to LA from Vancouver and cornered Brad Grey at a party and said, "No, that's not happening."' Pegg claimed (Renner is seen in December 2011) Pegg also claimed: 'He [Cruise] brought in McQ [Christopher McQuarrie], McQ rewrote the script, and Tom maintained his position' (Cruise and McQuarrie are seen in London in May) Reflecting on the modern challenges of big-budget filmmaking, Simon added that Tom still wields enormous power in Hollywood through his longevity and business acumen. 'He's almost like a walking studio,' Simon explained. 'He has more wherewithal than anybody in any position of power in the studio system because he's been around longer.' Rob Lowe, 61, recalled a conversation with a Paramount executive who lives near him, revealing the financial pressures Tom can exert. 'One of the heads of Paramount lives up by me, and we run into each other in the gym,' Rob said. 'While the last Mission was going on, I'm like, "What's going on with Mission? Can't wait to see it." He goes, "I got a phone call from Tom today. He wants another $30 million... We've already spent so much money, you literally cannot say no."' Simon went on to share his concern about the sustainability of Hollywood's financial model - including that of the Mission: Impossible franchise - noting that big-budget films need massive returns to break even. 'It's an unworkable model, and I think we have to get back to making films for a reasonable amount of money, so that you can expect them to make a profit,' he argued. 'Hollywood, if it's a thing, needs to have a good think about its business model because otherwise it's just going to price itself out of the market.' Reflecting on the modern challenges of big-budget filmmaking, Simon added that Tom still wields enormous power in Hollywood through his longevity and business acumen as he said: 'He's almost like a walking studio' (Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Cruise, and Rhames are seen left to right in 2018's Mission: Impossible - Fallout) Rob Lowe, 61, recounted a conversation with a Paramount executive who lives near him, revealing the financial pressures Tom can exert (the two are seen together in 1983 film the Outsiders) Since Ghost Protocol, Tom has starred in four more Mission: Impossible films, with each instalment pushing the envelope on practical stunts and spectacle. The franchise has generated over $4 billion worldwide, with Tom performing increasingly death-defying sequences well into his sixties. Jeremy, meanwhile, appeared in one more Mission: Impossible film - 2015's Rogue Nation - before departing the series. He later revealed he turned down an appearance in 2018's Fallout that would have seen his character killed off in the opening. 'You're not going to drag me over there and just kill my character,' he said at the time. 'If you're going to do this and you're going to use my character, you're going to do it right.' Simon said that although the most recent installment, The Final Reckoning - which came out earlier this year - was billed as the last, fans may be in for a surprise. 'They said it was the last one and we let the press infer that it was the final installment,' he said. 'But I don't know. I don't see [Tom] letting that go.' Myleene Klass turned heads in a plunging top and chic fur coat as she joined glamorous Susanna Reid at Piers Morgan's Christmas party on Friday evening. The radio host, 47, looked incredible as she flaunted her cleavage in the stylish black top and matching tailored trousers. The star carried her essentials in a quilted black bag for the festive bash at the Scarsdale Tavern in West London. Piers' broadcaster pal Susanna, 55, meanwhile was effortlessly chic in a light beige maxi-coat with trim fur details. Elsewhere Ronan Keating, 48, and his wife Storm, 44, were seen stepping out hand-in-hand. Lizzie Cundy, 57, showed off her incredible physique in a sheer turtleneck top and leather hotpants, completing her outfit with laced tights and towering black knee high boots. Myleene Klassturned heads in a plunging top and chic fur coat as she joined glamorous Susanna Reid at Piers Morgan's Christmas party in London on Friday evening The radio host, 47, looked incredible as she flaunted her cleavage in the stylish black top and matching tailored trousers for the festive bash at the Scarsdale Tavern in West London Joining the broadcast elite in attendance of the exclusive party, BBC's Newsnight presenter Victoria Derbyshire, 57, stunned in a white voile skirt and grey maxi coat. Gillian McKeith, 66, wowed in a bright red sequinned leggy dress and matching fur coat, as she was joined by her stunning daughter Afton, 25. Meanwhile CNBC star Tania Bryer looked elegant in a black gown and matching tailored coat alongside her daughter Francesca Mouffarige. Charlotte Hawkins caught the eye in a feather fur jacket, sporting a little black dress underneath, while Laura Tobin looked elegant in a burgundy suit. Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper led the famous couples, followed by Nick Ferrari and his wife Claire Goodwin. British broadcaster Mike Graham, 65, was also seen making an appearance, as well as Two's Dragons' Den star Kelly Hoppen, 66. Piers himself appeared in his highest spirits, showing off a smile as he greeted pals and celebrities by the entrance of the tavern. His son Spencer, 32, made an appearance hand-in-hand with his model-influencer girlfriend Elise Correia. Susanna Reid, 55, meanwhile was effortlessly chic in a light beige maxi-coat with trim fur details Piers Morgan looked in great spirits as he stood with a pint outside the venue Elsewhere Ronan Keating, 48, and his wife Storm, 44, were seen stepping out hand-in-hand Lizzie Cundy, 57, showed off her incredible physique in a sheer turtleneck top and leather hotpants, toting her outfit with laced tights and towering black knee high boots Gillian McKeith, 66, wowed in a bright red sequinned leggy dress and matching fur coat, as she was joined by stunning daughter Afton, 25 Meanwhile CNBC star Tania Bryer looked elegant in a black gown and matching tailored coat alongside her daughter Francesca Mouffarige The broadcaster, 60, kept it smart in a navy suit and white shirt Charlotte Hawkins (R) caught the eye in a feather fur jacket, sporting a little black dress underneath, while Laura Tobin (L) looked elegant in a burgundy suit Ronan kept it casual in a plaid grey shirt, jeans, and grey winter coat British broadcaster Mike Graham, 65, was also seen making an appearance Two's Dragons' Den star Kelly Hoppen, 66, caught the eye on her departure Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper led famous couples looking both in high spirits They were followed by LBC's Nick Ferrari and his wife Claire Goodwin, whom he married earlier this year Bruno Tonioli looked very radiant as he opted for an all-beige ensemble Emily Maitlis meanwhile was glowing as she arrived in long black satin coat and white leather slouch boots Kirsty Gallacher opted for an all-black ensemble for the event as she wore a wrap coat and knee-high leather boots Gillian McKeith was joined by her daughter Afton in a red sequin mini-dress with a fur coat and tinsel ankle cuffs on her boots Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins wore a striking black and grey patterned fur coat for the bash Elsewhere Jeremy Vine was joined by his daughter for the party as the pair posed outside Sky News presenter Sarah-Jane Mee opted for a glitzy green velvet suit paired with strappy heels Piers Morgan looked to be having a whale of a time as he shared a laugh with female news reporters Andrea Cartherwood, Emily Maitlis and Victoria Derbyshire BBC Radio 4 presenter Andrea (pictured centre) later enjoyed a drink with (L-R) Celia Walde, Susanna Reid, Emily Maitlis and Victoria Derbyshire He chose a simple total black attire while Elise flashed her toned legs in a black mini dress and matching coat. Earlier this week Myleene got into the festive spirit as she left the Smooth Radio Studios. The TV presenter turned heads in a red jewel-encrusted mini dress that showed off her sensational figure. She paired the glamorous look with black knee-high boots and kept cosy in sheer black tights. Adding to the Christmas flair, Myleene accessorised with gold jewellery and topped off the outfit with a playful Santa hat. She appeared in high spirits as she smiled for the cameras while heading off to her next destination. Nicola Peltz has shared a sweet snap of husband Brooklyn Beckham with her brother as she heads home for Christmas. The actress, 30, took to Instagram on Friday to share snaps as she soaks up the sun in Miami, Florida ahead of Christmas Day. Brooklyn has joined her on the trip, appearing to suggest he could be spending the festive period with his in-laws amid his family feud. In one snap, Brooklyn could be seen at the pool area of Nicola's parents' incredible mansion as he posed for a snap with her brother Bradley. Nicola had captioned the post: 'Most handsome boys ever.' Another snap showed the Peltz's family dog as Nicola told her fans: 'He waits for my dad to get ready for bed each night.' Nicola Peltz has shared a sweet snap of husband Brooklyn Beckham with her brother as she heads home for Christmas Brooklyn has joined her on the trip, appearing to suggest he could be spending the festive period with his in-laws amid his family feud (pictured in July with her father Nelson) Another snap showed the Peltz's family dog as Nicola told her fans: 'He waits for my dad to get ready for bed each night' Nicola expressed her joy at seeing her family as she wrote 'back home' along with a eye-watering emoji. The Daily Mail has contacted a representative for Brooklyn. Brooklyn appeared to be missing British cooking as he whipped up a traditional Shepherd's pie in his LA kitchen on Thursday. The aspiring chef, 26, took to Instagram with the clip days after a similar video saw fans pleading with him to mend his fractured relationship with parents David and Victoria ahead of Christmas. Brooklyn and his wife are at the heart of a spiraling family feud that has resulted in their absence from all of his family's key events over the past year - among them David's 50th birthday celebrations and his recent knighthood last month. His absence is said to be 'taking its toll' on David, 50, and Victoria, 51, in the lead-up to Christmas as the rest of the Beckham clan celebrate together in the UK. Sources close to the couple say they are finding their estrangement harder than ever, particularly after he missed out on watching his father receive his knighthood last month and his team Inter Miami win the MLS title. Fans raced to his post to advise him to reach out before it was too late, urging: 'Go and see your parents, you will regret it later in life'; 'Talk to your mother!!!' Brooklyn and his wife are at the heart of a spiraling family feud that has resulted in their absence from all of his family's key events over the past year (pictured together in 2024) The actress, 30, took to Instagram on Friday to share snaps as she soaks up the sun in Miami, Florida ahead of Christmas Day Brooklyn's absence is said to be 'taking its toll' on David, 50, and Victoria, 51, in the lead-up to Christmas as the rest of the Beckham clan celebrate together in the UK 'Call your parents'; 'Ring your old man'; 'Call your mum .. you only get one and lifes too short !'; 'Speak to your parents - only one life and it is very precious'. It comes after his estranged brother Cruz, 20, extended another olive branch to Brooklyn recently, by sharing a home video clip of himself and Brooklyn as children. It was his second reference to the influencer in as many weeks, with the aspiring musician previously sharing a photo of himself with Brooklyn, their father and other brother Romeo, 23, during a 2021 holiday with the caption: 'Love you guys'. While David appeared to make his own attempt at reaching out to Brooklyn over social media last week, as he shared a throwback picture with his sons. Brooklyn's grandmother Jackie suggested she was keen for Brooklyn to come home over the festive period by hanging his personalised stocking on her fireplace with the rest of her grandchildren's. Victoria shared a video of her mother's festive display with the identical red stockings for Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper pinned above the hearth, alongside their numerous cousins. The included her younger sister Louise's children Liberty, Tallulah, Finlay and Quincy, who she shares with her ex-husband, Darren Flood. Nicola expressed her joy at seeing her family as she wrote 'back home' along with a eye-watering emoji Insiders claimed the move was a deliberate attempt to send a message to Brooklyn, telling The Sun: 'Usually they wouldn't post all of the Christmas stockings laid out, but for them, it's their way of showing how missed Brooklyn is... 'How he does have a family that loves him, so whatever the narrative is going on with him and Nicola's family, that is not the Beckhams' story... 'The message they're sending is that the door is always open and he's always welcome. They'd love nothing more than to see Brooklyn over Christmas, put the past behind them and start 2026 afresh. 'And Nicola? Well they've stopped trying to win her back over. It might never happen, she might never warm up to them again. So for now, they're concentrating on Brooklyn.' Alyssa Milano has made sharing make-up free selfies a birthday tradition since 2020 when she turned 48. Now the former Charmed star has done it again, posting an au naturel image on Instagram to celebrate her 53rd milestone. 'My annual birthday selfie. No filter,' Milano wrote in the caption alongside a close-up snap of her clean and naked face. However, the mother-of-two, who is wed to CAA agent David Bugliari, did admit to getting regular injections of Botox and filler and a semi-permanent makeup procedure for the eyebrows. 'No make up (just microbladed eye brows and whatever is left from my last round of Botox and filler),' she insisted, adding, 'This is 53.' Milano - who shared she was removing her breast implants in a September post - went on to say shed written a poem and that her birthday wish was 'to elect more women into office,' while asking followers to make a 'small donation to @emergeamerica.' Alyssa Milano shared a close-up snap of her clean and naked face to commemorate her 53rd birthday on December 19, though she did admit to microblading her eyebrows and using Botox and fillers The actress said her birthday wish was 'to elect more women into office'; pictured on October 10 at the Is This Thing On premiere in New York City The social media share comes less than three months after Milano announced on Instagram she has had her breast implants removed to 'let go of the body that was sexualized and abused.' The outspoken actress - who has been a proponent of the #MeToo movement since 2017 amid early allegations of sexual abuse against Harvey Weinstein - shared a photo of herself in a hospital gown, and explained that she originally saw her breast augmentation as 'necessary for [her] to be attractive.' She wrote on Instagram: 'Today Im releasing those false narratives, the parts of me that were never actually parts of me. 'Im letting go of the body that was sexualized, that was abused, that I believed was necessary for me to be attractive; to be loved; to be successful; to be happy. 'And in doing so, I hope I am releasing my daughter Bella from ever feeling those same unhealthy demands.' Milano - who didn't reveal when she got the implants in the first place - has daughter Elizabella, 11, and son Milo, 14, with her talent agent husband, with whom she celebrated 16 years of marriage in August. The Whos the Boss alum pointed out that while some people 'find freedom and beauty' in getting breast implants it's not the case for her. She continued: 'Now, I want to be clear that many women will find freedom and beauty in choosing their implants. In September, Alyssa announced on Instagram that she has had her breast implants removed to 'let go of the body that was sexualized and abused' The Charmed star has been a proponent of the #MeToo Movement since 2017; pictured on October 10 at the Is This Thing On premiere in New York City The brunette beauty pointed out that while some people 'find freedom and beauty' in getting breast implants it's not the case for her; pictured on March 2 in West Hollywood Alyssa co-starred with, L-R, Holly Marie Combs and Shannen Doherty in Charmed about three sisters who discover they are powerful good witches The star became a TV star with the sitcom Who's the Boss starring, clockwise from top left, Judith Light, Tony Danza, Katherine Helmond and Danny Pintauro 'What is a false narrative for me may be the exact right thing for them, and I am so happy that we can all find our femininity and peace on our own terms. 'Im also tremendously inspired by women like Michelle Visage who have been open and public about their relationships with their breast implants, making it easier for me and countless others to find our own way.' As she prepared to undergo the surgery, Milano was excited to be her 'authentic self.' 'Today I am loved, I am feminine, I am attractive, and I am successful. None of that is because of my implants,' she added. Christmas came early for Kylie Minogue yesterday as she scooped the festive No1 single, beating Wham! to the top spot. Wham! took the trophy in 2023 and 2024 with Last Christmas, but despite aiming for the triple, Kylie, 57, pipped them with her catchy hit, XMAS. It comes 37 years after she scored her first UK No1 with I Should Be So Lucky. Meanwhile, Last Christmas, by the late George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley of Wham!, has charted each year since 2007. Posing with her Christmas No1 trophy yesterday, Kylie said: 'It's hard to put into words how special this feels. Being Christmas Number One really is the most wonderful gift! 'I'm so thankful to everyone who's been listening and sharing the love.' Mariah Carey's 1994 hit, All I Want For Christmas came in at No3 for the second year in a row, with Brenda Lee's Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree at No4. The highest new entry, Together For Palestine's track Lullaby, finished the Christmas race at No5, winning the accolade of being the bestselling track of the week. More than 15 artists including Neneh Cherry, Brian Eno and Little Mix's LeighAnne Pinnock joined forces to make the song as a fundraiser for Gazan children. Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue posing with her Christmas No1 trophy on Friday Kylie scooped her first Christmas No1 appropriately titled 'XMAS' - all the sweeter because she hasn't had a UK chart topper since 2003 with her song Slow Kylie's victory was all the sweeter because she hasn't had a UK No1 since 2003, when her tune Slow topped the chart. Her five previous charttoppers included I Should Be So Lucky, Tears on My Pillow and Can't Get You Out Of My Head. One industry insider described her Christmas win as a 'renaissance.' Music executives said her dance routine in which she spells out the letters X M A S was a big part of the song's success, saying fans have been performing it when it comes on. Wham!'s Last Christmas, which came out in 1984, had been the favourite to win, but music industry insiders said the streaming service Amazon, which has exclusive rights to XMAS, was determined to get a No1. The track is not on Spotify or Apple Music, and experts say Amazon owes its success to its virtual assistant Alexa, because when users asked to hear a Christmas song it would have played XMAS first and every time it's played, it counts as a stream towards single chart figures. One insider told the Daily Mail: 'It was perhaps a risk to be in one stable, such as Amazon, but it has paid off. 'This is a huge moment in her career and she is so, so proud and happy. Now she can enjoy a very merry Christmas.' Former Neighbours actress Kylie's festive success has been a long time coming. Back in 1988, the Aussie pop princess almost made it with her duet with former Neighbours costar Jason Donovan and their hit Especially For You, only to be pipped to the post by Sir Cliff Richard and his hit Mistletoe And Wine. So this time she took no chances and went on a huge promotional drive to make sure she wasn't outgunned by Wham!. Join the debate Has streaming power made Christmas charts more about algorithms than real public taste? Kylie Minogue dressed-up as Mrs Christmas in the music video for her festive hit 'XMAS' For the last week her social media activity across Instagram, TikTok and X has been frantic. Followers have seen the star dancing to the hit while dressed up as Mrs Christmas, and almost seven million tuned in to watch when she performed it on last Sunday night's Strictly. Then on Friday morning she was on the popular Scott Mills Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2. Changes in chart compilation methods prompted by the decline in sales of physical records mean that 100 streams now count as one sale. This shift has dramatically altered the look of the Christmas charts, favouring established hits and streaming juggernauts. But far from this being Kylie's swansong, sources close to her say that she is now planning her next move on the back of her renewed popularity by releasing an album. One music industry insider said: 'Kylie has now realised that she is not over. She is absolutely thrilled, she cannot believe she beat Wham!. 'She keeps saying that this is one of her biggest achievements in her career ever. 'So why should she let it all go now? A new album is in the pipeline, it is going to be brilliant. 'It's like a whole new lease of life for her. She might be pushing 58 but there is a lot more of Kylie to come.' Denise Richards' estranged husband Aaron Phypers compared her to Rob Reiner's son Nick, when asked why she accused him of domestic violence. Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele, 70, were found stabbed to death Sunday at their $13.5 million Brentwood estate, where Nick, 32, lived in the guesthouse. Nick was arrested that night and has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Nick had a long history of drug issues, having gone to rehab for the first time at the age of 15 and plunged into multiple spells of homelessness before his latest stay in his parents' guesthouse, which he has confessed he 'wrecked' once while 'totally spun out on uppers' that kept him 'up for days on end.' Meanwhile Phypers filed for divorce from Richards in July, and she then accused him of having physical abused her multiple times - claims he denied, insisting she was the 'abusive' one. She obtained a five-year restraining order against him last month. In October, he was charged with two counts of felony injury to a spouse and two counts of felony dissuading a witness by force or threat. Phypers was arrested and released hours later after he posted $200,000 bail. This Friday he was asked why Richards would make abuse claims against him, and he replied: 'What happened to Rob Reiner recently? Okay? There's a lot of influence there, guys. And I'm not calling stuff out, but do a drug test,' via TMZ. The Daily Mail has contacted Richards' representatives for comment. Denise Richards' estranged husband Aaron Phypers compared her to Rob Reiner's son Nick, when asked why she accused him of domestic violence; Phypers and Richards pictured in May During his hearing Friday, Phypers waived his right to be arraigned this Friday, so that step has been postponed to Monday; pictured that day outside the courthouse He added that 'when people are on a bunch of substances and washing it down with other substances, what happens? Is their mental state good?' Phypers insisted he was 'not guilty' and was 'gonna win this thing,' arguing that Richards' accusations were 'all a show. She's just playing this as a game. It's like the Me Too movement, you know? I don't know what else to say.' He was requested to further clarify the remarks he made regarding Nick Reiner, and responded: 'I'm not linking anything,' according to Us Weekly. During his court hearing Friday on the felony charges, Phypers waived his right to be arraigned that day, so that step has been postponed to Monday. He was at court without an attorney, explaining that he had not been able to pay his counsel because his money was 'locked up' until January 7. January 7 is the date of Phypers' next spousal support hearing, which he had asked to have expedited to mid-December, only for his request to be denied. Phypers - who shut down his Quantum 360 wellness club last year and has not found employment since - has argued that Richards should pay him alimony. '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],' he pleaded in a court filing last month. '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,' he added. He was at court without an attorney Friday, explaining that he had not been able to pay his counsel because his money was 'locked up' until January 7; pictured Friday The late Rob and Michele Reiner, who married in 1989, had three children together - (from left) Jake, 34, Nick, 32, and Romy, 27; they are all pictured in 2014 at Avery Fisher Hall in New York Nick, seen in September 2025, was arrested last Sunday after his parents were found stabbed to death, and he has since been charged with two counts of first-degree murder '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,' he said, seemingly in reference to this Friday's court date. Richards responded with a filing obtained by the Daily Mail saying she would 'be unavailable for a large portion of' December because she was having surgery. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Juhas denied Phypers' request for an expedited spousal support hearing on grounds of 'insufficient showing of exigency.' Judge Juhas argued that because of 'court congestion' and the crammed schedule of Richards' lawyer Brett Berman, the hearing would not be possible until January 7. Phypers and Richards began dating in 2017 before he had finalized his divorce from his previous wife, Desperate Housewives star Nicollette Sheridan. After a two-day engagement, Phypers and Richards married in 2018 in a beachfront ceremony filmed for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and he helped her raise her special needs daughter Eloise, 14, whom she had adopted in 2011 while single. Phypers filed for divorce in July of this year on grounds of irreconcilable differences, and Richards then accused him of ongoing physical abuse, as well as of threatening to kill her if she reported him to the authorities. 'Throughout our relationship, Aaron would frequently violently choke me, violently squeeze my head with both hands, tightly squeeze my arms, violently slap me in my face and head, aggressively slam my head into the bathroom towel rack,' she said in court documents reviewed by Page Six. Denise Richards ' ex Aaron Phypers has responded after the actress was granted a five-year restraining order against him. Seen in 2023 She obtained a temporary restraining order in July, requested a permanent restraining order and was ultimately granted a five-year restraining order last month. Richards showed the court photos of herself with a battered face, including a black eye - injuries she said she sustained at the hands of her estranged husband. Over the course of their legal battle, Richards accused Phypers of giving her three concussions and said her previous marriage to Charlie Sheen was better. During a restraining order hearing in October, Phypers' cousin Kathleen McAllister testified: 'I saw Aaron hit Denise and immediately she had a really bad black eye.' Phypers has vehemently denied all allegations of domestic violence, insisting that Richards was in fact the 'abusive' party in the marriage. Over the course of their legal battle, Richards said her previous marriage to Charlie Sheen was better; she is pictured with Sheen this September at the premiere of his Netflix documentary 'She's upset. I publicly dumped her to the world, and she's mad, so how does she retaliate? File a bogus abuse claim,' he said on Inside Edition over the summer. He later maintained there was 'no need' for her restraining orders, asserting that Richards 'frequently' phones him and also messages both him and his father, in court documents filed this September and obtained by People. Phypers also argued Richards should pay him alimony, as she 'has prevented me from earning income, so she is the only one with income. She should support me.' While leaving a restraining order hearing in October, Phypers was arrested outside the courthouse and charged with with two felony counts of injury to a spouse, plus a further two felony counts of dissuading a witness by force or threat. Hours after being taken into custody, he posted $200,000 bail and was released, and is now facing arraignment in the case on Monday. NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE) between January 27, 2025 and October 27, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period") of the important January 26, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline. So what: If you purchased Alexandria Real Estate Equities securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. What to do next: To join the Alexandria Real Estate Equities class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=48531 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 January 26, 2026. 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 handle 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 provided investors with material information concerning Alexandria Real Estate's expected revenue and funds from operations ("FFO") growth for the 2025 fiscal year, particularly as it related to the growth of Alexandria Real Estate's real estate operations. The defendants' statements included, among other things, confidence in Alexandria Real Estate Equities' lease activity, occupancy stability, and ability to develop its tenant pipeline. According to the lawsuit, defendants provided these overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of its Long Island City ("LIC") property. In particular, Alexandria Real Estate's claims and confidence about the leasing value of the LIC property as a life-science destination. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Alexandria Real Estate Equities class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=48531 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. Kim Kardashian's oldest daughter North West made her debut on Instagram under her own name on Friday. The 12-year-old nepobaby shared a stylishly blurry photo of herself to kick off the new account. Although the account's bio insists that the 'account [is] managed by parents,' North's father Kanye West, 48, has previously expressed outrage publicly about her social media activity under the supervision of her 45-year-old mother. In a 2022 clip that began making the rounds online again in October, Kanye said he had told Kim their children should not be on social media, and he said he was 'not allowing my daughter to be used by TikTok.' In her debut post, North was snapped while wearing a black 'Balenciaga 01' short-sleeve jersey, along with a black ribbed miniskirt. She completed her outfit with multiple necklaces and bracelets, as well as tall black boots with silver chains wrapped around her legs. Kim Kardashian's oldest daughter North West, 12, made her debut on Instagram under her own name on Friday; Kim and North are pictured in 2023 in Beverly Hills Although the account's bio insists that the 'account [is] managed by parents,' North's father Kanye West, 48, has previously expressed outrage publicly about her social media activity under the supervision of her 45-year-old mother; pictured in a 2022 video North flashed dual peace signs and looked off to the side with a blank expression in the picture, which had a ghostly doubling effect as if it was snapped while the camera was in motion. 'first post,' she captioned it matter-of-factly. Although her account says it is supervised by her parents, it's unclear how much influence her father plans to have over the content she shares, as he has previously been far more opposed to his children being on social media than Kim has. The conflict resurfaced in October, after North shocked her fans when she posted videos to the joint account she and her mother share on TikTok in which she wore fake face tattoos, a nose piercing and grillz. She added to the edgy look with long blue braids and blue contact lenses, along with a disturbing grill that blacked out her teeth. North also added what turned out to be a faux nose ring and fake ink on her face, including a heart under one eye and what looked like a signature under the other. Commenters were split, with some accepting that North's confrontational appearance was little more than a Halloween costume, while others said it was still inappropriate for her to be posing with fake facial tattoos and piercings. Around that time, a video of Kanye complaining about his children on social media that he originally filmed in March 2022 resurfaced. In a blurry photo, North flashed dual peace signs while wearing a black Balenciaga jersey and a black ribbed miniskirt with tall black boots wrapped with chains. 'first post,' she captioned it Although her account says it is supervised by her parents, it's unclear how much influence her father plans to have over the content she shares, as he has previously been far more opposed to his children being on social media than Kim has The conflict resurfaced in October, after North shocked her fans when she posted videos to the joint account she and her mother share on TikTok in which she wore fake face tattoos, a nose piercing and grillz 'I told [Kim] to stop antagonizing me with this TikTok thing. I said, "Never again." I said, "I am not allowing my daughter to be used by TikTok,"' Kanye said; seen with North in 2020 'Hey everybody, I just got off the phone with Kim and I told her to stop antagonizing me with this TikTok thing,' the rapper said in the clip. 'I said, "Never again." I am her father,' Kanye declared. 'I know y'all don't respect fathers and the idea of family and the media tries to promote something... but I said, "I am not allowing my daughter to be used by TikTok."' The disgraced rapper was originally set off by a post from North and Kim's joint TikTok account in which North then eight lip-synced to Machine Gun Kelly's song Emo Girl while wearing black lipstick and smudged black eye shadow. One month earlier, Kanye claimed on Instagram that his daughter was 'being put on TikTok against his will.' Hours after his video went live, Kim hit back on her own Instagram. She slammed her ex-husband's 'constant attacks' on her and accused him of causing their family 'pain' in a lengthy statement in which she referred to herself as the 'main caregiver.' Kim wrote on her Instagram Stories: 'Kanye's constant attacks on me in interviews and on social media is actually more hurtful than any TikTok North might create. 'As the parent who is the main provider and caregiver for our children, I am doing my best to protect our daughter while also allowing her to express her creativity in the medium that she wishes with adult supervision because it brings her happiness,' she wrote. Hours later, Kardashian hit back on her own Instagram, slamming West's 'constant attacks' on her, accusing him of causing their family 'pain' in a lengthy statement Kanye's video was inspired by a clip of North, then eight, lip-syncing to Machine Gun Kelly's song Emo Girl while wearing black makeup The 2022 clip of West has received over five million views on X (formerly Twitter) after it was reshared in October amid North's latest controversial TikTok post, and it has since sparked a heated debate. Some commenters slammed West in the replies and pointed to his relationship with his wife Bianca Censori, who often makes headlines for her nearly nude looks. 'Brainwashing someone's daughter, Bianca Censori, to walk naked in the streets while complaining about your own daughter is crazy and hypocritical,' one person wrote. 'Then lead by example by putting some clothes on your wife, Ye,' another added. 'Hard to appreciate his concern when he parades his wife in public in nude. Does he think his daughter does not see that?' asked someone else. 'Kanye West's rant about North West's TikTok antics is peak hypocrisy, especially when his own fashion choices make her look tame,' read a fourth tweet. A fifth said, 'The man who makes his wife walk around naked is worried about his child's Halloween costume? Is he scared someone will treat her like he treats his wife?' Others, however, agreed with him. Some commenters slammed West in the replies and pointed to his relationship with his wife Bianca Censori, who often makes headlines for her nearly nude looks; Kanye and Bianca pictured in February 2024 in Milan, Italy 'Kanye was right and everyone called him crazy for it. He warned that fame and social media would shape his daughter into what the world wanted, not who she truly is,' one person replied. 'Now she is trending for the same things he tried to protect her from. This is not about blue hair or grills, it is about a culture that rewards attention over identity. 'Kanye was not trying to control her, he was trying to shield her from the digital machine that profits off lost innocence. Parents laughed then. They should not be laughing now.' 'The internet moves in circles, and now it's Kanye's turn to look like the prophet everyone ignored. People dragged him years ago for speaking about his daughter's exposure online, now the same crowd is pretending to be shocked,' agreed another. 'This man [is] trying preserve his daughter innocence as he should,' said someone else. Tributes have poured in for Australian writer and director Amanda Brotchie following her death from cancer this week. Amanda's credits included directing and co-writing the ABC series Lowdown with her husband Adam Zwar, the 2018 reboot of Picnic At Hanging Rock, as well as UK shows such as Doctor Who, Renegade Nell, and Riot Women. Adam took to Instagram on Friday to share the heartbreaking news with followers, posting a series of photos of Amanda throughout her life. 'Im so sad to tell you that today we lost our beautiful Amanda,' Adam wrote. 'Most of you will know her feats as a director Doctor Who, Gentleman Jack, Lowdown (which she also created), Renegade Nell and Riot Women [and] that she had a doctorate in linguistics and was in the seminal 1980s band Not Drowning, Waving.' Continuing his eulogy, Adam remembered his wife as someone for whom family and friends always came first. Tributes have poured in for Australian writer and director Amanda Brotchie following her death from cancer this week Amanda's credits included directing and co-writing the ABC series Lowdown with her husband Adam Zwar, the 2018 reboot of Picnic At Hanging Rock, as well as UK shows such as Doctor Who, Renegade Nell, and Riot Women 'Her priority was to cheer on her friends and family. If you were a member of this group, rest assured, your successes brought her the greatest joy, and you were very, very loved,' he added. The sweet tribute continued with Adam recalling his and Amanda's first meeting a meeting that would spark '23 wonderful years together.' 'When I first met Amanda, we talked for hours. I assumed she was just one of those remarkable people who got along with everyone. I was right. She did. But it turned out she liked talking to me too.' Adam continued: 'My beautiful girl, I will miss your love, your joyful laugh, your sense of adventure, and your bravery. You never met a spider or snake you didnt like, always gently ushering them outside while I cowered in the corner. 'You cooked like you wrote and directed with perfect balance, effortlessness, and a lightness of touch. 'I will miss your dhal, your roast chicken, your chilli con carne, your chocolate mousse. I will miss Sunday mornings on the couch, eating pancakes and watching Insiders.' Rounding out the post, Adam offered the heartbreaking words: 'Farewell, beautiful. You left the world better. But right now, it feels so much sadder.' The post was met with an outpouring of condolences from friends and followers, including Colin From Accounts star Patrick Brammall. Adam took to Instagram on Friday to share the heartbreaking news with followers, posting a series of photos of Amanda throughout her life 'Her priority was to cheer on her friends and family. If you were a member of this group, rest assured, your successes brought her the greatest joy, and you were very, very loved,' Adam wrote The post was met with an outpouring of condolences from friends and followers, including Colin From Accounts star Patrick Brammall. 'She was incredible, just incredible. Its some solace to know that she was ready. She was, and always will be, an inspiration to me.' 'Oh, Adam. Im so sorry and sad,' Patrick wrote. 'She was incredible, just incredible. Its some solace to know that she was ready. She was, and always will be, an inspiration to me.' Hunters actress Kate Mulvaney also offered her sympathies with a heartfelt: 'Deepest condolences, Adam. What a brilliant legacy Amanda leaves. Sending love in abundance to you and all who knew and adored her.' Julia Zemiro, who starred in Lowdown, also commented: 'Dearest Adam, Im so so very sad to hear this. Amanda was just a delight. I loved my time on Lowdown. Im sending you so much courage and love. 'Wonderful, brilliant Amanda. Thank you for a wonderful time in front of the camera.' The condolences and tributes didn't end there, either, with Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies also taking to Instagram to pay tribute to Amanda. 'We adored her on Doctor Who, every single department loved her. She directed two amazing episodes, Lux and The Well - both demanded so much precision and style and imagination, unlike any other episodes, and she knocked them out of the park,' Russell wrote. He also praised Amanda's talent and tenacity, adding: 'God, we adored her.' 'She was so much fun! Bright and sharp and kind and questioning and always determined to make things better, better, better. Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies also took to Instagram to pay tribute to Amanda 'She was so much fun! Bright and sharp and kind and questioning and always determined to make things better, better, better,' he wrote. ''God, we adored her' 'Ooh, she could be beady, peering at the script, niggling away at something until we all realised she was right!' The Australian Writers Guild also paid tribute to Amanda, saying in a post to Facebook that they were 'deeply saddened' by Amanda's passing. 'Amanda was a long-time Australian Writers Guild member, winning two AWGIE Awards for Lowdown, which she created alongside her husband and collaborator Adam Zwar,' the statement read. 'Our heartfelt condolences are with Amandas husband Adam and her friends, colleagues, and loved ones.' Screen Producers Australia also offered their condolences, writing: 'Amanda made a lasting contribution to the screen industry and was widely admired for her creative vision, generosity and commitment to storytelling, as well as her strong relationships across the sector.' Corey Feldman is now denying that he ever claimed his late friend and costar Corey Haim had 'molested' him. In a new Apple TV documentary about his life, Feldman claimed he was molested by his former confidante Haim - who died in 2010 at 38 - while they filmed the 1987 vampire thriller The Lost Boys. They were both 16 at the time. But after Haim's mother Judy blasted Feldman over the comments and claimed he was just trying to 'keep himself relevant,' the 54-year-old former child star has seemingly changed his tune. On Friday, Feldman's legal team told Daily Mail that Feldman's 'molestation' comments in the documentary were a 'mischaracterization' of his relationship with Haim, and they denied that Haim had sexually assaulted Feldman. Feldman's representatives also said that his statements featured in the documentary only showed him alleging that Haim had made a move on him, and they claimed that Feldman declined Haim's advances. 'Any article regarding the purported comment that Mr. Feldman claims Corey Haim "molested" him is a sensationalized mischaracterization of the statements made in the film,' the statement read in part. Corey Feldman, 54, is now denying that he ever claimed his late friend and costar Corey Feldman had 'molested' him; pictured in January 2023 in NYC In a new Apple TV documentary about his life, Feldman claimed he was molested by his former confidante Haim who died in 2010 at 38 while they filmed the 1987 vampire thriller The Lost Boys; Feldman (L) and Haim (R) pictured in 2007 in LA 'Mr. Feldmans statement was that during the filming of The Lost Boys Mr. Haim sought to "mess around" with Mr. Feldman, however, Mr. Feldman did not reciprocate his advances and contacted another party on behalf of Mr. Haim,' they alleged. 'Mr. Feldmans statement that Mr. Haim "molested" him was in reference to Mr. Haims advances, and not physical molestation,' Feldman's legal team claimed. The statement concluded with, 'Mr. Feldman makes no claim that Corey Haim physically "molested" him.' His clarification comes after Haim's mother, 54, lashed out at Feldman on Thursday, alleging that he is trying to 'keep himself relevant' and that her son was 'not into men' while speaking to TMZ. Judy noted that her late son is no longer able to refute the claims, and alleged that Feldman is 'creating another lie to poison people's heads and keep himself relevant.' She insisted that 'there is no way in hell' that Corey molested Feldman, and questioned, 'Why would they be friends for so long if this happened? It doesnt add up.' Judy further claimed that Feldman made the claims because 'he doesn't want people to focus on his own wrongdoings.' Feldman's legal team claimed to Us Weekly on Friday that Feldman (pictured in 1992) was not involved in the Apple TV+ documentary his 'molestation' claim appears in, and they alleged that he was only referring to Haim's advances on him, not any 'physical molestation' They emphasized that Feldman didn't claim any 'sexual assault' occurred between himself and Haim, who died from pneumonia in 2010 at the age of 38; Haim is pictured in 2009 in Santa Monica Haim's mother, Judy Haim, initially slammed Feldman over his molestation comments; Judy seen with her late son Corey in 2007 Judy refuted Feldman's claim on Thursday, alleging that he is trying to 'keep himself relevant' and that her son was 'not into men' while speaking to TMZ; Feldman is pictured in 2020 Corey's mother went on to say that he liked women, and not men, and would tell her, 'I don't care if someone is gay, but I am not gay or any of that stuff.' Feldman has previously claimed he and Haim were victims of sexual abuse as young actors in Hollywood. Judy went on to say that Feldman 'always talks about sex and blames my kid for things that he is not here to defend himself about.' Furthermore, Judy claimed Corey was always accompanied on set by either her, his father, or his sister, including on The Lost Boys, which is why she believes Feldman's claims don't add up. Judy is reportedly considering taking legal action against the actor. In Corey Feldman vs. The World, Feldman alleged Haim sexually propositioned him while they filmed The Lost Boys. The Los Angeles native said he was 16 when he appeared opposite Haim, also then 16, in the film, which was one of their multiple cinema collaborations at the time. Feldman said: 'When we did Lost Boys, Corey said to me "Hey man, let's mess around." And I said, "What do you mean?"' She insisted that 'there is no way in hell' that Corey molested Feldman, and questioned, 'Why would they be friends for so long if this happened? It doesnt add up'; She is seen in 2011 Judy claimed her son was always accompanied on set by his family, including on The Lost Boys. Feldman claimed he was molested by Corey while they filmed the 1987 vampire thriller; Haim and Feldman pictured with co-star Jamison Newlander in a promo shot Feldman said in the documentary that Haim told him, 'This is what, you know, what guys in the business do, right? You know, you s*** each other's d****, or you f*** around - you do this stuff. And I said, "What are you talking about?"' In the documentary from director Marcie Hume, Feldman said Haim had then initiated sexual activity while they were making The Lost Boys, in which they played the respective roles of Edgar Frog and Sam. Feldman made a reference to actor Charlie Sheen - who has past denied accusations that Feldman made, claiming Haim said Sheen sexually assaulted him when he was 13 on the set of the 1985 movie Lucas. A rep for Sheen told Variety of the alleged Haim claims: 'These sick, twisted and outlandish allegations never occurred. Period.' Daily Mail has reached out to reps for Sheen for further comment on the story. Feldman said that he was fully understanding of what Haim was looking for from him, and decided to oblige him in an effort to make the behavior stop. 'I called [Haim] and said, "Come over,"' Feldman said. 'But you know, when you have got somebody that's trying to come onto you sexually, and you don't want that, and you are a kid, and you are scared, you do whatever you can to stop it from happening. 'And that's what was happening. I was being molested by Corey Haim. Truth be told.' In Corey Feldman vs. The World, Feldman alleged Haim sexually propositioned him while they filmed The Lost Boys, when they were 16; They are seen in 2007 As well as The Lost Boys, Feldman and Haim headlined films such as 1988's License to Drive and 1989's Dream a Little Dream; Seen in a throwback image As well as The Lost Boys, Feldman and Haim headlined films such as 1988's License to Drive and 1989's Dream a Little Dream. Hume said the interview with Feldman took place in late 2017, amid multiple accusations against powerful figures at the height of the #MeToo movement, marking an 'incredibly emotional moment.' The director said that Feldman 'was almost reliving what that was like to live in this hypersexualized environment as child actors in Hollywood.' The Lost Boys was directed by Joel Schumacher and also starred Jason Patric, Jami Gertz, Kiefer Sutherland, Dianne Wiest and Alex Winter. The film arrived in theaters in July of 1987. Feldman in 1986 appeared in the late Rob Reiner's Stand by Me, playing the role of troubled preteen Teddy Duchamp. An IMDb synopsis for the new doc reads 'Corey Feldman embarks on a surreal rock tour with lingerie-clad angels, facing disastrous events that compel him to confront Hollywood abuse allegations and personal secrets.' Hume took to Instagram earlier this month to promote the project and let her followers know the amount of work that went into making it. 'Its been the longest, hardest road on a film that kept going places I never expected,' the director said. She added. 'After filming on buses and in hotel rooms and flying all over the country with my Canon 5D, endless edits and screenings with @adamscottfranklin and @starlenbr, and @jimmycthatsmes fierce belief in seeing this through, today the COREY FELDMAN VS. THE WORLD trailer and pre-order link are available.' Hilaria Baldwin has discussed the chances that she might move her family to Spain, five years after the scandal over her shifting accent. Born Hillary Hayward-Thomas in Boston, she has been a lightning rod for controversy since she was accused in 2020 of having faked Spanish heritage, with particular scrutiny on the way her accent seesawed from Spanish to American. However she has spoken Spanish since childhood and grew up frequently traveling to Mallorca, where her parents have resided since 2011. The 41-year-old fitness influencer and her husband Alec Baldwin, 67, have given Spanish names to all seven of their children - Carmen, 12, Rafael, 10, Leonardo, nine, Romeo, seven, Eduardo, five, Lucia, four, and Ilaria, three. They currently live between New York City and a Hamptons mansion that has spent the past few years on and off the market at fluctuating prices. Now, she has exclusively told the Daily Mail that she and her family are open to the prospect of moving house because 'we need a change' - and she added that 'my whole family lives in Spain, so I feel like that's a possibility.' Hilaria Baldwin has discussed the chances she might move her family to Spain, as she and her husband Alec Baldwin attended a party she gave Friday for her Gurus Magazine cover In general, she said: 'I can live in a lot of different places. But I do think that our kids, like, they want to have their own rooms. That's harder in New York.' She added: 'We have so many kids, and so I feel like we need an adventure. I don't know where we're gonna go, but we need an adventure.' Her free-spirited attitude stands in stark contrast to that of her husband, who 'likes to know all the parts' of a potential moving destination and focuses on questions like: 'What are we doing and how is this going to work?' Hilaria meanwhile said that 'we're gonna see where the wind blows us. But no, I just think we've been so stuck in a certain way for the past few years and I think it's going to be really liberating and just go and try something new and different.' The yoga instructor made the remarks at a launch party she threw for her cover of Gurus Magazine at Zoi Mediterranean restaurant in New York City on Friday. Her Spanish heritage controversy erupted in December 2020, as fans noticed that although she went by Hilaria and her CAA bio claimed she was born in Mallorca, she was in fact from Boston and had the given name Hillary Hayward-Thomas. Various interviews resurfaced that showed her slipping into a Spanish accent, and she once forgot the English word 'cucumber' during a televised cooking segment. While appearing on the Cat & Nat podcast in New York in April 2020, she said: 'I moved here when I was 19 to go to NYU,' and when she was asked: 'From?' she replied: 'From - my family lives in Spain. They live in Majorca.' As the scandal erupted that December, she insisted that the 'cucumber' moment was a 'brain fart' because she was nervous and unused to TV, via the New York Times. At the New York party, she exclusively told the Daily Mail that she and her family are open to the prospect of moving house because 'we need a change' 'We have so many kids, and so I feel like we need an adventure,' she said; 'I don't know where we're gonna go, but we need an adventure' She defended herself with a public statement saying: 'I was born in Boston. I spent time in Boston and in Spain. My family now lives in Spain. I moved to New York when I was 19 years old and I have lived here ever since.' In early 2021, when the controversy failed to die down, she issued a statement on Instagram saying that she she was 'sorry' about the fracas and acknowledging that she 'should have been more clear.' However she maintained that she was brought up 'with two cultures, American and Spanish' and feels 'a true sense of belonging to both.' More recently she has taken a defiant stance on the subject, insisting her changing accent was an example of 'code-switching,' on her reality show The Baldwins. Hilaria's comments on moving house come after her husband relisted his 10,000-square foot mansion in the Hamptons, now with an asking price of $21 million. Hilaria is pictured on the latest cover of Gurus Magazine, the achievement she was celebrating at an intimate party at Zoi Mediterranean restaurant in New York City on Friday Baldwin celebrated with VIP attendees including Dina Lohan, publicist Anna Rothschild, Candace Bushnell, Gurus magazine publisher Derek Warburton and Margaret Josephs The seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom home includes a pool, covered balconies and a spa, and is situated on a sprawling 10-acre estate in Amagansett, New York. In the 2000s, when Alec was dating Sex and the City actress Kristin Davis and the relationship was floundering, she confessed to her co-star Sarah Jessica Parker that she was reluctant to leave him because of his 'incredible house in Amagansett.' Alec first acquired the property in 1996 for a mere $1.75 million and then put it on the market in 2022 for a whopping $29 million. By January 2024 he had slashed the price to nearly $19 million and starred in a real estate video plugging the home, saying he was 'always happiest' while there. He took the house off the market that summer after failing to find a buyer amid the ongoing controversy over the Rust shooting, but he has now relisted it for $2 million more than it was selling for last year, via TMZ. Simon Cowell and his fiancee Lauren looked happier than ever during a sun-soaked getaway as they shared a rare insight into their home life with a post shared to Instagram on Friday. The music mogul, 66, and the socialite, 48, who share son Eric, 11, put on an affectionate display as Simon wrapped his arm around her while sitting on the back of a boat. In the snap, Lauren looked effortlessly chic in a red one-piece bathing suit and black-tinted aviator sunglasses. Meanwhile, shirtless Simon looked relaxed in a pair of black shorts and his signature sunglasses. The couple were seen smiling together as they soaked up the sun while cruising along the sea. Lauren captioned her Story, 'Us' accompanied by a line of red love heart emojis. Simon Cowell, 66, and his fiancee Lauren, 42, looked happier than ever during a sun-soaked getaway as they shared a rare insight into their life with a post shared to Instagram on Friday The music mogul, 66, and the socialite, 48, who share son Eric, 11, (pictured) put on an affectionate display as they enjoyed a family trip Simon and Lauren share their son Eric and five dogs - three Yorkshire Terriers named Freddie, Squiddly and Diddly, as well as Daisy and Pebbles. Lauren also has a son called Adam, Simon's step-son, from her previous marriage. Simon has recently said a wedding is on the horizon after Lauren legally changed her surname to Cowell. The music mogul and Lauren have shared their lives in the new Netflix docuseries The Next Act, which follows Simon's nationwide search for young, talented musicians. In between scenes of the X Factor star at work are slices of family life with Lauren and Eric, and one episode shows Lauren signing paperwork to formally change her name by deed poll to Simon. Now, Simon, who has previously been vocal about his reluctance to marry before proposing to Lauren on Christmas Eve 2021, has insisted the two will wed. 'I always shied away from saying it's going to happen whenever,' he explained. 'When we decide to do it, it will be private, then people will know about it, but obviously the fact that she talks about changing her name, it's quite obvious where all this is leading to.' 'We have a very, very close bond. I adore her. We are a very happy family, genuinely,' he gushed. Simon has recently said a wedding is on the horizon after Lauren legally changed her surname to Cowel Simon revealed that whilst he had to persuade Lauren to appear in his new show, the experience only strengthened his love for her. 'She was a bit reluctant [to be on camera] in the beginning, and then she got more used to it,' he told Us Weekly. 'The funny thing about her is that she is identical on the show as she is in real life. When I was watching the show back, I was absolutely cracking up at some of the scenes.' In the name change scene Lauren, who was previously married to businessman Andrew Silverman, is seen explaining that she has decided she no longer wants to go by her old married name. 'Look, I am Mrs Cowell,' she says. 'I have created a life with Simon, we have a child together, we have a solid relationship.' The name change, she says, was about aligning with Simon and Eric. 'This is more about the unity of our family and us having the same name. When we discussed it, Simon said, "Yeah, I would really like you to change your name." 'It wasn't a dramatic statement, it was just: "This is who I am, and this is who we are".' The couple first met in Barbados in 2004, but didnt start dating until around 2012. They welcomed their son Eric in 2014 and got engaged in 2021. Gwyneth Paltrow said her nepo baby daughter Apple Martin could 'follow in her footsteps'. The actress and businesswoman, 53, shares daughter Apple, 21, and her brother Moses, 19, with her ex-husband, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, 48. Despite currently being a law student, their eldest Apple has been trying her hand at both of her parents' careers, acting and music. And earlier this year she entered the world of modelling as she joined her mother Gwyneth in a campaign for GapStudio. Speaking to The Mirror, Gwyneth said she thinks Apple will eventually follow in her footsteps career-wise. 'She's doing a pre-law degree at college but I think she's going to follow in my footsteps,' she said. Gwyneth Paltrow, 53, thinks her nepo baby daughter Apple Martin, 21, will 'follow in her footsteps' (Seen together on Tuesday) Earlier this year she entered the world of modelling as she joined her mother Gwyneth in a campaign for GapStudio (Pictured) 'But the thing is with kids you have to let them find their own path and inspiration and try not come on top of them with your point of view.' The model is studying at Vanderbilt University and told Interview magazine earlier this year that she is 'a law, history and society major'. However, she is dabbling in acting recreationally, telling the outlet, 'I'm in the lovely Vanderbilt Original Cast, the esteemed cabaret theater group. This semester's show is a musical parody of Love Island called Love on an Island. It's so fun. The songs are phenomenal.' Apple repeatedly faced claims she's just riding her parents' coattails after joining her mother Gwyneth for a campaign with GapStudio earlier this year. She then went on to land yet another high-profile fashion gig, this time posing for her debut shoot with the London fashion house Self-Portrait. The model posed for images captured by acclaimed photographer Ryan McGinley on a farm in upstate New York, despite previously facing backlash for using her privileged background and connections to her advantage. Styled by Mel Ottenberg, Apple wore pieces from the brand's latest ready-to-wear collection, including a white lace and satin maxi dress and a silver gradient sequinned dress. The stunner, who is also studying at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, posed for her first collection after being unveiled as an ambassador for the brand. Speaking to The Mirror, Gwyneth said she thinks Apple will eventually follow in her footsteps career-wise (Seen together in 2023) The model is studying at Vanderbilt University and told Interviewmagazine earlier this year that she is 'a law, history and society major' She said: 'Debuting with self-portrait was a no-brainer their British spirit reminds me of growing up in London, so it's felt like home from the start. 'Plus, the collections are gorge and approachable! Han and the team welcomed me in as part of the creative process and I am having a lot of fun learning along the way. I'm so excited for this campaign to be out in the world and for us to continue exploring this side of my creativity together.' In October, Apple made an attempt at following in her father's footsteps instead as she made her singing debut. However after videos of her performance made it online, likened to an 'off-key, drunken karaoke performance' as fans said it was proof that 'nepotism is killing art'. An influx of comments saw the nepo-baby slammed for her vocal abilities - with many insisting she had not inherited the musical talents of the Coldplay frontman. She was on stage at Cannery Hall in Nashville alongside musical duo Jade Street - however her performance was likened to drunken karaoke singing. Users on TikTok wrote: 'Nepotism has killed art,' and, 'This is a nepotism baby I don't support.' Meanwhile, another said: 'Aren't we bored with nepotism yet?' In October, Apple made an attempt at following in her father's footsteps instead as she made her singing debut While her Instagram post featuring the video was met with praise, some TikTok viewers appeared more scathing in their reviews of the performance. Coldplay has scored seven Grammy Awards and nine Brit Awards and sold more than 160 million records worldwide, while her mother has also previously shown musical prowess, singing in films Duets, Country Strong, and Infamous. Accusations of nepotism were rife following Apple's performance of song Satellite, which she collaborated on with Jade Street. On stage, the model looked chic in a cropped white top, black mini, and knee-high boots - however her vocals were deemed wholly less impressive. Kevin Spacey made a rare appearance at Piers Morgan's annual Christmas party ahead of facing new sex assault claims in a civil trial. The actor, 66, was cleared of sexually assaulting four men in a criminal trial in 2023 but he will face new sex assault claims, which he denies, from three men in a three-week High Court civil trial in 2026. In a rare public outing, Spacey stepped out in London for broadcaster Piers's annual festive bash on Friday. The party, held at the Scarsdale Tavern in Kensington, was also attended by the likes of Myleene Klass, Ronan Keating and Susanna Reid. Spacey was beaming as he arrived for the party wearing a navy tweed suit and zip-up sweater. Three men, Ruari Cannon, who has waived his right to anonymity, and two others who have not, allege the actor abused them between 2000 and 2015. The claims will be heard at a civil trial next year. Kevin Spacey made a rare appearance at Piers Morgan's annual Christmas party in London on Friday ahead of facing new sex assault claims in a civil trial In a rare public outing, Spacey stepped out in London for broadcaster Piers's annual festive bash They claim to have met the Hollywood star, 66, through his position as an artistic director at the Old Vic Theatre. All three men are taking legal action against Spacey at the High Court, meanwhile, Mr Cannon is also bringing action against the theatre. Spacey denies the allegations, and in 2023, he was acquitted of nine sex offences relating to four men. Elizabeth-Ann Gumbel KC, for the three men, said on Wednesday that the cases should be heard together. In a written submission for a hearing, she added that this would mean the men and Mr Spacey would not have to give evidence more than once. 'If the cases were heard separately, the defendant would need to give evidence in each case and be available for trial on three separate occasions,' she said. Days before the allegations came to light, Spacey insisted he is not homeless after recent remarks he made about 'living in Airbnbs and hotels' prompted the speculation. In an Instagram video posted Sunday, he said he felt compelled to clarify the the comments after 'thousands of people' 'reached out over the past few days offering me a place to stay or have just asked if I'm okay.' The disgraced star was beaming as he arrived for the party wearing a navy tweed suit and zip-up sweater 'And to all of you, I am truly touched by your generosity full stop,' he continued. 'But I feel it would be disingenuous to allow you to believe I am indeed homeless in the colloquial sense.' 'I said I was basically living in hotels and Airbnbs and going where the work is, just as I did when I first started out in this business. 'I've been working nearly nonstop this entire year and, for that, I have so much to be grateful for,' Spacey also noted. 'And there are many people, as well 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.' Macaulay Culkin and his partner Brenda Song looked happier than ever in matching Christmas jumpers as they enjoyed a romantic day out to Disneyland on Friday. The couple, who have been together since 2017, pushed their two children, Dakota, four, and Carson, three, around in a double pram. For the outing, Macaulay, 45, wore a black cap that had 'papa' embroidered, which he paired with a white T-shirt and jeans. Meanwhile, Brenda, 37, got into the Disney spirit and paired her jumper with a black Minnie Mouse-inspired hat. Macaulay and Brenda first met in 2014 and began dating in 2017, following the completion of Changeland in Thailand. Though their biggest regret is not having spent more of their lives with one another, because they don't think things would have worked out quite so well if they had. Macaulay Culkin, 45, and his partner Brenda Song, 37, looked happier than ever in matching Christmas jumpers as they enjoyed a romantic day out to Disneyland on Friday The couple, who have been together since 2017, were seen laughing the day away as they push their two children, Dakota, four, and Carson, three, around in a double pram Macaulay told Cosmopolitan magazine: 'It took me, what, 37 years? 36 years?' Brenda replied: 'But it wouldn't have happened any other way.' Macaulay then said: 'No, but if I met you 10 years earlier...' And they agreed together: 'We would've hated each other.' And the 44-year-old actor admitted Brenda, 36, was 'thoroughly unimpressed' by him on their first meeting, when Macaulay was staying with Seth Green and trying to cheer up his friend and the actress when their short-lived sitcom 'Dads' was cancelled. Brenda recalled: 'He was trying to be funny about our show being cancelled and I was not having it.' The Home Alone star added: 'She was thoroughly unimpressed by me, is what I will say.' Seth brought the pair together for Changeland and while Brenda - who hadn't been on a date in nearly two years - wasn't looking for love, another friend noticed how interested she seemed in her co-star. The couple were seen having a great time in the theme park as they were pictured riding Dumbo She recalled her pal telling her: 'If you're going to ever have a fling. Mack is a safe person.' The pair grew closer, and Macaulay gave Brenda some of his journals to read in her spare time, where she got to know the real him. She recalled: 'I saw this person he put out thereit was a product of this armor that he's put on to protect himself. 'But I could see that that wasn't really who he was; I could see these glimpses of this really interesting, very sensitive, very intelligent, artistic person that he doesn't really let show.' But the couple 'kept expectations low' as they had both been 'very hurt' in the past, but continued to see one another after they returned to the US when filming wrapped. The My Girl actor admitted he knew he loved Brenda before she acknowledged her feelings. He said: I'd never felt this way before. I believed in her. I mean, I believed in people before, but I believed in her down to my bone marrow. You know what I mean? I put it behind the armour, though, behind that shield.' But Brenda said: Which is so crazy to me because I feel like you were the opposite!' Kate Winslet has claimed some of the crew on her directorial debut Goodbye June were underpaid because she couldn't secure a big enough budget for the film. The Titanic star, 50, hit out at sexism within the cinema industry as she revealed that being a female director meant she was forced to call in favours to get Goodbye June made as people wouldn't invest. This meant that some crew who wanted to work on the film had to take less than their weekly rate to work on it, Kate claimed. Appearing on Kermode & Mayo's Take podcast on Saturday, Kate said: 'When you're a woman, you do a huge amount of ringing around and calling in favours so sometimes with a budget like Goodbye June you might be asking people to come and work for less than their weekly rate. 'I'm talking about department heads and their crew. Sometimes people take a little bit of a hit because they want to come and be part of that experience and they want to support you and we did have that on Goodbye June.' She went on to say that female actors who become directors are underestimated and people assume they won't know what they're doing, whereas there's an automatic assumption men will. Kate Winslet has said some of the crew on her directorial debut Goodbye June were underpaid because she couldn't secure a big enough budget for the film (Seen last week) The Titanic star, 50, hit out at sexism within the cinema industry as she revealed that being a female director meant she was forced to call in favours to get Goodbye June made (Seen in the film with Helen Mirren) 'It's somehow there's this societal assumption that they will automatically know what they're doing, whereas the same assumption is not made of women,' Kate said. 'That's not right and actually it's not fair because what it does mean is that it will be harder for us to get films made, harder for us to get the kind of budgets that we need to make those films.' She continued: 'But actually, I just think there's this very strange thing with women, especially when you're an actress who transitions into directing people. 'People just think that you're a little bit too vain and want to stay in your trailer all day, and "will you really do it well?"' Kate added: 'What I would say is that I think there's a different language that is used when addressing female directors to male directors. 'It's a different set of language that is used talking to actresses who become directors as opposed to male actors who become directors. 'Strangely with male actors - and this is absolutely no criticism of them at all because when I think about the brilliant young actors in this country who have been directing recently it's incredibly exciting - but they're just allowed to get on with it.' Kate has gone behind the camera for the first time as she made her directorial debut for the Netflix family drama. Appearing on Kermode & Mayo's Takepodcast on Saturday, Kate said: 'When you're a woman, you do a huge amount of ringing around and calling in favours' (Seen earlier this month) The titular character June is played by Helen Mirren, with Timothy Spall as her husband Bernie, and Toni Collette, Andrea Riseborough, and Johnny Flynn joining Winslet in playing their children The film follows four siblings gathering together to support their mother as her health declines. The titular character June is played by Helen Mirren, with Timothy Spall as her husband Bernie, and Toni Collette, Andrea Riseborough, and Johnny Flynn joining Winslet in playing their children. The project brought up feelings about Kate's own mother, Sally Bridges-Winslet, who died from ovarian cancer in 2017. Her son Joe Anders, 21, wrote the screenplay for the film, which landed on the streaming platform last week. While it was a major shakeup for Kate, placing her outside her comfort zone, she admitted she hid any worries she had from her co-stars including Helen Mirren, particularly her fatigue. She candidly said to Grazia magazine: 'The hardest part was leaving any concerns I had at the door so that the actors never ever felt that. 'It was up to me to set the tone every single day, even if I was knackered or worried about the budget.' The Titanic actress also said she was conscious of her moving behind the camera as a female, compared to her male counterparts. She explained: 'When male actors go into directing, people are like "Oh, interesting," whereas if it's a woman they're like "OK, come on, show us what you think you can do".' Despite the pressures behind the screen, Kate said she would 'really, really love to direct again'. Elsewhere Kate attended a Q&A for her movie where she revealed the advice she swears by. 'What was your best director note for you, the actor, playing Julia?' she was asked at one point. 'Don't f*** it up,' the star answered plainly in a video obtained by John Pascarella, eliciting a room full of laughter. She lightheartedly added, 'I think that's always my note to myself anyway.' Sophie Habboo and Jamie Laing have shared new sweet snaps with their baby boy Ziggy as they prepare for their first Christmas as parents. The Made In Chelsea stars welcomed a baby boy named Ziggy at the start of December. Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Jamie gave a glimpse into how the family of three are spending the festive season. An adorable snap showed Jamie, 37, wearing matching pyjamas with baby Ziggy as Sophie hugged him from behind in front of their glitzy Christmas tree. In another candid snap, Sophie, 31, wore a baggy t-shirt as she gazed adoringly down at her newborn in the bathroom of their home. 'This Christmas is lit @sophiehabboo,' Jamie captioned the post, which included photos of him holding sleeping Ziggy on the sofa as well as pushing him in his buggy through London. Sophie Habboo and Jamie Laing have shared new sweet snaps with their baby boy Ziggy as they prepare for their first Christmas as parents In another candid snap, Sophie, 31, wore a baggy t-shirt as she gazed adoringly down at her newborn in the bathroom of their home Elsewhere new mum Sophie wore a fur leopard print coat as she took Ziggy for a stroll, as well as being seen comforting him in the back of a London black cab. Jamie's post comes day after Sophie shared other snaps of the couple settling into parenthood. She snapped a selfie of her breastfeeding Ziggy, as well as a heartwarming shot of Jamie beaming adoringly down at his son. Another selfie saw Jamie planting a kiss on his wife's cheek, with a final image revealing a peek inside the couple's newly-renovated kitchen, complete with a Christmas tree and festooned with lights. The pair only just moved into their new abode, rumoured to be worth 12million, after a 14-month renovation, that Jamie joked had left them 'nearly divorced'. And the reality star also took to his TikTok to update his followers on their parenting journey, as he and Sophie listed all the things they'd been surprised to learn so far while out on a stroll. Sophie began by saying she'd been taken aback by how Ziggy 'sounds like a goat all night long' and that babies 'cry in their sleep'. She added: 'And that also I wake up every hour thinking that he's crying when he's not and look in the covers because I think I've fallen asleep with him breastfeeding on me, and he's fast asleep in his little crib next to me.' 'This Christmas is lit @sophiehabboo,' Jamie captioned the post, which included photos of him holding sleeping Ziggy on the sofa In another picture the Candy Kittens owner was seen pushing his son in his buggy through London Elsewhere new mum Sophie wore a fur leopard print coat as she took Ziggy for a stroll Sophie was also seen comforting him in the back of a London black cab Jamie chimed in to say: 'When the baby cries, how much your breast leak,' as Sophie corrected: 'Only one of my boobs leaks! My left one is colossal and my right leaks all the time.' She went on to praise how Ziggy smelled, admitting she didn't understand why as she said: 'Babies smell like a bakery, they smell so yummy' and added: 'How much you have to burp them, those gassy little things.' 'The fact that babies are nocturnal,' Jamie continued. 'They're like owls, they're awake all night long!' He finished the video by telling fans: 'There you have it, parenting tips from two novices,' as Sophie cut in to insist: 'I think I'm a little bit of a veteran now!' The new parents also introduced Ziggy into their social circle over the weekend, with the newborn meeting Jack Whitehall's PR mogul sister Molly and her husband Toby Wilko, alongside Olly Hadden-Paton and his wife Megan. Sophie and Jamie have hidden Ziggy's face so far, but have been sharing snippets into life as new parents. The couple announced they had welcomed their first child together on Instagram with details of Sophie's pregnancy and birth set to be documented in their upcoming Disney Plus show. Sophie treated fans to a new glimpse inside her newborn bubble with Jamie, after giving birth to their first child two weeks ago She also snapped a selfie of her breastfeeding Ziggy, as well as a heartwarming shot of Jamie beaming adoringly down at his son The Made In Chelsea stars welcomed a baby boy named Ziggy at the start of December, and opened up on all the things they'd learned about babies since becoming parents In the meantime, the pair have kept their fans updated with social media updates, with Jamie taking to Instagram the day after the birth to heap praise on his 'rockstar' wife. Sharing a picture of himself on a bed in Sophie's private hospital suite, Jamie wrote: 'A wild, incredible experience. Exhausted, full of love and in awe of my wife. 'Already knew she was 10/10 but didn't realise that level could go even higher and it continues to grow. You are a complete rockstar and to women around the world [I salute you].' Meanwhile Sophie shared her own post-birth photos from the birth, gushing that 'it all makes sense'. SAN DIEGO, Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX) publicly traded securities between February 15, 2022 and September 24, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), have until Monday, January 12, 2026 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Freeport-McMoRan class action lawsuit. Captioned Reed v. Freeport-McMoRan Inc., No. 25-cv-04243 (D. Ariz.), the Freeport-McMoRan class action lawsuit charges Freeport-McMoRan as well as certain of Freeport-McMoRan's top current and former executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Freeport-McMoRan class action lawsuit, please provide your information here: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-freeport-mcmoran-inc-class-action-lawsuit-fcx.html You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected]. CASE ALLEGATIONS: Freeport-McMoRan engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. Freeport-McMoRan operates the Grasberg Copper and Gold Mine in Papua, Indonesia, in which the Indonesian government holds a commercial interest, according to the complaint. The Freeport-McMoRan class action lawsuit alleges that throughout the Class Period defendants made false and/or misleading statement and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Freeport-McMoRan did not adequately ensure safety at the Grasberg Block Cave mine in Indonesia; (ii) the lack of proper safety precautions constituted a heightened risk that could foreseeably lead to the death of Freeport-McMoRan's workers; and (iii) this constituted an undisclosed heightened risk of regulatory, litigation, and reputational risk. The Freeport-McMoRan class action lawsuit further alleges that on September 9, 2025, Freeport-McMoRan disclosed that "a large flow of wet material from a production drawpoint occurred at one of five production blocks in the Grasberg Block Cave underground mine," which "blocked access to certain areas within the mine, restricting evacuation routes for seven team members." Freeport-McMoRan further allegedly disclosed that "[m]ining operations in the Grasberg minerals district have been temporarily suspended to prioritize the safe evacuation of the seven contractor workers." On this news, the price of Freeport-McMoRan stock fell nearly 6%, according to the complaint. Then, on September 24, 2025, the complaint further alleges that Freeport-McMoRan revealed that "two team members . . . were regrettably fatally injured in the September 8th incident," "[e]xtensive efforts are ongoing in the search for five [PT Freeport Indonesia ("PTFI")] team members who remain missing," and "mining operations in the Grasberg minerals district have been temporarily suspended since September 8th." Freeport-McMoRan allegedly further disclosed that "PTFI production in 2026 could potentially be approximately 35% lower than pre-incident estimates." On this news, the price of Freeport-McMoRan stock fell nearly 17%, according to the complaint. Finally, on September 25, 2025, the Freeport-McMoRan class action lawsuit alleges that Bloomberg published an article entitled "Freeport Mine Setback Risks Fraying Relations With Indonesia," which stated, in pertinent part, that "[a] halt in production at the giant Grasberg copper mine in Indonesia looks set to strain the fractious relationship between Freeport-McMoRan Inc. and its host nation, at a time when the Jakarta government was already looking to take greater control." The complaint alleges that on this news, the price of Freeport-McMoRan stock fell more than 6%. THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Freeport-McMoRan publicly traded securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Freeport-McMoRan class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Freeport-McMoRan investor class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Freeport-McMoRan shareholder class action lawsuit. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Freeport-McMoRan class action lawsuit. ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world's leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud and shareholder litigation. Our Firm has been ranked #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for four out of the last five years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. In 2024, we recovered over $2.5 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases more than the next five law firms combined, according to ISS. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs' firms in the world, and the Firm's attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest ever $7.2 billion in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. Contact: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal 655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101 800-449-4900 [email protected] SOURCE Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP Blake Livelys legal team is accusing Justin Baldonis attorneys of crossing professional boundaries during discovery in their legal battle - and is now asking a federal judge to step in. According to a December 19 letter sent to U.S. District Court Judge Lewis J. Liman, Livelys lawyers are seeking sanctions over what they describe as repeated deposition misconduct by Baldonis legal team. The filing, reviewed by People on Saturday, alleges that opposing counsel asked the actress questions about her sexual and romantic history and engaged in behavior her attorneys say was inappropriate and irrelevant to the case. In a supporting exhibit, Livelys lawyers claim Baldonis attorneys showed a 'basic lack of decorum' during depositions, repeatedly making speaking objections, interrupting proceedings, and - at times - allegedly demeaning witnesses on the record. 'Throughout discovery, multiple defense counsel insisted on making speaking objections, often in depositions they were not defending, and consuming time on the record to demean and orate,' Livelys attorney Michael J. Gottlieb wrote in the filing. The attorneys say they previously warned Baldonis legal team to stop. Blake Livelys legal team is accusing Justin Baldonis attorneys of crossing professional boundaries during discovery - and is now asking a federal judge to step in; (Lively pictured June) The filing alleges that opposing counsel asked the actress questions about her sexual and romantic history and engaged in behavior her attorneys say was inappropriate and irrelevant to the case; (Baldoni in 2024) In a September 29 letter cited in the court documents, Livelys lawyers objected to what they described as 'inappropriate and unprofessional behavior,' specifically drawing the line at questions touching on Livelys sexual or romantic past. 'Ms. Livelys sexual and/or romantic history has no bearing on the matters at issue in this case and we will not tolerate such examination,' the attorneys wrote. The filing argues that any questioning along those lines is improper and barred, pointing to rape shield laws designed to prevent inquiry into a persons sexual history in court proceedings. In addition to sanctions, Livelys legal team is asking the court to order one of Baldonis expert witnesses to sit for another deposition. They allege the initial session was compromised after Baldonis attorneys 'impeded, delayed, and frustrated the fair examination.' The motion also seeks reimbursement for fees tied to the supplemental deposition. The case is currently scheduled to go to trial on May 18, 2026. Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for both Lively and Baldoni for comment. In a supporting exhibit, Livelys lawyers claim Baldonis attorneys showed a 'basic lack of decorum' during depositions, repeatedly making speaking objections, interrupting proceedings, and - at times - allegedly demeaning witnesses on the record In December of last year, Lively named Baldoni in a lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment, retaliatory conduct, and intentional infliction of emotional stress. In her lawsuit, the actress accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her in multiple ways - including body shaming her - and orchestrating a smear campaign against her to damage her reputation. In her lawsuit, Lively named a number of Baldoni's collaborators, including his company Wayfarer Studios, the studio's CEO and financial backer, and PR personnel Nathan and Abel. Baldoni had initially asked for $250 million in damages from The New York Times , mentioning a report it published on the topic, then added it to the $400 million lawsuit he filed this past January. In the suit, Baldoni named Lively, her spouse Ryan Reynolds and her publicist Leslie Sloane, citing the aforementioned report in legal documents. It was thrown out of court this past June. All parties have denied all of the allegations against them. Bowen Yang is finally speaking out after the shock announcement that hes leaving Saturday Night Live. The 35-year-old comedians departure comes in the wake of a chaotic 'bloodbath' that saw multiple cast members exit the NBC sketch comedy show without warning ahead of the 2025 season. Yang, 31, will make his final appearance this Saturday, on the episode hosted by his Wicked co-star Ariana Grande with Cher as the musical guest. The morning after the news broke on Friday, Bowen took to Instagram to confirm his exit and share a heartfelt farewell with the SNL family. 'I loved working at SNL, and most of all I loved the people,' Bowen began. 'I was there at a time when many things in the world started to seem futile, but working at 30 Rock taught me the value in showing up anyway when people make it worthwhile.' 'Im grateful for every minute of my time there,' he continued. 'I learned about myself (bad with wigs). I learned about others (generous, vulnerable, hot). I learned that human error can be nothing but correct. I learned that comedy is mostly logistics and that it will usually fail until it doesnt, which is the besssst.' Bowen Yang is finally speaking out after the shock announcement that hes leaving Saturday Night Live The morning after the news broke on Friday, Bowen took to Instagram to confirm his exit and share a heartfelt farewell with the SNL family He added a long list of personal thank-yous: 'Thank you to every single person who showed up there: friends and coworkers and audiences and hosts. Thank you Celeste, Sudi, Will, Alison, Julio, Fran, Drez, Bulla, Marty, John, Ben, Jimmy, Ceara, Deetch, Jake, Asha, Jack, Auguste, Tucker, Kent, Streeter, James, Alex, Jasmine, Gary, and Billy for writing with me. 'Thank you to every cast member for making me laugh and cry. To Liz and Don. Tom, Jodi, Louie, Eamon. Gena, Chris, Eddie. The crews, the pages. And to Audrey, Jameson, Cassandra and Chris for the fastest, funnest quick-changes in all of showbiz. 'Thank you to Ari for sending me off in the dreamiest way I could imagine.' 'Thank you to Lorne for the job. For the standard. And for bringing everyone at work together. They all care deeply about people in the room, any room, enjoying themselves. I cant believe I was ever included in that. The show doesnt go on because its ready, but s-iiiiit, I hope I am.' Yang joined SNL as a writer in 2018 before being promoted to the cast for Season 45. He earned repertory status ahead of Season 47, quickly becoming one of the shows standout performers over seven seasons. His departure follows a summer exodus after Season 50, which saw Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, and Emil Wakim all leave the cast. Bowen Yang is stepping away from SNL; (pictured September) Yang will make his final appearance on Saturdays episode, hosted by his Wicked co-star Ariana Grande with Cher as musical guest Yang also becomes the latest midseason exit, following Cecily Strongs surprise December 2022 departure during Season 48. Molly Shannon, Dana Carvey and Eddie Murphy also left midseason. Though his exit comes after the cast turbulence, its not entirely unexpected. Yang has teased the possibility of leaving SNL over the past few months, leaving fans bracing for one final set of sketches from the beloved comedian. Back in September, Yang revealed he had a heart-to-heart with SNL creator Lorne Michaels about his future on the show. 'Lorne was like, You have more to do, and that means a lot, because I even confessed to him I feel the audience is maybe getting sick of me," Yang recalled to People. 'And he was like, "Thats not true. Theres more for you to do. I need you."' A source told the Daily Mail:' Bowen was actually going to leave much earlier and almost didn't do this season at all, but with all the attention that all the moves SNL did got, Lorne asked Bowen to stay on a little longer and Bowen obliged. 'Bowen is ready to do his own shows and more movies and more TV outside of SNL. And with Wicked's success, now was the time to hit the ground running. Bowen hates the word bittersweet, but the whole situation is bittersweet and he is looking forward to this weekend being his swan song.' Despite that reassurance, Yang has already missed several episodes this season. He notably skipped an October show to attend the Academy Museum gala in Los Angeles, where he accepted the Vantage Award. His departure follows a summer exodus after Season 50, which saw Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, and Emil Wakim all leave the cast During his tenure, Yang earned critical acclaim, scoring Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025. Outside of SNL, Yang is a major force in pop culture thanks to his hit podcast Las Culturistas, which he co-hosts with longtime friend and fellow comedian Matt Rogers. He also starred on Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens from 2020 to 2023. His resume continues to grow on the big screen as well. In addition to Wicked and Wicked: For Good, Yangs film credits include Fire Island (2022), Dicks: The Musical (2023), and the The Wedding Banquet (2025). Yangs departure comes in the wake of the cast overhaul that wrapped up over the summer. 'Lorne doesnt have many more years he wants to do SNL,' an insider exclusively told Daily Mail at the time. 'He wants to make it funny again.' Fans were quick to react when Gardner a beloved cast member of eight years was let go, following the departures of Longfellow, Wakim, Devon Walker. Heidi Gardner left the show after an impressive eight-season run (pictured in February) Ego Nwodim's exit announcement came just days after NBC appeared to finalize the cast list for the latest season, with her name still included Nwodims exit announcement, meanwhile, came just days after NBC appeared to finalize the cast list for the upcoming season, with her name still included. The current lineup features longtime favorite Kenan Thompson, Chloe Fineman, Mikey Day, and Weekend Update anchors Michael Che and Colin Jost, alongside Andrew Dismukes, Marcello Hernandez, James Austin Johnson, Sarah Sherman, Ashley Padilla, and Jane Wickline. New faces joining the cast this season include Veronika Slowikowska, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, and Kam Patterson. Meanwhile, the Please Dont Destroy trio no longer appear onscreen together. Writer and occasional performer John Higgins has exited the show completely. Ben Marshall has stepped out of the writers room to join the cast as a featured player, and Martin Herlihy remains on staff as a writer. The recent cast changes are said to partly be tied to plans for an SNL UK spinoff in 2026, with Lorne intent on keeping the original series as the benchmark for sketch comedy. 'So these changes for Lorne are to see if he's still got it,' an insider told the Daily Mail. 'And to make sure that SNL is funny and groundbreaking for years to come.' Performers Emil Wakim (left), Michael Longfellow (right) and Devon Walker (center) also exited before the new season The source added that he 'needs to add some gasoline to the fire, and even though there will still be familiar names, he wants to mix it up and bring in a brand-new set of cast members, because that adds to the fun of it all'. While the process may feel cutthroat, the insider emphasized that upheavals like this are normal at SNL - though they haven't happened on this scale in some time. 'Lorne felt that he and the show had been on autopilot for a few years, and it is now time to be very funny again.' He is said to want the series to take more risks and bring back some 'grit'. Sixteen years to the day after her sudden death shocked Hollywood, new attention is again falling on the eerie Hollywood Hills home Brittany Murphy once bought from Britney Spears the same mansion where both the actress and her husband died just months apart. Murphy purchased the fully furnished property from Spears in 2003 for $3.85 million, settling into the sprawling Los Angeles home years before tragedy struck. On December 20, 2009 the Clueless star was found dead inside the house where she had been living with her husband, British screenwriter Simon Monjack at 32-years-old. Just five months later Monjack also passed away on the grounds. He was 40-years-old. It was later revealed that Murphy died from untreated pneumonia, anemia, and drug intoxication involving prescription and over-the-counter medications, while Monjacks death was also attributed to pneumonia. Years later, the pair of deaths are still shrouded in mystery, with the mansion at the center. Brittany Murphy and her husband Simon Monjack died within months of each other in 2009 and 2010 respectively; pictured in 2007 Murphy purchased her fully furnished Hollywood Hills home, where she and her husband both died, from Britney Spears in 2003 for $3.85 million After Monjack's death, his mother Linda Monjack voiced concern that there had been 'severe mold' on the premises. She told Daily Mail in 2013: 'All I know is that before Simon's death, he was having hallucinations that things were crawling out of his skin.' The theory was previously ruled out in 2010 by the medical examiner's office. The late actress and her husband lived with her mom, Sharon Murphy. They were married at the home in April 2007. Sharon made the 911 call the morning of her daughter's death, after she collapsed at 8am. She was also the one to find her son-in-law unresponsive five months later. Murphy had experienced flu-like symptoms in the days leading up to her death. Following her collapse, she was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Murphy purchased the stunning pad from pop star Britney Spears in 2003; (Spears pictured in 2008) The couple pictured in February 2008 Murphy's mother Sharon Murphy made the 911 call the morning of her daughter's death, after she collapsed at 8am; pictured in 2004 Similar to his wife, a coroner declared acute pneumonia and severe anemia as the causes of Monjack's death. Murphy and Spears both claimed they felt something off about the mansion. The pop star's former makeup artist, Julianne Kaye, recalled the encounter that caused her to abandon the house on the We Need to Talk About Britney podcast in February 2021. 'She had that place up on Sunset Plaza and I'm just gonna say, this is really weird.[Britney] calls me I had my friend do reiki healing on her,' she shared. 'He had come up; I guess she'd had a crazy partying weekend and needed to relax. He left, and she swears to God that he opened some spirit portal or something, and these bad spirits had come in and they were trying to, like, push her down the stairs or something crazy.' 'It was so bad that she left,' Kaye added, noting that the songstress took refuge at the Casa Del Mar hotel and never returned to her house. 'She goes, "I know you're gonna think I'm crazy. I'm not crazy. I know what I saw. I know what I felt."' A documentary called What Happened, Brittany Murphy? premiered on HBO Max in 2021 Murphy sensed something unsettling too, and often expressed her discomfort with her husband. According to a report published by The Hollywood Reporter in January 2011, Monjack shared that his wife tried to avoid the home. 'She absolutely hated the Rising Glen house,' he told writer Alex Ben Block. 'Every time we would drive up Sunset, Britt would say, "Please, can we stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel?" 'I'd say: "Honey, you've got to be realistic. We have our house, a 10,000-square-foot home. We're going to stay in it."' The British filmmaker also described the bathroom where Murphy died as her 'comfort zone.' According to him, it was the place where she read magazines, sang to herself, wrote, and pampered herself. Murphy and Spears both claimed they felt something off about the mansion; seen in 2010 In December 2024 the home was put up for sale for nearly $18M, with a Zillow listing insisting it had been 'reborn' after undergoing 'a complete metamorphosis' The house belonged to several different owners following Murphy's death. Sharon listed the residence for for $2.7 million in July 2011, after struggling to find a buyer for $4.99 million, per The Hollywood Reporter. In December 2024 it was listed for nearly $18 million. At the time, a Zillow listing said the sprawling home had been 'reborn,' after undergoing 'a complete metamorphosis' including a 'newly redesigned' exterior and other changes. David Parnes of Carolwood Estates, who is a Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles alum, is handling the sale with an asking price of $17,995,000. Kiefer Sutherland has opened up about an extraordinary moment that happened during the filming of A Few Good Men with Jack Nicholson and the films director Rob Reiner. In the upcoming special CBS News: Rob Reiner Scenes from a Life, Sutherland describes the day they were filming the courtroom scene for the 1992 legal drama in which Colonel Nathan R. Jessup says, 'You cant handle the truth!' Nicolsons character delivers the memorable line to Tom Cruises Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee during a fiery courtroom confrontation, which also features Demi Moore as Lieutenant Commander JoAnne Galloway. Sutherland, 58, told CBS News that Nicolson did the entire scene in one 'breathtaking' take, as reported by People. 'No one said a word, and Rob went up to Jack Nicholson and whispered in his ear, "Do you want to do another one?" And Jack Nicholson said, 'Well, we're here,'" Sutherland said in the special airing Sunday, December 21. 'So, they did another one, and it was just as extraordinary,' Sutherland said of his director - as new disturbing details of Rob and Michele's final hours come to light. Kiefer Sutherland has opened up about an extraordinary moment that happened during the filming of 1992's A Few Good Men with Jack Nicholson and the films director Rob Reiner; pictured at the Tinsel Town premiere in London on November 27 In the special CBS News: Rob Reiner Scenes from a Life, Kiefer describes the day Rob Reiner (pictured on September 9) was directing the courtroom scene in which Colonel Nathan R. Jessup says, 'You cant handle the truth!' Reiner was so pleased with the scene that he decided to send the cast and crew home early, even though they were initially told the shoot would last all day. 'They had planned to shoot the whole day, and Rob looked at everybody and said, "I couldn't ask for anything more, so you guys all have the rest of the day off,"' recalled the actor, who also starred in Reiners 1986 Stand by Me in a role that pivoted him to stardom. The special celebrates Reiners life and legacy and features 'new, emotional interviews' with Albert Brooks, Annette Bening, Kathy Bates, Michael Douglas, Jerry OConnell and Mandy Patinkin. The famed director and his wife, Michele, were found fatally stabbed in their Los Angeles home on December 14. Their son, Nick Reiner, 32, has been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in relation to their deaths. He appeared in court on December 17, wearing a blue suicide-prevention smock and shackles on feet and hands. Hes to be arraigned on January 7. Nick is currently being held in solitary confinement at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles where hes on suicide watch and required to wear the anti-suicide outfit at all times, according to People. The murders occurred just hours after the director and his wife attended Conan O'Brien's holiday party on Saturday night, December 13, with Nick . The Reiners have another son, Jake, 34, and a daughter, Romy, 28. Kiefer said Jack did the long scene in one 'breathtaking' take but was willing to do it again for his director The scene involved a tense confrontation between Jack's Colonel Jessup and Tom Cruise's Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee Jack delivered another riveting performance from start to finish that left Reiner speechless, Kiefer said in the CBS News special airing Sunday, December 21 Reiner was so pleased with the scene that he decided to send the cast and crew home early, even though they were initially told the shoot would last all day Rob and his wife, Michele Reiner, were found fatally stabbed at their Los Angeles home on December 14 The Reiners' son, Nick, fourth from left, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in relation to their deaths Besides Kiefer - pictured in London at The BRIT Awards in 2020 - the upcoming special features 'new, emotional interviews' with Albert Brooks, Annette Bening, Kathy Bates, Michael Douglas, Jerry OConnell and Mandy Patinkin It was Romy who discovered the grisly scene at the Reiners New England-style mansion in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood, her parents both in bed with throats slit and multiple stab wounds, according to The New York Post. Jake and Romy released a statement saying they are in unimaginable pain following their parents death, per People. The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren't just our parents; they were our best friends, the siblings shared. We are grateful for the outpouring of condolences, kindness, and support we have received not only from family and friends but people from all walks of life. Reiner directed a large number of beloved and classic movies across many genres including his 1984 directorial debut This Is Spinal Tap, 1986s Stand by Me, 1987s The Princess Bride, 1989s When Harry Met Sally..., 1990s Misery, A Few Good Men in 1992, and 1995s The American President among others. Supermodel Anok Yai is pulling back the curtain on a terrifying health battle shes been fighting in silence. The 28-year-old runway star - who was just named the Fashion Awards 2025 Model of the Year - revealed Friday that she has been diagnosed with a congenital defect that has been quietly wreaking havoc on her body, 'overworking' her heart and 'destroying' her lungs. 'For the past year Ive been dealing with this silent battle. I incidentally found out I had a Congenital defect overworking my heart and slowly destroying my lungs,' Anok wrote alongside videos and photos from her hospital stay. She explained that what began as something barely noticeable quickly spiraled into frightening symptoms. 'What started as something asymptomatic for the majority of my life turned into a lingering cough, which turned to chest pains, bouts of coughing up blood, then at times struggling to breathe,' she continued. 'Ive always thought I could outwork or outrun anything but the universe has a way of slowing you down and waking you up.' Supermodel Anok Yai is pulling back the curtain on a terrifying health battle shes been fighting in silence; (pictured October 28) The 28-year-old runway star - who was just named the Fashion Awards 2025 Model of the Year- revealed Friday that she has been diagnosed with a congenital defect that has been quietly wreaking havoc on her body, 'overworking' her heart and 'destroying' her lungs The model then revealed she recently underwent a major procedure - and thankfully, it was a success. 'So yesterday I had a successful Robotic Lung Surgery thanks to Dr. Robert Cerfolio and his gracious and talented team who I am forever indebted to for giving me more time,' she shared. Robotic thoracic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure used to remove diseased lung tissue and surrounding lymph nodes, according to the American Lung Association. Anok went on to thank the doctors who helped uncover the condition before it became even more dangerous. 'And I am forever grateful for Dr. Harmik Soukiasian and everyone at the @beverlyhillsconciergehealth for discovering my condition,' she wrote. 'Thank you to all the doctors and amazing nurses at @nyulangone. And thank you to my friends and family for being the first thing I saw when I woke up.' Despite the ordeal, the supermodel made it clear shes not slowing down for long. 'For now Im healing but Ill be back. See ya.' 'For the past year Ive been dealing with this silent battle. I incidentally found out I had a Congenital defect overworking my heart and slowly destroying my lungs,' Anok wrote alongside videos and photos from her hospital stay The model then revealed she recently underwent a robotic surgery - and thankfully, it was a success. Her health revelation comes just months after a separate, highly publicized moment in her career. In December 2024, Anok publicly asked the British Fashion Awards not to nominate her for any future honors after losing the Model of the Year title to transgender model Alex Consani. The American model - who was born in Egypt and raised in New Hampshire - later took to X in a since-deleted post, admitting she felt 'exhausted' by the current state of the fashion industry. That years shortlist also included Alva Claire, Amelia Gray, Liu Wen, and Mona Tougaard, with Consani ultimately taking home the coveted prize. Consani had already made history earlier in the year as one of the first transgender models to walk in the Victorias Secret Fashion Show. Ahead of the ceremony, many fans had tipped Anok to win, noting her groundbreaking career including becoming only the second Black model after Naomi Campbell to open a Prada show. After the loss, Anok fueled speculation by sharing an uncaptioned image of Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, which many interpreted as a pointed reaction to the outcome and a perceived snub by the British Fashion Council. The Sudanese-descended supermodel later congratulated Consani publicly on X before addressing the fashion body directly. In December 2024, Anok publicly asked the British Fashion Awards not to nominate her for any future honors after losing the Model of the Year title to transgender model Alex Consani Consani (right) had already made history earlier in the year as one of the first transgender models to walk in the Victorias Secret Fashion Show 'Alex, I love you and Im proud of you. British Fashion Council, thank you but I dont want it anymore,' she wrote in the deleted post. She went on to clarify that her frustration was not directed at her peer. 'If you have seen the effort that Ive seen Alex put in; you would understand how proud I am of her,' Anok continued. But Alex can be proud and I can be exhausted at the same time. 'It doesnt take away how much love we have for each other.' The viral clip that shot car mechanic Daimee Rosales to fame showed her doing an oil change before hanging from the bottom of a raised car to pump out leg raises as if the repair shop were her personal gym. The 25-year-old, who is as committed to keeping her six-pack abs as she is fine-tuning her skills in the garage, has since racked up half a million TikTok followers while earning praise from fans for her automotive advice. In her clips, most of which are filmed in her dad's auto repair shop in Toronto, Rosales shares car tips while lip-syncing and joking about mechanic culture. It isn't just gimmicky fun, but a way to educate a wider, younger audience about cars especially women who often get a raw deal from sexist mechanics. Breaking through in a traditionally male-dominated field has helped Rosales accomplish her goal of becoming a role model to other women. As for her main goal, it's all about getting her hands dirty. She has been fine-tuning her work in the garage, including stripping several finicky Nissan CVT transmissions down to parts and rebuilding them. Such skills are in high demand in the auto industry and can earn masterful mechanics a hefty income. But Rosales insists on charging customers fairly, especially her female clients. 'My dad and I get a lot of women that come into our shop,' she told the Daily Mail. 'We will never overcharge them. I want to do my work and make sure it's done for a fair price.' Daimee Rosales, 25, spoke to the Daily Mail about which cars she would avoid to save money Her experience gives her a wealth of information about the most dependable cars in North America and how much maintenance they'll require in the long term. And, because she's a neighbor to the North, she knows just which vehicles can stand the test of inclement weather, salty roads, and constant construction. For drivers who want to avoid the shop beyond routine oil changes and tire rotations, Rosales doesn't mince words when asked what cars she would never recommend. 'Ford, Volkswagen, and Chevy,' she told the Daily Mail flatly. Her recommendation might be bad news to millions of Americans: Ford perennially takes the best-selling vehicle crown with its $40,000 to $85,000 F-150 pickup. GM, Chevy's parent company, is America's most popular automaker. Its best-seller, the Silverado pickup, is the US's second-favorite car. Meanwhile, Volkswagen is the world's second most popular manufacturer. But beyond entry- and mid-level vehicles, Rosales says drivers should avoid European luxury cars to optimize reliability. 'BMWs are fun to drive, but to own one? Not a good idea,' she said. 'They're expensive to fix, and they don't last.' Join the debate What car brands do you think are most overrated or unreliable, and why? Behind her viral persona, Rosales putting in serious work. She has been honing her skills by tearing down tricky Nissan CVT transmissions and rebuilding them, part of a push to master the craft Breaking through in a traditionally male-dominated field has helped Rosales accomplish her goal of becoming a role model to other women She also said that the least dependable brands are imported luxury vehicles, such as Jaguar, Audi, Mercedes, and Land Rover. Drivers, she added, should avoid purchasing electric vehicles due to the potentially high price of battery replacements, which could easily cost owners thousands of dollars - especially in cold-weather regions. Instead, Rosales spoke highly of longtime, well-regarded car companies like Toyota and Honda. 'Those are super easy to work on,' she said. Much of her expertise lines up with what other mechanics have told the Daily Mail. In July, Scotty Kilmer, a frequently viral YouTube mechanic with 50 years of car-fixing experience, said drivers should avoid Ford and Chevy trucks. Jon Ling, a mechanic with 30 years of experience, offered similar advice, though he gave Chevy trucks higher marks. But for those already behind the wheel of these vehicles, Rosales says many drivers doom themselves to expensive engine and transmission fixes simply by neglecting basic upkeep. Rosales advised drivers to avoid America's best-selling brands, including Fords and Chevys Rosales also said drivers should avoid buying EVs because the battery replacement costs are too high 'A lot of people, especially women, don't keep up with their oil changes,' she said. 'It's a simple suggestion, but it goes a long way. Over time, it will cause major issues with the transmission or the engine.' She advised drivers to keep to a standard 5,000-mile scheduled check-in. Rosales suggested drivers in sedans and SUVs should only pay between $70 and $90 for their oil changes. A heftier bill might indicate that the shop is overcharging. But truck owners should expect to pay more. She said a $120 oil change charge is standard for anyone driving a V8-powered vehicle. Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET Get Free Report) insider Kenneth Duda sold 30,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.16, for a total transaction of $3,694,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 12,976 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,598,124.16. The trade was a 69.81% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Kenneth Duda also recently made the following trade(s): Get Arista Networks alerts: On Wednesday, December 17th, Kenneth Duda sold 26,000 shares of Arista Networks stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.16, for a total transaction of $3,202,160.00. On Monday, November 17th, Kenneth Duda sold 26,000 shares of Arista Networks stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.61, for a total value of $3,343,860.00. On Monday, November 17th, Kenneth Duda sold 30,000 shares of Arista Networks stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.61, for a total value of $3,858,300.00. On Friday, October 17th, Kenneth Duda sold 26,000 shares of Arista Networks stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $142.75, for a total transaction of $3,711,500.00. On Friday, October 17th, Kenneth Duda sold 30,000 shares of Arista Networks stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $142.75, for a total value of $4,282,500.00. Arista Networks Stock Up 5.4% ANET stock traded up $6.67 on Friday, reaching $131.29. 12,481,789 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,656,424. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $136.73 and a 200-day moving average of $127.42. Arista Networks, Inc. has a twelve month low of $59.43 and a twelve month high of $164.94. The firm has a market cap of $165.33 billion, a PE ratio of 49.92, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.41. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Arista Networks Arista Networks ( NYSE:ANET Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The technology company reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.72 by $0.03. Arista Networks had a net margin of 39.73% and a return on equity of 30.28%. The firm had revenue of $2.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.26 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.40 EPS. The firms revenue was up 27.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Arista Networks, Inc. will post 2.2 EPS for the current fiscal year. Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of ANET. AdvisorNet Financial Inc boosted its holdings in shares of Arista Networks by 56.7% during the 3rd quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 199 shares of the technology companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 72 shares during the period. Knuff & Co LLC purchased a new stake in Arista Networks in the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. Richardson Financial Services Inc. raised its position in Arista Networks by 141.3% in the third quarter. Richardson Financial Services Inc. now owns 222 shares of the technology companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 130 shares during the period. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in shares of Arista Networks during the third quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Bare Financial Services Inc grew its holdings in shares of Arista Networks by 2,118.2% during the second quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 244 shares of the technology companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 233 shares in the last quarter. 82.47% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Melius Research boosted their target price on Arista Networks from $160.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, September 12th. Rosenblatt Securities reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $140.00 price target on shares of Arista Networks in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Zacks Research cut Arista Networks from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. UBS Group reissued a buy rating and issued a $155.00 price target on shares of Arista Networks in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Finally, William Blair reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Arista Networks in a report on Friday, September 12th. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Arista Networks has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $163.56. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Arista Networks About Arista Networks (Get Free Report) Arista Networks, Inc is a technology company that designs and sells cloud networking solutions for large-scale data centers and enterprise environments. The company is best known for its high-performance switching and routing platforms, which are used to build scalable, low-latency networks for cloud service providers, internet companies, financial services, telecommunications, and enterprise IT. Aristas offerings emphasize programmability, automation and telemetry to support modern, software-driven network architectures. Central to Aristas product portfolio is its Extensible Operating System (EOS), a modular network operating system that provides consistent programmability, stateful control and advanced visibility across the companys hardware platforms. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Arista Networks Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Arista Networks and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Blackrock Silver Corp. (CVE:BRC Get Free Report)s stock price was up 5.8% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as C$0.93 and last traded at C$0.91. Approximately 1,422,492 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 57% from the average daily volume of 903,471 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.86. Blackrock Silver Price Performance The firm has a market capitalization of C$361.79 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -13.63 and a beta of 2.50. The company has a quick ratio of 3.14, a current ratio of 8.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. The companys fifty day moving average is C$0.74 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$0.66. About Blackrock Silver (Get Free Report) Blackrock Silver Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada and the United States. It primarily explores for gold and silver deposits. The company's flagship property is the Tonopah West silver-gold project comprising 100 patented and 83 unpatented lode mining claims covering an area of 10.3 square kilometers located in the Walker Lane trend of western Nevada. It also holds 100% interest in the Silver Cloud project comprising 572 unpatented lode mining claims covering an area of 46.9 square kilometers located in Northern Nevada Rift, Nevada. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Blackrock Silver Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Blackrock Silver and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. British Smaller Companies VCT2 (LON:BSC Get Free Report) dropped 2.5% on Friday . The stock traded as low as GBX 51.21 and last traded at GBX 51.21. Approximately 699,431 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 661% from the average daily volume of 91,868 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 52.50. British Smaller Companies VCT2 Stock Down 2.5% The stock has a market capitalization of 169.33 million, a P/E ratio of 30.30 and a beta of -0.01. The company has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 51.22 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 51.84. British Smaller Companies VCT2 Company Profile (Get Free Report) British Smaller Companies VCT 2 plc is a venture capital trust specializing in emerging growth, growth capital, acquisition funding, and development funding. It is an evergreen fund. The fund invests in a range of securities which may include ordinary and preference shares and fixed income securities, such as corporate bonds and gilts in VCT qualifying and non-qualifying securities. It seeks to invest in firms that have protectable technologies, business services, manufacturing and industrial services, healthcare, software, Information Technology, telecommunications, retail and brands. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for British Smaller Companies VCT2 Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for British Smaller Companies VCT2 and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX Get Free Report)s share price was up 1.8% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $149.87 and last traded at $149.4550. Approximately 8,305,196 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 6% from the average daily volume of 8,835,663 shares. The stock had previously closed at $146.75. Trending Headlines about Chevron Here are the key news stories impacting Chevron this week: Get Chevron alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. HSBC set a $169.00 price objective on Chevron and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, December 1st. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Chevron in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on Chevron from $171.00 to $169.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 10th. Bank of America reduced their target price on Chevron from $183.00 to $180.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Chevron from $160.00 to $158.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and four have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $166.00. Chevron Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 1.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $297.47 billion, a PE ratio of 20.78, a P/E/G ratio of 8.77 and a beta of 0.68. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $152.31 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $152.37. Chevron (NYSE:CVX Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The oil and gas company reported $1.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.14. Chevron had a net margin of 6.57% and a return on equity of 8.74%. The company had revenue of $48.17 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $46.99 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.48 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Chevron Corporation will post 10.79 EPS for the current year. Chevron Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 18th were given a dividend of $1.71 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 18th. This represents a $6.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.6%. Chevrons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 96.20%. Insider Buying and Selling at Chevron In other news, Director John B. Hess sold 275,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.75, for a total value of $41,456,250.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 1,128,045 shares in the company, valued at $170,052,783.75. This represents a 19.60% 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. 0.21% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Solitude Financial Services raised its position in Chevron by 8.2% in the second quarter. Solitude Financial Services now owns 25,325 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $3,626,000 after purchasing an additional 1,913 shares during the last quarter. Shell Asset Management Co. increased its stake in shares of Chevron by 21.4% in the second quarter. Shell Asset Management Co. now owns 51,115 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $7,319,000 after buying an additional 9,002 shares during the period. Mutual Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Chevron by 7.3% in the 2nd quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 88,759 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $13,743,000 after buying an additional 6,058 shares during the last quarter. Costello Asset Management INC raised its holdings in Chevron by 26.9% in the 2nd quarter. Costello Asset Management INC now owns 16,694 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,390,000 after buying an additional 3,541 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its position in Chevron by 25.7% during the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 697,011 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $115,887,000 after buying an additional 142,662 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.42% of the companys stock. About Chevron (Get Free Report) Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) is an American multinational energy company engaged in virtually all aspects of the oil and gas industry. As an integrated energy firm, Chevrons core activities include upstream oil and natural gas exploration and production, midstream transportation and storage, downstream refining and marketing of fuels and lubricants, and petrochemical manufacturing through joint ventures and subsidiaries. The company markets fuels under brands such as Chevron, Texaco and Caltex and supplies a range of products and services to retail customers, industrial users and commercial fleets worldwide. Chevron traces its corporate lineage to the early petroleum companies that eventually became Standard Oil of California and has evolved through significant mergers and restructurings, including the acquisitions of Gulf Oil and Texaco. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Chevron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chevron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SANTA MARIA, Calif., Dec. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hardy Diagnostics, a leading manufacturer and distributor of culture media and diagnostic solutions for microbiology laboratories, proudly announces its strategic partnership with NEMIS Technologies, a Swiss-based innovator in rapid on-site pathogen detection. Through this exclusive collaboration, Hardy Diagnostics will introduce NEMIS's cutting-edge N-Light technology and advanced hygiene monitoring solutions to the North American market. Pictured: Andre Hsiung, Chief Scientific Officer (second from left) and Anna Klavins, Director of Technical Services and Research & Development at Hardy Diagnostics (far right) visiting the NEMIS Technologies Headquarters in Zurich Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/hardy-diagnostics/9322652-en-hardy-diagnostics-nemis-technologies-on-site-rapid-pathogen-detection-north-america The partnership marks a significant step forward in promoting proactive food safety and environmental monitoring. NEMIS's proprietary chemiluminescence-based technology enables food manufacturers and environmental testing teams to conduct simple, reliable, and rapid pathogen detection directly on-siteempowering faster decision-making and improved contamination control. "Hardy Diagnostics is thrilled to partner in expanding access to cutting-edge rapid pathogen testing solutions for the food manufacturing industry across the United States. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to enhancing food safety," said Christopher Catani, Chief Executive Officer and President of Hardy Diagnostics. "Their innovative approach to hygiene control and HACCP 2.0 aligns perfectly with our mission to advance the science of microbiology and partner with our customers to diagnose and prevent disease." "Hardy Diagnostics is pleased to announce our commitment to an enhanced partnership with NEMIS Technologies, a Swiss company specializing in food safety and pathogen detection; thus 'beefing up' Hardy's portfolio in food microbiology! We look forward to a fruitful collaboration and advancing our goals together," said Andre Hsiung, Chief Scientific Officer at Hardy Diagnostics. NEMIS's N-Light system is already trusted by major European food producers across industries ranging from meat and seafood to dairy, retail, and ready-to-eat products. By joining forces, Hardy Diagnostics and NEMIS will equip North American quality assurance teams with state-of-the-art tools to rapidly detect pathogens, reduce risk, and enhance public health protection. This partnership also includes the launch of educational initiatives through the NEMIS Academy, providing training resources and expert insights to food professionals across the region. Together, the two companies aim to transform food safety standards and promote a more sustainable and secure food system "from farm to fork." About Hardy Diagnostics About NEMIS Technologies. Media Contact: Daniel Ballew, [email protected], 1.800.266.2222 ext. 5719 SOURCE Hardy Diagnostics Currys plc (LON:CURY Get Free Report) rose 10% during trading on Friday after Berenberg Bank raised their price target on the stock from GBX 200 to GBX 210. Berenberg Bank currently has a buy rating on the stock. Currys traded as high as GBX 146 and last traded at GBX 139.26. Approximately 565,698,688 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 6,247% from the average daily volume of 8,913,231 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 126.60. Separately, Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Currys from GBX 150 to GBX 166 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, Currys presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of GBX 168.67. Get Currys alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Currys Key Headlines Impacting Currys Positive Sentiment: Berenberg raised its price target on Currys from GBX 200 to GBX 210 and kept a buy rating a clear vote of confidence from a broker that can support longerterm upside. Digital Look Berenberg raised its price target on Currys from GBX 200 to GBX 210 and kept a buy rating a clear vote of confidence from a broker that can support longerterm upside. Neutral Sentiment: Currys published its quarterly results (GBX 1.60 EPS for the quarter), with a net margin of 2.38% and ROE of 9.53%; management hosted a conference call and slide deck is available the print provides transparency but did not produce a clear catalyst to reverse the intraday selloff. Earnings & Call Currys published its quarterly results (GBX 1.60 EPS for the quarter), with a net margin of 2.38% and ROE of 9.53%; management hosted a conference call and slide deck is available the print provides transparency but did not produce a clear catalyst to reverse the intraday selloff. Neutral Sentiment: A large portion of the incoming news in the feed is sport/celebrity related (stories about Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, sneaker talk) and is unlikely to affect Currys plcs retail fundamentals or investor sentiment materially. Example: coverage of Stephen Currys sneaker free agency. Article Title A large portion of the incoming news in the feed is sport/celebrity related (stories about Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, sneaker talk) and is unlikely to affect Currys plcs retail fundamentals or investor sentiment materially. Example: coverage of Stephen Currys sneaker free agency. Negative Sentiment: Balance-sheet and liquidity metrics remain a potential concern for some investors: debt-to-equity 45.8, current ratio 0.86 and quick ratio 0.29 low shortterm liquidity can amplify negative reactions to mixed earnings and constrain market confidence. Currys Price Performance Here are the key news stories impacting Currys this week: The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 45.83, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a current ratio of 0.86. The companys fifty day moving average price is GBX 134.09 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 126.59. The firm has a market capitalization of 1.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.62 and a beta of 1.31. Currys (LON:CURY Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, December 18th. The company reported GBX 1.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Currys had a net margin of 2.38% and a return on equity of 9.53%. Equities research analysts expect that Currys plc will post 9.5199569 earnings per share for the current year. Currys announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase program on Thursday, September 4th that authorizes the company to repurchase 0 outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are generally an indication that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued. About Currys (Get Free Report) Currys plc is a leading omnichannel retailer of technology products and services, operating online and through over 800 stores in 8 countries. We Help Everyone Enjoy Amazing Technology, however they choose to shop with us. In the UK & Ireland we trade as Currys; in the Nordics under the Elkjp brand and as Kotsovolos in Greece. In each of these markets we are the market leader, employing 28,000 capable and committed colleagues. Our full range of services and support makes it easy for our customers to discover, choose, afford and enjoy the right technology for them, throughout their lives. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Currys Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Currys and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fortis (TSE:FTS Free Report) had its target price hoisted by CIBC from C$75.00 to C$76.00 in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday morning,BayStreet.CA reports. Other research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Raymond James Financial increased their price target on shares of Fortis from C$72.00 to C$75.50 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Scotiabank upped their price objective on shares of Fortis from C$74.00 to C$79.00 in a report on Tuesday. Desjardins raised their target price on shares of Fortis from C$76.00 to C$79.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Fortis from C$72.00 to C$79.00 in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Fortis from C$70.00 to C$72.00 in a research report on Monday, September 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$74.85. Get Fortis alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on FTS Fortis Trading Down 1.1% FTS opened at C$70.10 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 142.31. Fortis has a 52 week low of C$57.98 and a 52 week high of C$74.00. The stock has a market cap of C$35.43 billion, a PE ratio of 20.86, a PEG ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 0.30. The business has a 50 day moving average of C$71.74 and a 200-day moving average of C$68.87. Fortis (TSE:FTS Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported C$0.87 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of C$2.94 billion for the quarter. Fortis had a return on equity of 7.48% and a net margin of 14.53%. Equities research analysts predict that Fortis will post 3.3419913 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Fortis Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st were issued a $0.64 dividend. This represents a $2.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 17th. This is an increase from Fortiss previous quarterly dividend of $0.62. Fortiss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 73.21%. About Fortis (Get Free Report) Fortis owns and operates 10 utility transmission and distribution assets in Canada and the United States, serving more than 3.4 million electricity and gas customers. The company has smaller stakes in electricity generation and several Caribbean utilities. ITC operates electric transmission in seven U.S. states, with more than 16,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines in operation serving a peak load in excess of 23 gigawatts. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Fortis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fortis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (NYSE:GTE Get Free Report) major shareholder Daniel Lau bought 360,000 shares of Gran Tierra Energy stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 18th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $3.95 per share, for a total transaction of $1,422,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider owned 3,531,200 shares in the company, valued at $13,948,240. This represents a 11.35% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Major shareholders that own at least 10% of a companys stock are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC. Gran Tierra Energy Stock Down 2.0% Shares of NYSE:GTE traded down $0.08 during trading on Friday, hitting $3.85. The companys stock had a trading volume of 685,228 shares, compared to its average volume of 350,853. Gran Tierra Energy Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $3.09 and a fifty-two week high of $8.19. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $4.19 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $4.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.31. The company has a market capitalization of $135.89 million, a PE ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.35. Get Gran Tierra Energy alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Roth Capital initiated coverage on Gran Tierra Energy in a research note on Friday, December 12th. They issued a buy rating and a $5.45 price objective for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $5.45. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Gran Tierra Energy Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Equinox Partners Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Gran Tierra Energy by 37.2% in the second quarter. Equinox Partners Investment Management LLC now owns 5,097,688 shares of the companys stock valued at $24,316,000 after buying an additional 1,381,574 shares in the last quarter. Encompass Capital Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Gran Tierra Energy by 33.4% in the 1st quarter. Encompass Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,500,589 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,328,000 after acquiring an additional 625,562 shares during the last quarter. LM Asset IM Inc. raised its position in shares of Gran Tierra Energy by 13.4% during the 2nd quarter. LM Asset IM Inc. now owns 1,945,800 shares of the companys stock worth $9,281,000 after acquiring an additional 229,200 shares in the last quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Gran Tierra Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $633,000. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in Gran Tierra Energy by 11.3% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,303,105 shares of the companys stock worth $6,424,000 after purchasing an additional 131,818 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 31.70% of the companys stock. Gran Tierra Energy Company Profile (Get Free Report) Gran Tierra Energy Inc is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company focused on on-shore assets in South America. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, the company trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GTE. Since its founding in 2006, Gran Tierra has assembled a diversified portfolio of exploration and development blocks, with principal operations in Colombias Llanos and Putumayo basins and in Ecuadors Oriente Basin. The companys core activities encompass the full upstream value chain, from geological and geophysical surveys to drilling, completion and production operations. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Gran Tierra Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gran Tierra Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:EUMV Get Free Report) shares fell 0.1% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $25.89 and last traded at $25.90. 74,000 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 299% from the average session volume of 18,565 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.92. iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Europe ETF Trading Down 0.1% The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $25.90 and its 200 day simple moving average is $25.90. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Europe ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Europe ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jet2 plc (OTCMKTS:DRTGF Get Free Report)s share price rose 4.4% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $18.5358 and last traded at $18.5358. Approximately 6,230 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 320% from the average daily volume of 1,482 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.76. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of Jet2 in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Buy. Get Jet2 alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on DRTGF Jet2 Stock Performance About Jet2 The business has a fifty day moving average of $17.55 and a 200 day moving average of $20.51. (Get Free Report) Jet2 plc, trading on the OTC Markets under the symbol DRTGF, is a UK-based leisure airline and holiday provider. Through its subsidiaries Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, the company operates scheduled low-cost flights and packages to popular holiday destinations across Europe. The group serves leisure travelers primarily from the United Kingdom, offering one-way and return flights alongside tailored package deals that combine flights, accommodation, transfers, and additional services. The core of Jet2s operations is its scheduled passenger airline, Jet2.com, which flies from more than a dozen UK airports including Birmingham, Manchester and London Stansted. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Jet2 Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Jet2 and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday after Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on the stock from $21.00 to $24.00. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods currently has an outperform rating on the stock. KeyCorp traded as high as $20.88 and last traded at $20.8650, with a volume of 3840211 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $20.58. A number of other research firms have also recently weighed in on KEY. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of KeyCorp from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, October 3rd. Truist Financial dropped their price objective on KeyCorp from $20.00 to $19.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 17th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of KeyCorp in a report on Monday. Cowen upgraded KeyCorp from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their price target on KeyCorp from $21.00 to $22.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 30th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $21.44. Get KeyCorp alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on KEY Institutional Inflows and Outflows KeyCorp Stock Performance Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in KEY. Activest Wealth Management raised its stake in KeyCorp by 8,775.0% in the second quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 1,420 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 1,404 shares in the last quarter. United Community Bank bought a new position in shares of KeyCorp in the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. Tompkins Financial Corp purchased a new stake in shares of KeyCorp during the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Sachetta LLC increased its stake in KeyCorp by 1,246.1% in the third quarter. Sachetta LLC now owns 1,723 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 1,595 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kelleher Financial Advisors purchased a new stake in KeyCorp during the third quarter valued at about $32,000. Institutional investors own 79.69% of the companys stock. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $18.26 and a 200-day simple moving average of $18.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.83. The stock has a market cap of $22.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.62 and a beta of 1.11. KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.38 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $1.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.87 billion. KeyCorp had a return on equity of 10.14% and a net margin of 10.08%.The companys revenue was up 172.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned ($0.47) EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that KeyCorp will post 1.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. KeyCorp Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 2nd were issued a dividend of $0.205 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 2nd. This represents a $0.82 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.9%. KeyCorps dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 101.23%. About KeyCorp (Get Free Report) KeyCorp is a bank holding company headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, that operates through its primary banking subsidiary, KeyBank. It provides a broad range of banking and financial services to individual consumers, small businesses, middle-market companies and large corporations. KeyBanks offerings span traditional deposit and lending products as well as more specialized financial solutions designed for commercial and institutional clients. The companys product and service mix includes retail banking products such as checking and savings accounts, consumer and residential mortgage lending, and auto financing. See Also Receive News & Ratings for KeyCorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for KeyCorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO Get Free Report) dropped 9% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $75.00 and last traded at $75.9880. Approximately 10,577,134 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 41% from the average daily volume of 18,005,580 shares. The stock had previously closed at $83.51. Key Headlines Impacting Oklo Here are the key news stories impacting Oklo this week: Get Oklo alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts recently commented on the company. UBS Group increased their price objective on Oklo from $65.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Canaccord Genuity Group began coverage on shares of Oklo in a report on Thursday, October 9th. They set a buy rating and a $175.00 target price for the company. Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of Oklo from $117.00 to $111.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 12th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Oklo from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d) rating on shares of Oklo in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Oklo presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $102.87. Oklo Stock Performance The firms 50-day moving average price is $112.35 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $90.06. The stock has a market cap of $13.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -154.43 and a beta of 0.73. Oklo (NYSE:OKLO Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, November 12th. The company reported ($0.20) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.13) by ($0.07). During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.08) EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Oklo Inc. will post -8.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, insider William Carroll Murphy Goodwin sold 11,936 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $101.84, for a total value of $1,215,562.24. Following the transaction, the insider owned 8,750 shares of the companys stock, valued at $891,100. This represents a 57.70% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Jacob Dewitte sold 300,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $112.26, for a total value of $33,678,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 9,780,098 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,097,913,801.48. This represents a 2.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 442,800 shares of company stock valued at $47,972,680. Insiders own 18.90% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of OKLO. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in shares of Oklo during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $114,000. Allworth Financial LP increased its stake in Oklo by 10.1% during the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 2,585 shares of the companys stock worth $289,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc grew its holdings in shares of Oklo by 100.9% in the third quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 5,652 shares of the companys stock valued at $631,000 after purchasing an additional 2,839 shares in the last quarter. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd purchased a new stake in Oklo during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $535,000. Finally, Strategic Advocates LLC acquired a new stake in Oklo during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.03% of the companys stock. Oklo Company Profile (Get Free Report) Oklo, Inc is a California-based energy technology company specializing in the design and development of advanced nuclear microreactors. Headquartered in Fremont, the firm focuses on small modular reactor (SMR) technology that leverages fast-neutron fission and liquid-metal cooling to deliver carbon-free power. Oklos core objective is to bring compact, factory-built reactors online within a decade, offering a low-footprint alternative to traditional large nuclear plants. The companys flagship product, the Aurora microreactor, is a 1.5-megawatt electric (MWe) fast reactor cooled by a sodium alloy. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Oklo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oklo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Two Harbors Investments Corp (NYSE:TWO Get Free Report) insider Rebecca Sandberg sold 27,370 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.43, for a total transaction of $312,839.10. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 156,718 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,791,286.74. This trade represents a 14.87% 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. Two Harbors Investments Stock Up 0.7% Shares of TWO stock traded up $0.08 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $11.40. 8,288,984 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,827,793. Two Harbors Investments Corp has a fifty-two week low of $9.30 and a fifty-two week high of $14.28. The stocks 50 day moving average is $9.87 and its 200-day moving average is $10.08. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. The company has a market cap of $1.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.56 and a beta of 1.20. Get Two Harbors Investments alerts: Two Harbors Investments (NYSE:TWO Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, March 7th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of ($18.67) million during the quarter. Two Harbors Investments had a negative net margin of 44.10% and a positive return on equity of 11.92%. Analysts predict that Two Harbors Investments Corp will post 0.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Two Harbors Investments Announces Dividend Institutional Trading of Two Harbors Investments The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 29th. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.34 per share. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 11.9%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 5th. Two Harbors Investmentss payout ratio is presently -54.40%. Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Two Harbors Investments in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Quarry LP increased its holdings in shares of Two Harbors Investments by 695.6% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 3,421 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 2,991 shares in the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC lifted its stake in shares of Two Harbors Investments by 240.4% in the 2nd quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 3,370 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 2,380 shares during the period. Advisory Services Network LLC purchased a new stake in Two Harbors Investments during the third quarter worth $42,000. Finally, CWM LLC grew its position in Two Harbors Investments by 456.0% during the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 5,465 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $54,000 after buying an additional 4,482 shares during the period. 64.19% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Key Headlines Impacting Two Harbors Investments Here are the key news stories impacting Two Harbors Investments this week: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages recently issued reports on TWO. Wall Street Zen upgraded Two Harbors Investments from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, November 1st. Zacks Research upgraded Two Harbors Investments from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d+) rating on shares of Two Harbors Investments in a report on Monday. Maxim Group lowered Two Harbors Investments from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Two Harbors Investments from $12.00 to $11.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, September 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Buy rating, six 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 Hold and an average target price of $11.96. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on TWO About Two Harbors Investments (Get Free Report) Two Harbors Investments Corp. is a mortgage real estate investment trust (mREIT) that primarily invests in residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) issued or guaranteed by government-sponsored enterprises, as well as non-agency residential mortgage loans, mortgage servicing rights and credit risk transfer securities. The company seeks to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for its shareholders by employing leverage to enhance net interest income derived from its portfolio of high-quality fixed-income assets. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Two Harbors operates through a self-managed platform that combines portfolio management, risk-management and securitization expertise. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Two Harbors Investments Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Two Harbors Investments and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Serengeti Resources Inc. (CVE:SIR Get Free Report)s share price rose 2.1% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as C$0.50 and last traded at C$0.49. Approximately 70,621 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 28% from the average daily volume of 97,510 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.48. Serengeti Resources Stock Up 2.1% The stock has a market cap of C$54.39 million and a P/E ratio of -8.60. The company has a quick ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of C$0.49 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$0.49. About Serengeti Resources (Get Free Report) Serengeti Resources Inc acquires and explores for mineral properties in Canada. It company explores for gold, copper, and silver deposits. The company's flagship property is the Kwanika project that covers an area of 25,928 hectares located in the northern Quesnel Trough, British Columbia. It also has an option to acquire 100% interest in Top Cat project covering an area of approximately 21,600 hectares situated in central British Columbia. The company was formerly known as Serengeti Minerals Ltd. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Serengeti Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Serengeti Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSE:TD Free Report) (NYSE:TD) had its target price upped by BMO Capital Markets from C$128.00 to C$135.00 in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday morning,BayStreet.CA reports. Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. UBS Group upped their target price on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$122.00 to C$126.00 in a report on Monday, December 8th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$125.00 to C$130.00 in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Barclays raised their target price on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$114.00 to C$118.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, December 5th. National Bankshares lifted their target price on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$116.00 to C$124.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Finally, Raymond James Financial increased their price target on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$119.00 to C$122.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, December 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Toronto-Dominion Bank presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$128.17. Get Toronto-Dominion Bank alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on Toronto-Dominion Bank Toronto-Dominion Bank Price Performance TD opened at C$127.99 on Wednesday. Toronto-Dominion Bank has a fifty-two week low of C$73.73 and a fifty-two week high of C$128.68. The firm has a market capitalization of C$224.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.07, a PEG ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.98. The companys 50-day moving average is C$116.95 and its 200 day moving average is C$107.71. Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSE:TD Get Free Report) (NYSE:TD) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 4th. The company reported C$2.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$16.03 billion during the quarter. Toronto-Dominion Bank had a net margin of 15.80% and a return on equity of 7.84%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Toronto-Dominion Bank will post 7.2160149 earnings per share for the current year. Toronto-Dominion Bank Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 31st were given a dividend of $1.05 per share. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 10th. Toronto-Dominion Banks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 36.33%. Insider Activity In related news, insider Ajai Bambawale sold 39,376 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of C$112.07, for a total value of C$4,412,868.32. Also, Director Nathalie Palladitcheff acquired 1,000 shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 6th. The stock was acquired at an average price of C$112.64 per share, with a total value of C$112,640.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 3,292 shares in the company, valued at C$370,810.88. This represents a 43.63% increase in their position. Insiders sold 84,384 shares of company stock valued at $9,456,915 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Toronto-Dominion Bank Company Profile (Get Free Report) Toronto-Dominion is one of Canadas two largest banks and operates three business segments: Canadian retail banking, U.S. retail banking, and wholesale banking. The banks U.S. operations span from Maine to Florida, with a strong presence in the Northeast. It also has a 13% ownership stake in Charles Schwab. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 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(NYSE:TYL Get Free Report) CFO Brian Miller sold 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $458.65, for a total transaction of $458,650.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 16,148 shares in the company, valued at $7,406,280.20. The trade was a 5.83% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Tyler Technologies Price Performance Shares of NYSE:TYL traded up $2.72 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $458.14. 1,480,170 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 324,763. The stock has a market cap of $19.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 63.72, a P/E/G ratio of 3.44 and a beta of 0.91. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $475.40 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $531.48. Tyler Technologies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $445.64 and a fifty-two week high of $661.31. Get Tyler Technologies alerts: Tyler Technologies (NYSE:TYL Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The technology company reported $2.97 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.88 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $595.88 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $594.34 million. Tyler Technologies had a net margin of 13.72% and a return on equity of 10.57%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.52 EPS. Tyler Technologies has set its FY 2025 guidance at 11.300-11.500 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Tyler Technologies, Inc. will post 8.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Tyler Technologies Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Strategic Investment Advisors MI increased its stake in shares of Tyler Technologies by 22.9% in the third quarter. Strategic Investment Advisors MI now owns 2,723 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,424,000 after buying an additional 508 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP raised its stake in Tyler Technologies by 17.0% during the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 317 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $166,000 after buying an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Tyler Technologies by 12.8% in the 3rd quarter. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd now owns 7,132 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $3,731,000 after acquiring an additional 811 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. acquired a new position in Tyler Technologies in the third quarter worth $3,120,000. Finally, Oarsman Capital Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Tyler Technologies by 1.1% during the third quarter. Oarsman Capital Inc. now owns 4,334 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,267,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the period. 93.30% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. TYL has been the subject of several research reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Tyler Technologies in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. UBS Group reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Tyler Technologies in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. TD Cowen began coverage on Tyler Technologies in a research note on Friday, December 12th. They set a buy rating and a $650.00 target price for the company. Robert W. Baird set a $660.00 target price on shares of Tyler Technologies in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Cowen started coverage on Tyler Technologies in a research note on Friday, December 12th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $649.31. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on TYL Tyler Technologies Company Profile (Get Free Report) Tyler Technologies, Inc is a provider of software and technology services for the public sector, delivering integrated systems that help government and public agencies manage operations, finances and citizen services. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, the company focuses on developing and implementing solutions for local and state governments, school districts, courts and public safety organizations. Its offerings are aimed at modernizing administrative workflows, improving transparency and enabling digital interactions between governments and the communities they serve. Tylers product portfolio spans enterprise resource planning and financial management, tax and billing systems, court case and records management, public safety solutions (including computer-aided dispatch and records management), land and property management, permitting and licensing, and enterprise asset management. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Tyler Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tyler Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wilson Bank Holding (OTCMKTS:WBHC Get Free Report) shares rose 166.7% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $400.00 and last traded at $400.00. Approximately 2 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 98% from the average daily volume of 100 shares. The stock had previously closed at $150.00. Wilson Bank Stock Up 166.7% The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $188.50 and a 200 day simple moving average of $173.61. Get Wilson Bank alerts: About Wilson Bank (Get Free Report) Wilson Bank Holding Company operates as the parent of Wilson Bank & Trust, a community-focused financial institution headquartered in Lebanon, Tennessee. Trading on the OTC Markets under the symbol WBHC, the company provides a full suite of banking and financial services designed to support both individual and business clients across its regional footprint. The banks core activities include consumer and commercial deposit accounts, residential and commercial lending, mortgage financing, and small-business administration (SBA) lending. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Wilson Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wilson Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Workspace Group Plc (LON:WKP Get Free Report) insider Rosie Shapland acquired 9,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 16th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 383 per share, with a total value of 34,470. Workspace Group Stock Performance Shares of WKP stock opened at GBX 388.50 on Friday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is GBX 394.36 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 400.56. Workspace Group Plc has a 52 week low of GBX 359.50 and a 52 week high of GBX 505. The company has a current ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 0.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 57.43. The company has a market cap of 747.04 million, a PE ratio of -9.84, a P/E/G ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 1.04. Get Workspace Group alerts: Workspace Group (LON:WKP Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 19th. The company reported GBX (37) earnings per share for the quarter. Workspace Group had a negative return on equity of 12.20% and a negative net margin of 104.45%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Workspace Group Plc will post 36.7630058 EPS for the current year. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Peel Hunt reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 500 target price on shares of Workspace Group in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on Workspace Group from GBX 516 to GBX 490 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 403 price target on shares of Workspace Group in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on shares of Workspace Group from GBX 520 to GBX 480 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 468.25. Get Our Latest Report on Workspace Group Workspace Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Workspace is London's leading owner and operator of flexible workspace, currently managing 4.7 million sq. ft. of sustainable space at 79 locations in London and the South East. We are home to some 4,000 of London's fastest growing and established brands from a diverse range of sectors. Our purpose, to give businesses the freedom to grow, is based on the belief that in the right space, teams can achieve more. That in environments they tailor themselves, free from constraint and compromise, teams are best able to collaborate, build their culture and realise their potential. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Workspace Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Workspace Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. L. Roy Papp & Associates LLP raised its stake in Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN Free Report) by 2.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 113,108 shares of the information technology services providers stock after buying an additional 2,362 shares during the quarter. Accenture comprises about 3.1% of L. Roy Papp & Associates LLPs portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. L. Roy Papp & Associates LLPs holdings in Accenture were worth $27,892,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in ACN. Aprio Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Aprio Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,640 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $512,000 after acquiring an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Texas Bank & Trust Co lifted its stake in Accenture by 0.4% during the first quarter. Texas Bank & Trust Co now owns 8,181 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $2,553,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Norway Savings Bank lifted its stake in Accenture by 0.9% during the second quarter. Norway Savings Bank now owns 4,123 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,232,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Firethorn Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Accenture by 4.4% in the second quarter. Firethorn Wealth Partners LLC now owns 854 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $255,000 after buying an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Accenture by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC now owns 4,902 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,465,000 after buying an additional 38 shares during the period. 75.14% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Accenture alerts: Accenture Trading Up 1.0% NYSE ACN opened at $272.57 on Friday. Accenture PLC has a 52 week low of $229.40 and a 52 week high of $398.35. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $252.81 and a two-hundred day moving average of $264.05. The company has a quick ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $179.48 billion, a PE ratio of 22.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 1.26. Accenture Announces Dividend Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 18th. The information technology services provider reported $3.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.73 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $18.74 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $18.51 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 10.76% and a return on equity of 26.65%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.59 EPS. Accenture has set its FY 2026 guidance at 13.520-13.900 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Accenture PLC will post 12.73 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 13th will be given a dividend of $1.63 per share. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 13th. Accentures dividend payout ratio is currently 53.66%. Insider Activity In other Accenture news, insider Manish Sharma sold 6,902 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.01, for a total transaction of $1,725,569.02. Following the sale, the insider owned 1,860 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $465,018.60. This trade represents a 78.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 9,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $249.57, for a total transaction of $2,246,130.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 23,516 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,868,888.12. This represents a 27.68% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 33,319 shares of company stock worth $8,335,225. 0.02% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Accenture from $325.00 to $271.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 9th. Evercore ISI reissued an outperform rating and issued a $300.00 price objective on shares of Accenture in a research note on Thursday. Susquehanna upped their target price on shares of Accenture from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday. Citigroup upgraded shares of Accenture to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane dropped their price target on shares of Accenture from $300.00 to $255.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $298.29. Get Our Latest Report on Accenture Accenture News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Accenture this week: Accenture Company Profile (Free Report) Accenture is a global professional services company that provides a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. The firm works with organizations across industries to design and implement business transformation programs, deploy and manage enterprise technology, optimize operations, and develop customer and digital experiences. Its offerings encompass management and technology consulting, systems integration, application and infrastructure services, cloud migration and managed services, as well as security and analytics capabilities. The company delivers industry- and function-specific solutions, combining consulting expertise with proprietary tools, platforms and partnerships with major technology vendors. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ACN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Accenture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accenture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines Group, Joby Aviation, Alaska Air Group, and Air Lease are the seven Airline stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Airline stocks are shares of publicly traded companies that operate passenger and/or cargo air transportation, representing partial ownership in those airlines. For investors, they are typically cyclical, highbeta investments highly sensitive to travel demand, fuel and labor costs, economic conditions, and regulation, with high fixed costs and operational leverage that can amplify gains and losses. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Airline stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: Delta Air Lines (DAL) Delta Air Lines, Inc. provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Bogota, Lima, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Sao Paulo, Seoul-Incheon, and Tokyo. United Airlines (UAL) United Airlines Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides air transportation services in North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America. The company transports people and cargo through its mainline and regional fleets. It also offers catering, ground handling, flight academy, and maintenance services for third parties. Read Our Latest Research Report on UAL Southwest Airlines (LUV) Southwest Airlines Co. operates as a passenger airline company that provides scheduled air transportation services in the United States and near-international markets. As of December 31, 2023, the company operated a total fleet of 817 Boeing 737 aircraft; and served 121 destinations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as ten near-international countries, including Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos. Read Our Latest Research Report on LUV American Airlines Group (AAL) American Airlines Group Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a network air carrier. The company provides scheduled air transportation services for passengers and cargo through its hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C., as well as through partner gateways in London, Doha, Madrid, Seattle/Tacoma, Sydney, and Tokyo. Read Our Latest Research Report on AAL Joby Aviation (JOBY) Joby Aviation, Inc., a vertically integrated air mobility company, engages in building an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft optimized to deliver air transportation as a service. The company intends to build an aerial ridesharing service, as well as developing an application-based platform that will enable consumers to book rides. Read Our Latest Research Report on JOBY Alaska Air Group (ALK) Alaska Air Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates airlines. It operates through three segments: Mainline, Regional, and Horizon. The company offers scheduled air transportation services on Boeing jet aircraft for passengers and cargo in the United States, and in parts of Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, and the Bahamas; and for passengers across a shorter distance network within the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Read Our Latest Research Report on ALK Air Lease (AL) Air Lease Corporation, an aircraft leasing company, engages in the purchase and leasing of commercial jet aircraft to airlines worldwide. It sells aircraft from its fleet to third parties, including other leasing companies, financial services companies, airlines, and other investors. The company provides fleet management services to investors and owners of aircraft portfolios. Read Our Latest Research Report on AL Featured Articles Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK Free Report) had its price objective increased by Morgan Stanley from $118.00 to $124.00 in a research report released on Wednesday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the banks stock. Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Barclays lifted their target price on Bank of New York Mellon from $104.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. Truist Financial increased their target price on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $118.00 to $119.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, October 17th. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Bank of New York Mellon in a report on Monday. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $92.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, September 5th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $100.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $111.86. Get Bank of New York Mellon alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Bank of New York Mellon Bank of New York Mellon Stock Up 1.2% BK stock opened at $115.79 on Wednesday. The firms 50-day moving average is $110.43 and its two-hundred day moving average is $103.46. The company has a market capitalization of $80.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 1.12. Bank of New York Mellon has a 52 week low of $70.46 and a 52 week high of $119.40. The company has a current ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 31st. The bank reported $1.91 EPS for the quarter. Bank of New York Mellon had a net margin of 12.86% and a return on equity of 14.03%. The business had revenue of $5.07 billion for the quarter. On average, analysts forecast that Bank of New York Mellon will post 6.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Bank of New York Mellon Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 7th. Investors of record on Monday, October 27th were paid a $0.53 dividend. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, October 27th. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio is currently 30.59%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BK. AIA Group Ltd grew its stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 54.3% in the 3rd quarter. AIA Group Ltd now owns 28,523 shares of the banks stock valued at $3,108,000 after buying an additional 10,038 shares in the last quarter. Mirabella Financial Services LLP bought a new position in Bank of New York Mellon during the third quarter valued at approximately $2,875,000. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon in the third quarter valued at approximately $752,000. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd grew its position in Bank of New York Mellon by 77.8% in the third quarter. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd now owns 196,665 shares of the banks stock worth $21,429,000 after acquiring an additional 86,076 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Groupama Asset Managment bought a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon in the third quarter worth approximately $1,079,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.31% of the companys stock. Bank of New York Mellon Company Profile (Get Free Report) Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BNY Mellon) is a global financial services company headquartered in New York City that provides a wide range of asset servicing, custody, and related financial infrastructure solutions to institutional clients. Its core businesses include custody and asset servicing, clearing and collateral management, treasury services, securities lending, corporate trust services, and depositary receipt administration. The company also offers investment management and advisory services through its asset management arm and provides technology-enabled solutions for trade processing, foreign exchange, and liquidity management. BNY Mellon serves a broad client base that includes asset managers, pension funds, corporations, banks, broker-dealers and sovereign entities. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bank of New York Mellon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of New York Mellon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Birkenstock (NYSE:BIRK Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The company reported $0.51 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.40 by $0.11, FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $617.67 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $521.12 million. Birkenstock had a return on equity of 13.08% and a net margin of 16.70%.The firms revenue was up 15.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.29 earnings per share. Birkenstock updated its FY 2026 guidance to 2.220-2.40 EPS. Here are the key takeaways from Birkenstocks conference call: Get Birkenstock alerts: Birkenstock reported a record fiscal 2025 with 2.1 billion revenue (+18% constant currency), sold >38 million pairs, and delivered an adjusted EBITDA margin of 31.8% , beating guidance. Birkenstock reported a record fiscal 2025 with revenue (+18% constant currency), sold >38 million pairs, and delivered an adjusted EBITDA margin of , beating guidance. Management says growth is now limited by its vertically integrated production capacityespecially heavier-production closed-toe/clog stylesso they are deliberately steering to a slower 13%-15% constant-currency revenue target for 2026 and ~10% unit growth. Management says growth is now limited by its vertically integrated production capacityespecially heavier-production closed-toe/clog stylesso they are deliberately steering to a slower constant-currency revenue target for 2026 and ~10% unit growth. For fiscal 2026 the company expects material headwinds from FX and incremental U.S. tariffs (~300350 bps revenue FX drag full-year; ~200 bps combined margin pressure) but still guides to reported revenue of 2.32.35 billion , adjusted EBITDA 700 million , EPS 1.902.05, and plans up to $200 million in share repurchases. For fiscal 2026 the company expects material headwinds from FX and incremental U.S. tariffs (~300350 bps revenue FX drag full-year; ~200 bps combined margin pressure) but still guides to reported revenue of , adjusted EBITDA , EPS 1.902.05, and plans up to in share repurchases. Whitespace initiatives drove progress: direct retail doubled to 97 stores (30 added in 2025, ~40 planned in 2026), APAC grew ~34% CC to 11% of revenue with the highest ASP, and closedtoe products rose to 38% of salessupporting ASP and margin expansion. Birkenstock Stock Performance NYSE:BIRK opened at $42.53 on Friday. Birkenstock has a 52 week low of $38.16 and a 52 week high of $62.66. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $42.02 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $46.86. The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 2.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. The company has a market cap of $7.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.14. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have recently issued reports on BIRK. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c-) rating on shares of Birkenstock in a research note on Monday. Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on shares of Birkenstock from $70.00 to $60.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday. Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on Birkenstock from $66.00 to $58.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Guggenheim restated a buy rating and set a $60.00 price target on shares of Birkenstock in a research note on Friday. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Birkenstock in a research note on Friday. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $64.79. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Birkenstock Hedge Funds Weigh In On Birkenstock Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Morse Asset Management Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Birkenstock in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Quarry LP grew its stake in shares of Birkenstock by 99.2% during the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 988 shares of the companys stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 492 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its holdings 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 buying an additional 488 shares during the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Birkenstock in the second quarter valued at $74,000. Finally, California State Teachers Retirement System lifted its holdings in Birkenstock by 67.3% during the 2nd quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 3,358 shares of the companys stock worth $165,000 after buying an additional 1,351 shares during the last quarter. 19.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Key Birkenstock News Here are the key news stories impacting Birkenstock this week: Positive Sentiment: Q4 / FY25 beats Revenue and EPS topped Street estimates and fullyear revenue grew ~1618% (constant currency), driven by strong consumer demand across channels. This supports nearterm topline momentum. Read More. Q4 / FY25 beats Revenue and EPS topped Street estimates and fullyear revenue grew ~1618% (constant currency), driven by strong consumer demand across channels. This supports nearterm topline momentum. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Analysts still show conviction Several firms reaffirmed buy/outperform stances and price targets in the $60$70 range, indicating continued upside potential from longerterm growth assumptions. Read More. Analysts still show conviction Several firms reaffirmed buy/outperform stances and price targets in the $60$70 range, indicating continued upside potential from longerterm growth assumptions. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Unusual options activity Elevated options volume suggests traders are positioning for volatility around guidance and tariff news; this can amplify intraday moves but is not a fundamental change. Read More. Unusual options activity Elevated options volume suggests traders are positioning for volatility around guidance and tariff news; this can amplify intraday moves but is not a fundamental change. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Tariff headwind to margins Management warned that new tariffs (and FX) will materially hurt gross margins in FY26, a primary reason for the weaker outlook. That warning drove immediate investor concern. Read More. Tariff headwind to margins Management warned that new tariffs (and FX) will materially hurt gross margins in FY26, a primary reason for the weaker outlook. That warning drove immediate investor concern. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Slower FY26 guidance / production limits Birkenstock issued revenue and EPS guidance below some analysts expectations and cited temporary production constraints that should slow growth next year. Those factors prompted sharp selloffs in earlier sessions. Read More. Slower FY26 guidance / production limits Birkenstock issued revenue and EPS guidance below some analysts expectations and cited temporary production constraints that should slow growth next year. Those factors prompted sharp selloffs in earlier sessions. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Operational hiccups Management said there is no demand problem, but temporary production issues may constrain fulfillment and nearterm revenue progression until resolved. Read More. About Birkenstock (Get Free Report) Birkenstock Group AG, listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BIRK, is a global footwear manufacturer renowned for its anatomically contoured footbeds and iconic sandal designs. The companys core product lines include classic models such as the Arizona, Boston and Madrid, alongside a range of clogs, shoes and orthotic insoles. In addition to footwear, Birkenstock offers complementary accessories, including socks and leather care products, reinforcing its commitment to foot health and comfort. Birkenstock reaches consumers through a diversified distribution network that combines direct-to-consumer channelssuch as branded retail stores and e-commerce platformswith wholesale partnerships spanning specialty footwear retailers, department stores and select online marketplaces. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Birkenstock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Birkenstock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:BFZ Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Friday, December 12th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 22nd will be given a dividend of 0.0507 per share on Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.6%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 22nd. BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust Price Performance Shares of BFZ remained flat at $10.83 during mid-day trading on Friday. 100,587 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 108,359. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $10.91 and a two-hundred day moving average of $10.78. BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust has a 12 month low of $10.17 and a 12 month high of $11.59. Get BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust alerts: About BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust (Get Free Report) BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust (NYSE: BFZ) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide high current income exempt from federal and California state income taxes. Launched and managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC, the fund primarily invests in a portfolio of investment-grade municipal obligations issued by California state and local governments. Its holdings include general obligation bonds, revenue bonds and other limited-obligation securities that finance infrastructure and public services across the state. The funds investment objective emphasizes tax-exempt income through active portfolio management. Read More Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund (NYSE:MPA Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Friday, December 12th. Investors of record on Monday, December 22nd will be given a dividend of 0.0477 per share by the investment management company on Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 22nd. BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund Trading Up 0.1% Shares of BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund stock traded up $0.01 on Friday, reaching $11.16. 23,324 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 38,008. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $11.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $11.05. BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund has a twelve month low of $10.26 and a twelve month high of $12.08. Get BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund alerts: BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund Company Profile (Get Free Report) BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund (NYSE: MPA) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company whose primary objective is to provide shareholders with current income exempt from regular U.S. federal and Pennsylvania personal income taxes, and to a lesser extent, capital appreciation. The fund pursues its objective by investing in municipal securities that are issued by or for the benefit of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its political subdivisions. In managing its portfolio, the fund typically allocates at least 80% of its assets to investment-grade municipal bonds issued within Pennsylvania. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust (NYSEAMERICAN:BHV Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Friday, December 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 22nd will be paid a dividend of 0.0455 per share on Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.1%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 22nd. BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust Price Performance BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust stock traded up $0.11 during trading on Friday, reaching $10.73. The company had a trading volume of 744 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,973. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $11.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $10.63. BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust has a 1-year low of $9.96 and a 1-year high of $11.66. Get BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows An institutional investor recently bought a new position in BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust stock. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust (NYSEAMERICAN:BHV Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund bought 3,999 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $42,000. About BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust (NYSE American: BHV) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide high current income exempt from regular federal and Virginia state income taxes. The trust pursues this objective by investing primarily in investment-grade municipal securities, with a focus on bonds issued by entities located in or serving the Commonwealth of Virginia. BHVs portfolio typically consists of general obligation and revenue bonds, including those issued by state and local governments, public authorities, and other municipal issuers. See Also Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CGN Advisors LLC lessened its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL Free Report) by 26.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 73,389 shares of the companys stock after selling 26,372 shares during the period. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF accounts for 1.2% of CGN Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest holding. CGN Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF were worth $14,274,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Keener Financial Planning LLC acquired a new position in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. CoreFirst Bank & Trust acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF during the 2nd quarter worth about $33,000. Legacy Wealth Managment LLC ID acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $37,000. CX Institutional boosted its stake in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 151.9% during the 2nd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 204 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares during the period. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Get iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Stock Up 12.6% Shares of BATS QUAL opened at $198.82 on Friday. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF has a 12 month low of $148.34 and a 12 month high of $187.26. The company has a market cap of $57.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.59 and a beta of 1.05. The businesss 50 day moving average is $196.11 and its two-hundred day moving average is $189.84. About iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF The iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality index. The fund tracks an index of US large- and mid-cap stocks, selected and weighted by high ROE, stable earnings growth and low debt\u002Fequity, relative to peers in each sector. QUAL was launched on Jul 18, 2013 and is managed by BlackRock. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding QUAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia Copel Unsponsored ADR (NYSE:ELPC Get Free Report) gapped down before the market opened on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $9.34, but opened at $9.11. Companhia Paranaense de Energia Copel shares last traded at $9.16, with a volume of 166,988 shares traded. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia Copel in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold. Get Companhia Paranaense de Energia - Copel alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on ELPC Companhia Paranaense de Energia Copel Stock Performance The companys 50-day moving average price is $9.71 and its 200-day moving average price is $8.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.10 billion, a PE ratio of 18.51 and a beta of -0.02. Companhia Paranaense de Energia Copel (NYSE:ELPC Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, December 3rd. The company reported $0.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $1.28 billion for the quarter. Companhia Paranaense de Energia Copel Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a special dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 2nd will be given a $0.2795 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 2nd. Companhia Paranaense de Energia Copels dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 45.10%. Institutional Trading of Companhia Paranaense de Energia Copel An institutional investor recently bought a new position in Companhia Paranaense de Energia Copel stock. Allworth Financial LP bought a new stake in Companhia Paranaense de Energia Copel Unsponsored ADR (NYSE:ELPC Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 3,250 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $28,000. About Companhia Paranaense de Energia Copel (Get Free Report) Companhia Paranaense de Energia Copel is a Brazilian utility company primarily engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. Established in 1954, Copel operates a diversified portfolio of power plants, with a strong emphasis on hydroelectric facilities supplemented by thermal and renewable energy sources. The companys integrated network spans the entirety of Parana state, delivering electricity services to residential, commercial and industrial customers through a combination of high-voltage transmission lines and local distribution networks. In addition to its core power business, Copel has expanded into telecommunications through its Copel Telecom subsidiary. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Companhia Paranaense de Energia - Copel Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Companhia Paranaense de Energia - Copel and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Whalen Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 758.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,551 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,254 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company makes up about 1.1% of Whalen Wealth Management Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Whalen Wealth Management Inc.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $1,947,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S. lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 114.3% in the second quarter. Lazard Freres Gestion S.A.S. now owns 77,295 shares of the companys stock valued at $60,253,000 after acquiring an additional 41,222 shares in the last quarter. Precedent Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 15.3% in the 2nd quarter. Precedent Wealth Partners LLC now owns 294 shares of the companys stock valued at $229,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 25.8% in the 3rd quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 8,990 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,859,000 after purchasing an additional 1,843 shares in the last quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 6.8% during the 2nd quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK now owns 6,747 shares of the companys stock worth $5,260,000 after purchasing an additional 429 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Family CFO Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the second quarter worth $54,000. 82.53% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms recently weighed in on LLY. Daiwa America upgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,050.00 to $1,150.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Monday. Wolfe Research boosted their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,050.00 to $1,250.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Finally, Bank of America cut their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,286.00 to $1,268.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Eli Lilly and Company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $1,141.73. Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance Shares of LLY stock opened at $1,071.35 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a current ratio of 1.55. The firm has a market cap of $1.01 trillion, a P/E ratio of 52.41, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.37. The firms 50 day moving average price is $960.76 and its 200-day moving average price is $830.36. Eli Lilly and Company has a one year low of $623.78 and a one year high of $1,111.99. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $7.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $6.42 by $0.60. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 109.52% and a net margin of 30.99%.The company had revenue of $17.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.09 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.18 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 53.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2025 guidance at 23.000-23.700 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current year. Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a dividend of $1.73 per share. This is a positive change from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $6.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.35%. Eli Lilly and Company News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Eli Lilly and Company this week: Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is a global pharmaceutical company founded in 1876 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and therapies for patients worldwide. Eli Lilly maintains operations and commercial presence across North America, Europe, Asia and other regions, serving both developed and emerging markets. The company has been led in recent years by President and Chief Executive Officer David A. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET Get Free Report) was down 1.1% on Thursday . The company traded as low as $16.19 and last traded at $16.2150. Approximately 16,125,409 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 8% from the average daily volume of 14,895,715 shares. The stock had previously closed at $16.39. Key Energy Transfer News Here are the key news stories impacting Energy Transfer this week: Get Energy Transfer alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have commented on ET shares. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Energy Transfer in a research note on Thursday. Royal Bank Of Canada raised Energy Transfer to a moderate buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $17.00 price objective on Energy Transfer and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $22.00 price objective on shares of Energy Transfer in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Finally, Scotiabank decreased their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $23.00 to $21.00 and set a sector outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $21.75. Energy Transfer Trading Up 1.2% The stock has a market capitalization of $56.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a current ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50. The company has a fifty day moving average of $16.67 and a two-hundred day moving average of $17.25. Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The pipeline company reported $0.28 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.34 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $19.95 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.84 billion. Energy Transfer had a net margin of 5.66% and a return on equity of 10.71%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.32 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.46 EPS for the current year. Energy Transfer Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 7th were given a dividend of $0.3325 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 7th. This represents a $1.33 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.1%. This is a positive change from Energy Transfers previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. Energy Transfers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 106.40%. Insider Transactions at Energy Transfer In other news, Director Kelcy L. Warren purchased 1,000,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 19th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $16.95 per share, for a total transaction of $16,950,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director directly owned 104,577,803 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,772,593,760.85. The trade was a 0.97% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 3.28% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in ET. Alps Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Energy Transfer by 4.5% during the third quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 77,651,021 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $1,332,492,000 after acquiring an additional 3,366,734 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 57,862,666 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $992,923,000 after purchasing an additional 1,773,042 shares in the last quarter. Tortoise Capital Advisors L.L.C. increased its position in shares of Energy Transfer by 2.6% during the first quarter. Tortoise Capital Advisors L.L.C. now owns 38,205,495 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $710,240,000 after purchasing an additional 951,656 shares during the period. Energy Income Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 1.4% in the third quarter. Energy Income Partners LLC now owns 23,351,183 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $400,706,000 after purchasing an additional 326,653 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its position in Energy Transfer by 2.6% in the third quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 21,898,420 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $375,777,000 after purchasing an additional 544,944 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 38.22% of the companys stock. About Energy Transfer (Get Free Report) Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) is a Dallas-based midstream energy company that develops and operates infrastructure for the transportation, storage and processing of hydrocarbons. The companys operations focus on moving and storing natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil and refined products through an integrated network of pipelines, terminals, storage facilities and processing plants. Energy Transfer provides core midstream services such as gathering, compression, fractionation, processing, and bulk transportation to support production and downstream supply chains. Its asset base spans an extensive network across the United States, connecting producing regions, processing centers, petrochemical hubs and coastal and inland markets. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Energy Transfer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Energy Transfer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Bank Of Canada restated their sector perform rating on shares of FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS Free Report) in a research note released on Friday,Benzinga reports. They currently have a $320.00 price target on the business services providers stock. A number of other analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley set a $307.00 target price on FactSet Research Systems and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday. Evercore ISI decreased their price objective on FactSet Research Systems from $394.00 to $328.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 19th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of FactSet Research Systems from $296.00 to $260.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 5th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a hold rating and set a $305.00 target price on shares of FactSet Research Systems in a research report on Friday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on shares of FactSet Research Systems from $372.00 to $295.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and six have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, FactSet Research Systems presently has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $314.75. Get FactSet Research Systems alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on FactSet Research Systems FactSet Research Systems Stock Performance NYSE FDS opened at $288.68 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $10.80 billion, a PE ratio of 18.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a current ratio of 1.54. FactSet Research Systems has a 52-week low of $250.50 and a 52-week high of $493.00. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $279.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of $347.82. FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, December 18th. The business services provider reported $4.51 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.36 by $0.15. FactSet Research Systems had a net margin of 25.40% and a return on equity of 30.49%. The firm had revenue of $607.62 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $599.69 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $4.37 EPS. The companys revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. FactSet Research Systems has set its FY 2026 guidance at 16.900-17.600 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that FactSet Research Systems will post 17.21 EPS for the current year. FactSet Research Systems announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase program on Thursday, December 18th that permits the company to repurchase $600.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the business services provider to purchase up to 5.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are usually an indication that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued. FactSet Research Systems Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 28th were issued a $1.10 dividend. This represents a $4.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 28th. FactSet Research Systemss dividend payout ratio is presently 28.30%. Insider Activity at FactSet Research Systems In other news, insider Christopher Mcloughlin bought 338 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 23rd. The shares were acquired at an average price of $296.19 per share, with a total value of $100,112.22. Following the acquisition, the insider owned 3,446 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,020,670.74. The trade was a 10.88% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Goran Skoko bought 500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 6th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $252.93 per share, for a total transaction of $126,465.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the executive vice president directly owned 9,192 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,324,932.56. This represents a 5.75% increase in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last 90 days, insiders bought 1,208 shares of company stock valued at $328,505. Corporate insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On FactSet Research Systems A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FDS. First Horizon Corp purchased a new stake in shares of FactSet Research Systems in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Winnow Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of FactSet Research Systems in the 3rd quarter worth $28,000. BOKF NA raised its position in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 5,100.0% during the 3rd quarter. BOKF NA now owns 104 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 53.4% during the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 112 shares of the business services providers stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. grew its position in FactSet Research Systems by 4,300.0% in the second quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 88 shares of the business services providers stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. 91.24% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Key FactSet Research Systems News Here are the key news stories impacting FactSet Research Systems this week: Positive Sentiment: Q1 results beat expectations FactSet reported $4.51 EPS vs. consensus ~$4.36 and revenue of $607.6M, driven by subscription/organic growth; this is the primary bullish catalyst. FactSet Reports Results for First Quarter Fiscal 2026 Q1 results beat expectations FactSet reported $4.51 EPS vs. consensus ~$4.36 and revenue of $607.6M, driven by subscription/organic growth; this is the primary bullish catalyst. Positive Sentiment: Board authorized a $600M share repurchase (up to ~5.4% of shares), signaling management believes shares are undervalued and supporting buyback-driven EPS accretion. RTT News Board authorized a $600M share repurchase (up to ~5.4% of shares), signaling management believes shares are undervalued and supporting buyback-driven EPS accretion. Positive Sentiment: Some broker actions are constructive Morgan Stanley upgraded FactSet (coverage note widely cited), and there was unusually high calloption volume that suggests bullish speculative interest. Morgan Stanley upgrade (MSN) Options flow (AmericanBankingNews) Some broker actions are constructive Morgan Stanley upgraded FactSet (coverage note widely cited), and there was unusually high calloption volume that suggests bullish speculative interest. Neutral Sentiment: Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating with a $320 target (implies upside vs. current price but no change in stance). Benzinga Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating with a $320 target (implies upside vs. current price but no change in stance). Neutral Sentiment: Company published earnings call transcript and slide deck for investors; useful detail but unlikely to move price by itself. Earnings call transcript Company published earnings call transcript and slide deck for investors; useful detail but unlikely to move price by itself. Negative Sentiment: Goldman Sachs cut the price target to $253 and moved to a sell ratingthis is a material bearish signal and likely a headwind for the stock. Benzinga Goldman Sachs cut the price target to $253 and moved to a sell ratingthis is a material bearish signal and likely a headwind for the stock. Negative Sentiment: Stifel lowered its target from $372 to $295 and set a hold another analyst downgrade that reduces upward momentum. Benzinga Stifel lowered its target from $372 to $295 and set a hold another analyst downgrade that reduces upward momentum. Negative Sentiment: FY2026 EPS guidance (16.9017.60) was slightly below consensus (~17.33), which helps explain some selling pressure despite the beat investors are focused on the fullyear outlook. Zacks FactSet Research Systems Company Profile (Get Free Report) FactSet Research Systems Inc operates as a global provider of integrated financial data and analytics to the investment community. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, the company offers a unified platform that aggregates content from thousands of sources, delivering real-time and historical market data, company fundamentals, estimates, fixed-income information and proprietary analytics to portfolio managers, research analysts, investment bankers and risk officers. The companys core products include the FactSet Workstation, an application offering customizable screening, charting, portfolio analysis and news; APIs and data feeds for seamless integration into proprietary systems; and cloud-based solutions for thematic research and quantitative strategies. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for FactSet Research Systems Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FactSet Research Systems and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:FMX Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the nine analysts that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $101.6333. Several brokerages have recently weighed in on FMX. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from $96.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from $107.00 to $105.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Zacks Research raised Fomento Economico Mexicano from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Citigroup raised Fomento Economico Mexicano from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the company from $93.00 to $97.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 9th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Get Fomento Economico Mexicano alerts: View Our Latest Report on Fomento Economico Mexicano Institutional Inflows and Outflows Fomento Economico Mexicano Trading Down 1.8% Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of FMX. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new position in Fomento Economico Mexicano in the first quarter valued at $29,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. grew its holdings in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano by 2,006.3% during the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 337 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 321 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its position in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 41.4% in the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 369 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares during the period. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC acquired a new position in Fomento Economico Mexicano in the 2nd quarter valued at about $40,000. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its stake in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 42.5% during the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 439 shares of the companys stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 131 shares during the last quarter. 61.00% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. NYSE:FMX opened at $100.19 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $96.69 and a 200-day simple moving average of $95.89. The stock has a market cap of $35.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.40, a P/E/G ratio of 5.07 and a beta of 0.47. Fomento Economico Mexicano has a 1 year low of $81.07 and a 1 year high of $108.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.10. Fomento Economico Mexicano (NYSE:FMX Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The company reported $0.88 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.06 by ($0.18). The business had revenue of $11.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $215.60 billion. Fomento Economico Mexicano had a return on equity of 5.01% and a net margin of 2.09%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Fomento Economico Mexicano will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Fomento Economico Mexicano Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 16th were issued a $1.9982 dividend. This represents a $7.99 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, October 16th. This is a positive change from Fomento Economico Mexicanos previous quarterly dividend of $1.36. Fomento Economico Mexicanos dividend payout ratio is presently 90.32%. Fomento Economico Mexicano Company Profile (Get Free Report) Fomento Economico Mexicano, SAB. de C.V. (FEMSA) is a Mexican multinational company active primarily in the retail and beverage sectors. Headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico, FEMSAs operations span convenience store retailing, beverage bottling and distribution, and related logistics and consumer services. The companys business model combines high-frequency retail outlets with large-scale beverage production and a regional supply chain network. FEMSA Comercio, the companys retail arm, operates a large chain of convenience stores under the OXXO brand and has expanded its retail footprint with complementary formats and services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Fomento Economico Mexicano Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fomento Economico Mexicano and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC lowered its position in shares of Procter & Gamble Company (The) (NYSE:PG Free Report) by 12.4% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 55,628 shares of the companys stock after selling 7,853 shares during the period. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NCs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $8,547,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Lantz Financial LLC increased its stake in Procter & Gamble by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Lantz Financial LLC now owns 5,237 shares of the companys stock worth $834,000 after buying an additional 64 shares during the period. Orca Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 2.0% during the second quarter. Orca Investment Management LLC now owns 3,238 shares of the companys stock valued at $516,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. Kondo Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 5.2% during the first quarter. Kondo Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 1,324 shares of the companys stock valued at $226,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated increased its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.3% during the second quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated now owns 22,118 shares of the companys stock worth $3,524,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Access Financial Services Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.6% in the second quarter. Access Financial Services Inc. now owns 10,889 shares of the companys stock worth $1,735,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. 65.77% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Procter & Gamble alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their price objective for the company from $156.00 to $179.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Bank of America decreased their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $180.00 to $174.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Procter & Gamble in a report on Monday. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble from $180.00 to $176.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Raymond James Financial dropped their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $185.00 to $175.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Procter & Gamble presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $171.38. Procter & Gamble Trading Down 0.8% NYSE PG opened at $144.39 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 0.71. Procter & Gamble Company has a one year low of $138.14 and a one year high of $179.99. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $147.32 and a 200-day simple moving average of $153.56. The firm has a market capitalization of $337.41 billion, a PE ratio of 21.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.89 and a beta of 0.39. Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, October 24th. The company reported $1.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.90 by $0.09. Procter & Gamble had a net margin of 19.74% and a return on equity of 32.63%. The firm had revenue of $22.39 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $22.23 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.93 earnings per share. Procter & Gambles revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. Procter & Gamble has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.830-7.100 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.91 earnings per share for the current year. Procter & Gamble Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 17th. Investors of record on Friday, October 24th were given a dividend of $1.0568 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 24th. This represents a $4.23 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.9%. Procter & Gambles payout ratio is currently 61.75%. Insider Activity In related news, CEO Jennifer L. Davis sold 3,227 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.23, for a total value of $491,246.21. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 61,764 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,402,333.72. This trade represents a 4.97% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, COO Shailesh Jejurikar sold 3,986 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.23, for a total transaction of $606,788.78. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 46,899 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,139,434.77. This represents a 7.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 30,308 shares of company stock worth $4,611,852 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock. Procter & Gamble Company Profile (Free Report) Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) is a multinational consumer goods company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble, P&G has grown into one of the worlds largest producers of branded consumer packaged goods. The company focuses on developing, manufacturing and marketing a broad portfolio of household and personal care products sold to consumers and retailers worldwide. P&Gs product offering spans several core business categories, including Beauty, Grooming, Health Care, Fabric & Home Care, and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Procter & Gamble Company (The) (NYSE:PG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Procter & Gamble Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Procter & Gamble and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC lowered its holdings in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL Free Report) by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 224,168 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 6,069 shares during the period. Aflac accounts for approximately 1.4% of Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest holding. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NCs holdings in Aflac were worth $25,040,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Aflac by 0.6% in the third quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 212,888 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $23,780,000 after acquiring an additional 1,272 shares during the period. Bath Savings Trust Co bought a new position in Aflac in the 3rd quarter worth $209,000. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC raised its holdings in Aflac by 5.1% in the 3rd quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 2,037 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $227,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares in the last quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Aflac by 33.1% in the 3rd quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. now owns 466 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 116 shares during the period. Finally, Firethorn Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Aflac by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Firethorn Wealth Partners LLC now owns 9,983 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,115,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. 67.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Aflac alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other Aflac news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated 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. This trade represents a 4.06% 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, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 15,862 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $112.00, for a total transaction of $1,776,544.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 230,688 shares of the companys stock, valued at $25,837,056. This trade represents a 6.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 31,766 shares of company stock valued at $3,549,706 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.90% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Aflac in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on Aflac from $110.00 to $111.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Mizuho assumed coverage on Aflac in a report on Tuesday. They set an underperform rating and a $104.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Aflac from $107.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Finally, Barclays restated an underweight rating and set a $104.00 price target (up from $102.00) on shares of Aflac in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and three have issued 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 $110.55. Check Out Our Latest Report on AFL Aflac Price Performance Shares of NYSE AFL opened at $110.25 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $109.87 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $106.82. Aflac Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $96.95 and a fifty-two week high of $115.83. The company has a market capitalization of $57.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.39, a P/E/G ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 0.11 and a current ratio of 0.11. Aflac (NYSE:AFL Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The financial services provider reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter. Aflac had a return on equity of 14.97% and a net margin of 23.55%.The company had revenue of $5.91 billion for the quarter. Analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current fiscal year. Aflac Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 18th will be paid a $0.61 dividend. This is an increase from Aflacs previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 18th. Aflacs payout ratio is currently 30.29%. Aflac Company Profile (Free Report) Aflac Incorporated (American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus) is a provider of supplemental insurance products designed to help policyholders manage out-of-pocket health care and living expenses. The company underwrites a range of individual and group policies that typically pay cash benefits directly to insureds when covered events occur, enabling greater financial flexibility for medical treatment, hospital stays, critical illness, and related costs. Aflacs product mix includes supplemental health insurance, life insurance and other specialty coverages intended to complement primary medical plans. Founded in the mid-20th century and headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, Aflac distributes its products through a combination of employer-sponsored programs, independent brokers and agents, and direct marketing. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AFL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Aflac Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aflac and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp trimmed its stake in General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Free Report) by 20.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 45,142 shares of the companys stock after selling 11,911 shares during the quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corps holdings in General Mills were worth $2,276,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of GIS. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of General Mills in the 2nd quarter valued at $417,508,000. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of General Mills during the 2nd quarter worth $84,862,000. First Trust Advisors LP raised its position in shares of General Mills by 67.8% in the 2nd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 2,213,506 shares of the companys stock worth $114,682,000 after buying an additional 894,633 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its position in shares of General Mills by 57.5% in the 2nd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 2,410,009 shares of the companys stock worth $124,863,000 after buying an additional 880,090 shares during the period. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its holdings in General Mills by 8.1% in the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 9,864,819 shares of the companys stock valued at $589,814,000 after acquiring an additional 741,432 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.71% of the companys stock. Get General Mills alerts: General Mills Price Performance GIS stock opened at $47.85 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a current ratio of 0.66. General Mills, Inc. has a 1 year low of $45.15 and a 1 year high of $67.35. The firm has a market cap of $25.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.91 and a beta of -0.07. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $47.21 and a 200-day simple moving average of $49.57. General Mills Dividend Announcement General Mills ( NYSE:GIS Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, December 17th. The company reported $1.10 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.03 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $4.86 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.78 billion. General Mills had a net margin of 13.51% and a return on equity of 21.41%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 7.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.40 earnings per share. General Mills has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.580-3.790 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that General Mills, Inc. will post 4.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 9th will be given a $0.61 dividend. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 9th. General Millss dividend payout ratio is presently 46.12%. Key Headlines Impacting General Mills Here are the key news stories impacting General Mills this week: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts have commented on GIS shares. UBS Group restated a sell rating on shares of General Mills in a research note on Friday. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $54.00 target price on General Mills in a report on Thursday. Cowen reissued a hold rating on shares of General Mills in a research report on Monday. Mizuho cut their price target on shares of General Mills from $57.00 to $52.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 19th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on shares of General Mills from $56.00 to $52.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $53.50. View Our Latest Analysis on GIS General Mills Company Profile (Free Report) General Mills, Inc (NYSE: GIS) is a multinational consumer foods company that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of branded food products. Its product categories include ready-to-eat and hot cereals, baking mixes and ingredients, snacks and bars, refrigerated and frozen doughs, yogurt and other dairy products, and a variety of shelf-stable meals and meal components. The companys portfolio features widely recognized consumer brands across grocery store, mass channel and foodservice outlets. Founded in the early 20th century and incorporated under its current name in 1928, General Mills has grown through both internal brand development and strategic expansion to become a global food company. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GIS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for General Mills Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Mills and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:HOG Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of Hold from the nine research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have assigned a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $27.8750. Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on HOG shares. UBS Group cut their price objective on shares of Harley-Davidson from $28.00 to $27.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 13th. Loop Capital assumed coverage on shares of Harley-Davidson in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. They set a hold rating and a $21.00 price target on the stock. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Harley-Davidson from a sell (d+) rating to a hold (c-) rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Zacks Research raised shares of Harley-Davidson from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. Finally, Griffin Securities set a $34.00 target price on Harley-Davidson in a research note on Monday, August 25th. Get Harley-Davidson alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Harley-Davidson Hedge Funds Weigh In On Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson Stock Performance Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of HOG. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Harley-Davidson by 139.0% during the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 944 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 549 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in Harley-Davidson by 153.8% during the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,109 shares of the companys stock valued at $53,000 after purchasing an additional 1,278 shares during the period. State of Wyoming purchased a new stake in Harley-Davidson in the first quarter valued at $54,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its position in Harley-Davidson by 68.3% during the 2nd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 2,198 shares of the companys stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 892 shares during the period. Finally, Westfuller Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Harley-Davidson during the 3rd quarter valued at about $67,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.10% of the companys stock. Shares of HOG opened at $21.24 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 2.51, a quick ratio of 2.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88. The firm has a market cap of $2.51 billion, a PE ratio of 5.16, a P/E/G ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 1.33. Harley-Davidson has a 12 month low of $20.45 and a 12 month high of $31.25. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $24.68 and a 200-day moving average price of $25.73. Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $3.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.38 by $1.72. Harley-Davidson had a return on equity of 15.19% and a net margin of 11.37%.The company had revenue of $1.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.01 billion. Equities research analysts predict that Harley-Davidson will post 3.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Harley-Davidson Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 22nd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 9th will be paid a $0.18 dividend. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 9th. Harley-Davidsons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.48%. About Harley-Davidson (Get Free Report) Harley-Davidson, Inc is a renowned American motorcycle manufacturer best known for its heavyweight cruiser and touring bikes. Founded in 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the company has built a strong reputation for producing distinctive motorcycles characterized by their signature V-twin engines, chrome finishes and robust frames. Harley-Davidson markets its products globally through a network of franchised dealerships and focuses on delivering an immersive brand experience to its customers, emphasizing lifestyle and community alongside its motorcycles. In addition to its core motorcycle business, Harley-Davidson offers an extensive range of parts, accessories and apparel under its Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories and MotorClothes lines. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Harley-Davidson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Harley-Davidson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Indonesia Energy (NYSE:INDO Get Free Report) and Evolution Petroleum (NYSE:EPM Get Free Report) are both small-cap energy companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, earnings, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations, risk and institutional ownership. Profitability This table compares Indonesia Energy and Evolution Petroleums net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Indonesia Energy alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Indonesia Energy N/A N/A N/A Evolution Petroleum 2.04% 2.42% 1.20% Insider and Institutional Ownership 0.5% of Indonesia Energy shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 60.1% of Evolution Petroleum shares are owned by institutional investors. 71.6% of Indonesia Energy shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 10.5% of Evolution Petroleum shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Valuation & Earnings Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Indonesia Energy $2.29 million 18.41 -$2.64 million N/A N/A Evolution Petroleum $85.23 million 1.44 $4.08 million ($0.01) -353.00 This table compares Indonesia Energy and Evolution Petroleums revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Evolution Petroleum has higher revenue and earnings than Indonesia Energy. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Indonesia Energy and Evolution Petroleum, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Indonesia Energy 0 0 0 0 0.00 Evolution Petroleum 0 2 3 0 2.60 Evolution Petroleum has a consensus target price of $5.73, indicating a potential upside of 62.42%. Given Evolution Petroleums stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Evolution Petroleum is more favorable than Indonesia Energy. Risk and Volatility Indonesia Energy has a beta of -0.81, indicating that its share price is 181% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Evolution Petroleum has a beta of 0.26, indicating that its share price is 74% less volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Evolution Petroleum beats Indonesia Energy on 10 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks. About Indonesia Energy (Get Free Report) Indonesia Energy Corporation Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an oil and gas exploration and production company in Indonesia. It holds interests in the Kruh Block, a producing block covering approximately an area of 258 square kilometers located in the Pali, South Sumatra; and the Citarum Block, an exploration block covering approximately an area of 3,924.67 square kilometers located in the onshore of West Java. The company was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia. Indonesia Energy Corporation Limited is a subsidiary of Maderic Holding Limited. About Evolution Petroleum (Get Free Report) Evolution Petroleum Corporation, an energy company, engages in the development, production, ownership, and exploitation of onshore oil and gas properties in the United States. The company holds a non-operated interests in the SCOOP and STACK plays located in Central Oklahoma; the Chaveroo Field situated in Chaves and Roosevelt Counties, New Mexico; the Jonah Field located in Sublette County, Wyoming; the Williston Basin situated in Williston, North Dakota; the Barnett Shale field located in North Texas; the Hamilton Dome situated in Hot Springs County, Wyoming; and the Delhi Field, an onshore CO2-EOR project located in northeast Louisiana in Franklin, Madison, and Richland Parishes, as well as small overriding royalty interests in four onshore central Texas wells. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in Houston, Texas. Receive News & Ratings for Indonesia Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Indonesia Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA (OTCMKTS:JRONY Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-strong trading volume on Thursday . Approximately 61,759 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 497% from the previous sessions volume of 10,352 shares.The stock last traded at $47.60 and had previously closed at $47.10. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Kepler Capital Markets upgraded Jeronimo Martins SGPS from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Jeronimo Martins SGPS has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Get Jeronimo Martins SGPS alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on Jeronimo Martins SGPS Jeronimo Martins SGPS Price Performance The company has a 50 day moving average of $48.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $49.40. The firm has a market cap of $14.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.04, a PEG ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. Jeronimo Martins SGPS (OTCMKTS:JRONY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The company reported $0.79 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $10.66 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.61 billion. Jeronimo Martins SGPS had a net margin of 1.83% and a return on equity of 21.15%. Sell-side analysts expect that Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA will post 2.13 EPS for the current year. Jeronimo Martins SGPS Company Profile (Get Free Report) Jeronimo Martins SGPS is a Portugal-based corporate group engaged primarily in food distribution and retail. Through its flagship Pingo Doce banner in Portugal, the company operates a network of full-service supermarkets and convenience outlets offering fresh produce, grocery items, and private-label products. In addition, its cash-and-carry arm, Recheio, supplies wholesale and hospitality professionals with a broad range of food and non-food goods. Beyond its home market, Jeronimo Martins has established a significant presence in Poland under the discount supermarket brand Biedronka. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Jeronimo Martins SGPS Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Jeronimo Martins SGPS and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kenon Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:KEN Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $63.10 and last traded at $62.8950, with a volume of 2576 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $61.44. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Kenon in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Kenon alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on KEN Kenon Stock Performance The stocks 50-day moving average price is $55.83 and its 200-day moving average price is $47.79. The company has a current ratio of 4.66, a quick ratio of 4.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. The company has a market capitalization of $3.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 83.45 and a beta of 1.20. Kenon (NYSE:KEN Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 19th. The utilities provider reported $0.48 earnings per share for the quarter. Kenon had a net margin of 59.34% and a negative return on equity of 2.81%. The firm had revenue of $265.00 million for the quarter. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in KEN. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in Kenon during the 2nd quarter worth $32,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its position in shares of Kenon by 9.9% during the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 10,000 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $452,000 after buying an additional 900 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Kenon by 12.2% in the 2nd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 9,041 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $373,000 after acquiring an additional 984 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of Kenon by 4.6% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 28,012 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,265,000 after acquiring an additional 1,234 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Kenon by 17.0% during the third quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 14,130 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $638,000 after acquiring an additional 2,048 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 13.38% of the companys stock. About Kenon (Get Free Report) Kenon Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: KEN) is a global investment holding company incorporated in Jersey, Channel Islands, with listings on the New York Stock Exchange and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. The company focuses on infrastructure and energy-related businesses, seeking to generate long-term value through stable cash flows and strategic growth. Kenons diversified portfolio spans power generation assets, midstream energy infrastructure and related services across multiple regions. One of Kenons principal assets is QPI Ltd., an energy company based in Israel that owns and operates a combined-cycle, gas-fired power plant and an adjacent liquefied natural gas (LNG) import and regasification terminal at the Port of Ashdod. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Kenon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kenon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Louisbourg Investments Inc. raised its holdings in Gildan Activewear, Inc. (NYSE:GIL Free Report) (TSE:GIL) by 23.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 179,231 shares of the textile makers stock after purchasing an additional 33,915 shares during the quarter. Gildan Activewear accounts for approximately 2.1% of Louisbourg Investments Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest position. Louisbourg Investments Inc.s holdings in Gildan Activewear were worth $10,351,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of GIL. Maseco LLP bought a new stake in shares of Gildan Activewear during the 2nd quarter worth $26,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Gildan Activewear by 161.8% during the second quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 555 shares of the textile makers stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 343 shares in the last quarter. Twin Tree Management LP bought a new position in shares of Gildan Activewear in the first quarter worth about $29,000. Assetmark Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Gildan Activewear by 5,200.0% in the 2nd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,113 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $55,000 after purchasing an additional 1,092 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Gildan Activewear by 51.4% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,023 shares of the textile makers stock valued at $100,000 after purchasing an additional 687 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.83% of the companys stock. Get Gildan Activewear alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Desjardins increased their price objective on shares of Gildan Activewear from $80.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Gildan Activewear in a research note on Monday. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price objective on Gildan Activewear from $68.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. TD Securities reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $74.00 target price on shares of Gildan Activewear in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, Citigroup lowered Gildan Activewear from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price target for the company from $60.00 to $63.00 in a research note on Monday, October 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $74.46. Gildan Activewear Trading Down 1.8% NYSE GIL opened at $63.46 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.27 and a beta of 1.12. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $58.79 and a 200 day simple moving average of $54.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 2.01 and a quick ratio of 0.88. Gildan Activewear, Inc. has a one year low of $37.16 and a one year high of $65.43. Gildan Activewear (NYSE:GIL Get Free Report) (TSE:GIL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The textile maker reported $1.00 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $910.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $925.24 million. Gildan Activewear had a return on equity of 35.53% and a net margin of 14.13%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.85 EPS. Gildan Activewear has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.450-3.510 EPS. Research analysts expect that Gildan Activewear, Inc. will post 3.48 earnings per share for the current year. Gildan Activewear Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 19th were issued a $0.226 dividend. This represents a $0.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, November 19th. Gildan Activewears dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 28.75%. Gildan Activewear Profile (Free Report) Gildan Activewear Inc (NYSE:GIL) is a vertically integrated manufacturer and wholesaler of branded basic apparel, including activewear, socks, hosiery and underwear. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, the company produces a wide range of products such as T-shirts, fleece garments, sport shirts, performance wear, and shapewear under its Gildan, Anvil, Comfort Colors, Gold Toe, Peds and Silks brands. Leveraging its in-house knitting, dyeing, cut-and-sew and finishing operations, Gildan supplies blank apparel to screen printers, promotional product distributors and major retailers around the world. Since its founding in 1984 by Glenn J. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GIL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Gildan Activewear, Inc. (NYSE:GIL Free Report) (TSE:GIL). Receive News & Ratings for Gildan Activewear Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gildan Activewear and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. LVM Capital Management Ltd. MI lowered its position in shares of Hershey Company (The) (NYSE:HSY Free Report) by 15.9% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 15,669 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,956 shares during the period. LVM Capital Management Ltd. MIs holdings in Hershey were worth $2,931,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH bought a new stake in shares of Hershey in the second quarter worth $28,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Hershey in the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC lifted its position in Hershey by 46.3% during the 2nd quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 199 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Hershey during the 2nd quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Hershey in the 2nd quarter valued at about $39,000. 57.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Hershey alerts: Hershey Trading Up 0.7% HSY stock opened at $189.40 on Friday. Hershey Company has a one year low of $140.13 and a one year high of $199.00. The stock has a market cap of $38.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.31 and a beta of 0.19. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $181.32 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $180.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.36 and a quick ratio of 0.83. Hershey Announces Dividend Hershey ( NYSE:HSY Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.06 by $0.24. The company had revenue of $3.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.11 billion. Hershey had a net margin of 11.84% and a return on equity of 32.08%. Hersheys quarterly revenue was up 6.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.34 EPS. Hershey has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.900-6.000 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Hershey Company will post 6.12 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 17th were issued a dividend of $1.37 per share. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 17th. Hersheys payout ratio is currently 81.91%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts recently issued reports on HSY shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Hershey from $187.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, October 20th. DA Davidson dropped their price objective on Hershey from $188.00 to $185.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Hershey from a sell rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $170.00 to $222.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. Barclays set a $188.00 target price on shares of Hershey in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane upgraded shares of Hershey from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, September 15th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $184.95. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Hershey Insider Activity In other news, insider Stacy Taffet acquired 200 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 21st. The shares were purchased at an average price of $186.19 per share, for a total transaction of $37,238.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 9,371 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,744,786.49. This represents a 2.18% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Kirk Tanner bought 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $185.46 per share, with a total value of $370,920.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer directly owned 47,860 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,876,115.60. This represents a 4.36% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 6,000 shares of company stock valued at $1,102,725. 0.34% of the stock is owned by insiders. About Hershey (Free Report) The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is a leading North American chocolatier and snack manufacturer headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The company develops, produces and markets a wide range of confectionery and snack products for retail, foodservice and international customers. Hersheys business spans manufacturing, branded product marketing, packaging and distribution across grocery, convenience, mass merchant and e-commerce channels. Hersheys product portfolio centers on chocolate and sugar confectionery, including core brands such as Hersheys, Reeses, Hersheys Kisses and Twizzlers, alongside non-chocolate snacks and confectionery brands. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HSY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Hershey Company (The) (NYSE:HSY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Hershey Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hershey and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Matauro LLC purchased a new stake in QXO, Inc. (NYSE:QXO Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 100,086 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,908,000. A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of QXO. Farther Finance Advisors LLC acquired a new position in QXO in the second quarter valued at about $25,000. American Capital Advisory LLC increased its position in shares of QXO by 258.0% during the second quarter. American Capital Advisory LLC now owns 1,167 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 841 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP raised its stake in shares of QXO by 1,740.9% in the 2nd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,215 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 1,149 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of QXO in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of QXO in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. 58.68% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get QXO alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In QXO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on shares of QXO from $28.00 to $26.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday. KeyCorp set a $28.00 price target on QXO in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Benchmark upgraded QXO to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, August 25th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d) rating on shares of QXO in a report on Monday, December 8th. Finally, Vertical Research began coverage on QXO in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. They set a buy rating and a $30.00 target price on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating, one has 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 $32.57. QXO Stock Performance Shares of QXO stock opened at $21.84 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $18.82 and a two-hundred day moving average of $19.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.73 billion, a PE ratio of -49.64, a P/E/G ratio of 3.35 and a beta of 2.42. The company has a quick ratio of 2.24, a current ratio of 3.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. QXO, Inc. has a 52 week low of $11.85 and a 52 week high of $24.69. QXO (NYSE:QXO Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported $0.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.12 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $2.73 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.78 billion. QXO had a positive return on equity of 3.70% and a negative net margin of 3.81%.QXOs revenue was up 20726.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that QXO, Inc. will post -0.13 EPS for the current fiscal year. QXO Company Profile (Free Report) QXO, Inc operates as a business application, technology, and consulting company in North America. The company provides solutions for accounting and business management, financial reporting, enterprise resource planning, human capital management, warehouse management systems, customer relationship management, and business intelligence. It also offers value-added services that focuses on consulting and professional, specialized programming, training, and technical support services. In addition, the company provides information technology managed services, such as cybersecurity, application hosting, disaster recovery, business continuity, cloud, and other services; and data back-up, network maintenance, and upgrade services. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding QXO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for QXO, Inc. (NYSE:QXO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for QXO Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for QXO and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Meadowbrook Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 10,781 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock, valued at approximately $1,056,000. Uber Technologies makes up approximately 1.1% of Meadowbrook Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 24th biggest holding. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Uber Technologies by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 189,551,519 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $17,685,157,000 after purchasing an additional 3,025,483 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Uber Technologies by 2.6% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 45,859,136 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock worth $4,258,756,000 after purchasing an additional 1,168,288 shares during the period. Pershing Square Capital Management L.P. bought a new position in shares of Uber Technologies during the first quarter valued at approximately $2,207,743,000. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Uber Technologies during the second quarter valued at approximately $2,348,319,000. Finally, Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC increased its holdings in Uber Technologies by 334,075.7% during the second quarter. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC now owns 19,973,682 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $1,863,545,000 after buying an additional 19,967,705 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.24% of the companys stock. Get Uber Technologies alerts: Uber Technologies News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Uber Technologies this week: Positive Sentiment: Uber expanded its AV footprint by rolling out robotaxi rides in Dubai with partner WeRide, increasing early commercial exposure for Mobility and potentially accelerating future revenue mix diversification. AV Expansion in UAE Uber expanded its AV footprint by rolling out robotaxi rides in Dubai with partner WeRide, increasing early commercial exposure for Mobility and potentially accelerating future revenue mix diversification. Positive Sentiment: Bernstein/other sellside commentary argues investors have overdiscounted AV risks; at least one analyst raised Ubers price target, framing the stock as an attractive entry if robotaxi fears ease supportive for valuation. Analyst Note / MarketWatch Bernstein/other sellside commentary argues investors have overdiscounted AV risks; at least one analyst raised Ubers price target, framing the stock as an attractive entry if robotaxi fears ease supportive for valuation. Neutral Sentiment: Comparative coverage highlights that Serve Robotics (SERV) and Uber represent different autonomous delivery plays useful context for investors but not an immediate stock mover for UBER. SERV vs UBER Comparative coverage highlights that Serve Robotics (SERV) and Uber represent different autonomous delivery plays useful context for investors but not an immediate stock mover for UBER. Neutral Sentiment: Institutional ownership remains high and several large funds recently adjusted positions a reminder that blocks and index/ETF flows can affect volatility but dont change fundamentals immediately. Institutional Holdings Institutional ownership remains high and several large funds recently adjusted positions a reminder that blocks and index/ETF flows can affect volatility but dont change fundamentals immediately. Negative Sentiment: Multiple states, counties and attorneys general have joined or filed suits alleging deceptive subscription/billing practices; growing litigation and potential remediation costs raise regulatory/legal risk and nearterm headline volatility. AG Nessel Lawsuit Multiple states, counties and attorneys general have joined or filed suits alleging deceptive subscription/billing practices; growing litigation and potential remediation costs raise regulatory/legal risk and nearterm headline volatility. Negative Sentiment: Ubers head of safety is departing amid an executive shakeup, which could concern investors focused on governance and operational continuity. Safety Chief Departure Ubers head of safety is departing amid an executive shakeup, which could concern investors focused on governance and operational continuity. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: General Counsel Tony West sold 3,125 shares on Dec. 18 isolated insider sales arent uncommon but can add to negative sentiment when combined with other headwinds. Tony West Insider Sale Insider selling: General Counsel Tony West sold 3,125 shares on Dec. 18 isolated insider sales arent uncommon but can add to negative sentiment when combined with other headwinds. Negative Sentiment: Technical analysts flagged a break of support, prompting meltdown headlines; technical weakness can amplify selling flows from momentum and quant funds. Technical Weakness Uber Technologies Price Performance Shares of NYSE UBER opened at $79.32 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.15. The company has a market cap of $164.81 billion, a PE ratio of 10.20 and a beta of 1.19. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $90.06 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $91.56. Uber Technologies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $59.75 and a fifty-two week high of $101.99. Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The ride-sharing company reported $3.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $2.44. The firm had revenue of $13.47 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.25 billion. Uber Technologies had a net margin of 33.54% and a return on equity of 68.17%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 20.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.20 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Uber Technologies, Inc. will post 2.54 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have weighed in on UBER. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on Uber Technologies from $113.00 to $106.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating on shares of Uber Technologies in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. UBS Group set a $122.00 price objective on Uber Technologies and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $122.00 target price on shares of Uber Technologies in a report on Tuesday, November 4th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a buy rating and set a $108.00 price target on shares of Uber Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty have issued a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Uber Technologies currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $108.43. View Our Latest Research Report on Uber Technologies Insider Buying and Selling at Uber Technologies In other news, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi sold 150,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, September 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.48, for a total transaction of $15,072,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 982,544 shares of the companys stock, valued at $98,726,021.12. The trade was a 13.24% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Tony West sold 100,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, September 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.38, for a total value of $10,038,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 171,558 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,220,992.04. The trade was a 36.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 264,875 shares of company stock worth $26,458,818. 3.84% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Uber Technologies Company Profile (Free Report) Uber Technologies, Inc is a technology company that operates a global platform connecting riders, drivers, couriers, restaurants and shippers. Founded in 2009 by Garrett Camp and Travis Kalanick and headquartered in San Francisco, Uber developed one of the first large-scale ride-hailing marketplaces and has since expanded into a broader set of mobility and logistics services. The company completed its initial public offering in 2019 and continues to position its app-based network as a multi-modal transportation and delivery platform. Ubers principal businesses include mobility services (ride-hailing and shared rides), delivery through Uber Eats, and freight logistics via Uber Freight. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UBER? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Uber Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Uber Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stride (NYSE:LRN Free Report) had its target price cut by Morgan Stanley from $130.00 to $95.00 in a report published on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. They currently have an equal weight rating on the stock. LRN has been the topic of several other reports. Barrington Research cut their target price on shares of Stride from $185.00 to $125.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Stride in a research note on Monday. Zacks Research lowered Stride from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. BMO Capital Markets set a $108.00 price objective on Stride and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their target price on Stride from $165.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 24th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Stride presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $125.75. Get Stride alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Stride Stride Stock Performance Shares of Stride stock opened at $66.06 on Wednesday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $85.33 and its 200 day moving average price is $124.81. The company has a market cap of $2.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.19, a PEG ratio of 0.39 and a beta of 0.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 6.69 and a current ratio of 6.78. Stride has a one year low of $60.61 and a one year high of $171.17. Stride (NYSE:LRN Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.23 by $0.29. The company had revenue of $620.88 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $615.50 million. Stride had a net margin of 12.76% and a return on equity of 26.29%. Strides revenue was up 12.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.94 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Stride will post 6.67 EPS for the current year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Stride Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Inspire Investing LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Stride in the first quarter worth $792,000. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Stride by 33.8% in the second quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 43,033 shares of the companys stock worth $6,248,000 after purchasing an additional 10,870 shares during the last quarter. Swedbank AB raised its holdings in shares of Stride by 5.4% during the 1st quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 1,009,726 shares of the companys stock worth $127,730,000 after acquiring an additional 52,000 shares in the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association purchased a new stake in Stride during the first quarter valued at $326,000. Finally, SG Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Stride during the 2nd quarter valued at about $5,859,000. 98.24% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Stride News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Stride this week: Neutral Sentiment: Leadplaintiff deadline set Investors who purchased LRN between October 22, 2024 and October 28, 2025 have until January 12, 2026 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff; multiple firms are circulating notices. This is procedural but concentrates potential litigation claims and claimant activity. Berger Montague notice Leadplaintiff deadline set Investors who purchased LRN between October 22, 2024 and October 28, 2025 have until January 12, 2026 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff; multiple firms are circulating notices. This is procedural but concentrates potential litigation claims and claimant activity. Negative Sentiment: Multiple class actions and firm investigations Numerous plaintiff firms (Robbins LLP, Glancy Prongay & Murray, Johnson Fistel, Faruqi & Faruqi, Levi & Korsinsky, Hagens Berman, others) have filed or announced investigations alleging Stride misled investors about enrollment metrics and concealed a catastrophic technology/platform failure. Those allegations underpin potential damages and reputational risk. Robbins LLP notice Multiple class actions and firm investigations Numerous plaintiff firms (Robbins LLP, Glancy Prongay & Murray, Johnson Fistel, Faruqi & Faruqi, Levi & Korsinsky, Hagens Berman, others) have filed or announced investigations alleging Stride misled investors about enrollment metrics and concealed a catastrophic technology/platform failure. Those allegations underpin potential damages and reputational risk. Negative Sentiment: Allegations point to ghost students and concealed operational failure Hagens Berman highlights claims linking alleged inflated enrollment and a failed platform upgrade to a ~54% stock drop, framing a narrative of operational and disclosure failures that could amplify damages if proven. Hagens Berman alert Allegations point to ghost students and concealed operational failure Hagens Berman highlights claims linking alleged inflated enrollment and a failed platform upgrade to a ~54% stock drop, framing a narrative of operational and disclosure failures that could amplify damages if proven. Negative Sentiment: Analyst action increases downside pressure Morgan Stanley cut LRNs price target (reported reductions from $130 to $95) and issued a negative forecast, signaling lowered forward expectations from a major sellside firm which can pressure sentiment and institutional holdings. MSN: Morgan Stanley cut Analyst action increases downside pressure Morgan Stanley cut LRNs price target (reported reductions from $130 to $95) and issued a negative forecast, signaling lowered forward expectations from a major sellside firm which can pressure sentiment and institutional holdings. Negative Sentiment: What investors should watch potential outcomes include further analyst downgrades, regulatory inquiries, settlement or trial costs, and management turnover; any of these could materially affect earnings and valuation. Elevated trading volume shows investors are reacting now to news flow rather than fundamentals. (No link) About Stride (Get Free Report) Stride, Inc (NYSE:LRN) is a technology-driven education company that designs and delivers online learning solutions for students and adult learners. Through long-term partnerships with state-authorized public school districts, Stride operates virtual academies that serve K-12 students across the United States. The companys blended-learning model combines digital curriculum, live teaching support and data analytics to personalize instruction and monitor student progress. In addition to its K-12 offerings, Stride provides a portfolio of career and workforce readiness programs under its Stride Career Prep division. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Stride Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stride and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Osaic Holdings Inc. raised its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:EFAV Free Report) by 30.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 127,641 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 30,077 shares during the quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. owned approximately 0.20% of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF worth $10,615,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Howe & Rusling Inc. bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF in the second quarter valued at $29,000. First Pacific Financial bought a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF during the second quarter worth $31,000. Signaturefd LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF in the second quarter valued at $41,000. Harbor Asset Planning Inc. acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF during the 2nd quarter worth about $41,000. Finally, Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 109.7% during the 1st quarter. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC now owns 560 shares of the companys stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 293 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Stock Performance Shares of EFAV stock opened at $85.88 on Friday. iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF has a 52-week low of $69.19 and a 52-week high of $85.52. The stock has a market cap of $5.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.91 and a beta of 0.57. The firms 50-day moving average is $85.45 and its 200-day moving average is $84.70. iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Company Profile The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of developed-market equities, ex-US and Canada, selected and weighted to create a low volatility portfolio subject to constraints including sector exposure. EFAV was launched on Oct 18, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFAV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:EFAV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Osaic Holdings Inc. grew its holdings in shares of iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:FXI Free Report) by 307.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 367,316 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 277,229 shares during the quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. owned approximately 0.22% of iShares China Large-Cap ETF worth $13,244,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of FXI. Total Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of iShares China Large-Cap ETF in the second quarter worth about $25,000. Traub Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in iShares China Large-Cap ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $28,000. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in iShares China Large-Cap ETF in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Allworth Financial LP boosted its holdings in shares of iShares China Large-Cap ETF by 1,066.7% during the 2nd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 875 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 800 shares during the last quarter. Finally, ORG Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares China Large-Cap ETF by 100.0% during the 2nd quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 1,000 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares China Large-Cap ETF alerts: iShares China Large-Cap ETF Stock Performance NYSEARCA:FXI opened at $38.60 on Friday. iShares China Large-Cap ETF has a one year low of $28.41 and a one year high of $42.00. The stock has a market cap of $6.52 billion, a PE ratio of 10.78 and a beta of 0.28. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $39.64 and a 200 day moving average price of $38.82. iShares China Large-Cap ETF Company Profile iShares China Large-Cap ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the FTSE China 25 Index (the Underlying Index). The Funds portfolio of sectors include Financials, Telecommunication, Oil & gas, Technology and Consumer goods. The underlying Index is designed to represent the performance of the companies in the Chinese equity market, which are available to the international investors. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares China Large-Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares China Large-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. December 20, 2025: Last month the Russian Defense Ministry discovered that they did not have enough cash to pay all the soldiers or provide money to induce civilians to join the army. The average monthly pay for Russian soldiers in Ukraine is nearly $2,000 a month. Monthly pay can be as high as $5,0000 a month depending on rank and time in service. Most soldiers join after receiving a signing bonus of up to $30,000. The recent inability to pay Russian soldiers was not a complete surprise. Russian government officials knew there were problems with the economy and the cash supply. Nearly four years after invading Ukraine, the Russian defense budget has turned into a monster devastating the economy. This crisis has been brewing since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The increased defense spending and years of economic sanctions have deformed the economy as more is spent on weapons and military needs. This displaces production of civilian goods. High casualties in Ukraine plus the millions of men who left Russia to avoid military service have caused a labor shortage. Military spending also reveals another Russian tradition, corruption in military procurement Corruption is less tolerated and more frequently punished in the civilian economy. Military production does not directly impact civilians and their lives. Now that there is more military spending, corrupt officials are getting rich while the soldiers get shoddy equipment. In the case of winter clothing procured for the soldiers, a lot of that ends up on the black market while the troops go without and the military procurement officials get rich. During the first winter of the war, Russian soldiers overcame these shortages by plundering the Ukrainian economy for cold weather clothing. By the second year of the war that source had dried up and Russian soldiers stayed warm anyway they could, or via winter clothing mailed to them by their families. The cause of all this woe is the escalating expense of the war in Ukraine. The defense budget for 2023 was $75.2 billion while 2024s was $115 billion. For 2025 it will be $140 billion followed by $128 billion in 2026 and $126.6 billion in 2027. In 2023 Russia expected its 2024 government revenue to be a record $349 billion, but instead it was $450 billion. Because of the ailing economy there is less to tax and government budgets are constricting. With rising defense spending these is less left for pensions and other social welfare programs as well as maintain and expanding infrastructure, Less money for roads, canals, ports and railways contributed to the ongoing collapse of the Russian railroad system. Sanctions halted the supply of ball bearings for rail cars and now thousands of these rail cars are useless. This year may see a collapse of the railroad system, which will cause an economic collapse. The government is frantically seeking a solution to their several transportation crises while pretending to There are plans to sustain this level of revenue while keeping Russian military spending at record level. This means more purchases of weapons and equipment from Russian suppliers as well as continuing generous death and disability payments to soldiers or their families. The impact of these payments is obvious on poor regions of Russia that have a lot of men in the military. So many local men have been killed or disabled that the families of the dead are now relatively wealthy and spending money on new cars or upgrading their housing and lifestyles in general. This is intentional because the government is desperate to avoid large-scale dissatisfaction with the war effort. The Russian defense budget is now a wartime budget. For the first time since the Soviet Union collapsed, the defense budget will be six percent of GDP and exceed spending for social welfare programs. Russia plans to maintain this higher defense spending until they win the Ukraine war. That is unlikely to happen because the Ukrainian war effort is subsidized by weapons and military equipment supplied by NATO countries. Collectively, NATO nations account for about half the global GDP. Despite the fact that NATO is far wealthier than Russia, the Russians believe the massive NATO support for Ukraine wont last as long as the Russian determination to prevail. Russia notes that NATO has 31 member states. Not all these nations agree on long-term policy or how much should be spent on continuing support for Ukraine. At the same time, NATO members agree that Ukraine should be allowed to join NATO. That can only happen when the war with Russia is over. At the moment the Ukrainian forces are better armed and equipped than the Russian invaders. That is one reason why Russian forces are largely on the defensive and suffering much higher casualties and equipment losses than the Ukrainians. By spending so much on military production and social welfare, Russia expects to maintain popular support for the war effort. The problem is that Russia does not have enough income to sustain a wartime economy. Spending too much on defense was a major reason why the Soviet Union went bankrupt and collapsed in 1991. It was later discovered that the Soviet government had inadequate financial controls and lacked a realistic financial plan. This was revealed to the world, and most Russians, after 1991. Up until 1991 Russia was spending about 15 percent of GDP on defense, and not enough on more urgent matters like managing the economy prudently in order to avoid a financial collapse. Russian leaders did not believe national bankruptcy would cause the collapse of the Soviet Union. Misunderstanding or ignoring a problem wont solve that problem or eliminate the consequences. December 20, 2025: Last month the Russian Defense Ministry discovered that they did not have enough cash to pay all the soldiers or provide money to induce civilians to join the army. The average monthly pay for Russian soldiers in Ukraine is nearly $2,000 a month. Monthly pay can be as high as $5,0000 a month depending on rank and time in service. Most soldiers join after receiving a signing bonus of up to $30,000. The recent inability to pay Russian soldiers was not a complete surprise. Russian government officials knew there were problems with the economy and the cash supply. Nearly four years after invading Ukraine, the Russian defense budget has turned into a monster devastating the economy. This crisis has been brewing since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The increased defense spending and the years of economic sanctions have deformed the economy as more is spent on weapons and military needs. This displaces production of civilian goods. High casualties in Ukraine plus the millions of men who left Russia to avoid military service have caused a labor shortage. Military spending also reveals another Russian tradition, corruption in military procurement Corruption is less tolerated and more frequently punished in the civilian economy. Military production does not directly impact civilians and their lives. Now that there is more military spending, corrupt officials are getting rich while the soldiers get shoddy equipment. In the case of winter clothing procured for the soldiers, a lot of that ends up on the black market while the troops go without and the military procurement officials get rich. During the first winter of the war, Russian soldiers overcame these shortages by plundering the Ukrainian economy for cold weather clothing. By the second year of the war that source had dried up and Russian soldiers stayed warm anyway they could, or via winter clothing mailed them by their families. The cause of all this woe is the escalating expense of the war in Ukraine. The defense budget for 2023 was $75.2 billion while 2024s was $115 billion. For 2025 it will be $140 billion followed by $128 billion in 2026 and $126.6 billion in 2027. In 2023 Russia expected its 2024 government revenue to be a record $349 billion, but instead it was $450 billion. Because of the ailing economy there is less to tax and government budgets are constricting. With rising defense spending these is less left for pensions and other social welfare programs as well as maintain and expanding infrastructure, Less money for roads, canals, ports and railways contributed to the collapse of the Russian railroad system, Sanctions halted the supply of ball bearings for rail cars and now thousands of these rail cars are useless. This year may see a collapse of the railroad system, which will cause an economic collapse. The government is frantically seeking a solution to their transportation crises while pretending to Russia and the world that the situation is under control. There are plans to sustain this level of revenue while keeping Russian military spending at record level. This means more purchases of weapons and equipment from Russian suppliers as well as continuing generous death and disability payments to soldiers or their families. The impact of these payments is obvious on poor regions of Russia that have a lot of men in the military. So many local men have been killed or disabled that the families of the dead are now relatively wealthy and spending money on new cars or upgrading their housing and lifestyles in general. This is intentional because the government is desperate to avoid large-scale dissatisfaction with the war effort. The Russian defense budget is now a wartime budget. For the first time since the Soviet Union collapsed, the defense budget will be six percent of GDP and exceed spending for social welfare programs. Russia plans to maintain this higher defense spending until they win the Ukraine war. That is unlikely to happen because the Ukrainian war effort is subsidized by weapons and military equipment supplied by NATO countries. Collectively, NATO nations account for about half the global GDP. Despite the fact that NATO is far wealthier than Russia, the Russians believe the massive NATO support for Ukraine wont last as long as the Russian determination to prevail. Russia notes that NATO has 31 member states. Not all these nations agree on long-term policy or how much should be spent on continuing support for Ukraine. At the same time, NATO members agree that Ukraine should be allowed to join NATO. That can only happen when the war with Russia is over. At the moment the Ukrainian forces are better armed and equipped than the Russian invaders. That is one reason why Russian forces are largely on the defensive and suffering much higher casualties and equipment losses than the Ukrainians. By spending so much on military production and social welfare, Russia expects to maintain popular support for the war effort. The problem is that Russia does not have enough income to sustain a wartime economy. Spending too much on defense was a major reason why the Soviet Union went bankrupt and collapsed in 1991. It was later discovered that the Soviet government had inadequate financial controls and lacked a realistic financial plan. This was revealed to the world, and most Russians, after 1991. Up until 1991 Russia was spending about 15 percent of GDP on defense and not enough on more urgent matters like managing the economy prudently in order to avoid a financial collapse. Russian leaders did not believe national bankruptcy would cause the collapse of the Soviet Union. Misunderstanding or ignoring a problem wont solve that problem or eliminate the consequences. Perpetual Ltd grew its stake in shares of Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo Sabesp (NYSE:SBS Free Report) by 116.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,719,250 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 925,684 shares during the quarter. Perpetual Ltd owned 0.25% of Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo Sabesp worth $42,792,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Strs Ohio bought a new position in Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo Sabesp in the first quarter valued at $29,142,000. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its stake in Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo Sabesp by 54.9% during the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 3,152,070 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $69,251,000 after purchasing an additional 1,116,681 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo Sabesp by 159.8% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,280,088 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $22,862,000 after purchasing an additional 787,399 shares in the last quarter. Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda bought a new position in shares of Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo Sabesp during the 2nd quarter valued at about $10,443,000. Finally, Assetmark Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo Sabesp by 32.5% during the 2nd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 962,942 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $21,156,000 after buying an additional 235,962 shares in the last quarter. 10.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo - Sabesp alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets SBS has been the subject of several research reports. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo Sabesp in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo Sabesp from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo Sabesp Trading Up 0.4% Shares of SBS stock opened at $24.57 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $25.16 and a 200 day moving average of $22.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.17. Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo Sabesp has a 1-year low of $14.04 and a 1-year high of $27.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.79 billion, a PE ratio of 13.21, a P/E/G ratio of 3.67 and a beta of 0.80. Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo Sabesp (NYSE:SBS Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 12th. The utilities provider reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.07 by $0.27. The business had revenue of $4.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.07 billion. Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo Sabesp had a return on equity of 16.08% and a net margin of 22.32%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo Sabesp will post 2.17 earnings per share for the current year. Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo Sabesp Company Profile (Free Report) Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo (SABESP) is a Brazilian utility that provides water supply and wastewater collection and treatment services. As the principal sanitation company serving the state of Sao Paulo, SABESP operates a wide range of infrastructure spanning water capture, treatment plants, distribution networks and sewage systems. The companys activities support residential, commercial and industrial customers and are focused on delivering potable water, ensuring water quality and expanding access to sanitation services. SABESPs service offering includes the operation and maintenance of water treatment and sewage treatment facilities, network expansion and rehabilitation, meter reading and billing, customer service and environmental programs aimed at improving sewage treatment rates and protecting water resources. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo - Sabesp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo - Sabesp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp lessened its position in shares of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU Free Report) by 28.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 28,474 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 11,274 shares during the period. Texas Permanent School Fund Corps holdings in Prudential Financial were worth $3,059,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Prudential Financial in the second quarter valued at $122,778,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 42,502,160 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,566,432,000 after acquiring an additional 600,482 shares during the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB raised its position in shares of Prudential Financial by 49.2% during the 2nd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 1,720,781 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $184,192,000 after acquiring an additional 567,571 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in Prudential Financial during the second quarter worth approximately $40,552,000. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board boosted its holdings in Prudential Financial by 209.2% in the second quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 520,025 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $55,871,000 after purchasing an additional 351,849 shares in the last quarter. 56.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Prudential Financial alerts: Insider Activity In other news, Chairman Charles F. Lowrey sold 48,164 shares of Prudential Financial stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.39, for a total value of $5,172,331.96. Following the sale, the chairman owned 165,564 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,779,917.96. The trade was a 22.54% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Timothy L. Schmidt sold 8,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.69, for a total transaction of $861,520.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 11,535 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,242,204.15. The trade was a 40.95% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 62,719 shares of company stock valued at $6,796,067 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.25% of the companys stock. Prudential Financial Stock Down 0.5% Prudential Financial stock opened at $114.97 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $107.05 and a two-hundred day moving average of $105.79. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a twelve month low of $90.38 and a twelve month high of $123.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $40.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.79, a PEG ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a current ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 15th. The financial services provider reported $3.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Prudential Financial had a return on equity of 16.60% and a net margin of 4.65%.The business had revenue of $8.35 billion for the quarter. As a group, research analysts expect that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 14.36 earnings per share for the current year. Prudential Financial Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 11th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 18th were paid a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.7%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 18th. Prudential Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 74.18%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wolfe Research began coverage on shares of Prudential Financial in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. They issued a peer perform rating for the company. Wall Street Zen raised Prudential Financial from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. Barclays reduced their target price on Prudential Financial from $120.00 to $117.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on Prudential Financial from $117.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, Mizuho assumed coverage on Prudential Financial in a research note on Tuesday. They issued a neutral rating and a $125.00 price objective for the company. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $116.80. Read Our Latest Report on Prudential Financial Prudential Financial Profile (Free Report) Prudential Financial, Inc, headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, is a diversified financial services company with roots dating to 1875. The firm provides a range of insurance, retirement and investment products aimed at helping individual and institutional clients manage risk, accumulate and protect wealth, and plan for retirement. Prudentials long history in life insurance and related financial services has positioned it as a major participant in the U.S. insurance market and a provider of services to a broad client base. Prudentials core business activities include individual life insurance, annuities, retirement solutions and group insurance products for employers. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PRU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Prudential Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Prudential Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Regis Co. (NYSE:RGS Get Free Report) Director Michael Merriman sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.00, for a total transaction of $14,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 13,067 shares of the companys stock, valued at $365,876. The trade was a 3.69% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Regis Stock Performance NYSE:RGS opened at $29.00 on Friday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $28.60 and its 200 day simple moving average is $25.17. The company has a current ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67. Regis Co. has a twelve month low of $15.00 and a twelve month high of $31.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $71.92 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.48. Get Regis alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in RGS. Aspire Growth Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Regis by 119.7% in the third quarter. Aspire Growth Partners LLC now owns 32,187 shares of the companys stock valued at $938,000 after purchasing an additional 17,538 shares during the period. Kent Lake PR LLC acquired a new position in Regis in the 2nd quarter worth $412,000. GSA Capital Partners LLP purchased a new position in Regis in the 3rd quarter valued at about $335,000. Diametric Capital LP acquired a new stake in shares of Regis during the second quarter valued at about $233,000. Finally, Mink Brook Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Regis during the third quarter worth about $267,000. 31.50% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Regis Company Profile Regis Corporation is a leading global provider of hair salon services, operating a diverse portfolio of branded businesses across the beauty care industry. The company specializes in professional hair cutting, styling, coloring and treatment services delivered through both company-owned and franchised locations. With a focus on affordability, convenience and quality, Regis serves individual consumers seeking personal grooming solutions as well as franchisees looking for established salon concepts. The companys brand portfolio includes nationally recognized names such as Supercuts, Cost Cutters, SmartStyle (located inside Walmart stores) and Roosters Mens Grooming Center, among others. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Regis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Regis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. California International Bank, N.A. (OTCMKTS:CAIB Get Free Report) and Private Bancorp of America (OTCMKTS:PBAM Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, dividends, earnings, institutional ownership and risk. Volatility & Risk California International Bank, N.A. has a beta of -1.39, suggesting that its stock price is 239% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Private Bancorp of America has a beta of 0.1, suggesting that its stock price is 90% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get California International Bank N.A. alerts: Institutional and Insider Ownership 13.5% of Private Bancorp of America shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Earnings & Valuation Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio California International Bank, N.A. $5.09 million N/A N/A N/A N/A Private Bancorp of America $161.24 million 2.04 $35.82 million $7.04 8.16 This table compares California International Bank, N.A. and Private Bancorp of Americas top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Private Bancorp of America has higher revenue and earnings than California International Bank, N.A.. Profitability This table compares California International Bank, N.A. and Private Bancorp of Americas net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets California International Bank, N.A. N/A N/A N/A Private Bancorp of America 24.04% 17.10% 1.66% Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current ratings for California International Bank, N.A. and Private Bancorp of America, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score California International Bank, N.A. 0 0 0 0 0.00 Private Bancorp of America 0 1 1 1 3.00 Private Bancorp of America has a consensus target price of $74.00, indicating a potential upside of 28.81%. Given Private Bancorp of Americas stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Private Bancorp of America is more favorable than California International Bank, N.A.. Summary Private Bancorp of America beats California International Bank, N.A. on 10 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks. About California International Bank, N.A. (Get Free Report) California International Bank, N.A. provides various banking products and services to personal and business customers in California. It offers checking accounts, savings and investment products, loans, ATM and debit cards, payment processing solutions, and online banking services. California International Bank, N.A. was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Westminster, California. About Private Bancorp of America (Get Free Report) Private Bancorp of America, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for CalPrivate Bank that provides banking products and services to individuals and businesses in California. The company offers checking and savings, money market, certificate of deposit, sweep, zero balance, and individual retirement accounts; unsecured lines of credit, personal credit lines, and term loans; additional services, such as direct deposits, online banking, ATM and debit cards, credit cards, savings/line of credit overdraft protection, and safe deposit boxes; and certificate of deposit account registry services. It also provides treasury management, merchant card, bill pay, positive pay, e-statement, remote deposit capture, ACH origination, wire transfer, electronic payments and collections, electronic check acceptance, account reconciliation, cash vault, and gift and business credit cards, as well as funds management services. In addition, the company offers term credit facilities and loans, equipment and business expansion loans, working capital lines of credit, commercial real estate financing, construction financing, letters of credit, business start-up loans, loans for business acquisition and partner buyouts, owner-occupied commercial real estate loans, equipment, furniture and fixture, and other loans; and CDARS And ICS products. Further, it provides wealth management and legal services. The company has offices in La Jolla, San Diego, Coronado, Newport Beach, Beverly Hills, El Segundo, Temecula, Mission Valley, and Redlands. Private Bancorp of America, Inc. was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in La Jolla, California. Receive News & Ratings for California International Bank N.A. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for California International Bank N.A. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Sandvik AB (OTCMKTS:SDVKY Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $31.92 and last traded at $31.8150, with a volume of 4041 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $30.49. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have weighed in on SDVKY. Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Sandvik in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Sandvik in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Zacks Research downgraded Sandvik from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. Barclays reissued an overweight rating on shares of Sandvik in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Finally, Pareto Securities lowered Sandvik from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, October 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Get Sandvik alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on SDVKY Sandvik Stock Up 0.6% The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.78. The company has a market capitalization of $40.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.33, a PEG ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.52. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $30.28 and a 200 day moving average price of $26.82. Sandvik (OTCMKTS:SDVKY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 20th. The industrial products company reported $0.30 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.32 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $3.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $29.69 billion. Sandvik had a net margin of 12.24% and a return on equity of 16.30%. Equities research analysts forecast that Sandvik AB will post 1.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sandvik Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Rhumbline Advisers raised its stake in Sandvik by 13.9% in the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 37,269 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $788,000 after acquiring an additional 4,562 shares during the last quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Sandvik by 15.9% in the second quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 22,037 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $502,000 after purchasing an additional 3,030 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in shares of Sandvik by 24.8% in the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 7,406 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $208,000 after purchasing an additional 1,473 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Salomon & Ludwin LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Sandvik by 3,795.5% during the third quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 857 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 835 shares during the period. 0.74% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Sandvik (Get Free Report) Sandvik (OTCMKTS: SDVKY) is a global engineering group headquartered in Sandviken, Sweden, with roots dating back to 1862 when it was founded by Goran Fredrik Goransson. The company designs, manufactures and services advanced products and solutions for the mining and construction industries, metalworking and material technology markets. Sandvik serves customers worldwide with a broad portfolio of industrial products, equipment and aftermarket services. Sandviks core activities span three broad areas: metal-cutting and machining solutions, mining and rock excavation equipment, and specialty materials and components. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Sandvik Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sandvik and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Secure Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IWD Free Report) by 208.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,765 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 7,956 shares during the period. Secure Asset Management LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF were worth $2,399,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Truvestments Capital LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF during the first quarter worth about $25,000. GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. Advantage Trust Co acquired a new stake in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. RMG Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Access Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.93% of the companys stock. Get iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF alerts: iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF Stock Up 0.4% iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF stock opened at $209.88 on Friday. iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF has a 52-week low of $163.19 and a 52-week high of $213.53. The firm has a market capitalization of $66.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.83 and a beta of 0.89. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $206.30 and a 200-day moving average of $200.65. iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF Company Profile iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the large capitalization value sector of the U.S. equity market, as represented by the Russell 1000 Value Index (the Index). The Index represents approximately 50% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 1000 Index. The Index measures the large-capital value sector of the United States equity market. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IWD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Secure Asset Management LLC raised its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM Free Report) by 12.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 16,674 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,893 shares during the quarter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing makes up 0.8% of Secure Asset Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest position. Secure Asset Management LLCs holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $4,810,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Powers Advisory Group LLC bought a new position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 2nd quarter valued at about $240,000. Hudson Edge Investment Partners Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 10.1% during the second quarter. Hudson Edge Investment Partners Inc. now owns 236,503 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $53,566,000 after purchasing an additional 21,648 shares during the last quarter. RFG Holdings Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 66.1% during the second quarter. RFG Holdings Inc. now owns 3,898 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $883,000 after purchasing an additional 1,551 shares during the last quarter. Duquesne Family Office LLC lifted its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 456.9% during the first quarter. Duquesne Family Office LLC now owns 598,780 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $99,397,000 after purchasing an additional 491,265 shares during the period. Finally, Cherokee Insurance Co purchased a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in the second quarter worth approximately $1,248,000. Institutional investors own 16.51% of the companys stock. Get Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth TSM has been the subject of a number of research reports. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $290.00 to $330.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Sunday, December 7th. Susquehanna upped their price objective on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $300.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research report on Friday, October 10th. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Monday. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $330.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reissued a buy rating and issued a $360.00 price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Monday, October 27th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $355.00. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing this week: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Up 1.7% TSM opened at $289.41 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $1.50 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 2.47 and a current ratio of 2.69. The firms fifty day moving average is $292.52 and its 200 day moving average is $259.45. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a fifty-two week low of $134.25 and a fifty-two week high of $313.98. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 16th. The semiconductor company reported $2.92 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.59 by $0.33. The business 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 34.34% and a net margin of 43.72%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 40.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.94 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be given a dividend of $0.9678 per share. This is a positive change from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. This represents a $3.87 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 17th. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 25.85%. About Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (Free Report) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is a leading pure-play semiconductor foundry that provides wafer fabrication and related services to the global semiconductor industry. Founded in 1987 by Morris Chang and headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, TSMC manufactures integrated circuits on behalf of fabless and integrated device manufacturers, offering contract chip production across a broad set of technologies and products. TSMCs service offering covers logic and mixed-signal process technologies, specialty processes for radio-frequency, power management and embedded memory, and advanced nodes used in mobile, high-performance computing and AI applications. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TSM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Tower Corporation (NYSE:AMT Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 41,957 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock, valued at approximately $8,069,000. Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of American Tower during the 2nd quarter worth $1,371,875,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in American Tower by 24.3% in the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 12,666,082 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,799,458,000 after purchasing an additional 2,474,328 shares in the last quarter. Viking Global Investors LP lifted its position in American Tower by 233.5% during the second quarter. Viking Global Investors LP now owns 2,797,125 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $618,221,000 after purchasing an additional 1,958,329 shares during the period. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. acquired a new stake in American Tower during the first quarter worth about $162,127,000. Finally, Amundi raised its position in shares of American Tower by 35.5% in the 1st quarter. Amundi now owns 2,838,421 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $645,694,000 after buying an additional 743,617 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.69% of the companys stock. Get American Tower alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages recently issued reports on AMT. TD Cowen decreased their price objective on shares of American Tower from $249.00 to $235.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on American Tower from $250.00 to $230.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of American Tower in a research note on Monday. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $220.00 target price on shares of American Tower in a research report on Friday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of American Tower from $255.00 to $250.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $226.67. American Tower Trading Down 1.1% Shares of AMT stock opened at $172.35 on Friday. American Tower Corporation has a twelve month low of $171.95 and a twelve month high of $234.33. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $181.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $199.24. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $80.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.53, a P/E/G ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 0.91. American Tower (NYSE:AMT Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The real estate investment trust reported $2.78 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.64 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $2.72 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.65 billion. American Tower had a return on equity of 28.79% and a net margin of 28.11%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 7.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.52 earnings per share. American Tower has set its FY 2025 guidance at 10.600-10.720 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that American Tower Corporation will post 10.14 EPS for the current fiscal year. American Tower Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, December 29th will be given a dividend of $1.70 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 29th. This represents a $6.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.9%. American Towers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 108.63%. Insider Buying and Selling In other American Tower news, major shareholder Tower Corp /Ma/ American sold 2,288,621 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.75, for a total transaction of $159,631,314.75. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 211,379 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,743,685.25. The trade was a 91.54% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Eugene F. Reilly purchased 5,554 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 31st. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $178.99 per share, with a total value of $994,110.46. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 5,689 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,018,274.11. The trade was a 4,114.07% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock. American Tower Profile (Free Report) American Tower (NYSE: AMT) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns, operates and develops wireless and broadcast communications infrastructure. The companys core business is leasing space on communications sites including towers, rooftops and other structures to wireless carriers, broadcasters, government agencies and enterprise customers. Its business model centers on long-term site leases and contracts that provide recurring revenue tied to the footprint and density of wireless networks. Beyond traditional tower assets, American Tower offers a range of infrastructure and network services to support mobile, broadband and broadcast connectivity. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for American Tower Corporation (NYSE:AMT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for American Tower Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Tower and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sky Investment Group LLC grew its position in shares of Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE:HRL Free Report) by 120.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 79,490 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 43,460 shares during the quarter. Sky Investment Group LLCs holdings in Hormel Foods were worth $1,967,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. MUFG Securities EMEA plc bought a new stake in Hormel Foods during the second quarter worth $26,000. Caldwell Trust Co bought a new position in Hormel Foods in the 2nd quarter valued at $30,000. Cromwell Holdings LLC increased its position in shares of Hormel Foods by 162.7% during the 2nd quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC now owns 1,001 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 620 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of Hormel Foods during the 1st quarter worth $41,000. Finally, Assetmark Inc. raised its stake in shares of Hormel Foods by 1,490.7% during the 2nd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,543 shares of the companys stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 1,446 shares during the period. 40.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Hormel Foods alerts: Hormel Foods Stock Performance NYSE HRL opened at $23.65 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $13.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a quick ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 2.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The companys 50 day moving average is $23.09 and its 200-day moving average is $26.31. Hormel Foods Corporation has a 12-month low of $21.03 and a 12-month high of $32.07. Hormel Foods Increases Dividend Hormel Foods ( NYSE:HRL Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 4th. The company reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.30 by $0.02. Hormel Foods had a net margin of 3.95% and a return on equity of 9.41%. The company had revenue of $3.19 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.24 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.42 EPS. Hormel Foodss revenue for the quarter was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. Hormel Foods has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.430-1.51 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Hormel Foods Corporation will post 1.65 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 17th. Investors of record on Monday, January 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.2925 per share. This represents a $1.17 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.9%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 12th. This is a positive change from Hormel Foodss previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Hormel Foodss dividend payout ratio is presently 133.33%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler restated a neutral rating and set a $26.00 price target (up previously from $25.00) on shares of Hormel Foods in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d+) rating on shares of Hormel Foods in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $27.00 price target on shares of Hormel Foods and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Barclays set a $30.00 price target on shares of Hormel Foods and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Finally, Zacks Research lowered Hormel Foods from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Friday, August 29th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $28.29. Read Our Latest Research Report on HRL Hormel Foods Company Profile (Free Report) Hormel Foods Corporation is a global branded foods company primarily engaged in the production, marketing and distribution of value-added, high-quality meat and food products. The companys portfolio spans a range of categories including refrigerated and frozen meats, pantry staples, specialty foods and shelf-stable items. Through manufacturing facilities located across North America and international markets, Hormel Foods supplies retail grocers, foodservice operators, convenience stores and e-commerce platforms. Among its best-known brands, Hormel Foods produces SPAM canned meats, Jennie-O turkey products, Skippy peanut butter and Applegate natural and organic meats. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HRL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE:HRL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Hormel Foods Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hormel Foods and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Soitec SA (OTCMKTS:SLOIY Get Free Report)s share price rose 9.9% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $14.4250 and last traded at $14.4250. Approximately 131 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 28% from the average daily volume of 183 shares. The stock had previously closed at $13.13. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Citigroup restated a sell rating on shares of Soitec in a research report on Monday, November 24th. UBS Group cut Soitec from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, November 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Soitec presently has an average rating of Hold. Get Soitec alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Soitec Soitec Price Performance Soitec Company Profile The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $18.91 and its 200-day simple moving average is $22.08. (Get Free Report) Soitec is a France-based technology company specializing in the design and manufacture of advanced semiconductor materials. The company pioneered Smart Cut technology, which enables the production of Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) wafers and other engineered substrates with superior electrical and thermal properties. Founded in 1992 as a spin-off from the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), Soitec has grown into a leading supplier of high-performance materials for the global electronics industry. Soitecs product portfolio includes RF-SOI substrates for 5G and mobile communications, Power-SOI for energy-efficient power management, and FD-SOI for ultra-low-power applications in IoT and automotive markets. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Soitec Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Soitec and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. December 20, 2025: Last month Indian Maoist rebels operating throughout portions of eastern Maoist leaders sought a three month truce with India so the Maoists widely dispersed units could surrender and join government rehabilitation programs. These programs have been operating for years to help surrendering Maoists and other miscreants rehabilitate themselves and return to a normal life. A day after this plan was announced, the Maoist Central Military Commission urged the armed Maoist members to resume fighting. But first they must participate in the annual People's Liberation Guerrilla Army/PLGA Week that begins on December 2nd. What follows are small gatherings of Maoists and working with potential new recruits. This years PLGA is the 25th to be observed. This is important for the Maoists because in the last year they have suffered heavy casualties and many defeats while fighting government forces. Meanwhile, those forces are organizing large scale surrenders of Maoist fighters who are dismayed at their lack of combat success and willing to try the government rehabilitation. Maoist leaders are encouraging their armed Maoists to fight to the end. The government believes it will have eliminated the Maoist rebel movement in the next year or two. Earlier this year in eastern India, the Communist Party of India/CPI was accused of trying to revive its violent radical faction, the recently depleted Maoist communist rebels. The CPI is legal in India. Its leaders do not approve of Maoist violence and have cooperated with Indian efforts to keep the Maoists from rebuilding their strength and ability to launch attacks. There are still Maoist factions in eastern India, but the Maoists are found in fewer areas. During 2022 and 2023 there were fewer deaths attributed to Maoist activity. That changed in 2024 when terrorism related deaths increased fifty percent to over 600. These numbers declined in 2025. The CPI has less control over its armed radical faction that is responsible for most of these deaths. Indias communist Maoist rebels were once considered one of the most dangerous terrorist groups worldwide. Total deaths caused by the Maoists was lower in 2023 than 2022 when they were 98. Such deaths were 147 in 2021. Terrorism related deaths in India also include Islamic terrorists in northwest Indian Kashmir and tribal rebels in the northeast. The Maoists operate in eastern India, and the areas where they are active have shrunk considerably over the last decade because of energetic government efforts to eliminate them. So far in 2025 there have been over 300 deaths. In 2024 there were 828 deaths while in 2023 there were fewer than 400 deaths in India from all forms of terrorism, compared to 434 in 2022, 585 in 2021, 621 in 2019 and 940 in 2018. In 2020 54 percent of the dead were in Kashmir, which was higher than usual. In most years non-Islamic terrorist violence accounts for most of the violence, but in 2020 leftist Maoist rebels in eastern India only accounted for 41 percent of the deaths with five percent caused by tribal separatists in the northeast. The decline in Maoist activity began in 2009 when India assigned 75,000 additional police to deal with the Maoists. Initially this did not increase Maoist losses but did result in more dead policemen. The Maoists did lose many of their rural camps and, in general, were forced to devote more time to security and less to attacking the government or extorting money from businesses. As always, the government had failed to effectively address the social and economic problems i Eventually the government did address the local social and economic problems, and this is what deprived the Maoists of areas where they could operate. The police efforts continued and now the Maoists are only active in a small portion of eastern India, where they are more concerned with surviving than expanding or attacking the police. Civilians in Maoist-infested areas are less afraid of providing police with information about Maoist movements or joining pro-government militias to resist Maoist operations. It also became easier to recruit Maoist members to become active informants. These spies are paid monthly, and the sudden affluence of their families often alerts Maoist leaders to the presence of police informants. While details about informants are kept secret, the losses suffered because police had inside information is often obvious. The Maoist decline has demoralized leftist leaders, who have not been able to come up with any way to halt or reverse the losses. Maoists are a radical faction of the once mighty Indian communist party. Many Indian communists were slow to understand why all those East European communist governments, including Russia, collapsed between 1989 and 1991. Despite that many Indians still support communism, but not the violent, ineffective, and increasingly unpopular Maoists. December 20, 2025: Last month Indian Maoist rebels operating throughout portions of eastern Maoist leaders sought a three month truce with India so its widely dispersed units could surrender and join government rehabilitation programs. These programs have been operating for years to help surrendering Maoists and other miscreants rehabilitate themselves and return to a normal life. A day after this plan was announced, the Maoist Central Military Commission urged the armed Maoist members to resume fighting. But first they must participate in the annual People's Liberation Guerrilla Army/PLGA Week that begins on December 2nd. What follows is small gatherings of Maoists and working with potential new recruits, This years PLGA is the 25th to be observed. This is important for the Maoists because in the last year they have suffered heavy casualties and many defeats while fighting government forces. Meanwhile, those forces are organizing large scale surrenders of Maoist fighters who are dismayed at their lack of combat success and willing to try the government rehabilitation. Maoist leaders are encouraging their armed Maoists to fight to the end. The government believes it will have eliminated the Maoist rebel movement in the next year or two. Earlier this year in eastern India, the Communist Party of India/CPI was accused of trying to revive its violent radical faction, the recently depleted Maoist communist rebels. The CPI is legal in India and the leaders of the CPI do not approve of Maoist violence and have cooperated with Indian efforts to keep the Maoists from rebuilding their strength and ability to launch attacks. There are still Maoist factions in eastern India, but the Maoists are found in fewer areas. During 2022 and 2023 there were fewer deaths attributed to Maoist activity. That changed in 2024 when terrorism related deaths increased fifty percent to over 600. These numbers declined in 2025 The CPI has less control over its armed radical faction that is responsible for most of these deaths. Indias communist Maoist rebels were once considered one of the most dangerous terrorist groups worldwide. Total deaths caused by the Maoists was lower in 2023 than 2022 when they were 98. Such deaths were 147 in 2021. Terrorism related deaths in India also include Islamic terrorists in northwest Indian Kashmir and tribal rebels in the northeast. The Maoists operate in eastern India, and the areas where they are active have shrunk considerably over the last decade because of energetic government efforts to eliminate them. So far in 2025 there have been over 300 deaths. In 2024 there were 828 deaths while in 2023 there were fewer than 400 deaths in India from all forms of terrorism, compared to 434 in 2022, 585 in 2021, 621 in 2019 and 940 in 2018. In 2020 54 percent of the dead were in Kashmir, which was higher than usual. In most years non-Islamic terrorist violence accounts for most of the violence, but in 2020 leftist Maoist rebels in eastern India only accounted for 41 percent of the deaths with five percent caused by tribal separatists in the northeast. The decline in Maoist activity began in 2009 when India assigned 75,000 additional police to deal with the Maoists. Initially this did not increase Maoist losses but did result in more dead policemen. The Maoists did lose many of their rural camps and, in general, were forced to devote more time to security and less to attacking the government or extorting money from businesses. As always, the government had failed to effectively address the social and economic problems in the countryside, where feudalism and corruption are rampant. These problems provided the Maoists with recruits, and support from many of the locals. Eventually the government did address the local social and economic problems, and this is what deprived the Maoists of areas where they could operate. The police efforts continued and now the Maoists are only active in a small portion of eastern India, where they are more concerned with surviving than expanding or attacking the police. Civilians in Maoist-infested areas are less afraid of providing police with information about Maoist movements or joining pro-government militias to resist Maoist operations. It also became easier to recruit Maoist members to become active informants. These spies are paid monthly, and the sudden affluence of their families often alerts Maoist leaders to the presence of police informants. While details about informants are kept secret, the losses suffered because police had inside information is often obvious. The Maoist decline has demoralized leftist leaders, who have not been able to come up with any way to halt or reverse the losses. Maoists are a radical faction of the once mighty Indian communist party. Many Indian communists were slow to understand why all those East European communist governments, including Russia, collapsed between 1989 and 1991. Despite that many Indians still support communism, but not the violent, ineffective, and increasingly unpopular Maoists. Stantec Inc. (NYSE:STN Get Free Report) (TSE:STN) saw unusually-high trading volume on Thursday . Approximately 698,135 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 283% from the previous sessions volume of 182,450 shares.The stock last traded at $92.5640 and had previously closed at $92.03. Analyst Ratings Changes STN has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Scotiabank reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Stantec in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Stantec in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Stantec from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Saturday, December 13th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Stantec from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Finally, Desjardins reissued a buy rating on shares of Stantec in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Stantec currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Get Stantec alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on STN Stantec Price Performance The firm has a market capitalization of $10.74 billion, a PE ratio of 30.97 and a beta of 1.10. The firms fifty day moving average price is $102.67 and its 200 day moving average price is $106.69. The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. Stantec (NYSE:STN Get Free Report) (TSE:STN) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 13th. The business services provider reported $1.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.11. The company had revenue of $1.24 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.71 billion. Stantec had a net margin of 6.06% and a return on equity of 17.37%. Stantec has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.784-3.880 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Stantec Inc. will post 3.05 earnings per share for the current year. Stantec Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be issued a $0.225 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 31st. This is a boost from Stantecs previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. This represents a $0.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.0%. Stantecs dividend payout ratio is presently 21.71%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Stantec A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in STN. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Stantec by 3.2% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,873,421 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $525,584,000 after buying an additional 152,170 shares in the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its position in shares of Stantec by 28.8% during the 1st quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 4,309,182 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $359,131,000 after acquiring an additional 964,188 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can increased its stake in shares of Stantec by 6.6% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 3,566,821 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $384,584,000 after purchasing an additional 219,733 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. raised its holdings in Stantec by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 3,475,699 shares of the business services providers stock worth $374,680,000 after purchasing an additional 26,388 shares during the period. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in Stantec by 0.3% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 3,017,230 shares of the business services providers stock worth $249,946,000 after purchasing an additional 8,268 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.86% of the companys stock. Stantec Company Profile (Get Free Report) Stantec is a global design and consulting firm offering professional services in engineering, architecture, and environmental sciences. The company partners with public and private clients to deliver solutions spanning infrastructure, water, energy and resources, and community development. Through an integrated approach, Stantec manages projects from initial planning and conceptual design through construction and commissioning, focusing on sustainability and innovation. The firms service portfolio includes civil infrastructure design, building systems engineering, environmental assessments, and project management. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Stantec Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stantec and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY Get Free Report) had its price objective upped by Stephens from $21.00 to $23.00 in a research report issued on Thursday,MarketScreener reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the financial services providers stock. Stephens price target would indicate a potential upside of 9.58% from the companys previous close. A number of other research firms have also recently commented on KEY. DA Davidson lifted their price target on KeyCorp from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a positive rating on shares of KeyCorp in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on KeyCorp from $19.00 to $19.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. UBS Group raised their price target on KeyCorp from $22.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of KeyCorp from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, KeyCorp has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $21.62. Get KeyCorp alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on KEY KeyCorp Stock Up 0.2% NYSE:KEY opened at $20.99 on Thursday. KeyCorp has a twelve month low of $12.73 and a twelve month high of $21.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.62 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $18.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $18.14. KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.38 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $1.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.87 billion. KeyCorp had a net margin of 10.08% and a return on equity of 10.14%. The firms revenue was up 172.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned ($0.47) earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that KeyCorp will post 1.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On KeyCorp Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in shares of KeyCorp by 90.2% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 36,370,694 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $679,768,000 after acquiring an additional 17,245,128 shares during the period. Capital World Investors grew its stake in KeyCorp by 169.2% during the third quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 20,788,957 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $388,546,000 after buying an additional 13,067,326 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in KeyCorp in the 2nd quarter valued at about $195,642,000. HoldCo Asset Management LP bought a new position in KeyCorp in the 2nd quarter valued at about $86,995,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in shares of KeyCorp by 123.4% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 7,182,671 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $125,122,000 after buying an additional 3,967,544 shares in the last quarter. 79.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. KeyCorp Company Profile (Get Free Report) KeyCorp is a bank holding company headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, that operates through its primary banking subsidiary, KeyBank. It provides a broad range of banking and financial services to individual consumers, small businesses, middle-market companies and large corporations. KeyBanks offerings span traditional deposit and lending products as well as more specialized financial solutions designed for commercial and institutional clients. The companys product and service mix includes retail banking products such as checking and savings accounts, consumer and residential mortgage lending, and auto financing. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for KeyCorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for KeyCorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Swedbank AB (OTCMKTS:SWDBY Get Free Report) has received an average rating of Reduce from the seven analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have issued a hold recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Swedbank from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Morgan Stanley restated an underweight rating on shares of Swedbank in a report on Monday, November 24th. Zacks Research raised Swedbank from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. Citigroup reissued a neutral rating on shares of Swedbank in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. Finally, Barclays restated an underweight rating on shares of Swedbank in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Get Swedbank alerts: Read Our Latest Report on SWDBY Swedbank Price Performance Shares of SWDBY opened at SEK 34.12 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $38.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.81 and a beta of 0.65. The businesss fifty day moving average is SEK 31.43 and its 200 day moving average is SEK 29.02. The company has a quick ratio of 1.50, a current ratio of 1.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.83. Swedbank has a 12-month low of SEK 19.15 and a 12-month high of SEK 34.21. Swedbank (OTCMKTS:SWDBY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 23rd. The financial services provider reported SEK 0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of SEK 0.64 by SEK 0.15. The firm had revenue of SEK 1.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of SEK 1.73 billion. Swedbank had a net margin of 26.30% and a return on equity of 15.55%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Swedbank will post 2.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Swedbank Company Profile (Get Free Report) Swedbank AB is a major Swedish banking group headquartered in Stockholm that provides a broad range of financial services to retail, corporate and institutional clients. The banks operations focus on traditional banking functions such as deposit-taking, lending and payment services, as well as wealth management and insurance solutions. Swedbanks franchise is centered on serving households, small and medium-sized enterprises and larger corporate customers, with an emphasis on everyday banking and long-term client relationships. Products and services offered by Swedbank include savings and current accounts, mortgages and consumer lending, business loans and transaction banking, payment and card services, and digital banking platforms. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Swedbank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Swedbank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp reduced its position in National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE:NFG Free Report) by 32.1% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 37,338 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after selling 17,620 shares during the quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corps holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $3,163,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group bought a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the second quarter valued at $30,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas by 316.7% in the 1st quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 400 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 304 shares during the period. Golden State Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 355.1% during the 2nd quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 405 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 316 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. boosted its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 60.1% during the 2nd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 613 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $52,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S acquired a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the first quarter worth approximately $55,000. Institutional investors own 73.96% of the companys stock. Get National Fuel Gas alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets NFG has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of National Fuel Gas in a research note on Monday. Scotiabank lowered shares of National Fuel Gas from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and upped their price objective for the company from $102.00 to $106.00 in a report on Thursday, October 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $98.00. National Fuel Gas Stock Performance Shares of NFG stock opened at $81.16 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 0.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $81.51 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $84.81. National Fuel Gas Company has a 12 month low of $59.01 and a 12 month high of $94.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.34 billion, a PE ratio of 14.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 0.60. National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.08 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $466.28 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $534.57 million. National Fuel Gas had a net margin of 22.86% and a return on equity of 21.76%. The businesss revenue was up 22.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.77 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that National Fuel Gas Company will post 6.64 EPS for the current fiscal year. National Fuel Gas Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.535 per share. This represents a $2.14 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 31st. National Fuel Gass payout ratio is currently 37.68%. About National Fuel Gas (Free Report) National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE: NFG) is a diversified energy company engaged primarily in the production, gathering, transmission, distribution and marketing of natural gas. The company operates through four principal segments: Exploration & Production, Pipeline & Storage, Utilities, and Energy Marketing. Its integrated asset base spans upstream development in the Appalachian Basin, regional pipeline networks, underground storage facilities, and regulated utility distribution systems. In its Exploration & Production segment, National Fuel Gas focuses on developing natural gas reserves in the Marcellus and Utica shales, leveraging modern drilling and completion techniques. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NFG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE:NFG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for National Fuel Gas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for National Fuel Gas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Celsius, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Canadian Solar, Canadian Natural Resources, Canadian National Railway, Unifirst, and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce are the seven Canadian stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Canadian stocks are equity shares of companies that are incorporated in Canada or whose primary business activities are based there, and are commonly listed on Canadian exchanges such as the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) or TSX Venture Exchange. For investors these stocks are typically priced in Canadian dollars and subject to Canadian securities laws and market factors, offering opportunities for dividends and capital appreciation while exposing holders to company, sector (e.g., energy, materials, financials) and country-specific risks including currency fluctuations. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Canadian stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: Celsius (CELH) Celsius Holdings, Inc. develops, processes, markets, distributes, and sells functional energy drinks and liquid supplements in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canadian, European, Middle Eastern, Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company offers CELSIUS, a fitness drink or supplement designed to accelerate metabolism and burn body fat; various flavors and carbonated and non-carbonated functional energy drinks under the CELSIUS Originals and Vibe name, as well as functional energy drink under the CELSIUS Essentials and CELSIUS On-the-Go Powder names; and CELSIUS ready-to drink products. Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The company transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; merchandise freight, such as forest products, energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals, consumer products, and automotive; and intermodal traffic comprising retail goods in overseas containers. Read Our Latest Research Report on CP Canadian Solar (CSIQ) Canadian Solar Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides solar energy and battery energy storage products and solutions in in Asia, the Americas, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, CSI Solar and Recurrent Energy. The CSI Solar segment designs, develops, and manufactures solar ingots, wafers, cells, modules, and other solar power and battery storage products. Read Our Latest Research Report on CSIQ Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO). Read Our Latest Research Report on CNQ Canadian National Railway (CNI) Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail, intermodal, trucking, and marine transportation and logistics business in Canada and the United States. The company provides rail services, which include equipment, custom brokerage services, transloading and distribution, business development and real estate, and private car storage services; and intermodal services, such as temperature controlled cargo, port partnerships, and logistics parks. Read Our Latest Research Report on CNI Unifirst (UNF) UniFirst Corporation provides workplace uniforms and protective work wear clothing in the United States, Europe, and Canada. The company operates through U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning, Manufacturing, Specialty Garments Rental and Cleaning, and First Aid segments. It designs, manufactures, personalizes, rents, cleans, delivers, and sells a range of uniforms and protective clothing, including shirts, pants, jackets, coveralls, lab coats, smocks, and aprons; and specialized protective wear, such as flame resistant and high visibility garments. Read Our Latest Research Report on UNF Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S. Read Our Latest Research Report on CM Recommended Stories Toth Financial Advisory Corp increased its stake in shares of Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE:WTRG Free Report) by 15.9% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 127,799 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 17,504 shares during the quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corps holdings in Essential Utilities were worth $5,099,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in Essential Utilities in the 2nd quarter valued at about $102,347,000. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. grew its position in shares of Essential Utilities by 1,572.4% in the second quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 1,271,201 shares of the companys stock valued at $47,212,000 after purchasing an additional 1,195,189 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Essential Utilities by 2.3% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 30,407,634 shares of the companys stock worth $1,129,340,000 after purchasing an additional 693,988 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Essential Utilities by 851.4% during the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 717,716 shares of the companys stock worth $26,541,000 after purchasing an additional 642,277 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in Essential Utilities by 73.2% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,336,424 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,635,000 after purchasing an additional 564,799 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.78% of the companys stock. Get Essential Utilities alerts: Essential Utilities Stock Down 2.0% Shares of NYSE WTRG opened at $37.89 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.72 and a beta of 0.81. The stocks fifty day moving average is $39.36 and its 200 day moving average is $38.58. Essential Utilities Inc. has a 52 week low of $33.18 and a 52 week high of $42.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 0.60. Essential Utilities Announces Dividend Essential Utilities ( NYSE:WTRG Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported $0.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.27 by $0.06. Essential Utilities had a net margin of 28.09% and a return on equity of 10.20%. The firm had revenue of $476.97 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $472.40 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.25 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Essential Utilities Inc. will post 1.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 12th were given a dividend of $0.3426 per share. This represents a $1.37 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.6%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, November 12th. Essential Utilitiess payout ratio is currently 56.85%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In WTRG has been the topic of several recent research reports. Janney Montgomery Scott cut Essential Utilities from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of Essential Utilities in a research report on Monday. Barclays set a $38.00 price target on shares of Essential Utilities and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Essential Utilities from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, October 11th. Finally, Baird R W lowered shares of Essential Utilities from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Essential Utilities has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $43.29. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on WTRG About Essential Utilities (Free Report) Essential Utilities, Inc, formerly known as Aqua America, is a publicly traded water and natural gas utility holding company. Through its regulated water and wastewater subsidiaries, the company provides essential water services to residential, commercial and industrial customers. In addition, Essential Utilities delivers natural gas distribution services in Pennsylvania through its Peoples Gas subsidiary, offering integrated utility solutions under a unified corporate framework. The company traces its roots to the Philadelphia Suburban Water Company, founded in 1886 to serve growing communities outside Philadelphia. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WTRG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE:WTRG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Essential Utilities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Essential Utilities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR Free Report) by 19.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 133,547 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 21,857 shares during the period. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Equity Residential were worth $8,644,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Equity Residential by 5.8% during the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 14,035 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,005,000 after buying an additional 769 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in Equity Residential by 312.9% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 235,753 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $16,875,000 after purchasing an additional 178,660 shares in the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new stake in Equity Residential in the 1st quarter valued at about $144,000. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S increased its holdings in shares of Equity Residential by 48.0% during the first quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S now owns 11,720 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $839,000 after purchasing an additional 3,800 shares during the period. Finally, Credit Agricole S A raised its position in shares of Equity Residential by 8.3% in the first quarter. Credit Agricole S A now owns 97,305 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $6,965,000 after buying an additional 7,425 shares in the last quarter. 92.68% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Equity Residential alerts: Equity Residential Stock Performance Shares of Equity Residential stock opened at $61.47 on Friday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $60.92 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $64.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.29, a P/E/G ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.75. Equity Residential has a fifty-two week low of $58.38 and a fifty-two week high of $75.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 0.45 and a quick ratio of 0.45. Equity Residential Dividend Announcement Equity Residential ( NYSE:EQR Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.02. The company had revenue of $782.41 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $779.68 million. Equity Residential had a return on equity of 10.30% and a net margin of 37.58%.During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.98 EPS. Equity Residential has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 1.020-1.060 EPS and its FY 2025 guidance at 3.980-4.020 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Equity Residential will post 3.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 2nd will be paid a $0.6925 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 2nd. This represents a $2.77 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.5%. Equity Residentials dividend payout ratio is currently 91.42%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages recently issued reports on EQR. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Equity Residential in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. BNP Paribas Exane cut Equity Residential from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $79.75 price objective on shares of Equity Residential in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on shares of Equity Residential from $75.00 to $70.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Finally, Mizuho dropped their target price on shares of Equity Residential from $66.00 to $65.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Equity Residential has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $70.02. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Equity Residential Equity Residential Profile (Free Report) Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that acquires, develops, owns and operates rental apartment properties. Headquartered in Chicago, the company focuses on delivering professionally managed, market-rate apartment homes and related services to renters. Its operations cover a range of property types, including high-rise and mid-rise assets, with amenities and on-site management designed to support resident retention and occupancy. The companys core activities include property acquisitions, development and redevelopment, leasing, and day-to-day property management. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EQR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Equity Residential Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Equity Residential and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Free Report) by 11.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 291,254 shares of the natural resource companys stock after acquiring an additional 30,797 shares during the quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Freeport-McMoRan were worth $11,423,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in FCX. Portside Wealth Group LLC raised its stake in Freeport-McMoRan by 0.8% in the second quarter. Portside Wealth Group LLC now owns 30,333 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $1,315,000 after buying an additional 245 shares in the last quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management grew its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 45,133 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $1,957,000 after buying an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. Waterloo Capital L.P. boosted its stake in Freeport-McMoRan by 3.9% in the second quarter. Waterloo Capital L.P. now owns 6,658 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $289,000 after acquiring an additional 251 shares in the last quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC grew its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 0.6% in the second quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 42,617 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $1,822,000 after purchasing an additional 261 shares during the last quarter. Finally, WealthCollab LLC increased its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 17.1% during the second quarter. WealthCollab LLC now owns 1,820 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $79,000 after purchasing an additional 266 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.77% of the companys stock. Get Freeport-McMoRan alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Freeport-McMoRan news, CAO Stephen T. Higgins sold 28,423 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.99, for a total value of $1,364,019.77. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 105,294 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,053,059.06. This represents a 21.26% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CAO Ellie L. Mikes sold 9,572 shares of Freeport-McMoRan stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.66, for a total value of $456,201.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 38,761 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,847,349.26. This represents a 19.80% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.75% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Freeport-McMoRan Price Performance NYSE:FCX opened at $49.14 on Friday. The firms fifty day moving average is $42.56 and its two-hundred day moving average is $42.74. The firm has a market cap of $70.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.60, a PEG ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.49. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a one year low of $27.66 and a one year high of $49.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 2.45. Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The natural resource company reported $0.50 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.41 by $0.09. Freeport-McMoRan had a return on equity of 7.84% and a net margin of 7.97%.The firm had revenue of $6.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.74 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.38 earnings per share. Freeport-McMoRans revenue for the quarter was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.68 EPS for the current year. Freeport-McMoRan Cuts Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 2nd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 15th will be given a dividend of $0.075 per share. This represents a $0.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 15th. Freeport-McMoRans dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 21.13%. Key Stores Impacting Freeport-McMoRan Here are the key news stories impacting Freeport-McMoRan this week: Positive Sentiment: Stock has reached a fresh 52week high, reflecting strong momentum and bullish investor sentiment around copper fundamentals. Read More. Stock has reached a fresh 52week high, reflecting strong momentum and bullish investor sentiment around copper fundamentals. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Unusual/options whale activity shows concentrated bullish bets, which can amplify upside intraday and signal institutional conviction. Read More. Unusual/options whale activity shows concentrated bullish bets, which can amplify upside intraday and signal institutional conviction. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Analyst commentary (BMO cited) and MarketBeat coverage point to a recovery after operational news (Grasberg closure) and higher copper prices as a multiquarter tailwind for earnings. Read More. Read More. Analyst commentary (BMO cited) and MarketBeat coverage point to a recovery after operational news (Grasberg closure) and higher copper prices as a multiquarter tailwind for earnings. Read More. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Company announced a quarterly cash dividend (small yield) supports income investors and signals freecashflow availability. (Record/exdividend dates disclosed in the release) Company announced a quarterly cash dividend (small yield) supports income investors and signals freecashflow availability. (Record/exdividend dates disclosed in the release) Neutral Sentiment: Mixed shortterm market signals: some outlets report moderately bullish intraday activity while others note mixed options sentiment suggests shortterm volatility remains likely. Read More. Read More. Mixed shortterm market signals: some outlets report moderately bullish intraday activity while others note mixed options sentiment suggests shortterm volatility remains likely. Read More. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Sector commentary flagged a couple of materials names as potential Q4 downside worth monitoring for broader sector flows, but impact on FCX is uncertain. Read More. Sector commentary flagged a couple of materials names as potential Q4 downside worth monitoring for broader sector flows, but impact on FCX is uncertain. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Multiple law firms have filed or issued investor alerts about securitiesfraud class actions (alleged misstatements covering Feb 15, 2022Sept 24, 2025) and are soliciting lead plaintiffs elevated legal overhang could pressure the stock if filings lead to a major settlement or increased litigation costs. Representative filing/notice: Read More. Analysts Set New Price Targets FCX has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and issued a $53.00 price target on shares of Freeport-McMoRan in a report on Monday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of Freeport-McMoRan in a research note on Wednesday, November 26th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Freeport-McMoRan from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. Bank of America upgraded shares of Freeport-McMoRan from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $42.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Tuesday, September 30th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane cut their target price on Freeport-McMoRan from $58.00 to $56.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $49.11. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Freeport-McMoRan Freeport-McMoRan Profile (Free Report) Freeport-McMoRan Inc is a U.S.-based natural resources company primarily engaged in the exploration, mining and processing of copper, gold and molybdenum. Its operations encompass large-scale open-pit and underground mining as well as associated concentrator and milling facilities. The company produces copper in the form of concentrates and cathodes, and also recovers gold and molybdenum as co-products; its business model includes exploration, development, mining, beneficiation and the sale of bulk commodities to smelters and industrial customers. Freeport-McMoRan conducts operations and development activities across multiple geographies, with substantial assets in the Americas and Indonesia. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Freeport-McMoRan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Freeport-McMoRan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES Free Report) had its price target decreased by UBS Group from $78.00 to $73.00 in a research note released on Wednesday morning,Benzinga reports. UBS Group currently has a neutral rating on the utilities providers stock. Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of Eversource Energy from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $79.00 to $63.00 in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Eversource Energy in a report on Friday, October 31st. Bank of America upgraded Eversource Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $73.00 to $85.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. Jefferies Financial Group reissued an underperform rating on shares of Eversource Energy in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Eversource Energy from $72.00 to $71.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Eversource Energy has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $71.27. Get Eversource Energy alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on Eversource Energy Eversource Energy Stock Performance ES stock opened at $67.15 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.40, a PEG ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 0.76. The stocks fifty day moving average is $70.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $67.36. Eversource Energy has a 1 year low of $52.28 and a 1 year high of $75.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 0.71. Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.19 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.12 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $3.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.28 billion. Eversource Energy had a net margin of 10.22% and a return on equity of 11.06%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.13 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that Eversource Energy will post 4.75 EPS for the current year. Eversource Energy Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 17th will be paid a $0.7525 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 17th. This represents a $3.01 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.5%. Eversource Energys payout ratio is currently 82.47%. Insider Activity at Eversource Energy In related news, EVP James W. Hunt III sold 4,129 shares of Eversource Energy stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.77, for a total transaction of $300,467.33. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 32,415 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,358,839.55. This trade represents a 11.30% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.41% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Eversource Energy A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Eversource Energy by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,814,369 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,330,374,000 after purchasing an additional 1,161,708 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its holdings in Eversource Energy by 1.7% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 27,343,038 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,739,564,000 after purchasing an additional 465,822 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Eversource Energy by 2.3% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 9,273,415 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $587,449,000 after buying an additional 211,962 shares during the period. Magellan Asset Management Ltd boosted its holdings in Eversource Energy by 6.5% during the third quarter. Magellan Asset Management Ltd now owns 7,406,785 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $526,919,000 after buying an additional 454,658 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Eversource Energy by 9.4% during the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,900,662 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $419,773,000 after buying an additional 505,489 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.99% of the companys stock. Eversource Energy Company Profile (Get Free Report) Eversource Energy (NYSE: ES) is a publicly traded, regulated energy company headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. The companys core business is the delivery and transmission of electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers across parts of New England. Eversource operates transmission and distribution networks, maintains electrical infrastructure, responds to outages and storms, and manages natural gas pipeline and distribution systems in the regions it serves. Eversource serves customers primarily in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, operating through locally regulated utility subsidiaries that administer customer service, billing, meter reading and localized operations. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Eversource Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eversource Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Voya Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 15.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 5,281,953 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 688,225 shares during the period. Voya Investment Management LLC owned approximately 0.09% of Pfizer worth $134,584,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. bought a new stake in Pfizer in the 1st quarter worth approximately $27,000. Curio Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 36,600.0% during the 2nd quarter. Curio Wealth LLC now owns 1,101 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 1,098 shares during the period. Bayforest Capital Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Pfizer in the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Harbor Asset Planning Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Pfizer in the second quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Howard Hughes Medical Institute purchased a new stake in Pfizer during the second quarter valued at $30,000. 68.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Pfizer alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Pfizer from $32.00 to $28.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $26.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Scotiabank assumed coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. They set a sector outperform rating and a $30.00 target price for the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Pfizer from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Sunday, September 28th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reissued an outperform rating on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $28.06. Pfizer Stock Performance Shares of NYSE PFE opened at $25.19 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $143.22 billion, a PE ratio of 14.65 and a beta of 0.46. Pfizer Inc. has a 1 year low of $20.92 and a 1 year high of $27.69. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $25.10 and a 200-day moving average price of $24.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 0.97. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.87 earnings per share 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 the consensus estimate of $16.94 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 15.65% and a return on equity of 20.17%. Pfizer has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.000-3.150 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Pfizer Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 6th. Investors of record on Friday, January 23rd will be paid a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 23rd. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 100.00%. Key Stores Impacting Pfizer Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week: About Pfizer (Free Report) Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) is a multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1849 by Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart, the company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and vaccines for human health. Its activities span discovery research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing and global commercial distribution across multiple therapeutic areas. Pfizers portfolio and pipeline cover oncology, immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, rare diseases, hospital acute care and anti-infectives, along with a substantial vaccine business. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. X Help Keep StrategyPage Open First came Facebook, then came Twitter, and finally, AI has arrived. They have all caused a decline in our business, but AI may be the deadliest innovation. We are currently in survival mode. Our writers and staff receive no payment in some months, and even when they do, it is below the minimum wage for their efforts. You can support us with your donations or subscriptions. Please help us keep our doors open. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on X. Voya Investment Management LLC decreased its position in shares of Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Free Report) by 72.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 218,466 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 565,643 shares during the period. Voya Investment Management LLC owned 0.08% of Deere & Company worth $99,896,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Fermata Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Deere & Company by 24.3% during the 3rd quarter. Fermata Advisors LLC now owns 557 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $254,000 after buying an additional 109 shares in the last quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Deere & Company by 0.3% in the third quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. now owns 9,102 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $4,162,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares during the period. Firethorn Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Deere & Company by 13.7% during the 3rd quarter. Firethorn Wealth Partners LLC now owns 746 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $341,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares during the period. Czech National Bank lifted its holdings in Deere & Company by 3.7% in the 3rd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 63,970 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $29,251,000 after purchasing an additional 2,271 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cooper Financial Group boosted its stake in Deere & Company by 7.3% in the 3rd quarter. Cooper Financial Group now owns 1,073 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $491,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the period. 68.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Deere & Company alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have issued reports on DE. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Deere & Company from $480.00 to $460.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating and issued a $460.00 target price on shares of Deere & Company in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and set a $560.00 price target on shares of Deere & Company in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Oppenheimer upped their price objective on Deere & Company from $512.00 to $531.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, November 28th. Finally, Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Deere & Company from $609.00 to $612.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Deere & Company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $522.70. Key Deere & Company News Here are the key news stories impacting Deere & Company this week: Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan trimmed its price target to $460 (from $480) and kept a neutral rating a modest reduction to the stocks upside case that may cap near-term gains. MarketScreener JPMorgan trimmed its price target to $460 (from $480) and kept a neutral rating a modest reduction to the stocks upside case that may cap near-term gains. Neutral Sentiment: Representative Julie Johnson reported a sale of DE shares an insider sale that investors often watch, but by itself doesnt confirm a change in company fundamentals. Rep. Julie Johnson Sells Deere & Company Stock Representative Julie Johnson reported a sale of DE shares an insider sale that investors often watch, but by itself doesnt confirm a change in company fundamentals. Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research cut multiple near-term and medium-term EPS forecasts across Deeres 20262028 fiscal periods, and maintains a Hold rating suggesting reduced earnings visibility: notable moves include Q1 2026 EPS cut to $1.99 from $2.83, FY2026 to $16.74 from $18.83, Q2 2027 to $6.19 from $7.24, Q3 2027 to $5.68 from $6.44, and FY2027 to $21.55 from $24.20. These downgrades signal expectations for weaker near-term profits and are the primary reason the stock is under pressure today. Zacks Research cut multiple near-term and medium-term EPS forecasts across Deeres 20262028 fiscal periods, and maintains a Hold rating suggesting reduced earnings visibility: notable moves include Q1 2026 EPS cut to $1.99 from $2.83, FY2026 to $16.74 from $18.83, Q2 2027 to $6.19 from $7.24, Q3 2027 to $5.68 from $6.44, and FY2027 to $21.55 from $24.20. These downgrades signal expectations for weaker near-term profits and are the primary reason the stock is under pressure today. Negative Sentiment: Zacks also trimmed several quarter-level estimates within FY2026FY2028 (Q3 & Q4 2026, Q1 & Q4 2027, and FY2028 projections were reduced), reinforcing the view of slower earnings growth than previously modeled and increasing uncertainty around hitting prior consensus (the broader consensus cited remains near $19.32 for the current full year). Insider Activity at Deere & Company In related news, CEO John C. May II sold 11,106 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $500.08, for a total transaction of $5,553,888.48. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 112,453 shares in the company, valued at approximately $56,235,496.24. This represents a 8.99% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.29% of the companys stock. Deere & Company Trading Down 0.9% NYSE DE opened at $470.62 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 2.01 and a current ratio of 2.22. The firm has a market cap of $127.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.43, a PEG ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.00. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $471.38 and a 200-day simple moving average of $486.77. Deere & Company has a one year low of $403.01 and a one year high of $533.78. Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 26th. The industrial products company reported $3.93 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.96 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $12.39 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.77 billion. Deere & Company had a net margin of 11.00% and a return on equity of 20.54%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 14.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $4.55 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Deere & Company will post 19.32 EPS for the current fiscal year. Deere & Company Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be paid a $1.62 dividend. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 31st. Deere & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 35.01%. About Deere & Company (Free Report) Deere & Company, commonly known by its brand John Deere, is a global manufacturer of agricultural, construction and forestry machinery, as well as turf care equipment and power systems. Founded in 1837 by blacksmith John Deerewho developed a polished steel plow to improve tillage in tough prairie soilsthe company is headquartered in Moline, Illinois, and has grown into one of the largest and most recognizable names in equipment manufacturing worldwide. The companys principal businesses include a broad portfolio of agricultural equipment such as tractors, combines, planters, sprayers, harvesters and tillage implements, complemented by precision agriculture technologies and telematics that support farm management, yield optimization and equipment connectivity. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Deere & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deere & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Voya Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in BXP, Inc. (NYSE:BXP Free Report) by 1.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,492,925 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 15,507 shares during the quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC owned approximately 0.94% of BXP worth $110,835,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Truist Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of BXP by 1.2% during the second quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 11,987 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $809,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. CVA Family Office LLC raised its stake in BXP by 12.4% during the second quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 2,055 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $139,000 after buying an additional 226 shares during the last quarter. Venture Visionary Partners LLC boosted its holdings in BXP by 3.1% in the second quarter. Venture Visionary Partners LLC now owns 7,712 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $520,000 after acquiring an additional 230 shares in the last quarter. Naviter Wealth LLC grew its stake in shares of BXP by 3.4% in the second quarter. Naviter Wealth LLC now owns 7,003 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $479,000 after acquiring an additional 232 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Keybank National Association OH increased its holdings in shares of BXP by 7.7% during the second quarter. Keybank National Association OH now owns 3,525 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $238,000 after acquiring an additional 253 shares in the last quarter. 98.72% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get BXP alerts: More BXP News Here are the key news stories impacting BXP this week: Positive Sentiment: BXP sold a 409,000squarefoot Needham, MA campus for $132M, a disposition that will generate cash and help recycle capital from suburban assets. 409K SF Needham Campus Trades For $132M BXP sold a 409,000squarefoot Needham, MA campus for $132M, a disposition that will generate cash and help recycle capital from suburban assets. Positive Sentiment: BXP sold a Cambridge office tower to a Fidelityaffiliated buyer for $170M another monetization of office real estate that boosts liquidity and shows demand from institutional buyers in the Boston market. BXP sells Cambridge tower to Fidelity-affiliated firm for $170M BXP sold a Cambridge office tower to a Fidelityaffiliated buyer for $170M another monetization of office real estate that boosts liquidity and shows demand from institutional buyers in the Boston market. Positive Sentiment: BXP acquired a D.C. office building for $55M and plans a redevelopment backed by an anchor lease with law firm Sidley Austin adds an incomeproducing asset and development upside in a highdemand market. BXP Buys D.C. Office Building for $55M, Plans Redevelopment Following Sidley Austin Anchor Lease BXP acquired a D.C. office building for $55M and plans a redevelopment backed by an anchor lease with law firm Sidley Austin adds an incomeproducing asset and development upside in a highdemand market. Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised multiple nearterm and FY2026/2027 EPS estimates modestly (Q2/Q3 2027 and FY2026/FY2027), reflecting slightly stronger outlook for earnings supportive for consensus EPS near management guidance. (Zacks research note) Zacks Research raised multiple nearterm and FY2026/2027 EPS estimates modestly (Q2/Q3 2027 and FY2026/FY2027), reflecting slightly stronger outlook for earnings supportive for consensus EPS near management guidance. (Zacks research note) Positive Sentiment: BXP declared a $0.70 quarterly dividend (exdividend Dec 31, record Dec 31, payable Jan 29), implying a ~4.1% yield maintains income appeal for REIT investors. Insiders Place Their Bets Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades In related news, CFO Michael E. Labelle sold 13,422 shares of BXP stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.34, for a total transaction of $970,947.48. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 9,223 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $667,191.82. This trade represents a 59.27% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, EVP Peter V. Otteni sold 4,136 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.65, for a total value of $300,480.40. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing . Over the last three months, insiders have sold 70,710 shares of company stock worth $5,107,771. Company insiders own 1.49% of the companys stock. Several analysts recently commented on BXP shares. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of BXP from $79.00 to $84.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, October 13th. Mizuho reduced their price target on shares of BXP from $82.00 to $79.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, December 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded BXP from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $83.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 17th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on BXP from $86.00 to $84.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 9th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded BXP from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, September 13th. Ten equities 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 company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $79.10. Read Our Latest Analysis on BXP BXP Stock Performance Shares of NYSE BXP opened at $68.93 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 4.50, a quick ratio of 4.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.26. BXP, Inc. has a 12-month low of $54.22 and a 12-month high of $79.33. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -54.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.47 and a beta of 0.99. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $71.00 and a 200 day moving average of $70.99. BXP (NYSE:BXP Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.74 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.72 by $0.02. BXP had a positive return on equity of 1.35% and a negative net margin of 5.82%.The firm had revenue of $871.51 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $860.88 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.81 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. BXP has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.890-6.920 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that BXP, Inc. will post 6.91 earnings per share for the current year. BXP Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 29th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be paid a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.1%. BXPs dividend payout ratio is -220.47%. BXP Profile (Free Report) Boston Properties, Inc (NYSE: BXP) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in the ownership, management, and development of Class A office properties across major U.S. markets. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, the companys portfolio comprises high-quality office buildings, mixed-use developments and select retail assets designed to serve leading corporations in key metropolitan areas. Established in 1970 by Mortimer B. Zuckerman, Boston Properties has grown through disciplined acquisitions and strategic ground-up developments. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for BXP Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BXP and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Whitcomb & Hess Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:PGHY Free Report) by 8.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 621,605 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 49,532 shares during the quarter. Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETF makes up approximately 3.2% of Whitcomb & Hess Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 12th biggest position. Whitcomb & Hess Inc. owned about 0.07% of Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETF worth $12,422,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETF in the second quarter worth $693,000. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 118,851 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,362,000 after buying an additional 5,171 shares in the last quarter. Advisory Alpha LLC boosted its holdings in Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 15.6% in the 1st quarter. Advisory Alpha LLC now owns 248,304 shares of the companys stock worth $4,921,000 after buying an additional 33,550 shares during the period. Stenger Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETF in the 2nd quarter worth $2,573,000. Finally, Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. increased its stake in Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 13.4% in the 2nd quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 18,828 shares of the companys stock worth $374,000 after buying an additional 2,220 shares in the last quarter. Get Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETF alerts: Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Price Performance NYSEARCA:PGHY opened at $19.99 on Friday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $19.92 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $19.93. Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETF has a 52 week low of $18.75 and a 52 week high of $20.40. Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Increases Dividend About Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETF The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 28th. Investors of record on Monday, November 24th were issued a $0.1217 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 24th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.3%. This is a boost from Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETFs previous monthly dividend of $0.12. (Free Report) The Invesco Global Short Term High Yield Bond ETF (PGHY) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks an equal-weighted index of short-term USD-denominated, high-yield corporate bonds issues by US and foreign corporations. PGHY was launched on Jun 20, 2013 and is managed by Invesco. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PGHY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:PGHY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Zevenbergen Capital Investments LLC cut its stake in shares of Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE Free Report) by 11.4% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 104,750 shares of the companys stock after selling 13,450 shares during the period. Zevenbergen Capital Investments LLCs holdings in Bloom Energy were worth $8,859,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Advisors Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Bloom Energy by 43.0% in the 1st quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 86,665 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,704,000 after acquiring an additional 26,077 shares during the last quarter. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Bloom Energy in the 2nd quarter worth about $108,000. Mizuho Markets Americas LLC raised its position in Bloom Energy by 29.9% in the second quarter. Mizuho Markets Americas LLC now owns 395,490 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,460,000 after purchasing an additional 90,980 shares during the last quarter. Comerica Bank boosted its stake in shares of Bloom Energy by 5.8% during the first quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 88,554 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,741,000 after purchasing an additional 4,885 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jump Financial LLC boosted its stake in shares of Bloom Energy by 137.8% during the second quarter. Jump Financial LLC now owns 332,722 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,959,000 after purchasing an additional 192,790 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 77.04% of the companys stock. Get Bloom Energy alerts: Bloom Energy Stock Up 10.4% Shares of NYSE BE opened at $88.59 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $20.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 445.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 50.66 and a beta of 3.00. Bloom Energy Corporation has a 52-week low of $15.15 and a 52-week high of $147.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 2.88 and a current ratio of 4.40. The companys 50 day moving average price is $109.90 and its 200-day moving average price is $67.26. Insider Transactions at Bloom Energy Bloom Energy ( NYSE:BE Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The company reported $0.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.08 by $0.07. Bloom Energy had a net margin of 0.84% and a return on equity of 8.74%. The company had revenue of $519.05 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $425.18 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted ($0.01) earnings per share. Bloom Energys revenue for the quarter was up 57.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Bloom Energy Corporation will post -0.23 earnings per share for the current year. In other Bloom Energy news, Director Jim H. Snabe sold 20,000 shares of Bloom Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.04, for a total value of $2,860,800.00. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Maciej Kurzymski sold 13,105 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.09, for a total value of $1,888,299.45. Following the transaction, the insider owned 93,269 shares in the company, valued at $13,439,130.21. The trade was a 12.32% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 120,410 shares of company stock worth $16,557,185. Corporate insiders own 3.60% of the companys stock. More Bloom Energy News Here are the key news stories impacting Bloom Energy this week: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have recently issued reports on BE. Roth Capital reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $103.00 price objective on shares of Bloom Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Bloom Energy from $26.00 to $39.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 25th. TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of Bloom Energy to $105.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Cowen reiterated a hold rating on shares of Bloom Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Wedbush set a $39.00 price objective on Bloom Energy in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Bloom Energy currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $93.77. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Bloom Energy About Bloom Energy (Free Report) Bloom Energy is a clean energy technology company that designs, manufactures and deploys solid oxide fuel cell systems for on-site power generation. Its flagship product, the Bloom Energy Server, converts natural gas, biogas or hydrogen into electricity through an electrochemical reaction, offering customers a reliable, low-carbon alternative to grid power. The company also provides a suite of services that includes system installation, remote monitoring and preventative maintenance to ensure long-term performance and uptime. Founded in 2001 by Dr. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bloom Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bloom Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alicia Nash, the Pure International UK Preteen Sweetheart 2024/25, has successfully organised her annual Christmas Toy Appeal for the Childrens Ward at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry. Cathy Grady, Play Nurse Specialist said: "A huge thank you to Alicia for organizing a Christmas Toy Appeal for the Childrens Ward at Altnagelvin Hospital. Alicia has organized this appeal over the past number of year and we are incredibly grateful to her and the generosity and support of staff and students at Thornhill College, Derry. "Your thoughtfulness and kindness brings a sprinkle of Christmas cheer to the Childrens Ward. The toys will be very much appreciated by our young patients and their families who will be in hospital over the Christmas period. Thank you to everyone who has donated. Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and Peaceful New Year. Sarah Jane Scully said: The gifts collected by Alicia throughout the year were delivered to the children spending time in the Childrens Ward at Altnagelvin Hospital this Christmas. A heartfelt thank you to every single person who donated gifts your kindness truly makes a difference. "Special thanks to Move All Derry who kindly transported all the gifts from storage to the hospital and to our amazing local drop-off points and sponsors including Store and Go (for the 4th year running) providing an incredible space to store gifts; Spar (Northland Road) for their continued support and a very special mention to Alishas school Thornhill College for supporting her toy appeal again this year. "Your encouragement means the world to Alicia and to all of us. Thank you for helping bring joy to children this Christmas! The family of a Derry hunger striker has called on the British government to negotiate with pro-Palestinian prisoners currently on hunger strike. The eight prisoners on hunger strike are facing charges related to alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of Palestine Action before the group was banned under terrorism legislation charges which they deny and have called to be dropped. Four of the group are accused of playing roles in the break-in to an Israeli-linked defence firm in 2024 and are due to go on trial in May next year at the earliest. The other four are accused of breaking into RAF Brize Norton in June, where it is alleged they caused millions of pounds worth of damage to two military jets. Qesser Zuhrah, Amu Gib, Heba Muraisi, Teuta Hoxha and Kamran Ahmed are on full hunger strike. Lewie Chiaramello is on a partial strike. Jon Cink and Umer Khalid are believed to have ended their strike after 41 days and 13 days respectively this week. The hunger strike began in early November in protest at being held in custody while awaiting trial. In a statement posted on social media, the family of INLA volunteer Patsy O'Hara urged the British government to end the protest. "We the family of Patsy O Hara view with great concern the treatment of the Hunger Strikers of the Palestinain action activists incarcerated in various English prisons. And call on the British government to negotiate with the Protesters to end the fast. "Some will be approaching the 50 days without food mark. That is takes them into a critical stage where damage will be done to their bodies, damage that they may never recover from, and ultimately death. "This can be ended by granting them all immediate bail and ensure that they have the right to a fair trial and the de-proscription of Palestine Action, that should never have been Proscribed in the first place. "The British government should be proscribed for it being complicit in the genocide of the Palestinian people by continuing to send arms and military parts to Israel to use in their war crimes. "We end by sending our heartfelt Solidarity greeting to all the activists on Hunger Strike and imprisoned and hope they get the justice they hunger for." O'Hara died after 61 days on hunger strike in 1981. He was one of three INLA prisoners to die on the protest, including fellow Derry prisoner Mickey Devine. Following a sell-out premiere, Bernadette MacFarlands acclaimed play "4 Days in Derry: A Womans Story" returns for a 2026 regional tour. This powerful production tells the story of the 1972 Bloody Sunday atrocity through thirteen poignant monologues based on real-life testimonies from the wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters of the victims. The performances at An Coire Arts Centre, Slaughtneil on January 9 and 10 mark the first leg of a tour that will also travel to theatres in Armagh and Donegal before finishing off in Derry's St Columb's Hall in April. Bernadette told DerryNow: We are thrilled to have the opportunity to perform our play in South Derry. The people here have always been enormously supportive of the campaign for justice for the victims of Bloody Sunday, and 4 Days in Derry, which tells the stories - in their own words - of the wives, mothers, daughters and sisters of the men who were slain, is part of that endeavour to ensure that the atrocities carried out by state forces on innocent civilians, and the devastating impact it had on their families, are never forgotten. Telling these women's stories to audiences far and wide is so important to us. It is the driving force behind this tour and it is a privilege to be kicking things off here in South Derry. The play was written after Bernadette sat down with female relatives of the Bloody Sunday victims and listened to their personal accounts of the four days in and around one of the worst atrocities of The Troubles. What they told her formed the basis of thirteen powerful and poignant monologues that are delivered in the play. Those interviews are an experience I will never forget, said Bernadette. I laughed with them. I cried with them. They told me how they coped - and didnt cope. I came away from each interview thinking, 'What strong women'; what strong, strong women. When it was finally performed, I was not prepared for the reaction. I could hear people crying in the audience. The actors delivering the monologues were emotional - because they needed to be, but also because they were overwhelmed by the emotion of the words they were speaking, which were full of rage, grief, pain and loss. An Carn Arts Officer Claire Doherty said: We are delighted to be hosting 4 Days in Derry. It is a very powerful and moving play and I think the intimate performance space in An Coire will lend itself to that in a way that will be very special. 4 Days in Derry, An Coire, Slaughtneil, January 9 and 10. Tickets are available at An Carn. The play will make its Donegal debut with a special one-night performance in St Marys Hall, Buncrana, on Saturday, January 17, 2026. Tickets for the Donegal performance are available online here or at the hall for those wishing to pay cash. When a blog post by Andrej Karpathy lands in your feed, you pay close attention, simply because few voices in the field of artificial intelligence carry as much conceptual weight. For those who dont know, Karpathy isnt a fringe commentator, hes one of the key architects of modern deep learning a former OpenAI co-founder, ex-Director of AI at Tesla, and author of some of the most influential tutorials and research on neural networks and generative models. His perspective on where large language models (LLMs) have been and where theyre headed is by foundational nuts-and-bolts experience. Survey Thank you for completing the survey! In his 2025 Year in Review blog, Karpathy distilled the years AI progress into a series of key level ups he saw LLMs make. His insights reveal a GenAI field that is maturing fast and in surprising directions that we dont really think about when we use ChatGPT or Gemini or Grok on a daily basis. While Karpathy has mentioned quite a few milestones, there are three in particular that Ive highlighted here which I think show us not only what changed in GenAI and LLMs this year, but why it matters going forward into 2026 and beyond. 1) RLVR: A new LLM training reality For several years, high-performance LLMs were built somewhere like this large-scale pretraining on a data set, followed by supervised fine-tuning, and reinforcement learning from human feedback. That approach gave us remarkable results with the birth of the modern GenAI use cases. But they also had familiar limitations creating models that excelled superficially, struggling with any kind of deeper reasoning, according to Karpathy. Also read: India becoming worlds most important AI developer hub, says GitHub Thats where Reinforcement Learning from Verifiable Rewards (RLVR) comes in, which is Karpathys term for a shift in 2025s LLM training stack. Instead of relying purely on human signals, models are now trained against objective, verifiable tasks (think math puzzles or code challenges with definitive correct answers). This isnt just incremental improvement it fundamentally tweaks how models learn to reason. According to Karpathy, RLVR lets LLMs develop strategies that look like reasoning to people because the models must optimize for verifiable success, not just mimic patterns in text. What this means in practice is that LLMs trained under RLVR are better at planning and problem solving because they have to be. The reward functions in the way theyre retrained give them a stake in actually getting things right when they respond, not merely spit out something that sounds plausible. This should help reduce hallucinations in GenAI chatbots going forward. 2) LLMs are like ghosts in terms of intelligence Karpathys second great insight wrestles with a deceptively simple question: When we see ChatGPT or Gemini in action, what kind of intelligence is this? The instinctive answer that LLMs are proto-animals or proto-humans is misleading. Instead, Karpathy suggests LLMs are more like summoned ghosts of intelligence. Because theyre systems trained with optimization pressures and data structures that are unlike organic minds. This is because they spike in capability unpredictably, astonishing at tasks one moment and hilariously fragile the next. Also read: AI wont replace humans: Google to OpenAI, big tech CEOs agree Its a reminder that the flashes of brilliance we see in LLMs are not the same thing as cognitive maturity. This jagged intelligence challenges how we benchmark progress, where traditional performance scores can likely reward narrow optimization rather than genuine understanding. This revelation by Karpathy demands new ways to think about AI safety, evaluation, and real-world readiness. 3) Rise of LLM apps and vibe coding Finally, Karpathy highlighted how the application layer around LLMs matured in 2025. Tools like Cursor illustrated a new class of LLM app not just big models you query, but orchestrated LLM systems tailored for specific vertical tasks. This is where AI begins to feel practical, not just impressive, highlights Karpathy. But the real game-changer and the concept that might resonate most with everyday developers is what Karpathy cheekily calls vibe coding. This is the threshold moment when programming doesnt feel like coding in the old sense anymore. Where you just describe what you want in English and the model builds it. Karpathy sees vibe coding as democratizing software creation, lowering the barrier to entry and releasing an enormous wave of creativity. Its a bit like saying Linux turned everyone into a sysadmin but this time the translator is a model that speaks human language. In a year of explosive hype and glittering demos, Karpathys review is a grounding force a signal in a very noisy space. As we carry forward into 2026, those three insights from Karpathy RLVR, ghostly intelligence, and vibe coding are not just milestones. Theyre the landmarks by which well remember in 2025. Also read: LLMs worse than babies in field of AI: Yann LeCun Godfather of AI explains why Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Louth is set to throw away 34 million worth of salvageable food this year, according to research from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The research found that the average Irish household wastes an estimated 700 worth of usable food annually. It found 79% of people reported that dinner is the meal where the most amount of food is wasted. Bread is the most commonly wasted food with 48% of people admitting it's the food they waste most often, followed by fruit and vegetables with 42%. Too Good to Go, the world's largest marketplace for surplus food, has issued a stark warning to Louth households ahead of the Christmas food shop. Machaela O'Leary, sales manager at Too Good To Go Ireland said the idea that people are wasting 700 a year in the midst of a cost of living crisis is "truly shocking". It said these foods can be saved by turning them into breadcrumbs for Christmas stuffing or vegetable soups. Read also: 15-Year-Old Louth student's artwork to be included in 2026 Texaco calendar It has set out four rules to follow when shopping for Christmas period. 1. The "Guestimate" Rule: With 79% of waste happening at dinner, don't cook for the whole village if you're only feeding your family. Calculate portions realistically to stop the bin filling up on Christmas night. 2. Freezer Space: Start eating from the freezer this week. Using up the food you already have will lower your grocery bills in the expensive run-up to Christmas and clear essential space to freeze your leftovers over Christmas and helps avoid food waste. 3. Avoiding the Just in Case: Avoid the temptation to bulk-buy "just in case" during your main shop. Remember that the shops only close for a day or two over the Christmas period. 4. The Day Two Veggie Revival: Maximise your Christmas vegetable leftovers by tackling them in two groups. The first group can be made into a hearty vegetable soup, perfect as a starter on St. Stephen's Day. For the second group put them in a mix of oil, a drizzle of honey and balsamic vinegar before roasting them in the oven to create great tasting honey roasted vegetables to accompany your leftover turkey and ham. Louth County Council has given the go ahead for 63 new houses in Dundalk, at a site located on the eastern side of Mount Avenue. Moffett Investment Holdings ULC applied for planning permission last December, for the development at Mount Avenue, at a site located on the eastern side of Mount Avenue and which is bounded to the north by an, at the time, under construction residential development of 93 homes, and to the south and east by agricultural fields. The proposed 63 houses are in semi-detached and terraced format ranging in height from two-three storeys. The application proposed that a single new vehicular access off Mount Avenue would be provided to serve the development, with three separate pedestrian only accesses also provided off Mount Avenue. It was also proposed to construct a pedestrian connection across the stream to adjoining residential lands to the north that are currently under construction. Read also: Louth to be part of Uisce Eireann's plan for 'largest water project in Irish history' The planning application also provided for items including, alterations to ground levels across the site and the undergrounding of ESB powerlines; as well as public lighting; Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points and an ESB sub-station; all landscaping and boundary treatments, including the construction of retaining walls in addition to all associated site development works. Louth County Council granted planning permission on 8 December subject to 28 planning conditions. There was lots of Christmas spirit in evidence last week as members of Louth County Councils Community team packed and prepared over 300 Christmas bags and cards for distribution to older and vulnerable people throughout the county. Each Christmas bag was filled with sweets, treats and seasonal goodies. The initiative was supported by members of Louth Older Peoples Council (OPC) and community partners including Meals on Wheels, An Garda Siochana and The Alzheimer Society of Ireland - The Birches Dundalk, who collected and helped distribute the bags to older and vulnerable people across the county. Louth Libraries also played an important role, delivering Christmas bags to users of the Library Housebound Service and to those attending The Memory Cafe in Dundalk and Drogheda Libraries. Age Friendly Louth Programme Manager, Sinead McVerry, stated: The delivery of the Age Friendly Christmas bags is an opportunity for an older person to get a card and a present, but most importantly it is an opportunity to have someone call to them and check in with them at this time of year. Read also: Louth to be part of Uisce Eireann's plan for 'largest water project in Irish history' Age Friendly Louth is aware that Christmas can be a difficult time for some older people and in this small way we hope that they feel connected this Christmas. Below: Pauline Gaskin and Susan Dunne, from The Birches Dundalk, collecting Christmas bags from Louth County Councils Community team for distribution The Christmas travel period is underway, and the NCT is reminding motorists to give their cars a quick safety check before hitting the road. With 'snacks packed, presents in the boot, and toilet stops mapped', the NCT says a quick car check is just as essential before setting off. Read next: Do not eat warning issued as kids sweets product withdrawn from stores across Ireland The NCT are advising all motorists planning on travelling over the festive period to conduct a five-minute walk around check prior to beginning their journey. This includes in car checks, mirrors and windows, lights, access, wheels and tyres, load security and restraint and external checks. In-Car checks The in-car checks that should be carried out prior to hitting the road include checking driving controls, seat and head rest positions are adjusted correctly, ensuring safety belts are in the correct position and working correctly, the interior is clean and there are no obstructions or loose material in the foot-wall(s) or parcel shelf behind rear seats. Motorists should also turn their vehicle engine on and check that all instrument gauges and warning lights are working correctly, as well as the vehicles wipers, washers, horn, demister and temperature controls are working correctly. Mirrors and windows All mirrors should be secure and aligned correctly as well as in clean and good conditon. The drivers view should not be obstructed, such as by stickers, and all windows should be able to open and close properly. Lights, Indicators, Hazard Lights and Reflectors All of the above should be in places, working properly, the correct colour, be clean and have no breaks or cracks. Access All of the vehicles door locks should be working properly and the doors should be able to open and close correctly. Wheels and tyres Tyres must be correctly inflated and be of the correct tread depth, as well as be undamaged with no bulges, tears or abrasions. All wheel nuts must be in place, correctly fitted and secure, with wheel nut indicators correctly aligned, if in use, the vehicles tyre's must also have an 'E' mark. Load security and restraint The vehicle must be loaded within the limits of the vehicles specifications, with the load evenly distributed. Articles in the vehicle must be stored securely, in the boot, and restrained if necessary. Load restraint equipment must be suited to the load and in good condition. There should be no loose articles on seats, and any articles on the roof must be securely tied down. Any overhanging articles on the roof must be visible to other road users, through means such as a hi-visibility flag. Estate cars must have a barrier in place to protect the driver and/or front passenger when goods are being carried in rear goods space. External checks The vehicle must be sitting 'square' and not leaning to one side, the underside of the vehicle should be checked for fluid leaks. Both the front and rear bumpers should be in good condition and no excessive smoke or noise should come from the exhaust. Front and rear number plates must be of the correct type, in the correct position, visible and clean. The vehicles fuel cap seal should be in place, in good condition and have no leaks, wiper blades must also be in good conditon. Prior to embarking on their trip, the driver must ensure that the vehicle has valid insurance, NCT and Tax discs, which are correctly displayed. The engine oil, coolant, water, windscreen wash and break fluid levels should all be checked they are at the correct levels and have no leaks. Corks Nano Nagle Place will host the official launch of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Presentation Congregation this weekend. The anniversary commemorates the founding of the Presentation Congregation on Christmas Eve 1775, when Cork woman Nano Nagle established a movement dedicated to education and care for the most marginalised. The launch will take place tomorrow close to the site of Nano Nagles original schools and convent on Douglas St, now home to Nano Nagle Place. Nano Nagles vision and courage continue to inspire generations, said Presentation Sisters congregational leader Sr Sharon Fagan. Her commitment to education and social justice over 250 years ago resonates as strongly today, reminding us of the power of individual initiative to transform communities locally and globally. Livestreamed The launch event will feature a ritual ceremony, which will be livestreamed to audiences the world, showcasing the global reach of Nano Nagles legacy and the continued work of the Presentation Sisters and their collaborators across five continents. Nano Nagle was a pioneering figure in Irish history whose work transformed access to education, particularly for Catholic girls and children living in poverty, at a time when such efforts were illegal under the Penal Laws. Beginning with secret cabin schools in mid-18th-century Cork, her work expanded rapidly and laid the foundations for one of the most influential education movements to emerge from Ireland. Impact Her impact has been widely recognised. In 2000, Nano Nagle was named Irish Woman of the Millennium in recognition of her role as a pioneer of female education. She has also featured prominently in national public polls celebrating Irelands most influential historical figures and was recently honoured through UCCs Women on Walls initiative. In 2013, she was declared Venerable by Pope Francis. The launch ceremony at Nano Nagle Place will mark the beginning of a year-long programme of events, educational initiatives, and international engagement, celebrating Nano Nagles legacy while exploring its relevance for contemporary society. Business / Companies by Staff Reporter Workers at Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) are facing a bleak festive season after going for a full year without salaries and receiving no bonuses, despite working throughout 2024 under severe financial strain.Last week, human resources manager Jacob Sukali assured staff that salaries would be paid before the company closed for the holidays. However, management went on leave on Friday without fulfilling the promise, leaving workers devastated.Employees said they were shocked and heartbroken to learn they would go into Christmas with nothing to support their families."In all this, journalists are still expected to work during the holidays even though we have not been paid," said one worker."Our festive season has been soiled. Management is selfish and heartless. We soldiered on the whole year without proper pay, and instead of rewarding our resilience, they gave us nothing. Other companies are paying bonuses, but here we get no bonus and no salary," another employee said.Some journalists said they may not work during the holidays or even after, if the situation does not change.Meanwhile, journalists and marketing staff have taken the company to arbitration over outstanding salaries and benefits. This follows the postponement of November salaries, despite several months already in arrears.Sukali had earlier notified workers that payments would begin in the week starting 8 December, but this did not happen.Fortysix workers, represented by the Zimbabwe Graphic Workers Union, have filed claims with a Harare arbitrator demanding overdue salaries. In their submissions, they cited Zimind Publishers as the respondent. The matter will be heard next year.The workers argue they have not been paid since September 2024. They said despite meetings, correspondence and NEC intervention, the company has "failed, refused and/or neglected" to honour its obligations.They rejected a proposed sixmonth payment plan that would see 2024 arrears cleared only in 2026, calling it unreasonable and unjust."It is inconceivable that workers who have rendered service can be expected to wait until 2026 for salaries due for 2024," the workers submitted.They said the employer had agreed before the NEC to settle arrears in three instalments between 31 October and 31 December 2025 while paying current salaries concurrently, but was now departing from that agreement.The workers argue that AMH is in breach of the Labour Act, which obliges employers to pay salaries on time and criminalises unreasonable delays. They also accuse the company of unjust enrichment, saying it benefited from their labour while refusing to pay for it.They are demanding that all outstanding salaries be paid by 31 December 2025.In a response dated 4 December, Sukali conceded liability for seven months of arrears for 2025, covering 50 percent of basic salaries and certain allowances. He said the company has continued partial payments and is confident in its recovery plan.He said AMH expects a government allocation of more than US$400,000 and is selling noncore assets to raise funds. The company proposes clearing all arrears by 30 June 2026.Sukali argued that immediate payment would cripple operations and threaten jobs. He said due diligence and asset valuations are underway, and that the company will update the Works Council monthly.AMH is seeking approval to settle arrears progressively until June 2026, with a commitment to reconvene if any balances remain. University College Cork students were among those who protested against proposed changes which would allow for student accommodation rent hikes in Dublin this week. The protests are in response to reports that the Department of Higher Education is considering allowing private accommodation providers to hike rents for students more often to attract more developers into the sector. Labours further and higher education spokesperson senator Laura Harmon has said a meeting with the minister for further and higher education on Thursday was constructive, but warned that students and families urgently need clarity and action on fees, rent and accommodation. Speaking following the meeting in Leinster House, Ms Harmon said: I welcomed the opportunity to meet with the minister and I acknowledge that the engagement was constructive. However, students and their families have heard warm words before. What they need now is clarity and certainty, particularly when it comes to rent levels, fees, and the overall accommodation strategy for students. At a time when the cost of living, the cost of commuting, the cost of eating, and the cost of renting continue to skyrocket, the minister for further and higher education must side with students. Enough is enough, she said. She added that families are already enduring an additional 500 cost through increased student fees, and they cannot absorb any more pressure. She said there is deep concern among students and parents that changes being signalled could pave the way for multiple rent increases for students living in purpose-built accommodation, even within rent pressure zones (RPZ) which, she said would be completely unacceptable. The senator said that RPZ legislation is meant to protect renters, not create a back door for further price hikes targeted at students. Ms Harmon called on the minister to give clear assurances on the matter, saying: Education should open doors, not push young people and their families further into debt or precarity. If we are serious about access to education, then reducing the cost of attending college has to be a core objective of government policy. The meeting followed a protest outside Leinster House, where students, students unions, and representatives from AMLE came together to highlight the real pressure facing those in further and higher education. Their voices reflect a growing frustration across the country, as students are working longer hours, commuting further, and paying extortionate rents just to stay in education, she said. The Government is considering a proposal by Cork City Council regarding its newly-approved city centre action plan, and looking at how a government taskforce fits into the picture, the Taoiseach has said. Labour TD Eoghan Kenny asked the Taoiseach in the Dail if, in light of the councils action plan, he still plans to establish a taskforce; if he has read the action plan; and if he will commit to a city deal for Cork. Cork occupies a very important position in the economic, social and cultural life of our country, Micheal Martin said in response. The programme for government commits to applying the Dublin city taskforce model to other cities, towns, and regions in need of revitalisation, beginning with Cork city. Officials from my department recently met with Cork City Council and representatives from business and the community to exchange ideas on how to proceed with rejuvenating Cork city and share learnings from the Dublin city taskforce model. In recognising Cork citys unique character and potential as our second city, the implementation of the taskforce model will demand a tailored response in line with the specificity of Cork city. It comes as Labour councillors Peter Horgan, Ciara OConnor, and John Maher said there was no need for duplication of a city taskforce following the approval of the city centre action plan by councillors recently. As a Corkonian and a councillor for the city, we know what we need, and thats funding, Mr Maher said. He said Cork would be improved if dereliction was addressed, there were more green spaces, better use was made of the River Lee, and the city in general was made more accessible. I dont need a taskforce to tell me what I should or shouldnt be doing in the city I am elected to represent just give us the money and we will deliver. Ms OConnor said: If we want a city centre people can truly live in, and children can grow up in, we must properly resource the teams who deliver it. Real change needs expert staff, strong co-ordination, and investment in the green spaces that make urban life thrive. Mr Horgan added: What we now need is a delivery model for the city deal for Cork, as envisaged in this action plan. Theres no need for duplication of resources, the effort, and time in this document can be realised by central government getting onboard and delivering the funding we need to make Cork even greater. Two Cork healthcare workers suffering with long covid fear they wont be able to pay their mortgage if a planned cessation of their special pay scheme goes ahead on the last day of this year. Olivia Barry told The Echo that if the scheme is ceased,she and other workers will only be covered under the normal public sector sick leave scheme, which would see them receiving three months full pay, then three months half pay, then moving onto illness benefit, which is a significantly lower amount. We wont be able to pay our mortgages, Ms Barry said. Were heading into another Christmas and we cant enjoy Christmas with our families. People are tired of hearing about covid and they want to move on, but were stuck. Ms Barry explained that five years ago she worked in a designated covid ward at what was an exceptionally challenging time for everyone. Healthcare workers went to work when the majority of people were told to stay home, and it was hands-on work. We were unable to socially distance. She explained that the country was opened up for Christmas in 2020 by the government against Nphet advice. We saw the consequences, infection went up day-by-day, she said. There was applause in the Dail for us, but its gone silent now and were back on a cliff edge, facing the cessation of the special pay scheme. She said that her life is very different since contracting covid. I now live with debilitating fatigue. Im continuously exhausted, despite sleeping through the night. I never have a restorative sleep. It fluctuates, some days you might be able to do a little more, push yourself a bit, then you crash and your symptoms are back worse than ever. Prior to contracting covid, I lived a very active life. I enjoyed my work as a nurse. The Government has said that the pay scheme was a temporary thing. But my illness hasnt been temporary, none of us realised we were going to end up like this. I was a hard worker, as is any other healthcare worker in the country, and I would be at work today if I could. I worked in the same care setting for over 20 years and took great pride in my work. This time of the year, every year, we pay our nursing registration. Ive paid the last five years and havent been able to practise. She explained that they have been trialling different medications and seeing an expert on long covid. Theyre still researching, trying to come up with something, but its very hard to say how long it is going to take. Currently, she says, affected workers are managing on lower pay than they would have received for working, as they do not get the extra pay they would have for working Sundays and nights. Ireland and Greece are the only two EU countries who do not recognise long covid contracted during work as an occupational injury, and this classification means that the Labour Courts hands are tied, she said. During the Covid pandemic nurses, like Fiona Walsh pictured in the INMO centre in Cork, were often the only human contact for isolated patients. Picture Chani Anderson Another Cork woman, Fiona Walsh, told The Echo that her covid journey goes back to January 2021. I contracted covid at work following the country reopening for a meaningful Christmas my ward became a covid ward, and it was a very difficult situation for everybody, especially for patients and their families because of the restrictions on visitors, she said. Many of us on the scheme contracted covid before the vaccines. Many staff had issues with PPE, it was very difficult times. When I got sick, I thought Im young, Im healthy, Ill be fine. Ill do my isolation and be back to work. Unfortunately, that was nearly five years ago, and I still havent been back. Symptom-wise, she says its difficult to explain how debilitating it is. The fatigue is the worst, I worked full-time and I had a lot of energy before, but this has changed everything. When people hear fatigue, they think youre tired. But its more than being tired. Its going to do the food shop, then having to come home and go straight to bed. Its choosing between having dinner or going for a shower. I suffer from severe brain fog, I mix up my own medications, forget words and sentences. I burn the dinner if I dont have a timer set. Ive gone to bed with the doors all unlocked. I left the kitchen sink on and flooded the kitchen, she said, explaining that she could not provide safe nursing care as a result of this. Tachycardia, joint pain, muscular pain, nerve pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and recurring mouth ulcers are among the other symptoms she has experienced. Ms Walsh said: All long covid patients face medical expenses. Every doctors appointment is up to 250. My medication every month is 80 and thats only because its capped through the drug payment scheme. She explained that the unions are fighting for a specific scheme for healthcare workers, as the current scheme has a lot of red tape, and that this would see long covid classified as an occupational injury, but she said that in the short term, even the extension of the current scheme would be a help. She said it has been a long fight. The 2020 version of me would never have expected this version of me talking to the media, speaking in the Dail, to TDs. It is very hard speaking publicly about something this personal, telling people that some of us are ging to struggle to pay our mortgages. The minister for health repeatedly says were on full pay, but healthcare workers get premium allowances for Sundays, night duty, bank holidays and thats what would bulk your salary up. We had been getting paid that, but in March 2023, the department of public expenditure stopped our premium pay and since then were just getting basic pay. My salary is probably down 400-500 a month, so I do feel the pinch, especially with the cost of living and electricity prices increasing. She added that its a difficult time of year to be experiencing this concern. We need a Christmas miracle at this stage, but Im not sure if were going to get it. Both nurses highlighted how supportive the unions had been, and said certain TDs had also been very helpful, naming Social Democrats Liam Quaide and Padraig Rice, and Fine Gaels Colm Burke. Mr Quaide told The Echo: Its heartless of the Government to discard healthcare workers with long covid at an arbitrary cut-off date after they developed a disabling condition following an occupational illness. Many of these workers were essentially cannon fodder in an overwhelmed and over-exposed health system following the governments meaningful Christmas in 2020, in advance of which they ignored public health guidance on the rapid escalation of covid. The Government needs to recognise long covid as the occupational injury that it is for these workers and give them some peace of mind regarding their financial security. Taoiseach Micheal Martin has told Lebanese Prime Minister Mawaf Salam of the Irish Governments annoyance and anger at Lebanons handling of the case of Private Sean Rooney, who was killed three years ago this month. Mr Martin met with Mr Salam this morning, ahead of the Taoiseachs visit to Irish peacekeeping troops at Camp Shamrock in South Lebanon. Pte Rooney, a 24-year-old Dundalk native who had been living in Co Donegal, was shot dead on December 14, 2002, when the UN convoy he was travelling with came under fire in South Lebanon. Pte Shane Kearney, a native of Killeagh in Co Cork who was then 22, was severely injured in the incident and had to be medically evacuated to Ireland. A number of other soldiers were also wounded in the incident. In July of this year, a Lebanese military tribunal found six people guilty of the killing of Pte Rooney, and Mohammad Ayyad, identified as the main suspect, was sentenced to death in absentia, and fined approximately US $1,200. Pte Rooneys mother, Natasha Rooney, sharply criticised the verdict and the response from the Irish Government, describing the tribunal as a sham. Speaking to reporters at Camp Shamrock on Saturday, Mr Martin said he had raised the matter with Mr Salam. I spoke to hm about our very significant concerns, and indeed annoyance and anger at the very slow pace of the criminal justice system, from the time of Sean Rooneys death to the court decisions, and reaffirmed the value of the peacekeepers, the most noble role any individual can play, and that the necessity for accountability and responsibility has to be centre stage, Mr Martin said. He said such accountability would mean that the people responsible for the killing of Pte Rooney would be brought to proper justice, adding that the sentences imposed had been extremely lenient, and those convicted remained at large. Its deeply, deeply unacceptable and unsatisfactory, the Taoiseach added. To be fair, this new government [in Lebanon] has appealed the decision in the court, and [Mr Salam] took on board what I said and is particularly focussed on it, but also on the need for disarmament in the region and the decommissioning of weapons. The two leaders also discussed the attack, on December 4, against Irish peacekeepers, when troops came under fire from local militia members. Mr Martin later laid a wreath in Peacekeepers Square in Camp Shamrock, in memory of the 48 Irish soldiers to die on peacekeeping missions in Lebanon since 1978. Tens of thousands of members of the Irish Defence Forces have served with UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Forces In Lebanon) since 1978, with around 366 troops currently serving in Camp Shamrock. The UN Security Council mandate for UNIFIL is due to expire by the end of 2026, with Irish troops currently expected to withdraw from Lebanon by 2027. A photograph released Friday as part of newly unsealed federal records connected to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation appears to show Prince Andrew reclining across the laps of several women at an event attended by Ghislaine Maxwell, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The undated image, included in a large tranche of documents the DOJ made public this week, shows the former royal identified in accompanying materials as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor dressed in a suit and bow tie and smiling with his eyes closed. Faces of the women in the photo were redacted. Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking-related charges, is visible standing behind the group, also with her face obscured in published copies. As per The Sun, a DOJ spokesperson said the agency had released hundreds of thousands of pages of records in response to a federal transparency law and that many images and documents remain heavily redacted to protect the privacy and safety of victims and others. The spokesperson declined to comment on the provenance or date of the photograph. There is no indication in the released materials that the photograph itself is evidence of criminal wrongdoing, and neither Andrew nor Maxwell have been charged in connection with the new file release. Maxwell is serving a sentence in the United States following her conviction. Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his Duke of York title and other royal honors amid scrutiny over his association with Epstein, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. He has denied allegations by Virginia Giuffre, who has said she was trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with the prince in 2001 at Maxwell's London home. Andrew said in a 2019 BBC interview that he did not recall meeting Giuffre; a photograph that surfaced showing him with his arm around a young woman at Maxwell's home became a focal point of public controversy. Giuffre's allegations and the negative publicity surrounding Andrew's relationship with Epstein led Buckingham Palace to announce in 2022 that the prince had returned his military affiliations and royal patronages and would no longer undertake public duties on behalf of the monarchy. The DOJ's release the first of multiple planned batches under the so-called "Epstein Files Transparency Act" includes thousands of PDF links, photographs and other materials. Some images show other prominent figures in social settings with Epstein, including a photograph in the files that appears to show former President Bill Clinton in a pool with Epstein and another person, and a separate image that seems to depict pop star Michael Jackson near Epstein. Many images are redacted or lack identifying information. According to NPR, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has said previously that the department would release "several hundred thousand" documents but that releases would be staggered to balance public transparency with privacy protections for victims. The files were made public ahead of a court-imposed deadline tied to the transparency law. Jeffrey Epstein died in an apparent suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death prompted numerous investigations and lawsuits and intensified scrutiny of his extensive social network. Representatives for Prince Andrew did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday. A spokesperson for Maxwell declined to comment. Australian actor Hugh Jackman has described the terror attack at Bondi Beach as "devastating" and said he feels "heartbroken" for the victims and the community where he owns a penthouse apartment. The 57-year-old star spoke about the tragedy while at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, less than a week after the December 14 attack that killed 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration at the iconic Sydney beach. Speaking to Fox 5 DC, Jackman expressed his personal connection to the area, saying the attack "hits close" because Bondi is his home community. "It's just devastating, it's my home, so it hits close," Jackman said. "This is something we are seeing all over the world. My heart is breaking about it. I just feel particularly for those families, those closely affected, and the community because it's my community." He repeated the statement to TMZ while he was walking at LAX. The actor, who purchased his low-rise apartment in Bondi a decade ago for $5.9 million, splits his time between Australia and the United States. He retained the property following his divorce from Deborra-Lee Furness, which was finalized earlier this year. The attack occurred on Sunday evening at Archer Park near Bondi Pavilion during a "Chanukah by the Sea" event attended by approximately 1,000 people. Two gunmen, identified as father and son Sajid Akram, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24, opened fire with rifles, killing 15 people and injuring more than 40 others. The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87 years and included a 10-year-old girl named Matilda, two rabbis, a Holocaust survivor, and a French national. Police shot and killed the older gunman at the scene, while the younger suspect was critically wounded and hospitalized. Naveed Akram has since been charged with 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder, one count of committing a terrorist act, and 40 counts of attempted murder. Authorities have indicated the attack was inspired by the Islamic State terrorist organization, per ABC News. The incident marks the deadliest terror attack and second-deadliest mass shooting in modern Australian history. Two improvised explosive devices were found in the attackers' vehicle and safely removed by police. The criminal case involving the fatal shooting of longtime "American Idol" music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband, musician Thomas Deluca, has been paused after a judge ruled that the suspect is not mentally competent to stand trial. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered the accused, 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian, to be committed to a state hospital for treatment. On Friday, Judge Maria Cavalluzzi found that Boodarian is currently unable to understand the court process or assist in his own defense. She ordered him sent to the California Department of State Hospitals, where doctors will work to restore his mental competency. According to RollingStone, the judge said a hospital bed would be available on January 16 and scheduled a follow-up hearing for March 19. The ruling came after Boodarian again refused to be transported to court. His defense attorney, Nancy Kolocotronis, told the judge that her client had stopped communicating with her and that she was unable to have a meaningful conversation with him, even while standing outside his jail cell. The judge noted that an order allowing doctors to medicate Boodarian against his will would remain in place if needed. The man accused of fatally shooting Robin Kaye, a longtime American Idol music supervisor, and her husband was declared incompetent to stand trial on Friday.https://t.co/wpVZZsa4VJ Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) December 19, 2025 Boodarian Faces Murder and Burglary Charges Boodarian is charged with two counts of murder and one count of residential burglary related to the July 10 killings of Kaye and Deluca, both 70, MyNewsLA reported. Prosecutors allege he was burglarizing their Encino home during the afternoon when the couple returned from a grocery trip and encountered him. Investigators say the suspect used a firearm found inside the home and fled the scene afterward. The victims' bodies were discovered four days later during a welfare check after friends had not heard from them. Surveillance video reportedly showed a man climbing over the fence and later leaving the property while hiding a handgun. Police had responded earlier that day to a report of someone jumping the fence but did not find signs of a break-in at the time. An internal review of that police response is ongoing. If the case proceeds to trial and Boodarian is convicted, he could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty. However, the case cannot move forward unless a judge later finds him mentally competent. Kaye had worked on "American Idol" since 2009 and was known for handling music licensing for contestants' performances. A representative for the show previously said she was deeply respected and loved by colleagues. Deluca was a songwriter and performer who worked with artists including Micky Dolenz of the Monkees. Originally published on Music Times Support Us Your Support will ensure EPWs financial viability and sustainability. The EPW produces independent and public-spirited scholarship and analyses of contemporary affairs every week. EPW is one of the few publications that keep alive the spirit of intellectual inquiry in the Indian media. Often described as a publication with a social conscience, EPW has never shied away from taking strong editorial positions. Our publication is free from political pressure, or commercial interests. Our editorial independence is our pride. We rely on your support to continue the endeavour of highlighting the challenges faced by the disadvantaged, writings from the margins, and scholarship on the most pertinent issues that concern contemporary Indian society. Every contribution is valuable for our future. News / National by Staff reporter OPPOSITION parties yesterday blasted President Robert Mugabe over his decision to blow taxpayers' money travelling with a large entourage of more than 50 people to a United Nations-hosted oceans summit in the United States, when the country is nowhere near an ocean.Mugabe took with him his wife and 53 other officials mainly security details to a conference that opposition groups argue has no economic effect or benefit to the country. State media, however, described the conference as "key."MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu said Mugabe no longer cares for Zimbabwe."He has totally lost the plot and closed his heart to the country and people. Zimbabwe needs to be liberated from this dictator. The only solution available to Zimbabweans is an irreversible removal of Mugabe from power. Even those in Zanu PF need to be liberated from the yoke of their leader's tyranny," he said. "We know it is about the per diems for Mugabe's staffers and the looting continues."Gutu's sentiments were echoed by National People's Party spokesperson, Gift Nyandoro, who said Mugabe's continued foreign jaunts could be a sideshow meant to overshadow the 93-year-old leader's growing need for specialist care."We should not be surprised that Mugabe will make a stopover in Singapore for another of his numerous health check-ups," he said."This reflects Zanu PF's skewed priorities and the continued misuse of our country's resources given that our country is landlocked. Surely, of what substance and contribution can Zimbabwe make to an oceans summit when the government is failing to address basic needs of the people? The country's infrastructure is a crying shame, our people are sleeping in bank queues and our health delivery system is dead. Clearly, this visit is another of Mugabe's ploys to loot the national purse."People's Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson, Jacob Mafume also trashed Mugabe's latest foreign jaunt."Unless we want to annex a neighbouring country and administer its oceans, then what are we doing there. Maybe, Mugabe got confused when he officially opened Tokwe Mukosi Dam. He probably thought that Zimbabwe had built an ocean against the wishes of the imperialists."Scarce foreign currency is being used on these trips to the detriment of the nation has not benefitted the nation nor will it benefit the nation. The fascination with meetings and conferences is of infantile proportions," he said.Mugabe has blown over $20 million in foreign travel in the first half of 2017 alone.Two weeks ago, he was in Mexico for over a week to attend the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction conference.The Zanu PF leader reportedly left the conference in a huff after being refused a chance to address the gathering.Mugabe normally takes advantage of such international fora to ridicule the global body as well as Western countries. If you were an early 19th-century cook in the Ohio country looking to celebrate Christmas or New Years Day with a goose or turkey dinner, you would likely be cooking that delicious fowl in the kitchen a tin kitchen, to be exact. Back in those pioneer days, tin kitchens, the joint product of the tinsmith and blacksmith, were the last word in modern fireplace cooking, as revolutionary then as the convection oven or microwave was two centuries later. The tin kitchen, also known as a reflector oven, had a demi-barreled shape with three sides, the remaining space being open to the fire. While the main body of the oven was made of tin, highly polished on the interior surfaces to better reflect heat, the rectangular framework that gave it structural strength was made by a blacksmith. Exactly when the tin kitchen appeared on the culinary scene is unclear, but evidence suggests it was in use in Europe by the mid-1600s. A painting titled The Cook by Dutch painter Gabriel Metsu (1629-1667), done sometime between 1657 and 1662, plainly shows a tin reflector oven in use within the scene. One of the first mentions found in print for the use of the tin kitchen was in London-born Hannah Glasses recipe book The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy, published in 1747. In it, Glasse (1708-1770) provides definitions and illustrations of the tin oven. She also gives advice on how to use it to cook goose, turkey and slabs of beef. Hers was one of the most popular recipe books at that time and remained a best-seller for more than a century, going through 40 editions. By the early 19th century, tin kitchens had caught the imagination of frontier cooks, who saw them as being more efficient than just placing meat on an iron spit over an open fire. In terms of detail, the half-round oven was supported in front the side facing away from the fire by two small feet crafted from bent straps of tin. The rear of the oven was supported just above the hearth by short legs which were made as an integral part of the frame. Those legs extended upward above the top surface of the oven, terminating in a loop. The two loops enabled the cook to snare them with the hook on a poker in order to maneuver the hot kitchen as needed. In the center of the front of the oven was a hinged door which could be opened for basting purposes, or simply to check the progress of the cooking. This door was flanked on either side by a handle which enabled the user to carry it. On one side of the oven, located at the very bottom, was a 2-inch spout that was used in pouring off the juices collected during the cooking, which were then made into gravy. Through the center of the oven passed a spit, made of wrought iron by the blacksmith. These flattened spits typically had a number of rectangular holes punched in them. The holes accommodated wrought iron skewers which were used to anchor the meat being cooked to the spit, although many cooks still preferred to additionally tie on the meat as well. 1 of 3 The wrought iron skewers were made in varying sizes and were hung on an iron skewer rack for convenience. The skewer rack was another fireplace accoutrement where the blacksmith could demonstrate his artistry, imagination and skill. Skewer racks are found in a wide variety of shapes. While hearts and diamonds were popular motifs, blacksmiths created many other designs as well, additionally embellishing them with punchwork, pierced work, decorative filing and more. The one thing all these skewer racks had in common were upward curved pins on which to hang the looped-end skewers. Also, when a blacksmith created a set of skewers, he usually made an especially fancy one, with decorative twists in the shaft. This special skewer would be placed in the meat when it was proudly served at the table. On one end the spit terminated in a handle, which was located outside the body of the oven. Incorporated into this handle was an iron point or spur. This spur plugged into a circular arrangement of holes in one side of the oven. As the handle was gradually rotated during the cooking process, the spur could be plugged into the holes in the side to hold the meat on the spit in the desired position. The meat was cooked by radiant heat. The heat from the fire reflected off the polished interior to provide a more uniform cooking environment. Tin kitchens were made in a wide variety of sizes which could be used to cook meat, ranging from small poultry to larger turkeys and geese, to large slabs of beef. While the sizes changed, the overall design remained essentially the same for each. Unfortunately, the survival rate for pioneer-era tin kitchens has not been good. Rust, corrosion and general abuse over the centuries have taken their toll, and they are elusive on the antiques market for anyone wishing to acquire one. Prices for them vary widely. Even when they turn up, antiques dealers themselves are often not knowledgeable about what they are or how they were used. The last one I purchased was sold to me as being an Amish bread box. How the dealer arrived at that idea is something Im still scratching my head over. News / National by Stephen Jakes LONDON - The African Forum for Cultural Diplomacy (AFFCD) has announced its successful incorporation as a Company, Limited by Guarantee (CIC), headquartered in London - a move it says marks a major milestone in its mission to promote cultural diplomacy between Africa and the world.AFFCD Secretary General Pardon Tapfumaneyi said the development comes as the organisation reflects on key achievements in 2025."We are pleased to announce the successful incorporation of AFFCD as a Company, Limited by Guarantee (CIC) headquartered in London, UK. This milestone marks a significant step forward in our mission to promote cultural diplomacy and cooperation between Africa and the world," Tapfumaneyi said.He highlighted AFFCD President Walter Mzembi's diplomatic engagements earlier in the year, including participation at the World Forum 2025 in Berlin, where former US President Bill Clinton was honoured as Peacemaker of the Century.Mzembi also visited the British Parliament, House of Lords and the Commonwealth Secretariat, engaging in discussions around Zimbabwe's potential readmission to the Commonwealth. He met with Chatham House and several embassies, including Mozambique, where diplomatic efforts contributed to a breakthrough handshake between President Daniel Chapo and opposition leader Valencio Mondhlane.In September, AFFCD signed an MOU with Festac and participated in Festac Africa 2025 in Ghana under the theme Uniting Africa through Culture, Creativity, and Collaborations for Sustainable Growth. The event celebrated the legacy of Dr Kwame Nkrumah and featured multiple plenary sessions.In October, AFFCD attended the launch of the League of African Ambassadors at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia. The event was officiated by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe.Tapfumaneyi said AFFCD delivered a solidarity message calling for cultural cooperation and panAfrican collaboration. However, he raised concern over the arrest and detention of President Mzembi in Zimbabwe."We continue to call for his unconditional release, as we believe the charges undermine diplomatic immunity. Mzembi's health has continued to deteriorate, and we remain concerned by the lack of empathy from the Zimbabwean administration. His trial is set for January 2026; we hope he will be vindicated and remain free to pursue diplomatic initiatives throughout Africa," Tapfumaneyi said.He concluded with a festive message: "As we celebrate Christmas and welcome the new year, we wish you joy, peace and prosperity. We look forward to your continued support and collaboration in advancing Africa's interests and aspirations. May God bless Africa. Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2026." The filmmaker shared the final trailer of the film on Instagram's story section and wrote, "SOLID!!!! Rooting for you Aggy!!!! Welcome to the movies @simarbhatia18youre gorgeous!!!" The actress reshared this and wrote, "Thank you sir. Phir mujhe Dharma ka picture kyun nahin diya?" Akshay Kumar's niece Simar Bhatia is all set to make her Bollywood debut with the upcoming film, Ikkis. She will share the screen with Agastya Nanda, who also marks his theatrical debut with the Sriram Raghavan directorial. Recently, she turned the spotlight on herself with her playful banter with filmmaker Karan Johar. However, KJo assured Simar that this is the best launch she could have gotten. He responded, "Haha! This is the best launch for you my darling...it looks so good! Excited to watch it and ofcourse see your debut performance." Simar Bhatia is Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar's niece. A couple of weeks ago, he shared a touching note on social media as Simar steps into the world of films. He talked about watching her grow from a shy little girl into a confident young woman ready to face the camera. Akshay shared her poster from Ikkis and wrote, Holding you as a tiny baby to now watching you step into the world of films life really has come full circle. Simar, Ive seen you turn from a shy little girl who would hide behind her mom into this confident young woman ready to face the camera like she was born for it. Ikkis tells the inspiring true story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, Indias youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee, who laid down his life at the age of just 21. The powerful cast includes Dharmendra, Jaideep Ahlawat, Agastya Nanda and Simar Bhatia, among others. What makes Ikkis even more special and emotional is that it will be Dharmendra's posthumous release. This is the last film the actor shot before passing away in November this year. He plays Agastya's on-screen father, Brigadier M. L. Khetarpal. Ikkis will be released theatrically on January 1, 2026 . Also Read: PHOTOS: Agastya Nanda and Simar Bhatia step out in the city to promote Ikkis Late actor Dharmendra's last film Ikkis is all set to release in theatres on January 1, 2026 . The final trailer was released recently, and Bobby Deol had a heartfelt reaction to it. Sharing it on his Instagram handle, the actor wrote, "My precious papa, love you Witness the true story of the youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee, a hero who was only 21 and became eternal Second Lt. Arun Khetarpal. #Ikkis In cinemas on 1st Jan 2026 #ExperienceCourageOn1Jan" Take a look at his post: Sharing it on his Instagram handle, the actor wrote, "My precious papa, love you View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bobby Deol (@iambobbydeol) Sunny Deol also expressed his love for his late father and shared the trailer on his social media handle. He wrote, "Love you papa Witness the true story of the youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee, a hero who was only 21 and became eternal - Second Lt. Arun Khetarpal. #Ikkis In cinemas on 1st Jan 2026" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sunny Deol (@iamsunnydeol) Ikkis will be Dharmendra's posthumous release. This is the last film the actor shot before passing away in November this year. The legendary actor passed away at the age of 89 on November 24, 2025. His passing leaves behind an unmatched legacy of over six decades. The actor, born as Dharmendra Singh Deol, breathed his last at his residence. He was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital earlier in November due to respiratory complications. Not just Sunny and Bobby, but Dharmendra's daughter with Hema Malini, Esha Deol, also penned an emotional post while sharing the trailer of Ikkis. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ESHA DHARMENDRA DEOL (@imeshadeol) Meanwhile, Ikkis tells the inspiring true story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, Indias youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee, who laid down his life at the age of just 21. The film stars Dharmendra, Agastya Nanda, Simar Bhatia and Jaideep Ahlawat. The film is directed by Sriram Raghavan and presented by Dinesh Vijan and Maddock Films. Ikkis will be released in theatres on January 1, 2026 . Also Read: Esha Deol Opens Up About Resuming Work Post Dad Dharmendras Death: Still Grieving" Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar has been receiving a lot of love from fans and the industry. Recently, filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga took to social media to praise the Ranveer Singh starrer. He shared Dhurandhar is a film that is built like a man who doesn't talk much and carries a masculine spine. The Animal director wrote, "DHURANDHAR is built like a man who doesnt talk much & carries a masculine spine.... DHURANDHAR The title fits because the film moves with dominance & fierce. The depiction is very clear with zero chaos. Music, performances, screenplay & direction are on the top. #AkshayKhanna sir and @RanveerOfficial erased into air & just disappeared into characters effortlessly Thank you @AdityaDharFilms for making everyone experience the true weight of untold sacrifices." DHURANDHAR is built like a man who doesnt talk much & carries a masculine spine.... DHURANDHAR The title fits because the film moves with dominance & fierce. The depiction is very clear with zero chaos. Music, performances, screenplay & direction are on the top. #AkshayKhanna Sandeep Reddy Vanga (@imvangasandeep) December 20, 2025 Dhar was quick to express his gratitude and said that Dhurandhar was shaped with sincerity, restraint and conviction. He replied, "Thank you, my Dearest Sandeep. Coming from you, this means a great deal. Ive always admired the fearlessness with which you stand by your cinema and your faith in unapologetic, masculine storytelling. Dhurandhar was shaped with sincerity, restraint, and convictionyour words give that journey its quiet validation." Thank you, my Dearest Sandeep. Coming from you, this means a great deal. Ive always admired the fearlessness with which you stand by your cinema and your faith in unapologetic, masculine storytelling. Dhurandhar was shaped with sincerity, restraint, and convictionyour words Aditya Dhar (@AdityaDharFilms) December 20, 2025 The filmmaker continued, "Grateful for voices like yours that keep Indian cinema honest, rooted, and strong. Two filmmakers, different pathsyet walking as brothers toward a stronger cinema and a braver tomorrow for our country. Cinema remembers the brave, not the agreeable." Dhurandhar stars Ranveer Singh as a spy who infiltrates into Pakistan's terror base and tries to destabilize it. The second part of the film will be released on March 19, 2026 . It also stars Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Also Read: Adivi Sesh Talks About Dacoit Clashing With Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic MONTREAL, QC / ACCESS Newswire / December 19, 2025 / Alphinat Inc. (TSXV:NPA.H)(NEX:NPA.H) announces audited profit of $120,155 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2025. During fiscal 2025, Alphinat has concentrated most of its commercial efforts on its partnerships and sales in the public sector. Furthermore, SmartGuide continues being used by federal government departments & agencies, state / provincial and municipal governments. Our teams are involved in a variety of strategic projects with very short delivery delays, demonstrating the level of productivity that SmartGuide offers our clients and partners. At Alphinat, we are constantly looking for ways to enhance user experience and interoperability of client IT infrastructures. SmartGuide allows the IT department to focus on the infrastructure, technical conventions, connections to existing systems and security while business subject matter experts expand on that foundation to convert their knowledge and know-how into citizen-centric online services. SmartGuide has many times demonstrated that it offers our clients and partners the lowest Total Cost of Ownership ("TCO") compared to custom coded solutions. In order to accelerate future growth, Alphinat has six main areas of solution deliveries: SmartGuide Grants and Contributions solution (www.SmartGrants.ca) was developed in conjunction with a federal department of the Canadian Government. This platform offers unparalleled productivity for federal, state and municipal clients creating calls for grants including financial program creations for applications, adjudication and payments; SmartGuide Portal Edition for Dynamics 365 1 (www.smartD365.com) has optimize the way that clients can now create and deploy online services on top of Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM solutions. This offering is available in SaaS mode as well as on-premises; SmartGuide Green House Gas Registry solutions (www.SmartGHGR.ca) is a green fintech solution allowing governments and industry to work together in reducing the harmful effects of greenhouse gas. Alphinat currently has three provincial clients for our SmartGHGR.ca solution; SmartGuide Claims solutions (www.SmartClaims.ca) was developed in conjunction with a major IT consulting partner, which aims at offering unparalleled productivity to federal, state and municipal clients for financial claims applications, adjudication and settlements for financial compensation and class action settlements; SmartGuide CIVIC Portal, CIVIC Portal for Permits & Licensing (www.PermitSmarter.ca) and SmartGuide Municipal Cloud are Municipal Cloud and on-premises solutions front ending partner solutions and other digital services for improved user experience for both the cities and their citizens. SmartProfile (www.smartprofile.ca) an access management solution for secure Single Sign On is now a standalone offering, built on SmartGuide it provides industry leading flexible for full integration and end-user satisfaction. Throughout 2025, Alphinat's R&D team continued developing SmartGuide version 12 with "LIVEaiASSIST" to support the growing ambitions of our customers and partners, while also bolstering our own strategic growth. We enhanced our offering of automated component solutions and improved our customer identity and access management (CIAM) and single sign-on (SSO) solutions based on SmartGuide. These solutions are marketed through our IT consulting partners. The team delivers solutions to various international, federal, state / provincial agencies and municipalities across North America and Europe. In addition, the company continues to be involved in supporting its partners to ensure the delivery of solutions to government customers. For the 12-month period ended August 31, 2025, the Company recorded audited total revenue of $1,440,553 compared to $1,118,276 for the same period in 2024. The net earnings for fiscal 2025 amount to $120,115 or $0.0 per common share compared to net earnings of $51 824 or $0.0 per common share in fiscal 2024. Alphinat's unaudited financial statements and Management'sDiscussion and Analysisfor the period ending August 31, 2025 can be found on SEDAR, at www.sedar.com. About Alphinat At Alphinat, we are driven by the passion to make application development easy for everyone and system interoperability issues a thing of the past. We enable people with the vision of how a finished application should look and behave to be a major part of the development process. After all, what better way to ensure a favorable outcome than to provide those closest to an application's end-users with a vested interest in its success throughout its development? That's why we bring you new ways to empower the right people at the right time in the application development process. At the same time, we're constantly working to reduce the need to code in order to make application development and maintenance simpler and less error prone. So, whether you choose to develop your applications with the help of our low-code platform SmartGuide, kickstart your project using one of our pre-built apps or engage us or one of our partners to do the work for you, we're here to help you deploy better applications in record time. Visit us at www.alphinat.com for more information. We look forward to hearing from you. Forward-looking statements Certain statements in this document, including those which express management's expectations or estimations with regards to the Company's future performance constitute forward-looking statements" as understood by applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are, of necessity, based on a certain number of estimates and hypotheses; while management considers these to be accurate at the time they are expressed, they are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and risks on the commercial, economic and competitive levels. We advise readers that these forward- looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other known and unknown factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. A number of factors could cause significant differences between actual results and those described in forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, the Company's capacity to increase acceptance of its products on the market, and to penetrate new markets; the potential existence of defects or undetected problems in the Company's products; the Company's ability to manage its growth; the Company's ability to compete with others; potential commitments; maintaining the Company's intellectual property rights and defending against litigation putting those rights in question; the Company's reliance on the knowledge of its key personnel; and the Company's access to sufficient capital to finance its future needs. This is a partial and non-exhaustive list of factors that could bear on any of our forward-looking statements. Investors are advised to not rely unduly on the forward-looking statements. This advisory applies to all forward-looking statements, whether expressed orally or in writing, attributed to Alphinat or to any individual expressing them in the name of the Company. The Company is under no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events, or other circumstances. Risks and uncertainties that bear on the Company are described in greater detail in the Company's Annual Report. 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. For further information please contact: Ms. Mahtab Abbasigaravand Chief Executive Officer Alphinat Inc. (514) 398-9799 1 Dynamics 365 is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation SOURCE: Alphinat, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/alphinat-announces-a-profit-of-120-155-for-fiscal-year-ended-aug-1119773 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 19, 2025) - Regency Silver Corp. (TSXV: RSMX) (OTCQB: RSMXD) ("Regency Silver" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful closing of its previously announced (December 9, December 11 and December 15) best efforts brokered private placement of units of the Company (the "Units") for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $3,991,000 (the "Brokered Offering"). The Company is also pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced (December 15) concurrent non-brokered private placement of Units for additional gross proceeds of $87,500 (the "Non-Brokered Offering" and together with the Brokered Offering, the "Offerings"). The Offerings were led by Centurion One Capital Corp. as lead agent and sole bookrunner (the "Lead Agent") in respect of the Brokered Offering and fiscal advisor in respect of the Non-Brokered Offering. Pushor Mitchell LLP acted as counsel to the Company, and MLT Aikins LLP acted as counsel to the Lead Agent in connection with the Offerings. Bruce Bragagnolo, Chief Executive Officer of the Company commented: "Regency is very pleased to have successfully completed this oversubscribed financing. Centurion One Capital anchored the financing and, through disciplined execution, brought together a high-quality group of long-term strategic investors, enabling us to complete the offering on an upsized basis. The net proceeds from the financing will allow us to keep the drill turning at the Dios Padre Project and further enhance shareholder value." A total of 23,305,714 Units were sold under the Offerings at a price of $0.175 per Unit (the "Issue Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $4,078,500. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one transferable Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Common Share (a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.26 for until December 19, 2028. The net proceeds of the Offerings will be used for drilling on the Company's Dios Padre Project in Sonora, Mexico and for general working capital purposes. In connection with the Offerings, the Company paid a cash commission of $326,280 and issued 1,864,457 non-transferable Common Share purchase warrants entitling the holders to acquire a Unit at the Issue Price until December 19, 2028. The Units offered for sale under the Brokered Offering were offered by way of private placement pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption") under section 5A.2 of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions, as amended and supplemented by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption. The securities issued under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will not be subject to a statutory hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. The Units offered for sale under the Non-Brokered Offering were offered by way of private placement to purchasers in the United States pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and applicable U.S. state securities laws, and pursuant available exemptions from the prospectus requirements under applicable Canadian securities laws other than the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption. The securities issued under the Non-Brokered Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of 4 months and a day pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. Technical Information The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed by Company director Michael Tucker, P.Geo, who is recognized as a Qualified Person under the guidelines of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Tucker is a director of the Company and for that reason is not considered independent. Mr. Tucker has read and approved the technical contents of this news release. ABOUT REGENCY SILVER CORP. Regency Silver Corp. is a Canadian resource company exploring for gold, copper, and silver in Mexico. Regency Silver is led by a team of experienced professionals with expertise in both exploration and production. Regency's flagship project is the Dios Padre project in Sonora, Mexico where Regency made a gold-copper-silver discovery which appears to be a magmatic-hydrothermal system which widens at depth. Drill results have included 38 metres of 7.36 g/t gold in hole REG 23-21, 36 metres of 6.84 g/t gold, 0.88% copper and 21.8 g/t silver in hole REG 22-01, and 29.4 m of 6.32 g/t gold in hole REG 23-14. For further details about Regency Silver please visit www.regency-silver.com. ABOUT CENTURION ONE CAPITAL Centurion One Capital's mission is to ignite the world's most visionary entrepreneurs to conquer the greatest challenges of tomorrow, fueling their ambitions with transformative capital, unparalleled expertise, and a global network of influential connections. Every interaction is guided by our core values of respect, integrity, commitment, excellence in execution, and uncompromising performance. We make principal investments, drawing on the time-honored principles of merchant banking, where aligned incentives forge enduring partnerships. Centurion One Capital: A superior approach to investment banking. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect Regency Silver's current expectations. When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this news release include information relating to the anticipated use of proceeds of the Offerings. Such statements and information reflect the current view of Regency. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. 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. There are a number of important factors that could cause Regency Silver's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the Company; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, fluctuations in commodity prices, and general market and industry conditions. Regency Silver cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Regency Silver has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF REGENCY SILVER 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. WHILE REGENCY SILVER MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available. 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 press release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278725 Source: Regency Silver Corp. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 19, 2025) - Deveron Corp. (TSXV: FARM) ("Deveron" or the "Company") announces that, in connection with the proposed transaction announced on November 3, 2025 (the "Transaction"), staff of the Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC") have reviewed the management information circular (the "Circular") of the Company dated December 1, 2025, mailed in connection with the special meeting (the "Meeting") of the Company's shareholders (the "Shareholders") being held on December 30, 2025, to, among other things, approve the proposed Transaction. Based on the OSC's review of the Circular, the Company is being asked to provide additional disclosure with respect to the proposed Transaction. The Company advises that subsequent to entering into a settlement agreement (the "Settlement Agreement") on August 14, 2024 (see press release dated August 15, 2025), the Company received a letter of intent (the "Initial LOI") from Aqua Capital on November 14, 2024, contemplating a debenture financing for the Company. Due to negative covenants contained in the Settlement Agreement with respect to completing additional equity or debt financings, the acceleration of certain debt obligations of the Company, and management's focus on stabilizing the operations of the Company, the Company did not engage with Aqua Capital in connection with the Initial LOI. Due to the Company's deteriorating financial condition, by February 2025, the Company determined to re-engage with strategic investors and private equity firms that had previously expressed interest in the Company's business, including Aqua Capital. On February 12, 2025, the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") formed a special committee (the "Special Committee") comprised of Mr. David MacMillan, Mr. Albert Contardi and Mr. Ron Patterson with a mandate to review strategic options for the Company, the terms of any proposed transaction, participate in and/or supervise negotiations regarding any proposed transaction and to make recommendations with respect to any proposed transaction to the Board. The Company confirms that it did not have any discussions with Aqua Capital nor did any negotiations take place between receipt of the Initial LOI and the establishment of the Special Committee on February 12, 2025. Following its establishment, the Special Committee met on several occasions to discuss the various term sheets received by the Company and continued to meet on a regular basis to review strategic alternative transactions for the Company. In March 2025, the Company and Aqua Capital began consistent negotiations with respect to a merger and acquisition transaction, as opposed to a financing. The Special Committee would meet on a weekly basis to discuss the continued negotiations and make recommendations to the Board. On April 8, 2025, prior to the Board's approval of a resolution to provide Aqua Capital with a formal signing of an updated non-binding letter of intent that would grant Aqua Capital exclusivity for a 90-day period for completion of diligence, Mr. Albert Contardi resigned from the Board due to the fact that he did not support the potential transaction with Aqua Capital. The remaining members of the Special Committee, being Mr. David MacMillan and Mr. Ron Patterson, approved the updated non-binding letter of intent and recommended the potential transaction to the Board. On October 27, 2025, Mr. Roger Dent, Mr. Greg Patterson and Mr. Ron Patterson resigned from the Board due to concerns with respect to the financial stability of the Company. As a result, Mr. David MacMillan was left as the sole director of the Company. Mr. Chris Irwin was appointed as a director of the Company to ensure that the Company had one independent director. The OSC has taken the view that the amendment of the Company's outstanding convertible debentures (see press release dated November 3, 2025) and the proposed Transaction are "connected transactions" pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). As a result, for purposes of the minority approval requirements of MI 61-101, the 5,462,876 common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Common Shares") beneficially owned and controlled by Mr. Chris Irwin (representing approximately 2.58% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, on an undiluted basis) will be excluded in determining whether minority approval for each of the Share and Asset Sale Resolution (as such term is defined in the Circular) and the Winding Up Resolution (as such term is defined in the Circular) is obtained. Accordingly, a total of 20,538,287 Common Shares representing approximately 9.6% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, on an undiluted basis, will be excluded in determining whether minority approval for each of the Share and Asset Sale Resolution and the Wind-Up Resolution is obtained. The Company confirms that it will not proceed with the Wind-Up (as such term is defined in the Circular) if, following receipt of shareholder approval at the Meeting and prior to its implementation, if at all: (i) a material change (as defined in the Securities Act (Ontario)) occurs that results in, or would reasonably be expected to result in, an increase of the market price or value of the Common Shares or (ii) there is a material fact (as defined in the Securities Act (Ontario)) at the time of the Wind-Up that has not been publicly disclosed, which would reasonably be expected to result in an increase of the market price or value of the Common Shares if disclosed. As a result of the clarifying disclosure, the Company determined to waive the proxy cut-off of 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on Wednesday, December 24, 2025. Shareholders may deposit their executed form of proxy with the Company's transfer agent and registrar, TSX Trust Company, at Suite 301, 100 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5H 4H1, up until the start of the Meeting at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on December 30, 2025. 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. About Deveron: Deveron is an agriculture technology company that uses data and insights to help farmers and large agriculture enterprises increase yields, reduce costs and improve farm outcomes. The company employs a digital process that leverages data collected on farms across North America to drive unbiased interpretation of production decisions, ultimately recommending how to optimize input use. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of that phrase under Canadian securities laws. Without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve various degrees of risk. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current views with respect to possible future events and conditions and, by their nature, are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific to the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. The following are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of agricultural commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in agriculture, the uncertainty of future profitability and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. Additional information regarding the material factors and assumptions that were applied in making these forward-looking statements as well as the various risks and uncertainties we face are described in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of our annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis of our financial results and other continuous disclosure documents and financial statements we file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company undertakes no obligation to update this forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. The Company relies on litigation protection for forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278746 Source: Deveron Corp. A Korean delegation has arrived at FITUR 2026 to strengthen partnerships and expand the scope of global cooperation. MADRID, Dec. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- From 21 to 25 January, the International Tourism Fair FITUR, held at IFEMA Madrid, will significantly enhance the tourism business opportunities between Korea and Spain that have been strengthened in recent years. In 2024, 391,785 South Korean tourists visited Spain, spending a total of 1.214 billion. This represents an average of 3,098 per traveller and 405 per day, one of the highest figures in international tourism. Meanwhile, it is estimated that over 55,000 Spaniards visited South Korea by 2025. According to Turispagna, the main motivations for Korean travellers encompass all elements associated with the Spanish brand, including relaxation, gastronomy, and natural landscapes. This cultural affinity is also reflected in Consumer Insight's survey on Korean satisfaction with overseas travel. This survey explains why Spain was selected as the top overseas destination for Koreans in 2025, and in the survey's history, Spain became the first country to achieve a satisfaction score exceeding 800 points among Koreans. Air connectivity has been a crucial factor in strengthening these ties and has also played a significant role in establishing Korea as one of the world's most dynamic destinations. Beyond the Seoul-Madrid and Seoul-Barcelona routes operated by Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, and T'way, the recent addition of a direct flight between Seoul and Malaga has expanded travel options and strengthened Korea's position in Andalusia. Moreover, Korea has established itself as one of the most important international markets on the Camino de Santiago, consolidating its strong affinity for culture and leisurely travel. At FITUR 2026, the Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) will officially represent Korea, attracting diverse exhibitors including eTourism Korea DMC, Golden Tour Korea DMC, Holiday Planners, Sally Tour, Curious Korea, Korea DMC FNF, and L-Tour Co., Ltd. This diversified presence reflects Korea's genuine interest in enhancing its international visibility and exploring new tourism cooperation opportunities. Media Contact: Helena Valera International Press Tel.: 629 64 42 08 evalera@ifema.es Alejandra Elorza Chief Press Tel.: 629 64 49 68 aelorza@ifema.es A new edition of FITUR, the International Tourism Fair held at the IFEMA Madrid exhibition centre, which has established itself as one of the benchmarks for the tourism sector with the presence of 156 countries and an attendance of more than 250,000 people, including professionals and visitors. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2849803/IFEMA_Madrid.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/fitur-2026-enhancing-tourism-business-opportunities-between-korea-and-spain-302647051.html The largest ever Japanese delegation will participate in FITUR 2026, aiming to promote partnerships and global expansion. MADRID, Dec. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Japan's growing presence in the international tourism market and its close relationship with Spain will be demonstrated at the international tourism fair 'FITUR 2026', held at IFEMA Madrid from 21 to 25 January. According to the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO), the number of Spanish visitors to Japan reached approximately 182,300 in 2024, marking a 57.3% increase compared to 2023. A significant turning point was the launch of Iberia Airlines' direct Madrid-Tokyo service (three weekly flights) in October 2023. Meanwhile, the Spanish Tourism Promotion Agency (Turespana) announced that Spain welcomed over 410,000 Japanese tourists in 2024. This represents a 32.1% increase year-on-year, with total spending reaching 1.164 billion - a 48% rise compared to 2023. The Japanese market stands out for its exceptionally high daily travel expenditure, ranking among the top markets globally. According to Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE), the number of Japanese visitors increased by a further 8% in the second quarter of 2025. Moreover, these awareness metrics reflect Spain's sustained rise in popularity within Japan. A YouGov survey indicates Spain ranked third in "consideration for visiting" and second in "travel intention" for 2025, showing significant growth compared to 2024. Furthermore, satisfaction among travellers who actually visited Spain rose from 58.5% to 68.3%. Against this backdrop, FITUR 2026 saw the largest ever Japanese delegation participate. Alongside the official representatives from the Japan National Tourism Organisation and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, attendees included the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB), the JTB Group's global DMC network, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan Experience, Himeji Tourism Convention Bureau, JR Tokai Hotels, JTB Global Marketing & Travel, Miki Tourist x HIS, Fujita Kanko (WHG Hotels), Sky Hop Bus Tokyo, DMC Japan by KNT, and numerous operators. Furthermore, FITUR 2026 is expected to see participation from numerous leading Spanish agents specialising in the Japanese market. This business growth reflects the vitality of Japan's tourism market, which recorded a record high of 36.8 million international visitors in 2024, a 47.1% increase year-on-year. Consequently, FITUR 2026 will be a crucial platform for strengthening tourism collaboration between Spain and Japan and creating new opportunities for cooperation. Media Contact: Helena Valera International Press Tel.: 629 64 42 08 evalera@ifema.es Alejandra Elorza Chief Press Tel.: 629 64 49 68 aelorza@ifema.es A new edition of FITUR, the International Tourism Fair held at the IFEMA Madrid exhibition centre, which has established itself as one of the benchmarks for the tourism sector with the presence of 156 countries and an attendance of more than 250,000 people, including professionals and visitors. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2849812/FITUR_JAPAN.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/fitur-2026-promoting-japans-tourism-appeal-to-the-international-market-302647070.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 19, 2025) - 37 Capital Inc. (CSE: JJJ) (the "Company" or "37 Capital") is pleased to announce the results of the Annual General Meeting of the Company's shareholders, which was held on Thursday, December 18, 2025, in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Company's shareholders received the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, together with the auditor's report thereon; fixed the number of directors for the ensuing year at four; re-elected Hagop Jack (Jake) Kalpakian, Gregory T. McFarlane, Neil Spellman and Mathieu McDonald as Directors of the Company; re-appointed the Company's auditor, Dale Matheson Carr-Hilton Labonte LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, for the ensuing year and authorized the directors to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditor; and re-approved the Company's Stock Option Plan. On Behalf of the Board 37 Capital Inc., "Jake H. Kalpakian" Jake H. Kalpakian President & CEO The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered speculative. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278759 Source: 37 Capital Inc. Brookside Cartersville Senior Living is Home for the Holidays CARTERSVILLE, GEORGIA / ACCESS Newswire / December 19, 2025 / Cedar Communities is proud to announce the winner of its annual Model Room Contest, Home for the Holidays: a beautifully designed senior living suite at Brookside Cartersville. Located just minutes from downtown Cartersville, Brookside Cartersville is a modern personal care home that truly feels like home. "When we design a space, we think about the people who will live here - their routines, their memories, and the feeling we want them to have when they walk through the door," said Lacy Green, Administrator of Brookside Cartersville. "This room was created to feel comfortable, festive, and personal, so future residents can picture their own day-to-day lives here." From the moment you walk through the front doors of Brookside Cartersville, it's clear this is a special place. With soaring cathedral ceilings and a cozy central fireplace welcoming you in, the community offers warmth, comfort, and a sense of belonging right away. That feeling of "home" is what Brookside Cartersville is all about - and it's what makes this community so meaningful for the residents who live there every day. Many of Brookside's senior living suites feature fully enclosed porches, along with new wood laminate flooring and convenient kitchenettes in every suite. These thoughtful details allow residents to feel settled, comfortable, and independent in a space that is truly their own. Brookside Cartersville was selected for this honor in recognition of the care, creativity, and attention to detail shown in the winning suite. The community's administrator thoughtfully designed the room to feel warm, inviting, and festive, while still allowing future residents to picture their own furniture, memories, and traditions in the space. In the words of one of our happy resident's "I like how this room feels. It's cozy, it's familiar, and it reminds me of home during the holidays. So pretty." One look at the suite, and the Christmas spirit could be felt throughout the community - a reminder of how meaningful a thoughtfully designed space can be. Cedar Communities is proud to share this special room not only with those who tour, live, and visit Brookside Cartersville, but with the greater Cartersville community as well. For anyone exploring senior living options for themselves or a loved one, Brookside Cartersville continues to be a place where comfort, care, and a true sense of home come together. For more information about Brookside Cartersville: Website: www.brooksidecartersville.com Phone number: (770) 382-5683 SOURCE: Cedar Communities View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/real-estate/brookside-cartersville-named-winner-room-contest-1119796 News / National by Staff reporter On the sun-drenched, dusty streets of Bulawayo's Matshobana suburb, few could have imagined that one of their own would one day drape the heavy gold mayoral chain around her neck in a historic English town thousands of kilometres away. Yet from these humble beginnings emerged Dr Alice Mpofu-Coles - the first Black female mayor of Reading in Berkshire, United Kingdom - a woman whose life journey reads like a story of grit, grace and quiet determination.Born at Mpilo Central Hospital and raised in Matshobana, Mpofu-Coles grew up in a disciplined household anchored by hope and strong values. Her father worked for the National Railways of Zimbabwe, and although the family lived modestly, it was rich in principles that would later define her path."We were taught to believe in ourselves and to face challenges head-on. That mindset has stayed with me throughout my life," she recalls.Those lessons of perseverance would become crucial. One of five children, Mpofu-Coles is now the sole surviving sibling, having endured the profound loss of her brothers, sisters and parents. In the midst of grief, education became both refuge and ladder a means of survival and transformation. She began her schooling at Gampu Primary School before proceeding to Mzilikazi High School, where her global aspirations first took shape."A life must be anchored on values, principles and convictions. They become your compass when the road gets tough," she reflects.Her professional journey started in Zimbabwe's public service, first in the records and filing department of the Ministry of Justice, before moving to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Harare. That transition opened the door to the world. Posted to Yugoslavia now Serbia she served for several years as a diplomat, gaining international exposure before eventually relocating to the United Kingdom, which she now proudly calls home.In Britain, Mpofu-Coles refused to slow down. Instead, she reinvented herself academically and professionally, pursuing advanced studies that culminated in a PhD in Human Geography from the University of Reading. Her research focused on identity, migration and the intergenerational experiences of young Zimbabweans growing up in the British diaspora themes deeply intertwined with her own life story.This work, grounded in social justice and inclusion, was further shaped by her personal experience as a cancer survivor. Working closely with the National Health Service (NHS) during her treatment strengthened her resolve to advocate for marginalised and migrant communities."My research uses participatory approaches that value community knowledge and lived experiences. It's about embedding equality, diversity and inclusion in everything we do," she says.Now a community researcher associate and research fellow at the University of Reading, Mpofu-Coles plays a central role in shaping the institution's race equality agenda. Her academic credentials also include a Master's degree in International Relations, specialising in diplomacy and conflict resolution, as well as advanced studies in forced migration at Oxford University's International Summer School.Her transition from academia and activism into politics was a natural evolution."I've always been politically aware and inclined towards activism. When my children grew up and I had more time, I decided to get more involved," she explains.Her political rise was swift. She won a council seat, was elected deputy mayor, and then made history as the first Black woman to become mayor of Reading. Despite the milestone, she emphasises that the office transcends party politics."I serve everyone in our town because I am the mayor for everyone in Reading," she says.Her tenure has been marked by compassion, extensive charity work and a strong focus on tackling food poverty.Yet even as she serves in Berkshire, her heart remains firmly connected to Zimbabwe. During a recent visit to Bulawayo, Mpofu-Coles met with the city's mayor, Councillor David Coltart, to explore partnerships between the two cities. Discussions ranged from climate change research and business exchange programmes to tourism and investment opportunities."Bulawayo has so much potential. People in the UK are always fascinated when they see the jacaranda trees behind me on Zoom. It makes them curious about the city," she notes.Despite her global stature and mayoral status, Mpofu-Coles remains grounded and proudly Zimbabwean."People think I eat fancy food, but I love sadza with amathumbu enkomo, umxhanxa and groundnuts. I still eat them in the UK," she laughs.Her message to young people and women back home is both realistic and inspiring."Success doesn't happen overnight. Work hard, be patient and never underestimate the power of networking. Sometimes one connection can change your entire life," she says.It is a fitting conclusion from a woman who has shown that no matter how far one travels, the values of home remain the truest compass. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 19, 2025) - Pure Energy Minerals Limited (TSXV: PE) (OTCQB: PEMIF) ("Pure Energy" or "the Company") announces the voting results from its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting"), held on December 19, 2025, including the appointment of William Morton to the Board of Directors of the Company. All resolutions presented to the Shareholders were approved. Each of the resolutions are explained in detail in the Management Information Circular published in connection with the Meeting. It is available for reference on the Company's website pureenergyminerals.com. A total of 10,700,467 common shares, representing approximately 31.50% of the Company's outstanding common shares, were voted in person and by proxy at the Meeting. Shareholders voted in favour of: Reappointing Baker Tilly WM LLP as auditors of the Company; Setting the number of directors at five, with the following five nominees elected as directors: Marceau Schlumberger, Daniel Barnosky, Yuwei Hong, Cameron Hosie and William Morton; and Approving the Company's new Long-Term Incentive Plan. "On behalf of the board, I would like to thank shareholders for their participation and continuing support," commented William Morton, President and CEO. About Pure Energy Pure Energy Minerals is a lithium resource company that has consolidated a land position at its Clayton Valley Project in the Clayton Valley of central Nevada for the exploration and development of lithium resources. The Company entered into an Earn-In Agreement with Schlumberger Technology Corp., a subsidiary of SLB (formerly Schlumberger Limited), dated May 1, 2019 whereby the Company has granted SLB an option, in favour of SLB, to acquire all of the Company's interests in the Clayton Valley Project. On behalf of the Board of Directors, "William Morton" President and CEO, Pure Energy Minerals Limited Cautionary Statements and Forward-Looking Information 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 the anticipated benefits of Mr. Morton's financial leadership and investment expertise, and the Company's plans to develop its resources and create shareholder value. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied certain material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will successfully advance the development of its resources and that such efforts will result in creating shareholder value. 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, that the Company will not advance the development of its resources and that the Company will not create shareholder value. 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. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of 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/278741 Source: Pure Energy Minerals Ltd. 2026 startet mit einem Paukenschlag: Der DAX outperformt den US-Markt, Nachzugler holen auf. Ein erstes Signal, dass der Bullenmarkt an Breite gewinnt. Wahrend viele Anleger weiter auf die groen Tech-Namen setzen, hat sich im Hintergrund langst ein Umschwung vollzogen. Der Fokus verschiebt sich weg von uberteuerten KI-Highflyern hin zu soliden Qualitatswerten aus der zweiten Reihe. Anleger, die jetzt clever agieren, setzen nicht auf das, was war, sondern auf das, was kommt. Unternehmen mit gesunder Bilanz, unterschatztem Potenzial und begrenztem Abwartsrisiko konnten 2026 zu den groen Gewinnern zahlen. Die Gefahr einer scharferen Korrektur bleibt real, gerade fur passiv aufgestellte Investoren. In unserem neuen Spezialreport stellen wir funf Aktien vor, die genau jetzt das Potenzial fur uberdurchschnittliche Renditen bieten. Stark, gunstig und bislang kaum im Fokus. Jetzt kostenlosen Report herunterladen bevor es andere tun! Dieses exklusive PDF ist nur fur kurze Zeit gratis verfugbar. The United Kingdom strengthens its institutional and business presence and uses FITUR as a strategic global platform. MADRID, Dec. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FITUR 2026 , the International Tourism Trade Fair, taking place from 21 to 25 January at IFEMA MADRID , will highlight the vitality of the UK tourism market and the close relationship it maintains with Spain, a destination to which British travellers give one of the highest ratings in Europe. MADRID, Espana, Dec. 19, 2025, /PRNewswire/ -- 18.4 million British tourists arrived in Spain in 2024, 19.6% of the total, and up to September 2025, 15.3 million are expected, up 4% year-on-year, with spending of 19 billion euros, according to the Secretary of State for Tourism . Tourism is a two-way relationship. According to VisitBritain more than 2.5 million Spaniards travelled to the United Kingdom in 2024, ranking among its top outbound markets, spending 1.4 billion. Moreover, three out of every five Spanish holidaymakers are repeat visitors, reflecting the consolidated cultural and urban connection between the two countries. Spain remains the number one international destination for the British, according to the Office for National Statistics , with air connectivity reinforcing this trend and capacity programmed for the 2025/26 winter season growing by 4.9%. In 2024, Britons spent an average of 1,228 euros per person and 176 euros per day in Spain, with stays of around seven nights. Between January and August 2025, their spending grew by 5%, according to Egatur . Preference for Spain is also strong: 41.2% include it in their consideration set and 15.2% choose it as their favourite destination, with a satisfaction level of 73.3% among those who have already visited. The United Kingdom will be strengthening its institutional presence at FITUR 2026 with the official incorporation of Destination North East England along with a diverse business representation. In travel technology, leading firms include Mews and Sabre , together with Warner Bros. London Studio , agencies, DMCs and wholesalers. British visitors to Spain are mainly leisure visitors, with activities centred on beaches, city tours and shopping, while Spaniards travelling to the UK are attracted by its cities, historical heritage, cultural experiences and visits to family and friends. FITUR 2026 will provide a setting to address cooperation and business opportunities between the two leading tourism markets . Media Contact: Helena Valera International Press Tel.: +34 629 64 42 08 evalera@ifema.es Alejandra Elorza Chief Press Tel.: +34 629 64 49 68 aelorza@ifema.es A new edition of FITUR, the International Tourism Fair held at the IFEMA Madrid exhibition centre, which has established itself as one of the benchmarks for the tourism sector with the presence of 156 countries and an attendance of more than 250,000 people, including professionals and visitors. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2849772/FITUR_Madrid.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/fitur-2026-to-confirm-the-strength-and-potential-of-the-uk-tourism-market-302647194.html NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mustang Energy Corp. (CSE: MEC, OTC: MECPF, FRA: 92T) ("Mustang" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of C$180,000 from the sale of 2,000,000 critical flow-through units of the Company (each, an "FT Unit") at a price of C$0.09 per FT Unit (the "Offering"). Each FT Unit will consist of one common share of the Company issued on a "flow-through" basis pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, an "FT Share") and one half of one transferable common share purchase warrant (each, an "FT Warrant"), with each whole FT Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") (on a non-flow-through basis) at a price of $0.15 per Warrant Share for a period of two years following the closing of the Offering (the "Closing"). The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering to incur resource exploration expenses which will constitute "Canadian exploration expenses" as defined in subsection 66.1(6) of the Tax Act and "flow through critical mineral mining expenditures" as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act, which will be renounced with an effective date no later than December 31, 2025 to the purchasers of the FT Units in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the FT Units. Red Cloud Securities Inc. will be acting as a finder in connection with the Offering and finder's fees will be payable in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). The Closing is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals including the CSE. The securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period ending on the date that is four months plus one day following the date of issue in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company anticipates closing the Offering by December 31, 2025. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. About Mustang Energy Corp. Mustang is a resource exploration company focused on acquiring and developing high-potential uranium and critical mineral assets. The Company is actively exploring its properties in the Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan, Canada. Mustang's flagship property, Ford Lake, covers 7,743 hectares in the prolific eastern Athabasca Basin, while its Cigar Lake East and Roughrider South projects span 2,901 hectares in the Wollaston Domain. Mustang has also established its footprint in the Cluff Lake region of the Athabasca Basin with the acquisition of the Yellowstone Project and further expanded its presence in the south central region of the Athabasca Basin with the Dutton Project. On behalf of the board of directors, "Nicholas Luksha" Nicholas Luksha CEO and Director For further information, please contact: Mustang Energy Corp. Attention: Nicholas Luksha, CEO and Director Phone: (604) 838-0184 Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer This news 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", "believes" 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 with respect to, among other things: the Closing, the issuance of the FT Units, the payment of finder's fees, the anticipated closing date of the Offering, the intended use of proceeds of the Offering, and the date by which the critical mineral mining expenditures will be renounced. 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. Neither the CSE nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. San Francisco, California--(Newsfile Corp. - December 18, 2025) - National shareholder rights law firm Hagens Berman is issuing a reminder to investors in James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE: JHX) as the December 23, 2025, lead plaintiff deadline approaches in a pending securities class action against James Hardie and certain of its key executives. The litigation alleges that James Hardie senior management misled investors by touting "robust" and "normal" inventory levels, while allegedly aware that channel partners were aggressively destocking as early as April 2025. When this alleged deception was purportedly disclosed on August 20, 2025, it immediately caused a 34% stock collapse and was followed by the abrupt November 17 resignation of CFO Rachel Wilson. Hagens Berman, which is investigating the claims in the pending litigation, urges investors with substantial losses to submit their information now. DEEPER DIVE: Read Hagens Berman's latest blog post on James Hardie's alleged inventory deception, Alleged Inventory Deception: Investors Claim James Hardie Concealed Weak Demand, or view our latest video summary of the allegations: Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hXU4zX9asY "Consistent with the complaint's allegations, we are investigating whether the purported strength in the North American segment was actually the result of inventory loading," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm's investigation in this matter. Class Action Suit Alleges Inventory Loading Alleged Deceptive Inventory Statements: The lawsuit alleges that despite witnessing North America Fiber Cement customers destocking inventory as early as April and early May 2025 , the defendants issued numerous false assurances that the segment remained strong and expressly denied that destocking was occurring. Concealment of Inventory Loading: Investors were allegedly kept in the dark regarding inventory loading by channel partners. The complaint alleges these practices were concealed while the company emphasized sustainable customer demand. The August 2025 Disclosure: On August 19, 2025, James Hardie revealed that sales in its critical North America Fiber Cement segment had declined by 12% due to the customer destocking first identified by defendants months earlier. 34% Market Correction: Following this disclosure, the price of James Hardie common stock plummeted by over 34%, resulting in significant financial losses for shareholders. Next Steps for James Hardie (JHX) Investors: Investors who purchased James Hardie stock (JHX) between May 20, 2025, and August 18, 2025, and suffered substantial losses, are encouraged to contact Hagens Berman immediately to discuss their legal options and potential appointment as Lead Plaintiff. TO SUBMIT YOUR JAMES HARDIE (JHX) LOSSES NOW, PLEASE USE THE SECURE FORM BELOW: Submit your JHX losses now Contact: Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email JHX@hbsslaw.com To read more about the issue facing JHX investors, visit, https://www.hbsslaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-plc-jhx-securities-class-action. Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding James Hardie should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email JHX@hbsslaw.com. # # # About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman's team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278517 Source: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP Boston, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - January 13, 2026) - Block & Leviton announces that a securities fraud lawsuit has been filed against Klarna Group plc (NYSE: KLAR) and certain of its executives. Investors who have lost money in their Klarna Group investment should contact the firm to learn more about how they might recover those losses. For more details, visit https://blockleviton.com/cases/klar. What is this all about? Klarna Group conducted its IPO at $40 per share on September 10, 2025. The complaint alleges that Klarna Group's Registration Statement contained false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Defendants materially understated the risk that its loss reserves would materially go up within a few months of the IPO, which they either knew of or should have known of given the risk profile of many individuals agreeing to Klarna's buy now, pay later ("BNPL") loans; and (2); as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times and negligently prepared. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. Who is eligible? Anyone who purchased Klarna Group plc common stock and has seen their shares fall may be eligible, whether or not they have sold their investment. Investors should contact Block & Leviton to learn more. What should you do next? The deadline to seek appointment as lead plaintiff is March 6, 2026. A class has not yet been certified, and until a certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. If you've lost money on your investment, you should contact Block & Leviton to learn more via our case website, by email at shareholders@blockleviton.com, or by phone at (888) 256-2510. Whistleblower? If you have non-public information about Klarna Group, you should consider assisting in our investigation or working with our attorneys to file a report with the Securities Exchange Commission under their whistleblower program. Whistleblowers who provide original information to the SEC may receive rewards of up to 30% of any successful recovery. For more information, contact Block & Leviton at whistleblowers@blockleviton.com or by phone at (888) 256-2510. Why should you contact Block & Leviton? Block & Leviton is widely regarded as one of the leading securities class action firms in the country. Our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars for defrauded investors and are dedicated to obtaining significant recoveries on behalf of our clients through active litigation in the federal courts across the country. Many of the nation's top institutional investors hire us to represent their interests. You can learn more about us at our website, www.blockleviton.com, call (888) 256-2510 or email shareholders@blockleviton.com with any questions. This notice may constitute attorney advertising. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/280272 Source: Block & Leviton LLP Boards and executive buyers are raising the 2026 bar for all product and service rankings and this annual statement explains the standards Black Book applies to keep survey evaluations rigorous, independent and resistant to score chasing. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS / ACCESS Newswire / December 20, 2025 / As part of its 15th annual, fourth-quarter release cycle, Black Book Research today published its 2026 Methodology and Governance Statement describing how its healthcare IT Top Vendor rankings are produced and maintained. The statement affirms a core principle of ethical, comprehensive, longitudinal market research: comparative findings must be grounded in verified user experience, governed transparently, and structurally protected from commercial influence so results remain credible, comparable, and decision-useful across markets and time. In a crowded rankings and intelligence landscape, Black Book's annual statement is intended to help boards, executive buyers, and investors evaluate the methodological strength behind any vendor ranking they use. Black Book encourages stakeholders to treat rankings as decision support that should be accompanied by disclosed methods, validation controls, and evidence that holds up beyond a single assessment cycle. Black Book also frames its research outputs as applied competitive intelligence, enabling healthcare stakeholders to benchmark vendors, evaluate performance movement over time, and identify strengths and gaps at the KPI level, supporting evidence-based decision-making across procurement, governance, and strategic planning on a platform designed on Google's Looker allowing for predictive and collaborative vendor selection insights, unmatched for IT buyers in the market research industry. '"In healthcare IT, rankings influence shortlists, procurement pace, and executive confidence," said Kat Johnson, spokesperson for Black Book Research. "Recognition must be earned through verified user experience, measured consistently, and insulated from commercial influence, so the user's top choice reflects the buyer's priorities and operating context, not a one-size-fits-all conclusion." Black Book participates in global research and insights communities, including ESOMAR (International), The Insights Association (USA) , and The Market Research Society (UK), reflecting alignment with established worldwide professional standards and methodological discipline. Why Black Book refreshes methodology annually Black Book's annual refresh cycle is informed by a widely recognized measurement principle often referred to as Goodhart's Law: once a measure becomes a target, it can become less effective as a measure. In vendor rankings, stable rubrics can unintentionally encourage optimization for what performs well in the scoring system rather than what consistently delivers implementation success, operational reliability, service responsiveness, and realized value after contract signature. Over time, a ranking can drift toward measuring "ability to rank" instead of "ability to deliver". Black Book's approach is designed as a practical countermeasure. By maintaining year-round validity, applying audit-supported validation, and refining KPI definitions and weightings on a defined cadence, Black Book seeks to keep measurement anchored to verified user experience and measurable qualitative KPIs. In 2026, Black Book encourages boards, executive buyers, investors, and vendors to differentiate between programs that primarily build visibility and those that provide decision-grade measurement and competitive intelligence, and to place trust and greater weight on transparent methods that can be tested, explained, and validated. Board and executive due diligence checklist for any vendor ranking The twelve established rules of independent assessments that are always recommended to boards and executive sponsors is to use the following questions to evaluate the decision-readiness of any vendor ranking methodology: Is the methodology published in a form that allows independent understanding, not just marketing summaries and client/vendor anecdotals? Are evaluation criteria refreshed on a defined cadence to prevent long-term overfitting to a static rubric? Are the KPIs explicitly defined, and do they measure outcomes that matter post-signature (implementation success, support performance, reliability, value realization) rather than primarily claims or optics? How are respondents sourced, and is the sample diversified beyond vendor-provided references or time-boxed campaigns? Are responses verified with multi-layer integrity controls (validity, origin, response-pattern checks, experience qualifiers)? Are respondents compensated openly and if so, how is incentive bias managed and disclosed? Is the scoring window year-round and available in point-in-time, or limited to one single annual cycle that can shape predictable performance timing? Are statistical confidence thresholds, minimum sample thresholds, or confidence bands disclosed so users can interpret the strength of differences? Can buyers adjust weighting to reflect their risk profile and operating priorities, or does the ranking impose a universal scoring model? Are there third-party audits or independent validation steps, and are they described clearly? Are governance safeguards in place so vendors cannot preview instruments, influence scoring logic, or secure preferential visibility through participation structures, as in providing their hand-picked client respondents? Are research conclusions structurally independent of vendor relationships, paid media placement, subscriptions, performance improvement programs, association sponsorships, or compensated advisory boards? 2026 methodology highlights Global comparability: International surveying since 2004 , with evaluation coverage across 147 countries and approximately 2,000 vendors . Longitudinal scale: Nearly 4 million healthcare IT satisfaction responses since 2011 , including approximately 300,000 global HIT user responses in 2025 . More diagnostic measurement:36 KPIs per vendor comprising 18 corporate-level qualitative KPIs plus 18 product, service, or engagement-specific KPIs . Year-round validity: Point-in-time scoring maintained throughout the year, not confined to a single annual survey cycle. Buyer-weighted outputs: Users can weight KPIs to reflect fit-for-purpose priorities and risk tolerance. Competitive intelligence utility: KPI-level datasets support benchmarking, performance movement tracking, and comparative gap analysis by segment and geography. Independence and integrity controls: Modern survey methods and diversified respondent sourcing (mobile-enabled approaches, Qualtrics, third-party panels), multi-layer validation (origin and IP signals, corporate email checks, response-pattern controls), and third-party auditing and validation (e.g., Code Score) supported by participation without vendor subscriptions and a report-licensing-only revenue model. Methodology and governance details Global coverage that supports cross-market comparability: Black Book is not U.S.-centric. It has surveyed IT and outsourcing services vendors internationally since 2004, with current evaluation coverage spanning 147 countries and approximately 2,000 vendors-supporting analysis across diverse care models, regulatory environments, and operating conditions. Scale that improves reliability and segment-level insight: Black Book reports nearly 4 million healthcare IT user satisfaction responses collected since 2011, including approximately 300,000 responses in 2025. At scale, satisfaction measurement becomes more resilient to outliers and more useful for segment-specific comparisons (provider, payer, ambulatory) and operational context. Balanced with historicals on a platform designed and managed through Google's Looker program. A more diagnostic measurement model using 36 KPIs per vendor: Black Book evaluates vendor performance using 36 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): 18 corporate-level qualitative KPIs reflecting enterprise performance and longitudinal experience, and 18 KPIs specific to the product, service, or engagement reflecting deployment-level performance. This structure is designed to distinguish corporate performance from the lived experience of a specific platform, module, service line, or outsourced engagement. Year-round validity for point-in-time decision support: Scores are designed to remain current throughout the year, not limited to a once-a-year survey cycle. This supports decision-making aligned to implementations, upgrades, service transitions, acquisitions, and cybersecurity events that can materially shift satisfaction outside an annual window. Buyer-controlled weighting and fit-for-purpose ranking: Users can weight the 36 KPIs to reflect organizational priorities such as implementation discipline, interoperability, support responsiveness, usability, reliability, and value realization. This supports fit-for-purpose comparisons across varying operating constraints and risk tolerances. Competitive intelligence as an applied differentiator: Black Book's KPI-level structure and breadth of coverage are positioned for competitive intelligence use cases including benchmarking within and across vendor categories, identifying comparative strengths and weaknesses by segment and geography, tracking performance movement over time at corporate and engagement levels, and informing stakeholder narratives with evidence. Modern surveying, diversified respondent sourcing, and verification controls: Black Book uses mobile-enabled surveying, reputable third-party survey infrastructure (e.g., Qualtrics), and multiple third-party panels and sub-surveyors to expand reach and increase respondent diversity. Vendors are free to encourage clients to participate; however, Black Book states responses are validated across multiple qualifiers designed to protect integrity and deter duplication or inauthentic submissions, including origin and IP signals, corporate email validity, response-volume and pattern checks, and vendor-evaluation controls and experience qualifiers. Third-party auditing and validation (e.g., RevScore) is cited as an additional confidence mechanism. Participation without subscriptions and no-fee briefings to keep databases current: Vendors are not required to subscribe or pay to be evaluated. Black Book requests regular briefings to keep product and services information current; the firm states these briefings carry no fees and that reporting is intended to be transparent and method-driven. No pay-to-play levers and no improvement-to-recognition programs: Black Book does not run vendor improvement programs tied to recognition and does not use long-term commercial arrangements that protect placement. Rankings are intended to remain responsive to measured satisfaction performance as it changes. Straightforward business model aligned to independence: Black Book states its revenue model is limited to report licensing for detailed survey findings across the 36 KPIs. The firm states there are no consulting fees, extended research fees, add-on charges, advertising, advertorials, or pay-for-placement media dependency. Black Book also reports distributing multiple complimentary research reports to industry stakeholders, including media and investors. Read the full extended statement attached. More Details available at : Substack (full story): https://blackbookresearch.substack.com/p/black-book-research-clarifies-what Medium (full story): https://medium.com/@dougbrown727/black-book-research-clarifies-what-sets-its-top-vendor-lists-apart-in-healthcare-it-rankings-6b19a04861d8?postPublishedType=initial About Black Book Research Black Book Research is an independent healthcare market research firm specializing in client satisfaction, performance benchmarking, competitive intelligence, and vendor rankings across healthcare IT, outsourcing, and services. The firm has conducted international surveying activity since 2004 and reports current evaluation coverage spanning 147 countries. Black Book Research is a seven-time Inc. 5000 honoree and a two-time Business Intelligence Group SAMMY Award winner for innovation in marketing and research technology in the small firm category, reflecting ongoing investment in modern surveying, auditing, and reporting outcomes for a global audience. Black Book's mission is to advance better healthcare outcomes and affordability by strengthening how technology and services decisions are informed, supporting providers, payers, and healthcare organizations in selecting solutions that improve performance, efficiency, and reliability for the communities they serve. The firm is committed to ethical, transparent, and methodologically disciplined market research with an emphasis on verified user experience, clear governance, and research practices designed to protect the integrity of comparative findings. Complimentary industry reports and additional research are available at https://www.blackbookmarketresearch.com. Media Contact Press Office, Black Book Research research@blackbookmarketresearch.com 1-800-863-7590 SOURCE: Black Book Research 2026 Declaration of Research Transparency F View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/black-book-research-releases-its-2026-annual-methodology-and-governan-1119812 A global party anthem turning up the heat this season with its infectious beats and multilingual lyrics Atlanta-based Indian artist Prince, also known as Parth Khetia, has officially unleashed his highly anticipated debut single, Garam Garam, featuring LA-based music artist and podcast host, Javi Mac. Prince seamlessly fuses the vibrant beats of Hindi, Punjabi, and English in this high-voltage, multilingual track, which is a blazing fusion that turns any space into a dance floor. With a reputation for high-energy, club-ready tracks, Prince has already built a growing fanbase of over 20,000 followers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Prince, a dynamic storyteller of the global Desi nightlife scene, seamlessly weaves together vibrant cultural beats with infectious, club-ready energy, a signature style that has already garnered him a rapidly growing fanbase of over 20,000 followers. The tracks fiery energy is amplified by the feature from Javi Mac, who boasts over 1.5 million followers and hits like MILF, Feel Me Love Me, and Screamin. The bold visuals of the music video bring this energy to life, showcasing a world where cultures collide on the dance floor. Garam Garam is all about bringing the heat to the party- the vibe, the energy. I wanted to make a desi anthem which goes global so that people no matter where they come from, can just jump in and dance! said Prince . The tracks trailer has already reached over 1.2 million views, confirming its instant connection with a global audience. With a background rooted in a musical family and a reputation for high-energy tracks, Prince is not just an artist to watchhe is the force bringing the heat to the international music scene. Games View All Violent protests have gripped Bangladesh following the death of youth leader, Sharif Osman Hadi. Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Dhaka, with the Indian missions in the country also facing threats. There are concerns in New Delhi that the deteriorating law and order situation in Dhaka could delay the February polls in the neighbouring country A crowd gathers near the premises of the Prothom Alo daily newspaper which was set on fire by angry protesters after news reached the country from Singapore of the death of a prominent activist Sharif Osman Hadi, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, December 19, 2025. AP Bangladesh is on the edge again as violent protests have rocked the country following the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. A vocal critic of India, the 32-year-old died on Thursday (December 18) night in a Singapore hospital, days after being shot by masked assailants in Dhaka. As tensions flared after the news of his death, two leading newspapers, accused of favouring India, were targeted by the mob on Friday (December 19). Anti-India sentiment has grown in the South Asian country since the ouster of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last August. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How will the latest violence impact India? We take a look. Bangladesh protests target India The latest unrest in Bangladesh broke out on Thursday night after the news of Hadis demise spread. Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Dhaka, with some resorting to violence and vandalism. As violence gripped the country, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and its Assistant High Commissions across Bangladesh also faced threats. India has Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet. The anti-India protests erupted after the Bangladesh Police said they had identified the two masked men who shot Hadi, adding that they believed the attackers had fled by crossing the border to India, as per Indian Express. Hadi was a youth leader who took part in the student-led movement in 2024 that led to Hasinas ouster. He was set to contest the February parliamentary elections as an independent. A day before his death, protesters marched toward the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, demanding that Hasina be brought back to Bangladesh. This prompted the Indian mission to close its visa application centre for Bangladesh nationals for a day. Hasina has been living in Delhi since fleeing from Dhaka last August. Indias ties with Bangladesh have frayed since Hasina escaped to Delhi and Dhaka has repeatedly asked New Delhi for her extradition. In Chattogram, reports of stone-pelting and attacks at the Indian Deputy High Commissions residence and office emerged. The claim that Hadis attackers have fled to India has stoked anger among his supporters. Officials told Indian Express that this has enabled them to target Indian missions in Bangladesh. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Angry protesters have also targeted Bangladeshs two leading newspapers, accusing them of favouring India and calling them Sheikh Hasinas enabler. Demonstrators ransacked and set ablaze the offices of Prothom Alo, Bangladeshs largest daily, and The Daily Star on Thursday night. According to The Daily Star, protesters accused it and Prothom Alo of setting the ground for Hadis killing. A firefighter works inside the building of vandalised Prothom Alo newspapers office, following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a student leader, who had been undergoing treatment in Singapore after being shot in the head, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, December 19, 2025. Reuters During the attack on the newspapers office, the protesters shouted Delhi or Dhaka; Dhaka, Dhaka, Sycophancy or movement; movement, movement, We have shed blood; we will shed more, while demanding punishment for Hadis killers. Both newspapers have dismissed the claims of siding with India or Hasina. In fact, they had supported the anti-Hasina protests last year, calling it a new dawn. ALSO READ: How Bangladesh leaders threat to cut off Indias Seven Sisters has sparked a diplomatic row Why India is closely watching The violence in Bangladesh comes just months ahead of the national elections scheduled on February 12. There are concerns that the unrest could be used as a pretext to defer these polls. Sources told News18 that the deteriorating law and order in Bangladesh could be used as a narrative that elections are unsafe and thus delay them. This would give time to radical elements to build support on the ground. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called the recent violence a conspiracy to destabilise the nation before the general elections next year. New Delhis worry about elections being postponed stems from the long time taken by the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to announce the polls since the toppling of Hasinas government. Bangladesh has banned Hasinas Awami League. India and the rest of the international community will keenly watch the elections for their credibility if the former PMs party is not allowed to contest, as per Indian Express. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has backed free, fair, inclusive and credible elections in Bangladesh in a peaceful atmosphere. We expect that the interim Government of Bangladesh will take all necessary measures for ensuring internal law and order, including for the purpose of holding peaceful elections, the MEA said on December 14. According to News18 sources, the current situation in Bangladesh is of managed instability", where isolated incidents and deaths are being quickly exploited by radical and opposition groups to mobilise mass protests. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The law and order situation under Yunus has come under the scanner. Indian politicians have raised voices against the recent mob lynching of a Hindu youth, identified as Dipu Chandra Das, over blasphemy allegations. Given its security concerns, India would be unhappy with the instability in its neighbourhood and the rise of the right-wing Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, in the student body elections in major universities in Bangladesh New Delhi is also monitoring the unrest in Bangladesh with bated breath due to elections in its own territory next year. West Bengal is likely to go to the polls in April-May next year. We dont want the spillover of the violence and the situation to impact our own domestic politics, a senior Indian official told Indian Express. India has longstanding, friendly relations with Bangladesh. New Delhi would hope that a new government in Dhaka would bring the ties back on track soon. With inputs from agencies Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took the reins of Pakistan into his control on December 20, 1971, following the countrys devastating defeat in the Bangladesh Liberation War. While Pakistan was struggling with its economy and low morale, Bhutto presented himself as a leader capable of rebuilding the country. On this day in 1957, the King of Rock n Roll, Elvis Presley, was drafted into the US Army Pakistan was grappling with the shame and aftereffects of losing East Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War. It was during this time that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took over the presidency of the nation on December 20, 1971. He succeeded General Yahya Khan, whose popularity had taken a dip after the war. 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On this day in 1957, the King of Rock n Roll, Elvis Presley, was drafted into the US Army at the peak of his fame. Here is all that happened on this day across the world. Zulifkar Ali Bhutto takes over the presidency of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto took over as president of Pakistan on December 20, 1971, in the aftermath of the countrys devastating defeat in the Bangladesh Liberation War. The war had ended just days earlier with the surrender of Pakistani forces in Dhaka on December 16, leading to the creation of Bangladesh and one of the deepest crises in Pakistans history. The military loss shattered the authority of President General Yahya Khan, whose rule had already been weakened by political unrest and international pressure. Facing widespread anger and protests, Yahya Khan stepped down, clearing the way for Bhutto, the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), to assume power. Bhutto became both president and the countrys first civilian Chief Martial Law Administrator. Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (right) and his wife Begum Nusrat Isphahani Bhutto (left). File image/AFP Pakistan had lost half its population, significant territory and much of its international standing. The economy was struggling, morale was low, and the militarys credibility had been badly damaged. Bhutto moved quickly to consolidate authority and present himself as a leader capable of rebuilding the country. In his early days as president, Bhutto promised reforms and national renewal. He released political prisoners, lifted some restrictions on civil liberties and sought to restore civilian rule. On the global stage, he worked to secure the release of Pakistani prisoners of war held in India and to re-establish Pakistans diplomatic position. His leadership at the 1972 Shimla Agreement talks with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was seen as crucial in stabilising relations after the war. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bhuttos rise marked a major turning point in Pakistans political history. His populist style, emphasis on socialism and promise of Islamic democracy reshaped national politics. Elvis Presley was drafted into the US Army In a moment that stunned fans around the world, the King of Rock n Roll, Elvis Presley, was drafted into the US Army on this day in 1957. His induction notice made clear that even the biggest star in the country was not exempt from military service. Presley reported to the draft board in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was classified 1-A which meant he was eligible for immediate service. Unlike some entertainers who sought special treatment, Presley did not request deferment or a safer assignment. His decision to serve as an ordinary soldier earned him respect from critics who had once viewed him as a bad influence on youth. A picture of Elvis Presley and a roomful of other young men being sworn into the US Army as part of their induction at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. Wikimedia Commons He was formally inducted into the Army on March 24, 1958, and later sent to Germany, where he served with the 3rd Armored Division. During his time in uniform, Presley kept a relatively low profile. His service temporarily paused his music career, but his popularity endured as pre-recorded songs and films were released while he was away. The draft marked a turning point in Presleys public image. His military service softened his rebellious reputation and helped him gain broader acceptance in mainstream American culture. When he returned in 1960, he came back as a more polished entertainer, shifting toward movies and a smoother musical style. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This Day, That Year The Space Force was established on this day in 2019 by US President Donald Trump. In 1974, Ethiopia was declared a socialist state. South Carolina became the first US state to secede from the Union on this day in 1860. With inputs from agencies News / National by Staff reporter A Beitbridge woman lost her Toyota GD6 twin cab vehicle to three armed men who ambushed her on Tuesday evening while she was processing burial arrangements for a late relative.The suspects also stole a mobile phone and cash amounting to R3 000 during the robbery.Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Chiratidzo Dube confirmed the incident, saying investigations were underway to track down the suspects and recover the stolen property.According to Insp Dube, the robbery occurred at around 8:30pm when the complainant, who was accompanied by her two sisters, went to Doves Funeral Parlour in Beitbridge to notify the establishment of a relative's death."The complainant parked her white Toyota GD6 twin cab, registration number HKY 460 L, outside Doves Funeral Parlour and entered the offices, leaving her two sisters seated in the motor vehicle," said Insp Dube.She said that about 20 minutes later, the complainant returned to her vehicle and was about to start it when she was confronted by three unknown men of medium build."One of the accused persons was wearing a purple shirt and black trousers, while the other two were dressed in dark clothing. None of the suspects had their faces covered," Insp Dube said.She added that one of the suspects, who was armed with a black pistol and speaking in the Sotho language, pointed the firearm at the complainant as she sat in the driver's seat and demanded the car keys. The suspect then ordered the woman and her two sisters to get out of the vehicle, while the other two men stood nearby.Fearing for their lives, the complainant and her sisters complied, leaving the keys and their belongings inside the vehicle."The accused persons then got into the complainant's vehicle and drove off at high speed to an unknown destination," said Insp Dube.Items stolen with the vehicle included a black handbag containing the complainant's driver's licence, a valid Temporary Import Permit, the vehicle's registration book in the name of Rachel Inja, a South African national, a Samsung S24 Ultra cellphone with an Econet line, and R3 000 in cash.The matter was reported to the police later the same evening. Police have urged members of the public with information that may lead to the arrest of the suspects to come forward. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ordered his government to explore plans to expand public health insurance to cover hair loss treatments. Currently, the national health insurance scheme includes treatments for hair loss induced by medical conditions. The presidents proposal has received a mixed response, with critics questioning its feasibility. But how big is the problem of baldness in South Korea? Around 10 million (one crore) people experience hair loss in South Korea. Representational Image/AI South Koreas leader wants to help its balding residents. President Lee Jae Myung has directed his government to consider expanding the countrys public health insurance coverage for hair loss treatment. His suggestion has received mixed responses, with critics questioning the feasibility of such a move. The presidents remark that hair loss has become a matter of survival has also faced backlash. We take a look. A survival matter South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has suggested covering hair loss treatment under the national health insurance scheme. As per The Chosun Daily, during a policy briefing on Tuesday (December 16), Lee asked, Isnt hair loss part of a disease? I hear young people use a lot of hair loss medicationhas there been a review? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD To this, Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun-kyeong replied that the national health insurance currently covers treatments for hair loss caused by medical conditions such as alopecia areata. Most treatments for common male pattern baldness are not included in the insurance scheme. Jeong said that genetic hair loss is not covered by health insurance due to its weak association with medical treatment. She explained that hereditary hair loss is not covered under the public insurance scheme because it is not life-threatening. Is it just a matter of whether to define hereditary disease as a disease? Lee asked in response. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung wants public health insurance to cover hair loss treatments. File Photo/Reuters He further commented, Hair loss medication seems widely usedwouldnt designating it under medical insurance lower drug prices? Jeong reiterated that hair loss is considered a cosmetic concern. Hair loss was once seen as a cosmetic issue, but now its perceived as a survival matter, Lee rebutted. He suggested, If costs are too burdensome, consider reviewing limits on frequency or total amounts. The South Korean president also mentioned obesity, asking, The same applies to obesity are we reviewing drug treatments? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD South Koreas national health insurance partially covers gastric resection for severe obesity, but not drug therapies. There may be young people who think its unfair that they only pay insurance premiums and cant receive benefits, Lee said, pointing out that a sense of alienation among them had become severe. South Korea has a universal insurance scheme funded by premiums calculated on the basis of income. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has started reviewing support for the plan following the presidents directive, reported The Chosun Daily. This is not the first time that Lee has made such a proposal. He promised to insure hair loss treatment during his unsuccessful 2022 presidential campaign. The plan was criticised as a populist measure. Lee, however, dropped the proposal during his 2025 presidential election campaign. Koreans divided over Lees plan South Korea is infamous for its high beauty standards. Lees proposal highlights the countrys conservative culture that puts intense focus on physical appearance. This is a lot more demanding for women, who are expected to strictly maintain their makeup, skincare and body shape. According to a 2024 survey of young adults in South Korea, 98 per cent of respondents said they believed attractive people get social benefits. In such a society, baldness, especially for young people, comes with its own stigma. Men often grow out their fringes to hide their hair loss or opt for expensive treatments, as per The Guardian. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD South Koreas hair-loss treatment market was estimated to be worth around 188 billion won (Rs 1,141.18 crore) in 2024. Industry groups claim that of the East Asian countrys total population of more than 51 million (5.1 crore), around 10 million (one crore) experience hair loss. Of the 240,000 people who went to hospitals for hair loss last year, 40 per cent were in their 20s or 30s, BBC reported, citing South Korean authorities. Despite this, Lees proposal of expanding national insurance coverage to include hair loss treatment has divided opinions in South Korea. He has been praised by some social media users, one of whom described him as the best president in history. But not all, including medical professionals and conservative figures, are on board with his plan. The Korean Medical Association said that rather than investing health insurance finances in hair loss treatment coverage, prioritising coverage for cancer and other serious diseases would better align with health insurance principles. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Conservative newspaper Chosun Ilbo also criticised Lees proposal. It argued in its editorial that this is not something the president should suddenly instruct without collecting opinions from citizens who pay insurance premiums. Even the potential beneficiaries of subsidised hair loss treatment are not impressed. The move feels a bit like a vote-grabbing policy, Song Ji-hoon, a 32-year-old Seoul resident who takes hair loss medication, told BBC. Saving money sounds nice, but honestly it costs less than 300,000 won (Rs 18,210) a year, so is it even necessary? South Koreas hair loss treatment market was estimated to be worth around 188 billion won in 2024. Representational Image/AI Opposition parties also denounced the South Korean presidents proposal. The national health insurance system is meant to safeguard treatment for diseases that directly threaten life and for therapies whose effectiveness has been medically proven, People Power Party spokesperson Choi Bo-yun was quoted as saying by The Korea Herald. Former lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook also criticised the plan. Families of cancer patients are already struggling with anxiety over expensive new medications that remain uncovered by public insurance, she said, revealing that a close relative of hers is currently undergoing cancer treatment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Some believe that the South Korean president is eyeing the support of male voters in the upcoming elections. There is no reason he needs to be bound by the promise this time, Don S Lee, an associate professor of political science at Korea University, told BBC, adding that the president may be trying to expand his base of supporters for the local elections in mid-2026. Fiscal impact of funding Koreas hair loss treatment The timing of Lees move has come into question as South Koreas national health insurance scheme is already facing a crunch. Last year, the deficit was 11.4 trillion Korean won. The system is reportedly projected to face deficits as large as 4.1 trillion won in 2026. In a radio interview on December 17, Minister Jeong admitted that covering all types of hair loss would have a major impact on insurance finances. Because hereditary hair loss accounts for the majority of cases, extending benefits broadly would significantly affect the health insurance fund, she said, as per The Korea Herald. To address the financial burden, President Lee suggested that authorities could impose coverage limits for hair loss treatment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies The Donald Trump administrations crackdown on immigration is leaving even legal migrants singed. Many H-1B and H-4 visa holders in America have been informed by US consulates that their visas have been prudentially revoked. But why is this happening? Heres all this and more in our weekly roundup Prime Minister Narendra Modi has concluded a successful trip to three nations Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. During his Muscat visit, India signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Oman. Ties between India and Bangladesh have not been the same since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last August. Amid strained relations, a diplomatic row broke out between the two neighbours as anti-India rhetoric grows in Dhaka. North India is battling a pollution crisis. Delhis Air Quality Index (AQI) continues to be hazardous, with the city witnessing a thick layer of smog most of the week. The situation is so bad that embassies have started offering advice to India to tackle its pollution woes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Heres all this and more in our weekly wrap from India. 1. India and Oman signed a free trade agreement (FTA) during PM Narendra Modis visit to the West Asian country. This is the second major trade pact finalised by New Delhi in recent months, after the trade deal with the United Kingdom in May. The FTA came during Modis three-nation trip, covering West Asia and Africa. The India-Oman deal comes when Indian exports are facing high tariffs in the United States. To reduce its reliance on a single partner, New Delhi is seeking free trade agreements with other countries to ease pressure on Indian exporters. But whats in the India-Oman deal? We explain here. 2. The Trump administration has intensified its crackdown on immigration, illegal as well as legal. Several H-1B and H-4 visa holders in the United States have got emails from US consulates that their visas have been prudentially revoked. This comes after the US announced that foreign visitors will soon have to share their social media history with authorities. Washington had earlier said it is deferring all H-1B interviews until March. But why is this happening? Know more in our story. 3. India summoned the Bangladesh High Commissioner in Delhi this week over recent threats to the security of the Indian mission in Dhaka. This came after protests were being organised outside the Indian mission in Bangladeshs capital. & This came in the wake of Bangladeshs National Citizen Party (NCP) leader, Hasnat Abdullah, threatening to isolate the Seven Sisters, a reference to Indias Northeastern states, and provide refuge to Northeast separatists if Bangladesh is destabilised. This is not the first time that leaders in Dhaka have made controversial remarks about Indias Northeast. Read our report on the issue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 4. Delhis toxic air is making its residents gasp for breath. The Supreme Court has slammed the total failure of the authorities in tackling the pollution crisis, emphasising the need for long-term planning. Delhi has implemented Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap), which allows only BS6 vehicles to enter the national capital. Yu Jing, the spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in India, has offered advice to India, particularly Delhi, on how to improve the situation. The Singapore High Commission has, meanwhile, issued a travel advisory for its citizens in New Delhi, urging them to follow the recommendations of authorities related to air pollution and be aware of flight cancellations and delays due to smog. What can Delhi do about its annual air pollution crisis? Read our story on Chinas solution. 5. Australia witnessed its worst mass shooting in decades after two gunmen opened fire on members of Sydneys Jewish community gathered at a small park behind the famous Bondi Beach to celebrate the beginning of Hanukkah on Sunday (December 14), killing 15 people. The suspected shooters were identified as Sajid Akram, the 50-year-old who was shot dead by the police, and Naveed Akram, his 24-year-old son, who was also shot and later hospitalised. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A mourner lights candles as people gather around floral tributes outside Bondi Pavilion in Sydney on December 17, 2025, to honour victims of the Bondi Beach shooting. AFP Reports have since emerged that Sajid Akram had links to India. Sajid was originally from Hyderabad and his family still lives in the Telangana capital. Weeks before the attack, he is said to have travelled to the Philippines on an Indian passport, while his son used an Australian one. We take a look at the shooters history here. 6. The Parliament has replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), 2005, with the Viksit BharatGuarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VBG RAM G) Bill 2025. MNREGA guaranteed at least 100 days of paid work to rural households every year. The VBG RAM G Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha amid a huge uproar from the opposition. While the government has defended the legislation, the opposition has hit out over the removal of Mahatma Gandhis name from the existing rural employment guarantee scheme. But what does the G RAM G bill entail? Read our report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 7. India has passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill. The legislation will repeal and replace the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010. The new bill allows private companies and joint ventures to develop and operate nuclear power plants. The liability clause for suppliers of fuel and technology has divided the lawmakers. We take a look here. This is all we have for you this week. If you like reading our analyses, you can bookmark this page. In recent days, debate as to whether the European Union would use Russian assets frozen in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 to help Ukraine pay for the war has been growing. Now, Europe has decided to lend Kyiv over $100 billion (approximately Rs 8.96 lakh crore) for its war effort instead. But why? German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, backed by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, was among the strongest proponents of the idea. AP Russia has been under sanctions from the West since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Hundreds of billions of dollars of Russian assets have been frozen these past few years. In recent days, debate as to whether the European Union would use these frozen Russian assets to help pay for the war in Ukraine was growing. Now, Europe has instead decided to loan Ukraine over $100 billion (Rs 8.96 lakh crore) for its war effort. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday claimed that the West was making an enemy of Moscow, accused Ukraine of unleashing the war and claimed that it is refusing to end this conflict using peaceful means. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what do we know? Why did Europe plump for a loan instead of using Russian assets? Why Europe didnt go for its frozen assets idea The European Commission had come up with the idea of giving Ukraine a loan against the frozen assets of Russias central bank months ago. The assets, valued at $245 billion (Rs 21.95 lakh crore), are being held at Belgiums Euroclear clearing house. The reparations loan, as it was being called, would see the EU borrowing money from Euroclear. While Moscow would retain ownership of the assets, Kyiv would repay the loan after the war. However, Kyiv would only have to do so if Moscow paid it reparations for the war. If Russia refused to do so, the European Union reserved the right to use frozen Russian assets for repayment. This was a workaround to international law, which states that sovereign assets cannot be confiscated. Many in Europe were in favour of this deal because it involved no new borrowing. The finances of several European nations, including Italy, France, Greece, Spain and Belgium, have been strained by borrowing to finance defence, energy subsidies, climate goals and support for Ukraine. While European lawyers also argued that this idea was legally defensible, some also saw a moral dimension to such a pact. The European Commission had come up with the idea of giving Ukraine a loan against the frozen assets of Russias central bank months ago. Reuters However, this was not to be. Europe has instead decided to give Ukraine a loan of $105 billion (Rs 9.41 lakh crore) to put towards its government and war effort in 2026 and 2027. The decision comes as Kyiv, which is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on its war effort, risks running out of money by April 2026. This is quite a decent chunk of change. The loan, which is interest-free, will be given to Ukraine in instalments over the next two years. While even this plan was initially opposed by some European nations a problem because unanimity is required within the bloc on all decisions it too was opposed by Hungarys Russia-friendly Prime Minister Viktor Orban. However, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic all agreed to let the scheme go ahead as long as they were exempted from it financially. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I would not like a European Union in war, Orban said, calling the rejected plan to use the frozen Russian assets a dead end. To give money means war, Orban added. Why Europe went for a loan instead On the one hand, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Ireland were pushing for the plan. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, backed by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, was among the strongest proponents of the idea. However, on the other hand, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia were all against the plan. The objections from Belgium, the chief custodian of the Russian assets, were particularly vociferous, with its prime minister Bart De Wever arguing that the threat of retaliation from Moscow was real. De Wever claimed that Russia would respond by attempting to seize Belgian assets in places like China. Belgiums worries were not unfounded. Russias central bank last week launched a lawsuit against Euroclear to stop any loan being provided to Ukraine using its money. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever argued against the idea, citing the threat of retaliation. Reuters File De Wever demanded that each EU member commit to handing over cash in case Russia made any legal claim in court. However, this was a non-starter for many, particularly Frances Emmanuel Macron and Italys Giorgia Meloni. There were so many questions on the reparations loan, we had to go to Plan B. Rationality has prevailed, De Wever said. The EU has avoided chaos and division and remained united. Macron, after the deal was announced, called it a major advance, saying that borrowing on capital markets was the most realistic and practical way to fund Ukraine and its war efforts. But those in the know say that Orban, perhaps Putins closest ally in Europe, can now claim a diplomatic victory. Orban got what he wanted: no reparations loan, and EU action without participation of Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, one EU diplomat said. What experts, public think Experts agree that even though Europe failed to use Russian assets, this was in many ways a landmark deal. Guntram Wolff of the Bruegel economic thinktank told The Guardian the agreement was regardless a huge deal for the EU. If you want to do EU foreign policy, you need EU resources and debt. The European Council delivered. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Alberto Alemanno, a professor of EU law, added that the agreement was unprecedented. Letting willing states move forward had never before been tried for EU budget-backed borrowing, with selective participation in collective liability, he said. Some in Ukraine are happy with the development. Russias President Vladimir Putin and Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban shake hands during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow Friday. AFP As Yelyzaveta Horiaieva, a 19-year-old student from Lviv, told the BBC, We need this, our people need this, but every day is so hard because you feel the cost of war. We have lost many people, and money cannot change this. I am hopeful for peace in the new year, but we cant give up the territories our people are dying for. Tetiana Cherniavska, 33, from Kyiv, added that the money would help us hold on to our lands. However, her partner Denis Kozhemiakin added, I have no faith that the money will help our fighters or our people. Our authorities are corrupt. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who participated in the summit, urged the bloc to agree to use the Russian assets to provide the funds he said would allow Ukraine to keep fighting. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The decision now on the table the decision to fully use Russian assets to defend against Russian aggression is one of the clearest and most morally justified decisions that could ever be made, he added. Meanwhile, Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev responded to the development by saying, Law and sanity win for now. With inputs from agencies The government of India told the countrys parliament on Thursday that there is no conclusive data establishing a direct link between a higher Air Quality Index (AQI) and lung diseases. The government of India told the countrys parliament on Thursday that there is no conclusive data establishing a direct link between a higher Air Quality Index (AQI) and lung diseases. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh, however, acknowledged that air pollution is one of the triggering factors for respiratory ailments. It is pertinent to note that Singh was responding to a question posed by BJP MP Laxmikant Bajpayee, who asked whether the government was aware that studies and medical tests have confirmed that prolonged exposure to hazardous AQI levels in Delhi-NCR is leading to lung fibrosis, an irreversible reduction in lung capacity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is pertinent to note that the ministrys response was in line with the comments the government made in past years on linkages between health issues and air pollution. On July 24 this year, it told the Upper House that there is no conclusive data available to establish a direct correlation of death exclusively by air pollution. At that time, the ministry had said, Air pollution is one of the many factors affecting respiratory ailments and associated diseases. Health is impacted by several factors, which include food habits, occupational habits, socio-economic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals apart from the environment. The government maintains its past stance Interestingly, a similar answer was given by the ministry on the issue last July in the Rajya Sabha. In the question posed on Thursday, Bajpayee also sought to determine whether lung elasticity among citizens of Delhi-NCR has drastically reduced to almost 50 per cent compared to people living in cities with good AQI levels. The BJP MP further asked whether the government has any solution to save millions of residents of Delhi/NCR from growing deadly diseases like pulmonary fibrosis, COPD, emphysema, reduced lung function and continuously declining lung elasticity. In its reply, the ministry said that it has dedicated training modules in the area of air pollution for programme managers, medical officers and nurses, nodal officers, sentinel sites, frontline workers such as ASHA, vulnerable groups including women and children, and occupationally exposed groups like traffic police and municipal workers. Information, education and communication (IEC) materials have been developed targeting air pollution-related illnesses in both English, Hindi and also regional languages," the reply read. The National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) has also developed customised IEC materials targeting various vulnerable groups such as school children, women, occupational vulnerable groups like municipality workers, etc, he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from PTI. Pakistans immediate and overwhelming challenge lies not in designing new regional architectures, but in confronting its own internal political fragmentation, restoring civilian credibility, and learning the basic grammar of cooperation within its own borders before attempting to prescribe it to the region Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar recently floated the idea of a new regional body to replace the long-dormant South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), a suggestion made against the backdrop of steadily escalating India-Pakistan tensions. At first glance, the proposal may appear to be a routine diplomatic thought exercise; however, before one begins to speculate on the feasibility of any framework for South Asian cooperation that either sidelines or excludes India altogether, it is essential to carefully unpack the statement itself, the political moment in which it was made, and the contradictions it reveals. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Much like Pakistans earlier rhetorical interventions on regional and global platforms, Dars remarks raise fundamental questions not about institutional design, but about intent, credibility, and Islamabads long-standing discomfort with a regional order it can neither dominate nor destabilise at will. Dar argued that South Asia could no longer afford to remain trapped in what he described as zero-sum mindsets, political fragmentation and dysfunctional regional architecture, while pitching Pakistans vision of open and inclusive regionalism. The irony of this claim is difficult to miss. A state that routinely invokes Kashmir as a convenient scapegoat for its own economic collapse and governance failures is in no position to sermonise others on zero-sum thinking. More importantly, Pakistans moral authority to lecture the region on political fragmentation is virtually non-existent. Since its inception, no Pakistani prime minister has completed a full term in office, with leaders either imprisoned, exiled, or executed, a grim tradition that now extends to the prolonged solitary confinement of Imran Khan. As for dysfunctional architecture, Islamabads own record is instructive. Having borrowed tens of billions of dollars from China under the banner of the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor, Pakistan failed to deliver promised outcomes and now oscillates between Beijing and Washington in a desperate search for economic lifelines. For such a state to position itself as a champion of regional coherence is not merely ironic; it is a textbook case of diplomatic delusion. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Dars invocation of open and inclusive regionalism is even more hollow when measured against Pakistans own conduct within its borders and beyond. If Islamabad is sincere about inclusivity, it should begin by addressing the fate of countless Baloch activists and fighters who have either been killed in security operations or have simply vanished, leaving families waiting indefinitely for answers. An open and inclusive regionalism would mean granting Balochistan its fair share of state revenues, control over its resources, and the political rights routinely denied to it. It would also require ending the repression of the people of Kashmir in the territory Pakistan continues to illegally occupy, where dissent is criminalised and democratic expression tightly controlled. Most crucially, any credible commitment to inclusive regionalism would demand the abandonment of Pakistans long-standing practice of orchestrating terror attacks against India at regular intervals. Until these realities change, Islamabads rhetoric remains just that: lofty words divorced entirely from ground truth. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Dar further claimed that Pakistan enjoys support for emerging multilateral platforms outside Saarc and spoke of a South Asia where cooperation replaces divisions, economies grow in synergy, disputes are resolved peacefully in accordance with international legitimacy, and peace is maintained with dignity and honour. While the sentiment, in isolation, is unexceptionable, it loses all credibility when articulated by Pakistan. It is difficult to take seriously invocations of peaceful dispute resolution and international legitimacy from a state that has consistently been the primary source of division, friction, and instability in South Asia. From sponsoring cross-border terrorism to derailing every meaningful attempt at regional cooperation, Pakistans actions have stood in direct opposition to the very principles the honourable Deputy Prime Minister is now trying to proclaim. As for the much-advertised support for alternative platforms, it largely amounts to Islamabad mortgaging its strategic autonomy to China, binding itself to Beijings geopolitical ambitions while hoping to extract tactical leverage against India. What is presented as regional outreach is, in reality, a narrow and transactional alignment driven less by cooperation and more by resentment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistans sudden enthusiasm for reimagining South Asian cooperation rests on a convenient amnesia about why Saarc became defunct in the first place. The regional bloc did not collapse due to institutional fatigue or Indias alleged rigidity; it stalled because of Pakistans own actions. Saarc last held a summit in 2014, and the subsequent meeting scheduled for 2016 in Islamabad was cancelled after the Uri terror attack, carried out by the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Muhammad. In response, India, followed by several other member states, refused to participate, rendering the summit untenable. In other words, Saarc did not fail despite Pakistan, but because of it. For Islamabad to now propose a new regional architecture that pointedly excludes India, while making veiled references to obstructionism and lack of cooperation, is a striking inversion of facts. A country that repeatedly weaponised terrorism, paralysed an existing multilateral forum, and made normal regional engagement impossible cannot credibly claim to be the victim of South Asias fractured cooperation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And above all, no, its not going to work. India is far too large, consequential, stable, and institutionally credible to be wished away from any South Asian collaboration bloc worth its salt. No regional framework can claim relevance while excluding the regions biggest economy, principal security provider, and most trusted partner for development and connectivity. China, Pakistan, and now Bangladesh under Muhammad Yunus may be attempting to assemble an alternative arrangement on the margins, but such efforts are structurally doomed. Chinas reputation as a debt-trap-inducing power with opaque strategic motives is well established across the developing world, Pakistan remains internationally identified as a sponsor of terrorism and a serial violator of regional trust, and Bangladesh is presently grappling with deep political uncertainty and fragile governance under Yunuss leadership. A coalition built on instability, dependency, and resentment cannot substitute for a regional order anchored in scale, credibility, and consistency. South Asian cooperation, if it is to mean anything, cannot be constructed by excluding the very country that makes cooperation viable in the first place. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A closer look at South Asia itself makes the impracticality of such a bloc even more apparent. Sri Lanka, having narrowly escaped economic collapse, has learnt at great cost the dangers of opaque Chinese lending and is now recalibrating towards India-backed recovery and IMF-led transparency, making it unlikely to sign up for another Beijing-centric experiment. Nepals economic lifelines, energy trade, and employment prospects remain deeply intertwined with India, and Kathmandu has consistently avoided antagonising New Delhi in favour of uncertain alternatives. Bhutan has built its development model almost entirely around stable cooperation with India, particularly in hydropower and security, and has little incentive to dilute that partnership. The Maldives, despite episodic political flirtations with China, remains structurally dependent on India for security, disaster response, and essential supplies, a reality that repeatedly asserts itself during crises. Afghanistan, meanwhile, remains locked in persistent tensions with Pakistan over border management, militant sanctuaries, and political interference, while simultaneously seeking closer developmental and diplomatic engagement with India as a stabilising partner. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Even Bangladesh, cited as a potential participant of this imagined bloc, has historically prospered through economic integration with India and now faces internal volatility that makes long-term strategic realignments risky. In sum, beyond Pakistans rhetoric, there is no South Asian consensus, economic logic, or political appetite for a bloc defined more by exclusion and grievance than by stability and mutual trust. In conclusion, the idea is not only hypocritical and misplaced but also practically impossible. What makes it even more tragic is that it did not come from a fringe commentator or an academic seminar, but from Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister, who simultaneously serves as the countrys foreign minister. A state that has placed its most recent former prime minister in prolonged solitary confinement, that repeatedly survives on IMF lifelines to avoid economic collapse, and that continues to treat terrorism as an instrument of foreign policy is in no position to fantasise about reshaping South Asian cooperation. Pakistans immediate and overwhelming challenge lies not in designing new regional architectures, but in confronting its own internal political fragmentation, restoring civilian credibility, and learning the basic grammar of cooperation within its own borders before attempting to prescribe it to the region. (The writer takes special interest in history, culture and geopolitics. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) The idea of Core Fivethe US, China, Russia, India, and Japanreflects a recurring temptation in periods of global flux: the belief that smaller clubs can substitute for inclusive governance To imagine that these fault lines can be bracketed within a five-power consultative club is to underestimate how deeply they shape strategic behaviour. Representational image Some analysts are now arguing that a so-called Core Five (C5)bringing together the United States, China, Russia, India, and Japancould offer a pragmatic way to manage what they describe as a fragile global systemic transition. Prominent proponents of this idea suggest that regular consultations among these five powers could reduce the risk of uncontrollable systemic instability and function as an informal, Asian-centric alternative to a gridlocked UN Security Council. The conspicuous exclusion of the European Union, experts argue, reflects a hard-headed recognition that Europe has become ideologically driven, procedurally cumbersome, and strategically ineffective. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At first glance, the argument appears seductive. In a world marked by paralysis at the UNSC, widening great-power rivalry, and institutional fatigue, a small, focused steering group seems efficient. But on closer examination, the C5 proposal reveals deep conceptual flaws and geopolitical blind spots that risk exacerbating global fragmentation rather than managing it. The first loophole lies in the assumption that efficiency flows from exclusion. The idea that global governance can be streamlined by sidelining the EU ignores a basic structural reality: Europe is not merely another regional bloc but a central node in global trade, finance, regulation, climate policy, and technology standards. From sanctions enforcement to carbon markets, from digital regulation to development finance, the EU already shapes outcomes that no great-power forum can simply set the agenda for. Excluding Europe does not make governance leaner; it creates a parallel process that lacks implementation power. The critique that the EU rarely gets anything of importance done nowadays confuses political theatrics with structural capacity. Europes regulatory and economic machinery continues to shape global behaviour. A C5 that discusses Middle East security, financial stability, or climate transitions without the EU would be making decisions in a vacuum, hoping that others will later operationalise them. That is not pragmatism; it is strategic wish-casting. Second, the C5 rests on an unrealistic reading of great-power convergence. The proposal assumes that the US, China, Russia, Japan, and India can set aside their deepest disputes in the interest of the greater good. But these disputes are not peripheral irritants; they define each countrys core security calculus. US-China rivalry is structural, not episodic. Sino-Indian tensions are unresolved and periodically volatile. Russias confrontation with the West is not contingent solely on Ukraine but on competing visions of European and global order. Japans security posture is increasingly anchored to deterrence against China. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD To imagine that these fault lines can be bracketed within a five-power consultative club is to underestimate how deeply they shape strategic behaviour. The UNSC is dysfunctional not because it is too inclusive, but because power politics intrude when interests diverge. A smaller table does not eliminate that problemit merely concentrates it. Third, the C5 risks instrumentalising India rather than empowering it. Korybko, one of the more prominent proponents, cites the idea that India would act as a balancer between a de facto Sino-Russo and US-Japanese axis. But this framing reduces India to a swing state in someone elses geometry rather than an autonomous pole with its own priorities. Indias strategic value lies precisely in its ability to work across multiple forumsQuad, Brics, G20, SCOwithout being locked into an exclusive directorate. An informal Asian UNSC risks pulling India into a structure where it is expected to smooth contradictions it did not create, while bearing reputational costs for outcomes it cannot control. Worse, it could constrain Indias ability to engage Europe, the Global South, and middle powersrelationships that are central to Indias long-term influence and economic strategy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Fourth, the C5 misunderstands how legitimacy works in global governance. The UNSCs crisis is not only about veto power; it is about representation and legitimacy. A self-selected group of five, operating outside any treaty framework, risks being seen as an elite cartel rather than a stabilising mechanism. The exclusion of Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Europe would reinforce the perception that global rules are once again being written by a few, for a few. Ironically, this could make global instability worse. States that feel excluded from agenda-setting tend to hedge, free-ride, or obstruct implementation. In an era already marked by institutional erosion, legitimacy is not a luxuryit is a stabiliser. Fifth, the claim that the C5 would complement existing institutions glosses over institutional cannibalisation. If the C5 is meant to set the agenda for the G7, G20, Brics, and others, it effectively becomes a shadow directorate. This raises an obvious question: why would excluded actors invest political capital in forums whose priorities are pre-decided elsewhere? Far from revitalising global governance, the C5 could hollow it out. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Finally, the proposal rests on a speculative political precondition: a US-Russia New Detente. This is not merely uncertain; it is structurally fragile. Basing a new architecture on such a narrow and reversible alignment is risky statecraft. Durable institutions are built to absorb shocks, not to depend on best-case scenarios. In the end, the C5 reflects a recurring temptation in periods of global flux: the belief that smaller clubs can substitute for inclusive governance. History suggests otherwise. Stability does not emerge from elegant geometry but from messy, overlapping, and inclusive arrangements that align power with legitimacy. The real challenge is not to invent a new core but to repair trust between existing onesand to adapt institutions so that rising powers, middle powers, and implementation hubs like the EU all have a stake in outcomes. Anything less risks turning the promise of pragmatism into yet another layer of global disorder. (Shishir Priyadarshi is President of Chintan Research Foundation (CRF), New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What should have remained a domestic demand for justice was deliberately converted into a strategic provocation, redirecting public anger toward a foreign state without evidence and testing the limits of international diplomatic norms Protesters shout slogans in front of the premises of the 'Prothom Alo' daily newspaper after news reached the country from Singapore of the death of an activist, Sharif Osman Hadi, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, December 19, 2025. File Image/Reuters The protest staged by Inqilab Moncho, an organisation inspired by 2024 students protests, outside Indias diplomatic mission in Chittagong following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi marks a troubling inflection point in Bangladeshs contemporary politics. What should have remained a domestic demand for justice was deliberately converted into a strategic provocation, redirecting public anger toward a foreign state without evidence and testing the limits of international diplomatic norms. This was not spontaneous grief spilling onto the streets. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It was directed mobilisation. Osman Hadis death is a subject of investigation but it does not confer immunity from law, nor does it justify the erosion of diplomatic conventions that exist precisely to prevent internal turmoil from spilling into international crises. Osman Hadi: From Activist to Instrument Sharif Osman Hadi belonged to a generation of activists shaped less by institutions and more by confrontation. Associated with Inqilab Moncho, he spoke the language of revolt, not reform, drawing energy from popular disillusionment with corruption, unemployment, and political stagnation. His appeal rested on symbolism and defiance. His killing, irrespective of motive or perpetrator, was therefore bound to trigger outrage. But outrage alone does not determine the direction of political response. Leadership does. Instead of forcing Bangladeshs law enforcement and judicial systems into transparency and accountability, sections of Inqilab Moncho chose externalisation, a well-worn tactic in South Asian street politics, especially Bangladeshi, where internal failure is repackaged as foreign conspiracy. Why Chittagong? Why the Indian Mission? Protests are never just about slogans; they are about location. Chittagong is Bangladeshs principal port, its economic gateway, and a city of strategic visibility. Targeting Indias diplomatic presence, there was a deliberate attempt to internationalise a domestic issue through pressure rather than proof. This choice matters because international law is explicit: diplomatic missions are not political theatres. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Legal Red Line: Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations Bangladesh is a signatory to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961). Its obligations are unambiguous: Article 22 obliges the receiving state to take all appropriate steps to protect the premises of the mission against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity. Article 29 declares the person of diplomatic agents inviolable. The threshold for violation is not physical assault alone. Intimidation, coercive proximity, and hostile mobilisation that disturb the peace or dignity of a mission already constitute a breach. In plain terms: You do not need to storm an embassy to violate international law. From Justice to Manufactured Blame No credible evidence has been produced linking India to Osman Hadis killing. Allegations of suspects fleeing or being shielded remain unsubstantiated and legally irrelevant unless proven through due process. International law does not operate on insinuation. States are accused with evidence, not emotion. India has no jurisdiction over Bangladeshs internal criminal investigations. Suggesting otherwise is either a profound misunderstanding of sovereignty or a deliberate distortion meant to inflame sentiment. Youth Movements and the Slide into Mob Politics Inqilab Moncho now confronts the fate that has consumed many youth movements before it. Movements either mature into institutional correctives or dissolve into perpetual agitation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Chittagong protest signals a drift toward performative radicalism, where outrage replaces outcomes and spectacle substitutes justice. Martyrdom politics may mobilise crowds, but it corrodes legitimacy when it abandons courts for confrontations. Justice pursued outside the rule of law is not justice. It is mere theatre. The Host States Absolute Responsibility Bangladeshs political leadership cannot plead neutrality. Under the Vienna Convention, the obligation to protect diplomatic missions is absolute, not contingent on public mood. Failure to decisively prevent embassy-centric protests signals: Weak control over the street Erosion of state authority Willingness to sacrifice international credibility for domestic expediency Silence here is not restraint. It is abdication. Indias Restraint and Strategic Reality Indias response has been measured, consistent with diplomatic protocol. But restraint is not acquiescence, and patience is not limitless. India has deep stakes in Bangladeshs stability, economy, security, and region. It has no interest in Bangladeshs internal street politics. Attempts to weaponise diplomatic pressure will not strengthen Bangladeshs position; they will narrow diplomatic space and harden attitudes. Regional Implications This episode unfolds amid a volatile regional environment, Myanmars civil war, Pakistans institutional decay, and transnational extremist flux. Normalising diplomatic intimidation in such conditions is reckless. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Embassies are protected because their violation escalates crises. States that flirt with mob diplomacy invite consequences they cannot calibrate. Justice for Hadi Lies at Home If Inqilab Moncho genuinely seeks justice for Osman Hadi, the route is clear: Transparent investigation Prosecution through courts Institutional accountability Justice does not live on pavements outside embassies. It lives in courtrooms. Conclusion: The Street Ends Where Diplomacy Begins Osman Hadis death is a judicial matter. What unfolded in Chittagong threatens order. Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), the obligation of the host state is absolute and non-negotiable. Diplomatic missions are inviolable, not conditionally protected, not politically negotiable, and certainly not subject to the passions of the street. Any protest that targets, intimidates, or symbolically pressures a foreign mission constitutes a clear failure of the receiving state to uphold international law. There is no democratic defence for this behaviour. There is no legal ambiguity. There is no moral cover. India will not accept diplomatic intimidation disguised as protest. Attempts to weaponise domestic tragedy against a foreign mission will not advance justice, extract concessions, or alter reality. They will only harden positions, narrow space for dialogue, and invite consequences that street leaders are neither prepared to manage nor authorised to provoke. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bangladesh now faces a test of state authority: to enforce law over mob impulse, to defend diplomatic norms over political convenience, and to reassert control where restraint has begun to look like retreat. Osman Hadis death is a matter for investigation, prosecution, and the courtsnot for orchestrated outrage outside embassies. It is a reminder rooted in law, precedent, and regional reality. The street has its place. Diplomacy has its boundaries. And those boundaries must not be crossed. The moment a mob chooses an embassy over a courtroom, justice has already been abandoned. (The author has served three decades in uniform, of which six years were with the Ministry of External Affairs as a director in the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) By responding to extremism with openness, consistency, and strategic long-term view, India not only protects its interests but also underscores the contrast between responsible statecraft and performative radicalism Protests in Bangladesh following the death of activist Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on December 19, 2025. Hadi had been undergoing treatment in Singapore after being shot in the head. Image: PTI At moments of political transition, the loudest voices are often not the strongest but the most insecure. Recent remarks by figures associated with Bangladeshs National Citizen Party (NCP), including inflammatory statements by Hasnat Abdullah about isolating Indias northeastern states, belong firmly in this category. Wrapped in nationalist bravado and historical revisionism, such rhetoric has been presented as defiance. In reality, it is better understood as a symptom of political marginality. This is not merely about diplomatic theatre. Alongside threats directed at India, there has been a renewed and deeply troubling attempt by Islamist-aligned actors including elements linked to Jamaat-e-Islami and sympathetic voices in Pakistan to distort the historical record of 1971. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The most egregious claim is that India, rather than the Pakistan Army and its local collaborators, was responsible for the systematic killing of Bengali intellectuals during the final days of the Liberation War. This inversion of history is not accidental. It is a deliberate effort to muddy moral responsibility, rehabilitate collaborators, and recast perpetrators as victims. Serious historians do not contest the facts of 1971. The targeted murder of academics, journalists, doctors, and cultural figures on December 14 was carried out by the Pakistan Army with the assistance of local Islamist militias, notably Al-Badr and Al-Shams. The objective was clear: to decapitate the intellectual leadership of a soon-to-be independent Bangladesh. Indias role in that war was neither covert nor malign. It intervened openly after months of mass atrocities and an unprecedented refugee crisis and did so in support of Bangladeshs independence. Attempts to shift blame onto India are not acts of reinterpretation; they are acts of political laundering. What makes the current episode particularly revealing is the gap between rhetoric and reality. Despite its strident language, the NCP is not riding a wave of popular supportquite the opposite. Recent opinion polling indicates that the partys perceived electoral viability has collapsed from approximately 4 per cent to 0.8 per cent. While Bangladeshs political field remains fluid and a large portion of voters are undecided, the NCP barely registers as a serious contender. Established parties dominate public expectations, while the NCP struggles to move beyond fringe appeal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This matters because it helps explain the tone. Jingoism thrives where legitimacy is thin. When a political movement lacks grassroots depth, organisational strength, or a credible governing agenda, provocation becomes a substitute for policy. Threatening India, invoking the emotive geography of the Seven Sisters, and flirting with historical revisionism are not signs of confidence. They are attempts to manufacture relevance by inflaming passions, drawing media attention, and positioning the party as a disruptive nationalist force in an overcrowded political arena. India, however, would be mistaken to treat this rhetoric as a strategic threat in itself. The greater risk lies not in overestimating these actors, but in responding to them on their own terms. Escalatory language, public sparring, or heavy-handed posturing would only validate the narrative that India is an overbearing neighbour, eager to dominate Bangladeshs internal discourse. That is precisely the trap such extremists hope New Delhi will fall into. A more effective response lies in confidence rather than confrontation in killing them with kindness. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This does not mean passivity, nor does it mean ignoring distortion. It means responding in ways that expose the weakness of radical narratives rather than amplifying them. Indias greatest strength in Bangladesh has never been coercion; it has been credibility built through history, economic interdependence, cultural proximity, and people-to-people ties. These are assets that fringe extremists cannot match. By continuing to deepen economic cooperation, expand connectivity, and support development initiatives that tangibly improve lives, India reinforces a simple truth: cooperation delivers results, while rhetorical hostility delivers only noise. Trade corridors, energy links, educational exchanges, and cultural collaboration speak more persuasively than any diplomatic rebuke. Equally important is the quiet defence of historical truth. Supporting scholarly exchanges, joint research, archival work, and cultural projects that document the Liberation War ensures that facts remain accessible and authoritative. When history is well taught and widely understood, revisionism struggles to gain traction. The aim is not to impose a narrative but to allow evidence to speak for itself. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD There is also a broader regional lesson here. The Indian subcontinent has repeatedly seen fringe ideologies seek oxygen through provocationdenying them that oxygenby refusing to elevate their claims through disproportionate responses, which is often the most effective containment strategy. The collapse in the NCPs public support suggests that voters are far more concerned with economic stability, governance, and the rule of law than with theatrical threats against a neighbour. Ultimately, the choice before India is not between strength and restraint. It is between short-term reaction and long-term influence. By responding to extremism with openness, consistency, and strategic long-term view, India not only protects its interests but also underscores the contrast between responsible statecraft and performative radicalism. Extremists who distort history and trade in threats rely on outrage to survive. Kindness grounded in confidence, truth, and sustained engagement deprives them of their most valuable currency. Over time, it also reveals what the polling already suggests: that beneath the noise, their support is not rising, but fading. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD (The author is a strategist in international relations and economic development. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) For the global order, Indias manoeuvres underscore a persistent truth. The 21st-century diplomacy will be neither unipolar nor bipolar but matrixed India is anchoring its foreign policy in long-term partnerships that reflect the realities of a world where economic interdependence, technological cooperation and regional connectivity matter as much as military calculus. Image: File photo (ANI) New Delhis diplomatic instinct has always prized strategic patience over headline hunting. But the four-day visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman from December 15 to 18 felt different, not because of pageantry, but because it crystallised a clear directional shift in Indias foreign policy. From transactional to transformational partnerships in the extended neighbourhood of West Asia and Africa. In a fractured world beset by supply-chain disruptions, geopolitical rivalries and waning trust in narrow power blocs, this tour wasnt a sequence of photo ops. It was a strategic reset designed to expand Indias diplomatic horizons and deepen its role in a more multipolar world. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD PM Modis first stop was Amman in Jordan, where history met future potential. He was welcomed at the invitation of King Abdullah II in a visit that also celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Jordan. The symbolism was rich. Jordan may be considered small in economic heft, but it has long been a gateway to the Levant, a centre of historical cross-currents between Asia, Africa and Europe. Here, Modi and the Jordanian leadership signed multiple agreements, spanning renewable energy, water management, digital co-operation and cultural exchange. Sectors that matter, not just economically but for future resilience. What stands out is the ambition of these partnerships. They arent limited to old paradigms of energy or aid. They reflect shared priorities of innovation, sustainability and people-to-people linkages. Themes that resonate with voters and policymakers equally. What stood out also was the vibrant role played by the Indian diaspora in Amman, underscoring soft power as a pillar of modern diplomacy where culture and connectivity amplify strategic trust. If Jordan represented continuity, Ethiopia was about a new chapter of cooperation. For the first time, a sitting Indian prime minister visited Addis Ababa, and Modis address to the Ethiopian Parliament was more than simply ceremonial. It was a symbolic handshake between two democracies that see the 21st century through convergent lenses of development and multipolarity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The relationship was elevated to a strategic partnership, and several MoUs were signed on UN peacekeeping, training, customs cooperation, digital infrastructure and health and education cooperation. The visit also witnessed Modi being conferred the nations highest civilian award, a sign of respect and shared purpose. The importance of Ethiopia goes beyond bilateral ties. Addis Ababa is the seat of the African Union, making it a diplomatic nerve centre for the continent. By securing new frameworks for cooperation here, Indias political reach extends into narratives of South-South cooperation, technology transfer and institutional partnership at a continental level. Crucially this was not Indias pivot away from old partners but a calculated diversification. Enhancing ties with a rising African economy while affirming shared values of sovereignty and development cooperation, especially at a time when Ethiopia seeks alternatives in a world unsettled by shifting US and European alignments. The tours final leg was Muscat, where Modi and Sultan Haitham bin Tarik signalled ambition beyond diplomacy, into economic architecture. India and Oman have agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure and energy, anchored by a Joint Vision Document and multiple agreed MoUs. A free trade agreement between the two countries is also on track, following its formal approval by the Indian Cabinet just days before the visit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why is this so significant? It is because Oman sits astride the Straits of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea, a maritime fulcrum between the Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Strengthening economic and strategic cooperation here serves dual purposes. Firstly, enhancing Indias commercial access into West Asia, and secondly, securing sea lanes crucial for energy and trade. Then of course, there is the question of shifting post-pandemic geopolitics. There is no monolithic bloc rising in the way Cold War binaries once did. But the era ushered in by the pandemic has accelerated patchwork alliances and pragmatic coalitions. Diplomatic networks that are flexible, multi-layered and purpose-driven. PM Modis three-nation tour is emblematic of this new order. Instead of choosing sides, New Delhi is sculpting a latticework of significant partnerships tailored to mutual interests such as economic resilience, digital infrastructure, climate adaptation and developmental cooperation. This approach reflects Indias broader foreign policy evolution, from selectively reactive to proactively generative. Its a geography-plus-geopolitics strategy, integrating traditional West Asia, emergent Africa and the Indo-Pacific into a cohesive diplomatic architecture that focuses on mutual agency rather than patronage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For India the dividends of the PMs West Asia-Africa trip are manifold. Economic expansion, of course, with the enhanced trade agreements, new market access for exporters and strategic positioning in logistics and technology corridors. Then there is soft power traction, which of course includes our diaspora engagement and cultural diplomacy that reinforces Indias image as a partner that listens as much as it talks. And of course, elevating relationships to strategic partnerships and exploring comprehensive economic pacts that position India firmly as a credible node in emerging multipolar networks. For the global order, Indias manoeuvres underscore a persistent truth. 21st-century diplomacy will be neither unipolar nor bipolar but matrixed. Nations will bind together around issues and interests, not necessarily ideologies. India is anchoring its foreign policy in long-term partnerships that reflect the realities of a world where economic interdependence, technological cooperation and regional connectivity matter as much as military calculus. (The author is a freelance journalist and features writer based out of Delhi. Her main areas of focus are politics, social issues, climate change and lifestyle-related topics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old garment factory worker, was lynched to death by a mob and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Baluka in Mymensingh on Thursday. Protests in Bangladesh following the death of activist Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on December 19, 2025. Hadi had been undergoing treatment in Singapore after being shot in the head. Image: PTI Ten people have been arrested in connection with the lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh, Chief Adviser of the interim government Muhammad Yunus announced Saturday. Of the 10, seven were arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) while three were arrested by the police as suspects in the case, Yunus said in a statement on X. The RAB and police conducted operations in various locations to arrest these individuals, he said. The arrests were made during operations at various locations, and the ages of those arrested ranged from 19 to 46. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What was the incident about Dipu Chandra Das, a young garment factory worker, was lynched to death by an angry mob in Bhaluka, Mymensingh. He was accused of committing blasphemy and was tied up. He was brutally killed, and then his body was set on fire while people watched, in a glaring display of lawlessness and mobocracy in Bangladesh under Yunus regime. On Thursday, at around 9 pm, an enraged crowd caught him and beat him to death, accusing him of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet. They then set the body on fire," Bhaluka Police duty officer Ripon Mia told BBC Bangla. The incident sparked outrage and raised concern over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. Since Yunus came to power as a caretaker head of government, several attacks have targeted the minority Hindu community. In a statement, the interim government on Friday condemned the lynching of the Hindu man in Mymensingh city, saying there is no space for such violence in the new Bangladesh. The perpetrators of this heinous crime will not be spared," it added. News / National by Staff reporter The Meteorological Services Department (MSD), in collaboration with the Department of Civil Protection, has issued a Level 2 weather warning for heavy rain, lightning and strong winds expected to affect large parts of Zimbabwe from Sunday, December 21, to Wednesday, December 24, 2025.In an alert released at 4pm on Friday, authorities said the probability of severe weather conditions is high, although the anticipated impact has been classified as minor. The warning covers all provinces, with heightened concern for flood-prone areas including Masvingo, Manicaland, Harare Metropolitan, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central.According to MSD forecasts, some areas could receive more than 50 millimetres of rainfall within a 24-hour period. The rains are expected to be accompanied by hail, frequent lightning and strong wind gusts. Meteorologists attribute the conditions to the interaction of warm, moist air with low-pressure systems over the western and northern parts of the country.Authorities have urged members of the public to take precautionary measures to minimise potential damage and ensure safety. Residents are advised to secure rooftops, tie down loose objects, safeguard livestock and trim overhanging tree branches that could pose a risk during strong winds.During stormy conditions, the public has been warned against operating machinery or using open vehicles such as tractors. People are also strongly discouraged from entering flooded areas and from using taps or showers during lightning storms.The Department of Civil Protection said it will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary, urging communities to remain alert and adhere to safety guidance throughout the warning period. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Saturday that an armed intervention in Venezuela would be a humanitarian catastrophe in the face of escalating actions from the United States toward regional neighbour Venezuela. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva warned on Saturday that any armed intervention in Venezuela would constitute a humanitarian catastrophe, amid rising tensions sparked by U.S. actions toward the South American nation. Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a blockade on all oil tankers sanctioned by Washington from entering or leaving Venezuela, a move aimed at intensifying pressure on President Nicolas Maduros government by targeting its primary source of revenue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In response to the escalating situation, Lula, alongside Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaumleaders of Latin Americas two largest economiescalled for restraint and caution in dealing with the crisis. But on Saturday, during a summit of the South American Mercosur bloc in Foz do Iguacu, a city in southern Brazil, Lula made a stronger statement against what he said would be a dangerous precedent for the world. More than four decades after the Falklands War, between Argentina and Britain, he added, the South American continent is once again haunted by the military presence of an extra-regional power. With inputs from agencies Its been six months since a Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed in Ahmedabad, killing 242 people. While probe is still on, former Boeing senior manager-turned-whistleblower Ed Pierson rejects the pilot-error theory in an exclusive interview with Firstposts Shiksha Dev Dont blame the pilots yet. Look at the plane." That is the blunt message from Boeing whistleblower Ed Pierson, who has torn into the growing narrative of pilot error following the deadly Air India 787 crash in Ahmedabad that killed over 260 people including 242 on board the flight. Calling the Dreamliner an electrical monster, Pierson told Firstpost that investigators were overlooking deep-rooted manufacturing and systems failures. What began as a routine take-off from Ahmedabad ended in a fireball killing people on board and in the canteen of the medical college hostel it crashed into and reigniting global scrutiny of aircraft safety. Pierson argues that the focus on pilot error ignores longstanding flaws in the Boeing 787 itself. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ahmedabad crash: A routine take-off ends in fireball People gather near a damaged building at the site where an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane crashed in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters At 13:39 on June 12, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Ahmedabad for Londons Gatwick Airport. Seconds later, the aircraft crashed into a neighboring area. Thick black smoke filled the sky as AI171 turned into a fireball. The plane was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. All but one were killed charred to death. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh was the sole survivor. On the ground, the aircrafts tail section crashed into the Atulyam hostels of BJ Medical College, killing several students and taking the total death toll to 260. In the six months since the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report, theories ranging from mechanical failure and fuel contamination to manufacturing defects have taken a back seat, while attention has increasingly shifted towards pilot error. Boeing whistleblower questions probe Slamming the preliminary report as horrible, former Boeing senior manager-turned-whistleblower Pierson raised serious concerns about the direction of the investigation, while also pointing to Boeings quality control failures and weak regulatory oversight. In an exclusive conversation with Firstpost, Pierson flagged long-standing quality control concerns inside Boeings factories, describing the scale and complexity of the manufacturing sites where he first noticed serious problems. I saw incredible pressure to get the work done, he told Firstpost , Manufacturing, quality control and supply chain employees were under an inordinate amount of pressure." STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Robots dont make aircraft: Inordinate pressure on workers? Pierson said the culture of long working hours led to repeated mistakes. Quality control inspections flagged problems across multiple systems, including flight controls, electrical systems, hydraulics and pressurisation. It was a wide gamut of issues, Pierson said, We began seeing a lot of our quality control reports indicating issues primarily with flight control systems, electrical systems, hydraulic systems, and pressurisation. It included everything." Boeings new 737 MAX-9 is pictured under construction at their production facility in Renton, Washington, US, February 13, 2017. Reuters. He emphasized that despite automation, aircraft manufacturing is largely dependent on human labour. Its not all robotics and AI. These planes are built by employees, he said. Describing a high-stress environment on the factory floor, Pierson said, We witnessed all kinds of mistakes, arguments, and communication breakdowns. This should not happen we are building planes." Pierson also highlighted repeated failures during system-wide functional tests, which are designed to verify that every aircraft system is working correctly. We saw multiple test failures, which was downright dangerous, he said, adding that such issues reflected a long history of manufacturing quality lapses. Pierson testified before the US Congress on several occasions, flagging these concerns. An electrical monster: Pierson rejects pilot-error theory Pierson said these problems were not confined to a single factory and extended back to the development of the Boeing 787 itself. There were serious problems when the 787 was first built, he said. They used to call some of them the terrible teens. Around two dozen aircraft were so flawed that extensive rework was required." STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Calling the aircraft an electrical monster, Pierson said failures in systems such as fuel cut-off switches could send incorrect signals through the aircraft. There are multiple power panels and circuits. Its an incredibly complex airplane an electrical monster, he told Firstpost . The Wall Street Journals report disgusting Pierson rejected the pilot error theory, insisting that investigators must first conduct a thorough examination of potential system faults and failures before attributing blame to dead pilots. Responding to a Wall Street Journal report that hinted at pilot error while the investigation remains ongoing, Pierson described the coverage as disgusting in one word. When we read the Wall Street Journals report, it felt like we were reading one of those magazines that has no credibility, he said. We were shocked to see that it came from the Wall Street Journal. It was obvious that the reporter was criticizing and going along with the narrative that US authorities have put forth." Late Captain Sumeet Sabharwal. Image courtesy: X There is a pattern. Right after the accident, there are expressions of condolences and promises, but immediately, a doubt is raised, and pilots are blamed. Weve seen this time and again. Theres an immediate effort to protect the same parties that are under investigation, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The great omission in the Ahmedabad crash probe Pierson said the AAIBs preliminary report omitted crucial information, including data related to sensors, stabilizers and the full cockpit voice recording. Issues with the sensor, stabiliser, and full audio tape were not mentioned in the preliminary report. A teeny-tiny portion of the pilots conversation was released. It was done to imply that the pilots deliberately or accidentally made a mistake, and we take a big issue with that, Pierson told Firstpost. He also flagged the absence of data from key aircraft systems. Theres a system called Acars [Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System], which is like a text messaging data link that sends information back and forth from the airplane to the operation centers and the maintenance centers. There was no information about that system in the report." Theres another system called AHM, which is an aircraft health management system, designed to collect information and send it in real-time, Pierson said. Neither was mentioned in the report." The outright withholding of critical information which should be out in public was stunning to us. The preliminary report was honestly horrible, he said, We thought it was a terrible report." STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why no pilots: Questions about the investigation team He also questions why no pilots were included in the initial team probing the Ahmedabad plane crash. He said, Why dont they want the Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMTs), who work on these planes? These individuals know way more than an engineer because an engineer may have only designed a part of the system, but these individuals work with it every day." Pierson welcomed the intervention of Indias Supreme Court. The top court observed while hearing a plea filed by the father of late Captain Sumeet Sabharwal that no one in the country believed it was the pilots fault. AAIBNTSB meet: Not expecting a lot When asked about the upcoming meeting between the AAIB and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Washington next week, Pierson said he was not expecting a lot. He also highlighted what he described as the horrible deterioration of the NTSB. I used to put the NTSB at a very high pinnacle of my mind. They had a great reputation over the years, with a deep understanding of forensic knowledge. However, ever since the Max crashed back in 2018, weve seen the horrible deterioration of the NTSB, he said. From gold standard to self-licking ice cream cone Citing the Boeing 737 Max crashes, Pierson alleged that Boeing and the NTSB were aware of electrical failures but failed to act. The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Reuters Information was provided to us that clearly showed that the second Max airplane had evidence of electrical failures before the plane crashed, and Boeing knew about it. We gave NTSB the documentation to show this and support it, but they refused to pass it on to the accident investigators, he said. Pierson accused the NTSB of focusing on optics rather than accountability. Theres a lot of getting in front of the camera and talking about a big game. We feel like theres a lot of show. Its like a self-licking ice cream cone sometimes." STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He also highlighted the agencys limited independent oversight capacity. NTSB has only about 450 employees. They have to investigate every transportation type-related major accident, which includes oil pipeline explosions, train wrecks, bridge disasters, maritime disasters, and small airplane crashes, Pierson said. Out of touch and failing: Why Easa grounded planes and FAA would not Pierson also strongly criticized the United States aviation regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), calling it completely out of touch and failing. He said the FAAs leadership lacks an understanding of conditions on the factory floor. The FAA leader needs to talk to these mechanics and technicians on the floor, but he is completely out of touch, Pierson said. By contrast, Pierson praised the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (Easa) for its handling of the Airbus A320 software issue in November. Calling it a great example, he said, I commend the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (Easa) for taking this approach. They spotted the issues and grounded these planes because they wanted to fix the core issues. I think its a great example of how things should be done." Drawing a comparison with the FAA, Pierson said, FAA would do something exactly opposite. It identifies a defect or an unsafe condition under its continued operational safety program; instead of inspection, it will be postponed for years. Weve seen this over and over again. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pierson said the accident investigation system itself is no longer fit for purpose. The accident investigation process does not match the modern airplane sophistication. It is outdated and needs to be fixed, he said. The question becomes significant as the world waits with the families of the victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash to know what exactly led to the loss of over 260 lives. Repeated delays to the EU-Mercosur agreement raise questions about Europes credibility as a global economic player, testing whether the bloc can adapt to a harsher, more transactional world driven by Donald Trumps order. Europes ambition to project itself as an independent economic power is colliding with political reality at home and with a global order increasingly driven by Donald Trumps return to the White House. As the European Union seeks to reduce its dependence on both the United States and China, its repeated failure to clinch the long-delayed Mercosur trade agreement has exposed the limits of its ability to act decisively in a more transactional world. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was expected to sign the EUs largest-ever free trade agreement on Saturday, sealing a deal 25 years in the making with Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. Instead, the signing was postponed yet again after resistance from member states such as Italy which fears the pact would hurt domestic farmers. Officials say another attempt will be made on January 12, but the delays have already dented Europes claim to strategic autonomy. A deal meant to prove Europes autonomy The EU-Mercosur pact is not just about tariffs or exports. For Brussels, it has become a test of whether Europe can chart its own economic course at a time when its two largest partners are applying pressure from opposite directions. Relations with China have soured amid mutual tariffs and Beijings tightening control over exports of rare earths and critical materials. Across the Atlantic, Europe has been forced into what many see as an uneven trade arrangement with the US, accepting a 15 percent tariff on most of its exports while removing duties on American industrial goods. Against this backdrop, Mercosur was meant to show that Europe could diversify its supply chains and partnerships. The agreement would create a market of about 780 million consumers, phase out tariffs on products such as cars, and offer European firms better access to South Americas agricultural output and raw materials. More broadly, it would signal that Europe can offer a credible alternative to countries wary of choosing between Washington and Beijing. This is Europes independence moment, von der Leyen said earlier this week, framing the deal as part of a wider strategy to escape a world order increasingly shaped by Trump-style bilateralism and power politics. Domestic politics meets global ambition That strategy has run into familiar obstacles. Securing approval for the Mercosur pact requires backing from a qualified majority of EU member states and opposition has hardened among governments facing pressure from farmers who fear cheaper South American imports. During a summit in Brussels this week, thousands of protesters blocked streets, set tyres ablaze and dumped produce in public spaces, highlighting the domestic costs of trade liberalisation. Italy has emerged as the pivotal holdout. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has insisted she needs more time to secure domestic consensus, a stance Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has described as political embarrassment rather than outright opposition. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While some in Berlin and Brussels believe Rome is using its position to extract concessions for its agricultural sector, others worry the delay reflects a deeper reluctance within the EU to absorb short-term political pain for long-term strategic gain. Efforts to sweeten the deal by adding safeguards to protect European farmers from sudden price or import shocks failed to break the deadlock. For critics, this inability to close ranks highlights how internal divisions continue to undermine Europes global ambitions. The cost of hesitation in a Trump-shaped world The longer the Mercosur agreement drags on, the higher the geopolitical cost for Europe. Analysts note that while Mercosur economies may lose more in pure economic terms if the deal collapses, the reputational damage would fall squarely on Brussels. Other developing regions are watching closely, assessing whether the EU can still deliver on complex trade promises. There is also a growing risk that South American countries will simply look elsewhere. Mercosur has already signalled interest in agreements with the United Arab Emirates and is exploring closer ties with Canada, the UK and Japan. Europe, meanwhile, is still struggling to conclude another long-running trade negotiation with India, itself nearly two decades old. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned bluntly that Europes standing is at stake. If the EU wants to remain credible in global trade, he said, decisions cannot be endlessly postponed. Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliaments trade committee, went further, suggesting that failure to sign by late December would effectively kill the agreement and weaken Europes future negotiating position worldwide. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a world increasingly driven by Trumps preference for hard bargaining and transactional deals, Europes cautious, consensus-driven approach is being tested. The Mercosur saga shows a bloc that wants strategic autonomy but struggles to act with speed and unity when domestic politics intervene. Whether the EU can still bring it home in January, as von der Leyen insists, will determine more than the fate of a single trade pact. It will signal whether Europe can adapt to a harsher global environment or remains constrained by the very internal divisions that its rivals are learning to exploit. A special court of Pakistans Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday sentenced the countrys former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years imprisonment in the Toshakhana-2 case. Imran Khan (R) along with his wife Bushra Bibi (L) looks on as he signs surety bonds for bail in various cases, at a registrar office in the High court, in Lahore on July 17, 2023. File Photo/AFP A special court of Pakistans Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday sentenced the countrys former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years imprisonment in the Toshakhana-2 case. The case in question pertained to the purchase of an expensive Bulgari jewellery set, gifted to Imran by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit in May 2021, at a low price. According to Dawn, at the Saturday hearing, the prosecution contended that the PTI founder retained the jewellery set, valued at approximately PKR 80 million, after paying only PKR 2.9 million. As per the report, the verdict was delivered by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand during a hearing held at Rawalpindis Adiala jail, where Imran is incarcerated. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the Saturday hearing, the Pakistani Tehreek-e-Insaaf supremo was sentenced to a total of 17 years in prison and was awarded 10 years rigorous imprisonment under sections 34 (common intention) and 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Pakistan Penal Code, and seven years under Section 5(2) (criminal misconduct by public servants) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Meanwhile, Bushra Bibi was also sentenced to 17 years in prison under the same provision. Apart from this, the couple was fined PKR 16.4 million. If they failed to pay the fine, then, as per the law, they would be awarded additional jail time, Dawn reported. Imrans lawyers react Following the verdict, both Imran and Bushras legal teams indicated their intention to challenge the decision before the high court. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, PTI said that Khans family was not allowed inside the jail, where a kangaroo court announced the verdict of the Toshakhana 2 case. A closed-door jail trial is neither free nor fair; it is in fact a military trial, the party said. It also shared a video of Imrans sister, Aleema Khan, inside a car, asking why she was not being allowed to proceed further. They cant stop us. The jail trial is today, she said in the video, adding that it was illegal that the family was being stopped. It is pertinent to note that Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were indicted in the case in December last year. In October this year, the two denied all allegations hurled against them in the case, calling them a fabricated and politically motivated attempt to disqualify Imran from politics. It also becomes important to point out that the former Pakistani prime minister has been imprisoned since August 2023 and is already serving a 14-year sentence at the Adiala jail in a 190 million corruption case, and also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the protests of May 9, 2023. Meanwhile, Bushra Bibi is serving a seven-year sentence in a 190 million corruption case. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US President Donald Trump is set to be briefed by Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that any expansion of Irans ballistic missile program poses a threat that could necessitate swift action. As tensions simmer in the West Asia following last years direct confrontation between Israel and Iran, fresh concerns are emerging in Jerusalem over Tehrans military recovery. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to brief US President Donald Trump that Irans accelerating ballistic missile programme poses an immediate and growing threat, one that could force Israel to consider renewed military action if left unchecked. According to US media reports, Israeli intelligence believes Iran is rapidly rebuilding missile production capabilities and may also be moving to restore nuclear infrastructure damaged in earlier strikes, raising the prospect of another high-stakes decision point for Washington and its closest regional ally. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During the discussions, Netanyahu is likely to argue that Irans expanding missile programme poses a threat not only to Israel but also to wider regional stability and U.S. interests, according to sources cited by NBC News. Israeli officials are expected to outline a range of possible scenarios for U.S. involvement, including limited assistance, joint military action, or Israel acting independently. While Israel is also closely watching indications that Iran may be attempting to rebuild nuclear enrichment facilities previously targeted by US strikes, officials reportedly see missile production as the more urgent challenge. According to people familiar with Israeli intelligence assessments, Iran could ramp up ballistic missile output to as many as 3,000 missiles a month if left unchallenged, NBC News reported. The missile threat is very real, and we were not able to stop all of them the last time, a former Israeli official was quoted as saying. Israeli officials are said to be increasingly alarmed by signs that Iran is accelerating its ballistic missile manufacturing and plan to raise the issue with Trump as part of efforts to justify possible military action. The concerns come months after a nearly two-week confrontation between Israel and Iran, during which Israel inflicted damage on Irans missile capabilities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that the country launched a massive military strike against ISIS targets in Syria. The strikes came a week after two American soldiers and an interpreter were killed in Syrias Palmyra city. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attend a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 26, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that the country launched a massive military strike against ISIS targets in Syria. The attack occurred a week after two American soldiers and an interpreter were killed in Syrias Palmyra city. Because of ISISs vicious killing of brave American Patriots in Syria I am hereby announcing that the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Friday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the post, the American leader said that the Syrian government, which was formed after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024, was fully in support of the US military operation. Meanwhile, Syrias Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed the strikes, reiterating its commitment to combating ISIL (ISIS) and intensifying military operations against the group. Earlier, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said that the strikes targeted ISIS [ISIL] fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites and said the operation was named Operation Hawkeye Strike. This is not the beginning of a war it is a declaration of vengeance, Hegseth said in a post on social media. Today, we hunted, and we killed our enemieslots of them. And we will continue, he averred. Details awaited Details of the targets that were hit and the casualty figures are yet to be confirmed. However, the US militarys Central Command ( CENTCOM) has said it will be releasing more information soon. Meanwhile, reporters in Washington also noted that it appeared that the Syrian government had signed off on the US operation. The strikes are taking place after three Americans, including two US National Guard members and a civilian interpreter, were killed last weekend in the central Syrian town of Palmyra by an attacker who targeted a convoy of American and Syrian forces before being shot dead. Three other American soldiers were also wounded in the attack. It is pertient to note that about 1,000 American troops are stationed in Syria as part of a years-long operation targeting the remnants of ISIL forces in the region. In recent months, a US-led coalition has also carried out air strikes and ground operations in Syria targeting ISIL suspects. The strikes on ISIS targets have been made possible because the Syrian government, which is now led by former rebels who toppled the al-Assad regime, has been cooperating in the US-led fight against ISIL, reaching an agreement last month on cooperation when the countrys interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited the White House to meet Trump. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bangladesh tightened security on Saturday, deploying police and paramilitary forces in the capital Dhaka ahead of funeral prayers for a slain youth leader and election candidate whose death has sparked a surge of violence. Protests in Bangladesh following the death of activist Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on December 19, 2025. Hadi had been undergoing treatment in Singapore after being shot in the head. Image: PTI The funeral prayers for Sharif Osman Hadi were held in Bangladesh, drawing a large turnout of mourners who gathered to pay their respects to the Inqilab Moncho convenor. In line with his familys wishes, Hadi was laid to rest beside the grave of Bangladeshs national poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam. From the early hours of the morning, people arrived in groups at Manik Mia Avenue and the area in front of the Parliament complex was soon crowded. Some mourners wrapped themselves in the national flag, while others raised slogans calling for justice over Hadis killing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Saturday has been declared a day of state mourning, with national flags flown at half-mast and special prayers organised at religious institutions across the country. The capital remained relatively calm during the day, following two days of protests by supporters of the Inqilab Moncho. Ahead of the funeral prayers, security was tightened, with personnel from the Border Guard Bangladesh and the police deployed at the Parliament building and other key points in Dhaka, according to BDNews24. Since Hadis fatal shooting, unrest in the country has included organised mob attacks targeting leading newspapers and cultural institutions. Hadi, 32, a key figure in the student-led uprising last year that toppled longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was shot in the head by masked assailants in Dhaka last week while launching his campaign. He died on Thursday night in Singapore after six days on life support. Bangladesh is to elect a new parliament on February 12 - a transition many hope will help the Muslim-majority nation of 175 million people recover from nearly two years of instability and reclaim its position as a regional success story. But frequent bouts of violent protests and political wrangling among disparate groups including Islamist hardliners have punctured the national sense of euphoria that arose after Hasina was ousted in August 2024. It has also exposed the limitations of the interim government of Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, analysts say, raising questions over his grip on governance in the worlds largest apparel producer after China. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Yunus government, which declared Saturday a day of state mourning for Hadi, urged citizens to resist mob violence by fringe elements, warning that turmoil threatens Bangladeshs fragile democratic transition. Human Rights Watch called Hadis killing a terrible act and urged the government to act urgently to halt the violence that has gripped the country since Hasinas ouster. The group also condemned the attacks on media as an assault on free expression. Bangladesh ranks 149th of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index. Rights groups warn that continued attacks on journalists and activists could further shrink civic space ahead of the election. Amnesty International urged prompt, independent investigations into Hadis killing and the subsequent violence, including the burning of newspaper offices and harassment of journalists. Demonstrations continued on Friday in the Shahbagh area of the capital, where crowds demanded justice for Hadi and accountability for the attacks. A mob stormed the Dhaka office of Udichi Shilpigosthi, Bangladeshs premier progressive cultural organisation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The violence has spread beyond the capital. In Chittagong, protesters attacked the Indian Assistant High Commission, reflecting growing anti-India sentiment since Hasina fled to New Delhi after her ouster. Her party, the Awami League, which has been barred from the election, has threatened unrest that some fear could derail the vote. With inputs from agencies Philippine authorities are investigating the activities of Sajid and Naveed Akram, the father and son accused in the Bondi Beach shooting, during their four-week stay in Davao City. Police say the elder Akram visited a firearms shop and the pair extended their hotel stay several times before returning to Australia two weeks before the attack. Philippine police probe the Davao City stay of Bondi Beach shooting suspects as links and motives come under scrutiny. Authorities in the Philippines have begun tracing the activities of Sajid and Naveed Akram, the father and son accused of carrying out the deadly Bondi Beach shooting in Sydney, which claimed fifteen lives and injured dozens during a Hanukkah celebration last Sunday. Investigators are now piecing together the pairs movements during their four-week stay in the southern Philippine city of Davao before their return to Australia late last month. Investigation into the Akrams stay in Davao Philippine police have confirmed that Sajid and Naveed Akram checked into the GV Hotel in Davao City, where they stayed from early November until 28 November. Their sudden return to Australia only two weeks before the Sydney attack has raised questions about the purpose of their visit. Local police say they are examining the pairs movements, contacts, and possible links to people in the region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Regional police director Leon Victor Rosete told reporters that investigators are reviewing CCTV recordings and mobile phone data used by the suspects during their stay. We are connecting every detail available to see whom they met, what they did, and what support networks may have existed, he said. Rosete added that authorities are seeking footage from nearby establishments before they delete their recordings. More from World Visit to a firearms store Rosete revealed that Sajid Akram showed particular interest in weapons during his time in the city, mentioning that he entered a firearms shop while staying in Davao. Although no direct evidence links him to any illegal purchase, police have noted this as a detail of concern. The father had evident curiosity about guns, which we are examining closely, Rosete explained. CCTV footage also captured the two men taking regular morning walks around their hotel area, which police now believe may have been physical conditioning or training activity. Continued cooperation with Australia National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano stated that the Philippines is working closely with Australian authorities to ensure no aspect of the case is overlooked. We will leave no stone unturned. Our goal is to assist the Australian government and guarantee that any potential threat is neutralised here, he said. Hotel staff confirmed that the Akrams extended their booking multiple times, leading investigators to suspect that they might have been waiting for someone or something that never arrived. Officials, however, have cautioned against speculation, emphasising that their inquiry will be guided strictly by evidence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday promised not to force Ukraine into any agreement to end Russias invasion as European allies joined fresh talks in Miami. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio gestures as he speaks during an end-of-year press conference in the State Department Press Briefing Room in Washington, DC on December 19, 2025.- AFP US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday promised not to force Ukraine into any agreement to end Russias invasion as European allies joined fresh talks in Miami. The weekend talks come as President Vladimir Putin in an annual news conference vowed to press ahead with his military offensive in Ukraine, hailing battlefield gains nearly four years into his war. President Donald Trumps envoys have pressed a plan in which the United States would offer security guarantees to Ukraine, but Kyiv will likely be expected to surrender some territory, a prospect resented by many Ukrainians. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But Rubio said that ultimately both sides had to agree to a deal. Theres no peace deal unless Ukraine agrees to it, Rubio told a news conference in Washington. This whole narrative that were trying to force something on Ukraine is silly, Rubio said. We cant force Ukraine to make a deal. We cant force Russia to make a deal. They have to want to make a deal. Rubio said he may join talks in Miami, his hometown, on Saturday. Trumps global envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are leading the talks, which will include top Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov as well as top officials from Britain, France and Germany. Russian officials reportedly including Kremlin negotiator Kirill Dmitriev and US officials are expected to meet separately in Florida over the weekend. Umerov said on social media that he had briefed President Volodymyr Zelensky after the Miami talks. We agreed with our American partners on further steps and the continuation of joint work in the near future, he wrote. We are acting clearly in line with the priorities defined by the president: Ukraines security must be guaranteed reliably and in the long term. The talks are part of a flurry of winter diplomacy in sunny Miami. Witkoff and Kushner are also holding talks on the Gaza ceasefire with officials from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump has made ending the Ukraine and Gaza wars the centerpiece of his second-term effort to be a self-proclaimed president of peace. But resolving the situation in Ukraine has, by his own admission, proved far harder than he expected. Putin vows to press on Russian attacks on Ukraine have not ceased during talks, with a deadly ballistic missile strike on Ukraines strategic Black Sea coast on Friday. The enemy struck the port infrastructure of Odesa region seven dead, fifteen wounded, Odesa regional governor Oleg Kiper said on social media. Witkoff and Kushner met Umerov in Miami earlier this month without European involvement, and traveled to Moscow to hold talks with Putin. In November, the United States shocked Europe by unveiling a 28-point plan to settle the war that overlooked the continents main powers and was widely seen as favoring Russia. The plan was amended by Ukraine and Europe, but Russia had yet to react to it, with Putin saying Friday that the ball is now fully and completely in the court of Kyiv and its Western allies. Our troops are advancing along the entire line of contact, Putin told his news conference. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Im sure that before the end of this year we will still witness new success, he added. Russia has been making steady gains in the east of Ukraine after failing to quickly topple the Kyiv government and seize the country in February 2022. Land remains the key stumbling block in the talks, and a source familiar with the negotiations told AFP earlier this week that the United States was pushing Kyiv to cede territory in the eastern Donetsk region. Kyiv meanwhile secured a desperately needed lifeline as EU leaders struck a deal Friday to provide Ukraine a loan of 90 billion euros ($105 billion) to plug its looming budget shortfalls. But the European Union failed to agree on using frozen Russian assets to come up with the funds. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that the country is moving forward to set up a new governance structure for Gaza. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that the country is moving forward to set up a new governance structure for Gaza. The institution will be made up of an international board and a group of Palestinian technocrats and will be followed by the deployment of foreign troops on the Palestinian enclave. Rubio proclaimed while speaking at a year-end press conference. He said that the status quo was not sustainable in Gaza, where Israel has continued to strike Hamas targets while the terrorist group has reasserted its control since the October peace agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Thats why we have a sense of urgency about bringing phase one to its full completion, which is the establishment of the Board of Peace, and the establishment of the Palestinian technocratic authority or organisation thats going to be on the ground, and then the stabilisation force comes closely thereafter, the American secretary of state told reporters. While one plan progresses, another becomes an obstacle Rubio insisted that progress was made in identifying Palestinians to join the technocratic group and said Washington was aiming to get the governance bodies in place very soon, without offering a specific timeline. The American diplomat was speaking just days after US Central Command hosted a conference in Doha this week with partner nations to plan the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza. Following the meeting, two US officials told Reuters last week that international troops could be deployed in the strip as early as next month, after the UN Security Council voted in November to authorise the force. Meanwhile, it remains unclear how Hamas will be disarmed amid the ceasefire disarmament process. Rubio did not specify who would be responsible for disarming Hamas, and conceded that countries contributing troops want to know what the ISFs specific mandate is and how it will be funded. I think we owe them a few more answers before we can ask anybody to firmly commit, but I feel very confident that we have a number of nation-states acceptable to all sides in this who are willing to step forward and be a part of that stabilisation force, he said, adding that Pakistan was among the countries that had expressed interest. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He emphasised that establishing security and governance in the coastal enclave was key to drawing donors to pay for reconstruction in Gaza. Whos going to pledge billions of dollars to build things that are going to get blown up again because a war starts? Rubio said, discussing the possibility of a donor conference to raise reconstruction funds. They want to know whos in charge, and they want to know that theres security so that therell be long-term stability. News / National by Staff reporter THE ruling Zanu PF party has rushed to install some of the Jojo tanks and solar panels at boreholes drilled in Nkulumane constituency, ahead of today's by-election.The move was construed as countering claims that it would withdraw its 50 Jojo tanks and solar panels it had delivered to the constituency in the event it loses in today's by-elections.Workers were observed installing Jojo tanks and solar panels just a few metres from Mandwandwe High School and a stone's throw from Mgombane Base Station, with a billboard of President Emmerson Mnangagwa being mounted close to one of the sites.Zanu PF Bulawayo spokesperson Archibold Chiponda said earlier claims by candidates from other parties that the donation of Jojo tanks and solar panels constituted vote-buying and that the same would be withdrawn in the even the ruling party loses were "fake and unfounded".Freedom Murechu, for Zanu PF, is running for the seat.Other candidates include the late MP Decide Moyo's widow, Esther Auxillia Zitha, comedian Mothusi "Madlela" Ndlovu representing the SengezoTshabangu-led Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Ethel Sibanda (MDC T), Vivian Viyo Siziba(Zapu) and Alson Moyo (EFF Zimbabwe).Nompilo Ncube Malala is contesting under the Zimbabwe African National Congress ticket.There are two independent candidates, Rodney Donovan Jele and Mbuso Fuzwayo, the secretary-general of Ibhetshu Lika Zulu.Chiponda said the installation of the Jojo tanks and solar panels at boreholes was underway, a development which he said poured cold water on the claims made by their contenders.He said the installations have been done in three sites, one at Bulet Shopping centre, the other at Nketa 6 and the other one close to Oneness Pentecostal church."If people visit Nkulumane constituency, the will see that we have already started delivering on the drilling of boreholes and the setting up of the sole water kiosk even before the election,"Chiponda said."It's quite mischievous for someone to suggest that the Jojo tanks delivery was a political gimmick type of water provision strategy."Water provision is a basic human right in terms of service delivery.It's unfortunate that Bulawayo has been under a city council that had not prioritised service delivery."So this a sign of us stepping in.This is a sign of our candidate Murechu stepping in and trying to make change in a community he grew up in."He hoped that residents would understand that all what Murechu was doing was trying to assist them and support his bid to be an MP.Chiponda's remarks came a few days after opposition candidates accused his party of vote-buying and conditional development ahead of today's parliamentary by-election."That's another way of buying voters by Zanu PF," Thamsanqa Ncube, Fuzwayo's campaign leader, had said, suggesting Murechu was "trying to avoid the costs of uninstalling the Jojo tanks after his defeat".Siziba, the Zapu candidate,described the action as "vote buying of first class order", which she said putother candidates at a disadvantage.Murechu has been the most visible in the constituency because of the ruling party's financial muscle with support coming from as far as its headquarters in Harare.At a rally a fortnight ago, Zanu PF national political commissar Munyaradzi Machacha and special adviser to the President, Paul Tungwarara, unveiled a US$100 000 constituency revolving fund, promised solar-powered boreholes, and announced a scholarship fund for Nkulumane.The event also saw the handover of computers and Starlink internet kits to local schools by Information Communication Technology minister TatendaMavetera.Zanu PF youth secretaryTinoMachakaire told the rally that it was time for Nkulumane "to eat", just like what others in Harare were doing. Russia attacked the southern Ukrainian port of Pivdennyi on Saturday, Ukrainian officials said, as it ramped up strikes on the Odesa region along the Black Sea including energy facilities and a critical route to the Moldova border. A Russian missile strike on port infrastructure in Odesa in southern Ukraine killed eight people and wounded 27, Ukraines emergency service said Saturday as Moscow intensified strikes across the Black Sea region of Odesa, targeting energy infrastructure and a key transport corridor leading to the Moldovan border. The discussions are part of the Trump administrations monthslong push for peace that also included meetings with Ukrainian and European officials in Berlin earlier this week. Ukraines chief negotiator said late Friday that his delegation had completed separate meetings in the U.S. with American and European partners. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, European Union leaders agreed on Friday to provide a massive interest-free loan to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years. The assault is part of what officials describe as a near-constant campaign of drone and missile attacks on an area that hosts ports vital to Ukraines foreign trade and fuel imports. This comes at a time when a Kremlin envoy was set to travel to Florida for talks on a US-proposed plan to end the nearly four-year war. The escalation follows Russias warning that it could seek to cut Ukraine off from the sea. Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened on Tuesday to sever Ukraines access to the sea in response to drone attacks on tankers of Russias shadow fleet in the Black Sea. The most radical solution is to cut Ukraine off from the sea, then piracy will be impossible in principle, Putin said in televised remarks. The renewed airstrikes come despite ongoing diplomatic efforts by the United States to push for an end to the conflict. U.S. negotiators were scheduled to hold talks with Russian officials in Florida on Saturday, in the latest attempt to encourage progress towards a negotiated settlement between Moscow and Kyiv. Saturdays attack on Pivdennyi port hit reservoirs, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said on the Telegram messaging app, a day after a missile strike on the port that killed eight people and injured at least 30. On Thursday and Friday, Russian forces targeted a bridge on the Dniester river estuary near the village of Mayaky, northeast of Pivdennyi, Ukrainian officials said. The bridge connects parts of the region fragmented by the undulating sea coast and river estuaries, and is the only main route towards Moldovas border crossings to the west. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Without significant success on the (battle) front, the enemy is trying to terrorise civilians to create internal destabilisation. These plans are clear, and we are effectively countering them together with the people of Odesa, deputy presidential administration head Viktor Mykyta said on Telegram. Russian officials have not commented on the attacks. Ukrainian authorities temporarily re-routed passengers to other crossings, including by water, into Moldova. Mykyta said Ukraine would create as many alternative crossings as necessary, no matter how hard the enemy tries to destroy the connection. Last week, one of the wars biggest Russian air attacks on the strategic Black Sea region damaged energy facilities and prompted a blackout in Odesa, plunging hundreds of thousands of civilians into darkness for days. Airstrikes on ports damaged three Turkish-flagged vessels in December. Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to cut Ukraines access to the Black Sea in retaliation for Kyivs maritime drone attacks on Moscows sanctions-busting shadow-fleet tankers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ukraine says those vessels are used to transport oil, Russias main revenue source for funding its almost four-year-old full-scale invasion of its neighbour. Taiwans President Lai Ching-te has ordered a full investigation after a stabbing attack on Taipeis metro left three people dead and at least eleven injured. The 27-year-old suspect set off smoke bombs and attacked commuters during rush hour before reportedly taking his own life, prompting authorities to review security measures across the metro network. Taiwan president pledges transparency and swift action after metro stabbing leaves three dead and several injured in Taipei. Taiwans President Lai Ching-te pledged a full, public inquiry as he visited victims in hospital on Saturday after a deadly metro stabbing attack. A 27-year-old suspect set off smoke bombs in Taipeis main metro station during rush hour on Friday evening before launching into a stabbing rampage, according to authorities. He killed three people in an attack that spanned the main station, an underground shopping district and another metro stop, while at least 11 others were wounded, according to a revised count from the police on Saturday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The suspect, who had been wanted for evading military service, died in an apparent suicide after the attack, Taipeis mayor said at a briefing on Friday night. Officials called it a deliberate act but said the motive was not immediately clear. Lai offered sympathy and pledged transparency during hospital visits on Saturday. I want to express condolences to those who tragically lost their lives in last nights horrific, violent attack, and to extend my sympathy to their families, Lai said. He said he had ordered a full and thorough investigation and would give the public a full account of the truth. He told a police briefing later on Saturday that authorities should be more cautious and proactive, while also strengthening rapid response forces. Once a call or message is received, the rapid response force must arrive as quickly as possible and must be capable of stopping such attacks, he said. Lai said the force must be trained and equipped for counter-terrorism operations to protect citizens. Police chief Chang Jung-hsin said it appeared that the suspect had acted alone. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He acted according to a plan, to randomly kill people. Regarding the motive, I think it still needs to continue to be understood and investigated. Violent crime is rare in Taiwan. The last similar incident was in 2014, when a man killed four people in a stabbing spree in the metro. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk released a statement on Friday, calling for calm in Bangladesh after a riot-like situation erupted in the country following the death of a youth leader. United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk released a statement on Friday, calling for calm in Bangladesh after a riot-like situation erupted in the country following the death of a youth leader. In his statement, Turk also urged Bangladeshi authorities to conduct a prompt, impartial, thorough, and transparent investigation into the attack that led to Sharif Osman Bin Hadis death, and to ensure due process and accountability for those responsible. He urged different parties in the country to remain calm, requesting everyone to refrain from violence. Retaliation and revenge will only deepen divisions and undermine the rights of all, he said in his Friday statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Massive demonstrations erupted at various locations around the country shortly after Hadis demise was announced on Thursday. The Bangladeshi youth leader succumbed to his injury at a hospital in Singapore, six days after he was assassinated. Riot-like situation erupts in Bangladesh Amid the protests, the buildings of two prominent Bangladeshi newspapers were vandalised, leaving many employees injured and trapped in their offices for hours. Apart from this, violent protesters also targeted Indian diplomats stationed in Dhaka, with the mob barging into the residence of the Indian Assistant High Commissioner to Bangladesh. The violence and disruption are coming at a time when the country is scheduled to conduct elections in February this year. In his statement, Turk said it was vital to ensure an environment in which all individuals can participate safely and peacefully in public life and freely express different views. I urge the authorities to uphold the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and security of journalists at this critical time, and prevent further escalation of unrest, Turk said. The US Department of Justice on Friday released a heavily redacted version of the long-awaited Epstein Files, detailing its investigation into the wrongdoings of British financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A protester holds a placard demanding the release of the Epstein files at the US Capitol. File image/AFP The US Department of Justice on Friday released a heavily redacted version of the long-awaited Epstein Files, detailing its investigation into the wrongdoings of British financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. While a significant chunk of the large tranche of documents has been redacted, those that are viewable include Epsteins photographs with an array of prominent figures. Some of the prominent personalities featured in the files included: Michael Jackson, Chris Tucker, Diana Ross, and the entrepreneur Richard Branson. However, the highlight of the first phase of the documents was the frequent mention of former US President Bill Clinton. The erstwhile Democratic star appeared in several photos, including one in which he is in a swimming pool alongside Epsteins convicted accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The images also showed disgraced former British royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. In a letter to the US Congress, Todd Blanche said that the documents dated back to 2006, when Epstein was investigated on child prostitution charges. The volume of materials to be reviewed means that the department must publicly produce responsive documents on a rolling basis, the deputy attorney general wrote in the letter obtained by Fox News. He also acknowledged the large amount of redaction, which included identities of more than 1,200 victims and their family members. Soon after the files were released, Congressional Democrats accused US President Donald Trumps administration of failing to adhere to the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Demands for more transparency The legislation in question required the US Justice Department to release all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in its possession related to the financiers cases by 19 December. It is pertinent to note that Epstein died in jail in 2019 while he was awaiting trial on federal charges of sex trafficking minors. The law required the department to publish any materials from the investigations that relate to Maxwell, who was found guilty in 2021 of aiding Epsteins sex trafficking of teen girls and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Technically, theyre not in compliance, said Democratic congressman Ro Khanna, a leader of the push to get the legislation passed. The law calls for all the unclassified documents to be released. They have not done that. The law also calls for them to explain redactions. I havent seen yet whether theyve done that or not. My initial read is that they have a lot of redactions without explanation, he added. Meanwhile, top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer also shared similar concerns over the matter. We will pursue every option to make sure the truth comes out," he said in a statement. Some Republicans, like Thomas Massie, also joined the chorus. He wrote on social media that the document release grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law that [Donald Trump] signed just 30 days ago." STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Amid the backlash, Abigail Jackson, the White House deputy press secretary, said the documents release proves that the Trump administration is the most transparent in history and said it has done more for the victims than Democrats ever have by making the files public and cooperating with a separate congressional investigation. Despite the whole back and forth, the findings of the Epstein Files are expected to remain in the news cycle for a while.